A successful upgrade of the E10!

I am already since mid-June in the possession of the predecessor FiiO E10 and was from this already difficult excited because what you get here for your money, I would never have dreamed. As the successor E10K was announced a short time later, of course, I could not wait to test whether FiiO actually again could put up a gear.

Facility: A brief word to the packaging. This now is no longer noble metal thus how even its predecessor, but is now completely out of cardboard, which personally does not bother me. Here you have probably saved and instead invest more in the sound quality. Enclosed are rubber feet to glue and a regular micro-USB cable (the E10 was still operated with mini-USB). The processing is again slightly better than when the E10. The headphone jack finally gilded and has no game, nothing wobbles or acts otherwise cheap in any way. The setup is as simple as its predecessor. Simply plug into an available USB port and select the audio source to the FiiO E10K. The E10K is however for me still as "E10" appears (Mac OS X).

Sound: I am of course not an expert and can not demonstrate scientifically precise measurements of how much better the E10K actually sounds. However, I imagine, as an experienced musicians have a very good trained ear. Compared Test (Headphone Audio-Technica ATH M-50) with all kinds of music (rock, metal, house, dubstep, minimal) of the E10 has always been a more bass-driven sound, while the E10K the frequencies clearly separates and overall more balanced sound. What has always bothered me a bit: at higher volumes the E10 distorted slightly, so that a significant noise effect is created in quieter parts. This is the E10K now fortunately no longer exists.

Also, I am happy to say me that the "Bass Boost" function is finite also be used for music without sacrificing quality. The E10 has the sound significantly vermatscht when the bass boost and had to use so more than in movies. The E10K contrast emphasizes really only the lower frequencies without to sink the highs and mids while or to mix. This is of course especially great for bass heavy music genres like house, trance or dubstep.

Conclusion: FiiO has really made it for the same price to provide better performance and presents the E10K a successful new edition of his bestseller E10. I can recommend the E10K all newcomers to desktop HiFi world only highly! Similarly, but the upgrade worthwhile for owners of the original E10. I will not give my anyway.