About Me
 
I am in my fifties and have loved music and music equipment all my life. From about 8 years old, I had my first exposure to my mother’s reel to reel tape recorder. A few years later, I was bought a slab-like cassette deck from Philips which I used to record chart songs. As a teenager I pored over Laskys HiFi brochures and my first purchase was a pair of big Celestion speakers. Over the years I have had Nad, Mission, Linn, Roksan and Naim equipment. Finally Tag McClaren HiFi where I was a volunteer software beta-tester for their numerous upgrades.
 
However I always loved the idea of portables and bought a gold Sony Mini-disc player, a Sony A808 and various iPods. But until a few years back when a Google search brought up Head-Fi, I was oblivious to the thriving portables community and the quality of sound that could now be obtained.
 
Most of my listening is complete albums, and I now have a collection of Hi-Res and DSD music, which in some cases, does seem preferable to my older versions, so will listen using all formats. I work with computers all day, I have no wish to have a laptop anywhere near me when listening to music!  I use DAPs and Sonos multi-room for my digital sources, more explanation later.
 
At a Head-Fi meet at Cambridge, England, I inadvertently listened to the Hugo.  I say this because although an amp might have been on my long-term buy list for future difficult- to-drive headphones, I certainly didn’t need a DAC as I was more than satisfied with my Fiio X5 and DX90 DAPs.  But I listened to Hugo with Sennheiser HD800s and thought, just maybe, this will be a future purchase. I then listened with my Sennheiser ie800 IEMs. Should NOT have done that, I ended up buying Hugo by the end of the show!
 
 
Disclaimer
 
I received the Chord TT for 2 weeks during the British tour and will provide Chord and prospective buyers with some feedback in the form of a review. I want to thank Chord, and especially OK Guy, for including me in this program. Also for including Grado and Beyerdynamic headphones to complete the package. I will give my opinions honestly and with an open mind as to how I find this DAC/ Headphone Amp and headphones.
 
 
Equipment used for Review
 
Existing gear:
 
iBasso DX90 DAP
Fiio X5 DAP
Sonos digital player for NAS-stored music
Chord Hugo (for reference)
Rega DAC (for reference)
Sennheiser ie800 IEMs
Shure 846 IEMs
Tralucent 1plus2s IEMs (on loan)
Grado 325e Headphones
Sennheiser HD800s
 
Kindly supplied for tour:
 
Beyerdynamic T90 Headphones
Grado GS 1000e Headphones
 
 
About Hugo TT
 
 

 
 
A black-cased model was supplied, for Hugo I chose Silver which is also available. Hugo TT comes with Optical and USB cables and a Quick Start guide.  Designed for mains use, it actually runs off its batteries so can be moved freely at will. Built like a tank, like it’s smaller sibling, it feels and looks quality. A Remote Control is included; shame it wasn’t purpose designed as many keys are not functional, but it’s useful for subtle volume adjustments and input selection.  Hugo TT has A2DP Bluetooth capability with the AptX codec; not an area that I personally use, but will give a quick try.
 
The big plus for me is the extra chip inside that enables ‘last-used input’ to be retained, my one gripe about the original Hugo. I thought I had also heard that after turning off, the ‘last volume used’ was also stored, but this wasn’t happening for me. I use digital Co-ax extensively, personally I would have liked a 2^nd Digital input like my Rega DAC, but acknowledge that everyone has different needs, many will use USB from a laptop or Optical etc, so it’s pretty well covered.
 
For those who want full info, I include here the Chord specs, those familiar can ignore!
 
Hugo TT key features:

- Remote control allowing input (source) selection and volume control
- Alphanumeric LED display to show settings
- Double the battery capacity of Hugo
- 10,000,000uF (microfarads) of supercapacitor energy storage
- Fully balanced outputs using XLR connectors
- Single-ended RCA outputs
- BNC coaxial digital input
- Optical TOSLink input
- Full-sized B-type USB inputs for both SD USB and HD USB feeds
- Full galvanic isolation on the HD USB input right up to 384kHz
- Improved analogue stage output current for low distortion into low impedance loads
- 2x Quarter-inch jack headphone outputs
- 1x 3.5mm jack headphone output

Specifications:

