FiiO X1 Ultraportable Hi-Res DAP

BACKGROUND

I used my smartphone for playing music for years. Though most smartphones can play most of the music formats nowadays, including flac (with the exception of Apple devices), there’s one thing lacking – resolution. Though the sound quality is very good, as a music enthusiast, you sometimes feel that you can push the envelope a little bit more to get the most out of your music. Thus, you need a hi-res player. To cut the story short, here’s a brief review of the capable X1. I won’t be posting pictures anymore as this product has already garnered hundreds of decent reviews online.


PACKAGING

The X1 comes in a premium package that looks and feel nice. What you get:

1. Nicely designed box with scratch-off authenticity seal (you can authenticity by entering the code online)
2. Fiio X1 Digital Audio Player
3. USB micro cable (1m)
4. Black silicone protective case
5. 3 film screen protectors (1 pre-installed from factory)
6. Owner's Manual
7. Warranty card
8. 3 Fiio stickers (these look awesome and can suit different tastes and each can give the X1 a different “personality” in terms of looks)

FULL USER-INTERFACE (W/ LATEST FIRMWARE, 1.6)

Pretty easy to navigate:

1. Power and volume buttons on the side
2. Scroll wheel to navigate
3. Center button to select (long press to make the volume dial appear, adjust the volume with the scroll wheel)
4. Menu button on the upper-left side of the scroll wheel (long press takes you to Now Playing, with the song details displayed briefly)
5. Back button on the upper-right side of the scroll wheel (long press takes you to the main screen with all the options available, short presses takes you one folder/category out (pretty useful))
6. Previous and Next buttons (within folders or categories, these will take you to the previous or next item on the list respectively)
7. It’s pretty intuitive. Just test what the menu button would bring you wherever you are within the interface (in Now Playing, in a folder, in a category) then select what you need to do (Save to Favorites, add to a playlist, delete, etc.).
8. One caveat with the UI is you really can’t clear the Playlists category. Previously created playlists that you deleted are still visible BUT not usable anymore. Let’s just hope that this gets addressed in future firmware updates.
9. Be careful with the Line Out (LO) setting. This setting is intended for auxiliary use where the X1 is plugged to a dedicated amplifier (like a headphone amp or a stereo with a mini jack). Plugging your headphones directly with this setting on will damage your headphones, and MUCH WORSE, will damage your hearing. Volume controls and EQ settings do not work in this setting. It is very powerful and loud.

SOUND


Standalone Sound – Headphone Out (HO)

I would say pretty decent. Soundstage for me is great. It’s a neutral sound with a touch of warmth, very suitable for long listening sessions. Though you need to crank up the volume up to at least level 40 to get some decent volume and power, it’s always an enjoyable listen. I love the bass it produces, it goes pretty deep and smooth, but not lacking in speed either. It’s just right. Mids and highs have decent clarity. Instrument separation is also decent. Imaging is more centered than too separate left or right. I like this presentation since some old jazz recordings tend to sound very separate left or right. I believe the player addressed this to some degree and made some of these songs sound more focus-centered and more coherent. I would summarize the sound as very musical. For the budget conscious, you do not need an amp to pair this with. It can power headphones up to 300 ohms. I would imagine it could power higher impedance headphones, though with less results in terms of volume. I would imagine you’d enjoy its musicality as it is. But if you can dig deeper in your wallet, pairing it up with a decent amp would do wonders. More on that on the following section.


Paired Sound – Headphone Out + Fiio E11k headphone amp

I would say a level up in sound in every respect. Bass this time is punchier and has a stronger sense of attack. It’s increasing the quantity without sacrificing the quality. I would even say that quality is improved considerably. There is more clarity in the mids and highs that you would immediately notice when unplugging the amp. Soundstage, imaging and separation are about the same. Since both the X1 and E11k are both neutral devices, you just get the sound improvements where you need them to be. The sound would not be colored negatively in any way when plugging an amp. To be fair, I do not have any experience plugging this to a different amp so you need to audition some to find the perfect pairing for your tastes. For me, this pairing is indeed a match made in heaven, as some reviewers suggested.


Paired Sound – Line Out + Fiio E11k headphone amp

I would say some improvement but not a complete level up. There is a touch more prominence and clarity in bass. Same with the rest of the spectrum. There is a touch more clarity. BUT the downside of Line Out in my opinion is it sounds flat. That is to be expected though since volume and EQ settings do not work in this setting. It is the flattest, most powerful, and purest sound the X1 can produce. That’s why this setting works best if your X1 is paired with an amp or plugged in as an auxiliary to play music through speakers. The main benefit of this setting is it is powerful enough to decently drive multimedia speakers that have sub-woofers. I have the Edifier M1386 and with the X1 Line Out, it sounds very good. I would dare say that it comes pretty close to full sized component systems. And even at low volumes, you do not lose detail. Though this is partly because of the speakers themselves. Edifier is in fact one of the respected brands for multimedia audio.

After several tests with some tracks, I prefer the Headphone Out setting due to EQ. A “touch” of improvement is not enough for me to totally abandon EQing and not make my music sound the way I wanted it to. As one reviewer suggests - Headphone Out and Line Out are not that too far off in terms of SQ so using either are both enjoyable depending on your needs.


CONCLUSION

For a portable DAP, in my opinion, no other player can provide the value that the X1 can provide. Though you will have some noticeable improvement with higher end DAPs like the X3 or X5, or even the Ibasso DX series, it will be mostly on the features (can be used as a DAC, DSD decoding, touchscreen UI, etc.). And expectedly so since they cost at least twice or thrice as much. Sound in my opinion is enjoyable enough that going up the ladder, even just a level up to the likes of the X3, diminishing returns immediately kicks in. I had the chance to audition the Ibasso DX80 + Chord Mojo + Hifiman HE-400i. Though this setup sounds darker/richer, deeper, and even considerably “weightier”, well, it should be. It’s a fortune compared to my current portable set up – Fiio X1 + Fiio E11k + JVC HA-RX700. The latter sounds brighter, though lacks a little depth and weightiness in sound, is competitive enough in terms of soundstage and to my ears, sounds faster and more enjoyable.

I highly recommend the X1. It deserves the high ranking here at head-fi and anywhere else in the internet. And if price-to-performance ratio is the main consideration, I would even rank it at number one. It’s that good.

Enjoy and happy listening!

Disclaimer

 
I received this unit for a few days as part of a Australasian tour. I did not buy one and do not own one (yet). Thanks to @Brooko for providing his own unit for this tour.
 
 

Introduction

 
Before I even got the device, I've been following the X1 thread from it's conception and as the details piled on I knew that this one is going to stir the pot in the DAP world. With its price being the biggest positive I knew that FiiO won't skimp out on the goods. Hence I was super excited for the X1 to come out.
 

Design

The device looks and feel no less than amazing. Typical FiiO design. Brush aluminium, with machined body and buttons, and chamfered edges. World class build quality you won't get anywhere for the price tag.
Button layout is very intuitive. They did a great job with this. I think they based the layout on a bunch of different DAPs (one being the iPod of course). The second I put it in my hand I knew exactly where every button is subconciously. Bravo in this department.
The GUI is a classic interface I've grown up with. A lot of devices use a similar design. One being the good ol' blue screen file manager on DOS systems back in the day. I personally prefer this kind of interface over the icon based interface everyone uses. But, as it is not a touch screen devices it pretty perfect and does exactly what it needs to with no bloat or lag.
 

Sound

 
I find it very hard to review sources so this part will be quite brief but to the point.
This device sounds great with IEMs. I tried it with my Xiaomi Pistons 2.1 and absolutely fell in love with this match made in heaven. I never enjoyed listening to the Pistons as I did with the X1. Typical FiiO sound. It's quite transparent, a little on the warm side. Very enjoyable indeed. 
Where the X1's only noticeable flaw lies is the power. When I tried the X1 with my 32Ω Goldring DR150 the sound was good but lacking in energy, and when I plug in my 60Ω Takstar Pro 80 (which are actually quite easy to drive) the sound was, for lack of a better word, anemic. This was fixed with a little help from the E11k. The X1 and the E11k pair very well for full sized cans but the sound stage and imaging take a little bit of a hit. Not my cup-o-tea, but some people like a more warm and intimate sound.
 

In Conclusion

For $100 you will never ever get a HiRes DAP this good. It does extremely well for it's purpose and exceed all of my expectation. It's truly the best companion for that long commute some people have to take to work on public transport. Paired with a nice IEM and you can have one of the best sounding experiences for under $200. 
 
I applaud FiiO for constantly pushing and toppling boundaries in the Audiophile World. I really think that this DAP is going to cause a lot of problems for those (in my opinion) astronomically overpriced DAPs on the market.
 
I'd like to thank @Brooko once again for including me in this tour. Cheers mate!
 
 

After many months of almost daily usage, this excellent, budget-fi DAP is with me wherever I go. The only complaint I have is that the selector wheel is imprecise. While I only have a 64GB card in it at the moment (~ 2000 files), one day the 5800 files limit may come into play.
 
It has paired well with every amp I've thrown at it, from cmoys to a G3 and Project Horizon. Most of my iems do well with the X1 without being amped, though. Sound stage complaints are not viable in my opinion, either.
 
Good sound quality has to have excellent components throughout the system. This is an excellent, entry-level, high fidelity portable amp... at this price point, especially. It's also better than many costing a lot more.
 
***FW 1.51 beta fixes all of my issues!***

I am new to head-fi and this is my first ever review. Basically I joined head-fi to read people's expert opinions on different products, as I'm not an audiophile and do not know much about the science of all the media devices and headphones being reviewed. Here I would give some simple observations I've had with Fiio X1. Previously I used to listen to music using my HTC One M7 and I thought that DAP's won't make much of a difference to the sound quality which matters for me the most (sq > ui, for me), until I got one on my cousins suggestion. And for my surprise, it made a lot of difference, something which is not easy to explain for me as I don't understand much of the audiophilic terms used during reviewing a product.
 
In-ears used:
- Shure se215
- Monster Copper Turbine Pro
- Dunu dn1000
- Logitech ue900
 
Music played:
- Time by Pink Floyd (24/96 flac)
- Hotel California by The Eagles (24/96 flac)
- You shook me all night long by ACDC (16/44.1 flac)
- Turn the page by Metallica (16/44.1 flac)
- Fear of the dark by Iron maiden (16/44.1 flac)
- Trains by Porcupine tree (16/44.1 flac)
 
I've mentioned these in-ears and music files with their formats as I compared the X1 with my friends X5 and could barely differentiate the sound quality and sound stage (A mere difference of 19-21 as one can say in short). I prefer it over X5 because of its weight and size (portability), whereas X5 is too bulky for my pants.
 
Rest I've written my critical findings in the pros and cons section. Hope this basic review could be helpful for the ones who are still in a fix to go for the X1.  

FiiO X1 - Listening impressions 1. Set-up I had a FiiO X1 on a loan for about 10 days. During that period I used it through line out with VorzAmp Pure II and FiiO X12 DIY. I also used the headphone out directly and through Kameleon amplifier. All these set-ups were feeding Sennheiser Momentum Over Ear. I also tried it with my desktop setup: Violectric V200 amp and Sennheiser HD650. For reference, I use the FiiO X5 and iPhone 4 (on its own and with Onkyo HF Player). I’ve seen lots of nice photos from other reviewers that made me feel that there’s no need to add more photos. 2. UI and operation The UI is a simplified version of the X5. It seems intuitive and easy to use. One major difference is that the headphone and line out are software controlled through the same switch. It adds simplicity but I still prefer to have separate switches as the X5. Although the X1 sends a message warning that lineout is active (to avoid trouble), it’s easy to ignore it when you’re familiar with it. I had one incident like that but fortunately it didn’t damage my headphones. I didn’t try it with other DAC’s because the X1 doesn’t have any digital out. I cannot comment much on the UI because I don’t use playlists and many popular features like shuffle. I listen to albums, mainly classical and jazz. Most of it is acoustical. The model that I received had the V1.0 firmware installed. I formated a microSD card on the X1, copied a few albums and all the process went smoothly. 3. The sound After trying several combinations I settled with the headphones out to Kameleon amplifier. This doesn’t mean that the X1 had any problem driving the Momentum directly. The Kameleon is a fixed gain headphone amplifier that uses custom designed filters to optimize output to each headphones. Mine was using a generic filter with gain set to +3dB. The volume is controlled from the player (X1). I always prefer to use an amplifier either line out or headphones out. It seems to me that such a combo, acting as a two stage amplification, sounds better: it adds body, bigger sound image and richer tone. In this setup the X1 gives a clearer presentation than the X5, about the same bottom extension and definition, a little thinner midrange and a little more top extension but never sounding harsh. There was more instrument separation and a more defined image. The overall sound quality is very high and it’s beyond belief considering its price point. Will I buy one? No because I still prefer the “creamier” presentation of the X5 and because I find useful the much bigger storage capacity from 2 microSD slots. If you buy one player every 2 or 3 years the difference in price is not that big for me to skip the X5 in favor of the X1. However if you’re on a tight budget, or if you value the smaller size, the X1 is a steal and deserves my full recommendation. Note: I don’t have any affiliation to FiiO. The X1 was on a loan through HeadFi world tour. Thank you FiiO and Joe for the opportunity to try the X1. Looking forward to hearing the X7.

