[Styx2]

  Just been messing around with random play and, at first blush, it seems okay to me-- though it feels truly random with each track selection rather than a randomized playlist. Also, unless I'm using a different feature, I don't think it has to be all songs (unless you want it to).
 
From the Play Settings, I set the play mode to random (or what looks like random to me). I backed out and cycled to music by category and went to an album and played the first song. I forwarded and it went to the last song on the album, The back button took me to the fourth song. Forward next went to the second song... etc. I didn't see a pattern that jumped out at me and it felt like it was randomly choosing with each navigation. There might be some other quirks I haven't seen yet, I've just been playing with it for a few minutes but that's what I've seen so far.

Here's my results from a 9 track random play I just performed:
 
1st run: 1/5925, 2095/5925, 2065/5925, 5659/5925, 5055/5925, 124/5925, 2867/5925, 2867/5925,
4935/5925, 3122/5925
 
I restarted my X5 and performed another random play selecting the same track that I started the 1st random play with and the results were exactly the same song for song:
 
2nd run: 
1/5925, 2095/5925, 2065/5925, 5659/5925, 5055/5925, 124/5925, 2867/5925, 2867/5925,
4935/5925, 3122/5925
 
NOTE: a key point here that I mentioned earlier but needs to be drove home is that you cannot press next as @BROOKO mentioned because when you select next it will get off its pattern for that one song, but it will get back on pattern. You have to just let it select the songs (randomly or not randomly as it appears) on its own to see the pattern. I been playing with this for about three weeks now. If you select a different starting song it will create another random pattern if you will.

 

[62ohm]

  Here's my results from a 9 track random play I just performed:
 
1st run: 1/5925, 2095/5925, 2065/5925, 5959/5925, 5055/5925, 124/5925, 2867/5925, 2867/5925,
4935/5925, 3122/5925
 
I restarted my X5 and performed another random play selecting the same track that I started the 1st random play with and the results were exactly the same song for song:
 
2nd run: 
1/5925, 2095/5925, 2065/5925, 5959/5925, 5055/5925, 124/5925, 2867/5925, 2867/5925,
4935/5925, 3122/5925
 
NOTE: a key point here that I mentioned earlier but needs to be drove home is that you cannot press next as @BROOKO mentioned because when you select next it will get off its pattern for that one song, but it will get back on pattern. You have to just let it select the songs (randomly or not randomly as it appears) on its own to see the pattern. I been playing with this for about three weeks now. If you select a different starting song it will create another random pattern if you will.

 
Alright this is getting alarming (again). Can someone else please confirm this?

 

[Styx2]

   
Alright this is getting alarming (again). Can someone else please confirm this?

My conclusion after 3 weeks of testing is that the X5 doesn't play randomly.....what it does is create internal random playlist 

 

[ptravel]

An exceptional mastering job cannot fix a poor recording and/or a poor mix.
But a poor mastering job can ruin a good recording and mix.

This is a critical point.  Because the X5 reveals so much more of the recorded sound than lower-quality DAPs (I looking at you, iPod Classic), a poor master will make flaws much more apparent.  Also, because the X5 has greater dynamic headroom at 24-bits than lesser DAPs have at 16-bit (I'm still looking at you, iPod Classic), you can hear flaws and errors in the audio that might not be as apparent, or apparent at all, in a DAP with a more compressed dynamic range.
 
As Chris J has noted, tracking (recording the sound in the studio) is the first step, mixing (in which individual tracks are combined, balanced, corrected and assigned positions in the stereo field) is the second, and mastering (introducing additional corrections and modifications to the mix, and ensuring that it is balanced with other mixes that are included on the album) is the final step.  Bad technique at any of these steps will ruin the final sound, but even perfectly tracked and mixed audio can sound horrible if poorly mastered.

 

[Chris J]

Yes, the process is very involved in creating audio for the masses and any misstep along the way could pollute the end product. It's the same in my field of Visual Effects and TV/Film production. One misfire and there are a host of people in their niche roles required to try and 'fix' it. It's all about the chain of production.