- Advanced digital volume control
- Crossfeed filter network
- Battery-powered for power supply isolation 
- Input selection identification and remote volume up or down indication is via alphanumeric display and colour-changing LED display
- 26K tap-length filter 
- THD: 140dB
- Headphone output: 110dB SPL into a 300ohm headphone load

Inputs:

- 1x Optical TOSLink 24-bit/192KHz-capable
- 1x BNC coaxial input 32-bit/384kHz -capable
- 1x HD/SD USB B-type input up to 32-bit/384kHz

Outputs:

- 1x3.5mm headphone jack
- 2x6.35mm (1/4-inch) headphone jack
- 1x (pair) stereo RCA phono output
- Fully balanced via XLR connectors

Dimensions:

- 235mm x 45mm x 225mm (WxDx H)
- Weight 3Kg
 
 
There's been an initial disappointment by some on the forums that most of the changes from the original Hugo are in the power side of things, rather than the gate array processing code (this is the clever decoding of all those 0s and 1s that are usually performed by an off-the-shelf DAC chip, but which Chord have coded themselves). It made me think of the many Naim Amps and Streamers I’ve listened to in the HiFi world. All can be upgraded by adding separate power supplies. Sometimes even separately to the Analogue and Digital sides. I've been to demonstrations at HiFi shows and yes, as each better power supply has been added, the sound had greater authority and tighter grip.
 
Chord have improved the battery and added Supercap energy storage which they claim will improve dynamics and demanding transients. So I have reasonable hopes of an elevation in Hugo’s sound quality.
 
 
My Testing Environment
 
I do have a standard Hugo which travels between my bedroom, with much late night listing via IEMs and occasional Headphones, to the garden in summer where my Grados and Sennheisers are utilised.
 
When I'm in the Lounge, and I'm not using my Roksan TT or Tag CD player, I use Sonos multi room, or Fiio/iBasso DAPs connected to my HiFi for hires. Sound quality was average until I purchased a Rega DAC, £450, which took the sound a fair way upwards and not a substantial drop from CD. This is where I'm very keen to test TT in place of the Rega, and play through PMC GB1 Speakers and my REL sub, but will also attach headphones supplied which will be a first in my living room as never had a headphone out socket on my HiFi or home cinema before! The rest of my HiFi consists of Tag McLaren Pre and Power amps.
 
I will of course try separately with my Fiio and iBasso DAPs connected digitally via coax 75ohm cable into my Shure 846 and Sennheiser ie800 IEMs. And the very nice looking tour Headphones included, the Grado Statement GS1000e and Beyerdynamic T90s. Particularly interested in the GS1000e because I own the cheaper Grado 325e headphones. But I've also heard good things about the T90s so some exciting times ahead.
 
Initial listening was delayed as my sources needed an adapter to convert the BNC digital connector of the TT to a standard Phono/RCA socket that all my co-ax leads have. £3.50 at Maplin, and it's solved, the small adapter can then be left on as it locks tightly. Thanks to Fortis, he got his adapter in the post to me before I got into town to get one! However it would have been nicer having a RCA/Phono socket, in fact Chord’s included manual shows ‘RCA Coaxial input’ on its specs!
 
 
Sound Quality impressions
 
TT with HiFi & Speakers
 
The following evening I fire up my Fiio X5 and listen to a recent acquisition, 'Ghosts' new album ‘Meliora’. Now I'm not one to review gear by switching constantly, level matching and playing a small piece over and over again. That to me is no fun and doesn't work for me. I like to spend a fair amount of tracks with a piece of new equipment, and what I hear, how much enjoyment I get from it, is how I judge gear. But just for this album as it's completely new to me, I will first listen via my Rega DAC that lives in my system and is the usual provider to my amp and PMC speakers. Then try the Hugo that I use around the house, and finally the TT. I must say it looks lovely sat on a shelf of my HiFi rack.
 
First off the Rega DAC adds a flavour of analogue to a diehard like me. Gone is the edge of digital harshness that some equipment possesses. A pleasant listen I'm content with. But I know what happens next, because I've substituted the tiny Hugo in my full system once before. Track 5 from this Swedish Progressive Rock group’s album 'He Is' has a hint of the Moody Blues about it as the heaviness of previous tracks disappears. In comparison to the Rega, The sound has a delightful airiness, the soundstage has opened up in a very natural way.  I play the album now through Hugo TT; ‘Mummy Dust’ is heavier with a rhythmic guitar riff and the TT has added more grip to the bass. Resolution seems to have increased slightly on all tracks. Very nice indeed, enough for me to realise TT seems to add the delicacy of the Hugo but with added detail, grunt and drive. Enough of delving round the back of my rack and changing leads, from now on I'll be listening to TT in its own right, knowing it's something special.
 
