I received a unit of the Fiio X1 as part of the X1 world tour. I am in no way affiliated with Fiio, and in exchange for letting me demo the X1, I am required to give my honest thoughts about the X1.
Box Contents
I'm not going to post a picture of the box itself, since my unit is a pre-production one and it came in a plain white cardboard box. The final release would probably have some pretty nice designs so I guess we'll have to wait and see.
The X1 came with the following:
1) 3 pieces of screen protector (1 has been applied)
2) 1 black silicone case
3) 1 micro USB cable
4) Quick Start Guide
5) Warranty card
Build Quality
The X1 feels really solid on my hands. I'm still having a hard time figuring out if the body is made of aluminum or plastic, but I'm going to guess its a mix. The back cover feels like plastic, while the rest feels like aluminum. However, the plastic is really solid so I do not think there would be any issues arising from heavy usage.
Right away I noticed that each button on the X1 has an etching of its functions. This is a great addition for people like me who often skips the included manual and jump straight to the device. With the X5, I had to go through the manual (which is not a bad thing) but I sometimes find myself forgetting what each button do in the beginning.
Power, reset, volume buttons
Top left clockwise: Back, Forward, Previous, Menu buttons
As you can see in the pictures, Fiio has decided to retain the design of the center button as in the one in the X5. While I like the way it beautifully reflects light, I dislike the way it traps dirt and grime in the little ridges of the rings. Some might not be affected by it but I like my stuff clean and its a pain to remove the dirt. I had to use a stiff bristled brush to get to the little ridges where cloths can't. And since the scroll wheel doesn't sit exactly flush on the X1, some dirt also gets trapped on the sides of the wheel itself.
Notice the tiny white specs around the outside of the wheel
On the volume up key, there is a little nub so that you could tell which key you are pressing without looking. This nub is even present on the silicone case and is good news for those who keeps pressing the wrong volume keys.
Compared to the X5, the scroll wheel on the X1 feels a lot sturdier. Although it still raises a little when you press on the opposite side of the wheel, it does not feel as flimsy as the one on the X5. The scrolling action feels a lot more controlled and tight on the X1. Another point to note is that the wheel is not rubber coated, which may be a good or bad thing depending on each individual. To me, it is an upgrade as I always feel like I have to be careful with the X5 or the rubber coating would start peeling and come off and based on my experience with other gadgets, the rubber coating would start peeling off within a few years or even months regardless of how you use it.
The buttons on the X1 is nice as solid and gives a good (satisfying) tactile response with each press. The clicking sound does sound a little loud, and I don't think my roommate appreciates the clicks while he's asleep (I like listening to music before bed).
The X1 comes with a single microSD slot which supports up to 128 GB as per Fiio's specifications. What I like about this slot is that it doesn't come with the flimsy rubber covers. The one on my X5 became quite loose even though I only open and closed the covers for less than 10 times and I have to exercise caution each time I open it so it doesn't break. The microSD sits flush in the X1 after it is inserted.
The included silicone case is a nice touch. It feels a lot stiffer than the one on the X5 however I would've preferred it to come in gray instead of black so that I could see the charging indicator at the bottom of the device. Being a silicone case, it does pick up lint and dust fairly easily, but there's a kind of powder coating on the case so the dust could be wiped off fairly easily using just my hands.
After taking it out of my pocket
Battery life on the X1 is really good, with a rating of 12 hours by Fiio. I only had to charge it once every two days or so. No complaints there.
The screen on the X1 is decent. The screen is very bright and looking at it by itself the colors seem pretty vibrant, but when I place it next to the X5 the difference became obvious. The X5 shows a deeper and richer color while the X1 looks washed out. Of course, it isn't much of a fair comparison based on the price point of both device, but the X5 is the only other DAP I have (other than a C30).
Next to the X5
Outdoors the screen can be seen clearly
Holding down the menu key displays the information above
The user interface on the X1 is pretty similar to that of the X5, so I had no problems using it right out the box. Anyway, it's pretty simple, so much that anyone would be able to get used to it in a matter of minutes. There is a new theme function on the X1 which allows users to choose different colors on the UI but I just stuck with the grey one.
Sound Quality
The X1 does sound a little warmer compared to the X5, but not by a huge amount. I also find that the X1 is a little less detailed in comparison. But with the difference in price, I could not complain about the audio quality (which is still very good compared to other sources such as my Nexus 5). There is an EQ function which users can adjust, but I always disliked the idea of using EQ to adjust the sound of a DAP. It's just me
.
The X1 shares a single port for the Headphone out and Line out and switches between the two through the settings menu.
