FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier Evaluation Report

, at the press conference in October 2016, Feiao introduced A5 portable earphones. From the main hardware architecture to product positioning and appearance, A5 is an upgraded version of E12/E12A portable earphones. However, Feiao also clarified the naming method of "portable earphones" products after A5 was released-starting with the letter A. We can also see smaller A1 and A3 portable earphones in Feiao's catalogue. Although it is an upgraded version of E12A, the price of A5 is lower, and the official price is 798 yuan.

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier

only needs to provide the main functions of analog input and headphone output, so the appearance design is easier to be concise. However, as an analog signal power amplifier, in order to be portable and have enough power, it is still necessary to test the design capability and consider the positioning of the product. And the main small "portable earpiece" also needs a delicate appearance. However, portable earphones of the size of A5, which are officially proud of their old business, A5 continues the exterior design on E12 a few years ago. However, some of the new features and design details seen on the Feiao X5III player started with the A5 earphone.

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier

From the appearance point of view, the aluminum body surface of Feiao A5 portable ear holder is available in black and titanium colors. The surface is treated with fine sand blasting process of 180 zirconium sand, which is different from the previous metal wire drawing surface process. The potentiometer knob part is decorated with 45-degree lines and red lines. The 3.5mm earphone interface also uses CNC stainless steel rings, replacing the traditional common earphone interface. These aspects can also be seen on Feiao X5III. They belong to the same generation design and are also the iconic styles of Feiao's future products. In terms of batteries, Feiao A5 uses 880mAh lithium battery, which supports a charging current of 5V/2A. The charging indicator on the surface of the fuselage will show the size of the charging current according to the breathing state. Although the power quantity cannot be accurately indicated, the design effect and experience are quite good.

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier

can see its main functions from the external interface switch of Feiao A5. On the main side, the analog signal input of the A5 earphone and the 3.5mm stereo interface of the earphone signal output are distributed. There is a small shift lever between the two interfaces and the volume potentiometer knob to adjust the gain of the stage before amplification. On the side is the MicroUSB charging port and the bass Bass gain switch. The entire layout is almost the same as E12A.

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier-Disassembly

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier-Disassembly-LME49600 Op Amp

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier-Dismantling-MUSE02 Operational Amplifier

From the internal structure, Feiao A5 has been further optimized on the basis of E12A. Perhaps you still remember that compared with the previous generation E12, E12A replaced the combination of OPA1611 op amps + LME49600 on E12 with the combination of MUSES02 op amps + LME49600 on E12A. Compared with E12, E12A focuses more on the optimization of in-ear low-impedance headphones and has more delicate sound. The official name of E12A also has Mont Blanc, and is specifically marked for IEM[In-ear Monitor]. On the other hand, Feiao A5 is further optimized on the basis of E12A. The operational amplifier scheme remains unchanged, but the circuit is optimized and the components are made of metal film resistors with lower distortion. In terms of power supply, we also chose ± 11V higher than the original ± 7.4V [but in the E12A evaluation, we wrote about maintaining the same ± 11V power supply as on E12. Why did we make this mistake? Of course, the main reason is that we didn't take it apart and measure it. The second is that the information provided by Feiao at that time was wrong.].

objective test

E-MU 1616M PCIe Digital Audio System

, let's take a look at the objective test of A5 earpiece. The test is completed under the Lineout of Feiao X7, which has more beautiful objective indicators, as the sound source. The listed test indicators are high gain gears. However, the objective indicators of Feiao A5 are no problem except that the stereo separation degree is affected by the film potentiometer and the high frequency is attenuated. All other objective indicators have maintained the same excellent objective results as the front-end sound source. So for this kind of small earphones, objective indicators are not the key.

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier-Frequency Response Curve @ X7 LO

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier-Noise Distribution@X7 LO

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier-Dynamic Range @ X7 LO

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier-Total Harmonic Distortion @ X7 LO

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier-Intermodulation Distortion @ X7 LO

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier-Separation Curve @ X7 LO

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier-Frequency Scan @ X7 LO

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier-Separation @ X7 LO

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier-Separation Frequency Analysis @ X7 LO

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier-Frequency Scan 96kHz @ X7 LO

subjective hearing

FiiO Feiao A5 Portable Headset Amplifier-Binding

I don't know if you remember, when we explained the classification of products such as earphones in the new year's summary annual recommendation a month ago, the style and positioning of earphone power amplifiers are limited by the front-end sound source and the back-end earphone load, not only technically but also including positioning. Is the portable earphone used with an ordinary iPhone, smartphone, or with a 1000, 2000, 3000 or higher-priced Walkman? We will use the iPhone and Xplay5 flagship versions as the main reference below to describe, and Feiao X7 with AM3 [fee-balanced output] as a comparative reference. The headphones used include Vsonic Gr07C/GR07X,Westone W4R, etc.