I'm not sure it's the average or just the ones who ask the very basic questions who don't understand. I would agree the average Head Fi-er may not fully understand the complexities. Personally, I sometimes generalize too quickly to get the point across and it's good that peeps correct each other or chime in when any specifics are missed or misrepresented. That's why Head Fi is a great community! Lots to learn from!

At the end of the day it's hard to just say the file might be borked, and that doesn't help them understand why in the long run. Ergo, I thanked you for being on the ball.

Cheers!

Thanks for the reply!
I must admit to knowing almost nothing about TV/Film and Visual Effects production!
BTW, The best visual effect that I have seen on Canadian TV is Erica Durance. :tongue_smile:

 

[fotis1972]

I connect my x5 into my Yamaha rxv-1500 by coaxial ( i didn't buy yet 3.5jack to rca for line out) and my speaker are Klipsch RF-35
 
And put some songs to listen...............................
 
In some good recordings i thought that the female singer was in the room. I N C R E D I B L E!!!!!!!! in other song the bass the drum the instruments are JUST AMAZING.
 
so the first question is 1) if i connect my amp with fiio from line out i will have better SQ than coaxial ??
 
2) if i install a firmware and i don't like can i go back to an older firmware???
 
3) Dunu dn1000 or Vsonic VSD3 or Vsonic gr07 BE or vsonic gr07 classic, for bass like, i'm searching an IEM  to make company to my focal spirit pro and i don't mind if itsn't very neutral (focal is) and has some sound color especialy the lows. i like very very much shure se535 signature so what is look like of the above iems or something else that will pair excellent with fiio
 
Thanks a lot

 

[jaxz]

Coaxial out bypass dac and amp, so the sound you get it's entirely given by you receiver. The line out only bypass the amp section so you have the X5 dac signature to your receiver. So yes, both outputs will sound different.

Yes, you can downgrade firmware at will.

 

[Brooko]

   
Alright this is getting alarming (again). Can someone else please confirm this?

 
I'll try it using Styx2's method and report back soon.

 

[aangen]

My default method of listening to both my X3 and my X5 is to listen to all tracks shuffled. There is some truth to The comment that if you start at the same point it will replay the same songs in the same order. But why would you choose to do this? I have the players set to start at the last song they were playing and they reliably do this. So I don't get all the angst about this. It works swell for me.

For what it's worth, my X3 has a 128 GB card that is full of correctly tagged 16/24 FLAC files.
My X5 has a full 128 GB and a half full 128 GB card full of the same.

All I ask is they push that 5800 file limit to at least twice that as it affects my shuffle play.
(Yes I know browser mode works)

 

[olddude]

  Just wanted to ask if anyone here had an issue with their Fiio X5 in which I occasionally hear some sort of buzzing/static noise when I'm listening to music.  This sound persists even when I pause the song and I can clearly hear the noise without anything playing.
 
I did a quick search on this thread but I don't think the sounds that other people have been hearing are what I'm experiencing.  I am fairly certain it is not a hissing noise since when I have the player paused I hear absolutely nothing (besides the occasional buzz mentioned above) and I'm wondering if this is something wrong with my unit or if others have experienced this problem.
 
I am currently using a pair of Noble 4 Universal earphones but this has also been noticeable on all my other IEM's such as the GR07 and DN2000.

Buzzing/static?  No.  Try a different sd card with music and see if it persists.  If you use different iems and different cards and you hear the same thing, probably a device issue.  Maybe try reinstalling the firmware and do a factory reset first, before returning it.  

 

[Brooko]

  Here's my results from a 9 track random play I just performed:
 
1st run: 1/5925, 2095/5925, 2065/5925, 5659/5925, 5055/5925, 124/5925, 2867/5925, 2867/5925,
4935/5925, 3122/5925
 
I restarted my X5 and performed another random play selecting the same track that I started the 1st random play with and the results were exactly the same song for song:
 
2nd run: 
1/5925, 2095/5925, 2065/5925, 5659/5925, 5055/5925, 124/5925, 2867/5925, 2867/5925,
4935/5925, 3122/5925
 
NOTE: a key point here that I mentioned earlier but needs to be drove home is that you cannot press next as @BROOKO mentioned because when you select next it will get off its pattern for that one song, but it will get back on pattern. You have to just let it select the songs (randomly or not randomly as it appears) on its own to see the pattern. I been playing with this for about three weeks now. If you select a different starting song it will create another random pattern if you will.