The Fiio X1 Begs The Question: Do I Really Need A Flagship DAP?
 
Before I get into anything resembling a detail about the X1, I want to thank everybody at Fiio for once again doing all of us a solid with their X1 tour. With any luck, there will be an X7 tour down the road....
 
First Things First:
 
Headphones Used:
 

1.  V-Sonic GR07
2.  Unique Melody Miracle 
3.  Mr. Speakers Mad Dogs 3.2 

 
Music Played:
 
       (Format is flac and all are generally very well-mastered recordings. Unfortunately, I'm of little help to those who enjoy EDM or Hip-Hop.)
 

1. Led Zeppelin - I, II, III  2014 Remasters, 24/96
2. Bob Marley - Kaya 24/96 HDTracks
3. Nick Drake - Bryter Layter 24/96 HDTracks
4. Steely Dan - Gaucho MFSL 16/44
5. Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic 16/44
6. Hall and Oates - Greatest Hits 24/96 Vinyl Rip
7. Beck - Sea Change MFSL 16/44
8. Joe Pass - Joy Spring 16/44
9. Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue Remaster 24/96 HDTracks
10. Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense 24/96
11. 2L Recordings - The Nordic Sound 24/96
12. Bob Dylan - Desire MFSL 16/44
13. Cowboy Junkies - Whites Off Earth Now! MFSL 16/44
14. Neil Young - Harvest CBS Mastersounds Vinyl Rip 16/44
15. Pink Floyd - DSOTM MFSL 16/44

 
Does It Sound Like A $100 DAP?
 
Yes, but only if we're talking about the buying power of the dollar in say, 1977. For $100 in 2014, this is quite an achievement. After about 5 minutes with it, I had to ask myself whether I really need a flagship DAP in my life after all...I've committed no small sum of money to the LH Geek Wave XD128 and I'm quite certain that it will not sound 10 times better at 10 times the cost. Coupled with its price, the fact that it's both great-sounding and easy to use leaves one with the feeling that they've somehow beaten the audiophile sorry-about-your-wallet market place. I really think this little thing, while it does have its limitations as far as power (couldn't sufficiently drive my Mad Dogs like the X5) and functionality are concerned (it cannot be used as a standalone DAC when hooked up to a computer), sounds terrific, especially with the UM Miracle, which was a very pleasant surprise. The X1 is going to make a lot of people quite happy and should set an industry standard with a buyer's remorse rate of......
 

 
Thank you, Dean Wormer. I simply can't imagine any reasonable person regretting a purchase of the X1 - it's that good. It actually reminds me of the X5 quite a bit (though this is from memory, not an A/B), the difference being the X1 has more weight in the lows (which are also looser) and a slight, but noticeable reduction in the highs. It still is very detailed, so don't take that as a negative. I actually found the X5 to be a bit too sparkly at times and think the X1 does a better job in this regard, as it does its rendering of the upper registers with more politeness. I found the mids to be fairly neutral, neither prominent nor recessed, though I must note that clarity was very good, especially compared to the Cowon J3. Voices and acoustic music had a very natural-sounding timbre and perhaps this is what reminds me of the X5 more than anything.
 
The X5 wins out in the bass department for me as it isn't boomy at all (some may call it 'warmth') while the X1 does have a bit of junk in the trunk. I prefer tight, fast, but not overly polite bass and I think that is exactly what the X5 offers. I have no qualms with the X1, though - it's just a different hue of the Fiio house sound that some may prefer...However, this thing is $100 dollars and it is not as though you're listening to a DAP by Dre or anything.
 
Compared to my J3, the X1 is a full step above in every respect when it comes to sound quality, and this is of course only when considering the 16/44 files (that is as high as the J3 will go). I could not think of any reason why I would choose the J3 over the X1 if that is my only concern, and I have to confess it was not a pleasure to give it up and go crawling back to my J3 when the 10 days expired. As is the case with the X5, well-mastered recordings really shine coming from the X1 and I cannot emphasize this point enough.
 
Not surprisingly, the J3 has the better battery life and is smaller, but the X1 currently gets about 11 hours of playtime (respectable though less than stellar) and future firmware updates should increase this to 12-15 hours per Fiio's website. 
 
Can I Use It While My Brain Is Preoccupied?
 
Absolutely! It has a simple, easy-to-navigate UI that is nearly identical to the X5's. I was on the original firmware and the only annoyance I found was that when an album finished playing in folder view, it would not start playing the next album by itself - you have to take it out of your pocket and select the next one. I'm an album guy and sometimes I just let one play right after the other...I don't know if this has been changed, but I hope they do at some point. It isn't a big annoyance, but I have to mention it. There were no bugs while I used it, which is perhaps the most important thing to mention about the UI experience. The X3 and X5 had their fair share, but I think what they have now is nearly a finished product. The only other problem worth mentioning is the screen; it is fine indoors, but it just isn't bright enough in sunlight. This is part of the reason it costs $100, so adjust expectations accordingly.
 
Will It Fall Apart If I Sneeze In Its Vicinity?
 
Heck, no! Build quality is excellent and the scroll wheel is better than the one I used on the X5 tour - the tolerances between the moving parts are extremely tight, so there's no play on this one. Well done, Fiio. The buttons are both sturdy and low-profile and there's a fairly satisfying 'click' (more tactile than auditory) when pushing them. The buttons on the side of the player are on one side only, so there isn't any danger of accidentally pressing buttons on the opposite side when you give it a squeeze (something I have to deal with on the J3). The unit feels quite sturdy in hand and has enough weight to feel like there is some important stuff inside that makes it sound the way it does. I've seen some call it ultra-portable, but I think that is a stretch. It's quite portable, but the moniker 'ultra-portable' belongs to the Clips and Nanos of the world. No need to worry, though - it's perfectly fine on the go as it passed the shirt-pocket-Saigon-commute-on-a-scooter test with flying colors. Overall, the build quality is simply fantastic for a $100 device. Here are some pics:
 
Nothing, really. If you want all of the specs,  
The X1 is an astonishing product for the budget-conscious consumer who has been bitten with the audiophile bug; this will be affordable to so many people who simply cannot buy a flagship DAP (especially in developing countries like Vietnam), but want a device with the audiophile in mind; Fiio should be commended for this, but I think they will be amply rewarded with increased sales volume (I hope they've anticipated this and can handle the spike). My bottom-line statement on the X1 is that the good folks at Fiio have given us a great reason to not be "sorry about our wallets" and have hit the target about this well...(pardon my sporting allegiances)

Disclaimer:
a. I am in no way affiliated with Fiio
b. The X1 audition was a part of a world tour audition.
c. There is no monetary or in kind gain due to the audition.
 
With the disclaimer out of the way, I will focus on the device performance with 2 considerations:
1. Look and feel, functionality
2. Device performance with various earphones/headphones
 
1. Look and feel, functionality
I have not owned a Fiio DAP in the past. I do own a couple of Fiio headphone amps and can easily summarize that all of Fiio products are build very well. They feel solid and provide trouble free performance for a long time.
 
Build
The X1 is lightweight but is very sturdy. It can sit very comfortably in your pocket without troubling you or itself!
The silicone case provided along with the player provides a skeptic of additional protection to the device in the event of a fall. I didnt want to test a fall as the device is in the process of multiple auditions by others.
 
Functionality
A DAP merits evaluation of its usability along with the quality of playback equally. One will spend a long time with the user interface and functionality, building muscle memory of the various functions, in order to reduce interaction with the device as much as possible (I know this sounds contradictory, but one wants to mainly listen to music from a DAP rather than play with the UI).
 
The center wheel reminds you of the old iPod Classic that a lot of us have loved in the past. This one has a very tactile feedback with tiny and reassuring click when rotated. There is a little bit of a gap between the wheel and backing, which can be a comfortable nesting place for lint/dust etc.
In the iPod classic, the wheel played the role of the main selector when not playing music, and doubled as the volume control when playing music. The wheel on the Fiio X1 acts as a selector when playing music as well. For someone who is familiar with the navigation of the iPod Classic, this will take a bit of getting used to. Personally, I prefer the wheel to be more useful with additional functionality, as it feels very well built.
 
I do have a bit of a nitpick in this section and then we can get to the parts where the X1 shines. When playing music, if I want to skip a track, or pause/hold, I need to use the power button to switch on the display (power save) and then perform the necessary action. I think this will need to be managed better, as I would like to make those choices without having to start up the display. 
 
Which then takes me to the display review. User interface can be switched to 2 different skins - Vertical strips or semi circular sections. The wheel controls navigation across the various menu items. The Forward and Reverse buttons can also be used for the same. Volume control is on the side of the device, like in a mobile phone, below the power button. The power button does the usual display sleep when pressed once, and power down with a long press.
 
Battery performance 
The battery performed decently during playback, with a drain dependent on the headphone/earphone being driven. Standby seemed to drain the battery, a little more than my standby expectation. I am not sure if it because of a beta firmware; I believe this could be a software problem, rather than a weak battery.
 
Now onto the best part.
 
2. Device performance with various earphones/headphones
I tried the DAP with various headphones - ATH A900, Fostex T50rp, AKG k240 Sextett, Panasonic HTF-600s and ATH M50. The device comfortably drove almost all the headphones well.
 
The AKG is a little power hungry due to the higher impedence - the DAP was able to drive it with a high volume setting. A headphone amp was required to power it sufficiently, but the DAP was able to do a much better job compared to my other sources.
 
The X1 has an intimate sound and is not as airy and has an intimate sound stage, but with good separation. The sound from most devices was a little bright on bass, but with very good fidelity.
 
Then I tried the device with multiple earphones- Shure SE530, Sony XBA 3, JVC FXD80, MEElectronics A151, A161p, Astrotec AX35, Apple Earpod earphones to name a few. And I had a revelation. 
While the player was very good with the dynamics and nanotube coated micro drivers, it had a special effect on the BA earphones - specifically XBA 3 and the A151; the player complemented the characteristics of the BA earphones so well that I was in heaven. Below is some of my observations and analysis (I could be wrong and YMMV).
 
 
 
Paired with Sony XBA 3
The Sony XBA 3 has a bit of a love hate relationship. As well understood at Head-fi, the XBA 3 is a phenomenal performer with a jarring defect - Metallic treble grating. On certain tracks which are hot on treble, there is a resonant grating feel to the treble which is a very uncomfortable experience. Especially at high volumes. I tried the XBA 3 on the device after trying some of the larger headphones. As a result, the volume level was a little high. 
 
When I hit play on the Metallica - Black album, I was in for a great surprise! Instead of the grating treble, I heard a very velvety, involved sound that straight put a smile on my face.
The X1 + XBA 3 felt like a match made in heaven. The harsh treble was subdued and the bass felt right. Very right. I then played a mixed playlist of hip hop, prog rock, game music. Everything sounded so wonderful. The sound was very slightly outside the head, intimate and velvetty. Very clear, like the way music ought to be listened to. I have very rarely felt this with the XBA 3. I have felt this before on a Beosound 3 + SE530 before. Never on the XBA 3. The X1 made want to listen to the XBA 3 all the time. So those who are stuck with the XBA 3, do get the X1 in order to fall in love with the XBA 3!
 
Paired with A151
The A151 has been a favorite of mine ever since I got them. While I dont listen to them regularly, I often return to them for a clean sound (although slightly dark). With the X1, the A151 felt like home, and I had a fabulous time with this combination. The X1 seemed to provide the much missed bass emphasis while not muddling the overall sound signature of the A151. Another combination made in heaven!
 
Analysis
I then sat down and tried to understand what could be the reason the X1 matched so well with the XBA 3 and the A151. Here is my theory.
 
With the XBA 3, the harsh upper treble was slightly subdued, providing for a very rich listening experience, sans the harshness. 
With the A151, the slight bass emphasis gave the A151 a refreshing punch to the bass frequencies, adding to its rich treble and mids.
 
Recommendation
If you have a tight budget, need to start loving your XBA 3 again, or get more out of your BAs, and quality of sound is a definite must, then go ahead and buy the X1 when it becomes available. For all others, go ahead and buy the X1. The quality and sound really gives you a very compelling price point.
 
Highly Recommended!

Fiio X1
 

 
HiFiMAN's RE-400 makes a great pairing!
 

