FiiO E17 Alpen Portable Headphone Amplifier USB DAC
- Standard mini USB interface: Connect to your PC for digital audio transfer and/or charge of the 1500 mAh internal battery
- 3.5 mm stereo headphone output: Suitable for 16-150 ohm headphones; MAX output current > 80 mA; THD <0.003%@1KHz
- 3.5mm SPDIF input (optical, coaxial) digital connector to receive PCM signals up to 24-bit/192kHz
- 3.5mm Analog Line-In for use with other audio sources, 18-Pin multi-functional interface to connect FiiO's L7 and E9 docks
- Digital Bass, Treble, Gain, Volume Controls
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Product Description
E17 is kind of high-grade and multi-functional amplifier for headphones. It has many excellent functions with small shape and being portable. High performance design of amplifier is to ensure the quality of sound. Multi-input ports design makes it easy to operate. It has many ports such as PC USB or S/PDIF digital single or AUX analog signal input. With OLED screen, the interface of E17 is so intuitive and key operation is comfortable.
Work indicator - indicate power on/off and charging status High-brightness of OLED dot matrix screen - display kinds of working and setting information Built-in high capacity chargeable Li-ion battery whose use time can reach 15 hours Meet listening needs by adjusting GAIN, BASS, TREBLE or BALANCE
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Product information
Product Dimensions | 3.78 x 2.18 x 0.6 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 3.95 ounces |
Manufacturer | Fiio |
ASIN | B0070UFMOW |
Country of Origin | China |
Item model number | E17-BK |
Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
Customer Reviews |
4.2 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #438,777 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #451 in Headphone Amps |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | April 9, 2012 |
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the sound quality, performance, quality and build quality of the portable av device. For example, they mention that it adds considerable depth to the sound, works perfectly with their setup and that the results are stunning. That said, some appreciate the value for money.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the sound quality of the portable av device. They say the sound is flawless, it added considerable depth to the sound, and the bass is better defined. They also say the volume on this amp is finer and easier to use. The soundstage opens up, and everything sounds clearer and defined than before. Customers say it's a great device for non-audiophiles or budding audiophile who are not ready to upgrade their audio system. They mention that it does the mid range and treble really well, and it will allow you to enjoy music for hours of listening.
"...It's a simple, two-tone display, but is very clear and more-than up to the task of displaying the basic info involved - there's no need for album..." Read more
"...It's DAC is nice and flat, has bigger soundstage, crisp and sharp highs and lows. All that good stuff you look for in a DAC cleanup...." Read more
"...While the E17 makes everything sound oh-so-lovely, I can tell that even more oomph would benefit my headphones, so I now have the [..." Read more
"...Using the E17 as a DAC for your computer was amazing. The music sounded full, rich and extended...." Read more
Customers like the performance of the portable av device. They mention that it works perfectly for their purpose, produces better results, and is very capable of driving their Sennheiser PXC. They also like the functions and sound of the amp, and say it has many useful functions for a variety of things. Customers say it works fine while it lasts and is of sufficient quality and capability that they won't outgrow it.
"...The enhanced spatiatiality was very noticeable. I have a nice system to start with, so that's saying something...." Read more
"...the Classic's own headphone circuitry, and found it works well as a portable headphone amp - if not quite as convenient as something like the lesser..." Read more
"...I won't go into that. The product is well-built and feature rich. It's simple and beautiful...." Read more
"...Unsurprisingly, the E17 will not process DTS or Dolby Digital signals, so attempting to feed these to it through the optical cable will blow your..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the quality of the DAC. They mention that it is an impressive DAC at an excellent price. The amplifier does a good job and has more than enough power for the headphones. The DAC for your computer was amazing, with decent highs, unbelievable mids, and top notch functionality.
"...The FIIO Alpen E17 is an impressive DAC at an excellent price...." Read more
"...After extensive testing, this product works. It's DAC is nice and flat, has bigger soundstage, crisp and sharp highs and lows...." Read more
"...and bass, the E17 hits the spot just right with decent highs, unbelievable mids, and just the right amount of lows...." Read more
"...What came out? Magical, sparkling unicorns, that's what...." Read more
Customers like the build quality of the portable av device. They mention that it is well built, feels solid, and is built to last. Some appreciate the solid cable jacks that snap and lock into place. Overall, most are happy with the quality and functionality of the product.
