The X3 also has the AD8692, which is not on the headphone signal path. The AD8692 is the Lineout amplifier. Just like in the E17 (as you say). If you get differences on the SPDIF, then I will call your bluff and say it's all in your head. You hear differences because you have 2 options...

To each his own, but if you remember that the player cost very little compared to other players and is not built on Android, the interface problems are forgivable. And I, for one, use it because of the sound quality. Also, the eq worked for me. The reason I did not keep it was that it kept...

As one other commenter said, if you've never heard the X3 before, get the X1. You won't know the difference and it really is very slight. If you audition them for comparison, you will notice and the X1 might not satisfy you anymore. Not for any objective reasons, though, but mainly because it's...

OK. I understand you now.  I also forgot to mention what output I was thinking of for the connection between the X3 and E12. I agree that, if the E12 seems like a better amp to anyone, they can use it as a final stage for the X3. Of course, if the amp seems better on the E12, I think there...

I was not calling the E12 a bad amplifier. It is quite decent actually. Just as good as the X3, in my opinion. I do not own it, but I have a friend who does and I like it. But , and this is not for sure, just not impossible, using a capable amplifier to amp the output of a capable amplifier can...

My preference and, I am sure, the musician's preference, would be that the audio chain be as transparent and unaltering as possible. Since when I listen to Pink Floyd, I would very much like to get Pink Floyd, not Pink Floyd a la "Bad amplifier".

Quoted answer from one engineer not welcome around these parts: "If a given pair of headphones will not play loud enough, or has obvious problems with a given source, then a headphone amplifier or DAC may help. But these devices can also create their own problems. And if a given source already...

The Low and High gain settings are simply 6dB apart. 6dB means 2 times amplification. However, this also means 2 times amplification of noise. The difference is not so much, so the noise floor will not be very noticeable unless you are very fussy. However, 2 times the voltage means you can drive...

Yeah, well, I really did not mean to offend. I just wanted to point out that the little hearts in your sig point to some other conclusions.   As for the op amp swapping, I looked over the AD8620 mentioned as a better amplifier. While the AD8397, original amp in the X3, is an audio specific...

So, from your signature, you love the ODAC and O2. That actually qualifies you for fanboy status. As ridiculous as that demeaning badge is in reality. I don't have the Clip or the O2, but I imagine it may not be as much a question of the O2's performance, which is excellent as far as the dScope...

I am very sure AudioQuest would very much like to sell you such an USB cable if you so desire. They may not have one right now, but they can surely repackage some generic brand as audio quality cable and sell it to you at a premium, sonic improvement included.

yes it does remember the place in a sound file. however, only once. should you stop the file, it will forget the position.

The X3 is a very competent player. I have not had the pleasure of trying a DX50, but the X3 measures extremely well and, with my Sennheiser Momentum ON-ear and HD518, it sounds very good. It simply brings a smile to my face every time I listen to Yes or Sade. Or Pink Floyd, or Stevie Ray. I...

People can get accustomed to really crappy things and start to consider them great. I am of the opinion that if something sounds great the first time you use it, then it's great. If it takes time for it to start sounding good, then you just got used to the bad sound. It is, however, true that...

I have been reading a lot of positive opinions about the DX50. However, since explaining why one likes a thing will most surely skew one's opinion of that thing, I am reluctant to believe the explanations of preference. Could anyone please link to a set of quality audio measurements done on the...