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:
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.)
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)
.
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:
- V-Sonic GR07
- Unique Melody Miracle
- 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.)
- Led Zeppelin - I, II, III 2014 Remasters, 24/96
- Bob Marley - Kaya 24/96 HDTracks
- Nick Drake - Bryter Layter 24/96 HDTracks
- Steely Dan - Gaucho MFSL 16/44
- Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic 16/44
- Hall and Oates - Greatest Hits 24/96 Vinyl Rip
- Beck - Sea Change MFSL 16/44
- Joe Pass - Joy Spring 16/44
- Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue Remaster 24/96 HDTracks
- Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense 24/96
- 2L Recordings - The Nordic Sound 24/96
- Bob Dylan - Desire MFSL 16/44
- Cowboy Junkies - Whites Off Earth Now! MFSL 16/44
- Neil Young - Harvest CBS Mastersounds Vinyl Rip 16/44
- 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:
What Else?
Nothing, really. If you want all of the specs,
http://fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?ID=100000060437344&MenuID=105026016

Bye for now...
I'm pretty happy with mine, but like this hobby goes, if you want to keep something for a while, don't listen to other devices with different DACs that you might prefer, because you won't be holding onto the device for long.
Pretty good considering the price. Build quality is top notch even for more expensive DAPs.
Back in the day I had some Samsung DAPs, iRiver, Sony, and a CreativeLabs that were more expensive, but less functional for the price. Then again that was more than 10 years ago.
Great stuff from FiiO.