HIFI Diary: FiiO ECHO MINI Portable Music Player Sound Quality Review

I. Introduction

This is probably the cheapest 43131 portable player from a major brand, with a launch price of just $40. Just looking at the hardware, the cost-performance ratio is off the charts. Add to that its attractive design and UI, and even the blogger couldn't resist checking out how this little device sounds and whether it's a good entry-level choice for ordinary audiophiles.

II. Preparation for the Evaluation

This review evaluates the FiiO ECHO MINI portable lossless music player. The tested earphones are the in-ear flagship Nestsound ZERO (4.4 mm) owned by the blogger, and the newly released NiceHCK EBX25Ti flagship flat-head earphones (4.4 mm). The audio used for testing is 100% ripped from original CDs or purchased legally. For comparison, the QLS MUB1, LBZ-02, Moondrop Dawn Pro, FOSI AUDIO DS1, and other small dongles are used as reference points. During testing, the hardware version was 1.2, and the software version was 1.1. Music was stored in the internal storage, and the "short delay steep drop" filter was used with EQ turned off. It's important to note that the 3.5mm port was not tested, but since this little device should have a single set of operational amplifiers, the sound from the 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports should be highly consistent.

III. Evaluation Pieces/Scoring Method

The track selection is based on the blogger's usual listening preferences, which are about 70% Japanese music and 30% large-scale orchestral works. Therefore, the selection leans heavily towards Japanese music. The scoring criteria are derived from a simplified version of Liu Hansheng's "Twenty Essentials for Audio," with a maximum score of 10, though generally, the highest score given is 9. A score of 8 indicates a clear advantage in the scoring category, 7 signifies excellence, 6 means it can be normally appreciated, 5 means it can be normally listened to, and scores below 5 are not commented on. For a more detailed evaluation plan, please refer to here.

IV. Test begins

PAW GOLD TOUCHECHO MINIMUB1DS1LBZ-02DAWN PRO
Integrity8.5/106.5/107/106.5/107/106.5/10
High frequency8/106/107/105.5/106/105/10
Medium frequency8/106/106.5/106/106/105.5/10
Low frequency7.5/106.5/106.5/106.5/106.5/106/10
Analysis, separation8/106.5/107/107/106.5/105.5/10
Sound field, density8/106.5/107/106/106/105/10
Drive, dynamic8/106/107/107/106.5/105.5/10
Total score8/106.3/106.9/106.4/106.4/105.6/10

1、Songs:One more time,One more chance,Singer:山崎将义,Album:One more time,One more chance

It's been a while since I tested songs from "5 Centimeters Per Second." Right from the start, I felt that the ECHO MINI's resolution is quite good. Since the original recording quality of this song isn't very high, the demand for resolution is quite high; otherwise, it can easily sound muddy. As a player, the ECHO MINI has bright highs, and the overall sound isn't muffled. The vocals are also quite close to the ear. Although the male vocals aren't particularly thick overall, there's no effeminate tone either, so it's generally fine. To be fair, for a product priced at $40, even as a portable DAC, achieving these qualities is quite sufficient. However, the blogger still wants to add a comment. The overall sound tuning of the ECHO MINI is geared towards being stimulating, which is understandable for an entry-level product. But in terms of resolution, only the highs are decent. The midrange, due to the close vocals, masks many details of the background instruments that should be present. So overall, the resolution isn't actually very high.

2、Song:Saika,Singer:Rabpit,Album:『Deemo』Song Collection

After discussing vocals, let's talk about electronic tracks like those labeled by Sakai. The ECHO MINI has a decent amount of bass, but it doesn't dive very deep. The resolution is average, and it's relatively clean and crisp. For casual listening to bass, it should be sufficient. However, if you're seeking a more intense "thump-thump" experience, the ECHO MINI might not meet your needs. That said, for an entry-level product, as long as the bass doesn't interfere with other frequency ranges, it has already done its job well and deserves praise. Overall, the ECHO MINI's bass performance is quite good for its price range. For those who aren't extremely demanding about bass, the ECHO MINI should be quite suitable for this type of electronic music.

V. Conclusion

Although the ECHO MINI is not expensive, it's one of the most perplexing reviews the blogger has written recently. Let me be straightforward and share my experience with everyone. Upon first listen, the ECHO MINI actually felt like a great value for the price, with prominent highs and vocals that felt very close, making it quite captivating for the vocal tracks the blogger has been listening to lately. However, after 2-3 days of listening, the blogger noticed some issues with the ECHO MINI that need to be pointed out. First, it's certain that the ECHO MINI is still a product with excellent value for money, but there are definitely problems with the highs—they are slightly piercing and not very pleasant to listen to for long periods. While it doesn't have the heavy digital sound of older devices, any track with a lot of high frequencies almost always makes it difficult for the blogger to listen for extended periods. After much deliberation, the blogger can only say that the ECHO MINI's resolution seems to mimic the artificial high-frequency boosting seen in some older domestic devices, though fortunately, the ECHO MINI itself is well-controlled, just teetering on the edge of being uncomfortable. This is not to disparage the ECHO MINI, but rather to suggest that for someone like the blogger who is sensitive to high frequencies, this kind of aggressive tuning might be hard to accept. For those considering purchasing this player, it might be worth considering whether you have a strong preference for such a stimulating high-frequency listening experience. Therefore, the blogger did not deduct points for the highs in the final rating of the ECHO MINI, but rather made a slight reduction in the overall completeness. The blogger believes that, compared to many "middle-of-the-road" portable DACs, the ECHO MINI might appeal to a slightly narrower audience.

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