The Fiio E10K is now more than a decade old, but it remains a viable choice for improving audio quality on a budget. This compact DAC (Digital to Analog converter) has undergone a few changes since its original release back in 2014 and now incorporates a USB-C input that effectively accommodates modern technology. The model I’m reviewing is the E10K-TC, the newer release.
I’ve owned this DAC for around 3 years and use it daily. In this article, I’ll run through what I’ve found when using it, how it performs, its design as well as what you’ll be sacrificing compared to more expensive models on the market.
Key Takeaways:
- Super lightweight and portable design.
- Effectively improves detail and soundstage.
- Features bass boost and gain control.
- Upgraded to feature USB-C input.
The Bottom Line
For an effective and affordable way to improve your headphone quality, or to power high-impedance headphones, look no further than the Fiio E10K. At around $80, this digital-to-analog converter effectively adds detail to audio and improves the soundstage. Its portable design also makes it easy to carry with you while traveling.
What I Like:
- Bass boost option.
- Compact, easily portable design.
- Can drive high-impedance headphones effectively.
- Has a second line-out port.
What I Don’t Like:
- Buttons blend into the speaker and are hard to see.
- Treble can come across as a bit harsh and unbalanced.
- No app support.
Compact and Lightweight Design
Weighing less than 80 grams, the E10K is an extremely light device. It can also easily fit into the palm of one’s hand, making it portable too. Now granted, DACs aren’t exactly something one needs to carry around a lot, but I’ve found it really useful to take with me when traveling or wanting to use in another room of the house.
A minor challenge I’ve encountered from the lack of weight, however, is that a stiff cable can sometimes elevate one side of the DAC a little off the surface. That’s to say, there isn’t really enough weight to anchor it to the surface. Since there are no rubber stands on the base, it can also slide around when stretching the connecting cable.
The build quality is impressive for its sub-$80 price point, with a strong metal shell and volume control that is smooth and well-fitted, and allows for even minor adjustments to the volume, rather than strictly jumping between levels.
Simplicity Is At The Core Of The E10K
If you’re after a ton of fancy features and want to feel like you’re piloting an airplane, this isn’t the DAC for you. Instead, the Fiio E10K has a simple design with only a few controls, located on the front and the back of the DAC.
On the front, you’ll find a 3.5mm output, which is the primary connection port for your headphones. Then there’s a bass boost feature, which some audiophiles may lift their nose up to, but for most users offers a quick and effective way to increase the bass. And let’s face it, most of us enjoy a bit of emphasized bass when we’re in the mood and the music calls for it. Next to that is the volume dial which ranges from 0 to 8 and has an off setting too.
On the back, you have a coaxial output. Coaxial isn’t commonly used, but having the option is neat – as it’s a way to increase fidelity through a pure digital signal. Most commonly used when feeding the signal into another DAC or external amplifier/receiver.
There’s also a gain switch that can be set to low or high, to boost amplification. Finally, there’s a second line out if you’d like to connect another pair of headphones, so two people can listen at the same time. I sometimes use this when producing a track and want a friend to listen to the progress alongside me.
Overall, I find that this DAC manages to offer all the essential features and controls, without forcing me to pay for additional fluff that I’m unlikely to use.
Sound Quality, Soundstage, And Tone
I could go into all the fine details of the PCM5102 chip or the XMOS XUF208-driven decoding, but chances are you’re not interested in all that and just want to know how it’s going to impact your audio performance.
Here’s what you need to know…
The E10K gives a dramatic boost to audio quality that not only makes it sound more detailed but also more immersive. When I first paired it with my Philips Fidelio X2HR, I was shocked by how much better my cans sounded.
Not only did it improve the soundstage and clarity, but it made everything sound a lot more nuanced. It brings out subtle elements in the mix that seemingly get easily lost without the DAC.
It also gives a major boost in volume, and I started to have to set my Windows volume levels much lower than I was used to having them, even with the gain set too low.
Of course, where this device truly shines is in its ability to power higher-impedance headphones. If you’re using high-impedance headphones and your built-in computer DAC isn’t giving you sufficient power, this is an affordable way to elevate your sound quality and give your cans the power they need to perform at their best.
Since they have a low-noise floor, it doesn’t just suit high-impedance cans. You can use this DAC with just about headphone or earbud and hear improvements, just keep in mind that it only offers 3.5mm outputs, so you can’t connect a USB headphone to it.
A Worthy Buy For Budding Audiophiles and General Consumers
Whether you’re entering the audiophile space for the first time and want to prepare for owning a set of high-impedance headphones, or simply want to improve the quality of your existing cans – the Fiio E10K is a great little DAC that does everything it promises.
Once you own one, you’re likely to wonder how you went so long without it.
Fiio E10K
For an effective and affordable way to improve your headphone quality, or to power high-impedance headphones, look no further than the Fiio E10K. At around $80, this digital-to-analog converter effectively adds detail to audio and improves the soundstage. Its portable design also makes it easy to carry with you while traveling.
Product Brand: Fiio
4.2
Pros
- Bass boost option.
- Compact, easily portable design.
- Can drive high-impedance headphones effectively.
- Has a second line-out port.
Cons
- Buttons blend into the speaker and are hard to see.
- Treble can come across as a bit harsh and unbalanced.
- No app support.
I wonder why the device does not have an analog input?