Fiio X3

[naitphile]

I have a spell in hospital coming up and was worried about being parted from my Hires music...looked around and selected the Fiio X3 for £159 plus an SD card what could possibly go wrong. The only forum here item I could see was a chap advertising them so here goes:

Arrived today:

Cons:
UI looks a little basic and I understand there are no play list functions

Pros:
Sounds ******** amazing (nuff said) with Hi Res and normal MP3s due to the DAC (Wolfson I think)
Built like a tank nice and compact
endless capacity by switching out the SD card
Can be used as a DAC
10 hour battery life

Neil Young is also releasing a HI-Res player in 2015 - with all of the stuff available from Qobuz, HD-tracks, D.Gramaphonn the future of HiRes is looking good - apple need to catch up.

[WAD62]

apple need to catch up.

FLAC, swappable SD cards, standard connectors, reasonably priced...apple will never go there! ;)

I was thinking about the FiiO myself, but I've gone the iFi Nano route instead, using my S4's 128GB card as a FLAC source...but FiiO make some excellent portable kit :)

[naitphile]

I have generally been an Apple fan - but this really annoys me...

...Apple is sitting on a huge library of lossless my guess is they will wait for the innovators to build the market to a critical mass then step in and clean-up...

[SLS]

I have generally been an Apple fan - but this really annoys me...

...Apple is sitting on a huge library of lossless my guess is they will wait for the innovators to build the market to a critical mass then step in and clean-up...

I was an Apple user because I loved it, now an Apple user because I'm stuck with it.

Actually tried to escape and got a Sony Z3 mobile, 128gb micro SD, great item, but had to send back as could not sync my iCloud calendar properly.

That said, have never bought a track from iTunes. Still bought CDs and ripped them, hidef downloads from various independent sites. Qobuz has changed everything, great catalogue and well priced, usually much cheaper than HDTracks. I doubt Apple will ever go after the CD/hires market, they are screwed by their technology and fixed/expensive pricing. Apple's main threat is I assume is illegal downloading (most of the market) and streaming, where they have completely missed the boat.

http://fortune.com/2014/04/20/how-much-revenue-did-itunes-generate-for-apple-last-quarter-2/

[Mark Pope]

I've had the X3 since April and it had daily use when I was commuting to London.
It's a great piece of kit. You get used to the UI, which, by the way changed following a recent firmware update. The lack of play lists doesn't really bother me as I tend to listen to a whole album rather than pick or choose individual tracks.
I haven't tried the DAC functionality yet, but as a player it's fabulous for the money.

[naitphile]

Been listening all day ....some advantages of hospital hours of listening time

Loving the x3 through sennheiser on ear momentums

.....but the e12 portable amp looks so cool and well made I have ordered too along with some hd598s...will report on the upgrade

[Mark Pope]

Yes, it's a good way to pass the time. When do you get out?
I use mine with around-the-ear Momentums or Grado SR125i headphones. I use Sennheisere IEMs on the train (can't remember the model number).
Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Cheers


Mark

[steve s]

Hi,

I've got the Fiio X5 player which also sounds amazing, superior to any apple I've heard. Its been criticised quite a bit for its user interface but I don't find it hard work .... perhaps the jog wheel could be a bit stiffer, thats all. It can also be used and performs well, as a separate 24/192 DAC

Steve

[orbscure]

Given that there have invariably been firmware updates since their releases, whats the largest capacity microSD storage the X3 and X5 are able to take these days? I currently run a 160gb iPod Classic/iBasso D2 Boa/Sennheiser HD25-1 IIs during my daily commute and like the convenience of carrying a large selection of tunes without the need to constantly add and remove tracks. I suppose that onboard storage must be expensive, but decent sized good quality microSD cards are hardly cheap either...

[naitphile]

Yes, it's a good way to pass the time. When do you get out?
I use mine with around-the-ear Momentums or Grado SR125i headphones. I use Sennheisere IEMs on the train (can't remember the model number).
Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Cheers


Mark

Thanks mark I'll be in a couple of weeks had my leg off Wednesday long story but suffice it to say music very important in this scenario!

