[Karendar]

What's a safe, cheap place to buy the fiio x5 if I'm in Canada?

 

[PinkyPowers]

What's a safe, cheap place to buy the fiio x5 if I'm in Canada?

Person-to-person hand-off with Justin Trudeau. He's the local supplier.

 

[notfitforpublic]

What's a safe, cheap place to buy the fiio x5 if I'm in Canada?

Headphone Bar is my go to in Canada. I'd look there when they become available.

 

[Karendar]

Person-to-person hand-off with Justin Trudeau. He's the local supplier.

Stale kind of humor there.

Anyone else? I found some on jojbuy, amplifiedhead, treoo and qoo10. I know none of these sites, so don't know who's legit.

 

[Karendar]

Headphone Bar is my go to in Canada. I'd look there when they become available.

Nice spot! Free ship, canadian pricing... Thanks a bunch!

 

[fish1050]

What's a safe, cheap place to buy the fiio x5 if I'm in Canada?

Karender where are you in Canada?
 
I live in Toronto and there are several stores here that carry Fiio products.  Two fairly big retailers in Canada that carry Fiio products are Canada Computers and shop.ca.
 
If you can wait until in launches in Canada you should have no problem finding it at a good price.

 

[Karendar]

Karender where are you in Canada?

I live in Toronto and there are several stores here that carry Fiio products.  Two fairly big retailers in Canada that carry Fiio products are Canada Computers and shop.ca.

If you can wait until in launches in Canada you should have no problem finding it at a good price.

I'm in Montreal, but I really didn't find anything worthwhile here. I go to Toronto once in a while, so we'll see when it does come out

 

[Dexter22]

I am too much interested in reading a comparison between the fiio x5 3rd gen and the xduoo x10, as they spot the same DAC ( 1 less in number and lot less in price!)

 

[floydstyle]

Karendar:
not sure if laytonaudio is a good place.  I found the website but I have no experience buying over there

 

[FiiO]

 
Congratulations!

 

Congrats James!!

Really nice way to start off with a new year, no?

Enviado desde mi H1

Thank you! We will keep on working hard!
 
Best regards

 

[Photoman]

Congratulations. Now it's time to get these out.

Thank you! We will keep on working hard!

Best regards

 

[erich6]

Originally Posted by chowmein83 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
First, the X5iii vs. the X5ii as a whole: Listening to the single-ended outputs of the both the X5iii and the X5ii using my Etymotic ER4S and my Sennheiser HD700, I felt that everything seems to be a bit sharper and clearer on the X5iii. The X5iii seems to have a slightly “airier” sound, in that I can more clearly hear the reverberations in the concert hall or in the recording room. The tonality between the two players is very similar – except the X5ii seems to have slightly more bass bloom (sounds a bit more mid-bassy). Separation and layering (perceiving which sounds are closer and further) of sounds is better on the X5iii. The soundstage width presented by the X5ii and the X5iii is about the same, but the X5iii gives a slightly deeper soundstage. Both players really didn’t have too much problems driving the ER4S or the HD700.
 
Overall, while the X5iii taken as a whole sounds better than the X5ii taken as a whole, I would be still happy to just listen to the X5ii.
 
...
 
Finally, a brief comparison on the DAC sections of each player: First off, the X5iii and the X7 DACs leave the X5ii in the dust. The X5ii DAC, in comparison to the ones on the X5iii and the X7, simply doesn’t have as black of a background and sounds too smooth in comparison with some details missing. Also, the X5ii DAC has worse separation as well as less depth and layering in the soundstage.
 

 
I read this as an indictment on the X5iii amp section.  When you compared X5ii to X5iii "as a whole" you didn't find much difference...slight/subtle.  But, when comparing the DAC's using a common external amp you say the x5iii DAC leaves the x5ii "in the dust."  If the X5iii amp section was good and transparent you should see the same difference in the "as a whole" test.  But, apparently the x5iii amp/analog section is not so good so as to mask the inherent advantage of the x5iii DAC.... 
 
Are you sure about your observations?

 

[chowmein83]

   
I read this as an indictment on the X5iii amp section.  When you compared X5ii to X5iii "as a whole" you didn't find much difference...slight/subtle.  But, when comparing the DAC's using a common external amp you say the x5iii DAC leaves the x5ii "in the dust."  If the X5iii amp section was good and transparent you should see the same difference in the "as a whole" test.  But, apparently the x5iii amp/analog section is not so good so as to mask the inherent advantage of the x5iii DAC.... 
 
Are you sure about your observations?

 
Yes, that's actually how I would put it (sorry if I didn't make it clearer earlier). Like I said, I feel that the amp is really holding back how good the X5iii can sound, since I really feel that the X5iii's DAC is very nearly as good as the one in the X7.

 

[jmills8]

Yes, that's actually how I would put it (sorry if I didn't make it clearer earlier). Like I said, I feel that the amp is really holding back how good the X5iii can sound, since I really feel that the X5iii's DAC is very nearly as good as the one in the X7.

same reason the AK380 has an Amp to attach to it.

 

[Kerouac]

 

   
I read this as an indictment on the X5iii amp section.  When you compared X5ii to X5iii "as a whole" you didn't find much difference...slight/subtle.  But, when comparing the DAC's using a common external amp you say the x5iii DAC leaves the x5ii "in the dust."  If the X5iii amp section was good and transparent you should see the same difference in the "as a whole" test.  But, apparently the x5iii amp/analog section is not so good so as to mask the inherent advantage of the x5iii DAC.... 
 
Are you sure about your observations?

 
Yes, that's actually how I would put it (sorry if I didn't make it clearer earlier). Like I said, I feel that the amp is really holding back how good the X5iii can sound, since I really feel that the X5iii's DAC is very nearly as good as the one in the X7.

 
This is a very interesting subject (quality of the dac and amp part in a dap) imo.
 
I still have a (1st gen) X5 over here, which I mainly use with a Headstage Arrow 5P amp. The X5 stand alone doesn't come close (in sq) to my P1 or LPG, but the combination with 5P does (at least to my ears). So I guess this means that the X5 classic also has a pretty good dac inside. Would be interesting to know how much the dac of the X5 iii can improve on that

 
 
Another thing is that X5 stand alone hisses pretty badly with my Zeus, adding the 5P amp gives it an almost black background as well. So, the X5 hiss must be due to the amp part?

 
Btw, @jmills8 I know you have the Arrow amp as well. Have you tested it with your X5 iii from line out? Did sq improve in your opinion with that amp?