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    Fiio R7 review: One network streamer to rule them all

    Fiio was on a roll in 2022, with the Chinese model introducing 15 merchandise throughout a wide range of classes. I reviewed many of the merchandise launched final 12 months, together with the terrific K9 Pro high-end DAC, BTR7 transportable Bluetooth DAC, FA7S IEMs, the budget-focused K5 Pro DAC, and the M11S audio participant.Fiio is not taking its foot off the gasoline in 2023 — removed from it. The model is venturing into new classes and is about to roll out thrilling additions to its burgeoning portfolio, and I’m kicking issues off with probably the most progressive merchandise it has launched to this point: the R7. Fiio calls this a desktop audio participant, but it surely’s a lot greater than that: it has a high-end DAC that includes ESS and THX parts, headphone amp, all of the ports you would ask for, and comes with Android 10 out of the field. It connects to absolutely anything, has the ability to drive any headphone, and features a pre-amp that permits it to work with powered audio system. The spotlight is that due to a clear Android 10 interface and enormous display screen on the entrance, it serves as an all-in-one community streamer that performs nearly any file and from any supply. Honestly, the feature-set on provide right here is exclusive, and when you’re on the lookout for an all-in-one resolution for listening to high-res music, the R7 could be what you’ve got been ready for — it undoubtedly has been a revelation within the three weeks I used it.Fiio R7: Pricing and availability(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The R7 is the primary product in a broader push by Fiio geared toward desktop audio, and it debuted alongside the seller’s first audio system, the SP3, and the FT3 wired over-ears. The R7 debuted in China in January 2023 and is making its approach to world markets over the course of February, the place it’s retailing for $699.Fiio despatched the usual black mannequin of the R7 for evaluate, however there’s additionally a white model that appears actually good. That’s launching a bit later, and when you’re eyeing this streamer, you must anticipate the white mannequin.Fiio R7: Design(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The R7 is diminutive contemplating the sheer quantity of options on provide, and at 2.9 lb (1.3kg), it weighs half as a lot because the K9 Pro. What’s distinctive concerning the R7’s design is the vertical orientation, and this makes loads of sense contemplating it has a similar-sized 5-inch display screen because the M11S. There are three navigation buttons under the display screen, with Fiio branding on the backside.Much just like the M11S, the display screen on the R7 is respectable sufficient for its supposed use case: music streaming. The 720p decision does not provide the greatest pixel density, however is greater than serviceable for looking the likes of Tidal or Qobuz, taking part in locally-stored songs (there’s an SD card slot), or through a media server.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)What I’ll say although is that it a big portion of what makes the R7 so good to make use of is the display screen; the product takes the perfect options of the M11S and K9 Pro and brings it collectively in a singular type issue. On that observe, whereas I like the truth that there are bodily nav buttons, Android 10 launched system-wide nav gestures, and so they work simply effective in each day use.Continuing with the design, there are two knurled knobs to the appropriate of the display screen, with one serving for energy and quantity management and the opposite used for supply choice. The versatility on provide means the R7 works with 4 distinct outputs: headphones and pre-amp, permitting you to make use of each headphones and lively audio system on the similar time, headphones out, simply pre-amp, and a typical line-out possibility.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Like the K5 Pro and K9 Pro, each knobs on the R7 have RGB lighting, with the colour altering primarily based on supply. For lossy music from sources like Spotify, the knobs mild up in blue. Source information at 16-bit and below 1000kbps are categorized as Standard Quality, and the knobs go cyan to point the identical. Anything over that’s High Quality, and also you get a yellow mild, with inexperienced for DSD playback and magenta for MQA.The headphone connectors are behind a mud cowl, and also you get a full-size balanced 4-pin XLR port, balanced 4.4mm port, and single-ended 6.35mm jack. There’s a smaller mud cowl within the field that can be utilized for the XLR port when not in use, much like what you get on the K9 Pro. On that observe, Fiio bundles a good variety of equipment within the field, together with a 3 meter USB-A to USB-C cable, two bases — one flat and one angled — together with adhesive, and a 3.5mm to 6.35mm connector.Image 1 of 4(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The design aesthetic is in step with different units Fiio has launched in current months, and the white coloration possibility particularly appears to be like beautiful. The normal black variant appears to be like ok in its personal proper due to the all-metal chassis, and the vented sides make sure the R7 will get good passive airflow — there is a mud filter beneath to stop mud ingress.The rubber base bundled within the field supplies a five-degree angle, and makes utilizing the R7 simply that little bit simpler. As the R7 I’ve is an early unit, I did not get a distant management within the field, but it surely needs to be bundled with retail orders. Overall, I actually just like the design of the R7, and Fiio did a incredible job on this regard.Fiio R7: Connectivity(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The R7 has probably the most in depth set of connectivity choices of any music streamer I’ve used but, and there actually is not something lacking right here. There’s an SD card slot that allows you to use as much as 2TB SD playing cards, and you will find a MicroSD to SD connector already included. There’s a full-size USB-A port together with USB-C connectivity, twin RCA line outs, 3-pin balanced XLR out, optical and coaxial out and in, and a 100Mbit Ethernet port.Image 1 of 5(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You get the choice of switching to DC energy supplied you utilize one thing that may ship 36W (12V/3A). On the wi-fi entrance, you get dual-band Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and I had zero points connecting to my dwelling Wi-Fi community.Continuing with wi-fi connectivity, you