Against the background of the growing popularity of technology on Android, it is not surprising that its manufacturers began to pay more and more attention to high-quality sound. Many of the flagship models of this year have high-definition audio playback support, but it’s almost unrealistic to place in the smartphone case (even large, as is usually the case with Android products). Therefore, for those who want to achieve the maximum sound level from their Android smartphone, Fiio has introduced an external E18 DAC.
For very, very many people, the path to sound quality began with Fiio products. First of all, their portable DACs combined with a headphone amplifier: E7, E17 and E07K contributed to this. The low price and good sound quality of these devices allowed Fiio to revolutionize the portable audio market, reducing the price of devices with good sound.
In short, what is it and why. The Fiio E18 works as a portable digital-to-analog audio converter and headphone amplifier. What DACs are and why they are needed, I wrote in this review, and why we need similar devices in a portable version - I told in this review, so if you do not understand the purpose of the device, read them.
Of course, Fiio used the already established elementary base in their devices of different levels. For example, the E07, E17, and the X3 player share a similar set of DAC and amplifier chips. Against this background, the E18 looks like a step aside, since the Wolfson DACs in the new model have given way to PCM from Texas Instruments. This step is very brave, not all companies decide on such a change, what did it give as a result?
Specifications
- Output power: > 300 mW @ 32 Ω
- Supported frequencies: 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 96 kHz
- Supported bit depth: 16 bits and 24 bits
- Harmonic Distortion: <0.005% @ 1 kHz / 32 Ω
- Signal to noise ratio: > 106 dB
- Frequency range: 20 Hz - 20 KHz (± 0.2 dB)
- Recommended headphone impedance: 16 Ω - 150 Ω
- Battery: 3500 mAh, Li-Pol
- Dimensions: 130 mm × 66.2 mm × 14.6 mm
- Weight: 162 gr
Package and Delivery
A white cardboard box with a photo of a device that has become familiar over the past few years. At one of the ends - a sticker with a code for checking the originality of the product.
The delivery has everything you can dream of. The amplifier itself in the case is central in the package, except for it you will receive:
- 4 rubber rings for attaching the E18 to a regular and a large smartphone,
- legs that you can stick on the E18 to protect it from scratches when used on the desktop,
- a short audio cable with two 3.5 mm angular connectors,
- adapter cable for S / PDIF,
- a pair of cables for connecting smartphones via USB OTG,
- a pair of cables to connect the E18 to the computer.
I would like to separately mention the cover: in Fiio, the pseudo-barchat was sent to the dustbin of history and they made a cover with a slightly narrowed top on an elastic band, which makes it much more convenient to use.
As you can see, the package is the maximum possible.
Design and management
In appearance E18 is also noticeable departure from the traditions established by the E07 and E17. The new portable “combine” looks more like an E12 amplifier. The screen disappeared, digital volume control, the device itself became significantly larger. The size of the E18 almost coincides with the iPhone 5, which is quite a lot, although this DAC looks almost elegant against the background of modern Android smartphones. The increased size primarily contributed to the installation of a very capacious battery at 3500 mA / h, which allows the E18 to work 12 hours in the DAC + amp mode or the whole 25 only with an amplifier. The developers also understand the problem of the owners of modern smartphones, so the E18 can, if necessary, recharge your phone.
Externally, the E18 is very similar to the E12, with the exception of the decorative silver band at the top. The same thin body with bevels on the sides, the same black aluminum with transverse stripes of texture. Over the past years, Fiio stepped far forward in the area of build quality, and the E18 is no exception - the gold-plated connectors are located strictly in the center of the device, no seams and joints, switches and knobs are fixed and go tight enough to prevent accidental operation.
All controls and interfaces are located at the ends of the device. At the top are a volume control combined with a switch, a headphone output jack, a universal line-out / input jack, a bass boost switch and a gain switch. On the right side of the top are three playback control buttons that allow you to switch tracks without using the screen of your smartphone. What is particularly pleasing is that they work even when the E18 is connected to a laptop with OS X. At the bottom you will find two micro USB sockets, an operation mode switch and a coaxial output jack. Instead of a screen, 4 small LEDs are used for indication: three show the battery charge level, one serves as an on indicator.
