FiiO X7 | DXD | DSD | 384K/64B | ESS9018+ Android | WiFi | Bluetooth | 4 AMP modules | Balanced Out |

I have done the following mods on my personal X7 since the V1.5 firmware update<-click me :

1. Rooted
2. Installed Xposed framework and Greenify
3. Installed Viper4Android

Please note that while I have performed all of the below with no issues on my X7, the management currently accepts no responsibility for any bad things that happen to your device because of root-related experimentation. Update: I'm currently finding that with my rooted unit, while everything else works fine, adjustment of a Bluetooth device's volume from the X7 is nonfunctional. The volume would remain the same from about 60-120 and be completely silent below about 60. Does anybody with a stock X7 have the same issue?

Please check to make sure that Google Play is performing correctly with the latest update before attempting the below. If Google Play returns errors while attempting to install or purchase apps (important to test both. If you have purchased apps before with your registered account yet Play is asking you to buy it again, it is not working properly.), please clear cache and factory reset your X7 in recovery as detailed in the link above. If situation persists, just wipe and reset again until everything works. (yes I know usually one reset should clear everything but something apparently may require more than one reset on the X7. Please back up your data )


1. Root

http://www.kingroot.net/
Simply go online with your X7 via WiFi, go to the above website and download its on-device rooting tool. Then install and run it. Decline google's invitations to check apps for untoward behavior. The X7 will acquire root via the app without requiring so much as a reboot. Even so, I recommend rebooting.

2. Install Xposed framework and Greenify

Greenify allows you to hibernate most background processes with the push of a button, extending battery life.

Simply go to Google Play and install Greenify. It will ask for root access on first startup. Grant it access, and it will take you to a settings screen. If you tick one of the options requiring the Xposed framework, it will take you to the download link for Xposed. I recommend downloading the latest stable version (2.6.1) rather than the 2.7 beta shown at the top. After installing Xposed and restarting, enable the Greenify Xposed module in the Xposed installer and reboot again, to access more features in Greenify. If you really want to go Chuck Norris on even system processes (including such useful features as the Android dialer (facepalm) ), you may want to purchase the Greenify donation package as well.

Having purchased Greenify, I have Greenified most things on the X7 without issue but exercise common sense and caution. If you click Show All in Greenify's App Analyzer, some of the stuff are the guts of Android.

I haven't yet tested whether such tinkering can extend the battery life of the X7 beyond what is currently achievable with the Pure Music mode. But at the very least, we will get a music player on which you can install practically any number of streaming music apps (and more besides) and not worry much if at all about associated device slowdown or battery drain, even in Android mode. Note you can Greenify even music apps and this will not affect their ability to play music while the screen is off.

3. Installed Viper4Android (V4A)
Download and install the following app
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mq1nft0mk46o2es/ViPER4Android_v2.3.3.0_-_elesbb_Profiles_Widget.apk?dl=0

On first launch, it will ask to install drivers. Select Super Audio Quality (duh), and grant it root permissions while prompted to do so. Reboot the X7 afterwards as prompted.

On next reboot, launch V4A and click its menu button at the upper right. Set UI Setting to Expert. Now, swipe right to reveal the Headset tab and Enable V4A's Master Power. Then scroll down to the bottom and set Master Gate's Output Gain to 6dB.

This will undo the current firmware's 6dB drop in volume for all apps that access the Android default sound system.

There are a billion other things you can do with Viper4Android for the sound of your music. This repository of optimization profiles for different headphones will give you some starting ideas
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2372750

(Although, that list was compiled way before the inception of the X7, when the only things that ran V4A were mobile phones. I see I have to turn my sights up towards some more audiophile headphones for profiling )
Please note that the version of V4A I linked to does not support .vdc profiles. .irs profiles only. I did very little exclusive work on vdc profiles, so I believe there is little loss. On the other hand, the V4A version supporting vdc has a bug where loading profiles does not take effect immediately, easily leading to confusion. If you're okay with that, please note you should uninstall each existing version of V4A before attempting to replace it with a new version.

Note that for V4A to take effect, the Android music app in question should not be doing any funny business attempting to bypass the Android sound system. For example, if you're using Poweramp, you need to go to Settings->Audio->Advanced Tweaks and uncheck all checkboxes, especially "Direct Volume Control".