The Fiio X5 Thread

[precisionmike]

Got it, thanks.  I normally EQ down, but good to know.  

 

[TheoS53]

If anyone is interested in setting up one of their EQs to replicate the bass boost of the E12 as closely as possible, I've done a few spectrum test and found the following setup to give an almost exact copy (albeit at a slightly lower volume), apart from the levels below 31Hz, as that can't be changed
 
31: right at the top
62: 3 from top
125: 4 from top
250: 5 up from +2
500: 2 below +2
1000: 4 below +2
2000: 5 above 0
4000: same as 2000
8000: 4 below +2
16000: 1 below +2
 
And for a perfectly flat response:
 
31-4k 5 below top
8k-16k 4 below top

 

[nmatheis]

If anyone is interested in setting up one of their EQs to replicate the bass boost of the E12 as closely as possible, I've done a few spectrum test and found the following setup to give an almost exact copy (albeit at a slightly lower volume), apart from the levels below 31Hz, as that can't be changed

31: right at the top
62: 3 from top
125: 4 from top
250: 5 up from +2
500: 2 below +2
1000: 4 below +2
2000: 5 above 0
4000: same as 2000
8000: 4 below +2
16000: 1 below +2

And for a perfectly flat response:

31-4k 5 below top
8k-16k 4 below top

The E12 emulation doesn't surprise me much, but setting the upper and lower frequencies down from neutral surprises me. What HP/IEM were you using to set the EQ? I would've thought setting bass up and treble down would result in flat response given X5 sound sig compared to my X3 and DX90.

 

[TheoS53]

The E12 emulation doesn't surprise me much, but setting the upper and lower frequencies down from neutral surprises me. What HP/IEM were you using to set the EQ? I would've thought setting bass up and treble down would result in flat response given X5 sound sig compared to my X3 and DX90.

Wasn't using any phones. Played 32768 fft pink noise from the X5, and then played it either through the amp and then to my Presonus Audiobox, or directly to the Audiobox. 
 
The X5 actually has a nearly perfectly flat response out of the headphone jack, just a slight .0.2 drop from 8k, and a .03 drop from about 13K

 

[nmatheis]

This is the proper way to implement EQ as it prevents clipping when increasing frequencies unlike Apple iDevices EQ. The reduction is -6db when the EQ is active, so increase your volume to compensate or move all the sliders to the top and reduce the frequencies you don't want as prominent.

I thought it was -6dB after reading over X3 and X5 threads, so I set the CUSTOM EQ to +6dB and noticed it was noticeably louder than EQ OFF. I then reduced the CUSTOM EQ to +4dB and found the volume to be pretty much equal. Brooko then measured output with EQ OFF and EQ CUSTOM at +4dB and found it was pretty much equivalent. So long story short, I've set all the EQ presets to +4dB and adjust down from there to achieve my preferred sound signature.

 

[nmatheis]

Wasn't using any phones. Played 32768 fft pink noise from the X5, and then played it either through the amp and then to my Presonus Audiobox, or directly to the Audiobox. 

The X5 actually has a nearly perfectly flat response out of the headphone jack, just a slight .0.2 drop from 8k, and a .03 drop from about 13K

Thanks for confirming. I read 4 and 5 below and understood 4 or 5 dB which was shocking. I now understand you mean 4 or 5 clicks. I'm still surprised bass needs to be decreased to achieve flat sound sig. I would've thought it needed a slight boost, but maybe that's just our more modern sound sig preference.

Anyway, thanks for the valuable info. Much appreciated! I like E12A bass boost, and your E12 EQ gives me a really good starting point for E12A emulation.

 

[x RELIC x]

I thought it was -6dB after reading over X3 and X5 threads, so I set the CUSTOM EQ to +6dB and noticed it was noticeably louder than EQ OFF. I then reduced the CUSTOM EQ to +4dB and found the volume to be pretty much equal. Brooko then measured output with EQ OFF and EQ CUSTOM at +4dB and found it was pretty much equivalent. So long story short, I've set all the EQ presets to +4dB and adjust down from there to achieve my preferred sound signature.

Yes, you're right. I forgot that FiiO changed it for FW 2.4. Now +6db on the EQ is +2 over EQ OFF. So........ +4db is closer to flat/off.
 
Cheers

 

[514077]

I still can't stop thinking that setting all sliders to +4 or +6  would introduce a series of peaks and valleys and phase problems.  Do you have access to a spectrum analiser that you could look at the freq response at +4, Theo?

 

[Carel]

Before the mod, I used these settings, now turn off EQ

 

[nmatheis]

I still can't stop thinking that setting all sliders to +4 or +6  would introduce a series of peaks and valleys and phase problems.  Do you have access to a spectrum analiser that you could look at the freq response at +4, Theo?

This method has been suggested earlier in the thread to implement a subtractive EQ without taking such a big hit in volume. It might have some peaks and valleys, but it honestly sounds just about the same as EQ OFF to my ears. Getting a FR graph to show the difference would be cool, though.

When I try the same exercise with my DX90, the raised EQ setting does sound noticeably different in a very bad way. It sounds similar to listening to sound normally vs. through a seashell.

 

[nmatheis]

Before the mod, I used these settings, now turn off EQ

Quite the sub-bass boost your mod achieved!

 

[TheoS53]

I still can't stop thinking that setting all sliders to +4 or +6  would introduce a series of peaks and valleys and phase problems.  Do you have access to a spectrum analiser that you could look at the freq response at +4, Theo?

will test it out and post the results tomorrow

 

[uzi2]

  I still can't stop thinking that setting all sliders to +4 or +6  would introduce a series of peaks and valleys and phase problems.  Do you have access to a spectrum analiser that you could look at the freq response at +4, Theo?

This was done for the previous firmware after a long discussion in this thread. It proved that all sliders up was far from a flat response - although many swore that it sounded flat.
The closest approximation to a flat response will be the default - all sliders at 0 - position.
 
Here is the link
 
and EQoff v all 0

 

[nmatheis]

Can you post a link to the previous FR graph with all sliders up? It'll be interesting to see that compared to Theo's measurement.

 

[nmatheis]

Before the mod, I used these settings, now turn off EQ

Forgot to ask. I think you've got a DX90, too? If so, how does X5 after mod compare to DX90?