First part of the review. DESCRIPTION .

Yesterday, before I finally got the long-awaited by many, and me in particular, portable player Fiio X5, which began talks on the forum, long before its release. So , about a month later after its release, I have carried a red and yellow bag of DHL to home. Judging by the photos on the forum, I was expecting to see something " dull ." Inside the package courier service was red and black Cato box , packed in red " insulation " of Fiio. Inside it was a black box with imitation of snake skin , which caused speculation about copying this approach , the company IBASSO model DX50. Inside the box were : the player himself , dressed in a silicone case (it was included), usb cable , coaxial cable, usb-microsd - adapter , three plugs ( outputs player) , instruction manual, warranty booklet , two display protector, plus a third has already been glued to the screen.

Funny impression on me silicone case that does not look the player as a contraceptive in size XXXL pimply teenager.

The screen device made very high quality , good 2.4 inch IPS matrix (400 * 360 ) is much better than 50 . I will say even more, it's the best screen of all audiophiles players . There is certainly a fly in the ointment, because high-resolution fonts on the player , very small , and reading lists, it is necessary to hold the player under his nose . It is funny frame around the display , it is very broad, although in the process, it does not interfere with or even distracting, and when the display is off and does merges with the display in one unit .

I had some discomfort with controls after dh50 . So, on top of the player are all outputs: headphones- out, line out and coaxial , plus the power button and reset . Underneath USB and two compartments under microsd card. Left - the volume buttons. Right,- everything is clean . In front it is a control wheel , covered with softtach with the button in the middle and 4 buttons with a good response at the edges of the wheel -shaped X.

Dimensions player being 67.3 * 114 * 15.6 mm and weighs about 200 grams . Despite the large dimensions in hand, it does not feel much more than 50, but the weight is noticeable . The battery is 3700 mA at 3.7 . Player plays a long time , and fast charging. Manufacturer, as I mentioned earlier do not put in the charger kit , but the instructions recommend the use of the device is not less than 2A .

Case is made of anodized aluminum. On the body as I have not found the mounting screws.

Plugs microsd compartments made not qualitatively they are sitting tight and after frequent on / off . , Become loose , and will be allocated on the case ( it is will better IMHO make something like to AK100 shutter) .

The next section will describe the menus , controls, and playback formats .

In the third part , I will describe the sound.

 

 

 

SECOND CHAT . ON mode and playback mode .

Picking up Fiio X5 habit thumb stretched on the left face , but it was not there , a button on / lock on top of that .

So, a short press on the power button and appears WELCOME ( colored in NEXUS style) and animation Fiio logo, and 8 seconds ( timed ) , the player is ready to go. We met a very nice screen and " a string " menu " carousel " type , made in the style of black and red with a yellow- orange icons.

 

THIS PART IS TRASLATING MENU INTO RUSSIAN

 

When you select a track in the folder and it’s playing will meet you on the screen " background " in which the entire amount will show off the yellow sheet in the red spot black background ( as in bent ) or the album cover stretched to full screen. At the top of the screen there is a small service line , which displays icons from left to right : the dynamics of digital volume level , G = L / H ( type of reinforcement ) , displaying the current menu tab ( written) , displaying icons of memory cards , displaying the current activity playback , and battery level icon with five gradations . All this information is recorded continuously , regardless , from the " provisions" in the user menu.

Dale in the upper left corner ( just below the service line) is an additional context menu , which can cause upper left button . By default, it consists of two icons : " heart " ( colored in red ( active) or white ) - Display accessories Track favorites folder , and character list. When you activate this menu, you can access the following functions :

• Heart - track selection menu favorites . ,

• Select the playback style ( four icons ) . ,

• Deleting a track.

All functions are represented by the additional menu icons ( unsigned) .

Next in the top third of the screen in the middle of the yellow font displays information about the type of file playback (FLAC, for example) , the sampling rate and bit rate.

Next in the bottom third of the screen displays a white " scale " playing with an orange-colored , already reproduced interval track. Under it to the left to the right : the amount of time already playing the tracks , the track number relative to the folder / album , etc. , and the total time duration of the track. All of this is displayed in a small font in white.

Below is the title track (yellow) , the name of the artist and album name ( both white ) at the bottom of the screen.

Using the scroll during playback you will spread " carousel " menu playback folder . Long press the CC or volume rocker , the wheel will act as a volume control . As previously stated , the top left button opens a sub-menu , top right button - ago. The bottom two buttons are used to move between tracks and rewinding . Depending on the type of press ( long or short ) . During playback of the track , you can move freely on the menu and adjust the settings. It is also possible to adjust the playback volume is not dependent on the user's location in the device menu .

