Fiio X5 3rd gen || 2x AKM 4490 || Balanced Out || DSD || DXD | DTS | Android || Dual Card Slot

[jmills8]

Listening to Lady Fantasy - Camel on X5 III + A5 + Whizzer A15 (chi-fi) and it sounds just so melodious. I really like what im hearing 


 

 

[JaeYoon]

Try this with the X5 III if you have the time.

I like it a lot as well thanks

 

[regit]

Anyone here managed to get players that rely on mediastore to work? Like Google music, black player ex, shutter+?

I am not even sure if media scanner is working on the X5III?!?!

 

[dsrk]

Spoiler: Again, off topic - it's the design that matters!

Define full potential. Explain what factor is reproducing the sound better to one's ears. Power=loudness. Turn up the volume and you supply more power. Leave the volume low and you don't supply as much power. The quality of the amp will come through (good or bad) whether you supply a small or a large amount of power (volume). Also, power comes with some caveats... like... is there enough Current delivery for a particular headphone?



There are many other factors like impedance, distortion, Voltage swing, SNR, channel separation, to name a few that affect the sound quality, not just power output. It's all about the amp design, not just raw power specs is all I'm saying. For some reason many think that power output is the only factor to consider. I've heard powerful amps drive my headphones/IEMs like crap, and I've heard weaker amps drive my headphones/IEMs sublimely. Well designed gear matters, not just power (if there is already enough).



It's the same thing as when I read that balanced headphones sound better. Nope, it's the amp's balanced design that sounds better, the headphones are just playing what the amp is sending, the headphones don't change. Terminology is important or else myths are born, repeated, and it becomes truth to many, but it's wrong.



That said, I never said there is anything wrong with adding an amp, and if one prefers the amp to whatever they use as a source, or if the amp quality improves the source, then yes, that's what truly matters.

 

Yes I agree with you that it's the design that makes all the difference but I did not say anything otherwise.
Many DAPs are using the same DAC but how they sound different. It's how they are tuned.

 

[mandrake50]

 

 

   
Because you said 'you don't need power for volume' and claimed it was for dynamics. 

 
I haven't heard the ie80 or ie800 but looking at the specs what you claim makes no sense. Could your ie800 be plugged with ear wax? I don't know, and I agree this is getting off topic. The only way to be sure is to measure the output.

 

Yes, volume is not power. My old Cowon C2 can make HD650 louder but no way closer to drive them properly.
X5 3 drives them far better than the C2 but again not to its full potential.

A 150cc bike going at 100 Kph and a 500cc or 1000cc doing same with ease, autbority and control.
Just trying to explain when people say you don't need an amp to power hard to drive phones. Even the 18 Ohms Momentum sounds better with an amp.

I know some people feel the other way but I am happy with an amp. That's what matters right.

 
Of course! 

 
How you feel with what you have is the most important aspect! 

I also hear the improvements in control and authority using a strong amp with X5ii. Cannot explain how or why, but the whole sound is better controlled, there is a faster response of the driver itself. 

There probably are not many people that will say that different amplifiers do not absolutely sound different. The point is that power output is not usually the reason for this. If two amps are both supplying a level of output at similar distortion levels, it makes no difference that one may have a MAX power rating of several times the other. The difference in sound in this case would be entirely due to many other aspects of the amplifier design.

 

[nekromantik]

Anyone seen this:
 
http://www.fiio.me/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=41957&extra=page%3D1
 
Fiio must have it wrong as according to that playback of 24/96 on any app should work without downsampling but third party apps DO down sample on this DAP.

 

[regit]

Anyone seen this:

http://www.fiio.me/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=41957&extra=page%3D1

Fiio must have it wrong as according to that playback of 24/96 on any app should work without downsampling but third party apps DO down sample on this DAP.

I don't think Fiio got it wrong... The way I read it is that there is no src at the android level (and therefore to dac), nonetheless Fiio cannot control what rate 3rd parties choose to send to dac.... I.e. Downsampling is done by others, not Fiio. FiiO has nothing to fix IMO.

 

[nekromantik]

I don't think Fiio got it wrong... The way I read it is that there is no src at the android level (and therefore to dac), nonetheless Fiio cannot control what rate 3rd parties choose to send to dac.... I.e. Downsampling is done by others, not Fiio. FiiO has nothing to fix IMO.

