FiiO R9 Vs FiiO R7 (Compared to Eversolo / Cambridge CXN100 / Bluesound)

#FiiO #streaming #eversolo
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TIME STAMPS
0:00 - Intro Segment FiiO R9
0:31 - Differences to R7 / Design / Features / Connections
4:17 - HDMI ARC - Connections & What is it?
6:27 - RM3 Remote
7:20 - Specifications
7:34 - Internal storage / Android Apps / Roon use / FiiO Cast
11:20 - EQ App
12:46 - Sound Quality - R7 V R9, PL50 Power supply, comparisons to Eversolo DMP-A6
15:28 - Comparison to Aune S17 with S9c Pro DAC
16:17 - The Wrap
17:07 - Thanks for watching and please support this channel!
HOW LONG DID THE VIDEO TAKE TO MAKE?
In this case the time to make it was approx. 60 hours of work of research, listening to gear and swapping out systems, watching and reading other reviews after forming opinions, scripting, setting up cameras and filming pieces to camera, shooting b-roll, editing all clips with creative clips in software like After Effects, creating the thumbnails, and publishing to KZbin, creating articles. This is not a quick process!
NOTES
*1 COMPARISONS OF UNREVIEWED GEAR : Please don't ask me how a product compares to another which I haven't reviewed, as it isn't possible to comment on such products I haven't tested. Check out my website for reviews of products I have completed instead (hit the review tag, and separate tags).
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*3 ABUSE POLICY : I encourage and like debate, and constructive criticism, but people who abuse or troll me, or my subscribers or commenters, post very negative and non constructive and uncorroborated comments designed to put me or others down (where they don't explain themselves), or they could be perceived as such, as well as aggressive comments / hate, or pit my subscribers against me, get their comments removed and I hide them from commenting again. I don’t need the hassle of these people for all the work I put in! Again I don’t mind people who disagree with me, where they explain, or indeed debate, but I tend to delete comments that are not substantiated where the poster doesn’t explain themselves e.g just ‘this amp is really bad’ as it doesn't add to the discussion and detracts from my efforts

[@Me-iy4zu]

Thank you Simon. Always a pleasure. I'm a gentleman with mobility issues and you bring HiFi into my world with honest reviews and guidance 👍👏

[@balooo2863]

Great deep dive really helps someone understand the upgrades in the Fio units. Another fantastic review!

[@user-mz6lt2pr9s]

Someone had to comment 1st. Thanks for the comparisons in the video. Please keep them coming. Cheers!

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks very much 😀🔊🎶

[@andrehendrik]

Another great review -- thank you Simon. I'm currently enjoying my CXN v2, which i bought partly based on your review. I know those wolfson chips dont make it the DAC du jour but I really enjoy the sound, particularly for streaming radio. Speaking of which, given your appreciation of Zero 7, Lemon Jelly etc, if you don't already do so already, I think you'd really enjoy some of the balearic dj's/programming on 1BTN, it's pretty much my main source for new music. Cheers and thanks

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks very much Andre. Will check that music out. Got the review of the cxn100 coming out today which I’ll post later 😀

[@radovancechvala3158]

Fiio is to launch a device with a horizontal form factor later this year, according to the brief they published early this year (S15, scheduled for September). The HDMI Arc input does make much more sense on that new unit, not quite sure how many users will really appreciate it on R9 which is less suitable for a Hifi rack setup.

[@rene_magritte]

Thanks for the review, objective as always. Now I have the R7 for its streaming and EQ capabilities, running balanced through the S17 for headphone use, and I wonder if the R9 would be an improvement in sound quality to that combo?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks, it depends what is meant by improvement of course but I don’t think so - the S17 is just an amp and a really good one.

[@reineralex9270]

thanks very much. very helpful 🙂

[@crshedlak3158]

Could I use the R9 as a preamp for my home audio/stereo system, using the optical, coax, or analog RCA plug audio outs on the R9? Understanding and that if I use the digital methods, it would bypass the R9 DAC. That way, I could use the R9 over my big living room speakers B&W 702 S2.

[@LAGMI20]

when you talk about the hdmi option connection. can i use hdmi from graphics card to in put hdmi fiio r9. then the output to a soundboard hdmi ?

[@worms141414]

Thank you Simon. As for using it as a DAC Amp connected to a computer, which device will offer better sound: the Fiio K9 Pro, the Fiio R9, the Aune S9C? There is also the Fiio K19, maybe you can test them , it would be a cool comparison.

[@audie-cashstack-uk4881]

Get a soundblaster g6 there better fact

[@HungryEatNow]

So tempting really...

[@skmzwanke]

Thanks!

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thank you very much

[@mohamedahmed1023]

Does the equalizer for the R7 go into effect with all inputs? Bluetooth, Wifi, USB, Optical, Coax, etc?

[@aceofspades6667]

Pretty sweet unit with lots of capabilit

[@techmed-rainer]

Danke!

