ClieOS, just read your first post. Thanks for that.
E17 owner here. I'm struggling between keeping my e17 and use it with android smartphone (usb otg, ending with a bulky brick) or simply sell it and buy x3.
My collection is all flac, but 24bit/96k are starting to grow.
I find myself using the e17 on my laptop a lot. So I really like they added the usb/pc functionality to the X3.
- Can you confirm that X3 is better (SQ) than e17?
- Could you explain sound differences, if there are, between their DACs, e.g. soundstage, etc on same headphone?
I've read: (here http://www.headfonia.com/first-impression-fiio-x3-dap/)
1 and 2 - already said that on the first post. X3 has a warmer tone to the overall presentation, so some might describe that as being less resolving / detail than E17. But I have compared them side-by-side, volume matched, and find X3 being just as resolving and detail with slightly more dynamic. The warmness can shift the listener's attention away from the upper detail but that doesn't mean the detail isn't there.