The ultimate Android upgrade

I use since November 2013. Samsung Galaxy Note 3 times with music in MP3 format (320 kbit / s), with 41.1 times FLAC kHz / 16 bit, but rarely high-res files. The Grade 3 tolerates are predominantly good with a headset Philips Fidelio X1 / 00 and primarily with a PSB M4U1. The volume on the Philips is unfortunately limited in height. Since this but sounds best on the resolution here, I've been looking for a mobile KHV and stumbled in my search on the FIIO E-18. KHV plus DAC! Replaced in combination with the score 3 including an immediate high-res audio player, such as the Sony NWZ-ZX1, ​​which I also had the focus. So much for theory.

To practice and to sound conclusion but right away:

This little quality and excellently processed part creates a stage and timbres, which I would never dreamed possible in combination with a smartphone. I had some time ago a iBasso DX-50, which did not convince me sound so right. This 180-EURO upgrade is happening now but to a whole new world of sound. Even the mp3's have a quality that is far above what I've ever heard from a mobile device. If you want to be very subtle, must be the E-18 ascribe a slight tonal hardness or sharpness. This comes in Hip-Hop, Electronic, Nu Soul, etc. not so much to bear. On the contrary, the music has neat punch, a clean bass and balanced highs and lows. Only with acoustic pop or jazz notice that the voices sound a little colder, than, say, a Pioneer N-50th But here intervenes a big advantage compared to iBasso. Whether you audio player hears Pro via the Google Stick player, PowerAmp or USB, by means of available EQ settings you can adjust the sound so individual that between bathtubs sound and flat sound everything seems to be possible and thus for each headphone sound corrections are possible, which are denied when iBasso because of its rudimentary EQs. There are also other uses for the E-18 on the PC / Notebook (Windows 7 is not a problem), as battery charger or as a pure KHV.

For handling: I've tested tablet Mark 8.0 in addition to the Samsung Note 3 a HTC One (M8) and a Samsung. The HTC worked immediately with all Android players as well as with Spotify, the Mark 8.0 however required to USB Audio Player Pro (around 5.00 EUR on the Android Play Store) for playing audio. The supplied cable cover all fields of application, where I have the Digi-Coax Out but not yet tested.

For conclusion, who needs the FIIO E-18?

Sure, you dragged traveling with 2 devices, which are optionally bonded to each other with a rubber. The looks on the one hand from goofy and is for the morning subway ride probably a bit excessive effort. But who is more common with the DB road, air travel often takes on holiday or just want to listen to sophisticated music that is hardly get past this price-performance wonder. The (possible) tonal value of an iRiver Astell & Kern AK 100 or 120 can not justify 500 1100 EUR from my perspective. I am also respect. Memory with a 128 GB micro-SD plus. Memory of my Android phones in similar dimensions on the go, such as the already mentioned players from iRiver, or Sony iBasso. In addition, I have more than the excellent file-handling of Android in combination with various apps for listening to Internet radio or streaming audio files. For me the FIIO E-18 is therefore definitely the best-Buy 2014!

UPDATE 11/01/2014:
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Unfortunately, I have recently had massive problems with interference interference with this really great device when my Samsung has been note in GSM mode (happens eg with train rides, if you want to surf the T-Mobile Hotspot Wi-Fi and is instructed by LTE switch to GSM transmission). But even in low data and network coverage may happen. Music was practically audible only with interference and humming. Then really the only option, place the device next to your smartphone and to dispense with the "piggyback" position. Read in numerous British and American forums. For a mobile-to-use device actually an absurdity and perhaps also the reason why the Fiio is E18 currently no longer offered. Therefore, from my side 1 star deduction.