 
The X1 is an amazing little unit. In fact, that is an understatement. It's been a very long time since last time I was this overwhelmingly impressed by a $100 unit. The UI is excellent. Very intuitive, rather snappy and easy to navigate. Honestly, I was not expecting an in-house developed UI to be this good, but it every bit is, and it also reads all the formats that I've tried without any hiccups, including associated CUE files. The DAC is absolutely stellar, using an impressive Texas-Instruments PCM5142 DAC chip. The amp section is also pretty good, utilizing an Intersil ISL28291 amplifier buffer. The 2.4" TFT display is plenty big and easy to read, providing all the necessary information even in direct sunlight. It is slightly washed but still plenty good for the price. Among other things the player offers a 7-band equalizer [from -6 to +6 each], gapless playback, sleep timer, usable buttons when screen's off or volume limiting. There's no date and time yet though, which I find a bit strange though not all that important.
The build quality is perhaps the most spectacular aspect - holding the unit in your hand boasts confidence and there's good heft to the unit. The X1 features a fully-aluminium body with very tactile buttons and quality that's hard to find on products costing much more. The Fiio also comes with a screen protector and a rubber protective case, along with a charging cable. The battery life is around 12 hours a run, for a 4 hour's full charge.
There's also the line-out function using the headphone jack, which offers the possibility to use just the player's DAC with a more beefy portable amp. Although I already found the X1's amplifier to perform favorably with reasonable headphones from IEMs to full-sized cans.
I am really struggling to find anything to criticize here... Did I mention it was a hundred bucks?! In a long time, I am left with only fuzzy and completely positive feelings, while using the unit feels just as enjoyable. I really don't understand how Fiio did this, but currently I consider the Fiio X1 a jack-of-all-trades and wouldn't hesitate recommending it to anyone looking for a lovely little DAP and as someone coming from the pretty good, very-happy-with and tried-and-proved Sansa Clip+, I think this is some very high praise.
There's more competition on the way, however 

 
Pros
+ build quality
+ performance
+ User Interface
+ price, price, price!
+ line-out function
 
Cons
- no time & date, slightly washed-out display
 
Overall 9.5/10

This is a review of the upcoming FiiO X1 digital audio player (DAP).
 
Until my first experience with X5, a little over half a year ago, I used to refer to all dedicated audio players as "mp3" players. It wasn't my ignorance but rather a misunderstanding where I thought that I should focus more on higher bit rate songs and better headphones, and any "mp3" player or smartphone will play audio files just fine. Introduction to X5 changed all that and opened up my eyes to a world of music without being interrupted by emails, txt, or app updates, a world where audio player is not a cheap clip on gadget on my armband, a world where I ended up "rediscovering my headphones, all over again". X5 is great as a portable DAP, but in some cases I found it to be a little too bulky/heavy. In search for other quality audio players, I acquired some other DAPs, but nothing was able to replace the ease of navigation with a scrolling wheel. Now with introduction of X1, I can rejoice with a new pocket friendly super portable DAP that sounds as good as it looks, retains its scrolling wheel design, and cost a fraction of its big brother's price tag. But don't make a mistake thinking X1 is a cheaper replacement of X5. They can both coexist in a perfect harmony with their trade-offs in size versus sound quality. Others can think of X1 as a stepping stone for when you are ready to graduate from a basic mp3 player and want to get a taste of audiophile world - a taste that will whet your appetite for the next future upgrade when you are ready. Whatever your journey is, I think a lot of the people going to enjoy this little new gem from FiiO. Without further due, here is what I found while testing this fine little DAP.
 
My review unit arrived in a package similar to the latest E10k/E11k boxes resembling a size of double CD case. Inside, X1 was dressed in all black silicon skin with one screen protector already applied and two additional ones available for backup. USB to micro-usb cable also was included as part of accessory package. Since this is a review unit, I'm sure the final production package will probably going to have more accessories included. Silicon skin is definitely great for a basic scratch and minimal drop protection, but I wish it would have been gray like the one that comes with X5 since you can't see X1 charging light underneath of solid black. I'm sure with soon to be available bonus accessories, you will be able to get another skin color. But in a meantime, I took it out of the skin to enjoy a beauty of its brushed aluminum finish which I'm sure a lot of you will do to show off it's sexy curves!
 
Weighting only 108g with a measured dimensions of about 96mm x 56mm x 13mm, it gives a new definition to ultra-portable considering a very solid build and all metal front/sides with a silver finish hard plastic back. Having a size comparable to a deck of cards, the fitment in my hand was very comfortable with a great ergonomics of being able to reach every button/wheel control with a thumb. The aluminum finish and round buttons, especially power and volume on the side, makes it resemble a bit of an iPhone look. Buttons have a very nice tactile click response. At the top you have a single 3.5mm port, used as either HO or LO, selectable in Setting menu. On a right side at the bottom there is a slot for a single microSD card, keeping in mind that X1 by itself doesn't have any internal memory. MicroSD card is easy to access which is an improvement over X5 where it was a bit recessed. On a left side at the top you have a volume up/down buttons with an etched "+" and "-", a reset pinhole, and a power button. The volume buttons are slightly raised which makes it easy to distinguish them from power button by sliding your finger, and when you have silicone skin on - volume up has a raised dot bump on its cover. At the bottom you have a micro-usb port positioned in the center with two tiny hex screws symmetrically closer to the edges. This port is used for data transfer (no USB DAC support like X5) as well as charging up it's massive 1700 mAh battery which provides over 12hrs of playback time.
 
Top of the front panel is occupied by a display (2", 320x240 TFT), similar but not as bright as X5, which is a first indicator where they had to cut some corners stepping down from 2.4" IPS display in X5. Single microSD on X1 versus double in X5 is another change, though 128GB capacity still supported. For those familiar with X5, you will feel right at home with its scrolling wheel control and 5 control buttons with main Play/Pause/Select in the middle of the wheel, Return/Back in the upper right corner, Menu in the upper left corner, and Skip/Select next/prev buttons at the bottom. Otherwise, the wheel control is very intuitive and easy to get used to. Though the wheel looks and functions the same, it's updated from X5. When you turn it with a thumb - you can feel/hear micro-click action, and overall scrolling feels more solid and under a better control. I'm very pleased with this update, though would have been nice for a scrolling wheel to have a better texture, something I'm sure could be upgraded in the future with a textured sticker.
 
Once X1 is powered up, you are presented with a new updated interface. You still have icons arranged around the semi-circle but now at the top, and the scrolling logistics has changed from X5. Instead of 7 icons in X5, you now have 5 equally spaced icons with EQ and Favorite selections combined in other sub-menus in comparison to X5. Icons are placed at the top from left to right and instead of scrolling icons wheel, you have a scrolling glow pointer with a corresponding icon description text in the notification bar. Most of the Setting and Play Setting controls remained similar to X5 with one noticeable change being an option for Theme Color which helps to improve a contrast and to customize your DAP. I didn't notice any lag while scrolling through menu options or songs. The movement is fluid and as fast as with X5. Also, it really felt like a mature firmware release, and I'm sure FiiO team will fine tune it even further. Selecting to play a song displayed a name and ID tag info (if available), cover art (if available), and song format/encoding. Similarly to X5, at the top in notification bar you have volume with corresponding value, headphone/line out selection icon, EQ setting name (either built in highly usable presets or 7-band customizable one with a precise narrow band tuning), microSD card presence, and battery status.
 
So how would I describe the sound signature of X1? I found it to be warm and neutral. In comparison to X5, to me it sounded as neutral without any noticeable peaks or dips, just like you would expect a good source to be. Also in comparison to X5, X1 sounded a bit thicker and less detailed with narrower soundstage. That was expected and acceptable considering we are talking about scaled down version of X5 designed for a mainstream rather than audiophile audience. But don't get discouraged by this comment. Listening to X1, without driving yourself crazy with comparison to other DAPs, is actually very satisfying. You get plenty of details across entire frequency range, and X1 built-in amp was powerful enough to drive even some of my demanding headphones that typically require external amping. For example, I was able to drive B3 Pro I without a problem at 50% volume setting. It paired up well with anything I threw at it, either portable IEMs or full size cans, and even high sensitivity IEMs didn't exhibit too much background hissing. It looks like X1 has a single gain setting, and I noticed that it required volume level on average 10 ticks lower than with X5 in its default low gain setting.
 
Regarding HO sound quality in a comparison to X5, you can rest assure that X1 is not X5 killer. But at the same time, the difference is not really night'n'day. While X5 sound is more detailed and with a wider soundstage, X1 is not lagging behind by too much. This difference becomes even less apparent when you switch to LO with external amp. For example, while using E11k with X1 the sound gets more detailed, with a wider soundstage, and with a deeper and more detailed low end. The ability to switch between HO and LO, where internal amp is disabled, really sets X1 above other entry level DAPs with HO only output. Also, FiiO already announced a future accessory kit for X1 to stack up with other amps (similar to HS6 kit for X5). Plus, there was other mentioning about future accessories, such as armband holder, different cases, car mount, and even audio over micro-usb LO cable since X1 connector will accommodate a new docking amp in a near future.
 
Overall, testing X1 left me with a very positive impression about this new FiiO DAP. It feels very solid, it performs like a mature product, and it has a great sound quality for its price range. I liked all the improvements (over X5) with a new scrolling wheel mechanism, round physical buttons, and updated scrolling menu control. Sound quality is not equivalent to X5, but that is expected at a fraction of a price. At the same time, it's not too far off and when using external amp connected to LO, you are getting even closer to X5 or other quality DAPs. For $99 this DAP has an amazing value with a hard to beat price/performance ratio especially if you take into consideration everything from its build, design, sound, and firmware. The upcoming add on accessories will add more versatility to take this DAP anywhere with you on the go while keeping its bigger brother (X5) at home for a more serious listening. With such an impressive DAP line up (X3, X5, X1) one can only imagine what FiiO is going to come up with next to blow our mind with X7 release!
 
Here are the pictures.
 
Design Details.
 

 

 

 

 

 
Interface.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Next to its big brother X5
 

 

 

 

 
Paired up with E11k
 

 

 

 
Next to its "brother from another mother"
 

Here are my impressions of the Fiio X1
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEj0wLE-ojU

Hello guys !!!
Because I wanted to be included in FiiO’s X1 Preview World Tour for the review of their product I had only 10 days, but I tried to make the most of the time to give a serious review that is not limited only to the acoustic description of the product. In fact the first thing I did after checking the X1, was testing it and checking if the graphs and data reported were real.

 

FiiO certainly does not need any introduction, if you think about portable audio electronics surely FiiO is among the first that come to mind.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As always I want to start this review with thanks ...


My thanks go to Joe Bloggs (FiiO’s PR) who was keen to know what you thought of this crazy reviewer always ready to be meticulous on any product regardless of price.


Thanks of course go to FiiO itself as a company that once again proves worthy to be where it is now.

 

INTRODUCTION
I was chosen as a reviewer for the FiiO X1 preview world tour, I’m not paid by FiiO (in fact I'll pay the shipping charges to the next previewer, thankfully they are cheap) and have not received the X1 as a gift. I also have to say that the review is my personal opinion.

 

PACKAGING

The packaging is simple: it arrived in a simple cardboard box, but if the savings in packaging allows me a much better quality ... so let it be. (note from FiiO: retail X1’s come with different packaging.)

 

BUNDLE
The bundle consists of everything you need:
Silicone Cover for protection from accidental impact.
USB cable to connect it to your PC and / or DC power.
4 screen protector films (1 applied on the screen out of the factory, 3 spares).
Warranty and User Manual.

 

MATERIALS
The structure of the FiiO X1 is solid, consisting of metal and really nothing to say from this point of view.

 

DESCRIPTION
First, as always, the link to the manufacturer

http://www.fiio.net/en/products/18
And a quick description with regard to aesthetics is delegated to the photospublisched here cose I've not the permission to pubblisching photo on this site at the moment

https://www.facebook.com/marco.bicelli.33/media_set?set=a.1510392935887069.1073741832.100007491309933&type=3


I would like to start from the two beating hearts of the DAP: the DAC and the OPAMP.

The DAC is the PCM5142 from Texas Instruments : http://www.ti.com/general/docs/lit/getliterature.tsp?genericPartNumber=pcm5142&fileType=pdf


It is not top of the line, but is a good DAC for the price.

 

The OPAMP is the OPA2322 (not mentioned on the product page, but info provided by FiiO) http://www.ti.com/general/docs/lit/getliterature.tsp?genericPartNumber=opa2322&fileType=pdf  

whereas the buffer is actually the Intersil ISL28291
http://www.intersil.com/content/dam/Intersil/documents/isl2/isl28191-291.pdf


Here, although this is also the amp chip used by the AK100, I would have preferred something more , you can get peaks in voltage of 4.2 V and only 43 mA of current. Reasoning in what I wanted was an operational amplifier or a headphone amplifier chip so you can have voltages and higher currents, but that would have greatly disturbed the X3.

Reasoning on operational rather that they could not in any way disturbing the other products (operational operating power voltage maximum of 5.5 V) ... I believe that the ISL28291 is a good product.
All you remember how often my speech has little to do with the volume, it is more than sufficient, I speack  relating to details, dynamic. (keep in mind this part because it will return all in listening)

 

My speeches are, however, well known to FiiO in fact She start to describe the product from the hearts and the fact that this player is at first a DAP, in fact She speak now of portable amplifiers (I had connect the X1 to my dual mono amplifier... an interesting experience).

Continuing in compatible formats ... ok serious and important ones are inside.
Continuing it seems interesting to say the device accepts micro sd cards up to 128GB.
The key issue is to say that the X1 unlike his older brothers is only a player and is not a DAC for other devices, USB fact only serves to recharge the battery and upload their own music on the memory card.

 

Moving on to the technical specifications.
The 106 grams stated are respected (weighed 100 times on different days and considering measurement errors, the weight is ok).

 

The FiiO guide only X1 headphones up to 100 ohms ... well I have bored before telling you about Volts and Amperes because these data so difficult? No They tell us what FiiO  X1 can do and what it can not do. I consider quite useless those reviews where the volume is tested with 300 ohm headphones; FiiO itself say t that X1 is not good for greater than 100ohm headphones, if we consider the evidence-based techniques and my beloved physics these criticisms are funny .

