Fiio Air Amp - TPA3255 amplifier + ESS9020Q DAC + Streamer | New Product

[john61ct]

Add LMS "Squeezelite client" aka SlimProto

 

[fwwwk]

Any news about hpf/ subwoofer delay/ xover freq setup? Bit underwhelming when doesnt have proper integration dsp features

 

[john61ct]

DAC and streamer + preamp functions are naturally combined in one unit.

To me, combining with power amps is a mistake, if not separate passive speakers then active ones.

And that "amp or speaker" is where I think the bass management should go, ideally with active filtered pass-through for HPF of main pair.

Obviously for multichannel most rely on AV gear, so that is another alternative "home" for the bass management.

Putting it into a stereo-only streamer/preamp I can see being convenient for those that KNOW they will stay limited, as with the Wiim based systems.

If comoeting with those, then sure, add the cost, but enable stereo bass, not just 2.1

 

[Guddu]

Here are some details, might be useful for someone:
--------------------------------------------------------------

Package Contents - Air Amp unit, PSU, Remote, USB cable and manual

Build quality and looks are as good as their R2R DACs:

* USB type A is for USB disk for local playback
* USB C on the back and side panel are for digital/DAC input

Power Supply

Note that it does not use standard 5.5mm x 2.5mm DC barrel connector.

Setting up with Fiio App requires certain steps, however easy enough:

Available Settings:

Using 10 Bank PEQ:

Streaming:

Local audio playback with USB disk:

Idle Power Usage, no audio playing, USB disk connected - 10 watts

Power ON/Off Pop, Hiss or other noise
- No power ON pop
- very very faint power off pop, nothing to worry about
- no hiss/noise from tweeters

My General Subjective Opinion
- Clean, neutral and powerful
- Surely powerful than Wiim Amp, as I have both and checked
- As good as any other well measured TPA3255 amplifier, I have many

Some quick observations:
- No subwoofer crossover
- Subwoofer needs to be enabled/turned-on with front knob
- Pre-out also needs to be enabled with front knob
- Knob colors can be changed with from knob as well as Fiio Control App
- USB disk library sync and build is effortless, quicker and better than Wiim Ultra in my experience

Enjoy.....

 

[john61ct]

- Surely powerful than Wiim Amp, as I have both and checked

Do you mean "more powerful than" a Wiim?

Wiim Ultra Amp ?

> As good as any other well measured TPA3255 amplifier, I have many

3e A7 Mono on 51V 10A PSU x2 is (I think here widely acknowledged as?) top Wrms power out of all the rest, for those with big rooms and thirsty speakers who want every last dB SPL

plus it has a solid PFFB implementation which many consider important.

Of course if/when Amir gets a unit to measure...

 

[Guddu]

Do you mean "more powerful than" a Wiim?

Wiim Ultra Amp ?

As I said there, Wiim Amp.
I don’t have Wiim Amp Pro or Wiim Amp Ultra.

> As good as any other well measured TPA3255 amplifier, I have many

3e A7 Mono on 51V 10A PSU x2 is (I think here widely acknowledged as?) top Wrms power out of all the rest, for those with big rooms and thirsty speakers who want every last dB SPL

plus it has a solid PFFB implementation which many consider important.

3e A7 and PAM153 are my favorites ones, I have them.
I am not comparing one chip in stereo vs single chip in mono.

By the way, 48v 10a psu most likely bridge any power gaps. However still can’t replicate 2ohm stability.

Of course if/when Amir gets a unit to measure...

Definitely.

 

[Jeromeof]

So, playing around with the PEQ on these and while its great to have PEQ controllable via the App it does have a few limitations:

1. Obviously does not have L / R channel PEQ so not that useful for room correction
2. PEQ Doesn't work with the analog Input ( It does work with the Digital inputs e.g. USBC and Bluetooth - I didn't try it with optical yet )
3. I don't think the PEQ in implemented correctly - sharp narrow Q Values are still very wide ( at least in my brief in room measurements)

But there is allot to like about this amplifier - I think it has a proper PFFB implementation ( unlike the Level 1 which I don't think had even though the marketing said it did) - having Roon, Airplay etc as streaming inputs is great as in the local playback, the screen is nice as in the remote control - especially at this price.

 

[john61ct]

To me, default use for normal (basic low end) PEQ especially via an app, is ad-hoc user tweaking like OG analog preamps' Bass Treble etc knobs.

DRC, speaker level EQ etc require proper filtering IMO.

I think it has a proper PFFB implementation, unlike the Level 1 which I don't think had even though the marketing said it did

Evidence?

 

[tccalvin]

3. I don't think the PEQ in implemented correctly - sharp narrow Q Values are still very wide ( at least in my brief in room measurements)

You might want to read this thread.

 

[YouDontHaveEnoughBass]

- No subwoofer crossover

 

[Jeromeof]

You might want to read this thread.

I already have extensive support for FiiO devices in my devicePEQ tool => https://github.com/jeromeof/devicePEQ

 

[tccalvin]

I already have extensive support for FiiO devices in my devicePEQ tool => https://github.com/jeromeof/devicePEQ

Cool. Does this software automatically bypass the weird /√2 issue?

 

[Jeromeof]

Cool. Does this software automatically bypass the weird /√2 issue?

I have built lots of special compensation for various issues with different PEQ hardware implementations - I also have written a test harness that I have shared with some manufacturers to help => https://www.pragmaticaudio.com/devicePEQTestHarness/

 

[PeterMac]

Looks perfect for desk amp, can't wait for Amir test.

 

[landco1]

- No subwoofer crossover

Too bad, not a competitor to WiiM AMP....

 

[Guddu]

Too bad, not a competitor to WiiM AMP....

Depends if you need it or not, normally active subwoofers have crossover already.

PE. and you are paying a lot less for complete DAC+PreAmp+Streamer+Amplifier.

Not comparing but Air Amp is less than half the price of Wiim Amp Ultra.
It’s even about 100$ less than Wiim Ultra (streamer only).

 

[Svend P]

Depends if you need it or not, normally active subwoofers have crossover already.

It needs a high pass filter for the subwoofer out to be useful. Otherwise your small speakers will try to play all the way down to 20 Hz if you like me have an 18" subwoofer connected and use Dirac to make it go all the way down. I tried this with a Fosi ZA3. At first I couldn't understand why I got endless amounts of port noise from my Elac DBR62 and the bass drivers bottomed out at moderate levels, but then it dawned on me. The Fiio has the perfect size and looksm but this is a massive omission and I struggle to find something that can compete with a Wiim Ultra Amp.

 

[PeterMac]

Maybe they can to add High Pass Filter via firmware ? or this need to be implemented in hardware ?
Many chinese amp do not have this, most of them, this FiiO have PEQ EQ which is big advantege.

 

[Guddu]

Maybe they can to add High Pass Filter via firmware ? or this need to be implemented in hardware ?

No clue myself, but I simply see subwoofer out as a plus with a stable streaming platform and good amplifier with app as well as remote functionality.

Many chinese amp do not have this, most of them, this FiiO have PEQ EQ which is big advantege.

PEQ works very well.

 

[PeterMac]

No clue myself, but I simply see subwoofer out as a plus with a stable streaming platform and good amplifier with app as well as remote functionality.

PEQ works very well.

Does PEQ support all filters type, like HP, HPQ etc ?

How does it sounds for you on stock direct ? compare to Wiim Amp ? what do you noticed during this time. Thank you.