Of all the controls, of particular interest are the two sockets below and the switch between them.
Micro USB connectors on the bottom of the device are two, since Fiio made a very wise decision and divided the charging of the device and connecting it via USB to a computer. The fact is that 5 volts, which are given to power the device via USB, are often not very well filtered, and using them to power an audio device causes noise. In the E07 and E17, this was solved by disabling the charging of the device through the menu, which is not very convenient. In E18, we went further and made a separate connector for charging: firstly, it is easier than a switch in the menu, secondly, the separation of power and signal into separate cables is the right solution in terms of sound. By the way, in addition to USB, you can use a high-quality power supply with a USB connector for charging.
The switch from the bottom is responsible for the mode in which your E18 will connect to smartphones: either as an external DAC, for those devices that understand audio via USB OTG, or as a charger, these two functions cannot be performed at the same time. By the way, be careful not to connect the E18 in the power bank mode to the computer: it will still not be able to charge the laptop.
Sound
The following equipment was used for listening:
- Apple MacBook Pro 15 ″ early 2011
- USB iFi iUSB Power isolator
- Decibel as a player
- Records in lossless formats
- Audio-GD NFB-6 as an amplifier
- Yulong DA8 as a DAC
- Headphones: AKG K702, Philips Fidelio X1, Fischer Audio FA-003W "Non-profit"
To ensure compatibility with Android devices in the E18, the Tenor Te7022 chip is used as a USB controller, the well-proven PCM1798 chip serves as a DAC. The DAC can work with a signal up to 32 bit / 192 kHz, but due to the Te7022 limit, the E18 only supports 24 bit / 96 kHz (which, however, is more than enough for a portable device). In the case of connecting to Android, everything will be limited by the capabilities of this OS, and, most likely, the DAC will operate in 16-bit / 44.1 kHz mode. The amplifier is built on a bundle of OPA1642 and two LMH6643, which gives approximately the same power output as the E17. The traditionally low output impedance of the device allows it to be used without problems with multi-driver "reinforcement" headphones, usually sensitive to this parameter.
For a start, I appreciated the E18 in the DAC mode, thanks to Fiio for adding a linear output to the E18 (in previous models, this required a tricky adapter). Here the new chip is revealed to the full. Like most DACs on Ti chips, the E18 has a sound with a slight warmth bias, an emphasis on bass and approximate midrange. It gives a pushy and energetic sound, which is great for most musical genres. “Paying off” for this will have some decrease in airiness and lightness of the high frequencies. To me personally, this seems like a reasonable deal, but then personal tastes come into play, and only every single buyer can decide whether such an exchange is interesting for him.
I also listened to the E18 in amp mode. This is how it can be used with most hardware that does not understand USB OTG. In this mode, the E18 works quite at the level of its closest competitors, in some ways even surpassing them. Low noise level (black background), good control of most headphones (with the exception of tight dynamic and isodynamic models), neutral pitch without undue deviations to one side or the other. There is a traditional Fiio bass amplifier that raises the frequency response at a frequency of up to 1 kHz, a maximum of +6 dB falls in the 50 Hz area. This bass boost often allows the music to add a lack of density, especially in cases of poor recording quality.
Also, without the slightest problem, the E18 works like an external DAC when connected to a computer, with a good player working with the device in Hog Mode, the sound is very detailed, with good drive and power.
The device copes very well with the pickups from the phone (not surprising for a device that is supposed to be worn on the back of the smartphone): when the gain is low and the average sensitivity of the headphones is not heard, on sensitive headphones or at high gain, the pickups become slightly audible level
findings
A very interesting device: a new sound for Fiio technology (although, perhaps, this change will not be to everyone’s liking), rich functionality, long working time, good design and build quality. By adding to this an affordable price of $ 160, we get a very interesting device. There are not so many compact DACs with Android support now, and their price tags are noticeably higher, but as was the case with the Fiio X3 player, competitors will catch up and present their vision of the device in this price segment, although by that time Fiio engineers will be working on something new.
The article is based on materials .
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