FiiO has definitely put their right foot right into the low end amplifier/source market with a varied selection of devices in a varied selection of price ranges with portable sound being their priority, can the E10 join the ranks of the often recommended E7/E17 or will it fall flat on its behind when compared to similar devices in a crowded price range? Let’s find out.

The E10 comes in a simple metal tin with only the required accessories, eight rubber stick-on feet, a Mini USB to USB cable and documentation.
The device itself is very small with an attractive black brushed aluminium finish on all sides giving it an appropriate modern aesthetic and a feeling of sturdiness in the hand and unlike other similarly priced FiiO gadgets the E10 is all business with no LCD screen or glossy coating to scoop up your finger prints, definitely a bonus in my book.

On the front you have a 3.5mm headphone jack, a bass on/off switch (more on that later) next to a slightly recessed but very easy to use gain control knob with numbered markings ending at 8, sandwiched between the gain knob and bass switch is a very bright blue LED which is unnecessarily distracting in darker environments and actually hampered my ability to see the markings on the gain control, a slightly less bright LED would have been preferred.

On the back is a 3.5mm line out jack (which utilizes the DAC however avoiding the amplifier in the E10), coaxial out (avoiding both DAC and AMP) and lastly a mini USB input.

On the belly of the beast is a gain switch with high and low settings, recessed to stop accidental switching.

I very much appreciate the design choices FiiO have put into the E10, with coaxial and line out you have the option to upgrade further down the road but still utilize some of the E10’s features which gives it a little staying power for the long run, the build quality if impeccable, a solid rock of a device with a very sturdy and quality gain control knob, I can see this device lasting far into the future, well done FiiO!

I decided to use the FiiO as it was intended, as both a DAC and amplifier without mixing other devices into the mix.
The sound from the FiiO E10 can be summed up in three words, excellent and balanced, it doesn’t try it be anything it isn’t and is planets away from the more serious, high end equipment but to get this great of a sound out of such a well priced package boggles the mind.

The highs I felt were the worst part of the mix, not to say they were bad, but in comparison to other desktop sources/amplifiers they fell short when delivering a sparkly, crisp performance, albeit still being airy, the E10 when used with the Grados actually toned down the ear piercing treble that’s known of the headphones and made them more bearable, but definitely a subjective taste.The mid’s were every well conveyed, lush but not forward or chesty, it gave the vocals a juicy feel, especially when paired with the less demanding orthodynamic headphones (more on that soon).

Bass extension and lows were very punchy and controlled with great sub-bass presence, definitely the best low-end performance I’ve found in the price range from personal experience.
Soundstage and imaging were a little unsatisfying but a step up from other FiiO offerings, although nothing to write home about.

In terms of amplification the E10 does as expected with headphones it is most likely to be paired with, quite well, but when paired with extremely hungry cans such as the HE-6, Fostex T50RP and a loaned AKG K702 I had to do a double take on the performance, it actually powered them to a good degree of satisfaction.
On high gain setting the E10 is known for being spitty and sibilant but I never actually experienced that, neither the K702 nor T50RP actually required to go above 4/8 via the gain knob (on the high gain setting) which was very surprising, it powered both quite excellently and although I would recommend something a little higher
end for those specific headphones I did enjoy listening to them through the E10.
The HE-6 however was for the third time, incredibly surprising, on the high gain setting and with the knob pushed to 11 metaphorically speaking I listened to the HE-6 with a massive grin on my face, it was enjoyable! I had clipping every so often with the poor bugger trying its hardest to power what is known to be the most demanding headphone on the market but the little guy managed it, the E10 really holds a big package in it’s small exterior.

The E10 also has a little trick under its sleeve, the bass switch, initially I was intrigued with the feature but in practice, a little apathetic. When turned on the “bass” feature adds a slight warmth/colour to the sound which I personally was not fond of, however the option is there for electronic music listeners and bassheads alike, just don’t expect ear shaking results but rather a slight increase in the lower end, and slight decrease in the treble.

All in all I was very impressed especially considering (and I have a feel I’m exhausting the term) the price, the E10’s primary market is for those who are wanting to upgrade from their current onboard sound offerings with the amplifier being icing on the cake and with that in mind, I haven’t listened to a better contender in the current market, FiiO really is bringing younger blood into the world of audio and I applaud them for it.

I would like to congratulate FiiO on creating a simply oustanding product, the sound I got from this very affordable device was simply astonishing with the design being equally good with only a couple of minor issues keeping it from perfection.
I wouldn’t recommend any other DAC/Amp in this price range, in-fact I can think of very few that actually manage to fit both within the cost you’re likely to find in your wallet.
If you’re looking for better audio for your desktop, or want a portable music box for your netbook/laptop then look no further, the E10 is a complete steal!