 

And now we come to my favorite graphics ... the ones you find on the product page are real ... They're not marketing, but science.


The first that I want to analyze is the frequency response one; there is a very linear frequency response with one drop of -0.4 dB at 20 kHz, essentially a graph like that I call linear, the decline starts from 10 kHz and covers the area of highs where our hearing is less precise. The frequency response of the FiiO X1 certainly does not disturb their older brothers (X3 and X5) which instead attain 0.2 and 0.1 of flexion.
The second graph we have a lot interest  in it that because THD is the rate of total harmonic distortion; also in this case there is a minimal distortion that remains inaudible: 0.01% at least up to about 14-15kHz, for my personal opinion from the point of view of the THN, the X1 is comparable to the X3, the X5 however, remains on another level over the entire audio range.
The only real "flaw" that I find in a technical technical analysis of the X1 is the output impedance including always within 2 ohms. Why call it a lack? Simple most raises the output impedance will have more problems of noise with headphones within the 100ohm, however, because in reality it virgoletto although the output is not as perfect and does not reach the ideal values ​​by 0.01 ohm, is however well far from the order of 10 ohm impedances that make it really impossible to create a good headphone amplifier impedance of less than 100 ohms.

 

TEST ABOUT THE FREQUENCY
As always somewhat like a minimum test to see if what the company says is true or not. This time I used the line in of the Xonar U7 to check the graphs. The test is not obtained by ear, but through the use of the Leveller by REW (freeware program to test the response in the environment), the conclusions I draw from the tests already insert errors.
Essentially I decided to keep four levels of output volume: 100, 75, 50 and 25.
As for the headphone output:
At 100
are obtained by slight fluctuations of 0.1 dB at 20 Hz

30 Hz you get a stable output
Since 8000 I get -0.4 db
 

At 75
Are obtained fluctuations of 0.2 and 0.3 db both at 20 Hz, both at 30 Hz
40 Hz you get a stable output
At 15 kHz get -0.2 db
At 19 kHz get -0.3 db
 

At 50
A 20 Hz fluctuations are obtained of 0.5 db
At 30 Hz fluctuations are obtained in 0.1 dB
40 Hz you get a stable output
At 15 kHz can be obtained - 0.1 db
At 19 kHz can be obtained - 0.2 db
 

At 25
A 20 Hz fluctuations are obtained of 0.2 db
30 Hz you get a stable output
At 15 kHz can be obtained - 0.1 db
At 19 kHz can be obtained - 0.2 db

Essentially I obtained that with regard to the 'headphone output it is more precise in ultra-high range when it is not at the maximum, on the contrary the best stability under 40 hz I obtained by the maximum output. I think that considering the errors of measurement I can declare the graph proposed by FiiO as correct and verified.
 

For  the line output what I obtained is easier to say. I obtained that by 8000 Hz there is a reduction of 0.4 constant up to 20 Khz tested; to any output level from 30 Hz has a certain stability in output; to 100 and 75 to 20 Hz there is a fluctuation of 0.1 dB, while at 50 and 25 there is a fluctuation of 0.2 dB
In this case, what I got is slightly in contrast to the stated, but I can not compete in instrumentation with FiiO, considering that the measurement errors, however, the graph is quite similar to that stated.

 

THE FIIO X1 ON CAR
Among the conditions to review the X1 was
“Reviewers are Reminded to listen responsibly and safely to the X1, to not use it a when operating machinery or driving, and not to drive headphones to excessive volume with the X1. “
Interesting is the part about the driving but when I drive I want good music.
Honestly it performs well, I can not quite say everything right (I was concentrating on driving), but it seems that, despite the limitations imposed by the situation, I listen good music with FiiO X1 .
Dynamic was not great, but the instrumental band was well executed and monitored, because in general I did not hear annoying resonances .

I cannot tell whether it was better the headphone or line output, it seems to me they were the same,.

 

USE AT HOME WITH YOUR SPEAKER SYSTEM
Who ever said that these players are not side by side to a home listening?
They have advantages in convenience it will light up immediately and without delay, make available their discography.
The experience was quite funny, but as you can see in REINFORCEMENT FOR THE FIIO X1 with my pre-amplifier X1 done a massive jump forward
Now speaking of the X1 without reinforcement.
First I decided to take advantage of the headphone output which I preferred to the line for better airiness and stage. Compared to the line seemed even more dynamic.
My discography test as usual it was all focused on rock music.
As for the sound:
Bass there was when needed, good dynamic and instrument that will play on the stage located in a fairly good; lack of energy only the lowest notes in the 40-50 Hz.
Medium present them properly without being shot in the face or shaky, all instruments and voices are played back correctly and in fact are quite musical, but the positioning is observed.
High treble is also very present, they are not fatiguing but remain well detailed.
For ultra-hight I must say that even though these lacked in airy.
In general one can say that the FiiO X1 also manages alone to give a good musical experience with a listening relaxing, with a good scene, and a musical figure interesting.
It sounds the perfect player: low cost, useful at home and on the move, sounding etc ...
Obviously it has his faults and anyway it cannot replace an hi-end.

Might you want more dynamic, body and life in bass, in mid you might rightly want a better musical figure, and a better sound stage, in the high you might want more detail, and you may also want more air between the instruments. So you could still rightly want more, but then the FiiO X1 is a portable low-end and you can rightly ask for more of what he can do.

 

USE WITH HEADPHONES
I tried the FiiO X1 with some cheap headphones:
Superlux HD685, hi TAKSTAR 2050 BitFenix ​​Flo (aka the superlux hd662) and of course the Superlux hd681EVO .
I must say the FiiO has always behaved well enough (not the HD681EVO), good management of the soundstage, and a product that wants to do almost everything myself has always recreated a musical figure pretty good, not excellent, but still appreciable; also there was always a good dynamic.
However, even with headphones commonly thought of as easy to drive, however, the defects X1 popped up: at the bottom feels like lack of impact when you require more power, the scene is quite small, and at the top you would want a bit 'more air.
In short, the same story as before ... there is everything that needs to be there ... but there's always that but he does say, "Something is missing."

CONCLUSIONS  1

This initial findings because the end of the shoot out after the piece more interesting imho showing the goodness of FiiO X1 makes it bloom potentials and eliminating defects.
The conclusion is quite simple: it is used as the FiiO X1 is one of the best players I've ever tried, it's convenient to carry around, reads almost all formats and sampling helpful. Sonically speaking feels that power has many advantages, however, remains clear that there are also shortcomings.
 

FAULTS: SOMETHING OF TECHNICAL
Well do you remember all that technique information that I have served up first?
Well you said enough all you are going to hear with the ears, especially when as in this case the data reported are real.
1 The graphs of frequency response tell us how the X1 manages to sound quite neutral. Neutrality has also been confirmed to listen.
2 The electrical parameters tell us rather than be able to play well every acoustic band and how to play the music scene. Essentially the Volts and the Amperes told us that it could be paired to the X1 a low-impedance headphones is required, but you would never be able to push them for good without showing the side.
Well I have listed the flaws, those that every reviewer should go to find ... now we go to the reasons because I still think the FiiO X1 is right also for the finest ear.

 

REINFORCEMENT FOR THE FIIO X1
The same FiiO propose to connect the player to an external amplifier allows me to catch the ball and talk a little also the only non-invasive and effective implementation that can be made ​​to the FiiO X1: assigning to it a portable amplifier.
FiiO offers its line of portable amplifiers, excellent both in relation to the cost, both for performance but I could not miss the chance to try it with my DIY  headphone amplifier and preamplifier.
Since I had my transmission line speakers that  looked at me enticing and I could not fail to make them play on this occasion interposing between the amp and the FiiO this "small" portable dual mono preamp... but also HD681EVO told me: "And who are we? The daughters of the servant? ... A few stories we want it too! "
Attached to my little X1 has made a significant jump forward in terms of the entire musical figure. I have to say that it is as unlocked, the dynamic, the airiness, placement, detail ... everything has become more musical more accurate, powerful and obvious.
The bass is reborn largest, most dynamic and dry; mids have become, if not perfect, precise and present with a level of positioning dazzling also when the instruments or singers were particularly close in space between them (also the choruses). The highs were already very good, but they received more ariosity. Essentially, if first seemed to listen to a small stage where it all is this, but a bit 'in a small space; now seemed to be in front of a real stage, consider that the quality of the player is actually exploded showing how the FiiO X1 can give much more at home.
And finally headphones could express themselves if not the best without breaking the boxes too, and without complaint or Vatt neither of the amps, confirming the ratings and the evidence obtained through the speakers.


TEST PAIRE TO MY HEADPHONES AMPLIFIER / PREAMPLIFIER
It seems proper to bring some measurement obtained by the use of the amplifier for headphones.
Since listening through this device is setting the volume to 40/100 tests were made ​​with this release.
The graph of the frequency response obtained is identical to the previous one.
So because it sounds better? The answer is simple t volts and amperes management is much better.


CONCLUSIONS
It 's now time to draw final conclusions in light of all the ratings and tests carried out.
Without doubt the FiiO X1 is a great player, with different positive sonic characteristics, but they need an amplifier to come to the surface.
Compared to older brothers X1 has only one real flaw: the fact that it is not a DAC.
But this defect we try to read it in a more appropriate manner. The FiiO X1 is a portable player that allows the use of micro SD cards up to 128 GB or say the equivalent of about 400 FLAC albums ... we want to put too high sampling? Ok do 200 albums; a number such that before finishing them all passes a really good amount of time.
If the justification of the amount, however, may be enough to even the most inexperienced and least demanding ... we face the lack of the fact that the X1 does from the DAC. Well before you say that this is essential, consider two factors: the first is very practical and corresponds to the question "is it for?" (Meaning: I need to walk around with a DAC? It will connect to a PC, phone etc to play music or always listen to uploaded files?); the later is more realistic and you have to answer the question about whether you have a DAC in the house (well if you have one at home probably sounds better than the 99% of portable DAC ... and take a portable DAC loses meaning)
I think the second reason is to make more sense on which to continue; In fact, if we consider the DAC or sound card is not moving they provide better output not only of 'X1, X3 and X5 as well, then so if the real reason for buying a player is his use as a reader, because at home you still better, the FiiO X1 becomes a very interesting product, then if you take it to an amplifier the whole thing becomes even more interesting because it is the luxury of competing products more expensive and noble.

Disclaimer

 
I received this unit for a few days as part of a Australasian tour. I did not buy one and do not own one (yet). Thanks to @Brooko for providing his own unit for this tour.
 
INTRODUCTION
 
Im not an audiophile....there its been said, but I do love my music and I know what sounds good to me. Im not in the position to convince other people with this brief look about the merits of the FIIO X1 or if it will suit your needs and thus these are my thoughts BUT I have always believed that getting the most value for your money is sound fiscal policy. I usually like to buy items that have a high price to performance ratio. Im always up for a bargain and thus Gumtree and and other classified ads listings are always visited by me. Im not scared of 2nd hand items. I have also known FIIO for a while now and my first product was their E5. This was my first foray into amping (although I realise now that all I did was double amping) but it gave life to my Ipod touch 2nd gen to actually sound GOOD! Thus started the interest in portable audio products for me. All you have to do is look in my profile page to see how many I've gone through. Sometimes people ask me if there is a product that I could recommend to start out with their audio journey but I know that there is not one product I can recommend that is both value for money and sounds good to boot. Have I found that in the FIIO X1?
 

 
 
BUILD QUALITY
 

 
Well to start off with I congratulate FIIO for making the X1 mostly out of machined aluminum. I believe the only plastic items are the back plate and the scroll wheel, but at this price point this is very well done indeed. There is no flex at all to the case although find the scroll wheel is not as sturdy as I would like as it there is play while moving it but at least the material of the wheel is correct in which it is grippy. No doubt greasy fingers were a factor in the materials selection. The rubber scroll wheel will be susceptible to scratches so long fingernails is a no no if you want to keep its physical appearance pristine. Otherwise there is nothing to complain about. The buttons are tactile and clearly labelled. Speaking about labelled, I wish that FIIO replicated the button signs on to the black silicone rubber sleeve provided but this is just a minor thing. Screen was bright enough for me outdoors and since this is not a multimedia player, the screen quality is just right for this type of device. No doubt anything of a higher quality would have driven up its price and the battery consumption. Bottom Line: For a US$ 99 device it ticks FORM FIT and FUNCTION for me!
 
INTERFACE
 
From my use of it the past few days, the interface is quite logical for me. Of course a new interface would always have a learning curve (part of the thrill of having a new gadget for me) and at least it took me only a few minutes to go through the setting and figure out how everything worked and interacted. There are different color schemes to choose from as well so at least there is customization on the UI. I noticed no lags or freezes while scrolling and button presses are responsive and its nice that there is a reset hole just under the power button just in case. The scroll wheel as mentioned before is abit loose for me as it move it a notch and it wont register till the second movement. Something to improve upon I believe. Bottom Line: Interface and button interaction are well thought out with the scroll wheel needing improvement as a minus.
 
BATTERY LIFE:
 
Website claims an 11 hour battery life with initial firmware but could go up to 15 hours with further firmware updates. I for one wish that this is much longer, say 24 hours for all the road warriors out there. I did not like having my music taken away from me while camping one time (to be honest that was a 5 night camping trip) but hey this is a wish from me for the next iteration of this device.
 
