Intro
For the past few weeks I have been given the opportunity to get ahold of FiiO’s new R7. Now this kind of device may not be new to the personal audio industry, but being a full-on desktop All-In-One solution with tremendous amount of features in a compact package, this R7 is indeed something different. The form factor in all honesty is a bit unique upon first glance but when you consider that the R7 is capable of providing a rather small footprint on your table, it actually is quite practical.
Now Red Ape Headphone Store has been very generous with us to provide the full fleet of peripherals that are meant to be used alongside the R7 namely the PL50 power supply unit, the RM3 bluetooth remote control and also the KB1 mechanical RGB keyboard. The whole setup is quite overkill really (at least for me), but the full experience is something that makes me wonder what the future holds in this industry.
Packaging & Accessories
FiiO R7
-Power Cord
-USB Data Cable
-Flat & Angled Base
-Dustproof Plug
-MicroSD Card Adapter
-Fuse
-6.35mm to 3.5mm Adapter
-Warranty Card
-Quick Start Guide
FiiO PL50
-AC Input Cable
-DC Output Cable
-User Manual
FiiO KB1
-USB-A to USB-C Cable
FiiO RM3
-User Manual
Functions & Specifications
Here’s the spec sheet for those who care:
This Tesseract looking device sports two knobs on the front panel; the top being the power/volume control/mode selector and the bottom one being the output function selector. And then there’s the 5.0″ touch screen!!! Well it’s not new to us head-fier to find a touch screen on a desktop device such as this one but when it’s equipped with an Android (10), that’s a different story. Granted that specs-wise it’s not anywhere near any TOTL DAP circulating in the market right now but getting an Android music player that’s dedicated for desktop use and offers the chance for user to exploit its plethoral features for who knows what usage, I’d say that’s a HUGE plus. To complete the looks, FiiO decided to put all 3 major output socket for head-fiers alike which are the XLR, 4.4mm and 6.35mm headphone jacks.
Moving on to the rear end of this device, it’s Christmas baby!!! Despite the compact form factor, FiiO managed to slot in various I/O interface for common modern end-user audio. This is thanks to the multiple PCB layered next to each other as shown in their official teardown video. For the adventurers: https://youtu.be/yXgRYpUyMh8 . Let’s go through the I/O one by one. First we have the line-outs. There’s the XLR-out if you have a balanced amplifier to pair with the R7. I’m stoked that FiiO gave 2 RCA outputs so that one can use different sets of (active/passive fed through speaker amplifier) speakers without having to swap out the RCA connectors each time.
Next we have the full size SD Card slot. If you only have microSD, there’s actually a full size adapter included with the R7. Below, we have 2 USB ports, 1 being USB-C for it to be used as a desktop DAC and another one a USB-A for it to be used as a host. You can actually use another DAC with the R7 using the USB-A port. FiiO also crammed in inputs and outputs for both optical and coaxial connection, which by far blows away most devices which typically only came with either one or the other. Did I miss something? Oh yes, there’s also an Ethernet port so you can hook it up directly (or even connect to your NAS) for pure streaming convenience. Heck, the only thing went missing was an HDMI port.
Retail Price & Where To Get
FiiO R7 | RM3,099.00
Purchase Link : Shopee https://invl.io/clijyw2 | LAZADA : https://invol.co/clijyxh
FiiO PL50 | RM689.00
Purchase Link : Shopee : https://invl.io/clijz0r | LAZADA : https://invol.co/clijz3j
FiiO KB1 | RM59.00
Purchase Link : Shopee : https://invl.io/clijz51
FiiO RM3 | RM99.00
Purchase Link : Shopee : https://invl.io/clijz66
Design
Like I said earlier the design choice may be different but in truth, it’s designed with practicality in mind. The portrait oriented screen is something that we’re accustomed to with our mobile devices making it intuitive when navigating the screen. When you turn the R7 to the sides, FiiO did a very nice job of implementing both of the side covers as ventilation passage with honeycomb patterns garnished on top of fine mesh. While there’s no exhaust fan built-in the R7, the passive cooling is more than enough to keep the device cool even during extended time of operation. The crammed rear end of the R7 was able to accommodate everything that it has to offer all at once. You can plug everything in and leave it there, hassle free. The included angled base silicon pad also helps tilting the R7 slightly upwards for ease of screen view and navigation.
Sporting a very industrial look, the PL50 is a very welcome addition to pair with the R7. This thing is heavy. Now why a DC power supply? Does the R7 needs DC to run? The answer is NO. You can toggle the R7 to run either on AC or DC. Supposedly it should eliminate unwanted noise and crosstalks between electronic devices and delivers a clean, noise-free DC power supply to the R7. However, I personally find that there’s no audible differences in noise and crosstalks attenuation in DC mode as compared to AC since the R7 is plugged in a dedicated power socket in my room.