Feiao A5 earpiece can give full play to its more delicate sound style under Xplay5 or higher-level sound sources. The high frequency is relatively delicate and relaxed, and the density of medium and high frequency is not very sufficient, which shows that the extension of extremely high frequency is relatively better, brighter and more delicate. This style is somewhat similar to the unbalanced output of Feiao AM5 and AM3 earphones. However, if it is matched with X7, the sound of AM3 earphones is softer [there are also deficiencies, discussed below]. But with an iPhone or a more basic player, the details of high-frequency resolution power may be greatly limited. However, the dynamics, thickness and control force advantages of the medium and low frequencies are still obvious.

is matched with Xplay5 or X7, Feiao A5 is matched with GR07X, W4R or UE900, the high frequency has good analytical power, especially when the control power is definitely better than Xplay5 itself. On GR07X and UE900, you can feel the more relaxed and delicate high frequency brought by A5 earphones. This style is very similar to the AM2 earpiece after Feiao launched X7. It seems to be more detailed than the AM5 earpiece itself. Its sound is soft but relatively bright, with slight signs of elevation. Let the whole voice be slightly younger. Although it is matched with MUSES02, it will not make the medium and high frequency parts more rigid. In this regard, E12A is also relatively well used by MUSES02 [AM5 is also].

in the intermediate frequency part, MUSES02 generally have better intermediate frequency stability, sound is very stable, but a little dull. Compared with X7 and AM3 earpiece module, this can compare A5 's "dull. However, after comparing multiple earphones, we found that this is also divided into earphones. For example, with GR07 series, the intermediate frequency performance is definitely AM3 better. However, compared with the moving iron unit, such as W4R, its intermediate frequency is quite full under the drive of A5, which is definitely better than Xplay5 direct push. At this time, the intermediate frequency details and dynamics are good enough. Although the sound tension is slightly weak, it will not feel much worse than AM3. However, under the big dynamic situation, the control power advantage of A5 earpiece on sound is obvious compared with Xplay5, and it also exists compared with AM3.

, in the low frequency part, Feiao A5 earpiece showed good control. At least with iPhone and Xplay5, this advantage may make you feel that it is worth buying this ear. And if it is matched with the GR07 series, their low-frequency elasticity and resolution can also reach the higher level that this headset should have. Especially the elasticity of low frequency is better than AM3. The control of Feiao A5 is also very good at low frequencies with sufficient sense of quantity, high sound pressure and deep dive.

on the whole, the cleanliness, control and level of sound under the dynamic and dynamic sound are the greatest advantages we feel in this experience of A5 earphones. However, the intermediate frequency is relatively not fresh enough, and the relative details are slightly weaker when matched with moving coil headphones [for example, compared with AM3, compared with extension NX5], which may be caused by the style of the MUSES02 op amp itself. Its medium and high frequency and high frequency are relatively light. Under the high-quality front-end sound source, it can more fully reflect its delicate feeling and relaxation feeling after high frequency modification, and at the same time, it does not lack the bright and transparent light of relatively young and fast extremely high frequency.

As discussed earlier, it is not only a portable earmuff, but also a problem of how to locate the whole product. If Feiao A5 is matched with iPhone-grade sound source, the control power of medium and low frequency and the overall dynamic improvement are obvious. Unfortunately, high-frequency details are lacking. Even with A5 earphones added to iPhone, its sound details are still inferior to Xplay5. If Xplay5 or Feiao X7 is added with an A5 earphone, Xplay5 will indeed improve the degree of detail, but X7 Lineout + A5 is not as good as AM3 earphone. Moreover, as an amplifier of analog signals, attention should also be paid to its input voltage. If it is an output of about-6dB like Sony and Apple, the amplification effect of A5 will be limited. However, if the standard voltage of 0dB can be provided like Xplay, the overall dynamics will be much better. However, if it is the earphone output of a sound card with better sound than X7, there is no need to choose an earphone such as A5.

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