"Although fairly low-cost, the Fiio E17 is built to last...." Read more
"...I won't go into that. The product is well-built and feature rich. It's simple and beautiful...." Read more
"...There's some kind of brushed metal surface going on here that is solid and can take some drops...." Read more
"...PROS:- Nice black metal finish. Build quality seems solid.- Bright screen with controls for bass/treble, gain, sleep timer, etc...." Read more
Customers like the value of the portable av device. They say it's a great alternative to a high end PCIe sound card, a steal for the money, and a perfect addition to premium headphones.
"...FIIO Alpen E17 DAC/Amplifier for $129 is one of the best and cheapest investments I've ever made in my system." Read more
"...If you also need a DAC, however, the E17 is an outstanding value." Read more
"...E17, it's still not a match, it is MUCH BETTER and definitely worth the investment of an E17...." Read more
"...but the utility and value I have gotten from this one for its price is off the charts...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the portable av device. They mention that the quality is excellent, the design is excellent and the brushed finish looks and feels great. The amp is designed well, and it has a nice case. Overall, most are happy with their purchase and recommend it to others.
"...All decked out in the same black, brushed finish, the E17 looks and feels great.The Fiio E17 accepts four types of input...." Read more
"...It's DAC is nice and flat, has bigger soundstage, crisp and sharp highs and lows. All that good stuff you look for in a DAC cleanup...." Read more
"...PROS:- Nice black metal finish. Build quality seems solid.- Bright screen with controls for bass/treble, gain, sleep timer, etc...." Read more
"...They have spectacularly present and rich midrange and delightfully clear highs...." Read more
Customers find the portable av device relatively simple to use and operate. They say the interface is much more simple than some people make it, and the controls are straightforward. Customers also mention that the menus are easy to navigate. Overall, most are satisfied with the ease of installation.
"...It's a simple, two-tone display, but is very clear and more-than up to the task of displaying the basic info involved - there's no need for album..." Read more
"...The product is well-built and feature rich. It's simple and beautiful...." Read more
"...This setup sounds OK if your source is reasonably clean, and the Mackie has enough oomph to drive these 300 ohm cans. BUT......" Read more
"...Bummer.The E17 is pretty simple. One shouldn't need to consult the (dreadful) manual, unless there are problems...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the battery life of the portable av device. Some mention that it has an internal 1500mAh battery, allowing them to take it out and about with them. They say it has a decent run time and less battery drain from portable devices. However, others say that it doesn't hold a charge anymore and does not last even a month.
"...The one shortcoming for me, my unit failed after about six weeks of use.I geared up for a fight. Amazon warranties for 30 days...." Read more
"...The E17 has an internal 1500mAh battery, letting you take it out and about with you...." Read more
"...back several hours later to test it, unplugged the cord and the unit went off -- and would not come back on...." Read more
"...The E7 was an obvious improvement in battery life, but it was surprisingly lacking in the power category so I started looking to upgrade...." Read more
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The first thing to understand is how to hook the E17 up to your computer.
Your best bet is to connect the E17 to the SPDIF optical output jack on your Mac. The what? As it turns out, Steve Jobs was an audiophile and wanted to make sure that Macs could be an integral part of a hifi system. (I've repurposed my MacBook Pro 17" as a media server.) So all Macs have an optical output jack. On the Mac, digital audio is output through the headphone jack. You just plug in an SPDIF optical cable (included with the E17) and a little red light comes out. Connect to the E17 SPDIF input. If you have a PC, you have my condolences, but you can use the USB input to the E17.
I suspect one reason some reviews have been less than favorable is that people just use the E17's AUX analog input with a 3.5mm headphone cable. If you do, you are only using the headphone preamplifier and not the DAC, so it won't sound any better than just turning up the volume on your headphones.
Also it makes a difference what you output to the E17. Don't start up iTunes and start playing aac or mp3 files. These lossy compression formats are not digital versions of your music. You want to use ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) format. To do this, rip your CDs using the ALAC CD import setting under preferences. ALAC files are digital audio files that preserve the full 44.1kHz/16 bit audio information from your CD. ALAC files are about 4X bigger that AAC files as a result, so hard disk space may become a factor. You can now use iTunes to play these ALAC files and what comes out of the SPDIF optical output is digital data. Now the E17 DAC has something it can actually work with.
