IBasso DX50 vs Fiio X3 comparison thread

[kenz]

The X3 is crazy powerful. It powered every headphone and universal iem i've tried at the recent Mook festival in Singapore.
The Final Audios (iems) even Pandora 6, the fitears, the JH audios 13/16, the Fostex Tr50p, TH600, TH900, the beyerdynamic T1, etc.
The X3 took them all on and all sounded mighty fine and then some. Truly a pleasant though little surprise (E17 amp inside after all).
 
Had the AK120 as well at the same time and well ... they do well with the iems. Will just leave it at that.
 
 
The DX50 is also good, the dac tuning to me seems very well done, though the amp portion may be the weak link in the chain. As a layman user, the sound coming out of the DX50 headphone and line out, are very different and pairing with a good amp (tubeamp ta1 or alo rxmk3b+), shows the dx50 could be a better player.

 

[caableguy]

So which would you recommend for the Westone 4R?

 

[howdy]

So which would you recommend for the Westone 4R?

I myself prefer the sound of the DX50, although the X3 sounds amazing as well. Me personally not ever listening to the westones would recommend the Fiio as the westone would benefit from the warmer sound sig. I do own both the Dx50 and the X3.

 

[kenz]

So which would you recommend for the Westone 4R?

 
For me, the X3 may be the better choice in terms of synergy with Westone 4R.

 

[caableguy]

Okay, so I'll order the x3, will I need an amp, and what about the x5 that keeps popping up in this conversation? I've thought about saving up for the AK100, but some of the reviews are holding me back.

So 2 for the x3 :thumbup: none for the dx50:thumbdown::what:

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk 4

 

[davidsh]

x3 has the same amp as the e17

 

[howdy]

Okay, so I'll order the x3, will I need an amp, and what about the x5 that keeps popping up in this conversation? I've thought about saving up for the AK100, but some of the reviews are holding me back.

So 2 for the x3 :thumbup: none for the dx50:thumbdown::what:

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk 4

The x3 is very powerful DAP you will not need a amp with thd 4r. The X5 will not be in the USA till march and it will be about 400 to 500 dollars, but it would be worth it from what im hearing so far.

 

[caableguy]

Cool. I'll be ordering this today then. Thanks. Still looking at the DX50. I'm also wondering about the AK100-120. Hmmm.

 

[Jackson9696]

Which of the two players has the most in your face and forward kind of sound? Thanks

 

[howdy]

Cool. I'll be ordering this today then. Thanks. Still looking at the DX50. I'm also wondering about the AK100-120. Hmmm.

Did you get your X3 yet? If so how do you like it.

 

[goodvibes]

   
Well the reviewer has said he will re-test the X3 in high gain, and if the results are different, he will update the graphs. At least that's what I gather from the translation:
 
"Today and tomorrow rechecked, the player still has a presence at me if measurement was made in the Low Gain, rather than Hi, then, accordingly, all the graphics are updated.

There may be another issue with that test if he used RMAA. From the user manual:
 MP3 player analog/digital output test :
A WAV file generated by RMAA is converted into a highest-quality MP3 
and copied into the examined device for playback, which is recorded 
by RMAA at standby. 
 
Unless the reviewer changed the standard procedure, we're comparing MP3 decoding as well as gain/DAC performance at line out. It's been noted that MP3 decoding is not a strong point on the X3 and that FiiO is correcting it. Hard to know if those results reflect this or not. It may look much better in that comparison with AAC or lossless.

 

[Hellkitchen]

Which one would you suggest to be paired with the UE 900?

 

[JoeDoe]

Fiio is a little warm and 900 is neutral. Much better pairing than with DX50 which is a little on the bright side.

 

[Hellkitchen]

Fiio is a little warm and 900 is neutral. Much better pairing than with DX50 which is a little on the bright side.

Thank you for reply, You have confirmed what I was thought.
 
Another thing that I want to ask is if the iBasso has a lot more SQ than an iPhone 5. Ok I think this can be obvious, but I read that iPhone 5 (which I own) is a really good source even if it don't read Flac etc.

 

[Groog]

I had looked into these two DAPs and was coming to a decision on which to get until I read this thread!
 
Has anyone tried them with a pair of HD25s (my primary out and about headphones)? Their 70 Ohm impedance hasn't been covered by anyone yet.