Hi,
It is weird to hear all those reports about people having problems.
As far as I am concerned, I now own this unit's bigger brother, the R9 for about 16 months.
And it is for me the best buy I had in years in the audio realm...
It may not be perfect, but it is the only real all-in-one design that was worth it for me.
There are other devices that may advertise as "all-in-one" solutions.
But I tried some of them : raspberry pi, Rose, Sonos, Matrix, Shanling...
I gave it up after finding out that they all had MAJOR problems : the main concern was that a lot of those were driven by proprietary software and could not be used with other software.
And I must say that I am always surprised when I see proprietary software from big companies not being able to compete with software developed by a single person and offered for free on Google Play Store !
Just to mention it :
- Matrix software offers no option to sort tracks by "Album Artist". Should you listen to classical music you will know that is a real miss !
- Almost all proprietary solutions are not able to take advantage of the "Disc #" tag. So instead of playing Disc 1 Track 1 and then Disc 1 Track 2 they play Disc 1 Track 1 and then Disc 2 Track 1... Just fgo ahead an try to listen to Pink Floyd "The Wall" with those !
None of this happens with the Fiio R9.
Why ?
Because I do not use the crappy proprietary software they install on the device.
It is as bad as any other propietray software maybe even worse.
BUT : as the device runs Android 12 (they released the update officially now I have heard but as I run the A12 Beta since a long time, I'm OK) AND because Fiio did not close it (like Shanling did) I can install whatever software I want and use that.
So to use it as a Media SERVER : I use Emby Server. Works fantastically and is free (even if you can pay for it, which I did because it works so well for me).
So to use it as a Media RENDERER : I use Neutron Player and/or USB Audio Player Pro
So to use it as a Music Storage : I use a FTP server software (free) so I can transfer my downloads to the R9 without having to unplug and replug anythiing.
So to have EQ, I use Fiio own software which allows system wide PEQ (whatever app you're using to playback music).
And with those I think I experience indeed some crashes and have to reboot the machine every month or so (maybe even less).
I can live with that...
DAC is pretty good.
Headphone output is really powerful and above average.
I have heard better results : Shanling was WAY better ; Matrix was also nice and slightly better... Rose was not as as good ; let alone BlueSound : a disaster !
I'd be glad to hear an alternative that can be used as a media server (that is the most complicated part) and as a media rendered with the same overall quality and ease of use... and at about the same price (less than 1500€).
Please : do not come up with "Raspberry Pi + external DAC + headphone amp".
The purpose of the R7/R9 is to offer all-in-one solution.
For me, it does exactly that...
As I said, I've gone all the other routes and end
ed up settling technical issues more than listening to music.
Technical issues have now gone and I can enjoy my music again.
So I am doing that and I trhank the R9 to allow me to do that... Just that !
And thatis already a lot to me...
Of course, personal experiences may vary according to how the device is used.
Me, for MY needs, the R9 is THE device that's going to stay...
Regards.