I complete the album and the TT provides some great moments. On 'Deus In Absentia', there is a complete mix of emotions, the choir at the end is so engaging but midway through a ticking clock gives way to heavy guitar but the depth of soundstage remains.
 
This feeling of switching from quiet moments to dynamic so effortlessly remains throughout my 10 days listening, hence the title of my review, but with all shades in between!
 
My Sonos system is next used connected via digital Co-ax. A FLAC rip of ‘Video Games’ by Lana Del Ray is an example of the naturalness as her beguiling voice floats above the strings. As more albums are played an analogue feel remains. Any thought of sound quality’s treble, mids or bass disappears as music is just played and enjoyed.
 

 
 
 
TT with Grado GS1000
 
I take my HiFi and speakers out of the equation, and play the same album via Hugo TT's headphone out. The tour very generously included the Grado GS1000s, which despite their wood and rather 70s styling, are extremely comfortable. Full marks to Grado for supplying a longer extension cable and a 3.5mm adapter. But the square thin cardboard box does not do this premium product justice.
 
Definitely my type of sound, and a good match for the TT. Slight drop of depth naturally from the speakers, but all the previous traits shine through but with more immediacy and excitement. I reach for my Grado 325s to compare. The GS1000s definitely have a wider soundstage with better imaging and justify their much higher cost.
 
So carried away with the listening, I’m horrified when I look up and see its five to two, I should have left for work 15 minutes ago. Blaming a Hugo for being late will not go down well!
 
 
TT with Beyerdynamic T90
 
Later, I substitute the tour Beyerdynamic T90s in to the TT’s ¼ inch jack and listen to Hot Chip’s ‘Why Make Sense’ album. What a combination! The distinctive vocal sits nicely above the synthesised dance beat throughout the album. The bass is so gripping with what feels like perfect decay, and the rhythms have you tapping throughout. I like the prominent exciting treble, although some may find it too much. I can’t stop listening until the end of the album.
 
I said I wasn’t going to keep switching equipment and I now wish I hadn’t! It was sounding so good, I couldn’t help wonder whether my Hugo micro could sound like this. Unfortunately (for me) everything sounded a little bit less. Width is less, soundstage is less, detail is less, and fullness is less. I try to pacify myself that the volume might be slightly lower and raise it. Even noticeably higher, it makes no difference. After 10 minutes, I become accustomed to the less expansive sound, but that was a shock.
 
 
TT with Sennheiser HD800s
 
Amazed at the T90 and TT’s synergy the previous day on listening to Hot Chip, I try same album on my HD800s. A lovely open sound with great timing. Less treble power than the 90s and a more refined sound. But the fact the T90s were pretty close in the enjoyment stakes at a third of the price proves them to be somewhat of a bargain.
 
I change genre to a Hi-Res Norah Jones album, so spacious.  As I listen longer to the HD800s with different albums, I realise just how good these headphones are with the TT getting the utmost from them.
 
Already I think I want to hide from CHORD and keep the Hugo TT here. Or maybe elope with it!
 
 
TT with IEMs
 
Later in the week, I feel I must try with my existing IEMs so I move the coffee table forward, and run Hugo TT off it’s batteries.
 
The TT brings out the best of my Shure 846s with a delightfully balanced sound. I listen to Joe Satriani’s ‘Time Machine’ album. Tom Toms have just the right decay, sub-bass rumbles and Joe’s soaring super-strat roars away. I come to the conclusion my 846s have never approached this level of sound before. Damn you TT.
 
Likewise, the Sennheiser ie800s portray more detail than I’ve heard from them before, not quite the Shure’s midrange, but that guitar now sounds as if you were in the studio as it’s being recorded.
 
I have Tranlucent 1plus2s on loan and have largely delayed listening until the Chord and phones package departs. But a few listens through the TT makes me believe they may be the best IEM I have ever heard, and that includes many of the top models at the recent London Canjam. The TT brings an analogue feel to these exciting earphones. The title ‘Its Only Natural’ from Crowded House’s ‘Woodface’ album just about sums up everything the Hugo TT brings during its welcome stay.
 