If your entire music collection was downloaded, you can stop reading right here. The E17 is not for you unless you are willing to invest in high quality digital downloads (see HDtracks.com). Fortunately, I have most of the music I care about on CD.
So now plug your headphones into the E17. Provided you have good headphones you will notice a definite improvement. You should notice that your stereo headphones now have a defined spatial sound stage (as opposed to the flat sound that comes out of your car stereo or through analog headphone input). It's sort of like putting a standard DVD in your player and getting a 3D picture on your TV. The E17 has volume control as well as an amplifier that provides 0/6/12 db gain. One thing you can notice is that if you push the DAC volume too high, the sound stage becomes flat, but only noticeable just before the headphone volume becomes deafening. Don't try this at home.
You will need a good set of headphones or earbuds to really appreciate the E17. I am fortunate to have Ultimate Ear Triple-Fi Pro earbuds. I also have used the E17 with my Bose QC3 headphones and they sound better. Sorry, but the E17 won't do much with your iPhone earbuds or likely any other headphone or earbud that costs less than the E17 itself.
The next thing you definitely want to do, if you've gotten this far, is to download the Audirvana Plus DAC media player. (audirvana.com - download the trial!) Even without the E17, it will greatly improve your sound. One of the reasons is that Audirvana bypasses Apple's core audio and instead uses the iZotope 64-bit SRC driver. This is the same driver that iZotope uses in their digital audio workstation software. (See iZotope's website) What makes Audirvana really special is that it has digital signal processing algorithms that will upsample your music to a higher sample rate/bit depth. So convert your 44.1kHz/16 bit ALAC to 98kHz/24 bit format before sending to DAC. (You can go higher but even Audirvana says there's not much value in that.) Now before we get started on why this can't work because you can't create more information than was originally present on the CD, it does in fact work. It has something to do with the psychoacoustics of how your brain processes sound. (So if you can't hear a difference, it might be worth checking out the troubleshooting section in your brain's owners manual). Go to Wikipedia to read up on why/how. And let's not EVEN go down the path of "it won't help because we can only hear frequencies up to 22 kHz." Anyway, Audirvana Plus is a good deal at $74.
Audirvana Plus also senses when you have a DAC plugged and turns digital audio conversion over to the DAC after it resamples. You could build hardware upsamplers, but computers are fast enough and can use better sampling algorithms than you can easily (or inexpensively) build on a chip. The E17 also supports integer-mode frequency conversion and Audirvana will sense that as well. That's good but I won't spend time going into why. Audirvana Plus will also integrate with iTunes and output to Airplay, but I am now using Audirvana Plus itself as my preferred media player.
So now comes the real surprise: I output the analog signal from the E17 to my AVR and got an improvement as well (vs playing AAC files). The enhanced spatiatiality was very noticeable. I have a nice system to start with, so that's saying something. Last year FIIO demonstrated the E17 at their booth at a consumer audio show with a $30,000 system and blew people away. Getting a DAC for $129 that reviewers compare favorably to DAC costing a couple of thousand dollars, I think is a good deal.
One reason the E17 sounds so good is that it uses the Wolfson WM8740 chipset - one of the higher performance DAC chipsets out there that's used to build those expensive DAC's.
One last note: While you can use USB input to the E17 (cable included) if your system doesn't have SPDIF output (i.e., not a Mac), the USB board has to convert the digital output to the USB digital format. If you use SPDIF you are getting you audio straight from the audio driver without further processing. If you a playing ALAC or another lossless format, all the Mac has to do is just take the digital data and hand it over (digital to digital optical conversion being no big deal: 1 => turn light on, 0 => turn light off).
Bottom Line: Buying the FIIO Alpen E17 DAC/Amplifier for $129 is one of the best and cheapest investments I've ever made in my system.
The Fiio E17 accepts four types of input. There's a miniUSB port on its bottom, letting you connect to a computer and effectively use the little metal box as a sound card, a 3.5mm jack for standard stereo analogue input and an SPDIF jack up top for optical/coaxial digital entry. On its underside the E17 also features a Fiio dock socket, which plugs into the E9 - a Fiio desktop amp. Doing so blocks the USB socket, but the E9 has its own, making this potentially the perfect pairing.
