Amplifier For The Masses: The Fiio E6

The smooth finish on the Fiio E6 is a testament to how far Fiio’s production capability has grown. This is not something that a small-scale production facility can produce, and it’s hard to believe that this was done by the same company who made the E3 and E5 portable amplifier just three years ago. The quality of the product is so improved from the E3 days, it’s almost unbelievable that they were able to have such a transformation in the short period of three years.

If you are curious about the sound, it’s actually very good given the segment that it’s targeted at. And yes, the E6 is a big, big improvement over the E3 and the E5. You got nice detail, good amount of driving power, a pretty sparkly treble, and a tonality that slightly emphasizes the low treble. Pair this with the average mainstream consumer headphones out there (and my biased generalization tells me that they are often muffled, bassy monsters), and I would imagine that the low treble emphasis would inject a mild clarity-ala-Grado effect, while the relatively potent amplifier should improve the punch and articulation of the bass section. I think the combination should be a success.

The E6 would do pretty well as a semi tech-gadget for the masses, but I don’t think it’s going to start taking consumers away from small scale amplifier manufacturers like JDSLabs (CmoyBB) or Electric Avenues (PA2V2). Even the humble JDSLabs Cmoy with its Altoids mint case easily qualifies for a more potent “audiophile grade” amplifier when put next to the E6, but that’s not the point. The E6 is made to be an amplifier for the masses, and just looking at the build quality and features, it probably is the most mainstream-ready portable headphone amplifier in the market. It’s small, it’s build well, and it’s packed with convenient features like USB charging. Most importantly, it is priced so low that nobody has a right to raise objections about the price.

One of the most difficult aspect for an audio company is how to grow from a small boutique manufacturer to a larger output, mass production industry. And while some companies choose to stay small throughout the years, I see that Fiio has always wanted to be a big volume manufacturer. Looking at the E6 and how they hav I certainly think that they are capable of battling it out in the mainstream market. Congratulations, Fiio.

 

fiio_e6_15 fiio_e6_14 fiio_e6_13 fiio_e6_12 fiio_e6_11 fiio_e6_10 fiio_e6_09 fiio_e6_08 fiio_e6_07 fiio_e6_06 fiio_e6_05 fiio_e6_04 fiio_e6_03 fiio_e6_02 fiio_e6_01

2.5/5 - (2 votes)
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94 Comments

  • Reply December 7, 2011

    Guest

    wow , I see you upgraded the photo gallery.  Love the  new gallery style, hope to see it on more future reviews.

    thanks!

    • Reply December 7, 2011

      Mike

      Thanks, glad you like the gallery. 🙂

  • Reply December 7, 2011

    Lukman

    great new galery mike…great picture as laways
    i bought the E6 with the superlux 661 (from your recommendation)…great pairing for portable entry level
    i use the EQ2(blue led) setting mostly…the EQ1 is to boomy and bit dark for my liking

    • Reply December 7, 2011

      Mike

      That sounds like a good set up Lukman!

  • Reply December 7, 2011

    Brian

    I love my E6. Cheap, small, and packs a nice punch in a small package, especially since my IEM’s aren’t the focus of my money.

  • Reply December 7, 2011

    Turokrocks

    Small question, why do not we see measurements? to have a real general idea about the product, not personal. As you know what you like, I might dislike it, some people prefer bass to treble……, please confirm

    • Reply December 8, 2011

      Lieven V

      Hi Turo, we don’t publish measurements, sorry. If you want measurements you can always try Tyll’s site, I do understand where you’re coming from but we prefer our ears 😉

      • Reply December 8, 2011

        Turokrocks

        Thanks for the tip 🙂

    • Reply December 8, 2011

      silver

      • Reply December 8, 2011

        Mike

        Yes. Thanks.

      • Reply December 8, 2011

        Turokrocks

        THANK YOU, THANK YOU

    • Reply December 8, 2011

      Mike

      Measurements are just not our thing. 😉

  • Reply December 8, 2011

    Fabio Rocks

    Love the new gallery! Mike this is not the complete review right? 

