[shrimants]

http://www.amazon.com/Vanatoo-Transparent-Powered-Speakers-Black/dp/B0080K2KUK

The vanatoo transparent one is unique in that it has a DAC and an AMP built in. you can plug the X3 directly into it from the COAX OUT.

For your A2, you would go Line out to the A2 or Headphone out to the A2. I know that with audioengine in particular, they used to design them with computers in mind, so they expected a headphone-level input and not a line level input, so it could become difficult controlling volume. Thats why I sold my A5's.

 

[Robius]

James was there any new news about rockbox or the x5 firmware development?

Rockbox would be great indeed.

 

[binc]

don't worry, the 2.05 has some bugs cause we added some new features, you can use FW 1.31 if you don't use USB DAC too much. and we need more time to find out the bugs and fix it.

james, is usb otg(flashdrives and hdd through usb) possible/planned for a future fw?

 

[Bray90820]

I think I know the answer already, but technical support would like to ask, does it freeze on selecting the same problem track every time?

It does not. the only time i seem to get the error is when I am selecting song after song within a very short period of time 

 

[Stuff Jones]

I highly recommend the X3 - TDK IE800 pairing. They really compliment each other very well. The IE800s compensates for the X3s modest soundstage and lack of treble energy.
 
A much better pairing than the RE400s IMO.

 

[bodewalla]

  This article should be required reading on Head-Fi. I don't think he gives enough emphasis to the "different sources" theory for perceived differences. I am willing to bet in many if not most cases, when people say they prefer high bitrate, they are comparing a CD or similar to a high bit download. The masters are almost guaranteed to be different. To really compare you would need to take the high bit file as a source and then down convert (being very careful that your down-conversion is being done properly).
 
Anyway, you will notice that the number one item he recommends for better sound is "buy better headphones" 

Thank you very much for posting it here and thank you people from xiph.org! I haven't even finished reading the article, but it already opened up my eyes. I have some 320kbpsMP3 from iTunes that are so good encoded that I usually forget they are mp3. So I'll let this 24/192 digging thing away and just look for FLACs(just 16/44/48, not the hires ones) and 320MP3.
 
I prefer the 320kbps mp3 bitrate because I've noticed that there is a specific type of sound that reveals the poor compression of a mp3 file: try to listen to crowd clapping hands in live concerts in various bitrates. If the file is not well encoded or poorly compressed (anything under 320 is poor for me) you will notice some grainy, as it was artificial, analogous to low res vídeos in full screen or even actual audio in low bitrate, like those extracted from low res videos.

 

[bodewalla]

James, thank you  for the reply but...
When I deleted the database file and rebuilt the library I was able to use category, but only few albuns appeared. only very few artists, and the SDcard is plenty of dozens of albuns. Or maybe that's the problem.
Don't worry, I've back the db file, but it is still a bug to be checked. If only we knew the limitations in number of files or folders...

 

[sbradley02]

  Thank you very much for posting it here and thank you people from xiph.org! I haven't even finished reading the article, but it already opened up my eyes. I have some 320kbpsMP3 from iTunes that are so good encoded that I usually forget they are mp3. So I'll let this 24/192 digging thing away and just look for FLACs(just 16/44/48, not the hires ones) and 320MP3.
 
I prefer the 320kbps mp3 bitrate because I've noticed that there is a specific type of sound that reveals the poor compression of a mp3 file: try to listen to crowd clapping hands in live concerts in various bitrates. If the file is not well encoded or poorly compressed (anything under 320 is poor for me) you will notice some grainy, as it was artificial, analogous to low res vídeos in full screen or even actual audio in low bitrate, like those extracted from low res videos.

Yes, the encoder used is important. I have been quite happy with the 256kbps files I buy from Amazon, but I think the 320k files I rip from CD with a LAME encoder is a bit better, but I could be fooling myself.
 
The mastering for a given recording is far more important than bitrate IMO. Spend your money on remasters rather than high bitrate is my $0.02. I listen to a lot of classic rock and the differences can be startling. 

 

[Joe Bloggs]

James, thank you  for the reply but...
When I deleted the database file and rebuilt the library I was able to use category, but only few albuns appeared. only very few artists, and the SDcard is plenty of dozens of albuns. Or maybe that's the problem.
Don't worry, I've back the db file, but it is still a bug to be checked. If only we knew the limitations in number of files or folders...

This should not happen with the latest firmware 2.05. Is this what you're using?

 

[Joe Bloggs]

Skype international direct helpline launched!

Just add my Skype: joe0bloggs (that's a zero in the middle, not an O)
and in your friend request note that you're here for support and note down the FiiO devices you own, and I'll add you to the relevant Skype group(s) for the products where you'll get the fastest feedback to any problems you have!

(Please read the product manual and the FAQs posted on the FiiO dedicated forum
http://www.head-fi.org/f/180/fiio
and see if you can solve the problem first.)

Help me spread the word!

 

[AmberOzL]

Skype international direct helpline launched!

Just add my Skype: joe0bloggs (that's a zero in the middle, not an O)
and in your friend request note that you're here for support and note down the FiiO devices you own, and I'll add you to the relevant Skype group(s) for the products where you'll get the fastest feedback to any problems you have!

(Please read the product manual and the FAQs posted on the FiiO dedicated forum
http://www.head-fi.org/f/180/fiio
and see if you can solve the problem first.)

Help me spread the word!

That is actually quite useful. Would you mind putting it in the FiiO X5 thread too?

 

[aangen]

 

  Thank you very much for posting it here and thank you people from xiph.org! I haven't even finished reading the article, but it already opened up my eyes. I have some 320kbpsMP3 from iTunes that are so good encoded that I usually forget they are mp3. So I'll let this 24/192 digging thing away and just look for FLACs(just 16/44/48, not the hires ones) and 320MP3.
 
I prefer the 320kbps mp3 bitrate because I've noticed that there is a specific type of sound that reveals the poor compression of a mp3 file: try to listen to crowd clapping hands in live concerts in various bitrates. If the file is not well encoded or poorly compressed (anything under 320 is poor for me) you will notice some grainy, as it was artificial, analogous to low res vídeos in full screen or even actual audio in low bitrate, like those extracted from low res videos.

Yes, the encoder used is important. I have been quite happy with the 256kbps files I buy from Amazon, but I think the 320k files I rip from CD with a LAME encoder is a bit better, but I could be fooling myself.
 
The mastering for a given recording is far more important than bitrate IMO. Spend your money on remasters rather than high bitrate is my $0.02. I listen to a lot of classic rock and the differences can be startling. 

My experience with remasters has shown me that remastering means compressing the life out a previous version and getting paid again. No benefit either way for me. YMMV.

 

[shrimants]

dont forget to raise the volume on the track so that any volume over 10% on your amp is guarenteed to make your ears bleed. Dynamic range? who needs that?

 

[LightBlue77]

 
My experience with remasters has shown me that remastering means compressing the life out a previous version and getting paid again. No benefit either way for me. YMMV.

i have some remastered cds, the sound is poor.

 

[phlashbios]

 
My experience with remasters has shown me that remastering means compressing the life out a previous version and getting paid again. No benefit either way for me. YMMV.

 
They sometimes go one better and add in extra reverb, echo and recorded volume, and that is counted as "remastered" too. 
 
See some of Bob Marley's albums for this appalling behaviour. It totally ruins them for me.