[bruce1967]

 
Hi!
 
No, sorry, @oceter was saying that. I didn't test the iPhone, just a few DAPs, AK100Mk2, AK120, AK100Mk1 with Gloveaudio A1, HS901, DX50.
 
And I am not saying they sound the same (well some do) but they differences I perceived as "huuuuuuge" where tiny when switched in real time. Auditory memory plays nasty tricks.
 
Cheers,
K

OK, you mean for example when someone upgrades to something like the X3 from an ipod and finds the sound difference to be quite substantial..in reality it's not that big of an upgrade as we imagine it to be...I wonder how much better my X3 is than my old ipod classic. Probably not as great as I first thought. I guess I'd need one of those switchers to know for sure.

 

[bruce1967]

  I always find A-B switching and even blind comparisons are very often never conclusive. The problem is that you are generally looking for differences, and/or similarities and not actually letting yourself go and listen to the music.
 
Invariably they disappoint (me personally); can drive you crazy. Alot of this AB stuff is about brain accommodating different sound signatures. For me its about musical expression, involvement, whether good kit and recordings carry you into the music rather than away from it; makes you either become involved in it or leads you to thinking about other stuff. If it's the former then it's a winner if it's the latter, then move on. Just my 2 cents...

Well I really love the sound of the X3 so I guess I'll just enjoy it and not worry about anything except the music.

 

[salla45]

 
Yes - strangely it's true for me as well. Some DAPs make your toes tap and your body move, you just enjoy the music, others,  where you can't spot a difference via a AB test, don't - I have no explanation for it but then it might be the tiny differences.... who knows.
 
So I it's a biot schizophrenic - not being able to tell them apart in an ABX test but liking one over the other in longer listening sessions.... I gave up understanding it completely and just focus on enjoying my music with the gear that gives me the most pleasure.
 
Cheers,
K

spot on! Im sure there are tiny clues within the sound, ephemeral, even. But look for them and they're gone, lol. Like quantum physics, start trying to see what's going on and it changes everything - Stupidly we still keep trying to do the old AB listening stuff, to self-justify our purchases; end up frustrated. And then we put on some stuff later once we've calmed down and it's all grins and singalongs again

 

[bruce1967]

  So I it's a biot schizophrenic - not being able to tell them apart in an ABX test but liking one over the other in longer listening sessions.... I gave up understanding it completely and just focus on enjoying my music with the gear that gives me the most pleasure.
 
Cheers,
K

Sounds like a wise decision

 

[indieman]

I compared them in my review. You can find it in the review section. I think the X3ii is slightly ahead of the DX50...
Cheers,
K

Nice I was just looking for this. I really want rock box as a UI but obviously sound is most important .

 

[oceter]

yeah, thats what drives me crazy for a few days. I just looking for differences really anxious. Whats wrong with that the iphone is playing similiar to fiio ? I bought for just music, better storage ans flrmat reading so thats satysfying me. The only difference that i can tell indistudably os kn speakers that my acer laptop is playing "clearer" and more punchy. But i think it just have more V characteristic, don't know. Laptop probably have more power than smaller phone or dap and it suits well the big amplifier for speakers. About my iphone/x3 comparision also there is one thing that maybe FIIO HS2 changes the sound, distort. But i havent noticed that and dont believe it (just another idea that some are lookong for)

 

[salla45]

yeah, thats what drives me crazy for a few days. I just looking for differences really anxious. Whats wrong with that the iphone is playing similiar to fiio ? I bought for just music, better storage ans flrmat reading so thats satysfying me. The only difference that i can tell indistudably os kn speakers that my acer laptop is playing "clearer" and more punchy. But i think it just have more V characteristic, don't know. Laptop probably have more power than smaller phone or dap and it suits well the big amplifier for speakers. About my iphone/x3 comparision also there is one thing that maybe FIIO HS2 changes the sound, distort. But i havent noticed that and dont believe it (just another idea that some are lookong for)
 
_____________________
 
 
hehe. You're not the only one, my friend. My recommend is to just chill and listen to the music; prioritise on the dedicated equipment and let the phone be a phone and a gamesplayer. I find that more relaxing in itself... not ALWAYS having the phone with me. Getting back to a dedicated player is quite "zen".

 

[Tuneslover]

The rated specs are just a guideline to how much power the amp outputs in to a given impedance. Since FiiO doesn't list the power output for the e12A in to 32 Ohms I used the 16 Ohm rating. Basically they would be about the same output in to 32 Ohm as the e12A 32 Ohm rating is in ballpark of just over 200mW (I believe, but not documented on FiiO's site) and the X3 II is 200mW @32 Ohm.

The decision comes down to sound signature with the two. E12A has a bit more warmth or if you want to you can use the quality bass boost. Both have a lot more power than the Grado 325i requires to take control of the drivers to get good dynamics and punch from the music. The more powerful e12 is overkill for 32 Ohm headphones rated at 98db @1 mW sensitivity. You can buy one and it will work fine but it sounds more clinical and more bright and more flat compared to the e12A. But then again there's the bass boost on it as well which helps.

I use the E12a and X3ii with my 80 ohm Beyerdynamic DT1350. LOTS of output on Low Gain at only a third of the E12a volume.