I didn't use any external amps during my tests because none of my gears are difficult to drive. The amp in the X1 does a pretty decent job. It only sounds a tad softer when matched with the same volume as my X5 (taking into account the X5 max out at 120 while the X1 at 100). Using my Brainwavz M4 with the X1, I only needed to set the volume to about 25-30 while I'm outdoors and below 20 when I listen to it before bed at night. With the Grado SR60 I would have to crank the volume up to about 40-43. Any higher I would feel that my eardrums would explode. So I'm guessing that it should be adequate to drive other more demanding gear (although sound quality might deteriorate without amping).
Although I prefer the sound of my X5, I find myself reaching for the X1 more when I am going out. The X1 is simply much more lighter and more compact. It just feels much more comfortable in my pocket compared to the X5 and I do not get as many pocket presses due to the stiffer buttons compared to the softer ones on the X5. For this reason, I have half a heart on selling my X5 and buying the X1 instead since it would be much more useful for my day-to-day activities. I am not one who likes to carry too many stuffs in my pocket like the X5 strapped to an e12 or something similar as I find it impractical when I am on the go.
One thing I disliked was that the idle shutdown feature maxed out at 210 seconds on the firmware (0.17 beta) it came with. So every time I paused my song to run an errand or speak to someone for a couple of minutes, I find myself having to turn on the X1 again and again. The good news is that the latest beta firmware 0.21 has updated this feature and now it maxes out at 8 minutes.
Another problem I experienced (probably the biggest so far) with the X1 is that it sometimes sort of lags and stutters while playing a song. Initially I thought it could be due to a bad music file but when I rewind to the part it stuttered there was no more issues. This has happened quite a few times randomly but I am confident that Fiio will look into this in the future firmwares.
Final Thoughts
Fiio has produced something incredible here. With such a price point (~100 USD), it is a good DAP for those who are just starting out in the audio world and looking for better alternatives than the usual handphones and other cheap(er) China mp3 players. Knowing that Fiio will continue supporting and developing the firmware on its DAPs makes me feel like this would be a worthwhile investment for anyone who is looking for a super portable and affordable DAP. Personally, if I do not own the X5, I would have went ahead and got myself an X1 when it is released but for now, I guess I will live with the bulkier X5. I am also curious to see how other DAP manufacturers respond to the Fiio X1 with their own versions of budget DAPs in the future.
Box Contents
I'm not going to post a picture of the box itself, since my unit is a pre-production one and it came in a plain white cardboard box. The final release would probably have some pretty nice designs so I guess we'll have to wait and see.
The X1 came with the following:
1) 3 pieces of screen protector (1 has been applied)
2) 1 black silicone case
3) 1 micro USB cable
4) Quick Start Guide
5) Warranty card
Build Quality
The X1 feels really solid on my hands. I'm still having a hard time figuring out if the body is made of aluminum or plastic, but I'm going to guess its a mix. The back cover feels like plastic, while the rest feels like aluminum. However, the plastic is really solid so I do not think there would be any issues arising from heavy usage.
Right away I noticed that each button on the X1 has an etching of its functions. This is a great addition for people like me who often skips the included manual and jump straight to the device. With the X5, I had to go through the manual (which is not a bad thing) but I sometimes find myself forgetting what each button do in the beginning.
Power, reset, volume buttons
Top left clockwise: Back, Forward, Previous, Menu buttons
As you can see in the pictures, Fiio has decided to retain the design of the center button as in the one in the X5. While I like the way it beautifully reflects light, I dislike the way it traps dirt and grime in the little ridges of the rings. Some might not be affected by it but I like my stuff clean and its a pain to remove the dirt. I had to use a stiff bristled brush to get to the little ridges where cloths can't. And since the scroll wheel doesn't sit exactly flush on the X1, some dirt also gets trapped on the sides of the wheel itself.
Notice the tiny white specs around the outside of the wheel
On the volume up key, there is a little nub so that you could tell which key you are pressing without looking. This nub is even present on the silicone case and is good news for those who keeps pressing the wrong volume keys.
Compared to the X5, the scroll wheel on the X1 feels a lot sturdier. Although it still raises a little when you press on the opposite side of the wheel, it does not feel as flimsy as the one on the X5. The scrolling action feels a lot more controlled and tight on the X1. Another point to note is that the wheel is not rubber coated, which may be a good or bad thing depending on each individual. To me, it is an upgrade as I always feel like I have to be careful with the X5 or the rubber coating would start peeling and come off and based on my experience with other gadgets, the rubber coating would start peeling off within a few years or even months regardless of how you use it.
