Fiio X5 3rd gen || 2x AKM 4490 || Balanced Out || DSD || DXD | DTS | Android || Dual Card Slot
Feb 22, 2017 at 5:09 AM Post #3,016 of 15,884
I too was happy with how smooth the whole FW update went, and how the interface operation feels better fleshed out than when I had the X7 on tour with beta FW. I'm glad FiiO waited to release this internationally, but it's a bit of a hit and miss for me still.

Gapless playback works perfectly. 'Play through folders' is really nice to have and one of my favourite features of the X5-2, but there have been a couple hiccups so far. Sometimes it works and sometimes not - yes, when using folder playback - a toggle off/on of the option fixes it. Also, once the playback 'plays through' to the next album folder the 'back' button takes you to the first album folder that was playing before it 'played through' to the next. Kind of annoying. The back button should always take you one directory above the current playing track. Speaking of tracks, +3000 songs (16/44.1 to 24/192 lossless, mostly ALAC) on a 200gb Sandisk mSD card formatted in the X5-2 (FAT32) updated in no time. About 25 tracks every 0.5-1 second.

Obligatory Pink Floyd pic



Listening to this with the JH Angie balanced right now in that pic. FWIW I can't reliably tell any difference between balanced and SE on the X5-3. Could be because the cable change takes some time, the bass attenuators may be slightly different between cables, or FiiO simply did a good job on the SE port that the balanced port isn't a 'night and day' difference. Actually, good job FiiO on the implementation of both SE and balanced! I'll be doing all my testing SE from now on with the tour unit I have, and yes, I hear some small hiss with SE and balanced to the JH Angie (17 Ohm, 117dB SPL/mW sensitivity) when the music isn't playing. The Noble K10 I have is more sensitive and I suspect the hiss will be slightly worse. It's not a large amount of hiss, but it's there if you listen for it.

 
When I get mine background hiss is the first thing I will listen for with my 9 Ohm SE846's.
 
I did buy one of those iFI Audio iEMatch things based on recommendations on Head-fi and unlike the 75 Ohm impedance adapter I have, it does eliminate/reduce hiss without any noticeable SQ change to my ears. Will try with both. 
 
Feb 22, 2017 at 5:46 AM Post #3,017 of 15,884
@FiiO, Quick question.....either I'm missing something, or there is a discrepancy in the specs. 

From Fiio's X5iii page:

 Notice that is says the X5iii supports up to 768kHz/32-bit. But everywhere else (including the product packaging) they only mention 384kHz/32-bit. So which one is correct? 
 
Feb 22, 2017 at 5:49 AM Post #3,018 of 15,884
@FiiO
, Quick question.....either I'm missing something, or there is a discrepancy in the specs. 


From Fiio's X5iii page:


 Notice that is says the X5iii supports up to 768kHz/32-bit. But everywhere else (including the product packaging) they only mention 384kHz/32-bit. So which one is correct? 


 
Feb 22, 2017 at 5:51 AM Post #3,020 of 15,884
Feb 22, 2017 at 6:06 AM Post #3,021 of 15,884
When using Tidal, do you guys notice a pop-up notification saying: "Preparing USB device..."? I think it happens more often when the offline music is downloading in the background.
 
BTW
 
Tips to make the device FEEL snappier:
- go to settings
- About device
- tap on Build number until you unlock the developer options
- turn off all items relating to animations under "Drawing"
 
I am sure there are other GUI optimization options but this is the most basic one.
 
Feb 22, 2017 at 6:21 AM Post #3,022 of 15,884
  When using Tidal, do you guys notice a pop-up notification saying: "Preparing USB device..."? I think it happens more often when the offline music is downloading in the background.
 
BTW
 
Tips to make the device FEEL snappier:
- go to settings
- About device
- tap on Build number until you unlock the developer options
- turn off all items relating to animations under "Drawing"
 
I am sure there are other GUI optimization options but this is the most basic one.


LOL
I forgot about that
 
I just played the game in lollipop land
biggrin.gif

 
Thanks!
 
Feb 22, 2017 at 6:30 AM Post #3,023 of 15,884
 
  When using Tidal, do you guys notice a pop-up notification saying: "Preparing USB device..."? I think it happens more often when the offline music is downloading in the background.
 
BTW
 
Tips to make the device FEEL snappier:
- go to settings
- About device
- tap on Build number until you unlock the developer options
- turn off all items relating to animations under "Drawing"
 
I am sure there are other GUI optimization options but this is the most basic one.


LOL
I forgot about that
 
I just played the game in lollipop land
biggrin.gif

 
Thanks!

 
Can i be honest! out of all the iterations of Android, Lollipop is the one that i feel was a step sideways.. I am glad Marshmallow came to the rescue and now Nougat is upping the ante.
 
Feb 22, 2017 at 7:04 AM Post #3,024 of 15,884
  @FiiO, Quick question.....either I'm missing something, or there is a discrepancy in the specs. 