Strongly afflicted lack of " wind " track " wheel " and small fonts menu.

Switching between tracks depends strongly on the type of recording ( including Cue ) varies between 1 and 4 seconds . Gapless also works on all tracks without problem, it all depends on the type of files that works best with cut tracks in Flack 16/44 . It is also worth noting that the player can not read Cyrillic letters in track displayed in Chinese characters .

Mp3 player regains excellent , although I dare say that such a device a few will listen this format. According to the information on the device manufacturer's website is able to play the following formats : DSD, APE, FLAC, ALAC, WMA, WAV.

I checked it in the following formats:

1. WMA 16/44 256kbps single tracks, everything works fast without brakes , switching tracks 1 sec. , gapless works . ,

2 . WAW 16/44 975kbps single tracks, everything works fast without brakes , switching tracks with 2-3 sec. , gapless works . ,

3 . M4A 16/44 988kbps single tracks , everything works fast without brakes , switching tracks with 3-4 sec. , gapless works . ,

4 . FLAC 16/44 959kbps single tracks , everything works fast without brakes , switching tracks with 1-1.5 sec , gapless works . ,

5 . FLAC 16/44 916kbps file + CUE, everything works fast without brakes , switching tracks with 1.5-2 , gapless works . ,

6. FLAC 24/192 5536kbps file + CUE, everything works fast without brakes , switching tracks with 1.5-2 , gapless works, but the tracks themselves are not properly broken in time, cutting track file all decide (possibly curve cue ) . ,

7. APE 16/44 803kbps file + CUE, everything works fast without brakes , switching tracks with 1-1.5 , gapless works .

Scanning 8GB clogged stick ( Class 10) took 24 seconds , then open the folder with the tracks without brakes.

When you turn on you are hearing a click, so well known to the users of 50 .

It is also cool that when you remove the headphones from the jack or headphones- output linear , the player automatically gets paused.

 

PART THREE . SOUND .

I have to say that I will not specify a particular model of headphones from the sound , which I was doing my subjective review , because some headphones good on some styles , the other on the other , some of them do not and sounded irritated at any tapping . I will try to focus solely on the sound features that expand on certain models and genres. As my review have a lot of incomprehensible words with my subjective perception of sound , I'll try to do a little theoretical introduction to my review for easy understanding of certain words and phrases to describe the sound.

Let's start with what has sound characteristics ? Sound has the following characteristics:

• Volume - the subjective perception of sound power (absolute value of the auditory sensations) . Volume mainly depends on the sound pressure and frequency of sound vibrations . Also on volume affect its spectral composition , localization in space , timbre, duration of exposure to sound vibrations and other factors.

Sound level - relative value . It is expressed in the backgrounds and numerically equal to the sound pressure level ( in decibels - dB) generated by a sinusoidal 1 kHz tone of the same volume as the sound is measured ( ravnogromkim this sound) . (According to Wikipedia)

• Pitch - subjective quality of auditory sensations , along with volume and tone controls , allows you to have all the sounds on a scale from low to high . For a pure tone it depends mainly on the frequency (increasing the pitch frequency increases ), but also the subjective perception of the intensity - with increasing intensity of the pitch appears below . Pitch with a complex spectral composition depends on the distribution of energy along the frequency scale .

Units of pitch in music are tone , semitone cent.

Inside octave smallest musical interval - semitone ( musical interval between two nearest notes in an octave , approximately corresponding to the ratio of frequencies of two sounds equal. "Approximately" because the nature of the notes within the octave are not uniformly distributed (see Pythagorean comma ) .

• Timbre (Fr. timbre - « bell ", " label ", " distinctive sign ") - coloristic ( overtone ) coloration , and one of the specific characteristics of musical sound ( along with his height , volume idlitelnostyu ) .

By Voices distinguish sounds the same pitch and volume , but performed on different instruments , different voices , or on a single instrument , but in different ways , strokes , etc.

The timbre of a musical instrument is determined by the material , shape, design and conditions of its vibrations vibrator its various properties of the cavity , as well as the acoustics of the room in which the instrument sounds . In the formation of the tone of each particular sound are of key importance and its overtones ratio height and volume , noise overtones , attack parameters ( initial pulse of sound ) , formant , vibrato characteristics and other factors.

When perceiving sounds usually arise various associations : tonal sound specificity compared with organoleptic sensations from certain objects and phenomena, such as sounds termed as' bright , shiny, matte , warm, cold , deep , full , sharp , intense , juicy, metal , glass , apply and actually hearing the definition ( eg , voiced, voiceless , noisy ) .

