Verdict
A fabulously versatile and capable background amplifier , the FiiO R7 produces an entertaining , balanced , and musical public presentation across a range of sources in a compendious , quad - save form . A surprisal gem of 2023 .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
FiiO is probably best cognise for its portable music players , but that ’s not the only product field they paddle in with the R7 one of their more intriguing products .
The FiiO R7 is an all - in - one system , a Swiss Army tongue of a hi - fi intersection : aDAC , a headphone amplifier , and a streaming system . Where before you take three corner to action those demand , FiiO has shrunk them to accommodate into one unit that sit down on your background .
Is it too good to be dependable ? I think it ’s an absolutely break product for those who want to boil down their hi - fi footprint .
Design
The FiiO R7 takes the appearance of a column ( available in black or bloodless options ) , and that has the vantage of taking a small step . Indeed , if you need , you could add an active speaker unit ( FiiO ’s SP3 , for example ) , or summate a organisation if you have one already .
Aesthetically , the FiiO R7 is a strong - looking slab of howdy - fi kit . Most of its fascia is taken up by a 4.97 - in touchscreen ( 720p resolution ) that ’s like FiiO ’s portable euphony actor .
There are loudness dials to the side that cover power / mass ascendance as well as analogue / line output excerpt , of which there are four : headphones and the preamp , headphones or the preamp , and the line out connection . Such are the form on offer , you could have sound output to speakers and headphones simultaneously .
There ’s a ring of lighting around the dials that change vividness look on the sampling rate or Bluetooth file the R7 is currently playing .
Below the dials you ’ll find headphone inputs ( initially protected by a cover ) ranging from a 6.35 millimeter production , to a balanced 4.4 millimeter , and a balanced four peg XLR connexion . Around the back are two RCA line production , a balanced line output ( left and proper ) , Ethernet , micro - SD slot , USB - C 3.0 remark , USB - A port , along with ocular / coaxal inputs and optical / coaxial outputs . away from anHDMI porthole , you ’re well stocked for touch base a range of other devices .
The screen is bright , colourful and well readable , though an aspect that ’s fussy is the touchscreen itself . While it ’s antiphonal , and the interface is speedy , I detect I often had to jab and prod , which is not the best mean of interaction . I ’d prefer a remote or a computer keyboard , especially with digit as big as mine . FiiO has obviously consider this as an issue as it sells the heavyset KB1 mechanical keyboard .
Typing on the screen can be frustrating when arrive at the wrong letter of the alphabet , and though I ’ve enunciate the blind is responsive , there are times when some presses do n’t register .
Despite consider just over 1 kilogram , the FiiO R7 does not feelasheavy as it looks . The build quality convey a solidness ; and while the screen is n’t inauspicious to daub or the collection of rubble , this can be wipe off . It runs a footling tender during use , but nothing that unduly concerns , with ventilation on both side .
you may reconcile the R7 on groundwork , one of which angle it upwards , while the other hold it direct or goes sans any feet . One affair I would have liked is a longer king cable as while the current one is fine , it means have to place the unit closer to the mains if you do n’t have an extension cable television . A 6.3 millimetre headphone transcriber and Coyote State card holder are append within the accessories .
Features
The FiiO R7 is powered by an ES9068AS DAC and a pair of THX ’s AAA-788 + headphone amplifier ( AAA stands for Achromatic Audio Amplifier ) . That ’s the same as what feature in FiiO’sM17 portable music musician .
phone ohmic resistance is recommended at 16 to 150 ohms for the pre - out inputs , and 16 to 300 Georg Simon Ohm for the balanced inputs for an optimal experience .
The R7 runs a customised version of Android osmium but operates like an Android smartphone which make for an odd experience for a desktop amplifier as you could download any app usable in the Google Play Store – evenNetflix . If you ’ve enable machine login , you wo n’t have to manually embark your detail , which is helpful in that it quash using the touchpad .
Android offers a comfortably familiar experience in footing of gesture ( swiping down from the top brings up quick options ) and delving into the bill of fare options offer a more bespoke experience ( there ’s even VPN stage setting ) .
Toggling on Roon Ready mode put it within a multi - equipment ecosystem , and there are various audio configurations such as Gain ( extremist high , Super high , gamy , Medium , Low ) , DSD conversion , and microcode updates . There ’s even a ‘ black ’ fashion for the port .
There are several dissimilar way that let in the Android modal value I mentioned above , to the FiiO Music mode or Pure Music mode that focuses on music playback ( on the twist or from a media waiter ) .
There ’s the said Roon Ready compatibility along with a coaxial / optical decoding modal value for accepting any audio signals sent via those inputs .
The USB DAC mode can take the music from another generator and improve upon it . TheAirPlay receivermode touch base the FiiO R7 to an iOS equipment to advance audio quality , and the Bluetooth pass receiver does the same over a Bluetooth link .
The FiiO R7 can both impart and take in aBluetooth 5.0signal . It can receive SBC , AAC , andLDACstreams , and channelize those codecs along withaptX , aptX - HD , and LHDC . Wi - Fi ( DLNA , AirPlay , Google Cast ) complete the method acting of flinging medicine to the R7 .
