FiiO X7 Mk II 2GB RAM + 64GB ROM + ESS9028 PRO + Balanced + DSD + BT 4.1 aptX + Dual mSD + Dual Band WiFi + Opt Out

[ryanjsoo]

The X5III "bit harshness "? I dont think the X5III sounds harsh and most people if they have a complaint it would be that the X5III is too smooth.

The X5 III has a smooth low-end and midrange, but the high end gets a bit crunchy with a touch of grain. That being said, I didn't find the X5 III to sound harsh and I guess not everyone will feel that way, but I definitely noticed it in comparison to my other sources. And it's not that I dislike the X5 III, but I would personally take the X7 w/AM2 any day, it is one of my favourite sources to listen to.

Also, from my experience with the HA-2 and HA-2SE, the 9028 sounds pretty darn similar to the 9018, but Fiio might have made other changes that will affect sound quality so I'm as excited for the X7 II as anyone else!

 

[vrapan]

The X5III "bit harshness "? I dont think the X5III sounds harsh and most people if they have a complaint it would be that the X5III is too smooth.

Yes sorry if you disagree but upper middle and treble had a harsh grainy shouty quality to them for me which neither of the x7s /seem to have. Maybe I am wrong it was a 5 minute audition at canjam but there you go.

 

[jmills8]

Yes sorry if you disagree but upper middle and treble had a harsh grainy shouty quality to them for me which neither of the x7s /seem to have. Maybe I am wrong it was a 5 minute audition at canjam but there you go.

maybe you have a bright iem/HP and you wont use EQ?

 

[Hawaiibadboy]

maybe you have a bright iem/HP and you wont use EQ?

Yah think?

LOL

A grainy DAC?
Send that shi back!!

My ma-900 got some grain. Enough to make a loaf a bread on some vinyl rips...but i kinda like it.
DAC? Hmmmm

 

[Bellyworshipper]

Also, from my experience with the HA-2 and HA-2SE, the 9028 sounds pretty darn similar to the 9018

Hmm, some people consider that almost all ES (ES 9018, ES 9018K2M, ES9028 Pro, etc.) DACs sound similar if not the same, even in different implementations. Obviously, it's all about personal perception.
It will be very interesting to audition the X7 MarkII. So far, I like the FiiO approach: use of a single and refreshed 9028 Pro DAC with 3.7V required power supply for both digital and analog parts, which is good for portable devices (still this DAC is a bit overkill, IMHO) instead of under-implementation of dual DACs. Even more to that, each 9028 Pro peak power consumption is about 500 mW (according to the open to public data), which is considerably more than that of the 9018 model, which makes the dual DAC configuration a battery vampire. As for the CPU, the RK 3188 has a USB Host feature that enables you to use the DAP as a digital signal source for an external DAC, which is about everything I need from a CPU in a DAP

 

[FiiO]

Can there be a red version too?

At present, no.

Best regards

 

[FiiO]

I heard the MKII at the London Canjam where the rep said that it won't be coming out for a while as to not make the X5III regret their purchase only to find out that it is now available for preorder from AMP3 and that Fiio is ready to ship before the end of the month...

In any case the X7 sounded really good from short impressions. I couldn't get on with the X5 III though, there was a bit harshness and edginess all over the place that grated on me very quickly.

So the question to Fiio, can the X7 MK2 save Tidal/Spotify on external storage (mSD) and have they fixed the streaming interference from the first X7?

Dear friend,

We are contacting the developer of Tidal for the stutter issue. But seems it is no issue with saving files on external storage.

Best regards

 

[Bellyworshipper]

Dear James, could you tell us in more detail about the formats the X7 Mark II can output via its USB port (as a digital source for an external DAC) and coaxial electric/optical out? I mean maximum bit depth and sampling rate. Are there any XMOS-like solutions for the USB DAC/out feature implemented in the X7 Mark II? Is it possible to use the Line/Coaxial/Optical Out with the HP Out simultaneously?
Thanks

 

[Dobrescu George]

Does anyone else feel like the X7 MKI specs were better?
Especially when you read all over the place you should be aiming for <1Ω Output Impedance.

