FiiO R7 Desktop Network Streamer/DAC/Headphone Amplifier

[VSG]

FiiO re-invents the DAC/amp wheel with the new R7 desktop network streamer all-in-one unit. It uses a novel portrait form factor with an integrated touch screen display and Android OS paired with extensive I/O and support for both headphones and speakers to be the most versatile audio source I have ever tried!

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[GreiverBlade]

that's an impressive piece from Fiio ... and here i was thinking that Fiio would not surprise me anymore than they did ... i stand highly corrected ...

for the price, heck, it's not much higher than the X5 III i owned previously, well still 200ish$ compared to launch price but in Swiss frank ... it was 549chf, although i got it discounted at 299chf, sad i had to part with it 4 years ago.

 

[HDP56427]

Thanks for the review

Interesting device but...who can really trust FiiO?...

Can this be connected and does it worth it to be connected with a Mojo 2?

 

[KrazyT]

Interesting device but...who can really trust FiiO?

Why not ?

 

[VSG]

Thanks for the review

Interesting device but...who can really trust FiiO?...

Can this be connected and does it worth it to be connected with a Mojo 2?

Mojo 2 only takes digital inputs and is more limiting in what can be done. The R7 does have coax and optical output so it should be fine to feed into the Mojo 2, but I am not sure why you would want to do that at all. The other way round is not possible from what I know since the Mojo 2 doesn't have any line outputs.

 

[GreiverBlade]

who can really trust FiiO?...

i do, although i only ever owned a Fiio Q1 Mark II, a X5 III, a FA1, a M6, a RC-BT MMCX and i still own a FH1s and a KA1 (in a Fiio HB3 leatherette case)

so far my experience with them was overall really good, and i had one RMA for my FA1 because the MMCX receptacle was, hum... molested by the RC-BT connector and it went like a breeze

even tho it's a Chi-Fi brand, tbf all Chi-Fi brand tend to be great ... HiBy, Hidizs, Shanling et caetera.
ofc Mojo (and his "Made in Britain" label which is great!) is top notch but for some people like me, out of reach this is where Fiio and the likes comes in.

then, i don't really see the need to connect that to a Mojo 2 (i did some test and connected my KA1 to my AP80 for laugh ... tho... well it worked fine )

The other way round is not possible from what I know since the Mojo 2 doesn't have any line outputs.

indeed

2 headphone out no line out

 

[euricog]

Interesting device but...who can really trust FiiO?...

I'm one more on the list of people that trust them. The K5 Pro that powers my headphones was one of the best audio purchases I've ever made. Pleasant to look at, excellent performance and reliability, and above all, incredible value for money.

 

[Camm]

I've been thinking of doing some form of Raspberry Pi + Touch Screen for my HiFi setup. This looks like a better idea. Little high price wise, but not excessively so. Hmmm.

 

[VSG]

I've been thinking of doing some form of Raspberry Pi + Touch Screen for my HiFi setup. This looks like a better idea. Little high price wise, but not excessively so. Hmmm.

It's become a hub for my HiFi setup here already.

 

[mascaret]

Never understood the use case of such appliances.
I have a very tiny "power-diet" arm with debian and mpd server. Linked by USB to a DAC-AMP. If not using the computer, a 7" android tablet using mpd or LMS clients serves as a remote. Whole cost is a third of that box (on which I wonder practically how you select your music when you've got TBs of it on your NAS).
Or is it destined to people who have no interest in computers?

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Never understood the use case of such appliances.
I have a very tiny "power-diet" arm with debian and mpd server. Linked by USB to a DAC-AMP. If not using the computer, a 7" android tablet using mpd or LMS clients serves as a remote. Whole cost is a third of that box (on which I wonder practically how you select your music when you've got TBs of it on your NAS).
Or is it destined to people who have no interest in computers?

It uses high end components and most people don't have access to those components or the ability to put something like this together.

 

[VSG]

Never understood the use case of such appliances.
I have a very tiny "power-diet" arm with debian and mpd server. Linked by USB to a DAC-AMP. If not using the computer, a 7" android tablet using mpd or LMS clients serves as a remote. Whole cost is a third of that box (on which I wonder practically how you select your music when you've got TBs of it on your NAS).
Or is it destined to people who have no interest in computers?

Welcome to TechPowerUp! As @SOAREVERSOR mentioned, the FiiO R7 is targeting different audiences compared to what you and other DIYers are. Of course if someone is willing to put in the work they can make a media server for far less, but this is also a headphone/speaker DAC and amplifier too on top of just being a network streamer. So it's also offering space savings for those who want an all-in-one device.

 

[Operandi]

Interesting and looks well built for the money. Kinda an odd product though in that it looks like its primarily a desktop device which is odd because you are likely on computer of some sort which kinda makes the streaming functions redundant? It also really doesn't seem well suited as streaming device in a two channel main setup due to how you are supposed to interact with it (something like a Bluesound node or Wiim Pro would be better).

 

[VSG]

Interesting and looks well built for the money. Kinda an odd product though in that it looks like its primarily a desktop device which is odd because you are likely on computer of some sort which kinda makes the streaming functions redundant? It also really doesn't seem well suited as streaming device in a two channel main setup due to how you are supposed to interact with it (something like a Bluesound node or Wiim Pro would be better).

I've been using it in the living room a lot more than on my desk actually, and I suppose some streaming apps are better laid out than a desktop interface.