may discover Bluetooth 5.0, AirPlay, DLNA, and a smorgasbord of audio codecs that embody SBC, AAC, AptX, AptX HD, AptX LL, AptX Adaptive, LDAC, and LHDC. Regardless of no matter wi-fi earbuds you are utilizing, it is possible for you to to get the best constancy out of the R7. Similar to wired audio, there are a number of lighting modes that present a visible indicator as to what codec is getting used over Bluetooth: blue for SBC, cyan for AAC, purple for AptX/AptX LL, yellow for AptX HD, white for LDAC, and orange for LHDC.Fiio R7: Features(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)One of the perfect components of the R7 is that it runs Android 10 with GMS, so that you get full entry to Google providers, together with the Play Store. Fiio has a retailer of its personal the place you may set up most music streaming providers, and Fiio Music continues to be a superb selection for music playback when you have information saved offline.On the {hardware} aspect of issues, the R7 is powered by the Snapdragon 660, and it consists of 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. There’s 44GB of storage accessible to the person, however provided that that is aimed on the fanatic phase, a greater possibility can be to make use of the SD card slot on the again if you wish to play locally-stored music.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Fiio is utilizing the AOSP Android 10 construct right here, and whereas the interface itself is unchanged, there are a number of audio-focused tweaks given the R7’s supposed use case. There’s Roon integration out of the field, a DSD mode that converts PCM playback to DSD, and 5 acquire ranges. Changing the amount surfaces a big quantity indicator on the display screen, and you can see the acquire stage right here.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You can use the R7 in a mess of modes: Android mode is the usual and also you get all of the options on provide right here, USB DAC mode turns it right into a DAC, Pure Music Mode switches to Fiio Music and shuts off the Android interface, and there is Bluetooth, AirPlay, and coax/optical modes as properly.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)I used the R7 in Android mode all through the testing window, and the interface itself is lag-free and fluid. Given the truth that it has a display screen, you may stream movies on the R7, and it really works fairly properly on this regard — though the orientation means you’ll have to lay it on the aspect. On that observe, you may plug in a monitor through the USB-C port and use that as an exterior display screen for viewing movies, and it really works fairly properly for that use case.Now, the R7 will get firmware updates, it’s unlikely to modify to a more moderen model of Android or get safety patches. That stated, the utilization will largely be restricted to music streaming, so it is not as large a difficulty as with a telephone.Fiio R7: Sound high quality(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Fiio merchandise on the whole have a tendency to supply a clear sound, and the R7 is not any totally different. It options the identical ESS Sabre ES9068AS DAC that was used within the Q7 DAC, and consists of THX AAA 788+ linear amplifiers, which have been a mainstay on loads of Fiio merchandise, together with the K9 Pro.The R7 has greater than sufficient energy to drive nearly any supply, and it has DSD512 and MQA 8x decoding. The low noise flooring means there is no background hiss or distortion even with delicate IEMs.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Thanks to the {hardware} on provide, the R7 is ready to ship a clear sound with loads of decision. A superb DAC ought to fade into the background and permit the music to shine, and that is what you get right here. I examined the R7 with the FA7S, Audeze Euclid, Thieaudio Wraith, and Focal Elex, and the readability mixed with analytical sound and good decision means the R7 pairs properly with all kinds of merchandise.Fiio R7: The competitors(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You will not discover many community streamers with a built-in DAC/amp — not less than not on this phase — so you will not discover a lot in the way in which of options. If you are on the lookout for a community streamer so as to add to your present audio stack, there are just a few choices accessible. Bluesound Node does an excellent job, providing respectable connectivity and an excellent feature-set.You might additionally construct a customized streamer for lots much less by going the Pi route and utilizing a service like Volumio, however you may simply get a streamer; you may then should furnish your individual DAC/amp.Fiio R7: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You should purchase this if:You want an all-in-one resolution for high-res music playbackYou’re on the lookout for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay connectivityYou desire a music participant with a clear Android interface and enormous display screenYou want an excellent supply to hook up with lively audio systemYou should not purchase this if:You desire a high-res display screenYou want a music participant that may get Android updatesIt’s not typically that I get this enthusiastic about an audio product, however the R7 is not a mean community streamer — it does a lot extra. The versatility that you simply’re getting right here is phenomenal, and Fiio deserves loads of credit score for delivering an all-in-one resolution with such an exhaustive feature-set.Of course, $699 is some huge cash for a desktop audio participant, however the R7 has a lot to supply that it’s a simple advice. It has a strong design that is constructed to final, you get all of the wired connectivity choices you need together with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay, and Roon integration, and the clear Android interface mixed with the massive display screen makes it straightforward to navigate and play your favourite music.The R7 does a superb job as a DAC/amp in its personal proper, producing a clear sound with none distortion. There are no downsides to the product; positive, I might have appreciated a 1080p display screen and a more moderen model of Android out of the field, however apart from that, the R7 has been fabulous in each regard.

    The R7 is a singular community streamer that does a lot extra. It has a big display screen, has all of the connectivity you need, delivers a clear sound, and appears good whereas doing all of it. This is the go-to selection if you need an all-in-one resolution for streaming high-res music. 

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