[x RELIC x]

I have pre-ordered an X5 III for use with my Z1R, 64ohm 100db efficiency. I am torn as  also for similar money can get a Mojo. I think the DAC sections are in many ways a wash as both should sound excellent, but I'm concerned about which device has the better amplification section for a headphone such as the Z1R. Has anybody in this thread heard both the Mojo and X5 III and have any thoughts on the amplification performance?

Mojo essentially drives headphones from the DAC's line-out, just having I/V conversion for the output stage, for the sake of transparency to the source (the design goal being that more components in the audio path reduce transparency). The designer, Rob Watts, has shared this info extensively. The FiiO uses the standard I/V conversion - buffer - filter - gain stages for amplification. It depends on how sensitive you are to hearing a difference at the headphone/IEMs to be able to appreciate the implementations. The DAC in the Mojo is much more sophisticated, but again it depends on how much you may be able to appreciate the difference at the ears.

For power output the Mojo pumps out 600mW@32 Ohms with 500mA of current. The FiiO X5-3 pumps out 250mW@32 Ohms with 250mA of current. Measurably the Mojo is superior on all fronts but you need a source for it and it isn't as portable.

Edit: For reference the Mojo drives the Utopia (80 Ohms, 104dB SPL/mW) very well. It also drives my ETHER Flow's and LCD-2.2 well. It will be fine for your Sony. I'm sure the X5-3 would also drive your Sony headphones well.

 

[Sonic Defender]

Mojo essentially drives headphones from the DAC's line-out, just having I/V conversion for the output stage, for the sake of transparency to the source (the design goal being that more components in the audio path reduce transparency). The designer, Rob Watts, has shared this info extensively. The FiiO uses the standard I/V conversion - buffer - filter - gain stages for amplification. It depends on how sensitive you are to hearing a difference at the headphone/IEMs to be able to appreciate the implementations. The DAC in the Mojo is much more sophisticated, but again it depends on how much you may be able to appreciate the difference at the ears.

For power output the Mojo pumps out 600mW@32 Ohms with 500mA of current. The FiiO X5-3 pumps out 250mW@32 Ohms with 250mA of current. Measurably the Mojo is superior on all fronts but you need a source for it and it isn't as portable.

Thank you for the input, that was indeed useful. Cheers.

 

[FiiO]

 
 
 

 
 
Got Neutron up and running fast. It is managing it's memory better than the i5 did. No lag in spectrum analyzer or button push to action delays.
 
Will do a full walk through video/review
 
 
P.S.
 
I'm taking myself off the X5iii tour

Hope you can enjoy it!
 
Best regards

 

[Hawaiibadboy]

 

[x RELIC x]

Thanks Hawaiibadboy!! Very helpful!

 

[Hawaiibadboy]

Thanks @Hawaiibadboy!! Very helpful!

 There is a gaping info hole. I know the tour will help that and reviews but some fingers are on triggers now. I say pull trigger.... now.
Like the Mojo, the price to performance ratio is really weighted to the buyers side. Does not happen often enough. FiiO nailed it.
This is an X7ii not an X5iii. IMO

 

[x RELIC x]

 There is a gaping info hole. I know the tour will help that and reviews but some fingers are on triggers now. I say pull trigger.... now.
Like the Mojo, the price to performance ratio is really weighted to the buyers side. Does not happen often enough. FiiO nailed it.
This is an X7ii not an X5iii. IMO

Actually interested in your DX200 vs X5-3 comparison as well. I've always had a soft spot for the X5 line and this one may just get my money as well.

 

[FiiO]

 

1. It does have 2 microSD slots ?
2. It plays DSD's (Native or DSD to PCM?)
3. Will Spotify/Tidal be playable with offline content without Android upscaling?
4. Will UAPP app work in bitperfect
5. Anybody already mentioned no background hiss with SE846's ?
6. Do inline controls of earphones work (play/pause etc.)

 
Thanks

Dear psikey,
 
1. Yes, 2 SD card slot.
2. Native.
3. Yes.
4. Sorry we haven't tested this yet.
5. Does X5 3rd gen support in-line remote control from the headphone: http://fiio.me/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=41963 
 
Best regards

 

[FiiO]

  So just to get a better idea about battery in standby, i charged the x5III till it was full and left it for the night for about 7 hours.
it was in Android mode and wifi and BT off. Batt dropped from 100% to 37% in 7 hours. That does worry me!