SOUND IMPRESSIONS (Listening to Kenny G Duets album various songs)
 
Pairing with the Phillips Fidelio X1 (see what I did there?)
 

 
This unit from drives the X1's beautifully in my opinion. The EQ has been set to flat/off and find Im enjoying what I hear. The warm sound signature matches the X1's strengths. The volume is at 80% and this is my listening level for these headphones on the X1. HMM..maybe needs more power? How will it power my HD 650's? Employing the EQ changes the sound effectively so I guess the EQ works as advertised. Im listening to the Kenny G Duets album at the moment and loving it. Vocals are nice natural, the sax is beautiful and Marcia Hines voice on the Forever Young track is just soothing. YEP! the X1's (FIIO and Phillips) pair together well in my ears.
 
Pairing with the Sennheisser HD650
 

 
Well I actually preferred the line out setting when using the HD 650's. Switching it back to the headphone output i need to put the volume to 90 percent and i can already hear its struggling to drive them. BUT with the line out enabled and the hD 650's plugged directly, the X1 is actually able to drive them to my listening volume. The track Im listening to currently is Misty featuring Gladys Knight. Heaven! If anything I think I've fallen in love with the hD 650's again. The vocals are so natural and true. Also I believe the soundstage opens up if using the line out. I have just put on my Fidelio X1's again and yep definitely soundstage has improved!!! Perhaps the FIIO X1 can indeed use more power from its internal amp in its next iteration. Lots of Headfier's have the HD650 and its a shame that the FIIO X1's have to be set to line out to get acceptable performance and to my listening levels at least but YMMV.
 
Pairing with the Phonak Audeo PFE121 (Grey filter on)
 

 
The Phonaks are my go to in ears for when Im out and about and perhaps this is more important test for me. Again I prefer the line out sound of the FIIO X'1s when paired with the Phonaks. Its just more detailed and open. Perhaps its abit bright (a Phonak Trait) but its never sibilant or harsh. The bass is just right and Le Anne Rimes vocals on Everything I DO I DO IT FOR YOU is rendered faithfully with the correct timbre of voice as I remember from her. Indeed the FIIO X1 and the Phonaks pair well together in my opinion and I can see myself using this configuration if ever I do get the X1 which is most likely.
 
Pairing with the Phonak Audeos and the C&C BH portable AMP using line out
 

 
Now THIS is match made in heaven! I cant believe the sound coming out of the Phonaks now! The amp is on high gain, LF (bass) boost on and SF (sound field) enhancer on. This leads me to believe that the FIIO X1 should just be a source and it should really be paired with a decent inexpensive external portable amp and the sound gains on all measurable levels just go up. There's just more detail, more resolution, more soundstage and its just an overall more enjoyable energetic sound. For me at least
 
Comparison Between the E11k and the C&C BH amp using Phonak Audeo and the an AB switch
 

 
 
Since I have another new FIIO product as part of the review package, namely the FIIO E11K I shall give my thoughts impressions on it, To be fair, I have turned off the SF sound field enhancer on the C&C BH as the E11k does not have that feature. Both amps are on high gain and bass boost on. I have roughly set each amp to the same volume although and this was just by ear and no electronic instrument was used to measure.
 
Its apparent that the E11K has a more forward presentation on the MIDS. Its more in your face and intimate. The C&C BH has more headroom and soundstage. Each instrument is more distinct and due to the increased soundstage each instrument or part of the music has more room the breathe. It is also apparent that the C&C BH bass boost goes deeper. The C&C also seems to extract more detail. The clicks as the each button is pressed on the saxophone is just more distinct. The echoes are also more apparent on the C&C BH. To be fair, I believe the C&C BH is in the $100+ price bracket and the FIIO E11K is $69 USD if im not mistaken so Im not entirely sure if this is a fair comparison but hey! 
 
Lets see if I can pick up the same differences with my HD650. CONFIRMED: I have to raise the volume pot of the E11K to 5 and the C&C BH to about 70 percent so this would lead me to believe the E11K is more powerful. SO to test this out I have the HIFIMAN HE400 handy with me.
 
Surprise surprise! I haven't touched the volume pot but the volume is still listening volume for me AND I now prefer the sound coming from E11K paired with the HE400's. Perhaps the open nature of the HE400's (vs the Phonak in ears which already has the out of the head listening experience) help to open out and space out the instruments on the E11K. It now has the instrument separation and space that I heard using the C&C BH. Plus the vocals are now up close and intimate BUT the bass is still superior in the C&C BH which is evident on the track I LIKE THE WAY YOU MOVE (FEAT EARTH WIND AND FIRE)
 
SO Now that I've slowly moved up the chain of equipment I thought Id try to pair the FIIO X1 to the Just Audio AHA 120's, Class A portable headphone AMP with an RRP of $599
 

 
And of course the results are again another level up. More detail, more separation, more soundstage and more naturalness to everything you hear. Its a more refined sound I guess and the standout item for me are the vocals it just at another level. In the end you just sit back and enjoy the marvel that is the FIIO X1. Amazing how a $99 player can put a smile on your face and makes your toe tap.
 
 
CONCLUSION
 
To answer the question posted in my introduction: YES! The FIIO X1 in my opinion provides a beautiful gateway to HIFI sound that I would like the general public to hear. I would like the FIIO X1 at least to be the standard recommendation for those starting out their audio journey. There is really nothing negative to say about the unit. It works as intended and the sound that comes out of it is better than most units from other manufacturers and the price of $99 (albeit without memory card), I believe the price to performance ratio is indeed quite high. Would I buy one? Yes I would as the X1 for me provides a real good source specially with the line out and pairing it with other portable amps can be an interesting journey.

Introduction:

 

I’m sure as many know by now, Fiio has started touring their first batch of pre-production X1 DAPs to get feedback from the community. I think that’s a fantastic way to gain insight of how well received the product is (as well as what needs improvement) while being a great opportunity for the community to have a chance to see if the product is for them or not. With that said, I’d like to give a big thank you to Fiio for putting me in the “Americas” roster for the X1 tour.

 

Of course, I have no affiliation with Fiio in any way nor do I have any incentive to give anything but my person honest opinion on the Fiio X1. With that being said, let’s take a look at this little device! This review looks at the X1 using the 0.21 firmware, which is the most recent beta firmware (as of now at least.)

 



 

Build:

 

The X1 is solidly built and finished quite nicely. I believe most of it is a hard and durable plastic, with a bit of metal here and there. No jagged edges or any part of the device that might make one question the durability of the it or how it was put together. Being plastic, it’s not as hefty feeling or as cool to feel as the anodized metal finish of the iBasso DAPs. Nonetheless, for the price of 100 USD, there isn’t much more I’d ask of the X1. I think the build is fantastic.

 

The only gripe I really have is the scroll wheel. As someone with pretty dry hands that doesn’t have all that much friction, I found the scroll wheel too smooth sometimes and difficult to use as my thumb would just glide around the wheel unless I really put some pressure on it. If they could use some material that allows for better grip, I think that would be ideal. Of course, I’m one of few people that would actually have that kind of problem, so I don’t really find it a huge problem either of course if that doesn’t change.

 

The case works. I personally never really liked rubber cases as they collect dust like a mother screw* but I guess it protects the X1 from scratch. Why not?

 



(The black case for the X1)

 



(Relative size of the X1)
 
User Interface:

 

Although not the most gorgeous or most personalizable UI (can’t really beat apple…) I found the X1 UI quite intuitive to learn and get use to. Volume control with power button on the side, forward/back buttons on the bottom, back menu button on the top right, select button in the very middle with a scroll wheel that works nicely around the select button, and a shortcut menu button on the top left. That’s about it. Simple and intuitive. Its also important to note that the screen of the X1 is quite HD. I was surprised at how nice the album cover art looked. Its no retina iPhone screen but its better than a lot of audiophile DAPs (with exceptions of course) and certainly better than anything I know under 100 dollars.

 

I also found the buttons very response and have a nice click to it. I personally like them more than the 3 buttons of iBasso, which always leave me wondering if I clicked on it or not. The buttons on the X1, despite being small, are very easy to identify and click on since they’re quite far apart from each other.

 

I liked how the X1 split the music settings and general settings into two. It makes it a lot easier to find what you’re looking for. Settings for the most part are quite standard. Sleep timer, brightness, etc. they’re all there. What I quite liked from the settings was how you can actually have various options for key-lock setting. When in locked, you have the option of controlling some combination of volume, play/pause, and forward/back button which I thought was pretty smart to be able to control how much control you have when the device is locked.

 

Another great feature of the X1 (not really UI) is its battery life. I haven’t had it run out of battery on me despite using it throughout the day. I think Fiio listed it as being >12 hours. That’s pretty damn good. That’s all I can really say on that.

 

One problem I’ve had with the X1 UI is the media library scan. It seems like it’s only been me though, so I’m unsure whether it’s my unit, my microSD card, or maybe me? Either way, the scan, for whatever reason, can’t seem to get past 107 songs. The reviewer before me didn’t seem to have this problem, so I’m really scratching my head on this. If it is a firmware problem, I assume Fiio will have it figured out by release. For now, well… I don’t know, let’s just assume I’m messing something up haha.

 

Update: So a few days of trying to get it work, it suddenly works. I did nothing different. So I assume it is some sort of rare bug that possibly occurs for whatever reason.

 

Another thing is that the device can get a little laggy at times. That’s nothing a restart can’t, but the goodbye animation can be pretty painfully slow to have to wait for since that lags as well.

 

Overall, solid UI that I’m sure many people will be pleased with as it seems the device will be fairly glitch-free for the most part upon release. Could ask for a bit more customization of how the interface looks (or just… make it look a little nicer as it looks quite basic as of now but that’d really just icing on the cake if they do.

 

Sound:

 

Line Out:

 

The line out was tested with the X1 connected to the wonderful Vorzuge VorzAMP Pure II. First and foremost, the X1 line out is fairly loud (although I believe not quite as loud as the X3). The Pure II is a fantastic portable amplifier for IEMs with almost no channel imbalance. Using the X1 line out however, really pushes the Pure II to the region where channel imbalance may occur when I used the setup with the Noble 6 which, granted, is a fairly sensitive IEM. For that reason, I would put the power of the amplifier and the sensitivity of the headphone/IEM into consideration when using the line out.

 

Putting that aside, the sound of the line out of the X1 is quite good. It’s not as warm as I thought it would be, in fact it’s quite flat with maybe a little treble tilt that gives it a good sense of air. Detail is quite good, although the overall sound is a little thin and not as full. Bass extension and overall bass presence is also a little lacking.

 

Putting it all together though, you’re getting a DAC that decodes up to 24/192 for a line out with a clean and accurate sound on a device that’s 100 dollars. Good deal? Yeah.

 



(I was too lazy to take the DX90 off... rubber bands are hard to deal with you know? )
 

Headphone Out

 

The overall sound of the X1’s headphone out is neutral with a bit of warmth to it. Given Fiio’s products often being described as warm (and most budget-fi products being warmer in general), the X1 did not have the warmth that I was expecting. The fairly neutral sound was very welcoming.

 

What I liked:

 

-Instrument separate is very well done for a 100 dollar device

 

-Nice L/R imaging and a respectively wide soundstage

 

-Detail is present. It’s by no means a reference class device but it doesn’t leave you wanting more (especially when you’re on the move)

 

-Bass is well controlled and tight

 

-Nice and natural sound without being boring and dull

 

 

 

What I didn’t like:

 

-Similar to the line out, the bass extension and impact are both lacking.

 

-Soundstage lacks depth.

 

-Not the best noise floor. With my BA IEMs, it’s quite obvious when music isn’t playing, although it’s not much of a problem when music is actually playing.

 



(X1 with Noble 6 and Brainwavz S5)
 

Comparison to HTC One M8:

Bleh… the M8’s sound is so mediocre and so lacking in detail. I’ve never liked it. Let’s just move on…

 

Comparison to iPhone 4S:

 

I’m assuming that this is a comparison many people will be considering. Should I buy the X1 or is my iPhone good enough? So here are my thoughts on the two devices. Short answer is, I like the X1 sound over the iPhone’s sound. Whether you want another device purely for music at the cost of an extra 100 dollars is on you (being an audio geek… I’d totally go for it!)

 

Overall, I’ve always felt that the iPhone 4S is a little unnatural sounding. The vocals are quite forward (too much so), the overall sound is a bit on the thin side, while the bass lacks a bit of detail and control. It’s a fantastic sounding device considering how many functions it has and it’s a very competent device for mobile use. It lags behind a dedicated music player though. Considering all the possible functionalities it has, I doubt the music player of the iPhone even consists of 100 dollars out of its total price anyways.

 

The X1’s sound is in some ways similar to the 4S, while improving in most aspects. Sound is a little fuller, vocals isn’t as “in your face,” and bass has more control, contributing to an overall more natural and a more enjoyable sound (to me at least). Soundstage on the X1 is also a little better. It’s a very close call though.

 

Comparing the X1 to the iPhone does re-emphasize the weakness I’ve stated about the X1 multiple times though. Despite the X1 bass being cleaner, tighter, and much better controlled, it’s just also very polite and not particularly extended.