TT via Bluetooth
 
A few firsts for me here. I link up my iPhone via Bluetooth which is quick and connects seamlessly. It’s been a few years since I used iPhone for music having found DAPs far preferable. So no surprise there is no music stored. I give Beats 1 radio a first listen, and to be honest, things are better than I thought they would be. That’s Bluetooth, Beats 1 and iPhone streaming! Spend 15 minutes listening until One Direction come on live from an Apple festival. My wife says she has Status Quo ‘Aqoustic’ album on her phone and we quickly pair. ‘Paper Plane’ takes me back in time and has decent rhythm. All in all, lower resolution of course but quite listenable. As a net radio player I could see this being quite an added benefit.
 

 
 
TT returns to HIFi
 
Before returning and packing up the TT, I return it to my lounge HiFi system, and play via iBasso DX90, a ripped FLAC ‘God Shuffled His Feet’  from the same titled album by Crash Test Dummies.  A track I’m familiar with having played it on a few systems over the year. Unless my memory is kidding me, it had never sounded as natural,  so musical. From the deep vocals, the timing of the track, to the soundstage. I used to play the CD on my TAG CD/DVD that was no mean player; in fact it was costlier than the Hugo TT. But this is sublime, better than any digital playback in my house certainly.
Who would have believed in those early ‘perfect’ days of CD, that digital playback would eventually sound this good?
 
 
Summary
 
Firstly a word about the included tour headphones.
 
The Beyerdynamic T90s were a big surprise to me. An exciting full-on listen and should be on anyone’s shortlist in their price range and above, unless looking for a warm laid-back sound.
 
The Grado GS1000e has the same house sound as my 325e’s but with significantly better instrument placement and a nice depth to the sound.
 
Now the TT. As Rob Watts (Hugo TT Designer) said in a talk at Canjam, a DAC’s duty is not to mirror the input, bit by bit. But to try to replicate the analogue waveform of the original music. Personally I think this has been fantastically achieved and can only say, the more time spent with Hugo TT, the more I will be sad to see it go. And once gone, I think I will appreciate it's strengths even more.
 
I see TT in a different market to Hugo, which is portable for many. Hugo TT is easily transportable, but will be mostly used as the cornerstone to a lounge, office, or certainly more stable setup. If you want very high quality digital music, and can afford TT, make sure you demo it.
 
I would like to re-iterate my thanks once more to Ok-Guy and Chord for giving me the chance to review such top equipment.
 
 

About Me
 I am in my fifties and have loved music and music equipment all my life. From about 8 years old, I had my first exposure to my mother’s reel to reel tape recorder. A few years later, I was bought a slab-like cassette deck from Philips which I used to record chart songs. As a teenager I pored over Laskys HiFi brochures and my first purchase was a pair of big Celestion speakers. Over the years I have had Nad, Mission, Linn, Roksan and Naim equipment. Finally Tag McClaren HiFi where I was a volunteer software beta-tester for their numerous upgrades.
 
However I always loved the idea of portables and returned with a gold Sony Mini-disc player, a Sony A808 and various iPods. But until a few years back when a Google search brought up Head-Fi, I was oblivious to the thriving portables community and the quality of sound that could now be obtained.
 
 
Equipment used for Review
 A Fiio X5 and DX90 are my first hi-res DAPs, and I’ve soon gone from Westone W40s IEMs to Shure 846s and ie800s. A Hugo portable DAC/AMP is my most recent addition. Most of my listening is complete albums, and I now have a collection of Hi-Res and DSD music, which in some cases, does seem preferable to my older versions so will listen using all formats. I will test via the DAPs, both with and without Hugo.
 
 
Disclaimer
 I received these for 7 days during the Final Heaven European tour and will provide Final and prospective buyers with some feedback in the form of a review. I want to thank Final Audio Design for including me in this program and especially Mark for making it run so smoothly.
I will give opinions honestly and with an open mind as to how I find them.
 
 
About Final Audio and the Heaven VII
This is my very first listen to a Final product so I researched a little to set the scene.
Kanemori Takai founded Final Audio Design in 1974 selling high-end MC cartridges and transformers. Final Audio has sold high-end Hi-Fi products including 'Parthenon' an exotic-looking turntable, 'Music' a top class amplifier, and ‘OPUS204’ a speaker that weighs 800 kilograms! In 2007 Final collaborated with Molex Japan, developing earphones.
The Heaven VII has a stainless steel housing and a single balanced armature driver. It is designed in Japan and handmade. It aims for vivid vocals with little distortion, and a wide soundstage.
 