 
Hey Styx2 - I did same as you did this time, and got same order as you did - which is strange.
 
But - the X5 does completely randomize just by pushing "next" once - so while I can see your point (thanks for elaborating BTW), it's a pretty simple exercise to simply resume from where you were originally, OR push "next" once to generate a new random order.
 
Personally - it still functions the way I want it to - so I'm really not worried.  Guess YMMV. 

 

[62ohm]

 

  Here's my results from a 9 track random play I just performed:
 
1st run: 1/5925, 2095/5925, 2065/5925, 5659/5925, 5055/5925, 124/5925, 2867/5925, 2867/5925,
4935/5925, 3122/5925
 
I restarted my X5 and performed another random play selecting the same track that I started the 1st random play with and the results were exactly the same song for song:
 
2nd run: 
1/5925, 2095/5925, 2065/5925, 5659/5925, 5055/5925, 124/5925, 2867/5925, 2867/5925,
4935/5925, 3122/5925
 
NOTE: a key point here that I mentioned earlier but needs to be drove home is that you cannot press next as @BROOKO mentioned because when you select next it will get off its pattern for that one song, but it will get back on pattern. You have to just let it select the songs (randomly or not randomly as it appears) on its own to see the pattern. I been playing with this for about three weeks now. If you select a different starting song it will create another random pattern if you will.

 
Hey Styx2 - I did same as you did this time, and got same order as you did - which is strange.
 
But - the X5 does completely randomize just by pushing "next" once - so while I can see your point (thanks for elaborating BTW), it's a pretty simple exercise to simply resume from where you were originally, OR push "next" once to generate a new random order.
 
Personally - it still functions the way I want it to - so I'm really not worried.  Guess YMMV. 

 
Thank you very much for confirming Paul - if by simply pressing 'next' once generated a new pattern, new shuffle playlist if you will, then it is all solved for me. I guess the X5 would be my DAP then, especially considering it is half the price of the AK100 II.

 

[Brooko]

I'll have my X11 back in about a week. How about I send you the X5 when I return the HD800s - then at least you get a chance to try it. I also have a contact now at Sound Essentials so we'll see if there are any deals he can do for NZ Head-Fi members

 

[CriticalTodd]

  Here's my results from a 9 track random play I just performed:
 
1st run: 1/5925, 2095/5925, 2065/5925, 5659/5925, 5055/5925, 124/5925, 2867/5925, 2867/5925,
4935/5925, 3122/5925
 
I restarted my X5 and performed another random play selecting the same track that I started the 1st random play with and the results were exactly the same song for song:
 
2nd run: 
1/5925, 2095/5925, 2065/5925, 5659/5925, 5055/5925, 124/5925, 2867/5925, 2867/5925,
4935/5925, 3122/5925
 
NOTE: a key point here that I mentioned earlier but needs to be drove home is that you cannot press next as @BROOKO mentioned because when you select next it will get off its pattern for that one song, but it will get back on pattern. You have to just let it select the songs (randomly or not randomly as it appears) on its own to see the pattern. I been playing with this for about three weeks now. If you select a different starting song it will create another random pattern if you will.

 
I'll try to run some more tests and see if I get the same type of results. Just for reference, you're on the latest firmware?

 

[62ohm]

I'll have my X11 back in about a week. How about I send you the X5 when I return the HD800s - then at least you get a chance to try it. I also have a contact now at Sound Essentials so we'll see if there are any deals he can do for NZ Head-Fi members

 
Yeah I think that would be really helpful. My concern lies only within its UI, a short experience with it is all I need to see if I would like to live with it or not. Thank you very much Paul, I really am in your debt.