    • Reply December 8, 2011

      Lieven V

      I’m pretty sure it is Fabio. and thanks, we like it too 🙂

    • Reply December 8, 2011

      Mike

      Just trying to keep things short, Fabio. 🙂 

      • Reply December 9, 2011

        Fabio Rocks

        Allright!

  • Reply December 11, 2011

    Bingo

    Mike, any chance of reviewing this when it comes out?
    http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/11/objective-desktop-amp-oda-dac.html

    There are a lot of interesting claims about it, especially its cost.

  • Reply December 13, 2011

    Jtranman421

    Hey Mike,

    Big fan of Headfonia!  I just have a few questions.
    I’m considering getting this for my koss dj100, but I am not sure as to whether it would fully drive it to the highest of my koss’s capabilities.  I was also looking into the Ibasso D-Zero and Fiio E10 as well because they have gotten great reviews from you and I am definitely willing to shell out a hundred more dollars for them if they are worth it.  
    What do you think?

    Thanks in advance!

    • Reply December 14, 2011

      Mike

      Hi,
      Definitely go with the D-Zero as it is a more potent amp than the E6. As for the E10, you can’t use it as a portable amp, you know that right?

  • Reply December 22, 2011

    Hoki

    Hi Mike,

    After reading your reviews I’m trying to decide between either the Fiio E11 or E6. Advantage of the E11 is the bigger power, but the E6 is nice and small, so an ultra portable setup. 

    I’m looking to use it with an iPod/Android Phone and headphones e.g. Superlux HD661, Audio Technica JS55, Grado SR60 and the likes. So would the E6 be enough, or should I grab the E11 instead?
    Thanks a lot… and awesome website by the way. Have been following it for a couple of months now and I keep coming back!
    Cheers,

    Holger

    • Reply December 22, 2011

      Mike

      Hi Holger,
      I really would still advise the E11 for those headphones. Especially the SR60 would just pair better with the E10.

      • Reply December 22, 2011

        Hoki

        Hi Mike,

        thanks! Yeah, I was really leaning towards the E11 and just ordered it. I think overall it has some nicer features and the size should be still alright. 
        I’m very curious now 🙂

        Holger

        • Reply December 22, 2011

          Mike

          You’re welcome!

  • Reply December 28, 2011

    Fazil Fuad

    Hey Mike,

    Awesome review, was wondering if the E6 would go together well with my HD558? I usually use it on the go with my iPhone4.

    Cheers,
    Fazil

    • Reply December 28, 2011

      Mike

      Fazil,
      It would be okay. I would opt for something like the JDSLabs Cmoy for the HD558. Less portable though.

      • Reply December 30, 2011

        Max Kemmett

        Hi Mike, I have the same headphones as the comment above and was wondering which FiiO would be recommended for PC use. I was looking at the cMoyBB but wasn’t convinced about having to charge it every couple days. I’m looking for an amp that I can keep plugged in, whether it be to an outlet or through USB for constant use with my PC. 

        • Reply December 30, 2011

          Mike

          Hi Max,
          For PC use perhaps something like the Fiio E10 is convenient. It runs from USB hub power, though you can’t use it for a portable amp. With the JDSLabs you can indeed run it with AC power using a separate power adapter.

  • Reply January 3, 2012

    Jonne

    Hey Mike,

    Love your website. I really like the look and practicality (also, the price) of this amp, but given what you’ve said about its pairing with the HD 558, I doubt you will be positive about it pairing up with my HD 598.

    Which amp would you suggest I use with the HD 598? Availability is an issue, living in mainland Europe, so I think only the Fiio’s are available to me. I haven’t owned an amp before. What is your advice?

    Thank you,
    Jonne

    • Reply January 4, 2012

      Mike

      Hi Jonne,
      I’d recommend the JDSLabs Cmoy for the HD598.

      http://www.headfonia.com/60-pack-of-awesome-jdslabs-cmoy/

      • Reply January 5, 2012

        Jonne

        Thanks for your advice. I didn’t know they shipped abroad for such a fair price. Think maybe I’ll wait for the C421 review due to the sturdier housing. Thank you!

        • Reply January 5, 2012

          Mike

          Alright, Jonne. I’m loving the C421 and it’s a clear upgrade over the Cmoy.