 

 
Packaging, and in use
From the textured outer box with foam in its roof, to the fur inside, it exudes quality. In fact I just enjoyed stroking the fur, nicer than my cats! The heavy metal case alas, wasn't the whisky flask I first thought! It will certainly protect the earphones and has nice, what looks like suede, inner linings. Various sized silicon tips are included, and the IEMs and cable were all black with a reassuring solid-looking 3.5 plug. Apart from an etching on the housing where the chord is fixed, pretty plain, but many will like the all black design. Personally I would choose the silver housing colour for a bit of variety. I am always sceptical of non-twist cables, many of mine are a nightmare. But I have to say, this flat non-twisted cable is the best I have used and required minimal separating.
 
The comfort while listing for 40 - 90 minutes at a time was much better than I expected, with the housings protruding out of the ear. Comfier than my ear-enclosing 846s! I find a non-detachable cable fine, as long as nothing goes wrong.  A bit worried the whole units would need sending back for repair if the cable ever  became damaged.
 
One niggle is I can’t fathom out is why manufacturers make it so difficult for those without perfect eyesight, to quickly tell left from right earpieces. Credit to Westone for having different coloured housings, although they are a bit garish. Heavens have a small L & R in feint gold on a black background. Now, where's my reading glasses! Surely one larger mark in Gold or Red on the right side would easily solve this? I guess designers and testers must all be of a younger age and not encounter this problem.
 
 

 
What everyone is really waiting for - Sound Quality impressions
I always feel an excitement before listening to a new product. In this case it's because I have no idea what to expect. Firstly I've never auditioned a Final product before.
Secondly, I started my IEM journey with the four balanced armature Westone W40s.  I then bought single dynamic driver Sennheiser ie800s. I am currently trying some hybrid 1 plus 2s which in theory could give best of both designs. I also own the four balanced armature Shure 846s.
But a Single Balanced Armature design, really? I always give less importance to the technical design, and consider purely what something sounds like, but this seems an unusual choice.
Having been forewarned by a previous tester that VIIs are better with a reasonable source,  I decided to go straight in with my usual home gear of a Fiio X5 digitally feeding, via 75ohm co-ax cable, a Chord Hugo.
 
First track, by pure chance from my previous listening session, was 'All Alone' from guitar wizard Joe Satriani's excellent 1993 album 'Time Machine' which I have in 24/96 Hi Res. My first impressions were a good width but also great depth to the music that is most unusual in IEMs. It's starts with four drum beats and the decay and depth to those first beats is so natural before the bass underpins the beat in a spacious way, allowing Joe's Super-Strat 80s style guitar its own space for his elegant melody. A great start and a very enjoyable listen.
 
So much so, I reverse a track to maybe my favourite of the album, 'The Mighty Turtle Head', a far rockier number reminiscent of The Cult with one of their gigantic riffs. Maybe a denser track like this doesn't benefit from the wide soundstage, losing a bit of oomph. Mind you, I feel the same sometimes with tight rock on my HD800 cans! But as the track winds down I've become more used to the slightly less forceful  sound, compared with my other IEMs, and have become accustomed to the presentation.
 
Changing styles completely, I move to Striking Matches, a female/male duo who wrote many tracks for the current TV series Nashville. Their debut album, 'Nothing But The Silence' (FLAC) is a good test with some sparse well recorded tracks, but also some more up-tempo modern Country.
 
Listening to 'Make A Liar Out Of Me', I'm feeling I'm missing a fraction of the creamy midrange feel and detail of some more expensive IEMs, but just as I'm about to make a note of this, one of the duo's Telecasters bursts into a solo and I appreciate the way the Heaven VIIs take me into the track and I forget altogether that I'm listening to a portable, just enjoying the music. Until the very end, when analogue hiss closes the track! I reckon Striking Matches have deliberately kept or generated this for an analogue feel! Rest assured, I checked and all my other IEMs show this. Nice to know the top end isn’t subdued!
 