 

[Koolpep]

yeah, thats what drives me crazy for a few days. I just looking for differences really anxious. Whats wrong with that the iphone is playing similiar to fiio ? I bought for just music, better storage ans flrmat reading so thats satysfying me. The only difference that i can tell indistudably os kn speakers that my acer laptop is playing "clearer" and more punchy. But i think it just have more V characteristic, don't know. Laptop probably have more power than smaller phone or dap and it suits well the big amplifier for speakers. About my iphone/x3 comparision also there is one thing that maybe FIIO HS2 changes the sound, distort. But i havent noticed that and dont believe it (just another idea that some are lookong for)

The hs2 is transparent. Adds nothing. No distortion, no sound change.

Notebook amps and dacs are usually not as good as daps and definitively weaker.

However, it also depends on what you listen to and which formats you use. Which headphones etc.

Cheers,
K

 

[ttkorhon]

  I also almost cannot hear any difference between the Sansa and X3 using KSC-75 (they are close retalives of the Porta's). But with better headphones the difference is very noticable.

This got me thinking. I currently have a 5th gen iPod Nano, and have been thinking about replacing it with a 2nd gen X3 mainly for better sound quality (also for higher capacity).
 
I use a DAP mostly outdoors, with a pair of Sennheiser PX100-IIs (which are cheap enough to be used in any weather). Sound quality-wise these are more or less in the same category as the PortaPros and KSC-75s, and if the improvement in SQ isn't that noticeable with this level of headphones, then I'm not so sure if the X3 would be worth the investment after all.
 
Any thoughts on this?

 

[viperxp]

This got me thinking. I currently have a 5th gen iPod Nano, and have been thinking about replacing it with a 2nd gen X3 mainly for better sound quality (also for higher capacity).

I use a DAP mostly outdoors, with a pair of Sennheiser PX100-IIs (which are cheap enough to be used in any weather). Sound quality-wise these are more or less in the same category as the PortaPros and KSC-75s, and if the improvement in SQ isn't that noticeable with this level of headphones, then I'm not so sure if the X3 would be worth the investment after all.

Any thoughts on this?

Actually I also have PX80, that are reissued PX100 first edition. They do benefit from X3. Used to own the second edition and hated the dark sound signature overloaded with bass.

 

[x RELIC x]

This got me thinking. I currently have a 5th gen iPod Nano, and have been thinking about replacing it with a 2nd gen X3 mainly for better sound quality (also for higher capacity).

I use a DAP mostly outdoors, with a pair of Sennheiser PX100-IIs (which are cheap enough to be used in any weather). Sound quality-wise these are more or less in the same category as the PortaPros and KSC-75s, and if the improvement in SQ isn't that noticeable with this level of headphones, then I'm not so sure if the X3 would be worth the investment after all.

Any thoughts on this?

Unless one upgrades their headphones the player will make little difference. The FIRST upgrade to better sound is the headphone/earphone.

I recently purchased the JH Angie IEM and tested them on the iPod Classic vs the X5. I definitely hear a larger difference, much more than I've heard from any other headphone. Again, it's the entire audio chain that matters and one piece of gear can't be expected to bring the other up to par, especially if they aren't playing on a similar level. I'm not saying you need to spend $1000 on a headphone to hear improvements, but it will be easier to appreciate each link in the chain the better the gear gets (and the cleaner the music the better).

The X3 would be a good purchase if intending to upgrade the headphones down the line.

 

[Podster]

I agree with the Relic however I would take my X3ii over any of my iDevices any day based on SQ. I have run the PX-100 II's with my X3ii and love it but I do prefer running them with my Topping NX2 even more. I think for outside listening I would prefer a tight seal iem or better yet ciem's but to each their own. I also don't think the PX-100 II's are as good or better sounding than my Porta-Pro's but YMMV. Then again I would go with my Momentum On Ears before either the Koss or Senn's

 For me portable is always fighting other inherent distractions and noise, I've yet to find my nirvana setup while doing yard work with power tools

 

 

[ttkorhon]

Yep. I actually do have other gear, which is more up-to-par with the performance of the X3, so I'd be able to get more out of the X3 anyway. I just don't use a DAP that much indoors, and don't want to take costly headphones at the mercy of the weather. And for safety reasons I prefer open headphones, which narrows down the number of decent-prices headphone choices quite a bit (I in fact also own the PortaPros).
 
So my wondering boils down to if the X3 would be a noticeable upgrade in just this one specific use case -- using relatively cheap open headphones in a non-silent environment. But I think I'll first try the PX100s with something better than the iPod and see if I can get better sound out of them at all. If not, then there's no reason to upgrade the player.

 

[oceter]

Any suggestion about good IEM. S for x3 ii ? I had se215 shure with x3 1 gen but now i see that they were too much bassy and dark. I like listen on fun headphones and only that i found were AKG KY50/45 (dont remember) but listened only for one minute. But i want more normal IEM's with rich sound, i dont mean most analitycal and cold but not too bassy. And about my laptop out, maybe its just playing V or just better than daps, i think about V tyle cause i noticed with "wow" how the drum cymbala started to be clean bright and louder, and bass more punchy