FiiO E5From real comments

Verdict distilled from 22 mentions across 9 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment67%
PROS 67%
CONS 33%

Rank based on 22 mentions across 9 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You use low-impedance in-ears or easy-to-drive headphones
  • Your source device (like an EU iPod) has restricted, too-quiet volume
  • You want a cheap, pocketable way to boost loudness and clarity

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You own high-impedance headphones like the HD650 or PC350
  • You're sensitive to background hiss or static noise
  • You want natural, undistorted bass rather than an added boost effect

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
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Lightweight and gig-friendlyTube-like tone and feelExcellent clean channelExpensive, hard-to-find Tone CapsulesInconsistent or harsh crunch channelNo included footswitch
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Lightweight and gig-friendly
Tube-like tone and feel
Excellent clean channel
Expensive, hard-to-find Tone Capsules
Inconsistent or harsh crunch channel
No included footswitch
2Premium
Friedman Little Sister
Exceptional tonal versatilityGreat cleanup via guitar volumeBig, huge-sounding tone for its size/wattageDark, bass-heavy voicing for somePrice relative to alternativesRequires volume-knob technique, not true multi-channel
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Exceptional tonal versatility
Great cleanup via guitar volume
Big, huge-sounding tone for its size/wattage
Dark, bass-heavy voicing for some
Price relative to alternatives
Requires volume-knob technique, not true multi-channel
Best value
3Mid
Orange OR15
Exceptional versatilityGreat with pedals / clean platformLong-term keeper ampCleans not its strongest suitFizzy or excessive gain out of the boxStock preamp tubes considered weak
Orange OR15
Exceptional versatility
Great with pedals / clean platform
Long-term keeper amp
Cleans not its strongest suit
Fizzy or excessive gain out of the box
Stock preamp tubes considered weak
4Mid
Marantz PM7000N
Detailed, warm sound qualityGood speaker pairing versatilityHEOS streaming and internet radio convenienceAirPlay over Ethernet reliability issueDAC only active via optical/coaxial inputsLacks classic gold Marantz aesthetic
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Detailed, warm sound quality
Good speaker pairing versatility
HEOS streaming and internet radio convenience
AirPlay over Ethernet reliability issue
DAC only active via optical/coaxial inputs
Lacks classic gold Marantz aesthetic
5Budget
TC Electronic BH250
Powerful for its sizeTonePrint effects built inClean, full, realistic toneAlways-lit tuner displayInsufficient power for loud full bandsSingle effect slot limitation
TC Electronic BH250
Powerful for its size
TonePrint effects built in
Clean, full, realistic tone
Always-lit tuner display
Insufficient power for loud full bands
Single effect slot limitation
6Premium
Mesa Boogie Badlander
Tight, modern high-gain toneBuilt-in CabClone IR / direct outBuild quality and versatility praised by ownersHigh priceMissing third channel and solo boostNo EL34 as originally expected / power tube gripes
Mesa Boogie Badlander
Tight, modern high-gain tone
Built-in CabClone IR / direct out
Build quality and versatility praised by owners
High price
Missing third channel and solo boost
No EL34 as originally expected / power tube gripes
7Mid
iFi xCAN
Strong power for demanding headphonesCompact, high-quality buildEnjoyable Bluetooth sound qualityEarly sound-mode switching bugLimited single-ended power for some planarsNot fully wireless
iFi xCAN
Strong power for demanding headphones
Compact, high-quality build
Enjoyable Bluetooth sound quality
Early sound-mode switching bug
Limited single-ended power for some planars
Not fully wireless
8Premium
Friedman BE-100 Deluxe
Exceptional tonal versatilityOwner satisfaction and 'best amp ever' sentimentSmooth, musical high-gain distortionHigh priceOverwhelming number of optionsSome find it too polished or lacking rawness
Friedman BE-100 Deluxe
Exceptional tonal versatility
Owner satisfaction and 'best amp ever' sentiment
Smooth, musical high-gain distortion
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Overwhelming number of options
Some find it too polished or lacking rawness
9Mid
Vox AC15CH
Built-in reactive attenuator
Vox AC15CH
Built-in reactive attenuator
10Mid
Roland JC-22
Great pedal platformLush onboard chorusExceptional clean toneBackground hiss/humWeak onboard distortionSome pedals don't pair well
Roland JC-22
Great pedal platform
Lush onboard chorus
Exceptional clean tone
Background hiss/hum
Weak onboard distortion
Some pedals don't pair well
You are here
31Budget
FiiO E5
Boosts volume on weak sourcesWorks well with easy-to-drive/low-impedance headphonesCheap and portableBackground hiss/static noiseBass boost can sound muddy or artificialCan't properly drive high-impedance headphones
FiiO E5
Boosts volume on weak sources
Works well with easy-to-drive/low-impedance headphones
Cheap and portable
Background hiss/static noise
Bass boost can sound muddy or artificial
Can't properly drive high-impedance headphones

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

The E5 delivers a real volume and clarity boost on weak sources. Multiple users confirm the E5 significantly raises volume on devices with restricted output, such as EU iPods, and one commenter specifically notes it increases clarity of mid and high frequencies significantly. Another found volume noticeably higher after an A/B test with a quiet YouTube video. Pairing it with the L3 line-out cable was said to give an even bigger boost by bypassing the iPod's internal headphone amp entirely.

It struggles or fails with higher-impedance headphones. Several commenters warn the E5 is too weak for demanding cans: one says it can't drive the HD650 and gets no benefit on 150ohm PC350s, another reports no noticeable gain on Sennheiser PXC450s and switched to a pricier amp instead. One reviewer clarifies that an amp's real purpose is powering higher-impedance headphones without degrading sound, implying the E5 falls short there, making it best suited to lower-impedance gear.

Bass boost and noise quality get mixed reviews. Opinions split sharply on the bass boost feature: one user calls it tight, clean bass while another finds it makes music sound muddy and avoids using it, and a third found barely any bass difference with certain in-ear drivers. Separately, some users report a discrete static or hissing noise, sometimes only occurring near cell phones or other electronics, though not everyone experiences this issue.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?