[WitzyZed]

I mean, if you can upgrade, go for it! (not going to lie that cassette tape UI seems just gimmicky enough that I love it...)
But buying USB Audio Player Pro & the MQA Decoder is $7.99 & $3.99, respectively.
IF you can take a $828 dollar bath, take a $12 splash.

Still, probably a good bet going with something running Android 9.0, you're definitely not going to quickly run into any OS requirements/roadblocks.

 

[BobSmith8901]

And instructions for custom kernel again are right here, https://www.head-fi.org/threads/fii...s-android-dual-card-slot.828402/post-14769688

Thanks for all of your info and updates on this thread. At some point I'm going to give the custom kernel a try!

 

[BobSmith8901]

So my FiiO X5iii has lost its usefulness for me... as my one and only streaming high-res DAP. I can no longer get Tidal's current release because the X5iii only supports an older Tidal release. Or go for the custom kernel.

Rats! Now I need to find another streaming hi-res player. The Sony 40th Anniversary ZX-507 (at $828) is stated to be supportive of Tidal and have a good user interface.

Thank you for your help!

Hiby R5 has a lot of positives and not too expensive. There's a standard and Saber version. Android 8.1. I was thinking of moving in this direction if I upgraded.

https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-r5

https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-r5-saber

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/r5-a-new-android-dap-by-hiby.912566/

 

[ruthieandjohn]

With great sadness, I have set aside my oh-so-promising X5iii and purchased an iBasso DX160. It arrives tomorrow.

I really wanted to keep using the X5iii, but I wanted access to Tidal, and the X5iii version of Android is too old to support the current Tidal.

Without Tidal access, my X5iii was just another non-streaming player, and I have several Sonys and a Lotoo PAW Gold that do that job Much better.

I considered the FiiO M11 (reviewed to not sound as good as the DX160), the Sony 40th anniversary Walkman (about twice as expensive for similar features and poorer sound), and a few others.

Farewell, my X5iii. You will go into the closet of forgotten gadgets, your battery will slowly discharge, and you will die. I will return once, to reclaim the memory chips in you for use in my DX160, then close the closet door and place you in the dark.

Peace to you, and a salute to the future that might have been, playing your beautiful music to me through balanced FiiO FH5 IEMs. But not to be.

 

[FiiO]

With great sadness, I have set aside my oh-so-promising X5iii and purchased an iBasso DX160. It arrives tomorrow.

I really wanted to keep using the X5iii, but I wanted access to Tidal, and the X5iii version of Android is too old to support the current Tidal.

Without Tidal access, my X5iii was just another non-streaming player, and I have several Sonys and a Lotoo PAW Gold that do that job Much better.

I considered the FiiO M11 (reviewed to not sound as good as the DX160), the Sony 40th anniversary Walkman (about twice as expensive for similar features and poorer sound), and a few others.

Farewell, my X5iii. You will go into the closet of forgotten gadgets, your battery will slowly discharge, and you will die. I will return once, to reclaim the memory chips in you for use in my DX160, then close the closet door and place you in the dark.

Peace to you, and a salute to the future that might have been, playing your beautiful music to me through balanced FiiO FH5 IEMs. But not to be.

Dear friend,

Or you could try to use the Tidal app in older version in the X5III for help?

Best regards

 

[TiborG]

With great sadness, I have set aside my oh-so-promising X5iii and purchased an iBasso DX160. It arrives tomorrow.

I really wanted to keep using the X5iii, but I wanted access to Tidal, and the X5iii version of Android is too old to support the current Tidal.

Without Tidal access, my X5iii was just another non-streaming player, and I have several Sonys and a Lotoo PAW Gold that do that job Much better.

I considered the FiiO M11 (reviewed to not sound as good as the DX160), the Sony 40th anniversary Walkman (about twice as expensive for similar features and poorer sound), and a few others.

Farewell, my X5iii. You will go into the closet of forgotten gadgets, your battery will slowly discharge, and you will die. I will return once, to reclaim the memory chips in you for use in my DX160, then close the closet door and place you in the dark.

Peace to you, and a salute to the future that might have been, playing your beautiful music to me through balanced FiiO FH5 IEMs. But not to be.

