Fiio R7 Android Streamer Review

[DesertHawk]

Don't really see the point in having a crippled phone attached to a DAC when everyone already has a presumably nicer phone at hand at all times these days

Funny, I have a wiim and have been tempted to buy an old iPad mini to control it. The thought being it would be easier to share when guests are over. There's something nice (to me) about having the way you control your gears separate from your phone and staying in the same room.

 

[KiyPhi]

I have been reluctant to test Daps. Are they really popular? They are kind of a pain to test since my analyzer can't control them. I *think* some have been sent to me for testing though so some reviews will come.

I wouldn't say popular but it isn't negligible. Most of them don't offer much other than a battery separate from your phone. Otherwise a phone + portable like a dongle or Qudelix is better. All of the Android ones use similar processors to the one here or worse, pretty much never better. The non-Android ones lack features. Their performance, except for a few, aren't great. There are a couple of measurements out there but most aren't anything worth writing home about. Wouldn't hurt to measure them here though.

 

[pseudoid]

If you cannot se difference in this and a smartphone...

Would/Should questions arise such as which *Android version, *processor type, *RAM requirements (by apps, etc.) defeat the whole purpose of wanting to just listen to 'music'?

 

[restorer-john]

From the front view photo of the review I though it would be something like an enhanced "audio tablet" but it is more like a mini PC,

That's what I first thought. The knobs looked perfectly flush. An interesting device for sure.

It does have a heretofore unseen filter, the very exclusive, expensive and rare, Hybird filter!

Amir was typing too fast...

 

[kemmler3D]

If I was in the market for a >$500 streamer, this one would be on the list. Super full-featured and standalone, which is nice. That said, I don't really see the need when WiiM is blowing up the market in terms of features and audio quality in the $100-200 range, and I have devices to control them over the network coming out of my ears.

 

[restorer-john]

If I was in the market for a >$500 streamer, this one would be on the list.

And that Eversolo unit Amir reviewed recently. That's a product I'd buy.

 

[juliangst]

this device makes me wonder, is there a device that allows you to actually walk around while wearing DCA headphones? a portable battery powered streamer, DAC, High power headphone amp. I suppose a phone and a really high power dongle (if one exists) would work

I use a BTR5+ Topping NX7 to walk around with my Aeon Noires

 

[pseudoid]

It does have a heretofore unseen filter, the very exclusive, expensive and rare, Hybird filter!

I initially got confused by the PURPLE 'FFT white noise' curve that was labeled as being 'SlowLinear2'. I thought that would be the "Hybird3" curve (currently green).
I got even more confused when I saw the Freq.Response graph below it, that shows Green Hybrid3 under-performing (flatness/fall-off) the Slow2.
I moved-on totally being

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

My issue with phones is pulling out the thing, having it unlock, then go to the app, etc. It is all too much bother vs an always on display on a streamer.

Cheap, always on, dedicated Android tablet running Material Skin (or Roon, I assume). Displays date/time when music stops. Can be lifted out of charging stand if wanted at any time to use as a remote. Use to control one of the fantastic WiiMs.

 

[Redman43]

This will sell well in Asia And I am guessing it was made primarily with that audience in mind. They LOVE shiny displays and if it's touch as well you have a winner there.

 

[TonyJZX]

yeah this has a few noted flaws

i think the intention is to use the Fiio app thru your designated smartphone to conrtol a smartphone controlled device (!!!)

some reviewers are saying it uses their own usb implemetation = LAG

if you truly need a hard trad remote

FiiO Bluetooth Remote RM3 Is Officially Released!-FIIO---BORN FOR MUSIC

www.fiio.com

$15

which isnt much to pay for a BT remote

to me this seems to be a very ambitious device mainly for an asian audience

 

[Chuck S]

I have an Astell&Kern that I use for walking around the house with my headphones on. If you like to do that, you might want a dap. Otherwise, for listening to iems, say, my phone works just fine.

 

[gvl]

Does Fiio commit to keep Android on this thing up to date? If not the OS will get outdated in a couple of years and some 3rd party apps will stop working.

 

[Leejb1970]

So you have to open the app at the device and then use the remote to control playback? I’m curious how remote button presses are passed to apps that expect button presses on the screen. It seems FiiO maybe supplying a player app that works with the physical remote playback control buttons but the likes of Spotify/ Tidal can only be controlled from the screen.

No, all apps can be controlled by the remote or keyboard.

 

[Jeromeof]

Thanks @amirm another interesting review - I see this primarily as a desktop headphone amplifier so it's a bit disappointing that the headphone performance is not better. Surprising given FiiO heritage in the DAP market.

I imagine FiiO want people to pair this with their new desktop speakers https://www.fiio.com/SP3 and as a set it would probably be a great near field desktop streamer setup for headphones and active speakers. I could definitely imagine this setup for my small 'home office'. This probably explains the lack of remote and even having different apps to switch inputs (as the touch screen would be easily accessible so customise the different apps for the different inputs would be trivial in this near field setup).

 

[Corvuscorone]

I will continue to use my Google Cromecast audios with different dacs. Using them on my Android phones is even easier after the latest Google Home application update. I bought several Cromecast audio devices two years ago, when they were still on sale for less than 30 euros.

 

[JeremyFife]

My issue with phones is pulling out the thing, having it unlock, then go to the app, etc. It is all too much bother vs an always on display on a streamer.

I get that.
The alternative though is that the Fiio has to be somewhere I can access easily instead of where it makes sense for the system.
Personally, getting a phone out (or picking up a remote) is a better user experience than getting up from my seat and walking over to the Fiio to fiddle with a screen.
Personal preference

 

[amirm]

No doubt. I am comparing it to using a remote.

 

[Klonatans]

I have been reluctant to test Daps. Are they really popular? They are kind of a pain to test since my analyzer can't control them. I *think* some have been sent to me for testing though so some reviews will come.

Cannot say about everybody, but I've used DAPs (Astell & Kern, iBasso, Fiio, Dethonray, Lotoo) quite a lot over the years while walking, running, doing workouts, travelling etc. I think there's still a sustainable market for DAPs, despite the ubiquity of smartphones used for the same purpose.

 

[fordiebianco]

I would like to see a review of one of their recent DAP models, especially the smallest, most portable option.

Purchase one and drop ship it to Amir?