Time to take Hugo out of the equation.  Some may feel, 'that’s a much more costly solution than I'm using so is it relevant?'  The Hugo gives a very natural sound, maybe increases the timbre quality of the instruments, but overall, if I listen to iBasso or Fiio DAPs alone, or with Hugo, we are not talking dramatic changes. 15% maybe if you could put a figure on it, that’s the diminishing returns of higher cost equipment in our hobby. So the following tracks are matching a DAP of closer price to the IEMs. As many will agree, providing you use good quality source material, IEMs or headphones have a more pronounced effect on the flavour of sound you may like.
 
I play YES's 'Time And A Word', a re-mastered hi-res recording from the High Vibrations box set. 'Sweet Dreams' portrays the sadly departed Chris Squire's bass in a fast tight fashion, before Jon's angelic vocals are overlaid. Perhaps missing a slight bit of impact but rhythmic all the same and an enjoyable listen.
 
Taking the pace right down is Norah Jones 'I don’t Know Why' from her 'Come Away With Me' album. This shows piano, vocals, bass and drums all in their own space.  Instruments are beautifully layered, and the brushes on the drums are so delicate. Another Norah Jones track, 'Cold Cold Heart', again suits this Heaven down to a tee, showing the sense of space around the double bass and a depth to the recording that this IEM is great at.
 
Overall, the Heaven VII has good detail levels and coherence to the sound. It is clean sounding with no particular emphasis. It does lack the low end bass grip of some higher priced IEMs.  The bass is fast, just could do with a wee bit more oomph and punch. Mids are neutral and Treble I haven’t really spoken about, I think this is a testament to the fact that I usually listen to Shure 846s and Sennheiser IE800s, more expensive IEMs, and I just accepted the treble on here as neutral sounding. Heaven VII's star quality is that it has the best depth I've heard from an IEM, giving a very atmospheric sound.
 
 

 
Summary
Whether Heaven VIIs are for you depends, like any other IEM or headphone, where you listening preferences lie. For bassheads or those seeking a warm IEM, look elsewhere. But for those seeking a neutral sound signature, the Heavens VIIs should be listened to. In their price range they tick most of the boxes and their single driver with no crossovers needed, gives a very balanced sound, and excels with top-class depth and imaging. Thanks again to Final Audio for giving me this opportunity to test.

 
 
About Me
 
As this is my first review on Head-Fi, a few details of my background. I am in my fifties and have loved music and music equipment all my life. From about 8 years old, I had my first exposure to my mother’s reel to reel tape recorder. A few years later, I was bought a slab-like cassette deck from Philips which I used to record chart songs. As a teenager I pored over Lasky’s HiFi brochures and my first purchase was a pair of big Celestion speakers. Over the years I have had Nad, Mission, Linn, Roksan and Naim equipment. Finally Tag McClaren HiFi where I was a volunteer software beta-tester for their numerous upgrades.
 
However I always loved the idea of portables and returned with a gold Sony Mini-disc player, a Sony A808 and various iPods. But until that day a few years back when a Google search brought up Head-Fi, I was oblivious to the thriving portables community and the quality of sound that could now be obtained. I use DAPs mostly around the home so size is not a main consideration personally.
 
 
Equipment owned and For Review
 
A Fiio X5 and DX90 were my first hi-res DAPs, and I’ve soon gone from Westone W40s IEMs to Shure 846s and ie800s. And from B&W P7 Headphones to Musical Fidelity MF100s, Grado 325e and just recently Sennheiser HD800s alongside a Hugo portable DAC/AMP. I suffer iTunes (and its hidden art) for iPods in portable docks, but prefer drag and drop Players (Sony’s Sonicstage scared me for life!)  I am meticulous about tagging using mp3tag, and dBpower amp for converting a vast collection of CDs. Most of my listening is complete albums, either Folder view or Artist/Album meta data.  I now have a collection of Hi-Res and DSD music, which in some cases, does seem preferable to my older versions so will listen using all formats. Will test as a standalone and also my main use as a high quality digital transport.
 

 
 
 
Disclaimer
 
I received this X5ii for 10 days during the European leg of its World Tour in order to provide Fiio and prospective buyers with some feedback in the form of a review. I want to thank Fiio for including me in this program and will give opinions with an open mind how I find it.
 