In a strictly scientific sense, reasonable tone typology has not yet developed. Found that the ear has a band tonal nature.

Voice is used as an important means of musical expression : using voice, you can select one or the other component of the musical whole, strengthen or weaken contrast , change voices - one of the elements of musical drama.

• Duration .

As you probably already noticed that almost all the characteristics of human perception of sound , are not absolute values , but are the subjective quality of auditory perception in certain conditions.

To describe the features of sound , portable player , in conjunction with portable devices for personal listening audio information ( headphones ) , the focus of the review will be placed precisely on tone coloring compositions sound device , in order to compare the nature of the tone coloring with other devices at the same value of the original material.

In testing for the review participated following albums : Corner Stone Cues - Requiem For A Tower, ERA - Classics, Evanescence - Greatest Hits, Maksim Mrvica-The Piano Player, Nightwish 2000 Wishmaster, OkeanElzy-Zemla, Sarah Brightman - Amalfi, The Great Gatsby (Music From Baz Luhrmann's Film), Yngwie J. Malmsteen - Trilogy, DiDjuLja - Ornamental , Prime Test CD. Naturally all albums in high quality formats : WAV, APE, ALAC, FLAC, FLAC + CUE 16/44 b 24/192 . Just participated in the test , the following headset AT m50, AT W1000, DT990/250, Q701, w40, w3, XBA4, SM3v2, triple fi 10 (private sound description of the features of each model with the player will be in a separate article ) . As a direct opponent , played DX50 from iBasso, its sound compared with SC U7 and STU from ASUS ( because of their inconsistency devices with complex autonomous playing of sound material in the article is only an indication of some similar features in applying sound), so will also be compared with the 960 and MA8 memory ( so the article will not be given this a lot of place) , I also want to note that all headphones worked in the amplification mode of "high ." The average player has managed to survive more than 10 hours without topping up . Well here we go.

 

Yngwie J. Malmsteen - Trilogy. Let's start with the eponymous song. This is rather fast polyphonic rock composition . For its perception an important role plays attack speed and detail sounds. With these parameters, the X5 is handled much better than 50 , which is sometimes not very well cope with " difficult" moments. The sound of an electric guitar left mixed feelings , on the one hand, it is hard , dry and clear sound 50 times to cut the brain (such as early releases Ibanez , who will understand the subject ) , the other hand a softer sound and fused with a " long " (just what sustain direct then quietly used ) reverberation ( Les Paul Studio from Gibson ) . 50 focuses on the guitar, while the X5 , it does not emit strongly , making the composition more "whole " (I know that the artist plays a Fender ) . LF in 50 much worse than in X5 . X5 bass are good, but often put pressure on the midrange . X5 has to prolonged listening , while 50 give you " anger " normal guitars and vocals , but after listening to his long hard X5 constantly felt some shortage "poverty sound . 50 can compete with the X5 only in compositions where there is vocal in large numbers, as part of this album. Scene of 50 it is more distantly (4-5 series ) than in the X5 ( before the stage , sometimes the impression that playing guitar in the face ) , the design scene in both cases is good, but the X5 in width and depth , while the 50 slightly narrower due to positioning on the " imaginary " scene.

OkeanElzy-Zemla- In this album , many compositions emphasis on the low-frequency range , and it played into the hands of the X5 . So , thanks to slightly raised HF (IMHO) , the player makes the sound tracks more dynamic/fun. But OE primarily is their vocal soloist, and then fail Vakarchuka voice , moves into a higher tone , why is starting to sound somehow " woman " forgive me fans . On some track in some moments the sound of the lyrics goes to cry . 50 voice sounds more natural and smoother tonal on .

Evanescence - Greatest Hits. In this album there is a similar situation in the above album . Changes tone sounding voice Amy ( but not as much ) , which is seen on the track my immortal. 50 Again, the voice sounds more natural . But in the many others compositions from this album , you can hear a great dynamic range of X5. But it doesn’t mean that X5 can’t play vocal , it is plays great overtones and timbre , in this case, I try to describe it as :

DH50 - is how the expression and intonation to read , "***** you! " In the classroom with students quiet background noise .

X5 - shout it as the same person wronged you in a fit of rage at the bustling intersection. Not correct in terms of the tone relative to your " normal" voice , sometimes frustrated voice in the cry , but more emotionally sound and dd wider.

Sorry for such a crude comparison , but I think many will understand.

