To all the respected X3 users and the potential customer,
 
Ever since the launch of X3, its powerful ability in supporting various lossless music format and 192K/24B master recordings format, its beautiful sound quality, its small size and its great value are all widely welcomed and supported by the end-users. Meanwhile, we are keeping updating its firmware based on the bugs and suggestions of customers. Up till now, we have made as many as 56 bugs fix, improvements and function additions.
 
Though the latest firmware of X3 is running very stable, we are still working on its improvement and upgrade with the aim of perfecting the item. In order to help you have a better understanding of our work, here we list some users’ feedbacks and bugs fix plans to you.
 
Long-term optimizing work:
1. The optimization of its power consumption. As to the FW 1.31, it increased 40mins of its battery life.
2. Focus on the optimization regarding the playback failure or problem to some individual music files.
3. Continuously accelerate the speed of updating lib, and fix the freeze problem when updating lib on rare occasions.
4. Fix the inaccuracy issue of CUE playback.
 
Improvements & added functions that would be included in the upcoming two firmware versions:
1. The asynchronous USB decoding function to 192K/24B file. So you can used X3 as a portable USB DAC for your PC/Laptop and Mac. Done
2. Artificially modify the suffix of M4A file into AAC, and display as MOV in the song information.Done
3. Optimize the playback issue of some certain music files.
4. Improve the gapless playback; lessen its limits according to the settings of ROCKBOX.Done
5. Battery icon displays as red warning in case of low battery.
6. Add the format function towards external TF card, aiming to fix the unreadable issue due to disk format incompatibility.Done
 
 
 
Amendment plan which takes time that temporarily can’t confirm the completion progress:
1. Support the playback of music files in DSD format.
2. Connect it to self-supplied power device through OTG cable. ( Note, still need more testing )
3. Just as Foorbar2000 does, it supports embedded & external cover and cover named by its folder, cover, front and song title.
4. Extend the limitations to the resolution and file size of the cover picture.
5. Fix the possible small distortion on left channel when playing high dynamic music in OGG format.
6. The supportability towards OGG files’ tag information, such as album, title, artist, genre, embedded cover and so on.
7. Support playlist of “User-defined”like M3U file.
9. To switch on “Hold” would close off the display screen.
 
Unrealizable functions or unsolvable problems due to software framework and the base limit:
1. Can’t display the album and genre for CUE file.
2. Can’t cancel the cover and lyrics display option( which means, if cover and lyrics coexists, it would scroll display the lyrics in transparent effect on the surface of its cover; if there is no lyrics, it would only scroll display ID3 information; if there is no cover, it would display the way as FW 1.23).
3. Slow speed in skipping songs; it would only skip to next song even if click ten times continuously, while it would skip to the tenth by clicking ten times on other machines.
4. Connect X3 with TF card to computer under XP system, and then change the TF card to another one after connection finished, but it would still display as the first card on the computer; while this problem doesn’t exist on other systems.Done
5. Can’t add the function of “Play by album “under artist option of play by category.
6. Can’t support exFAT, FAT format and 64KB cluster of FAT32 under 64G.
7. Connect X3 without TF card to computer under XP system, and then insert one TF card X3 after connection finished, but it still won’t display the content of the TF card on the computer; while this problem doesn’t exist on other systems.
8. Under play interface, it can’t remember its store path after several returns (go back to main menu, then back to play interface, and then click the back button again.
When the “Memory Play” is on, it can’t remember current playing song’s store path after double switching on and off.
9. When the “Memory Play” is on, turn off X3, switch on the HOLD button, then turn on X3, you would hear a few seconds before it turns off.Done
10. Further improvements of the rank order of filename.Done
11. Can’t automatically skip through folders (under order play, it would skip to next sub-folder, if there is any, after it played all the files of the former folder).
12. Set it as Simplified Chinese, it would display normal for Japanese, while abnormal or messy for Korean.
13. Can only use FAT32 TF card to get the firmware upgraded.
14. Can’t support the display of time and date.
15. Can’t delete the whole folder.
16. Can’t add the scroll bar to indicate the location when choosing songs.

Hi James,
I must say, I really appreciate your open communication with us users. Thats why I kept my X3 although I am not 100% satisfied (yet).

 
 
Quote:

jamesfiio said:

  ...
3. Just as Foorbar2000 does, it supports embedded & external cover and cover named by its folder, cover, front and song title.
...