  • Reply January 5, 2012

    Dan Cath

    Hi Mike,

    Just got a pair of AudioTechnica ESW9a’s and use it with standard iPhone /Android /MacBook Pro 1/8” port.

    Would you say that using these headphones with a small amp like the FIIO e6 would add significant sound quality (via added power), or do you think there’s no added benefit? If so, is the e6 what you’d recommend, or have anything else up your sleeve?

    Best,

    Dan

    • Reply January 5, 2012

      Mike

      Dan,
      Save up the money and get a different headphone, that’s how I would do it. The ESW9 is very easy to drive and doesn’t require an amp really.

      • Reply January 5, 2012

        Jeff Hardy

        Hey Mike –

        I also just got the the ESW9 as I believed it was supposed to be a great all around portable headphone. You’re making me reconsider my decision 🙂 What would your recommendation be for a portable headphone I can use at work, but also take on the plane? My budget would be ~$300 – $350.

        Best,
        Jeff

  • Reply January 5, 2012

    Jeff Hardy

    Hey Mike –

    I also just got the the ESW9 as I believed it was supposed to be a great all around portable headphone. What would your recommendation be for a portable headphone I can use at work, but also take on the plane?

    Best,
    Jeff

    • Reply January 5, 2012

      Mike

      Jeff,
      You can try one of those noise canceling headphones? The only one I’ve reviewed is the Beats though. http://www.headfonia.com/closed-cans-shootout-m-50-esw-9-t50p-hd25-1-beats-studio-srh-840-srh-750dj-k181dj-and-dj1pro/9/

      • Reply January 5, 2012

        Jeff Hardy

        Thanks Mike. I originally read your review on closed cans and on the ESW9A and that it was compelled me to pick them up. I’ve also consistently read that you give up a lot with respect to overall sound quality with noise canceling headphones, so I crossed those off my list. 

        I’m willing to go a bit bigger than the ESW9A for a significant boost in quality. The other headphones I was considering were the Grado SR 325i and beyerdynamic T50P (you didn’t review those too well). I want a big boost up from the Sennheiser HD-202 without killing the bank and giving up too much in portability. 

        What would you recommend from the above options or any that I left off the list?

        Best,Jeff

  • Reply February 9, 2012

    Anonymous

    hey Mike very good review thanks!
    I own that amp to power my HiFiMAN RE-262 on my iPhone 4S but I would like to have just a lil bit more bass on some songs.  I love the clarity and the sound coming from the 262s but I was wondering if those pa2v2 would increase bass a bit compared to e6 even with the RED EQ (Bass) enabled.

    • Reply February 9, 2012

      Mike

      If you want more bass the Fiio E11 is a better choice than the PA2V2, or the E17. 

  • Reply February 24, 2012

    viktor3006

    Hi Mike,

    Would you recommend using the Fiio E6 with the Audio Techinica SJ-11? Is there any significant sound quality improvements or anything of the sort when used together?

    Thanks.

    • Reply February 24, 2012

      Mike

      Yes sure. I think you’ll get a better treble clarity and better bass impact with the E6 amp.

  • Reply March 6, 2012

    George Lai

    Hi,If I connect the iPhone’s headphone “out” to an e6 headphone “in”,then connect my iPhone’s earbuds with mic to an e6 headphone “out”,will I still be able to make/receive phone calls on my iPhone earbuds?Regards,George

    • Reply March 7, 2012

      Mike

      Hi George,
      No I’m afraid that wouldn’t work.

  • Reply March 7, 2012

    Rob Evans

    Hi Mike, I have just recently gotten into portable Hi Fi headphone audio and am still starting to buy gear I want to be practical but do not want to sacrifice quality, whats your opinion on e6 vs JDSlabs Cmoy? thing is I can buy an e6 here but  the JDSlabs CMoy I have to import from abroad and will cost me a little bit more with shipping and such. So do I just grab the e6 here or spend a bit more on buying a JDSLabs Cmoy online. I mainly listen to lots of Post Rock like GY!BE,Mogwai,Toe and Jazz/Bebop like Jaco, Miles, Bill Evans etc. and some smattering of world music like Buena Vista Social etc. By the way do you think it is better if I just buy a QLS QA350 and forget about buying a portable head amp and source? I will need to have that imported too by the way,sorry so many questions.

