FiiO has been involved in portable and desktop hi-fi for about twenty years. Now, the brand is taking another strategic step forward by expanding its lineup with the announcement of its very first tube stereo amplifier, the FiiO EA13, accompanied by a pair of groundbreaking passive loudspeakers, the FiiO SV13.
With the FiiO EA13 and FiiO SV13, the Chinese brand has reached a milestone in its history. For the first time, FiiO is no longer content with supplementing an existing hi-fi system with DA converters, network players, or headphones. The EA13 and SV13 offer a complete foundation for a true stereo system. The arrival of a stereo tube amplifier combined with a first pair of large passive loudspeakers seems to reflect the desire to appeal to traditional hi-fi enthusiasts, while retaining the technological DNA and price-performance ratio that have made the brand so successful.
FiiO EA13: The first tube amplifier
FiiO's very first hi-fi amplifier is also a tube model. Specifications are still somewhat sparse, but reportedly the input stage features two Sylvania PCF80 tubes driving four EL34 output tubes. These are connected in Class A, which promises warmth, naturalness, and harmonic richness to the music. The stated power output is 28 watts per channel at 4 and 8 ohms, which should be sufficient for a pair of monitor speakers or small floorstanding speakers, provided they have average or high sensitivity.
The retro style of the FiiO EA13 stereo amplifier fits perfectly with the vintage aesthetic that the brand has been pursuing in its latest products for some time. Visible tubes, protected by a perforated metal cover, analog VU meters on the front panel, and striking rotary knobs give the device a certain presence.
The FiiO EA13 tube amplifier features exclusively analog circuitry. The user has access to four RCA line inputs for connecting sources. The outputs include dedicated connections for 4 and 8 Ohm speakers and a headphone output.
FiiO SV13: Passive speakers
In addition to the FiiO EA13 amplifier, the Chinese manufacturer has also unveiled its very first pair of passive loudspeakers, the FiiO SV13. With the SV13, the brand takes a significant strategic step by entering the traditional market for passive hi-fi loudspeakers for the first time. The FiiO SV13 is an ambitious design with dimensions of 400 x 336 x 680 millimeters (W x D x H), inspired by the aesthetics of monitor loudspeakers from the 1970s, such as the JBL 4313B.
The collaboration with JBL is reflected in the choice of drivers: a three-way system featuring a large JBL woofer. The flexible paper cone promises deep bass response that picks up at 35 Hz. This is complemented by a midrange driver and a central beryllium dome tweeter, mounted in a horn for wider dispersion and transparent reproduction of high frequencies up to 30 kHz. The impedance of eight Ohms and high sensitivity of 92 dB make them ideal for use with a wide range of stereo amplifiers, including, of course, the new FiiO EA13.
