[TheoS53]

Ok guys, For anyone else wondering, I can confirm that the card does indeed need to be formatted in FAT32...unfortunately I found this out the hard way.

I used SDFormatter at first, but this only formatted the card in exFAT, and there doesn't seem to be a way to set it to FAT32. Anyways, after it was formatted in exFAT, I popped it into the M3 and it showed the full capacity, so I thought it's all systems go. Unfortunately after spending the whole night sorting out and copying music over (14,000 tracks) I turned on the M3, it did a library update, so it seemed like all went well. But, when I attempted to go into a folder it said something about the file structure not being supported. So I took out the card, plugged it into my PC and immediately got a prompt that the card needs to be formatted. Which means that not even Windows could access the files on the card. All that work, LOST.

I eventually got hold of another formatter which successfully formatted it to FAT32. Spent another couple of hours sorting out and copying the tracks over, and now it's finally working properly. 

Other issues I've come across: The alphabetical sorting doesn't just affect folders, it affects files as well. Also, while music is playing and then  scrolling through folders there's often some skipping happening.
Fiio, can I also request for the next firmware update that you guys ditch the "fancy" text font, and rather use something more simple like Roboto. I find that on such a low dpi screen the current font doesn't seem to work very well 

 

[Sp12er3]

Well, the M3 itself can format an SD card to FAT32, just check the settings menu and scroll down.

 

[TheoS53]

Well, the M3 itself can format an SD card to FAT32, just check the settings menu and scroll down.

That's the first thing I tried.. But that doesn't work. It simply says something along the lines of no music found on card. Really weird

 

[west0ne]

That's the first thing I tried.. But that doesn't work. It simply says something along the lines of no music found on card. Really weird

Just a guess but I've seen that with cameras. The card is too large for the device to format but if formatted at Fat32 on a PC it has worked fine.

 

[EinTheVariance]

welp, glad you got it working one way or another

 

[symo]

I used 7ZIP file manager on win XP to transfer files to M3 and they appear in Alpha order.

BTW, battery life on my M3 only lasts for 10hrs regardless of codec (mp3, m4a, and flac), I only had the player for 3 weeks.

 

[west0ne]

I used 7ZIP file manager on win XP to transfer files to M3 and they appear in Alpha order.

BTW, battery life on my M3 only lasts for 10hrs regardless of codec (mp3, m4a, and flac), I only had the player for 3 weeks.

The battery life doesn't sound right. I use mine in the office connected to a powered portable speaker, it generally runs for 10 hours a day on top of that I use it with headphones for another two hours or so each day whilst walking the dog; at the end of all that (12 hours) I still have battery bars showing so 10 hours suggests to me that something may be wrong.

 

[TheoS53]

Yeah that battery life doesn't sound correct at all. I've had the M3 for nearly 4 weeks now and have only had to charge it once (Average of about 1 hour use each day)

 

[Mikerman]

I used 7ZIP file manager on win XP to transfer files to M3 and they appear in Alpha order.

 
And do all the files on the player stay in alpha order through multiple transfers of files (additions) to the player?  As I understand it, apart from using other software, transfers will be in alpha order for each transfer "group," but not between the groups transferred--i.e., abcd bcd acd, as vs. aabbcccddd.

 

[EinTheVariance]

I used 7ZIP file manager on win XP to transfer files to M3 and they appear in Alpha order.

BTW, battery life on my M3 only lasts for 10hrs regardless of codec (mp3, m4a, and flac), I only had the player for 3 weeks.

maybe you are running it at max/near max volume?  I believe the rated battery life is tested at like 20-30.

 

[TheoS53]

OK, so I tried to use one of the recommended FAT sorting apps to get the folders to display in alphabetical order, but that didn't seem to work...so I tried this one too: http://www.anerty.net/software/file/DriveSort/  .....but still no luck. not sure what the issue is

Something else I've noticed, it seems that the 4000 track limit applies per drive. By that I mean, I have around 12,000 tracks on the 128gb card, and 55 on the internal storage. When I got into settings and about, it shows 4055 tracks

 

[TheoS53]

ok, never mind, I got DriveSort to work. I was just clicking on the sort button...but you actually have to click sort, and then save after that.

 

[symo]

Correct, 7zip only works on initial transfer to M3.

 

[symo]

I get 10hrs on M3 at volume level of 25 max.

 

[EinTheVariance]

I get 10hrs on M3 at volume level of 25 max.

that's really weird.  I use mine with FLACs exclusively and get at least 18 hours out of them (sometimes I forget to turn the timer on and fall asleep with them running the whole night).  I use them with the Grado SR80e at volume level ~35