To make full use of the E17, you'll need to use the digital inputs, but the flexibility of the device makes it worthwhile when used with a portable media player too. We hooked it up to an iPod Classic using Fiio's LOD cable, which bypasses the Classic's own headphone circuitry, and found it works well as a portable headphone amp - if not quite as convenient as something like the lesser Fiio E6. The E17 has an internal 1500mAh battery, letting you take it out and about with you.
Used with an SPDIF connection, the Fiio E17 can accept a true high-end signal - up to 24-bit, 192k. Rarely do we have to crack out such high-end files in our testing. With a USB connection, the limit is 96K/24-bit - but if you're honestly noticing all that much difference between the two, there's a good chance it's in your head. If you're not so obsessed with bits and kHz, the E17 is also more than happy to take on "standard" 48K 16-bit signals. The quality of the signal being piped through it is displayed on the dinky screen on the front.
It's a simple, two-tone display, but is very clear and more-than up to the task of displaying the basic info involved - there's no need for album art here, folks. The screen is of the OLED type, which provides excellent contrast and viewing angles.
The Fiio E17 comes with everything you need to get going. There's a short stereo jack connector, letting you plug in an MP3 player easily, a little miniUSB cable and a felt carry case. You'll ideally want to get hold of a digital cable too, but we can understand why Fiio hasn't included one. Other than the costs involved, the length of digital cable needed is likely to vary much more - if, say, you want to plug it into a Hi-Fi separate halfway across the room.
Other little bits bundled include some thick rubber bands, to let you attach he E17 to your media player in lo-fi fashion, and optical/coaxial converters.
I'm using it with my AKG K702 and they both compliment each other very well. With any high end headphones, just plugging them in to my iPod and Macbook was useless as there was not enough juice to power my headphones. After pairing it with the E17 it was smooth sailing all the way.
Definitely recommend the E17 for those looking for a budget headphone amp and its comes pack with accessories that you will be using everyday. Nothing to complain about here!
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Dicho esto una importante salvedad: si tienes tu colección musical en archivos mp3 a 128 bps más vale empezar por ahí porque el beneficio que puedas obtener de estos aparatos como DAC será mínimo. Todo lo más conseguirás más volúmen. No habrá gran ganancia en la calidad de sonido porque no hay calidad que mejorar.
Esta mejora se obtiene usando archivos de 320 en mp3 o alguno de los formatos Loossless, FLAC, WAV,... Existen Apps para dispositivos Apple capaces de reproducir la mayor parte de estos formatos, supongo que existen también para Android. Para PC y Mac existe el software libre Nightingale de uso similar a iTunes.
Como DAC se conecta por USB (cable incluído), por SPDIF ( adaptador a RCA coaxial incluido), o cable de fibra óptica (adaptador a 3'5" incluido). Se puede conectar pues a cualquier PC o MAC portátil o de sobremesa ( en Mac sencillamente aparece como opción de salida de sonido la primera vez que se conecta) directamente la señal digital puenteando la tarjeta de sonido del ordenador, a lectores de CD, DVD, televisor, Apple TV, etc...y dando salida a unos auriculares o a unos altavoces activos, sistema de home cinema, etc...( Ojo, solo estéreo, no soporta 5.1, 7.1,,,.). Descodifica archivos hasta 192 k a 24 bits!
Como amplificador de auriculares se conecta a cualquier lector portátil de Mp3, FLAC, Apple Loossless, AIF....y proporciona potencia para mover los auriculares más necesitados o para varios auriculares al mismo tiempo. A este respecto tienen 2 niveles de ganancia por encima de 0 dB , 6 y 12 dB que solo se usarán en caso de demandas excepcionales. Aquí solo proporcionan un cable macho..macho de 3'5" . Si lo quieres conectar a un iPod, iPhone, iPad, o dispositivos Android aprovechando la salida del dock, puenteando el amplificador interno del dispositivo para obtener un (mucho) mejor sonido y no solo un sonido más potente, necesitas un conector específico que si bien existe para los iPhones, iPods, iPads ..de cuarta generación no existe todavía para los dispositivos con conector lightning.
No se puede, repito NO SE PUEDE, obtener la señal digital del iPod, iPhone o lo que sea porque esta viene codificada con una codificación propietaria de Apple que vende la licencia a buen precio. Licencia que FIIo no ha comprado y si otras marcas como iRiver o iBasso que si pueden recoger la señal digital y actuar como DAC.Por lo tanto en este tipo de dispositivos el E17 solo actúa como amplificador de auriculares.