    • Reply March 8, 2012

      Mike

      Hi Rob,
      The JDSLabs is going to be a better amp than the E6.

      The QLS is a good sounding source with a decent amp, but it’s really big and the UI is a pain. Have you read our review of it? http://www.headfonia.com/qes-qa350-player/

      • Reply March 10, 2012

        Rob Evans

        Mike, thanks for your reply, actually I have read your review on the QLS and it really piqued my fancy.  It could really as a minimalist home setup though…anyway JDSLabs it is, by the way do you have any recommendation for a good Headphones for this in the $100 range? The only brands I can get my hands on here are the Superluxes, Sennheisers, Audio Technicas though.

        • Reply March 10, 2012

          Mike

          $1000 range? There are plenty of choices for $1000!

          Oh wait you said $100. 😉 Can you start by looking at this list? There are a few under $100:
          http://www.headfonia.com/full-size-headphone-recommendations/

          • Reply March 30, 2012

            Rob Evans

            Hi Mike,

            Following your advise I ordered the a CMOY from JDSLabs and it is really good. Its sounds so warm. To think I was only using my crappy Philips Headphones imagine the pleasure it would give with decent headphones…on to buying a decent headphone. I took a look at your recommendations and was going to but and HD 202 but they are not available here. What do you think of the HD 201? should I get this instead or should I get something else like Superluxes, I was also considering the Jays Vjays though. What do you think? AFAIK your recommendation is worth its weight in gold!

            • Reply March 31, 2012

              Mike

              Hi Rob,
              The HD201 is a more neutral, less bassy version of the HD202. It works too, but I think the HD202 is more fun. The Vjays would make for a good pairing with the Cmoy, but it’s a small ultraportable and not a circumaural. The superluxes are nice too if you can get them.

  • Reply March 11, 2012

    theyazzern

    great article, I was just wondering if this, the e7, or the e11(fiios all)  would be the best fit for my incoming beyer  dt 1350s, any advice? ( I listen to all genres, but usually electronic, pop, quite a bit of classical and dubstep).

    • Reply March 12, 2012

      Mike

      I would go with the E11.

  • Reply March 18, 2012

    akira_hyt

    Hi mike,
    Currently i own two headphones which are the ath-M50 and HD449. I find the bass part is somewhat lacking to my taste. will the amp helps to boost the bass of those two? if yes, which do you recommend? btw, i listen to many genres but mainly electronic and trance. thanks

    • Reply March 19, 2012

      Mike

      If you can afford getting new headphones, I’ll always recommend getting the sound right in the headphones first. But if you can’t, perhaps try an amp with a stronger bass boost such as the Fiio E17 or the JDSLabs CmoyBB.

      • Reply March 20, 2012

        akira_hyt

         alright thanks!

  • Reply March 22, 2012

    Mike

    Should get a better impact on the bass. Not like huge, but it should be there. Personally, I would opt for simplicity and skip the amp.

  • Reply March 27, 2012

    jay

    Hi Mike, I’ve just gotten the Goldring DR100s and was wondering what kind of effect the Fiio E5 or E6 would have on performance. I feel that the DR100s are lacking a bit in volume and bass now. Would you recommend either amp?

  • Reply April 20, 2012

    Raden Sastro Ibnoe

    Yo mike… Which Fiio has the biggest power to driving hd555? I wish no much colorized, because the sound is good enough for me, seemed my samsung p3 couldn’t handle it alone

    • Reply April 23, 2012

      Mike

      Try the E11, should be plenty of power.

  • Reply April 26, 2012

    Ned

    Good Day, just want to know which is better for my Superlux HD 661. e6 or e11? thanks. 

    • Reply April 26, 2012

      Mike

      Ned,
      E11 tonally is a better fit.

      • Reply April 27, 2012

        Ned

        oh. ok thanks Mike! 😀

  • Reply July 27, 2012

    Leonard Glennaldy

    Hey mike, if i had sennheiser HD 598, would my amp, fiio e6 is good enough to improve my senn? Or i should upgrade my amp?