 
X5 2^nd gen Specifications
 
· Body is Brushed Aluminium with a 400 x 360 Screen
 
· PCM1792A DAC

· 3300mAh Lithium Polymer battery
 
· 2 External Micro SD slots
 
· 3.5mm combined LO and Digital Audio Output
 
· USB DAC supporting 192KHz/24Bit
 
· plays FLAC, ALAC, WAV, MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG, MP2, and APE formats
 
· Size is 109mm x 63.5mm x 5.3mm
 
· Weight is 165g
 
 
Main Changes from 1^st Gen X5
 
1. All-new exterior design, improved build, with metal finish changed from powdered to brushed;
 
2. More compact and lightweight; smaller black borders around LCD;
 
3. New independent amplification stage with analogue volume control, increasing audio resolution and enabling feature for native DSD decoding; 
 
4. All new digital audio architecture, utilizing dual crystal oscillators dedicated to multiples of 44.1 and 48kHz respectively (including 176.4kHz=4x44.1, 192kHz=4x48 and DSD64 and DSD128 (multiples of 44.1), handling all major sample rates without resampling artefacts and minimal jitter;
 
5. Supporting hardware DSD decoding;
 
6. Supporting CTIA-standard in-line earphone remotes (e.g. Apple, Samsung compatible earphones)
 
7. Breakthrough power architecture design that utilizes different system voltages for low and high gain, allowing maximum flexibility between long endurance and high driving power in the same unit.
 
8. All-new power management feature: auto standby mode allows player to remain in standby for weeks, ready to continue playing instantly.
 
9. Coulomb meter for precise battery level readouts.
 
 
Feel and Usability
 
The unit feels quality all over, cleaner lines in design, with just the right weight to be portable but not feel cheap. All the buttons are nice to push with a firm acknowledgement, special mention to the Power Button with its blue-illuminated light. I didn't notice any change in the use of plastic rimmed jack sockets, they made a nice solid connection, I like the scroll wheel but am informed retail units will have an improved version so can’t comment on the final design. The Display seems to have a really bright backlight but still keeps images well saturated in colour. Much improved from the first gen.
 
 
 
 
Generally I was more than happy with the original X5's handling and I am again with the 2^nd Gen. Pushing the top-right button 'to return' originally seemed strange but now seems second nature. Immediate Power-on is nice, making it seem a long wait now for all my other players, tablets, phones etc! An operational design I do not like about the menus and selections is that they don’t start and stop at each end but scroll round and round. This seems silly to me and makes it harder to quickly go to items you know are at the top or bottom as you overshoot.
 
I am not a big user of EQ, generally using a neutral player and tailoring to my preferred signature with choice of IEM/phones. However not all albums are recorded very well and I occasionally like to subtly change things. And many users find EQ very useful so it is a shame that EQ can only be used on CD red-book rips and cannot be used for hi-res tracks.
 

 
 
 
Sound Quality
 
For a few years now, I have been alternating between a Fiio X5 original and an iBasso DX90. Differences in handling are obvious (touch screen v buttons and scroll wheel) but also to me the sound presentation difference is quite obvious. I’ve seen both units called warmer than the other countless times, they can’t both be!
 
The X5 to me had a more closed in soundstage but more forward ‘in your face’ sound. The DX90 had a more ‘HiFi’ wider open expansive portrayal but at times seemed distant. I would change preference month to month but the truth is more dependent on the music playing, Norah Jones and any intimate solo artists, well recorded, sounded great on the DX90, but Rock such as The Darkness where you needed some oomph and aggression could lack excitement. Maybe X5 has mids pushed forward a tiny bit or iBasso has them recessed, I’m not interested in graphs, only what I like the best. Over time I felt the X5 had more excitement and PRAT, and that was the deciding factor making the X5 my favoured choice.
 
Now where does the 2^nd gen X5 stand? I’ve tried to not read reviews so far until I’d completed my own so as not to be influenced! I took a 128GB Samsung micro SD card straight out of my X5 and it played flawlessly throughout the week. On first listening, I felt it pretty close to the original, but maybe cleaner and with a slightly wider soundstage; further listening would no doubt confirm whether this was a good thing as it had less distortion, or a bad thing as it becomes a tad thin and blander!
 
I like the X5ii's rhythmic sound and this was portrayed perfectly in a FLAC of Muse’s new ‘Drones’ album using Sennheiser ie800s. The track Psycho almost turns you into one, as the music took over and I completely forgot I was listening to the new player. But isn’t that what music is about, taking you away from any equipment, living the moment?
 