 
I understand that but for example Neutron you can select native track sample rate but then the output is garbled and android downsamples it to 48hz. 
I dont think the apps themselves are doing it as it was a Android limitation that is bypassed in Fiio App but not OS wide so other apps fall back to Androids limitation. 

 

[Croptop]

Anyone here managed to get players that rely on mediastore to work? Like Google music, black player ex, shutter+?

I am not even sure if media scanner is working on the X5III?!?!

I can't speak for the other titles you mention but Google Play Music works just fine on my X5III.

 

[regit]

I understand that but for example Neutron you can select native track sample rate but then the output is garbled and android downsamples it to 48hz. 
I dont think the apps themselves are doing it as it was a Android limitation that is bypassed in Fiio App but not OS wide so other apps fall back to Androids limitation. 

In my limited experience with Neutron, it seems sample selection is more for USB DAC. There are players that are made more "aware" or the DAC and can do the appropriate output, eg, poweramp alpha (though not working yet for x5). I am not sure what Fiio did, if the tweak is done at the audioflinger level, then it would be transparent rightfully...

 

[regit]

I can't speak for the other titles you mention but Google Play Music works just fine on my X5III.

Thanks! I must be doing something wrong! I cannot get media to be scanned and be available to Google play music. Will try some more.

 

[LCMusicLover]

 
I wasn't trying to spoil your fun, but you did seem to want to make a good decision.

.
.
.
My money is on you keeping the more expensive device.

I got a lot of comparative listening in yesterday/last night between the P2 and X5, and came up with this:


http://www.head-fi.org/t/838510/cowon-plenue-2-taking-it-a-step-further/345#post_13444177


As @Sonic Defender predicted, I did hear some betterness from the P2.


Now I find myself seriously considering this advice:

Just keep both and you won't have to worry about which one is better

The thing is, I really like the X5, and I consider it an outstanding value given the bundle of features it brings.


I don't care much about the hint of warmth in the sig, in fact, didn't really notice it until I was comparing with the P2.


But the depth thing matters to me, and it was really the only complaint I had about the X5 -- see my first detailed impressions post here:


http://www.head-fi.org/t/828402/fiio-x5-3rd-gen-2x-akm-4490-balanced-out-dsd-dxd-dts-android-dual-card-slot/5625#post_13364342


On the other hand, the convenience of streaming, massive storage for both local music and downloaded streaming content, and quick-charging are all meaningful pluses for the X5.  And, honestly, for normal listening when I'm not really concentrating, the difference isn't that significant (not negligible, but definitely not major).


On the gripping hand, the Cowon EQ is really useful.  It let's me really enjoy all my headphones.

 

[Sonic Defender]

 
 

  I wasn't trying to spoil your fun, but you did seem to want to make a good decision.

.
.
. My money is on you keeping the more expensive device.

  I got a lot of comparative listening in yesterday/last night between the P2 and X5, and came up with this:
  http://www.head-fi.org/t/838510/cowon-plenue-2-taking-it-a-step-further/345#post_13444177
  As @Sonic Defender predicted, I did hear some betterness from the P2.
  Now I find myself seriously considering this advice:
 
 

Just keep both and you won't have to worry about which one is better

   

If you can afford both it seems that a case can be made for doing so as they each will have some particular strengths/features not found in the other. Either way you go, you win. Cheers.

 

[mandrake50]

Is this the Cowon Plenue 2 that I see selling for close to $1900 US ? It does sound like a fine DAP. But at almost 4 times the cost of the X5 III... well I would be mightily unhappy if it did not surpass it in some regard. I would also be looking for more than minor or subtle improvements.
 
I am glad you like it. If I get the chance I want to listen to one.

 

[LCMusicLover]

Is this the Cowon Plenue 2 that I see selling for close to $1900 US ? It does sound like a fine DAP. But at almost 4 times the cost of the X5 III... well I would be mightily unhappy if it did not surpass it in some regard. I would also be looking for more than minor or subtle improvements.

I am glad you like it. If I get the chance I want to listen to one.

$1290 from JetAudio eBay store (although they appear to be out of stock at the moment) vs $399 for X5 from Amazon. So just over 3X. It's the nature of the whole diminishing returns thing.

The $1900 price is just an attempt to profiteer by a reseller.

Nevertheless, I agree with your basic point that it's an awful lot more money for what could be considered an incremental improvement. But conversely, the effect of the 3Dness of the sound image really doesn't seem incremental to my ears.

Hard to let go, hard to justify the $$$.

I'll probably sell my Ultra-fi & Shadow and just use the P2 @ home.