  • Reply July 27, 2012

    Leonard Glennaldy

    Hey mike, i already had sennheiser HD 598, and also i using fiio e6 as my port amp. If my amp good enough to drive my senn? Oh and my DAP is Apple Ipad 2.

  • Reply November 17, 2012

    charlie_lee

    hey mike, do you think this amp would suit well with my Audio Technica Pro5Mk2 ? or do you have any other recommendation around this price range ?

    thanks 🙂

    • Reply November 17, 2012

      Mike

      Pro5Mk2? You know I’ve never really tried that headphone with an amplifier. Recommendations, I think you should look at the P2V2 if you want something better than the E6 and maintain the attack.

      • Reply November 17, 2012

        charlie_lee

        alright then, another question, do you think i need an amplifier for that headphone to drive it to its full potential ? I’m using it on my laptop currently.

        • Reply November 17, 2012

          Mike

          I think you need an amplifier for any headphone bigger than Portapro size.

          • Reply November 17, 2012

            charlie_lee

            I see, if you dont mind me asking, personally, i prefer the presence of bass but not too overwhelming, clear mid, and treble that is clear but not too high.
            So, which one do you think amp is better for my headphone, cMoyBB v2.03 or PA2v2 ? or any other amp yould like to add on ?

            Thanks 🙂

            • Reply November 19, 2012

              Mike

              A bit too specific than what I can help, I’m afraid as I’m not that familiar with the Pro5Mk2.

              The CmoyBB without the bass boost on is slightly mid-centric, warm and smooth

              The PA2V2 is more neutral with faster pace and more attack.

              • Reply November 19, 2012

                charlie_lee

                imo, you should really try it out, it’s a really nice headphone, for me at least 😛

                sorry for asking again, but what exactly do you mean by smooth, faster pace and more attack ?

                • Reply November 19, 2012

                  Mike

                  Ouch… wonder how to explain that better..

                  • Reply November 20, 2012

                    charlie_lee

                    hmm, guess I have to google it myself ? 😛
                    Do you think Fiio E11 would suit this headphone better, or do you think that I need a DAC included amp for my headphone because I’ll be using them mainly on my laptop, I’m kinda in a dilemma here 😡

                    • November 20, 2012

                      Trent_D

                      I’ll have a go at it. If you can forgive a silly dance analogy, you have a waltz and a polka. Both use a three count. While, when you count off a waltz (1 2 3, 1 2 3) the numbers and beats flow into each other in a very smooth manner. With the polka, the count is very staccato (1! 2! 3!).
                      the cMoy is like waltz. It is romantic, laid back, the sound flows smooth from one frequency to the next. The Pa2V2 is more like a polka. It isn’t as smooth, or romantic a sound, but it has punchier bass which gives it a faster pace. The treble isn’t as laid back here, it is more forward, giving the music an impression of more attack. Does this make any sense? Not sure it does…

                    • November 20, 2012

                      charlie_lee

                      hahaha, thanks for the effort trent, much appreciated 🙂
                      strangely enough, I kinda understand that..
                      from what I understood, I should opt for Pa2V2 because I wanted the bass to be controlled and punchy and also to hear the details in my song. Genre of song i listen to is mainly neo-orchestral and pop-rock.
                      An example of it would be this.

                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iHmWdbKp1w

                      so in your opinion, did I understood your explanation correctly ? and one more thing, do you think that it’s necessary for me to get an amp with DAC included for my laptop ?

                    • November 20, 2012

                      Trent_D

                      The bass punch on the cmoy isn’t terrible or boomy, nor does the smoothness obscure detail. Now, I haven’t heard the Pa2v2 myself, but I think I might want the the cmoy for the track you offered here. It isn’t that fast, and I think would benefit from the larger soundstage the cmoy has.

                      As for a dac, if you have no other way to output the audio from your computer besides the headphone out of the computer, I would say yes, a dac would be a good idea. Do you have a budget you are working with?

                    • November 21, 2012

                      charlie_lee

                      hmm, it’s one of the artists I listen to under that genre and I’m pretty sure there are a lot of songs that are considered fast under the same category, as most of them are also considered trailer music, which is epic and fast in tempo imo.