A more familiar album to me is (Jeff) Beck, Bogart & Appice’s self titled album and I switch to using Shure 846 IEMs. The track ‘Sweet Sweet Surrender’ yields a perfect soundstage, bass underpinning the rest of the instruments. ‘While Should I Care’ has a nice crispness to the cymbals, a quick switch to the X5 suggesting just a touch less cohesion.
 
Turning to DSD, which is played natively, I played Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Willy And The Poor Boys’ from 1969. Whether it’s the quality of DSD, the care taken over the mastering, who knows, but the sound is as clear as day but so natural at the same time, absolutely lovely.
 
For me, it’s hard not to compare with existing products I own, further listening has confirmed the X5 2^nd gen has a slightly wider, slightly cleaner sound than the original. Maybe losing a touch of upper bass excess? It is still very close to the X5 I like but leaning towards the DX90’s openness. But without losing attack or ever feeling recessed which to me can happen with the latter.
 
Well done Fiio for taking an already fine sounding player, and subtly improving on it.
 
 
Use as a Digital Transport
 
I was itching to try it with my recently purchased Hugo and ultra-sized Sennheiser HD800s. I currently use the X5 in tandem with the portable DAC/Amp and it has been superb in every way. I have nearly deafened myself twice using the iBasso for this purpose, volume on the DX90 had to be set full on when connecting via Digital Out!  Fortunately Fiio have followed the 1^st gen,  again having fixed volume for this output, retaining your normal headphone output volume independently. (EDIT: The DX90 has updated this in a firmware upgrade and now also has fixed output, thankfully!)
 
Many say that any digital source will sound the same into a Hugo. My experience is that this isn’t the case. I have heard iPhones (using CCK), the DX90 and the Fiio X5 previous to this review. To me the X5 sounded superior.
 
The X5 2^nd gen unfortunately has combined the analogue Line out (post DAC) with the Co-ax Digital out using the same 3.5mm socket. No problem I thought, its a simple software switch in the Player Menu. But no sound at all.......  A quick query on Head-Fi and within minutes I learned because of combining the sockets, a 4 Pole 3.5mm connection must be made to the RCA out. Great help immediately from the forum, big thanks to those who responded so quickly. My existing Coax leads have more standard 3.5mm connection. Fiio do provide a dedicated 4-pole adapter cable but this goes to a female RCA/Phono connection. This necessitates using two cables and I used my QED 70 Ohm coaxial cable (borrowed from HiFi’s DAP connection), but this is three feet long. Shame that as it stands there is not one small cable that can be purchased for easily connecting to a DAC, which worked so well with the original X5. 
 

 
 
I am investigating a suggested male/male 3.5 adapter that may solve this, allowing just the Fiio lead for Hugo duties.
 
EDIT: With adapter from ebay, the included Fiio cable will just attach with a stretch, but really could have done with being an inch longer.
 

 
 
 
I tried Madonna’s recent ‘Rebel Heart’ album on FLAC. Taking things up a notch now (and so it should with Hugo and HD800’s price) the early tracks displayed deep rumbling bass and a gigantic soundstage. Before giving way to later delicate tracks that made me feel she was so close in the same room!
 
Rush’s mid-career albums on CD have seemed to lack body and sounded thin to me previously, drums being almost synthetic. A FLAC 24/96 version of ‘Roll The Bones’ from 1991 seemed much improved. My feet were twitching immediately, before hands started drumming! Time to revisit other Rush albums I believe.
 
Just like the X5 before it, clipped onto Hugo’s reverse using the DAC’s supplied bands, this combo is bliss for me. Years spent in my lounge listening to full size HiFi has now largely been replaced with this transportable system. Can take from bedroom, to garden, or beside sofa in the lounge and listen at any volume I like without disapproving looks from my wife!
 
I also connected to my HiFi via a Rega home DAC. Good sound from my PMC’s floor-standing speakers. In my opinion, the ideal transport for any portable or home DAC. Then unplug, and take anywhere still retaining a very good sound quality.
 
 
Conclusion
 
The more I’ve used the X5 2^nd gen, the more I’ve come to accept it as the most neutral of players. Only a few slight operational niggles, nothing is perfect!
 
Overall, lots of small changes have improved upon the first gen. It seems the youthful younger brother or sister of the X5, slightly lighter of foot and a touch more energetic.