FiiO R7 desktop media player review - universal soldier

Local files player, streaming services, Roon ready, DAC, and many other features hidden in a compact case with a great sound
Official site: fiio.com/r7
0:00 - Introduction
0:46 - Accessories
2:03 - Design
9:39 - Firmware
15:20 - Sound
25:41 - Pairings and conclusion
Tracks, mentioned in the review
Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares For Me
Charli Brix - Fifty Fifty
Tricky - Overcome
Berlin Philharmonic (cond. Pierre Boulez) - Maurice Ravel: Boléro
Keiichi Okabe - Faltering Prayer (Nier:Automata OST)
Nobuo Uematsu - Don't be Afraid (Final Fantasy VIII OST)
Music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

[@TheOneInYellow]

I considered this after purchasing my recent FiiO M17, however, though the amp section of R7 is more powerful, overall the M17 is superior for my use, especially in DC mode. In my case, if I want to now get an amp to pair to speakers, or a more powerful headphone amp, I can use the M17 in DAC source (no amp output) or preamp mode instead into another device. That said, as an all in one, I consider the R7 superior to both the Naim Atom Uniti and Atom Uniti Headphone Edition (depending on your needs)! Bravo FiiO!

[@PortaFi]

Sure, having M17 you can achive almost the same results with stand and DC power. I like seeing similar (good) sound being reincarnated in different shapes

[@sudipchatterjee]

It is an excellent device, indeed! Dap, Dac, and Amp in one device which is NOT powered by a battery (and hence does not require charging every now and then).

[@PortaFi]

that was one of my main issues with Acro 1000, it has battery, meaning constant care about its health

[@MuhammadKharismawan]

@@PortaFi if you're planning on connecting it anyway, why care about battery health? It's still gonna work even when the battery dies.

[@PortaFi]

@@MuhammadKharismawan well, some devices are using battery anyway, even connected to power. In some cases, battery degradation makes it simply dangerous to use. And also, it's just a bug in my head :)

[@johnmc3862]

@@MuhammadKharismawan The idea is you don’t have to care about the battery because it’s always connected.

[@MuhammadKharismawan]

@@johnmc3862 yeah but expecting battery to always be a detrimental thing make your options much more limited.

[@vicmou2696]

Thanks for the thoroughly video demo! I was just wondering: is it able to play sacd iso? Can it output multichannel (lossless?) audio to a receiver?

[@PortaFi]

Hello, I didn't test SACD ISO, but as other FiiO DAPs can do that, then R7 most probably can do that too, as they share similar hardware and firmware as for multichannel - I really doubt about that, but I didn't test it at all, as I don't have appropriate receiver

[@mobill49]

Thanks for the review. I have this on pre-order along with the PL50. Not sure if I should keep my SMSL SU9/SH9 stack? I have Focal Stellia and AKG K701.

[@PortaFi]

I haven't tested this SMSL stack, but IMO there is only one suggestion: when R7 arrives, test it side by side with SMSLs, and you'll get the only correct answer Or you can use R7 as a transport for SMSLs :)

[@mobill49]

@@PortaFi will do! Thanks for your reply. 👍🏻

[@stevefromlondon4949]

Great review, thank you. I already have an M11 Plus ESS so I'm wondering, purely in terms of sound quality, is the R7 much better?

[@PortaFi]

it depends on the load. with sensitive IEMs, it's like "somewhat better", difference is audible, but not huge. with harder to drive cans it's much better because of a powerful amp

[@stevefromlondon4949]

@@PortaFi Thank you.

[@purplepuppy6639]

You mentioned K9 pro, did you connect it to the R7? I tried the K9 with the M11plus ESS and much prefer the M11 on its own.

[@PortaFi]

I didn't do that, but it's a totally working scenario of course, R7 will be a good transport

[@REX4340]

You mentioned the K9pro being superior, did you use it connected to the R7? Because when I tried the K9pro with the M11plus ESS I much preferred the M11 on its own.

[@PortaFi]

No, I didn't connect it with R7, but I don't think it makes much sense in terms of comparison, because any good transport will give same results Bun in general, one of course can use R7 as a transport for K9 Pro to improve sound signature. So it'll be the same situation as with M11Plus, but with less difference :)

[@REX4340]

@@PortaFi strange that I found the K9 to be a downgrade compared to M11

[@PortaFi]

probably we have a different perception, for me K9 Pro is better in terms of dynamics and control.

[@johnmc3862]

Can you tell about the DP(to external display)? Is it just to tv ‘s or also to Android and iPad tables? Many thanks

[@PortaFi]

unfortunately, I'm not deeply familiar with this feature. I don't know whether tablets support "inbound" DP connections.

[@RebootADude]

Great video. Better than Fiio's site. Do you know what formats the device supports for playback?

[@PortaFi]

thank you. As far as I see, there is no formats list on R7's page, but I think it's safe to assume that it's the same as M17's, so it's: DSD (including ISO images), DXD, APE, ALAC, AIFF, FLAC, WAV, WMA (lossy and lossless), MP3, OGG, AAC.