Dicho esto comentar que los iPods hasta la generación 5.5 (Ipod video de 80 Gb) utilizaban un chip DAC de la misma marca (Wolfson) y categoría similar a muchos DACS de sobremesa de precio superlativo y que por tanto la señal decodificada que se obtiene de ellos a partir del Dock conector es de alta calidad. Si utilizas archivos Lossless un iPod antiguo con un ampli externo cumple perfectamente las funciones de un DAP de calidad.
Cuando se usa la señal bruta del dispositivo, y siempre que se disponga de archivos de música como mínimo de 320 en Mp3, CD o alguno de los formatos de audio Loossless y de unos buenos auriculares, la ganancia en calidad de sonido es evidente, espectacular. Todo está más definido sin distorsiones ( si los datos de su ficha técnica son reales es una bestia a este respecto), sin esos pitidos de fondo que provocan las tarjetas de sonido mal blindadas en los dispositivos. El espacio sonoro se amplía, el posicionamiento virtual de los instrumentos es evidente. No solo tus altavoces o tus auriculares, tu música adquiere una vida nueva. Pero recalcar otra vez que esperar algo espectacular con unos auriculares de mala calidad o unos malos altavoces es una utopía. A la hora de gastarse el dinero mejor empezar por ahí.
Se controlan sus múltiples capacidades desde un sencillo menú mostrado en una pantalla OLED.
60 niveles de volumen, botones dedicados.
Botón de menú
Botón de selección de la fuente de entrada
10 niveles de agudos en pasos de 2 dB
10 niveles de bajos en pasos de 2 dB
Balance 10 niveles
3 posiciones de ganancia, 0, 6 y 12 dB
Bueno, pues por si fuera poco el aparato es más pequeño que un iPhone 5, aunque algo más grueso, pesa 112 gr y es de aluminio, no de plásticos varios. Añade en el pack además de lo listado anteriormente, una funda ( mala calidad pero funda al fin y al cabo. Parece demasiado grande hasta que caes en la cuenta de que está pensada para llevar un lector de mp3 y el FIOO E17), 2 bandas de goma para acoplar el amplificador al mp3 o teléfono, 6?? Almohadillas de goma adhesivas para proteger la parte trasera de arañazos y 2 protectores de pantalla.
Me parece un producto sencillamente extraordinario por 129€. Si la duración de su vida útil está en consonancia con sus prestaciones, DAC y amplificador de auriculares portátil, y su apariencia de solidez es un caballo ganador casi sin competencia posible.
Otras marcas si ofrecen todo esto lo hacen a precios espantosamente inflados por la mayor parte, si es que ofrecen ambas capacidades y esta conectividad. Y ya se sabe que en HI-FI a partir de cierto nivel cualquier mejora en nuestro equipo alcanza precios prohibitivos que redundan en mejoras prácticamente infinitesimales para el oído del ser humano normal.
FIIO tiene otro dispositivo, el E18, especialmente pensado para dispositivos Android. El diseño es diferente, sin pantalla y similar a los amplificadores de auriculares FIIO E11 y E12
23 de Diciembre de 2014. Fiio anuncia hoy su nuevo modelo evolución del E17, el Alpen 2 E17K. Algo más fino, con menois botones (sustituidas por una rueda que gira y se pulsa. Habrá que ver la calidad del mecanismo...) y con una batería de doble duración. Aún no disponible en Amazon.es cuando escribo estas lineas. No tengo información sobre si Fiio discontinua el modelo anterior. Es de suponer que se ofrecerá a menor precio mientras signa habiendo unidades.
Mais je voulais disposer de la fonction DAC en plus.
A réception du E17 je commence à le régler comme je le faisais avec le E11, en poussant un peu le réglage du gain > ça n'allait pas du tout : équilibre tonal en vrac, son trop agressif.
En remettant tous les réglages à zéro, je me suis rendu compte que le son était plus "clair" que sur le E11 et que le gain que je poussais sur le E11 est en fait un artifice pour compenser un son plus "voilé".
Du coup je me suis peu à peu fait à ce nouvel ampli qui élargit également l'espace sonore (on va dire que le E11 sait retranscrire une scène large, mais ne sait pas restituer de la profondeur, ce que sait faire le E17).
