FiiO E5 Headphone Amplifier Comments

i vote for an "audiophile" subsection here.

seconded

Thirded. Even though I'm not an audiophile.

Fourthed? I'd call it flac though, seeing how this is the mp3 section =p

"FLAC = FREE LOSSLESS AUDIOPHILE CODEC"

=P

Heh, this was not a review I was expecting to see here today, good work chaps.

Yes, unexpected but great a review. Based on this, I immediately checked a Finnish auctionsite for FiiO products, and I got very lucky, now I'm waiting for my E5! (I'm thinking it will fit perfectly for my workout rig, with iriver H320 and Sennheiser CX 380 Sport II IEMs)

It's a great amp for a Sansa Clip and Phonak Audéo combo.

Nice but one HUGE problem...... in fact huge is an understatement unless I'm missing something. Read on.

Saw the review and thought a good impulse buy so why not. Arrived today and I now see the recommended retailer is out of stock so well done TrustedReveiws on creating the business.

Plugged it in with my Bose on ear phones and there is a noticable difference. Well pleased! However, there is a HUGE problem.... almost of the gargantuan proportions of the new iPod shuffle having prorietary headphones and no buttons. The retailer says this on their site:

Ultra small, lightweight design for MP3 player, laptop or mobile phone.

So why does my iPhone interfere with it? Almost permanent interference when browsing the web even holding it as far away as the cable will reach. Surely this is a major design flaw? I can't beleive it's not magnetically shielded!

the amp wouldn't be magnetically shielded - most aren't. my graham slee voyager doesn't seem to be, and i paid a lot more for that than you did - even used.

@Mark

For all your equipment, I can't believe you're using an iPhone in conjunction.

iPhone's frequency range sucks. While it isn't the worse, there have been much better. Like, the 5800, with that incredibly smooth frequency curve, or the Xperia X1, just to name a few.

Why wouldn't an amp be shielded? All decent iPod/iPhone docks are because they "have" to be. I know this is a cheap device but it claims compatibility with mobile phones and to me they have made a false claim.

Having looked on the forums I see people have complained about the E3 hoping the E5 would be better, and even the Voyager is prone to interference. I almost bought a Voyager too so glad i didn't now.

With respect to those complaining about my poor audio source I use an iPhone as a single covenient day to day device especially at work to drown out the open plan noise. At home I listen to a Marantz CD63 KI Signature & Sonos, Audiolab 8000A, and HD600 cans. A little old I know but might try a Vogayer with this setup. The E5 offers slight improvement on HD600 + iPhone but not enough to be good enough.

http://i.gsmarena.com/vv/reviewsimg/se-x1/gsmarena_a001.png

Perhaps you need to get another Xperia...