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thankyou very much too . Super Danke

[@radovancechvala3158]

How did you managed to power the R9 from the PL50 which provides only 3A at 12V? Did you test the headphone amp which is apparently the main cause of the increased power consumption? Have you able to really drive it at higher volume levels? PL50 gives 12/15V up to 3A, e.g. does not provide 3A at 15V and R9 specs say minimum of 3A at 15V.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

It does work ok and was one of things I wondered about when I first plugged it in due to the different rear panel stated power specs of the dc input of the r9 compared to pl50 output options. I doubt it makes much odds bearing in mind low power consumption of headphones generally. In any event fiio do say you can use the pl50 with the r9 and I didn’t hear improved sound off of the mains, as I said….certainly with the Hifimans I mentioned. If concerned I would contact FiiO. Hope helps 😀

[@radovancechvala3158]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 thanks. I have R7 with the PL50 and did observe a difference in respect to the background, which is absolutelly quite now. I did not observe any improvements when it comes to soundstaging. Anyhow I do not plan to upgrade to R9, such as the R7 is more than sufficient in my desktop setup.

[@tremoverb1]

I couldn’t get the eARC volume to work from my LG TV either.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Maybe it is a wider software issue they need to fix. They did mention one brand of tv they tried it on, but it wasn’t of the ilk of the big boys like Panasonic, Sony, LG etc.

[@PCRoss2469]

ESA6 vs the Master Edition ?

[@fatdoi003]

on spec the Fiio linear psu only supplies 15V @ 2A, R9 requires 3A so maybe a more powerful linear psu may perform even better?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I realised that as I noticed that in my setting up. They recommend the pl50. I’d check with them but I’m not sure a psu with an extra amp is going to make much difference on lots of easy loads. My Hifiman’s I didn’t notice the mains ac connection being capable of driving them better / a better dynamic performance. With the pl50 the Hifiman’s sound lots better

[@rogerjosefsen1360]

I see that you use the FiiO PL50 dc supply on the R9. Specifications say 15V/3A dc. Comments?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

It works fine as per another comment I replied on this

[@JoseFerreira-zb7wh]

What happens to these units (r7, r9, eversolos streamers) when android gets updated?

[@dajikbatarang1]

They probably just wont upgrade to the new version of android.

[@JoseFerreira-zb7wh]

@@dajikbatarang1 yes, so they go into the trash.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

No that’s not correct, I think the r7 and r9 run on Android 10 from memory, but they are upgrading to a newer version of android. Although I might have that confused with Eversolo. Judging what I’ve seen from likes of Eversolo and FiiO and constant software updates I defo would not make this a worry. More so is somewhat buggy app platforms on some British streamers like stream magic on the Cambridge audio cxn100.

[@JoseFerreira-zb7wh]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 not sure about fiio but eversolos are already running an outdated version of android (11). Support ended last February. Fiios will eventually end up the same. The problem with heavily based software units is this. Much like other similar gear they'll end up discarded after a couple of years. Don't get me wrong, right now they're great but they sure will have a short lifetime. Planned obsolescence is a pain.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

@JoseFerreira-zb7wh but what about my point they have said they are changing android OS……

[@joncruz]

The BIG question is: If I have the R7 should I upgrade to the R9? Thanks!

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

That’s what I answered I thought.

[@joncruz]

“You get more but you get less of more” is not a clear response but thanks I appreciate your video.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

@joncruz that’s not all I said. The point is about what headphones you are driving, hdmi, better build / screen. These are all things I mentioned as to why this is pricier. Did you not watch it all?

[@joncruz]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 Yes I did and understood the differences but sometimes people need an affirmative word like: “If you have the R7 you don’t need the R9” or “R9 is a most and totally worth the double price” I think you get my point now but again it was a great informative video, I have both coming from Amazon later today so I’ll have to do my homework ha ha 🤣

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

@joncruz thank you for nice comments but I think I did that by describing who it’s for and there are too many factors that determine who the r7 is for and who the r9 is for, chiefly amongst these how demanding the headphones are. That’s not to sit on the fence but you can’t do that here. Did you get that? Where I’m off the fence is a video like my comparison of the eversolo and Cambridge cxn100 video. But the eversolo!

[@johnh539]

Sadly not the product for me as I am looking for something to compete with the A8 for pure sound. That said currently I am using my Wiim pro as a streamer only witch frankly I could happily live with for ever if reviewers didn't tell me it could be improved on. I have arrived at my personal 'end game' system , my DAC can handle anything up to 32 768 you can through at it etc but as I have no experience with anything beyond the wiim I don't know if the sheer practicality of the R7 in my listening room trump's any potencial sound difference. Even if I had traditionally liked head phones I would find it hard to use them at the moment due to my sound system being on the far wall. I will sacrifice a lot to get the verry best but I hate having to spend money twice. The A8's hugely powerful headphone out might encourage me to try exceptional headphones ,not least because it would be beside me on my table. It's 'good phone' aspect also appeals. I would love to hear your opinions, baring in mind that sound is all important, and that in my humble opinion my system would not be outclassed by a £40,000 streamer if I was in that price bracket.

[@NeilLavitt]

Interesting, I had expected a greater sound quality difference but I guess that is money talking. I understand you can view the screen on a TV through the HDMI - the R7 did this via the USB-C which acts as a display port out. Perhaps the air mouse was for this. Also, I understand many have used alternative screen control app Any Desk which works well to remote cast the Android 10 screen much better than the FiiO Cast. Anyway, thanks.

[@WoodstockG54]

Typical Chinese product lot of flash to impress your friends until it breaks and good luck getting it fixed. My own personal experience with products from that country “Shanling”. I lost $3000 of hard earn money and it didn’t even last 6 months, even with the replacement unit. I use it to keep the door open on hot summer days.