J'avoue avoir aussi essayer de lui faire chanter mon casque sennheiser 65O (impédance 300 ohms), ça semble très bon pour l'espace, les médiums et les aigus, mais les graves ne sont pas au niveau où ils devraient être, on atteint la limite de ce que peut pousser cet amplificateur.
Cette expérience a quand même été intéressante > en écoutant un de mes albums téléchargés sur ce site je me suis rendu compte d'un phénomène bizarre : j'entendais très faiblement certains sons avec une légère avance sur le moment où je les entendais "forts et clairs"
Il m'a suffit de pousser un peu les recherches pour comprendre que j'entendais tout simplement ce que l'on appelle le "pré-echo" qui est un des défauts de la compression.
Du coup j'ai fait quelques tests d'écoute comparatifs avec différents encodages pour en conclure que je ne pouvais plus envisager des téléchargements de mp3 à 256 kbits (ce qui semble être le standard d'Amazon) compte tenu de la finesse de reproduction de mon système d'écoute (dont le Fiio E17 qui aura contribué à révéler ces détails).
Pour mes écoutes nomades j'envisage désormais la compression ogg vorbis en qualité 9, (certains sites proposent des téléchargements à ce standard) et pour la maison je lis les CD sur le lecteur blu-ray dont la sortie numérique attaque l'ampli/DAC Fiio E17 et là les résultats sont de très haute volée !
Cette montée en gamme rend justice au support physique : se débarrasser de ses CD parce qu'on a tout encodé pour gagner de la place (à moins de l'avoir fait avec des algorithmes de compression sans pertes), c'est un gâchis énorme !
Il y a une richesse sonore sur nos CD que du bon matériel sait mettre en valeur, là où la compression la fait disparaître à tout jamais :-(
Xav'
PS : les mêmes sites évoqués plus haut proposent aussi de tester des fichiers codés en 24 bits / 96 khz > le Fiio E17 + westone 4 savent parfaitement rendre "l'aération" supérieure de ces enregistrements !
I purchased this device not so much to amplify sound but more to improve the overall quality of the output sound, which is quite a challenging and ambitious goal.
I use the FiiO E17 with Grado headphones ref SR 325. I am only commenting on the default set up which is output from a computer (iMac 27" 2011) via the USB cable. I tested with classical music (orchestra) and soprano voices.
I also intend to use the E17 with a classic Ipod gen 5 and an iPad. I will see if I am comment on this later on.
Given other's comments in Amazon and also a detailed review of this product, I was not prepared to expect a significant difference, but there is no denying that this product exceeds my expectations.
Of course it is difficult to describe in words what a sound signature is like ,some say it is more rounded ,some talk about an enhanced sound stage, some talk about neutral output, some say that this is mainly an amplifier and that is it.
I would say that this provides more amplification than the built in sound card and a lot more if a gain higher than 0 is used. However a gain higher than 0 is adding hiss, the best gain is 0 because there is no hiss.
As far as the overall sound quality is concerned, I believe that the improvement is not a subjective matter, so you will want to know in what way is this better than the default sound card which is already good on the iMac ?
I will not talk about the improvement in terms of subjective warmth of coldness which in my view does not mean very much. It looks like the sound is better because there are frequencies (sounds) whose output is clearer (can be heard better).
It appears to be more obvious both with higher frequencies (soprano, treble) and lower frequencies (bass).
I am afraid that I am unable to compare the FiiO E17 with other amplifiers, some wrote that there are other amplifiers such as the Arcam rPac that would be better but I cannot comment on this.
I can certainly conclude saying that this is a very good product because it appears to improve the sound quality of digital music with its DAC in a very portable package (this is much smaller than a classic Ipod) and there are many connection options and it is also very small and portable which is very important in my view.
I hope these few lines were useful. Some comments are negative about the built quality and reliability, the built quality appears to be good, I cannot comment about the reliability. The weakest point of this device may be the sockets / jacks that can get damaged or wear out quickly when used with some adapters as far as I understand based on other comments.
I can only recommend this product, the DAC functionality appears to be desirable and is likely to be associated with the perceived improvement rather than pure amplification alone. There are other products that only provide amplification such as cMoy based devices but again I cannot compare but I suspect that the FiiO E17 is a better product.
I hope that this review will help others in making their choices.