[@deadline7610]

Nicely Done. An all arounder. Did you try to stream with speakers ? I hope the Hifiman EF600 comes your way for review. Thanks

[@PortaFi]

thank you! I didn't try it with speakers, as I need to find an amplifier to try it with my Shanling Jet (or just wait until FiiO released their model )))

[@matthewsaul2531]

Thank you for your videos. You have tried so much equipment really value your opinion before I buy anything

[@PortaFi]

thank you! I really appreciate that!

[@giorgivashakidze4805]

Hi, maybe that's a stupid question. can I let Amplifier (Brooklyn Bridge) play for 20 hours? (This is about headphones burn in)

[@PortaFi]

Hello, I'd assume that it's ok to use it for a long time, as it's what electronics should be made for, but I'd better double check that with a manufacturer supprot

[@Tkarma77]

Could you output to a tv to use non Bluetooth speakers connected to tv?

[@PortaFi]

sorry, I didn't test such scenario, I use R7 directly connected to my speakes' amplifier

[@SarieMarais]

What would you choose between this and the ifi zen stack?

[@PortaFi]

You know, R7 is the device I wanted even before it was announces. I really need a desktop player, not just DAC/amp. Also I like FiiO's sound that they implement in new products, before R7 I happily used K9 Pro (and use it some time now too) But it's just my subjective taste, and Zen Stack is also great

[@SarieMarais]

Thank you for the reply. Last question: r7 vs a&k acro ca1000 sound wise? Not sure if I should go r7 and have some money for another pair of headphones as well, or if the ca1000 is a lot better sound wise that I should rather invest in that for now and save up for another pair of headphones in future. Thank you again for great reviews of both. ETA I have an older A&K SE100 so don’t know if either of these would add anything. Currently the ca1000 is on special near me (but not close enough for me to go and test) so about double the price of the r7.

[@PortaFi]

@@SarieMarais I tested only the first version of CA1000, and it was OK, but not as great as A&K's Ultima. So considering the price, I'd say that R7 has a noticeably better value. As far as I saw, a new version of CA1000 is available, but I haven't tested it. Subjectively, I'd say that the sound difference with the first CA1000 doesn't worth paying double

[@johnmc3862]

Love the vocal inflections! 😂

[@boltvanderhuge8711]

Wow that's a lot smaller than I pictured; from the form factor I was assuming something the size of a micro atx tower lol

[@PortaFi]

yes, it's really compact, so it's a good plus IMO great that they didn't make it microwave sized

[@Noobster474]

Wait it's actually small. So why do people keep saying that they absolutely hate the massive size of the R7?

[@PortaFi]

@@Noobster474 people like saying not-so-smart jokes

[@arthurhaywood2184]

FiiO should have also created a set of matching powered speakers to go along with the R7.

[@TiaanJonker]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIOxfJeohcarftE

[@PortaFi]

Oh, they did. And full-size planar headphones to use with R7. Of course, they can be used with other sources, but FiiO actively promoting them as a part of the set And I must admit R7 looks great with pair of FiiO's speakers

[@garygriffiths7353]

If i didn’t have the m17 I’d buy this straight away. Very low price for what it does too

[@PortaFi]

yep, price is excellent. I saw R9 in their future plans with a much higher price. I really wonder what they're going to add )))

[@kmwong1786]

You didn't get the separate power supply,

[@PortaFi]

why you think so? I have PL50

[@whoami875]

​@@PortaFiplease inspect SQ over PL50, it should improve dramatically

[@PortaFi]

@@whoami875 I didn't do proper blind tests, but i didn't face changes that I can call dramatic (at least by my scale of dramatism)

[@whoami875]

@@PortaFi thanks bro, how many hours you did a burn-in before critical listening?

[@PortaFi]

@@whoami875 zero. I bought it second-hand, so it was used for some time. But in general, I don't think that there is any room for burn-in, it's just a 12V supply

[@frederf69]

needs a remote control great review, thank you ✌😎👍

[@PortaFi]

believe it or not, but FiiO released a BT remote for R7. I really like this DAP, so I've nought and tried a bunch of accessories for it. I think I'll make a video about them all

[@nusu5331]

there is a link app, so you can control it with your phone

[@blokkka9inety293]

or just get a computer + dac + amp? 😅

[@PortaFi]

that's what I've used before, and I was happy to transition to a separate device

[@kntwing23]

why would i want to spend my $ on this so call device?what can it do for me?

[@PortaFi]

sorry, but how can I know what it can done for you? you have some usecases and requirements. it may fit some of them, or an be totally useless for you

[@dubieshel]

Too many commercials

[@PortaFi]

I'm sorry, but I keep them in automatic mode, so KZbin controls their insertion BTW, I recommend KZbin premium, it's a great ad-free experience

[@dubieshel]

@@PortaFi I really like watching your channel i will try to get used to it. Thanks for the answer

[@PortaFi]

@@dubieshel thank you! I really appreciate that. Probably in future demand will be lower, and KZbin will insert less ads

[@dubieshel]

@@PortaFi Thanks