 



(X1 with iPhone 4S. Yea my 4S is not in good shape...)
 

Final Thoughts and Conclusion:

 

I don’t praise Fiio for creating a giant slaying device. Compared to my iBasso DX90, well, the DX90 pretty much does everything better. Compare the X1 to my portable setup, well… forget that. Of course, Fiio’s goal for the X1 wasn’t to crush higher price devices and piss of all the X3 and X5 owners while they’re at it.

 

I do, however, praise Fiio for creating a fantastic alternative to portable audio. The X1 is a very functional device with quite a few good features that has a fun but clean sound along with a sturdy build that doesn’t make consumers feel like they have to baby it lest it breaks. All of this come packaged in a small device competitively priced at 100 dollars. As I said earlier: Good deal? Yeah. In fact, I will very likely be purchasing one myself to use as a portable device when my portable setup's size proves too impractical (like when I need it in my pocket).

 
 
Simply music. That summarizes this review of Fiio X1.
 
At $99.- Fiio is offering a very affordable high resolution (24 bit / 192 kHz) player to the market. At this price, many might question of the sound quality. Thanks to Fiio, they don't set the sound quality of X1 at the sub $100 bracket. There is nothing cheap with the sound quality of Fiio X1. On a blind test, I doubt any experience reviewer or audiophile will guess that it is a sound quality from a $99 player. X1 sound quality is simply beyond its $99 price tag. Kudos to Fiio!
 
X1 might not be technically superior as the X3 and X5, but I do honestly impressed by the sound quality. X1 always sounds pleasing and musically engaging. It has a very like-able sound signature that makes us forget the technicality of the player, and just enjoy the music. X5 for example, always sounds technically superior than the rest, but I sometime find it not as musically engaging as X1, especially for vocal. X1 might not have the most exotic ingredients, but mixed and cooked right, and always delicious.
 
 
 
The unit I reviewed was a loan unit from Fiio, from the "X1 preview world tour - Malaysia and Singapore" program.  Thanks Fiio!
 
 

 
This review is based on Firmware 1.0  
 
 
I have both Fiio X3 and Fiio X5, and I used them as reference to describe Fiio X1 sound signature. The comparison will mainly on the headphone output sound quality. I didn't have enough time to explore and compare the line out quality. From other reviews, I read that the line out quality is actually better than the headphone output quality. Having observed the headphone output sound quality, IMHO X1 is not far behind X3 and X5. Technically X3 and X5 are more superior than X1 with higher power headphone amp. But when using regular easy to drive IEM, X1 competes well with X3 and X5 on the musical fun factor. X1 might be technically lacking this and that, but the fact is, music always sounds fun and enjoyable on X1. I would say Fiio did it right. At this price category, simplicity and musicality are the main priority. And Fiio X1 hit the bullseye on those.  
 
 
Pros:
Very good sound quality for the size and price.
Supports high resolution formats up to 24/192.
Support .cue sheet with multiple file format, and cleverly use the cover picture from jpeg file with the same file name.
Better UI when compared to X3 and X5.
Line Out. Not many players at sub $100 has line out.
Support 128GB micro SD card.
Very good battery life, around 12 hours playback time, continuous playback of 24/96 FLAC with minimum screen ON. Can be slightly longer with MP3 files.
Compatible with smart phone control using the In-line remote button on earphones with built-in remote and microphone.  
Cons:
Slippery scroll wheel. The scroll wheel doesn't have anti-slip surface like on the Fiio X5.
 
2014-10-31 Update:
Fiio recently updated me, that they will use rubberized scroll wheel on the production model. I increased the rating to 4.5 due to this improvement. Here is the message from Fiio:
Please note that the "slippery scroll wheel" is limited to the world tour X1's. Production X1's have rubberized scroll wheels.

UI theme is lacking of high contrast theme for day time outdoor use.
exFAT is not yet supported on FW1.0 (period). Might be supported in the future. 64GB and 128GB should be formated in FAT32 format using the player or 3rd party software.
Charging LED covered by the silicon case.
No USB DAC funtion.
Sensitive to mobile phone interference due to plastic back cover.
 
 
Suggestions for improvement:
Anti-slip layer on the scroll wheel. --> Production model of X1 will have rubberized scroll wheel.
Better and higher contrast screen.
High contrast, white graphics on black background theme for day time outdoor use.
Back button dedicated to go back one level up to the folder where the song is located, or the last level of selected playlist.
TPE (Thermoplastic elastomers) material for the case, instead of Silicon Rubber, for less 'dust magnet' property.
Small hole on the case to show charging LED.
The combination of OPA2322 and buffer ISL28291 sounds sweet. It would be great if Fiio could increase the driving power and level of detail from the headphone output.
USB DAC function please  
 
 
 

 
Sound Signature
 
Many of head-fi'ers, have more than just a few IEMs and DAPs, simply because we like to have a few type of sound signatures in our collection. IMHO, X1 has the type of sound signature that is worth to be taken into our collection. X1 is a keeper, it has that type of 'collectible' sound signature.
 
X1 has natural warm and organic sound signature, with pretty good soundstage and instrument separation. Overall, X1 sounds very pleasing, fun and musical. X1 is less analytical than both X3 and X5, but still rendering pretty good level of detail, certainly better than my iPod Classic 6th Gen 80GB. X1 is not for those looking for highly detailed and analytical sound signature, but more for those who like warm and organic sound.  
Though X1 has a smooth warm sound signature, it is not the muddy and dull type of smooth warm, but smooth warm with a pretty good level of detail and imaging. Imaging though not as wide and spacious as X5, but more spacious than iPod Classic 6th Gen, also better than some other good smart phones that I've ever tried.  
Midrange
The midrange is lovely, warm, full sounding with good detail. X1 performs admirably on vocal. The full bodied vocal sound conveys the singer's emotion really well. With DUNU-DN1000 that sounds a bit analytical, tonality wise, X1 vocal sounds just right. With DN-1000, X3 vocal might sounds a bit too analytical, while X5 vocal sometime sounds a bit thin for my taste. Tonality wise, DN-1000 matches X1 really well, organic sound with good detail and imaging. While for a more organic sounding IEM such as my ATH-IM50 and ATH-IM70, I might prefer X3 for a more dynamic and powerful sound. Generally I prefer to match the smooth organic X1 sound with natural to analytical type of IEMs.  
Bass
X1 doesn't sound as powerful as the X3 and X5. Bass is slightly less punchy and impactful on the X1. X3 & X5 bass is tighter and more punchy than X1, but not by much. I'm not trying to say X1 is bass anemic, which is not. X1 bass is quite presence and sounds full bodied. But the slam, impact, and tightness, are not as good as X3. The rated 100 mW@16Ω headphone output is just not as powerful as the headphone output of X3 and X5. Considering the size and price, X1 power is actually quite impressive. But if you're very particular with powerful and hard hitting bass, X3 is the better choice.  
Treble
X1 treble is the softest among the 3. X3 treble is more sparkling, and X5 treble is smoother and more refined. But X1 treble is not lacking either. Treble level is good, treble quality is on the smooth side, sometime lacking sparkle and airiness for classical music. If some people think that X3 treble a bit edgy, then X1 treble sounds more pleasing. X5 treble still the most refined of the 3, but sometime I do feel like X5 treble is slightly lacking of sparkle, and sounds like rolled off too early at the upper treble region. X5 treble decay sounds a bit too short for me. X3 treble maybe love or hate. For me, I do like X3 sparkling treble. X3 treble is the most sparkling of the 3, might sounds a bit edgy to some, but I do like it, IMHO it makes music sounds livelier. For the rather bright and edgy recordings, X1 silky smooth treble definitely preferable.  
Headphone Output Driving Power
X1 does music in a fun way, but it doesn't always have the speed and power to catch up well with fast paced music as good as X3 or X5. Selection of recordings does play parts to get the most from X1. Vocal is what I found X1 does best. With album 'The World Greatest Audiophile Vocal Recording' from Chesky, overall X1 wins by a slight margin when compares to its bigger brothers the X3 and X5. X1 vocal is just right for my sonic preference, full bodied and less analytical. For album such as Pat Coil Gold and other instrumental albums, X3 is my favorite player for the most engaging bass and drum. As for X5, it is best for those looking for spacious imaging, such as binaural albums.
 
 
 
Compared to X5
X5 has clearer and wider imaging, with slightly more forward vocal. X5 sounds more spacious overall. X5 also sounds more powerful with faster transient and bass hits harder. But X1 has slightly fuller mids, that makes male vocal sounds fuller. I prefer X1 tonality for male vocal. X5 sounds more refined, but slightly lacking in midrange and bass body. X1 has fuller mids and bass compared to X5. X1 sounds warmer than X5. X1 Dynamic also slightly behind X5, but not at the level of lacking of dynamic. X1 still manage to sounds quite lively with decent power.  
Compared to X3
X3 is power. It punches and hits hard. Even harder than X5. But sometime it sounds rough, less refined. While X5 sometime sounds too refined for me. X1 is gentler than X3. It does music in a gentler way. X3 has more sparkling treble that makes recordings sound airier than X1, but sometime could also sounds grainier. X1 treble is smoother than X3, and lacking a bit of air for classical. Just a bit. I did enjoyed hours of classical with X1. Lacking a bit of air, but still enjoyable. I think X1 treble is closer to X5 than X3. While X3 sounds a bit dryer, more analytical with better detail, X1 sounds warmer, more organic, and more relax, and not as detailed. X3 has better dynamic and sounds more powerful than X1. X3 sounds livelier, but sometime X3 might sounds a bit aggressive, depending on the recordings and earphone pairings.  
Compared to iPod Classic 6th generation
X1 sounds bigger with a bit wider soundstage than iPod. Better detail, instrument separation, and sounds a bit more spacious. Tonality is actually pretty close to iPod, but overall X1 sounds better.  
Compared to Samsung Galaxy S4 (SHV-E330K - Korean version)
X1 is a clear winner. S4 sounds brighter, and doesn't have the mids and bass body as good as X1. S4 Imaging is not as spacious, and focused as X1. X1 is simply more musically engaging than S4. X1 at $99.- is justifiable for those looking for an affordable music player that sounds better than smart phones.
 
 
 
 
Some simplified comparisons:  
Bass power, punch, and tightness. Top to bottom, most potent to less potent:
Fiio X3
Fiio X5
Fiio X1  
Treble. Top to bottom, most sparkling to less sparkling:
Fiio X3
Fiio X5
Fiio X1  
Warm & Analytical. Top to bottom, warm to analytical:
Fiio X1
Fiio X5
Fiio X3  
Level of detail. Top to bottom, more detailed to less detailed:
Fiio X5 & Fiio X3 (comparable in level of detail, while X3 sounds more analytical, and X5 sounds more refined)
Fiio X1  
Dynamic and Transient. Top to bottom, most potent dynamic to less potent:
Fiio X3
Fiio X5
Fiio X1  
Wide and Spacious Imaging. Top to bottom, most spacious to less spacious:
Fiio X5
Fiio X3
Fiio X1  
Refined sound quality. Top to bottom, most refined to less refined:
Fiio X5
Fiio X3 & Fiio X1 (different sound signature, but comparable in level of refinement)
 
 
I tested X1 to drive HD800, the headphone output has enough voltage to drive HD800 to a reasonable listening level. Volume was set in the range 90-100 (max) when driving HD800. Not bad at all 
 
 

 
 
 
Build & Features  
Features comparison with X5 and X3:
http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?MenuID=105026016
 
While some said X5 is a bit too bulky and heavy, X1 small size and light weight is a joy to carry. I just hope the next version of X1 could be thinner.
 
 
 
 

 
Compared to iPod Classic 6th generation, X1 is smaller, but thicker.
 
 
 

 
Position of buttons, micro SD slot, headphone / line out socket, and micro USB charging port.
 
 
 
 

 
During the battery test, before FW 1.0 upgrade, X1 was once hang and become unresponsive. So I had to poke the reset switch located between the power button and the volume button. But after FW 1.0 upgrade I didn't experience any more problem with the player.
 
 

 
X1 has front metal housing, but the back is made of plastic. The back screwed to the housing using pentalobe torx screw, like those found on iPhone 4.
 
 

 
Fiio X1 has very good battery life, around 12 hours non-stop playback with minimum screen, tested using 24/96 FLAC files. 
The battery and the circuit board:
 
 
 

 
My main complain from the build is the scroll wheel. It is slippery. I hope Fiio will apply anti slip layer on the X1 wheel like the one on Fiio X5.
 
 

 
Second complain is the themes. All of them are low contrast themes, on relatively low contrast LCD screen. None of them is usable for outdoor during day time. Fiio, we need a high contrast theme, a simple white graphics on black background.
 
 

 
I found the UI on X1 is better and easier to use than X5 and X3. I hope Fiio will have unified UI on all their players, based on X1 UI. 
 
 

 
Headphone Output Vp-p and Output Impedance
Measured maximum peak to peak voltage on headphone output is at around 4.38 volts on 33 ohms load, and 4.63 volts on high impedance load (1 Mega ohm).
Measured headphone output impedance: 1.88 ohms.
 