Click to expand...

 
I think I do not completely understand that. Could you please clarifiy if this development goal will fix this problem:
 
I got .mp3 files with ID3 Tags.
If I open a category "artist", I see all tracks from this artist in one folder. -> They should be grouped in albums.
 
What makes it worse/annoying for me is, that the "filename" is displayed, not the title (from the ID3 tag).
My filenames are for example: 01 - Red hot chili peppers - Under the bridge
So if I open the artist folder "Red hot chili peppers" I can`t see the titles, I have to wait for the text to scroll.
 
I always thought that sorting by tags is a standard function of any portable music player.
Thanks for your answer

I agree with the post above -- I would prefer that the song's title be displayed (from the ID3 tag), not the filename.  Otherwise, looking at the tracks for an album, my X3 screen just shows a list like this.  (My files are tagged [Artist] - [Album Title] - [Track #] - [Track Title]):
 
The Beatles - Rubber Soul (Stereo Box Set) - ...
The Beatles - Rubber Soul (Stereo Box Set) - ...
The Beatles - Rubber Soul (Stereo Box Set) - ...
The Beatles - Rubber Soul (Stereo Box Set) - ...
The Beatles - Rubber Soul (Stereo Box Set) - ...
The Beatles - Rubber Soul (Stereo Box Set) - ...
 
When browsing by Category > Artist, when you select an artist, there should be folders for each Album.  Otherwise, for artists where I have 5 albums, Artist just opens up a huge list of file names from all the albums.
 
When browsing by Category > Artist, please alphabetize the artists to ignore "The" and "A" at the beginning of the artist name.  For example, an artist like "The Beatles" should show up under "B", not "T".
 
If I am playing a song on the X3, then I move around to browse other folders but do not select another song in another folder, I wish the X3 would remember and resume its place in the folder of the song that is playing.  For example, say I am listening to Track 2 on The Beatles/Rubber Soul.  I browse around to look at my music under Led Zeppelin, but do not select anything and keep listening to Rubber Soul.  Three minutes later, I go back to my device. Now the device has forgotten that I am in the Rubber Soul folder.  I have to find The Beatles > Rubber Soul just to get back to that folder.
 
The X3 is very hard to navigate. I find it hard to recommend the device now to someone because they will get frustrated with finding tracks.

Something need more feedback about the firmware of X3 in the future. 
 
1, About replay gain ?   
 
   X3 can read the replay gain information included in the files, but what should we do to control the volume ? any detail or any DAP has this features.
 
2, About the folder jump?
 
   How we control the play, is it means that x3 should go into next folder when all the sound tracks is finish? any detail or any DAP has this features.
 
3, About the rockbox support, it is too early to discuss this , but it is possible and the time is depended on when we have time.
 
4, M3U support, will add to X3 when we finish the firmware of X5.

jamesfiio said:

  Something need more feedback about the firmware of X3 in the future. 
 
1, About replay gain ?   
 
   X3 can read the replay gain information included in the files, but what should we do to control the volume ? any detail or any DAP has this features.
 
2, About the folder jump?
 
   How we control the play, is it means that x3 should go into next folder when all the sound tracks is finish? any detail or any DAP has this features.
 
3, About the rockbox support, it is too early to discuss this , but it is possible and the time is depended on when we have time.
 
4, M3U support, will add to X3 when we finish the firmware of X5.

Click to expand...

Rockbox is the only firmware I know that implements 1 and 2 for DAPs, but Logitech Media Server (formerly Squeezeserver and Slimserver) uses Replaygain for the Squeezebox and Foobar2000 uses it.
 
There are quite a number of options in Rockbox to control the behaviour of replay gain. It may save time to reconsider option 3 as it would take care of 1 and 2 and also provide many more benefits, including playlists.
 
The folder jump is switchable under settings in Rockbox. If it is to be implemented on the X3 it should be an option in the same way.

jamesfiio said:

  Something need more feedback about the firmware of X3 in the future. 
 
1, About replay gain ?   
 
   X3 can read the replay gain information included in the files, but what should we do to control the volume ? any detail or any DAP has this features.
 

Click to expand...

 
I have a SanDisk Clip Zip and it lets to configure replay gain to none, track or album.
 
I don't know how it manages the tag but I suppose (almost sure incorrectly) it modify the value of the song before to send it to headphones.
 