The buttons on the X1 is nice as solid and gives a good (satisfying) tactile response with each press. The clicking sound does sound a little loud, and I don't think my roommate appreciates the clicks while he's asleep (I like listening to music before bed).
The X1 comes with a single microSD slot which supports up to 128 GB as per Fiio's specifications. What I like about this slot is that it doesn't come with the flimsy rubber covers. The one on my X5 became quite loose even though I only open and closed the covers for less than 10 times and I have to exercise caution each time I open it so it doesn't break. The microSD sits flush in the X1 after it is inserted.
The included silicone case is a nice touch. It feels a lot stiffer than the one on the X5 however I would've preferred it to come in gray instead of black so that I could see the charging indicator at the bottom of the device. Being a silicone case, it does pick up lint and dust fairly easily, but there's a kind of powder coating on the case so the dust could be wiped off fairly easily using just my hands.
After taking it out of my pocket
Battery life on the X1 is really good, with a rating of 12 hours by Fiio. I only had to charge it once every two days or so. No complaints there.
The screen on the X1 is decent. The screen is very bright and looking at it by itself the colors seem pretty vibrant, but when I place it next to the X5 the difference became obvious. The X5 shows a deeper and richer color while the X1 looks washed out. Of course, it isn't much of a fair comparison based on the price point of both device, but the X5 is the only other DAP I have (other than a C30).
Next to the X5
Outdoors the screen can be seen clearly
Holding down the menu key displays the information above
The user interface on the X1 is pretty similar to that of the X5, so I had no problems using it right out the box. Anyway, it's pretty simple, so much that anyone would be able to get used to it in a matter of minutes. There is a new theme function on the X1 which allows users to choose different colors on the UI but I just stuck with the grey one.
Sound Quality
The X1 does sound a little warmer compared to the X5, but not by a huge amount. I also find that the X1 is a little less detailed in comparison. But with the difference in price, I could not complain about the audio quality (which is still very good compared to other sources such as my Nexus 5). There is an EQ function which users can adjust, but I always disliked the idea of using EQ to adjust the sound of a DAP. It's just me
The X1 shares a single port for the Headphone out and Line out and switches between the two through the settings menu.
I didn't use any external amps during my tests because none of my gears are difficult to drive. The amp in the X1 does a pretty decent job. It only sounds a tad softer when matched with the same volume as my X5 (taking into account the X5 max out at 120 while the X1 at 100). Using my Brainwavz M4 with the X1, I only needed to set the volume to about 25-30 while I'm outdoors and below 20 when I listen to it before bed at night. With the Grado SR60 I would have to crank the volume up to about 40-43. Any higher I would feel that my eardrums would explode. So I'm guessing that it should be adequate to drive other more demanding gear (although sound quality might deteriorate without amping).
Although I prefer the sound of my X5, I find myself reaching for the X1 more when I am going out. The X1 is simply much more lighter and more compact. It just feels much more comfortable in my pocket compared to the X5 and I do not get as many pocket presses due to the stiffer buttons compared to the softer ones on the X5. For this reason, I have half a heart on selling my X5 and buying the X1 instead since it would be much more useful for my day-to-day activities. I am not one who likes to carry too many stuffs in my pocket like the X5 strapped to an e12 or something similar as I find it impractical when I am on the go.
One thing I disliked was that the idle shutdown feature maxed out at 210 seconds on the firmware (0.17 beta) it came with. So every time I paused my song to run an errand or speak to someone for a couple of minutes, I find myself having to turn on the X1 again and again. The good news is that the latest beta firmware 0.21 has updated this feature and now it maxes out at 8 minutes.
Another problem I experienced (probably the biggest so far) with the X1 is that it sometimes sort of lags and stutters while playing a song. Initially I thought it could be due to a bad music file but when I rewind to the part it stuttered there was no more issues. This has happened quite a few times randomly but I am confident that Fiio will look into this in the future firmwares.
Final Thoughts
Fiio has produced something incredible here. With such a price point (~100 USD), it is a good DAP for those who are just starting out in the audio world and looking for better alternatives than the usual handphones and other cheap(er) China mp3 players. Knowing that Fiio will continue supporting and developing the firmware on its DAPs makes me feel like this would be a worthwhile investment for anyone who is looking for a super portable and affordable DAP. Personally, if I do not own the X5, I would have went ahead and got myself an X1 when it is released but for now, I guess I will live with the bulkier X5. I am also curious to see how other DAP manufacturers respond to the Fiio X1 with their own versions of budget DAPs in the future.
