Fiio E5/E6 audio amplifier

Fiio E5 was released back in 2009 whilst the E6 was released this year as an update to E5. E5 was a solid budget amp and E6 does not fail this statement. Way back in 2008 when E3 was released, I saw Fiio as a potential company providing value for buck amplifiers and this is a testament for that.

For E6, the sound quality is actually very good, given the segment of audience that it is targeted at. And yes, the E6 is an improvement over the E3 and the E5. You got some nice detail, good amount of driving power, a pretty sparkly treble, and a tonality that slightly emphasizes the low treble. Pair this with the average mainstream consumer headphones or earphones out there, and the low treble emphasis injects a mild clarity effect into the sound signature (tested on the BlackBerry premium music earphones, aka the one that came with the BlackBerry Bold 9000 as well as the iphone4 earphones and Samsung Galaxy S2 earphones), while the relatively potent amplifier improved the punch and articulation of the bass section.

Comparing E5 and E6, on a flat EQ, E6 sounds cleaner than the latter. Sound wise, however, it still loses a tad of warm from the mid, but it does become crisper on the treble. Overall, E6 sounds a hair more extended and revealing than E7, which also means it sounds better than E5 by a decent margin.

Doing a playback from my BlackBerry Bold 9000, 9780 and 9900 as well as my ipod nano Gen 5 and iPhone 4 and not forgetting my Creative Zen X-Fi, I’m glad to say that there is no significant RF interference.

With more features packed (EQ modes) in the E6, the controls was certainly slightly more confusing than the E5 and it takes a little while to get used to the controls. However, the EQ’s on the new E6, as I found, were more or less useless, distorting the sound signature in many songs. Using it on the flat EQ seemed to satisfy most music tracks.

Overall, comparing with the old e5, the plus is that the low frequency response is flatter, there is significantly less low frequency distortion, a bit less noise, and there is a special mode to allow a 2 Vrms input. But, on the negative side, the E6 has less useful EQ.

The E6 is clearly made to be an amplifier for the masses, and just by looking at the build quality and features, it probably is the most mainstream-ready portable headphone amplifier in the market (after E5 of course). It is small, it is built well, and it is packed with convenient features like USB charging just like E5.

Though I would have preferred the metal casing the E5 came over the plastic that the E6 offered, the quality of build is still as good as it should be although using the clip or buttons I was afraid that it would break apart anytime.

To add on, the colorful LED light that shows you its status is beautiful to look at though it can be over attention drawing in the public at night. So, depending on the scenario, the light could be a gift or a boon.

In conclusion, as a budget, entry-level amplifier, this device certainly packs a punch within it. The Fiio E5 did present itself well, but with its upgraded brother, the E6, it just got even better. The Fiio E6 may not be a like-for-like replacement for a headphone amp costing more than $150, but if you have splashed out on a half decent pair of earphones, there is every chance that this cheap and convenient gadget could make them sound significantly better. In short, the Fiio E6 is better than it has any right to be. Available from $33 with registered mail, $37 with courier delivery, get it today as the first step to improve your music life. (Retail Price: $45)