[sbradley02]

There was a comment in the X5 thread that no one else has described the X3 as being bright besides me (I should add a note that this was with my X3 out of the box, and with notoriously hard to drive headphones)
This prompted me to start up a poll to see what other folks think.
If you use the X3 with multiple 'phones, pick whichever one you think is most representative.
This should be how the X3 sounds driving directly, no external amp since that would introduce the amp's characteristics.

 

[howdy]

Îf I may add to this, I believe it souly depends on the headphones, for instance my GR07 BE are warm but my Shure SE215 are bright as well as my vsonic vsd1s, my ATH-M50s are more neutral.

 

[sbradley02]

Îf I may add to this, I believe it souly depends on the headphones, for instance my GR07 BE are warm but my Shure SE215 are bright as well as my vsonic vsd1s, my ATH-M50s are more neutral.

I appreciate your adding this, it was my primary point

 
Yet looking at the poll results, overwhelmingly "warm". So there is quite a bit of consistency.

 

[Emospence]

They're making my Miracles sounds warm.

 

[Calbert]

Tested with Shure 840 and Westone 4R.

Warm.
Not bright but did not roll off like hm601.
Mids (vocals) feels somewhat forward (slightly).
A very small bass boost, not heavy at all.
 

 

[spriest]

The full modded x3 is possibly the warmest source I've ever heard.
 
So I chose bright for the original one ..lol

 

[fleasbaby]

Interesting...the poll says neutral or bright...I always thought the FiiO house sound was on the warm side. Is the X3 an exception?

 

[EtS13]

It sounds neutral to me, both trough a Sennheiser HD380 PRO and a cheap JVC HA-S160.

 

[kkrbd]

I often use x3 to listen songs of Armin Van Buuren with ATH-m50,That Bass is Heavy,I think.And I also like acoustic guiter song.It sounds very nice and very clean.