Nightwish-Wishmaster. Well, the voice of Tarja , I think it is not necessary to paint with a group of Nightwish , it was a gem . Here on the X5 can not listen to her . Lovely study tools , fast attack, powerful drums, clearly audible back vocal , bass guitar just fly away , and here comes into play " little girl ."

Sarah Brightman - Amalfi. Sarah takes the songs in the style Classical Crossover (popera). Listening to her albums began to notice that over time , her voice became more "adult" ( dropped or something, I do not know how to describe , just listen to her albums from 90 since 2005 , compare ), and so on X5 her voice was heard how early in his career , personally I like it , and here to add greater detail and wider range , generally obtained class . X5 in this comparison wiped his nose 50 . Yes, noticed that the X5 , practically does not change women's voices in opera performances.

ERA - Classics. X5 coped well , especially in the choruses , each distinguishable voice. For the first comparison with the 50 I got the impression that the sound is muted , slightly more dense, as opposed to 50 in which all sounded fine and easy , it seemed that it is better than X5 detail a hundred , and not the same . After wiretapping X5 for 30 minutes, I began to notice for themselves, not to hear that the veil on the sound that I heard in the beginning, all the instruments were heard in detail , the choir also fine vocal normal. But when I started listening to 50 first ran in his ears that the detail and brightness of supply , but listened , began to notice that the reverberation at 50 much less and distinguish individual voice in the chorus is much more difficult , and in some cases does not provide opportunities. There are comments to the fact that on the X5 violins sometimes annoying ( cut out the brain ), but it is eliminated properly selected headphones.

Maksim Mrvica-The Piano Player. Mrvica is a pianist. At first I thought that the X5 , in this comparison will undisputed winner , maybe no vocals , and no, there are nuances. First, it is hypertrophied LF, which climbs to all , and secondly , ringing in the " brain " of the notes to the second and higher octaves less pronounced emphasis on the piano in tune , as opposed to 50 . Very different sounding piano , it sounds like 50 is not easily enforced (Zimmermann), X5 and more " assertive / greasy » (Yamaha). 50 In the first place by a wide margin , etc tools nominated piano and violin at the X5 , it is less noticeable.

DiDjuLja - Ornamental . Light instrumental music , sounds great as 50 , and the X5 ( I do think there is such a source on which it did not sound ) . The only difference is in the nature of sound , X5 , softer sound , 50 more sonorous / hard guitar sounds . Scene I described earlier, the detail and dd almost at parity .

The Great Gatsby (Music From Baz Luhrmann's Film), soundtrack to the film " The Great Gatsby ." In this collection , a large number of tracks with a predominance of the bass , and this element of the X5 , it sounds very tight and energetic in M50 bass just nails , feel it all over. For baskhedov what the doctor ordered .

Corner Stone Cues - Requiem For A Tower. In the collection of a large number of tracks with lots of different instruments simultaneously sounding . We can say that all sounds great , if not for the fact that the LF strongly bulging , but if they touch up the equalizer , all ceases to their seats.

Prime Test CD_ well it is very hard , to listen to the end , this heroic feat . I will not dwell in detail , maybe a detailed analysis of 99 songs , it's overkill. I will focus on those moments that helps to identify the disc , such as:

• HF and sibilance - HF bullied and it is noticeable , Shiba skips more than 50 , but it all depends on your earphones. ,

• The width of the stage - quite wide and deep stage , with good study ( play instruments) , but is very close to the listener ( it is not even the first row ) . Good bugged stereo effect. ,

• Bass - well prorabony but hypertrophied a little . ,

• Vocal - not the strongest side of the device , thanks to an equalizer and headphones , it is possible to adjust it, but that's not it . On the men's vocals more prominently . ,

• El. Guitar - sound softly. ,

• Polyphony / Choir - excellent wins back , heard everyone in the choir. ,

• Classical musical instruments – is very well played. Soft and smooth sound.

In general, the device liked it stands level higher than 50 in stock , at 960 , but with some other accents in the sound. Despite the presence of identical MA8 DAC , X5 has less smooth sound , and worse towards MA8 exhaust, but this does not diminish its merits ( different price category). In comparison with U7 and STU ( on the same DAC ) , the player stands in the middle , however, differs significantly from serving STU where the middle worked much better. I assume that a good mod it can safely reach the level MA8 , and if you add more weight and autonomy , it will be a worthy competitor. In any case, everything will depend on the final price and convenience ( IMHO at MA8 convenient) . Features sound X5 easy to adjust " ears" knowing especially in extreme cases , you can resort to the equalizer . As for me, X5 , suitable neutral ears, or the prevalence of MF, bright ears like 990, will quickly tire also fit ears with a lack of bass , I think X5 will make their sound better.