[naitphile]

I believe the X3 is limited to 64gb plus the 8 internal. I thinktheX5 has 2x64 slots.

[orbscure]

Many thanks Robert... I`ve also been looking at the iBasso DX90 too, especially as that appears to take a single 128gb microSD card (and is apparently capable of expansion to 2TB) plus it has the ability to remove and replace the battery too...

Best of luck with your recovery too :)

[Mark Pope]

I believe the X3 is limited to 64gb plus the 8 internal. I thinktheX5 has 2x64 slots.
I could be wrong but I have a feeling the X3 will support 128Gb with a firmware upgrade. Mind you, you can get a lot of files onto 64Gb, even hi-res!

Edit...
I've just had a quick look at BD Audio's website (that's where I bought mine from) and it does say it supports 128Gb storage :)

[naitphile]

I could be wrong but I have a feeling the X3 will support 128Gb with a firmware upgrade. Mind you, you can get a lot of files onto 64Gb, even hi-res!

Edit...
I've just had a quick look at BD Audio's website (that's where I bought mine from) and it does say it supports 128Gb storage :)

Cool now I've got to find one...got the HD598 and E12 this evening...impressive a bit light on bass but I guess the cans may loosen up with some use

[Mark Pope]

Don't forget that the player has tone controls, which may help a little.

[naitphile]

Don't forget that the player has tone controls, which may help a little.

Well the cans certainly loosened up left it running over night was able to turn off the bass boost on the E12....what a sound not sure I need the Hifi anymore ...amazing for the money

[steve s]

I believe the X3 is limited to 64gb plus the 8 internal. I thinktheX5 has 2x64 slots.

The x5 does indeed have 2x 64gb slots though I think there's a FW update on its way to support 2x 128gb

[fatmarley]

Has anyone tried one of these Fiio things into their hifi?

[Mark Pope]

No, not yet - though for purely academic reasons, I'm tempted to connect the digital output on my X3 through my Audiolab and see what it's like as a streamer.
Likewise with the analogue output. I have a spare input on my pre-amp and a 3.5mm splitter plug, so could give it a go.

[steve s]

I use the x5 through my system all the time using the digital out into my Rega DAC or direct into the MF via analogue line out. Can't really hear any difference between either... both ways sound very good. Should imagine the x3 would be the same.

[fatmarley]

No, not yet - though for purely academic reasons, I'm tempted to connect the digital output on my X3 through my Audiolab and see what it's like as a streamer.
Likewise with the analogue output. I have a spare input on my pre-amp and a 3.5mm splitter plug, so could give it a go.

Would be very interested know what you think.

[fatmarley]

I use the x5 through my system all the time using the digital out into my Rega DAC or direct into the MF via analogue line out. Can't really hear any difference between either... both ways sound very good. Should imagine the x3 would be the same.

If I knew it would be at least as good as my PS3 into modified Dacmagic, I'd get an X5.

[steve s]

If I knew it would be at least as good as my PS3 into modified Dacmagic, I'd get an X5.

Obviously I couldn't say for certain as I've not heard your set up but I would be surprised if it didn't sound as good, better I would imagine. Honestly, the X5 is a seriously good sounding bit of kit, very detailed with real sense of depth. Ok its a bit bulky and the ui takes a little while to get used to ... I'm talking a day or so, thats all. But if its SQ your after, either 'on the go' or in a hifi set up, I would most definitely recommend the X5

[fatmarley]

Obviously I couldn't say for certain as I've not heard your set up but I would be surprised if it didn't sound as good, better I would imagine. Honestly, the X5 is a seriously good sounding bit of kit, very detailed with real sense of depth. Ok its a bit bulky and the ui takes a little while to get used to ... I'm talking a day or so, thats all. But if its SQ your after, either 'on the go' or in a hifi set up, I would most definitely recommend the X5

I use a Sansa clip every day, so even if my PS3/Dac is better than the Fiio X5 I would still have a use for it. Think I may have to get one...

[steve s]

I've got a Sansi Clip, they're great little players and the SQ is excellent for what they cost. You'll find the X5's in a different league by far.

[fatmarley]

I've got a Sansi Clip, they're great little players and the SQ is excellent for what they cost. You'll find the X5's in a different league by far.

