Yes, you are right. Most digital source these days do their EQ in tehe digital domain, meaning EQ has been added to the digital stream before it is sent to the DAC.

Most digital source's volume is also digitally controlled too. Actually there is probably volume control (similar to an amp stage) in the DAC stage, but it is digitally disable to give a line-out signal. Now some might mistake that line-out must mean no amp, but there real thing is a little more complicated than that. The only requirement to be a line-out is that signal must be in line-level. As long as it is on line-level, it is a line-out (of course some line-out might be better than others)

how does it pair with HD681 then?

nice pic

Why I don't see audiophile user use sony walkman mp3/4 player? It is not so good ? eg: Sony Walkman NWZ-A840(Audiophile series with s-master digital amp). how about creative zen x-fi2? And hippo gumstick(class A amp ). These players oso come with internal stock (build in) amp, so does these player can/need pair with fiio e11 to enhance the IEM/Headphone performance ? Let say the user have a pair of good IEM/ headphone. I see so lyn audiophile user use sandisk-sansa player does it good?

S-Master is a marketing gimmick. Supposedly amplifies the digital signal rather than the analog signal. I don't know if the benefit of that is tru(lesser distortion they say) but I don't see other people doing it, or marketing it that much. Although they do sound quite fun and full bodied.
I've tried Zen X-Fi2, and I don't know if it's the setting, but holy crap, they were very bloated with bass.

Mind you, every single portable player in existance has an amp in them. If not we'd be listening directly from the DAC. It's just that some uses one that is a bit better than others. People use amp with their portable sometimes if they want their rig to sound a certain way, or the portable can't drive the IEM/headphone efficiently(needing more volume on the DAP to the point of distortion, having weaker characteristics like "lazy" bass, recessed mids etc.)

I've had a Sansa, very good for its price. Warm, but sometimes it feels like the flat frequency response needs a bit of encouragement.

Wow! The pictures are like having the E11 disected

Can sansa play lossless file? Another question, cheapo mp3/4 player internal amp how bad? Bro calmshot told me big amp(eg: Fiio E11) need very good earphone/headphone to pair with it, how about the audio player(I mean cheapo mp3/4)? I know 2 thing cheapo mp3/4 player no Dock Adapter Cable and lossless feature.

This post has been edited by wkkm007: May 31 2011, 10:44 PM

Clip/Clip+:
http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a...lip%20supported

Fuze/Fuze+:
http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a...d-music-formats

Sansa View:
http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a...iew%20supported

You're welcome.

Define cheapo. Cuz, sansa clip+ and cube c30 is pretty much cheap to me, but have a decent SQ(sound quality) and can play lossless format.

Anyway, as for pairing source, amp and headphones; AFAIK the ideal would be a a good source with line out, good amp and good headphones. (or replace the word good to great if you'd like )

Though, the synergy between components is usually more important i.e. a setup that doesn't use headphone out to amp may sound better than another setup which uses line out, despite the fact that they're using the same amp and headphones. In the end, you'll have to test out the combination of player/amp/headphone yourself to know.

Just my 2 cents. Experts are welcomed to CMIIW.

aiyaaa, sial timing!! when i just went home, the PosLaju guy left 5 minutes before, now i have to arrange Self Collect my E11, zz

Goodness

That's sad lol.
Enjoying my e11 as i reply. Like the wider soundstage from the e11. xD

Getting high on your poison by now

it's been into the third hour

---

Added on June 2, 2011, 10:03 pmokay here is my impression of Fiio E11 with my PC Rig
Songs i am testing on:

喔爱 - 曹格(MP3 VBR V2 44.1Khz)

I will not go into specifics like treble bass and stuff, i will just do an overall, vocals are clear, with saxophones, flutes, drum, pitches, background vocals all visibly audible. Sound stage is very clearly separated, i can differentiate if the sub-vocals are near the singer, saxophones at quite behind with the flutes, and drums in the center stage, placement differentiation is nice. An A for a VBR format MP3 playback

Mutiny - Hans Zimmer The OST of "On Stranger's Tide" ( FLAC 912 kbps 44.1Khz)

This soundtrack is fully orchestral, and i can hear very clearly all the minor details in the song, like the small "oomph" sound by the vocal team, the echo of the equipments, which normally nobody would mention. Superb performance for Flac based songs, with all details coming out and can notice even the slightest "hm" sound by the vocal team.

Turn Around (5,4,3,2,1) (Prod. by DJ Frank E; Dada Life, Oligee) - Flo Rida (MP3 CBR 320kbps 48Khz)

This is a rap + techno song, and basically hearing for DJ mix in background, which was not very obvious in my Hippo Box, in this it is clear that the DJ mixed up some of the sound effects, and background vocals. Keyboard playback is clear running through left and right of the SRH440.

and thats about all audio format commonly listened by us, and i categorized it out, and i have to conclude:

FLAC - of course in FLAC format songs, i get my maximum hearing pleasure with all he detailing well placed and positioned
VBR MP3 - this is kinda a balanced one, some details are able to reflect well, some don't, maybe cause of the nature of VBR format
CBR MP3 - now, this is an all rounder, not much goes out of line, and also lost, everything is flat through the line, but still in elevated level in comparison

---

Added on June 2, 2011, 10:06 pmforgot to mention all are used under "High Power High Gain Zero EQ" and ASIO F2k, max vol on PC, volume at only 2 (very loud d!!!) on Fiio E11

This post has been edited by noobandroid: Jun 2 2011, 10:06 PM

wow good review so detail thanks
me too,enjoy e11 very much but not as detail as u did all i can say is it sound good

Those IEM look a lot like Vsonics....are they?

Any more photos

this is where i sit at least 6 hours a day

Wow! Did you use Bluetac to stick the E11

no, i use sticky pad called "Gekko", re-washable and reusable