Maximum peak to peak voltage on high impedance load:
 
Maximum peak to peak voltage on 33 ohms load:
 


Line Out Vp-p and Output Impedance
Not many DAP at sub $100 has line out feature. Line out on X1 is selectable through menu, and shares the same socket with the headphone output. Although X1 line out shares the socket with headphone output, from the measurement it is confirmed that the line out by passed the digital volume control and headphone amplifier / buffer. The line out has different maximum peak to peak voltage, and also different output impedance.
Measured maximum peak to peak voltage on line output is at around 4.31 volts on high impedance load (1 Mega ohm).
Measured line output impedance: 97.5 ohms.

 
 
Maximum peak to peak voltage on high impedance load:
 
Maximum peak to peak voltage on 33 ohms load:
 


CD image / CUE sheet compatible
This is another cool feature of X1 (also supported on X3 and X5), that it is compatible with CUE sheet that is quite common for CD image backup from audio CD. Some of us backup our audio CD into a CD image instead of separate tracks of flac or mp3 files. So those with tons of CD images backup don't have to split them into separate audio files per track, and can just dump them all to X1 to be played directly by the player. X1 also cleverly choose the cover image from the jpeg file that has the same file name as the CUE sheet file name. Gapless playback also tested and works fine.
 
Tested CUE sheet with APE, BIN, FLAC, and WAV audio file formats, only BIN file is not supported, the other common audio file formats are supported. BIN file, although not commonly used by consumer, is the output from Digital Audio Workstation for CD Image.
 
My CD images test files:
 
 
 
 
 

 
File Formats and Sampling Rates
Tested the following audio file formats and various sampling rates, all are playable up to 24 bit / 192 kHz, except the last DXD file at 24 bit / 352.8 kHz.
 
 
 
 

 
Silicon case
Though X1 silicon case in my opinion is better than X5 silicon case, with less 'dust magnet' property, I still prefer for Fiio to use TPE (Thermoplastic elastomers) material like smart phones cases, rather than silicon. Silicon case still annoyingly attracts dust and lint. One flaw, Fiio seems forgot to punch a small hole on the silicon case to show the charging LED.
 
 

 
In-line remote button compatible for earphones with built-in remote and microphone
I haven't tried this, but found on some post in Head-Fi, that the remote button on earphone that has built-in remote and microphone for smart phones, works with X1.
Single click: Play and pause
Double clicks: skip to next track
Triple clicks: skip to previous track
 
 
As I mentioned earlier as a point for improvement, is the behavior of the back button. After browsing through the album folders or playlist, and select a song to be played, I expect the back button to bring back one level up from the 'Now Playing' page, back to either the folder where the song is located, or the related selected playlist. The back button behaves that way, but only if I don't go to the home page by long pressing the back button. After I long press the back button to go to the home page, and go back to the 'Now Playing' page from home, a single short press of the back button now doesn't bring me back to the song folder or relevant playlist, but back to the home page instead. I find it very annoying as I have to browse back to folders or playlist to get to the album of the song that is being played. Fiio, could you please set the back button, when short pressed from 'Now Playing' page, to always go to one level up from the 'Now Playing' page, to either the folder where the song is located, or the selected playlist. It will greatly improve the user experience. Thank you!
 
 
I was quite busy when I got the turn to try the Fiio X1, so there are some features I haven't tested, like the line out quality, In-Line remote button, EQ quality, etc. From the limited time I had with X1, IMHO, FiiO X1 is truly a simple and beautiful sounding DAP. One again, kudos to FiiO!
 
 



 
 
 
Earphones and Headphones used in this review:
DUNU DN-1000
JVC HA-FXD80
Brainwavz S5
Narmoo S1
Sennheiser HD800
 
Some albums used in this review:

I received a unit of the Fiio X1 as part of the X1 world tour. I am in no way affiliated with Fiio, and in exchange for letting me demo the X1, I am required to give my honest thoughts about the X1.
 
Box Contents
 
 
I'm not going to post a picture of the box itself, since my unit is a pre-production one and it came in a plain white cardboard box. The final release would probably have some pretty nice designs so I guess we'll have to wait and see.
 
The X1 came with the following:
1) 3 pieces of screen protector (1 has been applied)
2) 1 black silicone case
3) 1 micro USB cable
4) Quick Start Guide
5) Warranty card
 

 
Build Quality
 
The X1 feels really solid on my hands. I'm still having a hard time figuring out if the body is made of aluminum or plastic, but I'm going to guess its a mix. The back cover feels like plastic, while the rest feels like aluminum. However, the plastic is really solid so I do not think there would be any issues arising from heavy usage.
 
Right away I noticed that each button on the X1 has an etching of its functions. This is a great addition for people like me who often skips the included manual and jump straight to the device. With the X5, I had to go through the manual (which is not a bad thing) but I sometimes find myself forgetting what each button do in the beginning.
 

Power, reset, volume buttons
 

Top left clockwise: Back, Forward, Previous, Menu buttons
 
As you can see in the pictures, Fiio has decided to retain the design of the center button as in the one in the X5. While I like the way it beautifully reflects light, I dislike the way it traps dirt and grime in the little ridges of the rings. Some might not be affected by it but I like my stuff clean and its a pain to remove the dirt. I had to use a stiff bristled brush to get to the little ridges where cloths can't. And since the scroll wheel doesn't sit exactly flush on the X1, some dirt also gets trapped on the sides of the wheel itself.
 

Notice the tiny white specs around the outside of the wheel
 
On the volume up key, there is a little nub so that you could tell which key you are pressing without looking. This nub is even present on the silicone case and is good news for those who keeps pressing the wrong volume keys.
 
Compared to the X5, the scroll wheel on the X1 feels a lot sturdier. Although it still raises a little when you press on the opposite side of the wheel, it does not feel as flimsy as the one on the X5. The scrolling action feels a lot more controlled and tight on the X1. Another point to note is that the wheel is not rubber coated, which may be a good or bad thing depending on each individual. To me, it is an upgrade as I always feel like I have to be careful with the X5 or the rubber coating would start peeling and come off and based on my experience with other gadgets, the rubber coating would start peeling off within a few years or even months regardless of how you use it.
 
The buttons on the X1 is nice as solid and gives a good (satisfying) tactile response with each press. The clicking sound does sound a little loud, and I don't think my roommate appreciates the clicks while he's asleep (I like listening to music before bed).
 
The X1 comes with a single microSD slot which supports up to 128 GB as per Fiio's specifications. What I like about this slot is that it doesn't come with the flimsy rubber covers. The one on my X5 became quite loose even though I only open and closed the covers for less than 10 times and I have to exercise caution each time I open it so it doesn't break. The microSD sits flush in the X1 after it is inserted.
 

 
The included silicone case is a nice touch. It feels a lot stiffer than the one on the X5 however I would've preferred it to come in gray instead of black so that I could see the charging indicator at the bottom of the device. Being a silicone case, it does pick up lint and dust fairly easily, but there's a kind of powder coating on the case so the dust could be wiped off fairly easily using just my hands.
 

After taking it out of my pocket
 
Battery life on the X1 is really good, with a rating of 12 hours by Fiio. I only had to charge it once every two days or so. No complaints there.
 
The screen on the X1 is decent. The screen is very bright and looking at it by itself the colors seem pretty vibrant, but when I place it next to the X5 the difference became obvious. The X5 shows a deeper and richer color while the X1 looks washed out. Of course, it isn't much of a fair comparison based on the price point of both device, but the X5 is the only other DAP I have (other than a C30).
 

Next to the X5
 

Outdoors the screen can be seen clearly
 

Holding down the menu key displays the information above
 
The user interface on the X1 is pretty similar to that of the X5, so I had no problems using it right out the box. Anyway, it's pretty simple, so much that anyone would be able to get used to it in a matter of minutes. There is a new theme function on the X1 which allows users to choose different colors on the UI but I just stuck with the grey one.
 
Sound Quality
 
The X1 does sound a little warmer compared to the X5, but not by a huge amount. I also find that the X1 is a little less detailed in comparison. But with the difference in price, I could not complain about the audio quality (which is still very good compared to other sources such as my Nexus 5). There is an EQ function which users can adjust, but I always disliked the idea of using EQ to adjust the sound of a DAP. It's just me .
 
The X1 shares a single port for the Headphone out and Line out and switches between the two through the settings menu.
 
I didn't use any external amps during my tests because none of my gears are difficult to drive. The amp in the X1 does a pretty decent job. It only sounds a tad softer when matched with the same volume as my X5 (taking into account the X5 max out at 120 while the X1 at 100). Using my Brainwavz M4 with the X1, I only needed to set the volume to about 25-30 while I'm outdoors and below 20 when I listen to it before bed at night. With the Grado SR60 I would have to crank the volume up to about 40-43. Any higher I would feel that my eardrums would explode. So I'm guessing that it should be adequate to drive other more demanding gear (although sound quality might deteriorate without amping).
 
Although I prefer the sound of my X5, I find myself reaching for the X1 more when I am going out. The X1 is simply much more lighter and more compact. It just feels much more comfortable in my pocket compared to the X5 and I do not get as many pocket presses due to the stiffer buttons compared to the softer ones on the X5. For this reason, I have half a heart on selling my X5 and buying the X1 instead since it would be much more useful for my day-to-day activities. I am not one who likes to carry too many stuffs in my pocket like the X5 strapped to an e12 or something similar as I find it impractical when I am on the go.
 

 

 
One thing I disliked was that the idle shutdown feature maxed out at 210 seconds on the firmware (0.17 beta) it came with. So every time I paused my song to run an errand or speak to someone for a couple of minutes, I find myself having to turn on the X1 again and again. The good news is that the latest beta firmware 0.21 has updated this feature and now it maxes out at 8 minutes.
 
Another problem I experienced (probably the biggest so far) with the X1 is that it sometimes sort of lags and stutters while playing a song. Initially I thought it could be due to a bad music file but when I rewind to the part it stuttered there was no more issues. This has happened quite a few times randomly but I am confident that Fiio will look into this in the future firmwares.
 
Final Thoughts
 
Fiio has produced something incredible here. With such a price point (~100 USD), it is a good DAP for those who are just starting out in the audio world and looking for better alternatives than the usual handphones and other cheap(er) China mp3 players. Knowing that Fiio will continue supporting and developing the firmware on its DAPs makes me feel like this would be a worthwhile investment for anyone who is looking for a super portable and affordable DAP. Personally, if I do not own the X5, I would have went ahead and got myself an X1 when it is released but for now, I guess I will live with the bulkier X5. I am also curious to see how other DAP manufacturers respond to the Fiio X1 with their own versions of budget DAPs in the future.
 

 

 

 

 

when asked if anyone was interested in reviewing the x1 alongside the he-560, i jumped at the chance. 2 new headphones at once; would make for a great compare & contrast, i thought ... not! it's not the philips x1 but the fiio x1, portable dap. oh great, what do i know about daps? about fiio? i don't use them ... sure, i own an e6 (still in the box), have had a sansa fuse and the m$ zune120. but i've never seriously used any of them ... relegating them as gifts instead.
 
for the experienced, you may choose to depart now for i doubt that i have anything to contribute that you have not come across before ... for you others, thank you for humoring me and following the words of an idiot ... sorry, there's no savant here. Here’s my anecdotal recollection of the events of those days as they occurred. May you find them humorous if not technically interesting.
 
nestled inside the big shipping container for the he560 i spy a small, white rectangular box. flipping open the end flap tabs, you slide out the inner carton to reveal a smooth white rectangular cardstock folder and small, narrow rectangular box. you lift out the folder (which you just know contains warranty & guide) and underneath is the x1 almost fully cloaked in what feels like, rubber or silicon.  & the other box, you just know contains an interfacing cable of sorts.  you lift out the x1 and assess its weight and compact form ... you look ... no, you examine intently, looking for the seams of its silicon dress. but there's nothing; no visual clues as to how to access its storage slot. consulting the manual reveals nought; still no way to undress the bride so to speak. it's late, better to wait for the light of day than to antagonize fiio with your apish groppling & ruining a tour experience.
 
a new day & all is revealed ... & you get it. the folks at fiio could have easily just ensconced the x1 into one of those plastic clamshells that require a chainsaw to access. but that's not fiio. you just know that the team members of fiio who are responsible for the x1 are of a singular gestalt.  they know the import of end-user experience and they're adamant at not letting the price point dictate their vision of catering to their community.  it leads you to believe that more than one soul at fiio is a practitioner of zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance & whose goal is to continually upend the apple cart, so to speak.
 
breaking my routine of playing silvery discs, i rip the discs using eac & remote freedb into multiple uncompressed wav files. this generates the following hierarchy [artist]/[album name]/ [01filename, 02filename, ...] which i copy in its entirety over to a 16gb microsd card.  Locating the slot on the side of the x1, I insert the microsd card and watch as it skews awkwardly; I try again, and again … nope, not going in straight at all. Could it be that you have to insert the card with label side down? And yet, if you use it with an sd adapter, it’s label side up? Just seems all too inconsistent to me. At any rate, the card is not recognized despite repeated attempts. I stuff it back into my pc and verify that the contents are indeed still there. Try it with the x1 once again, and bingo! There is content.
 