They kind of carried on with this ‘industrial’-ish design vibe with the KB1. They look sleek together. Period. The KB1 can be plugged into the R7 using the ‘Host’ USB-A port and the play/pause, previous and next button worked flawlessly. The volume knob can also be doubled as the power button for the R7 which includes on/off and also mode select. In mode selection, the knob can be turned to navigate through the options on the menu and pressing on the knob will select the highlighted mode.
Features
Out of the two knobs in front of the R7, one is dedicated to select the output modes. The PO•Pre Out mode will activate both the phone out and pre-amp out from the R7. This allows you to use both outputs simultaneously. The PO mode will only activate all 3 analog outputs in front of the unit while the Pre Out will trigger the R7 to be used only as a pre-amp through the analog outputs on the rear end. My personal preference is to use the R7 in LO mode which bypasses the internal gain control to full blast and to connect the R7 to an external amplifier unit. This significantly improves the already good sounding R7 to a stellar performing combo which excels both in terms of sound quality and technicality. That’s the hardware part.
Moving on to the software part, this is much more interesting because it opens up a whole new possibility of usage to be exploited. Pushing the power button once, the R7 will go into a mode selector menu which includes:
•Android Mode
•Pure Music Mode
•USB DAC Mode
•BT Receiver Mode
•Airplay Mode
•Coaxial In Mode
•Optical In Mode
•Roon Ready Mode
So basically, FiiO utilizes the software part to select the input and device mode while dedicating the hardware part to handle the output selection. Having tested all the modes except the Roon Ready since I’m not subscribed to Roon, I’ll say that for now the R7 is the end all be all. Switching through the modes was a breeze once you have figured out all the connections that are deemed necessary.
And then we have the RM3 remote control which in my opinion is a really cool addition to the fleet. It’s made out of plastic so the build quality is just average and honestly feels cheap. The one thing that intrigues me the most is the mouse button. Once clicked, there’ll be a cursor on the R7 cute screen where you can navigate the menu using the cursor + gestures. It’s utilizing gyro movement (similar to when you’re playing video games or watching VR) that takes some time to get used to. A bit counter-intuitive to use at first and you might as well pair the R7 straight to your bluetooth mouse at hand. I paired the R7 with my M720 Triathlon and it just works more intuitively. Nonetheless, it’s a cool function though.
Songs Used
Equipped with the ESS Sabre 9068AS DAC and THX-AAA-788 amplifier module, it’s kind of hitting the perfect ballpark of having a balanced, somewhat neutral sound signature. The tonal balance is skewed slightly towards the bright side, typical Sabre DAC signature but this time it came with a very satisfying low end. There’s 5 gain settings on the R7 and depending on the IEM / headphones you use, select wisely because it can either make it a wonderful or dreadful listening experience. I tested the R7 with 3 of my IEMs that in my opinion excels in different parts and each are distinctive in their own rights and requirements which are the Unique Melody 3DT, the Etymōtic ER4XR and the Final Audio E5000. I’ll use the Final E5000 for this writing as I find that it has the most synergy with the R7, especially in Ultra High gain setting.
Bass
Lush and clean is what I’d describe the low-end to be on the R7. The sub-bass goes deep and it manages to provide enough sound pressure through the E5000 to make it rumble but still remains calm and controlled. Mid-bass is punchy and clean making it a different listening experience with the E5000 and just shows how capable the single Dynamic Driver is. Now one might anticipate that this pairing may be a bass-heavy combination but in reality, the R7 balances out the E5000’s tuning which makes it a more ‘mature’ sound representation. The only thing missing with this combination is bass texture where it’s very subtle that you can easily missed it.
Mids
There’s no bleed in transition between bass to lower mids and it sounds natural yet somewhat clean. The slight warmth gave the vocals a more natural, snappy representation rather than being sloppy and to me it sounds balanced and slightly forward in relation to the recessed mids on the E5000. This resulted in a detailed yet not overwhelmingly exhaustive vocals. Though it’s not as transparent as I’d like, this combination provides enough sensation for me to be drowned in any vocal oriented music and to just simply enjoy the fast transient. Upper mids is well articulated where you can hear the subtle nuances and appreciate the no-nonsense, realistic amount of micro-details as if you’re there in the studio with that artist.
Highs
As typical as any ESS DAC would sound – being bright, the R7 is no exception. The lower-treble while not being peaky can be somewhat sharp at times. For the most part, sibilance is not in this combination’s dictionary. And yes, this came from listening with the “Bass Cannon” E5000. Treble while seemingly being overdone is much appreciated to make the E5000 sounds livelier, more exciting with more than enough headspace to indulge in. As a result, the amount of air is enough and honestly it’s a lot for an IEM to present that much space and it left me satisfied without even desiring of wanting more. The R7 allows the E5000 to breathe in a more controlled manner which should provide enough joy to the listener.