File livelihood is extended . There ’s supporting for audio files up to DSD256 , and 24 - bit DXD : a variety of APE data format up to 32 - bit/384kHz , Apple Lossless up to 24 - bit/384kHz ; AIFF , FLAC , and WAV up to 32 - bit/384kHz . WMA Lossless up to 24 - bit/192kHz , and DTS audio frequency up to 24 - bit/192kHz . It can fullydecode MQA files , and play lossy formats such as MP3 , OGG , AAC .
I mentioned the telephone dial on the front modification colour count on the file and sampling pace , and over Bluetooth the colour hateful SBC ( Blue ) , AAC ( Cyan ) , aptX - HD ( Yellow ) , LDAC ( White ) , and LHDC ( Orange ) . sample rate rival Blue ( Lossy ) , Cyan ( Standard Quality ) , Yellow ( Hi - Res ) , Green ( DSD ) , and Magenta ( MQA ) . you could see the exact sampling rate in the top right - hired man corner of the screen whenever a file is playing .
Built - in repositing is 64 GB ( literal space is closer to 46 GB ) , and that ’s expansible with SD cards up to 2 TB . all-embracing is the only word to key out the FiiO R7 ’s raiment of features .
Performance
From much every source the FiiO R7 can produce a keen , crisp , and achromatic carrying into action . Starting with an MQA track of GoGo Penguin ’s Raven via Tidal , the FiiO deliver a firm and punchy sound . heartbeat are described with plenty of rolling momentum , while the top remainder is brilliant and sharp .
The style the R7 describes euphony , there ’s barely an apothecaries' ounce of fat or excess . It strikes me as a very communicatory piece of hi - fi outfit , take on a melodious but balanced approach across the frequency range .
With Childish Gambino ’s Stay High , the R7 scratch again with a sharp and far - reach carrying into action at the top final stage of the frequency scope , while the low destruction reach with thud bass . There ’s plenty of information to be launch from the bass through the midrange to the treble , all delivered in a full and spacious soundstage regardless of whether you ’re listen with a shut or open - back pair of earpiece .
The midrange is specially informatory in Diana Ross ’ I ’m Coming Out , with her part feed high levels of clarity and pungency but avoiding sibilance . Cymbal crashes in the Song dynasty are crisply defined ; dynamically the FiiO is runny in the way if shifts between loud and quiet government note on both a subtle and grander microscope stage – it ’s a systematically punchy , rattling , and exact sound .
It ’s not lack in power , as a listen to Rostam Batmanglij‘s Changephobia shows , and the stereo image has a secure sentiency of depth with an almost three - dimensional feel to it .
Using a range of headphones from a Grado SR225x to aSivga RobinandMonolith 1570(via the XLR pin ) , the FiiO generally invoked a crisper , sharp presentation except from the XLR input where the warmth of the Monolith won out . In most instance I imagine the R7 outs a more neutral performance , but that may depend on how your headphones have been tune up .
When connect the Edifier S2000 MkIII active speakers , the speech sound mirrored the earphone outputs . There ’s plenty of tycoon at its disposition – I set the gain at around 60 for headphones and 65 for speakers ( for humiliated caliber source you may call for go to higher ) – and a listen to Robert Glasper ’s Why We Speaker was a tight , flow , dynamic operation , the FiiO applying sufficient jab and dynamical verve to the data track . The soundstage is again wide in width , and the pellucidity and definition of Esperanza Spalding ’s phonation was first-class .
Over a Bluetooth connection and using a distich ofSony WH-1000XM4over - ears , the performance is quite as good as other sources . The low frequencies were n’t as punchily line , the audio not as big or as gumptious . A change in the setting to optimize the sound to 990kbps LDAC did result in a more sprightly and powerful performance .
The FiiO R7 can also be used as a USB DAC and it ’s a clear advance on my Lenovo laptop . There ’s more refinement hear to medicine through the R7 : the degree of control exert across the frequency range is more articulate and precise , point level are higher , the midrange is clearer and better break up , and the FiiO is not as crude with low frequency , generating more powerfulness and sweep . Every reservoir is improved by being prey into the FiiO R7 and I ca n’t ask more from a desktop amplifier than that .
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Should you buy it?
The carrying out of the FiiO R7 is neat , and that it does so across a reach of inputs and source is even better .
It ’s nice to have thousands of apps from the Play Store , but being capable to download Airbnb and Microsoft Office on a desktop amplifier is strange .
Final Thoughts
In a Good Book , the FiiO R7 background amplifier is excellent . Its crisp , sharp , clear , and powerful sound brings the best out of euphony . This screen background amplifier makes the turn of listening to euphony better .
It works best with high quality sources but can improve down in the mouth character sources too . Its versatility , alongside its performance , makes it a jack and maestro of several craft for an request price that ’s not quite as expensive as I would have initially think it would be .
The FiiO R7 is one of the undecomposed surprise of 2023 . It ’s a superb ( and summary ) fade of hi - fi outfit .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every background amplifier we critique thoroughly over an prolonged period of meter . We employ industry stock tests to compare feature in good order . We ’ll always order you what we bump . We never , ever , accept money to review a product .
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FAQs
Yes , you may connect wireless headphones to the R7 via a Bluetooth connection . The R7 also supports LDAC and LHDC , so if you have wireless earpiece that support those formats , you’re able to take heed to audio in mellow quality .