 

[cbb]

interesting little device! if my needs or existing rig were slightly different I could see myself getting this, especially for a 'home office' or similar setup. I think a dedicated media room prolly has HT gear that completely covers the functions this has, and an already built out pc+audio rig does as well. Still, tidy design w/ a lot of features. I just can't see replacing my wife's HT rig or my pc+stereo rig. It's always neat to see nicely executed new toys, even if I currently don't need it (reluctantly puts wallet away).

 

[Tartaros]

so far my experience with them was overall really good,

They are the few ones who support better bluetooth codecs on windows and even consoles with their dacs. I have the BTA30 and it's very nice having more than SBC.

 

[Hxx]

Just wondering can one use that screen as a second screen for your existing pc monitor setup? Like say If you wanna throw in some pc stats on it while playing a game and listen to audio via its Dac/amp abilities …

 

[VSG]

Just wondering can one use that screen as a second screen for your existing pc monitor setup? Like say If you wanna throw in some pc stats on it while playing a game and listen to audio via its Dac/amp abilities …

There is no video input to the screen, although there may be some Android/Windows apps allowing screen functionality over WiFi. I haven't looked at this much though.

 

[bug]

i do, although i only ever owned a Fiio Q1 Mark II, a X5 III, a FA1, a M6, a RC-BT MMCX and i still own a FH1s and a KA1 (in a Fiio HB3 leatherette case)

so far my experience with them was overall really good, and i had one RMA for my FA1 because the MMCX receptacle was, hum... molested by the RC-BT connector and it went like a breeze

I was going to ask, how does the RMA work? Looking at the official resellers list, it seems pretty sparse, who services these things?

 

[GreiverBlade]

I was going to ask, how does the RMA work? Looking at the official resellers list, it seems pretty sparse, who services these things?

the local retailer where i bought the goods, handled it ... if i had bought it directly via Fiio official store on AliExpress it might have been different.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Having dealt with them before Fiio is like Sennheiser, Etymotic, or Shure here. You are covered. If it's in warranty you're looking at shipping to them, not back. They cover all the rest. If it is out of warranty there is a cost. Though it's vastly discounted. You ship it to them, pay the cost (the worst I have seen is 50% of the whole damn item to get a new one) and they pay to ship it back to you.

One of the odder things about audiophile stuff vs PC stuff is audio companies generally aren't out to screw their customers. Make all the jokes about the asking cost of all this but they are going to support it come hell or high water. There is no push back involved, ever. It's more "hey thing does not work, it should work" or "I was a moron and ran over cable with the chair and then the dog chewed on it" and they are all "sure, great, here is the place to ship it cost is X flat" and off you go.

Of course there are some shady ChiFi companies that, well, that's it you are fucked. But anybody remotely reputable is going to try and make it right. This sort of kit falls into the "trust me" business where their asking prices are sticker shock at times and you are asked to take a leap of faith. Not that it won't do what they claim it does, but that they have the better option than competitor X. Competition creates vastly higher prices and service at the high end and vastly lower prices and crap service at the low end. If you're buying from a known brand they leap out of windows to help.

interesting little device! if my needs or existing rig were slightly different I could see myself getting this, especially for a 'home office' or similar setup. I think a dedicated media room prolly has HT gear that completely covers the functions this has, and an already built out pc+audio rig does as well. Still, tidy design w/ a lot of features. I just can't see replacing my wife's HT rig or my pc+stereo rig. It's always neat to see nicely executed new toys, even if I currently don't need it (reluctantly puts wallet away).

Nobody "needs" this and that's not what it's about. It's sourcing parts even DIY crowds can't get and then over building the fucking hell out of it and toss some functionality at it smashing it into a compact form. It's not remotely needed. It does not compete with the 5-50k true streaming devices that will sit down, clobber it, than shit on it's face. But from the parts list, the in and out ports it has, the build, at 700 the thing is a fucking steal. If you have a situation where you could use it, well it's 700 for a product that's competing with thousands of dollars products and makes a good argument.

Would I buy it, for the office maybe. For home no. What I have crushes this, and it should. It costs over 10x as much.

 

[Oviot]

Probably Zidoo dmp a6 ticks all the boxes you can ask. Price? Don't know yet.

 

[Space Lynx]

@VSG I am having a problem with my asgard 2 and modi 3 dac where i get noise interference at high volumes, I know it is because some cables from my PC are touching the cables, problem is, I don't really have anywhere to tie them off to separate them... are there special power cables/usb c cables I can buy designed for audio that have like a bunch of ferrite cores on them or something?

 

[VSG]

@VSG I am having a problem with my asgard 2 and modi 3 dac where i get noise interference at high volumes, I know it is because some cables from my PC are touching the cables, problem is, I don't really have anywhere to tie them off to separate them... are there special power cables/usb c cables I can buy designed for audio that have like a bunch of ferrite cores on them or something?

I haven't really looked at them because there's a lot of snake oil in this field too, but I understand what you are looking for. Schiit is pretty good at customer service so maybe they have recommendations for you?

 

[bug]

@VSG I am having a problem with my asgard 2 and modi 3 dac where i get noise interference at high volumes, I know it is because some cables from my PC are touching the cables, problem is, I don't really have anywhere to tie them off to separate them... are there special power cables/usb c cables I can buy designed for audio that have like a bunch of ferrite cores on them or something?

If there's more than one cable involved, one trick that you can try is to twist them together. Cables that are not parallel with each other are less likely to act as antennas for unwanted signals.