Soundstage, Imaging & Separation
Average at its best. Yes, there’s no bells and whistles here about the soundstage and I’m far from belittling on this device as I’d love myself some holographic, enormous soundstage. Again, the R7 manages to provide the E5000 with a wider soundstage, complementing the its already deep sounding soundstage. Not to mention the elevation that the THX-788 provide is good enough. When you combine an already technically enjoyable IEM with the THX amplifier, it’s an arguably good formula. Imaging is spot on along with excellent layering and sound directions which be easily distinguished. Now do note that the THX amplifier is not over-exaggerating but rather to provide a more ‘realistic’ experience. I’m impressed, but honestly not satisfied.
Synergy
As we all can agree dear fellow audio gear enthusiasts, synergy between different equipment is one of the most important aspect to be considered. I’ve found that the R7 plays really well with either a Harman-Neutral tuned or a really warm-“ish” tuned IEM as it will affect the actual tuning of the said IEM to provide a more balanced sounding listening experience. Now I’m not saying to stay clear from it if you only prefer brighter-tuned earpieces but the harshness that it may present might get unpleasant over time as the clean and neutral sound of the R7 might not favor you for that.
Comparison (via Final Audio E5000)
FiiO M11Plus ESS + Topping NX7 (ES9068AS + NFCA)
Now why would I use the M11Plus as a comparison? Because the firmware being used is of the M11Plus. How do I know this? Because once I plugged in the R7 in DAC mode, it was triggered as ‘FiiO M11Plus’ on my popup window. There you have it. Are they similar in sound? A little bit, yes. Similar characteristics until you crank the R7 up on Ultra High gain mode and then it’s a different story. The power output is unrivalled by the M11Plus hence came in the Topping NX7 to the rescue! In terms of sound, the M11Plus combo hits quite a bit harder on the bass shelf with more present bass texture. The mids is slightly cleaner but somewhat weightier in comparison. However the treble on the R7 is effortless producing more polished top-end with enough sparkle and air. In terms of technicality, the NX7 really expands the soundstage of the M11Plus where it sounds larger than the R7. Imaging is similarly precise on both devices but the M11Plus + NX7 reigns supreme in separation where everything seems to be very well rendered and being presented with better tidiness. With all the might and output power of the R7, it’s kind of a letdown to see it being trampled by a simple ‘old-school’ combo. But hey, they’re both of a different nature anyway which one is meant to be portable while the other is meant for a whole lot more.
FiiO K5Pro (AK4493 + 1.5W@32ohms)
One might wonder what are the significant upgrades if they’re going to jump up from the K5Pro. First off the features. I mean, it’s a lot that you’ll be getting from the R7 along with all the possibilities of your future setup might be. Not to mention that you won’t need to have a dedicated source device anymore since the R7 got you covered. On to the sound, bass slam hits hard on the K5Pro making the R7 sounded a little soft in comparison. But the R7 makes up for its fine texture and rumble which I find much more mature and satisfying. Mids is warmer on the K5Pro, making it sound more weighty and really favor those growls and deep vocals while the R7 sounded more technical with its details and nuances. For the treble, the R7 might sound brighter in comparison to the more polite and polish of the AKM that came with the K5Pro. But the amount of clarity and air that the R7 can provide is on another level. I’d say it’s up to your preference whether you’d like to hear all the minute details or you just want to enjoy the soul of the music. Despite having more output power, the R7 seems to sound smaller in terms of soundstage in comparison to the K5Pro. Though, the R7 did makes up for it in terms of much better separation and superb imaging. In truth, it’s a really worthy upgrade if you consider all that you’ll get for the price. For me, it’s a clear win for the R7 if you consider the overall package.
Audio-GD NFB 28.38 (ES9038Pro + 9.5W@40ohms)
To be honest, this is like rubbing salt into the wound. But bear with me on this as this is just pure comparison of the ‘new-school’ vs the ‘old-school’. Minus all the bells and whistles that the R7 has under its hood, let’s get straight to the sound. The NFB28 digs deeper with more rumble but remains controlled and full of impact. Mids sounds lusher and while it might lose some of the minute nuances in comparison to the R7, it provides a more soulful vocal representation. Treble is more comfortably tuned with plentiful of details and nuances without losing any sense of air. In terms of soundstage, the R7 is no match for the NFB28. It’s honestly even tiny in comparison. Separation is somewhat on par on both while the R7 edges slightly in terms of crystal clear and distinct imaging. Clearly the NFB28 is not your typical ESS sounding DAC/AMP combo and it really shows how a good amplification can complement the whole setup. But at literally 1/6th of the footprint of the NFB28 and packed with a whole loads of feature in a compact system, it’s a no brainer that the R7 is more suited towards the more modern, minimalist-oriented users.
For Who?
Versatility at its best. As the name suggests, the FiiO R7 is a great all-in-one solution for those who are looking to setup a minimalist desktop audio station
which not only covers your head-fi needs, but also capable of bringing the near field hi-fi setup one step closer. You just name however that you’re going to have fun with it, the FiiO R7 got you covered. At least for the most part.
