Fiio X3 mod?
Mar 18, 2016 at 3:06 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 7

f4phantom2500

100+ Head-Fier
Joined
May 2, 2009
Posts
145
Likes
19
Hey guys,
 
I came across ClieOS's Fiio X3 mod thread, where I read about replacing the AD8397 opamp with the AD8620, as well as replacing the Wolfson WM8740 DAC with WM8741. My soldering skills are rudimentary, at best. Besides that, it's been years since I've even touched a soldering iron, so I don't really feel comfortable tinkering with the guts of my DAP. I don't know where best to post this, but does anyone know where I can find someone who can perform one or both of these mods for me at a reasonable cost?
 
Thanks
 
Mar 19, 2016 at 11:53 AM Post #3 of 7
How about x3ii mod,
 
Mar 19, 2016 at 12:11 PM Post #4 of 7
Fiio x1 mod info

http://www.head-fi.org/t/740302/fiio-x1-mods

Fiio x3ii mod info:

http://mingo-hmw.com/new/home/2067-fiio-x3ii-mod-service-.html

Thats what i found with a quick google search guys. Seems opamp swaps can be done in those players too. Dac youll have to research a bit on. The only reason you can swap the wm8740 for the wm8741 in the x3 1st gen is because theyre completely pin compatible. 8741 is a follow up design to 8740, and even in the same product family. In order for the dac to be swappable in one of those players it would have to be a similar situation so youd have to do some research on that end. Also note the 8741 consumes a lot more battery power than 8740 so theres that to consider too.


Regardless, if someone shows up in here able to do this, i got first dibs ;p
 
Mar 19, 2016 at 2:19 PM Post #5 of 7
 The only reason you can swap the wm8740 for the wm8741 in the x3 1st gen is because theyre completely pin compatible.

 
No, in hardware mode pin 22 is different.
And that difference affects the frequency response.
Pin 22, internal power reset pin on the wm8740 and is normally left floating
Pin 22, internal over sampling rate control on the WM8741. 
There are 3 configuration options.
0- (low rate) for 32-44.1/48kH sample rates
Z- (medium rate) for 88.2-96kH sample rates.
1- (high rate) for 176.4-192kH sample rates.
0 is grounded, Z is floating, 1 is tied to VDD.
Let's say the sample rate of your device is 48kHz, with the OSR pin floating the WM8741 is improperly configured which causes the (default) output filter to operate in the audio band (treble starts rolling off at around 17K and is down about 6dB @ 20kHz).
.
 
Mar 19, 2016 at 2:54 PM Post #6 of 7
No, in hardware mode pin 22 is different.
And that difference affects the frequency response.
Pin 22, internal power reset pin on the wm8740 and is normally left floating
Pin 22, internal over sampling rate control on the WM8741. 
There are 3 configuration options.
0- (low rate) for 32-44.1/48kH sample rates
Z- (medium rate) for 88.2-96kH sample rates.
1- (high rate) for 176.4-192kH sample rates.
0 is grounded, Z is floating, 1 is tied to VDD.
Let's say the sample rate of your device is 48kHz, with the OSR pin floating the WM8741 is improperly configured which causes the (default) output filter to operate in the audio band (treble starts rolling off at around 17K and is down about 6dB @ 20kHz).
.


Forgive my vagueness and admittedly I do not know all of the technical details behind this. What I simply meant was to inform them that they could not simply expect to be able to swap in a new DAC just because you can in the X3 first gen and that each upgrade should be considered on an individual basis. By my comment I simply meant that the 8740 and the 8741 are physically able to be installed on the same PCB n the same pin layout and that it is known that it can be made to work, which again should not be expected as a given
 
Mar 22, 2016 at 4:17 AM Post #7 of 7
Is there a mod to do something similar with the first gen X5? I just posted in it's main thread in the source section but I'd really like to know. I genuinely love the features of the X5 and the over all sound but the sound stage SUCKS. Really wish something could be done about it. 
 
Thoughts? 
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top