Best regards.
 
PD: I am anxious and patient waiting for the solution of the bugs with OGG.  

Subbed

James,
 
Your transparency is awesome!  Thank you for starting this thread!  
 
Mike

James,

I and 59 other Headfiers would like to have parametric EQ on X3: http://www.head-fi.org/t/677571/poll-parametric-eq-on-fiio-x3

I use Rockbox primarily for parametric EQ. So personally I don't have to have Rockbox if X3 offers parametric EQ.

I do NOT want "folder jump" option. Because it can cause playback skip if I accidentally press a wrong button. I had that happened a few times with Rockbox and I don't like it.

fonsocm said:

   
I have a SanDisk Clip Zip and it lets to configure replay gain to none, track or album.
 
I don't know how it manages the tag but I suppose (almost sure incorrectly) it modify the value of the song before to send it to headphones.
 
Best regards.
 
PD: I am anxious and patient waiting for the solution of the bugs with OGG.

 

Click to expand...

Same here.
 
Replaygain gives the possibility to play all songs on equal average volume. Now I am manually amplifying each track depending on replaygain (track) value. When I rescan the song, the replaygain scanner reports 0.00dB. 
When you have a song that is average silent, then replaygain's value after scan will be positive and playing the song will sound louder when replaygain function is ON.
 
The track value just compares each song to each other song, the album value keeps the song in comparison to the original album tracks.
For example, when one song is louder on the CD, it will still sound louder when replaygain album is set.

jamesfiio said:

  Something need more feedback about the firmware of X3 in the future. 
 
1, About replay gain ?   
 
   X3 can read the replay gain information included in the files, but what should we do to control the volume ? any detail or any DAP has this features.
 
2, About the folder jump?
 
   How we control the play, is it means that x3 should go into next folder when all the sound tracks is finish? any detail or any DAP has this features.
 
3, About the rockbox support, it is too early to discuss this , but it is possible and the time is depended on when we have time.
 
4, M3U support, will add to X3 when we finish the firmware of X5.

Click to expand...

Hi James, thank you and your guys for the hard work!
 
For 1, all the X3 has to do is to apply the replay gain info accordingly so that all files that have such info will be playing at 89 dB and therefore, we can just leave our own volume setting (e.g. 31/60) at one particular number and the music will be played at the same volume (instead of having to switch to 21/60 for Song A, 55/60 for Song B and so on). You can take a look at how Sansa Clip Zip is doing it (RockBox'ed or not)
 
For 4, will M3U8 be supported too with M3U?

jamesfiio said:

  Something need more feedback about the firmware of X3 in the future. 
 
1, About replay gain ?   
 
   X3 can read the replay gain information included in the files, but what should we do to control the volume ? any detail or any DAP has this features.
 
2, About the folder jump?
 
   How we control the play, is it means that x3 should go into next folder when all the sound tracks is finish? any detail or any DAP has this features.
 
...

Click to expand...

1) Controlling the volume could be done two ways, both are compromises.

• Using existing volume control and "offset" it by replaygain information. Advantages: no change in digital signal resolution, relatively easy to implement (you'll need a "lookup table" based on the user-set volume and the non-linear dB steps that the X3's 60 volume control settings follow, translated to (or from) replaygain information). Disadvantage: it would only affect the headphone out, but neither the coax- nor line out -> users with external amps/DACs wouldn't benefit.
• Changing volume digitally (like a very basic DSP function). Advantages: affects all outputs, likely to be more accurate. Disadvantages: Changing bit resolution, adding rounding noise, necessary to implement clipping prevention methods -> way more complicated to implement but doable, since one can have a look in the source code how Rockbox does it, for example

2) Yes, that is what they mean by it. Would be a quick fix for double albums. If you decide to implement, please make it an option

The fix for double albums is to recognise the Discnumber tag, so that they can be played in the correct order gapless from the album view. At present you need to renumber the track tags in order to achieve this.

Please, please address the slow track skip response.

uzi2 said:

The fix for double albums is to recognise the Discnumber tag, so that they can be played in the correct order gapless from the album view. At present you need to renumber the track tags in order to achieve this.

Click to expand...

Yes, that's what I meant by "quick fix" a.k.a. "work around". I didn't call it "solution" With gapless playback in browser mode (which James has promised for upcoming releases) you wouldn't be confined to category -> album.