Looks like I'm going to be £289 out of pocket because of you :)

[steve s]

Looks like I'm going to be £289 out of pocket because of you :)

:lol: :cool:..... you'll be thanking me !!

[naitphile]

Has anyone tried one of these Fiio things into their hifi?

thought i would try plumbed the X3 via its line out up the RCAs of a NAIM 5si. It has avery nice analogue feel, but compared to the caiman ii it does not have a sparkly treble and if I am not mistaken there is a bit of distortion at very high volume.....this could be my lead though; it is a cheap and very long one that normally runs from the electric piano.

Pretty darn good considering its largely intended to go in the pocket.

[Mark Pope]

Has anyone tried one of these Fiio things into their hifi?
I'm playing the X3 through my system as I type - At the moment it's the line output into a spare input on my pre-amp.
Works a treat.

The X3 is going to get a bit of a hammering over the next few months as I've just been offered a contract in Sutton Coldfield at least until February. So I'll be staying away during the week.

Better get a shed load of additional micro-SD cards! :)

[fatmarley]

If the X3 is good, then you'd expect the X5 Coax output into a good dac to be even better.

[steve s]

If the X3 is good, then you'd expect the X5 Coax output into a good dac to be even better.

........ indeed !!

[naitphile]

........ indeed !!

The X3 does this too but there would be no difference between the two since the Fiio is just a storage device feeding your DAC?

[fatmarley]

The X3 does this too but there would be no difference between the two since the Fiio is just a storage device feeding your DAC?

There a quite a few that say cdp transports all sound the same. I now know that they don't (heard with my own ears), so like to keep an open mind on things like this.

The X3 has a line-out but not coax-out. I assume (maybe wrongly) that the coax should sound better? Is the reason for the coax on the X5 to give more connection options or for better sound quality?

[Mark Pope]

There a quite a few that say cdp transports all sound the same. I now know that they don't (heard with my own ears), so like to keep an open mind on things like this.

The X3 has a line-out but not coax-out. I assume (maybe wrongly) that the coax should sound better? Is the reason for the coax on the X5 to give more connection options or for better sound quality?

Morning Matt,

The X3 does have a coax out, which is presented as a 3.5mm jack socket on the top of the player, opposite the headphone socket. The unit comes with a short adaptor cable which converts the 3.5mm to a coax connection.

HTH

Mark

[naitphile]

It does but this thread seems confused; coax (digital) will be very different from using the analogue line out as it uses the x3 or x5 dac whereas the coax would connect the x3/x5 sd card to and utilise the external dac...I used the line out as the requester wanted to know about performance of the x3 in a hifi system (especially as it can also act as a dac reading files from your PCs/mac/hdd so it could serve as an economic dual purpose portable and hifi dac)

I agree transports can sound different but as long as read access was ok (I am not qualified btw), find it hard to imagine differences in hdds in this respect...furthermore I doubt that the circuitary accessing the sd card differs between x3 and x5 the rather differences will be in the dacs and amplification.

Thinking about it further (I don't fully understand what processing goes on between a dac and an av receiver connected digitally) but for both the x5 and x3 for connection as a DAC to an analogue amp using a 3.5mm jack to RCA or DIN is a slight limitation.

Or I could just have said to do an apples and apples comparison of how the x3 and x5 compare as hifi Dacs you need to use line outs!!

Hope this is all correct and helps

[fatmarley]

Morning Matt,

The X3 does have a coax out, which is presented as a 3.5mm jack socket on the top of the player, opposite the headphone socket. The unit comes with a short adaptor cable which converts the 3.5mm to a coax connection.

HTH

Mark

Afternoon Mark,

Oh yea, I missed that. For some strange reason I thought only the X5 had a dedicated coax out :scratch:

Perhaps the X3 and X5 would sound the same when used as a transport then.

[fatmarley]

I agree transports can sound different but as long as read access was ok (I am not qualified btw), find it hard to imagine differences in hdds in this respect...furthermore I doubt that the circuitary accessing the sd card differs between x3 and x5 the rather differences will be in the dacs and amplification.

Yep, you're probably right.