From Fiio's X5iii page:

 Notice that is says the X5iii supports up to 768kHz/32-bit. But everywhere else (including the product packaging) they only mention 384kHz/32-bit. So which one is correct? 

 
I think two AKM DAC each 384kHz per channel supports up to 768kHz ?? ! - Right ?
 
Feb 22, 2017 at 7:07 AM Post #3,025 of 15,884
I think they are just listing the DAC chip specs, not what the device supports in that.  I agree it is a bit confusing and maybe misleading.  
 
Are there PCM audio files even available at over 384khz anyway?  Complete non issue to me.  I mean it supports dsd so...
 
Feb 22, 2017 at 7:15 AM Post #3,027 of 15,884
This may be a stupid question, buy do you guys turn off the player (holding the power button and shut down) or just let it "stand by" by pressing the power button (while the blue LED stay on)?


At this point, I am letting the unit "sleep." I do not turn it off between uses. I want to see how long the unit goes on a battery charge, then report the findings.
 
Feb 22, 2017 at 7:18 AM Post #3,028 of 15,884
Yup. Keep in mind I'm pretty used to holding/operating my other devices with the volume wheel on the other side, or no volume wheel. That, and I've only had the thing for about 1 1/2 days. I don't think it will move when in the pocket.


I am left handed, so this is kind of refreshing to me. That said, I did toggle off the fast forward/rewind, because I have hit that quite often when waking the unit from "stand by" mode. Annoying, it is...

Also, I just took the plunge and pre-ordered. I had no intention of doing that whatsoever...guess I kind of like this little critter...:sunglasses:
 
Feb 22, 2017 at 7:27 AM Post #3,029 of 15,884
   
Can i be honest! out of all the iterations of Android, Lollipop is the one that i feel was a step sideways.. I am glad Marshmallow came to the rescue and now Nougat is upping the ante.

 
 

​I have used Android as an alternative to DAPS for 3 years now.
 
Almost 2 years ago I did a vid and it got so much hate I turned off thumbs
 
 
 
 
TL/DW
 
What I said was:
 
Phones will migrate towards audio devices and audio devices will migrate towards multi function devices like phones.
Look where we are on February 22nd 2017 (JST)
 
I surmised correctly that if I had a device with a 5.7" big gorilla glass 4 screen, 3 gigs of ram and a octa core powering that and got a sim free version I could future proof myself against .....well how many DAP's have come and gone? The X5II was on Tour and the DX80 was about to be released the X7 was coming soon.
 
I still have 5.7, 3 gig and Neutron and when I got the Mojo it was in my opinion superior to the TOTL A&K and I had 3 gigs and a 5.7" screen fronting that Mojo. My PHA-3 on my Note 4 in Balanced is the finest item I can carry. I love the X5iii because it has no glare in treble no reverb like warm borking the sonics the G.U.I has a easy learning curve and FiiO is asking for what is relative to other companies offerings...a steal. I had to try it. Now I keep it.
 
FiiO saw a hole in the game and filled it as they say on the street. I bought it out in front of everyone o get the drop. pop the bubble. Thought folks were pirating it on the net and sent FiiO a mail. They never replied cuz that was the selling price. Dear lord they done goooood!!
 
Relic once sent a PM alluding to the fact that my rapid grab of the Mojo was with ill intentions....and he was right. But the sound...and the price....man....what? CRUSHED everything....EVERYTHING!!!  I fanboyed the hell out that thing cuz it was legit. I grabbed this FiiO to do the same thing.  Here I am now fanboying cuz for this price with this mature(ish) GUI and the sound...the very well presented sound.
 
The Android to me is just a shell. If A.L.S.A and Audio finger are indeed being bypassed and they are now (FiiO hyped the X7 as some revolution when UAPP and others via OTG had already neutered A.L.S.A and audiofinger.   Hey companies gotta company right ? :wink:
 
 
 That was not really TL/DR huh?
 
Sorry.
 
I hate companies rolling folks with mild upgrades at stupid prices at a rapid rate. FiiO on purpose or accidentally bucked that trend and we win. We win. We lose a lot (aside from cutting edge volunteer beta testing 10 dap owning geeks/otakus/hobbiest)...for the rest of us....we won this time :)
 
 
  These 2 vids were from when the android invasion was beginning. I was in the first wave taking fire pinned down on the beach :wink:
 
Good times
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EDIT:
 
Man I quoted and never replied...LOL
 
 
I use android as a shell to carry music so i never noticed the different versions as long as the don't mess with OTG and they never have.
 
Sorry...back to the thread/topic/X5iii
 
Feb 22, 2017 at 7:31 AM Post #3,030 of 15,884
As a native English speaker, the FiiO slogan just seems wrong. Seems like they should've just paid our illustrious @ClieOS a few bucks for the translation which makes more sense and is something you can take seriously. The current slogan looks pretty amateur.

 

 
Actually I will do free translation for any Chinese audio company. Already helped a couple of them here in the past.
 

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