                      Does larger soundstage really helps in listening to music ?
                      Currently I am using surround speaker connected to my laptop and I will use my headphones whenever I feel like using it, so far their usage is something like 60:40, more on headphones.

                      Currently I am looking at cmoy, pa2v2, or fiio e11, so my budget is around that area.

                    • November 27, 2012

                      John Wood

                      charlie, don’t over think it, no amount of research and reading can tell you what will work for you. find a good dealer and do some listening. make a choice and live with it for a while. it’s a learning process and a lot of fun. i would say the e17 is a good jumping off point, i’m using it with akg k550’s and loving it. if you are listening from a laptop, i would say that a dac should be a priority, with good quality files you will see a marked improvement

  • Reply November 17, 2012

    Guest

    hey mike, do you think this amp would suit well with my Audio Technica Pro5Mk2 ? or do you have any other recommendation around this price range ?

    thanks 🙂

  • Reply November 17, 2012

    Mike

    Nikhil,
    The E6 should be sufficient.

  • Reply December 10, 2012

    Agung Kurniawan Ruswandi

    Im new to audio community. Based on review on this site ive decided to bought superlux hd651 since i’m basshead minded. My question is would this amp improve my hd651 sound quality (especially in bass)? I also have plan to upgrade my headphone with better basshead in the future. My next question is would this amp be enough to accomodate better basshead? Or should i buy fiio e11 instead for my long term plan? Sorry for bad english. Hehehe. Btw, i’m using it for my daily activity with ipod nano 4gen.

  • Reply December 16, 2012

    Philipp Stolberg

    Hey Mike,

    Right now I’m deciding between the Fiio E6 or the Hifiman Express: HM-101.
    I’m using the ultrasone 580 with my macbook pro and 80% of my music is electronic (deep house/techno) music.

    Which one would you reccomend to me in the point of sound quality?

    Thanks 🙂

    • Reply December 16, 2012

      Trent_D

      fiio e10

      • Reply December 16, 2012

        Philipp Stolberg

        thanks :)i read some reviews of the e10 and many of them say that the e10 sounds good in the beginning and starts to make problems after a while. Why do you think that the e10 is better?

        • Reply December 16, 2012

          Trent_D

          Better bass, fuller mids. You will want that bass with your music. I had both at one point. I kept getting static and interference with the hm-101. No such issues with the e10. I know there were issues with the e10’s first run with the headphone jack coming loose, but those have long since been fixed. The rule of thumb seems to be, never buy anything in its first wave. Always wait till all the kinks get worked out. Of course, this is coming from the guy who just ordered Schiit’s brand new amp, so…

  • Reply August 6, 2013

    Max

    Hey Mike, I’ve got a new pair of Sennheiser HD 202’s that I’m using with my E06. To be honest, everything is quite bass – heavy. As in, I can’t hear much treble. Any suggestions would be great. I’m using these with my PC, so if you know any software that has an overall EQ for all applications, that’s perfect. I only ask about EQ because Spotify doesn’t (Sadly) have an equalizer. Thanks, Max

    • Reply August 6, 2013

      Dave Ulrich

      First, the e6 has a few different EQ modes: two different levels of bass boost and a flat EQ mode. Make sure you are on flat. Second, it sounds like you may be double amping your headphones. If you have the E6 plugged into your computer’s headphone out, then the computer’s built-in amp is amping the signal AND the E6 is amping the signal. That could be contributing to your issue. Now, the HD202 is extremely easy to drive. Unless you are hearing noise any time you plug your HD202 straight into your computer, there isn’t any need to use an external amp with it. If you are getting noise with your computer headphone out, something like the Fiio e7k would be what you would want to go with. It will bypass your computer’s sound card completely. The e7k also has bass and treble control built into the unit, so you could add or reduce as needed.

      The last thing to consider is the the HD202 is a fairly dark headphone. If you are used to a brighter sound, it can take some time to get used to.

  • Reply March 1, 2016

    priyesh

    hi mike i use galaxy s6 edge plus with soundmagic e10s headphones or sometime bundled headphones with s6 edge, will fiio e06 will benefit me in terms of sound quality? because loudness is not a concern for me as s6 edge plus is loud enough

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