My new low cost system!

madmax

For whatever reason I decided I must have one of the Fiio X3ii portable players. It acts as a USB DAC as well. $200. Then after reading how a portable outboard headphone amp can increase the quality of sound of some headphones I picked up a Fiio E12 for $99 on sale. I mated with a pair of Polk Ultrafocus 8000 headphones I picked up at the last 50% off sale for $125. Oh, and had to buy a micro-SD card for about $50 and a USB wall charger for $7. So the system total was $481.

This little system really synergizes and each piece seems to work exceptionally well. Add about $100 for some DSD downloads and the sound is awesome! I could actually live with this as my only audiophile adventure if for some reason I couldn't have or afford a full home system.

I am very impressed!

Later on I picked up a pair of HiFiMan Songbird IEMs for $200 and they are pretty awesome as well, much better than the Shure $99 ones I used to have.

madmax

voltz

Hey Max

how do you stack it? I seen they had a HS12 stacking kit but couldn't see one for sell.

I have a Ipod classic and a JDS labs C5 I like but it only does FLAC.

madmax

The E12 amp came with a few black rubber bands, about 1/4" wide which worked well for stacking. There was also a silicon pad which you place between the two to keep them from squirming around and scratching each other.

RamZet

Awesome stuff, right?
I picked up the E07K and I paired it with my cellphone for mobile use. ( the LG G3 plays back FLAC and will even label the Flac files as "HiFi").

For desktop use I also picked up the Fiio E09K Desktop Amp/dock. I am very pleased with all the Fiio gear, its well priced and built well. Packaging was nice too.

https://scontent-yyz1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/10868178_901130389905580_8846835877644989050_n.jpg?oh=8377220ea18f7918197db7e378afda13&oe=56BF9FC3

gudnoyez

I have the JD labs C5 an iPod classic and a few iPod touches with Sennheiser and Polk headphones and sometimes feel the same way at times I prefer to listen to those over my 2 channel rigs, so I can agree with you.

madmax

A few weeks ago I tried a pair of Audio Technica M50x headphones with the Fiio. With the polk headphones the external amp made a huge difference and was almost a requirement while the M50x seems perfectly content with the built in amp.

Not to ever leave anything alone I went ahead and tried a Cayin N5 digital audio player for $350 vs $200 for the Fiio. The N5 does everything just a little better and the internal amp drives the polks pretty well. Considering the external amp is not really a requirement with the N5 it is pretty much a wash as far as cost goes. I would recommend either setup although I prefer the sound of the N5 a little more. With the right headphones the Fiio could turn out to be cheaper and smaller if you don't need the external amp.

French_guy

madmax wrote: »

A few weeks ago I tried a pair of Audio Technica M50x headphones with the Fiio. With the polk headphones the external amp made a huge difference and was almost a requirement while the M50x seems perfectly content with the built in amp.

Not to ever leave anything alone I went ahead and tried a Cayin N5 digital audio player for $350 vs $200 for the Fiio. The N5 does everything just a little better and the internal amp drives the polks pretty well. Considering the external amp is not really a requirement with the N5 it is pretty much a wash as far as cost goes. I would recommend either setup although I prefer the sound of the N5 a little more. With the right headphones the Fiio could turn out to be cheaper and smaller if you don't need the external amp.

How did you like the M50x with the Fiio X3 2nd gen? Trying to find good headphones (will be my 1st one)

madmax

It was great! Then I switched the earpads to the velvet ones and they didn't sound nearly as good with the fiio. The original earpads were much better with the fiio. Very pleasing sound.