The interface seems familiar enough but doesn’t respond to me swiping from left to right or right to left. Okay, I guess I better consult the manual. Got it – follow the ring (swipe with a circular motion). Let’s check the settings – super, it has gapless. What about that other whatchamacalit? Hmmm … nope, nothing that I can see. Too bad, it would have made my day … but half a day is better than none.
 
Enough of this, let’s start playing some tunes … cue up #1. Eh? The tune is showing, along with the file attributes, but no sound … I turn it up even louder …. ¾ of the full ring. What the hey?? The player shows that time is advancing on the tune, but there’s no sound? Hit the back button to go back up one level and try again.   Aye-yah, Caramba!  It’s blasting my ears at 100++dB! My brain is apoplexied by the moment & my arms are caught mid-stream between punching the down volume button vs flinging the headphones off my ears. Luckily, common sense prevails and I fling the portapro off my ears, then I lower the volume .  pop the phones back on for a quick listen … tune after tune (having gapless is great), it’s all quite respectable … no, it’s more than that … there’s an evenness to the response, from the lows to the highs; it’s smooth with a decent sense of dynamics & great clarity & impact. If there’s anything to criticize it’s a slight lower-mid predominance but that is an attribute of the phones being magnified by the x1. I dabble a bit with the equalizer to try to tame this bump but the built-in ‘curves’ don’t quite do it – it’ll require fiddling with the custom settings.
 
I have the new hifiman he560 next to me, so I swap out the 6.3mm trs and grab the 3.5mm cable. Plug into the x1 and I hear a muted and indistinct single channel. I try another tune with the same results. Then I check the 3.5mm plug … hah, it’s not a trs, but a trrs.  Oh well, looks like the 560 isn’t going to be a candidate for use with the x1 this time around. Next, I turn to the q701 … no lack of power here. I listen to a few tunes before setting the x1 aside in order to resume my he-560 reviewing session.
 
The next time I pick up the x1 Greg is here to partake in a 560 reviewing session. He has brought his dbv3 modded fostex t50rp along. I fire up helicopter girl on the x1 with his t50s … ‘oh –wow’ are his first words. He listens intently for a couple of tunes before commenting that this is much better than out of his macbook. I proffer the q701 & while he listens, I inform him that these cost all of $99usd. He is duly impressed, but time is of the essence & we go back to the 560 evaluation session for the remainder of the afternoon.
 
I dedicate the next day solely for x1 listening with the q701. I go through the gamut of recordings on the microsd card – from bbng, beth gibbons, the bad plus, eccodek, chilly gonzales, melanio de biasio, helicopter girl, my morning jacket, justin rutledge to mahler symph #8 (decca 145). When I wake up, it appears to be on its 2^nd cycle … somewhere along the line, I have dozed off. I continue listening for another hour or so.  So, bunky, it’s so smooth you can’t help but nap? Sleepily good, you say? Noddingly great? Alas, it’s just the accumulation of sleepless nights and long days dedicated to 560 listening taking their toll.
 
So from my somnambular accounting, I can say that I like this – it’s more than passable; almost great in my books. What’s not to like? Well… that rubber sheathing picks up lint and dust like a well-served dust magnet (if it was another color, the dust would not be as obvious). & it doesn’t offer the fullness in the bass and lower-mids that my full-size tube amps achieve, nor does the soundstage extend as deep and wide, nor is it as nuanced in the mids. Its highs are not as ephemeral as that achieved through tube circuitry and the system is unable to assign artist and album names from the folder names … but then again, no other portable dap can either as far as I know. With phones like the q701, there is accentuation in the lower-mid that is not present when listening through my tube amps. But consider the price differential … a couple of output caps and coupling caps alone (mods for my tube amp) cost more than the x1. my biggest beef is that there is no included memory with the package - even a token 8gb would have been appreciated, even if it meant raising the price to 99.99
 
Would I buy this to personally use? My general answer would be a resounding ‘no’ because I’m not a portable dap user, nor a bud or iem user. But I can easily see myself grabbing one or two as gifts for valued friends or, indeed, one for myself if I was taking one of those long distance flights of 5 hr or more. Oh, & what’s that whatchamacalit feature, you say? Well, you can guess, right? Hint … rockbox has it.
 
My sincere thanks to fiio and joe bloggs for the opportunity to try the x1.

First of all thank you to Joe Bloggs for including me in the trials.
 
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with FiiO, I received this unit for review purposes only. The following review is a result of a 10-11 day period in which I had the X1 for a trial and sent it on to the next recipiient for the same purpose.
 
X1 Overview: a quick look at Design, Build Quality, and UI.
 
Other Gear Overview: a very brief overview on the cans used for testing and components for comparison, and a crushingly basic overview of each:
 
X1 Sound: (and how it compares)
 
 
Conclusion:
 
I would happily recommend this to any beginning audiophile, and may even get one for my father next gift-giving occasion, but I have enough portable solutions, and better (more expensive ones), of my own that I wouldn't get one for myself. A great player for the price though. I'm almost sorry it hasn't existed longer so that I may have had a smoother entry into the world of researched audiophilia.

  
 

I've been getting more and more into indie rock and have found great new bands, but, not enough space on a iPod. 
 
so i got the x1 and the flexible swappable microSD is awesome. THIS IS EASIER THEN A IPOD SYNCING! 
(drag and drop is great!)
 
I've already used 7 of 8gb of the card (just to start out with testing my music, I'm going to get a 32gb or higher card next)
 
im wanting to change some of the AAC formats to WAV, FLAC or OGG latter on. 
 
i mainly listen to classic rock like Grateful Dead, Hendrix, Who, Led Zeppelin, ECT... or new rock like the Black Keys.
 
coming from a iPod, some music (for now, if it needs to be -broken in-) kinda sounds different. 
some music like the grateful dead sounds better and detailed then a iPod, but then some like zeppelin kinda sounds farther away and not as detailed.
but then, other songs do sound fine. 
 
is there a "break in" period?
 
over all I'm probably am going to get the x5ii (i don't know when) latter on. 

Ok, so this will be my first review ever, and I don't consider myself as 'audiophile' by any stretch so please forgive any wrong use of terminology and lack of vocab yea. =P

Firstly, many thanks to Joe Bloggs and Fiio for giving me this opportunity to try out the Fiio X1. This was a loaned unit and we were neither paid nor received any benefits to do this review.
I am also not affliated to Fiio in any way. Due to the arrangement, I happened to be the last guy on the list so when I received the demo unit, many others before me have reviewed it already. 
Therefore, I decided to make this review a bit of a comparison between the X1 and the X3 (which I own and love) under various parameters, including the X1 and E11K combo.
 
Now on to the review proper!
 
First up, tech specs:
Size: 96.7mm*56.7mm*14.1mm
Weight: 106g
Playable formats: APE, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, WMA, AAC, OGG, MP3, MP2
Memory: No onboard memory, MicroSD up to 128Gb
Line Out: Yes, selectable in UI
 
Box contents: 
1) 1m MicroUSB cable
2) 3PC screen protector, (1 already applied)
3) User Manual, Quick start Guide
4) Warranty Card
The black silicon case that should have come with the X1 wasn't in the box when I received it.
 

 

First thing that struck me when I opened the plain white cardboard box was that it's really shiny, coming from the black X3.
The size and weight feel just right for me; it just sits nicely in my palm. The aluminium body was a real winner for me. The back, while plastic, feels pretty strong and rigid.
The buttons at the corners feel solid and I like how the X1 can scroll really fast with the wheel. However I feel that the wheel is a little too sensitive, quite often when trying to play or pause I would move it a little and the X1 would go to the folder view. Might have been better if the wheel has more resistance or if it was slightly recessed. (Right before posting this review I heard from Joe Bloggs that the scroll wheel issue has been addressed in the final production model. It has now been rubberised and the resistance has been adjusted.)
 

 

I had initially thought that the X1 would be shorter and broader than the X3 but it was actually the same width, but shorter and slimmer.
The X1 starts up a few seconds slower than the X3 and the buttons react just a little slower as well, however, it starts playing music faster than the X3.
Comparing the screens, the X1 seems to have a higher definition screen and the colours are warmer. (I just realised I didn't take and side by side comparisons for cover art..)
Screen could have been bigger though as the words are pretty small.
The UI I must say is quite intuitive and I managed to pick it up within minutes without reading the manuals.
I really like how the volume buttons are still active even when the other buttons are locked.

When I first plugged in the headphones and fired up the player, my first thought was "Wow the sound is shockingly good!!"
To be perfectly honest, I was expecting a bigger disparity from the X3 due to the X1 costing almost half of the former. The vocals and acoustic instruments all really stood out. The bass was more rolled off than I was used to but all in all it was an extremely pleasant listening experience.
 
I did a back to back comparison when I first received the unit and again right before returning it, after listening to the X3 only for a couple of days as a control.
This was done by first trying to match the volume, then repeatedly playing the same track on both DAPs, pausing both and then plugging my headphones to the other unit. 
As it turned out, my observations/ opinions were quite consistent in both comparisons.
 
Equipment used:
i) Fiio X1 (of course)
ii) Fiio X3
iii) ATH-M40X Over-ear headphones
iv) Fiio E06 Amp
v) Fiio E11k Amp (borrowed)
vi) Car stereo
 
Album tested:
Wagakki Band - Vocalo Sanmai (FLAC format, 44.1 kHz)
Fusion of traditional Japanese instruments and rock music, with a couple of acoustic tracks.
 
Test Parameters:
1. X1 flat eq vs X3 flat eq, low gain
2. X1 flat eq vs X3 flat eq, high gain
3. LO to car stereo
4. X1 vs X3 SW Equaliser
5. X1+E06 vs x3
6. X1+E11k vs X3
 
1. X1 flat eq vs X3 flat eq, low gain
X1 sounds fuller and cleaner, vocals really stand out against the other instruments.
X3 seems to have more instrument depth but a narrower soundstage
Soundstage for the X1 is wider and imaging is good.
 
2. X1 flat eq vs X3 flat eq, high gain
X3 soundstage becomes quite a bit deeper, though the X1 still leads it in width and imaging.
The X1 sounds noticeably brighter than the X3 but feels a little 'muted', could be due to the lack of 'depth'
An observation here is that the gain of the X1 seems to be somewhere between the low and high gain of the X3
 
3. LO to car stereo
X1 sounds a bit more muted as compared to the x3.
Plucking of strings sounds far more crisp on the X3 (faster attack?). Bass is also more 'felt' as compared to 'heard'
X1 soundstage sounds a little wider but less deep, even with the car stereo.
On the rock tracks, the X3 has noticeably tighter and deeper bass, and can I could hear more of the reverberation of the diaphram of the Taiko drum after being struck.
With the X1, it is more like a bit of a duller thud.
The X1 sounds more closed than the X3, which is 'airier'.
Even with this though, the X1 still sounds like there is better serapation of vocals and instruments.
On bass heavy segments, the X3's bass seems to be slightly fatty and eats into the mids a bit. This is less evident in the X1.
 

 
 
4. X1 vs X3 SW Equaliser
I tried to apply similar EQ settings to bump up the lower mids where the M40x is slightly softer.
The X1's equaliser sounds far more natural and 'airier' compared to the X3's newly reenabled sw equaliser. 
The effect of the eq is also more obvious on X1, but this could be because the x3 drops the level when applying eq but x1 doesn't.
As far as implementation goes, I much prefer the X1's equaliser in this case.
 
5. X1+E06 vs x3
Only the 4th eq setting (-3db) can be used as the others all produce distortion.
E06 gives the x1 a warmer sound and more depth than by itself.
To my ears the combination sounds somewhat like the x3, but the 'depth' is less. Bass in x3 sounds more thumpy and 'felt'.
The x1+e06 has tighter bass but is more 'heard' than 'felt'
X3 soundstage a bit bigger than the X1+E06 combo.
And now the main event:
 
6. X1+E11k vs X3
 
6.1 Low Gain and BB off
X1 soundstage dramatically increases in width and depth, and gains even greater separation.
Imaging improves greatly, I can actually pick out where the string instruments are and the plucking sounds very crisp.
Clarity and lushness increases as well.
Sibilance from flutes etc become audible where on the x3 sounded almost like noise.
The X1 gains a warmer tone, warmer than x3. 
Bass is tight and controlled and sounds bigger than x3.
 
6.2 High Gain
To my untrained ears, this just seemed to make everything louder so I ended up not using it a lot, as my cans are pretty low impedance.
 
6.3 BB on
With bass boost on, I felt that the bass became overwhelming and excessive but I can't really describe the effect it had on the mids, maybe someone with more experience can supplement this bit?.
 
All in all, the X1+E11k and X3 sound extremely close, and the price differential is small, with the X1/E11k combination coming out just on top of the X3 alone.
For the guys deciding between these 2, the choice would really depend on what you're looking for, an overall slightly better SQ or the smaller form factor of the X3 alone for portability. I would have gone for the X1+E11K combo for the same price as the X3. The improvement from the A/B comparison is marginal at best but still discernable.
 
In conclusion, the Fiio X1 is truly a fantastic DAP for it's USD100 price, punching far above it's level with the battery of features and the very very clean and natural sound.
I actively recommend it to anyone who is in the market for an entry level DAP. Great job Fiio! This is really a winner right here. =D
 
Finally, I would like to express special thanks to Stereo and ConnectIT for letting me borrow the E11k to test. Thank you guys!!