Dear superuser1,
 
If you confirm that you entered the sleep mode successfully, maybe you can send internal_sd\FiiOLog\ battery to us. We will report to the engineers about that.
 
Best regards

 

[AndrewH13]

Damn you HBB

Determined not to buy this DAP, X5i still doing a sterling job with my Hugo.

But....... great user video, more useful than any advertising. Nice one mate.

 

[psikey]

Thanks Hawaiibadboy.
 
Really looks to meet all my "Wants" but I don't want to use with external DAC/AMP so just hoping I get no noticeable hiss with my Shure SE846's. I do have a 70 Ohm audio grade attenuator but prefer not to use it.
 
At least with AMP3 I can return without too much issue other than covering postage.  Fingers crossed as I'm not replacing my SE846'S !
 
You don't happen to have any SE846's to try do you ?

 

[JWolf]

   
Wait, what?...
 
 
Someone asked if X5-3 will sound better as a transport 

 
I tried to answer : Sometimes the transport to a DAC/AMP can influence the final sound. This is because of different power, clock, and other kind of implementations. The data should theoretically be the same between two different transports - but two different transports connected to the same DAC/AMP might sound different. 
 
X5-3 might make a better transport than X1ii for example. 
 
Well - I do think that X5-3 would make one of the best transports on the market based on features alone - dual mSD slots, 4" touch display, Android, V4A, it's UI is smooth, and other factors. 
 
So without factoring in the differences in SQ which can be huge or marginal between two transports feeding the same DAC / AMP, I would totally recommend X5-3 as a transport! 

 
 
All you'll get from the X5III as a transport is digital noise. Plugging in your headphones to the coax out won't sound good.
 
But seriously, why buy a DAC that cannot properly output digital bits from the digital out? Of course the X5III works for outputting the digital signal. That is a silly question (IMHO).

 

[chowmein83]

  any difference sq and power between SE and balanced out? how much the difference?

 
In terms of power, the SE and balanced out are very, very similar if you look at the specs on FiiO's website. In my testing, I found this to be the case - at the same volume number, both the SE and balanced out pretty much had the same sound level output as measured by my SPL meter.
 
SQ-wise, I actually forgot to write up a short comparison between the SE and balanced out last time. So here it is:
 
The difference between single-ended and balanced output on the X5iii is somewhat subtle - it is definitely not a day and night difference. Bass is a bit tighter and goes slightly deeper. There's somewhat better separation, so it's easier to better focus on certain details in the music. There wasn't much change in the soundstage in balanced compared to SE in terms of both width and depth.
 
As a final note, I did that comparison volume-matched using a C-weighted SPL meter.

 

[superuser1]

  Dear superuser1,
 
If you confirm that you entered the sleep mode successfully, maybe you can send internal_sd\FiiOLog\ battery to us. We will report to the engineers about that.
 
Best regards

 
Thanks for the reply. Please let me know where do i send the logs to.

 

[Riley Beale]

 
Thanks Hawaiibadboy.
 
Really looks to meet all my "Wants" but I don't want to use with external DAC/AMP so just hoping I get no noticeable hiss with my Shure SE846's. I do have a 70 Ohm audio grade attenuator but prefer not to use it.
 
At least with AMP3 I can return without too much issue other than covering postage.  Fingers crossed as I'm not replacing my SE846'S !
 
You don't happen to have any SE846's to try do you ?

Fiio replied to my question about hiss.  They told me the X5 3 does hiss and it is noticeable.  I notice hiss with my Shure SE846 on most sources I have. I do not have an X5 3, but I have an original X5 and hiss is kind of there, but not bad.  It is tolerable when music is playing and not too bad when no music is playing.  I have figured out that my tinnitus is being percieved as hiss.  Too many rock concerts without earplugs.  Always where them now.  I could be wrong, but I think I read somewhere in this thread that the X5 3 has louder hiss. It really depends on how sensitive you are to hiss.  I have read the SE846 has been called a hiss monster to some degree.  I am hoping this will be fixed soon on the X5 3, but I am looking at other daps right now for when I am actually ready to purchase a dap.
 
Cheers
 
Riley