The FiiO E10K Olympus 2 is a second-generation entry-level transportable micro USB powered DAC/Amp with a price of $75.99
Disclaimer: The FiiO E10k Olympus 2 sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank FiiO for this opportunity.
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I know I have reviewed the FiiO E10 on this site before but I felt that since I really liked those when it came out that I should review the latest version as well.
I don’t know what FiiO did to the first update to the E10 with the first Olympus model since I missed that one, but after listening to the latest version of the E10k, I can say that they have got themselves another winner.
Unboxing
Before talking about the sound, let’s talk about the unboxing and setup. Opening the box, what you get is the E10k Olympus 2 unit itself, the USB cord, and some rubber feet which I automatically stuck onto the unit as soon as I saw them.
Just like the older model, the setup was very easy and pain-free. Just plug it into any free USB port and it works automatically with files up to 24bits and 96khz sampling rates. No installation of drivers is needed.
Like the old E10, the E10k Olympus 2 also comes with a bass boost and a gain switch as well as a line-out jack and a coaxial digital pass-through in case you want to convert the USB from the computer to a standard coaxial digital output.
The build quality of the E10k Olympus 2 seems about the same as the old version with only some changes in the looks due to the different placement of the bass boost and gain switches.
Design Differences
The key component difference between the older E10 and the newer E10K Olympus 2 lies in the switch from the older warmer and musical WM8740 chip to the newer cleaner and less noisy PCM-5102 DAC chip used by the likes of Arcam.
In general, FiiO has been quietly moving away from the WM8740 chip which was their stock chip and house sound for the first few years. The FiiO E18 and the X5 (also a switch to PCM) are two other examples where FiiO has ventured into new sounds and implementations and a sure sign of a company continually growing in confidence.
The second key change is the amplification stage with a switch to the LMH6643 opamp over the older AD8397 which for me produces a more natural response with superior imaging. They do have a little less slam than the AD8397 but come across as smoother and more refined.
Sound Impressions
Now let’s get to the good part of the review. Let’s talk about the sound of the thing. I was first impressed by the original E10 for its great bang for the buck factor even though it may have lacked some technical prowess over more expensive DAC/amps.
However, with the E10K Olympus 2, FiiO has managed to improve on the E10 successfully by adding more extension to the highs and better dynamics without losing the musicality of the old version.
I don’t have the old E10 with me anymore to compare them side by side, but the new version seems to be less bloated in the midbass region and more accurate in its tone on top of the more extended treble reproduction. I would think that with all these improvements, the price would increase as well but lo and behold, FiiO has decided to keep these guys priced the same as the old ones.
Bottom line is that if one wants a DAC/amp “on the cheap” meaning the sub 100 dollar range to use with a computer via USB then I can’t think of a better sounding all in one device than this. In fact, I have owned many higher-end units at thrice the price or more that can’t even touch the natural tonality that these FiiO’s can give.
Vs JDS Labs 02
I have however found another highly popular amp that I have stuck with for a long time due to its great value which is better sounding to me than the E10K Olympus 2. This amp that I speak of is the JDS Labs O2 which I am currently using with a Schiit Modi DAC.
FYI cables used are the AudioQuest tower for the interconnect cables and Schiits’ own Pyst USB wire for the computer to DAC end. I say the sound is better because I feel that the Modi/O2 combo is better than the E10K Olympus 2 when it comes to the technical aspects of the sound.
The Modi/O2 just has a tighter sound with more tactile sounding instruments without breakup. The E10K Olympus 2, in a direct comparison, sounds like a portable while the Modi/O2 combo sounds more like a desktop in its dynamics due to the fact that it just sounds less strained without giving as much of a hint in softening transients as much as the e10 does.
Don’t get me wrong, the E10K Olympus 2 has a very good amp for sensitive headphones like the Audio Technica M50 that I have on my head right now but it still doesn’t have that extra jump factor that the Modi/O2 starts to have that makes one feel that they are getting a taste of the higher-end rigs.
It is sort of like comparing a 320kbps mp3 file vs the original cd that it was ripped from. The original will always be slightly better than the lossy file but sometimes the difference is too small to matter.
The Schiit Modi/JDS labs O2 combo with the cables I have is around $300 vs the 75 to 80 dollar price of the e10 so it is not really comparing apples to apples. I don’t think the differences will be that big anyway for those gunning for a DAC/amp in this price range.
Let’s put it this way, The Modi/O2 combo’s difference in sound vs the FiiO E10K Olympus 2 is way less than the difference between the E10K against my laptop headphone jack which is total garbage against that of the FiiOs.
Pros and Cons
In case I missed anything, here is an outline of what the E10 is lacking from the more than 3x the price Modi/O2 combo with the cables I used.
- The E10 is less airy in the highs
- The E10 is less dynamic meaning there is less differentiation between quiet and loud parts of a song
- The E10 is less tactile sounding due to a softer transient response
- The E10 has a more compact soundstage yet not by too much. (Sometimes it can be a good thing to keep the sound more coherent)
But then again…
The E10K Olympus 2 mids have some accessible magic due to the coherent soundstage. This will, of course, depend on headphone synergy as well and after listening to the E10k, the Modi/02 combo can sound clinical!
Against the first E10 model:
- The new E10K Olympus 2 has more extended highs and is less bloated in the midbass region.
- The New E10K Olympus 2 is more dynamic
- The new E10K Olympus 2 sounds snappier and less sleepy maybe due to the more extended highs. I don’t have them side by side so I’m not sure but it could just be due to a better transient response on the new model as well.
- The new E10K Olympus 2 has even better value for the money than the old version.
Our Verdict
I cannot believe the E10K Olympus 2 is $75 and can sound this good. To stay relevant at this end of the market and still find the time to launch $300 DAPs is really paying attention to the original budget-loving audio fans that got FiiO to where they are now.
The bottom line for people upgrading from a computer’s headphone jack the new E10k Olympus 2 has great power for a very small device and is insanely better in power and volume than my Lenovo’s headphone jack.
For the low price, it is a no-brainer and should be on the top of anyone’s list looking for a sub 100 dollar DAC/amp for a computer.
FiiO E10K Olympus 2 Technical Specifications
- Power Supply Standard Micro USB port
- Output Power 200 mW @ 32 Ω
- Sample Rate Maximum of 24-bit/96 kHz supported
- Signal to Noise Ratio of ≥108 dB
- Digital Output 1x Coaxial digital output, stereo PCM format
- Frequency Response 20 Hz to 20 kHz
- Impedance Recommended Headphone Impedance: 16 to 150 Ω
- Dimensions (H x W x D) 3.1 x 1.9 x 0.8″ (79.0 x 49.1 x 21.0 mm)
- Weight 2.8 oz (78 g)