That is dependent on the AM module you're using. I'm pretty sure that some of the AMP modules will have better output impedance.

The X5III "bit harshness "? I dont think the X5III sounds harsh and most people if they have a complaint it would be that the X5III is too smooth.

True, X5-3 is fairly smooth for most people out there.

The X5 III has a smooth low-end and midrange, but the high end gets a bit crunchy with a touch of grain. That being said, I didn't find the X5 III to sound harsh and I guess not everyone will feel that way, but I definitely noticed it in comparison to my other sources. And it's not that I dislike the X5 III, but I would personally take the X7 w/AM2 any day, it is one of my favourite sources to listen to.

Also, from my experience with the HA-2 and HA-2SE, the 9028 sounds pretty darn similar to the 9018, but Fiio might have made other changes that will affect sound quality so I'm as excited for the X7 II as anyone else!

That's interesting!

I actually loved the first X7 with the AM03 module. Quite an eye opener when I first heard it! I'm into energetic signatures, so I understand your love for X7+AM02 as well!

 

[Arghavan]

Headphone impedance: 16-300 ohms
Does it mean it's not recommended to use with sensitive IEMs like my 9ohms Shure SE846?

 

[Whitigir]

Headphone impedance: 16-300 ohms
Does it mean it's not recommended to use with sensitive IEMs like my 9ohms Shure SE846?

Sounds like it, as impedance mismatch is usually the "hissing snake"

 

[Hawaiibadboy]

Hmm, some people consider that almost all ES (ES 9018, ES 9018K2M, ES9028 Pro, etc.) DACs sound similar if not the same,

The Calyx-M.

Changed my perception of DAC traits and totally flipped it upside down. A DAC really is a slave to the surrounding parts. The DAC selection does not mean as much as we would like or the companies would like us to think.

http://www.headfonia.com/calyx-m-perfect-zoot-suit/2/

I don't often link to these folks but only a few have held and reviewed it.
If the X7ii sounds anything like the Calyx I will be stoked. Warm yet...detail rich and extends to the ends of the sonic spectrum both ways. Black as night BG.

 

[PapaThrust]

Does anyone else feel like the X7 MKI specs were better?
Especially when you read all over the place you should be aiming for <1Ω Output Impedance.

Those are some small tradeoffs in exchange for the massive play time increase for the AM3.
Original X7 with Am3 had 6 hrs estimated for both se and balanced, the MKii shows 10 and 8 hours.

Looks like the new amp has better SNR figures as well - although I doubt spideyman could hear that difference.

I wonder - if they release a single ended amp catered more towards iems - would we pick up better battery life?

 

[Whitigir]

Hmm, some people consider that almost all ES (ES 9018, ES 9018K2M, ES9028 Pro, etc.) DACs sound similar if not the same, even in different implementations. Obviously, it's all about personal perception.
It will be very interesting to audition the X7 MarkII. So far, I like the FiiO approach: use of a single and refreshed 9028 Pro DAC with 3.7V required power supply for both digital and analog parts, which is good for portable devices (still this DAC is a bit overkill, IMHO) instead of under-implementation of dual DACs. Even more to that, each 9028 Pro peak power consumption is about 500 mW (according to the open to public data), which is considerably more than that of the 9018 model, which makes the dual DAC configuration a battery vampire. As for the CPU, the RK 3188 has a USB Host feature that enables you to use the DAP as a digital signal source for an external DAC, which is about everything I need from a CPU in a DAP

Not to me, in my experiences, the ESS can sound different and it depends on the implementations. However, it is easier to not have done a good job on ESS, hence the majority of sibilant and so on as it is mostly in a lot of things...it gives the ESS some wrong impression to the general public

 

[Dobrescu George]

Not to me, in my experiences, the ESS can sound different and it depends on the implementations. However, it is easier to not have done a good job on ESS, hence the majority of sibilant and so on as it is mostly in a lot of things...it gives the ESS some wrong impression to the general public

I really hope for an energetic sound!