It would be useful for other forum members to describe their experience with the iBasso DX160 especially with the software. Never mind, I'll quote you if I let you.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/iba...update-unboxing-1st-page.912228/post-16125321
iBasso without Lurker as FiiO X5-3 without jkbuha & prispewnic - good hardware, disastrous software
Otherwise a touching quote. From my previous posts, you must have found out that I'm not the right FiiO fan

 

[arionomus]

It would be useful for other forum members to describe their experience with the iBasso DX160 especially with the software. Never mind, I'll quote you if I let you.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/iba...update-unboxing-1st-page.912228/post-16125321
iBasso without Lurker as FiiO X5-3 without jkbuha & prispewnic - good hardware, disastrous software
Otherwise a touching quote. From my previous posts, you must have found out that I'm not the right FiiO fan

Maybe there's something I'm missing here but that response seems really petty. Multiple things can be true at the same time, one's negative experience doesn't invalidate your own.

I own every iteration of the x5 Fiio has released and the latest was so half-baked and unstable that I spent more time fighting with it than I did enjoying my music. The lack of robust support and the release of updates that only broke things further was the final straw for me. Cheers to those who have had more success than me.

 

[TiborG]

Maybe there's something I'm missing here but that response seems really petty. Multiple things can be true at the same time, one's negative experience doesn't invalidate your own.

I own every iteration of the x5 Fiio has released and the latest was so half-baked and unstable that I spent more time fighting with it than I did enjoying my music. The lack of robust support and the release of updates that only broke things further was the final straw for me. Cheers to those who have had more success than me.

A guy who, with his not the most ideal experience with his investment of almost $ 500, saves me money and embarrassment is my friend. Grafomans as hyperactive and always positive reviewers have not helped and will not help anyone. Probably everything.
That was the content you missed.

 

[397324]

Hi. FiiO Music keeps switching off. I've tried all the usual. Any Ideas? Everything is up to date.

 

[smellster]

Hi. FiiO Music keeps switching off. I've tried all the usual. Any Ideas? Everything is up to date.

Throw it in the bin (recycle) or sell it on to some unsuspecting soul. It was a clunky POS when it was released, and quickly put in the back of a draw.

I recently tried to resurrect it so the kids could listen to Tidal, that was a waste of 6 hours. Custom kernel, fidelizer, rooting etc. The closest I got was an old version of Tidal, that would randomly go to full volume and stutter. Never again Fiio.

 

[WitzyZed]

HOT TAKE ALERT

Maybe instead of suffering for 6 hours, hit up this forum and ask for help, preferably before you make up your mind to throw it away.

Judging by the fact that your X5iii was purchased in 2017, you should have among the most capable X5iii variants. On the other hand, your volume wheel just needs to be cleaned. Use rubbing alcohol / q tips / compressed air, problem solved. 3-4 years of oils from ones fingertips, or possibly dust from sitting in a drawer, who knows?

I got my player secondhand(!) likely three months after you got yours and it has none of the problems that you experienced.

Kernel version 3.3.2 runs tidal app without skips/choppiness (assuming these are not coming about d/t WiFi connectivity problems).
A page or two back is a link to another version of the tidal app that’s uncoupled from GP services so it can operate in a smoother fashion.

If your X5iii is in good condition, I’d happily take it off your hands, @smellster. Please tell me you haven’t hit it with a sledgehammer.

 

[WitzyZed]

Hi. FiiO Music keeps switching off. I've tried all the usual. Any Ideas? Everything is up to date.

I am not shocked that FiiO Music would crash.
I tried version 3.0.3 (like most FM versions to date) and ditched it. Fonts not being easily legible on now playing screen would be the major complaint... visualizer is...neat but not nearly sensitive or in sync enough to be useful compared to Neutron or PowerAmp.

Without a logcat dump of when FiiO Music decides to crash I can’t even venture a guess as to why..

 

[chef8489]

I recieved one of these to give to a buddy. My issue is I am looking for a decent music player that works on it. Blackplayer causes severe lag, fiio player doesn't group like it should under genre then artists. He needs somethign pretty easy to navigate and sort artists under genre instead of jumbling all the albums.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

Eh HiByMusic? It doesn't group artist's songs by album by default either, but you just need to tap the second icon to the right above the list to change that...

 

[chef8489]

I mean under genre then it shows artists under say blues genre. I kniw onkyo hf does and blackplayer does.