Rockbox Xduoo X3

[Slater]

Will you recommend some long trance tracks? Might be good for sleeping...

Give the Chill Out album by The KLF a try. It puts me to sleep every time. Very peaceful.

And if you want some great high energy EDM, The White Room from the same band is a classic.

The KLF is also famous for burning £1M in cash in protest of ‘selling out’ and the commercialization of music and art. Although they later admitted it was something they regret lol

https://theconversation.com/the-klf...ing-that-burning-million-pound-question-83168

 

[mbwilson111]

Give the Chill Out album by The KLF a try. It puts me to sleep every time. Very peaceful.

And if you want some great high energy EDM, The White Room from the same band is a classic.

The KLF is also famous for burning £1M in cash in protest of ‘selling out’ and the commercialization of music and art. Although they later admitted it was something they regret lol

https://theconversation.com/the-klf...ing-that-burning-million-pound-question-83168

So maybe I do like EDM afterall. I liked that album The While Room. I think I still have the CD somewhere.

I remember the money burning.

 

[Slater]

So maybe I do like EDM afterall. I liked that album The While Room. I think I still have the CD somewhere.

I remember the money burning.

Yeah the White Room is awesome. So was a lot of their other stuff (released under numerous different names aka Justified Ancients of Mu Mu, The JAMs, and the Timelords).

Be prepared though; the Chill Out album is very different from their other stuff. It’s like the 180 opposite of The White Room.

Also, Enigma has some pretty chill stuff that’s great for falling asleep. And of course bands like Dead Can Dance and many others.

 

[mbwilson111]

Also, Enigma has some pretty chill stuff that’s great for falling asleep. And of course bands like Dead Can Dance and many others.

Again, you are helping me remember older stuff that I have and like. Thanks!

 

[waynes world]

No, the stock firmware actually sounds better than Rockbox (minus the pitch error). It’s very noticeable, so much so that I went through a period of time where I only used the stock firmware. But then the pitch error irritated me, noticeable on songs such as Van Halen Jump etc (the synthesizer sounds out of tune, but it’s not out of tune it’s the pitch error).

I don’t know what it is about Rockbox, and I’ve tinkered with every possible setting. I convinced myself I was imagining it for the longest time, but I just can’t anymore. There is definitely a sound difference. It’s dryer, tinnier, more metallic, and lower resolution somehow. I really noticed it on the CCA C16.

I gave the Rockboxed X3 a lot of love for a lot of years. I made custom cases, numerous mods, treated it like a queen, etc.

But all good things come to an end, and I’m just ready to move on to something better/different.

Just like I’ve reached a point with budget IEMs/cans, where anything I get from here on out will be a higher tier.

I also don't want to buy any more budget iems or cans. Earbuds however are another story lol.

As far as daps go, I'm pretty much done now that I'm using the radsone es100 bluetooth receiver. Sounds amazing and has a great app (with eq etc). And since I am using my phone with it, all the streaming I want (as well as files on the microsd card of course).

 

[ambchang]

This thing is really a fantastic player and the technical ability is just off the charts for the price. Too bad it’s not even useable with the stock firmware. It’s really a shame that xDuoo decided to ship out a half done product and relied on rockbox to save it.

If xDuoo would spend some money developing the OS or just design around Android they can take on the Fiios on the lower mid range DAP market and value oriented segment.

This is really one of the great what ifs in low fi portable.

 

[mbwilson111]

This thing is really a fantastic player and the technical ability is just off the charts for the price. Too bad it’s not even useable with the stock firmware. It’s really a shame that xDuoo decided to ship out a half done product and relied on rockbox to save it.

If xDuoo would spend some money developing the OS or just design around Android they can take on the Fiios on the lower mid range DAP market and value oriented segment.

This is really one of the great what ifs in low fi portable.

They do have the xDuoo X20 which is reported to be excellent. I do have a couple of friends on here who use it.

 

[ambchang]

I will probably look into that when the x3 dies but I would really miss the dual card slots.

 

[mbwilson111]

I will probably look into that when the x3 dies but I would really miss the dual card slots.

... at least cards are getting bigger...and there are other options with dual card slots, like the iBasso DX120.

 

[Slater]

... at least cards are getting bigger...and there are other options with dual card slots, like the iBasso DX120.

Agreed. Way back when I got the X3, 128GB cards had just come out but were still expensive. Now you can get 512GB cards for almost the same price I paid for 128GB at the time.

Because of this, I could easily get by with a single slot DAP and a single 512GB card.

However, dual 512GB cards would allow me to walk around with my entire collection plus have plenty of room to grow. Not totally necessary, but nice to have.

 

[mbwilson111]

Agreed. Way back when I got the X3, 128GB cards had just come out but were still expensive. Now you can get 512GB cards for almost the same price I paid for 128GB at the time.

Because of this, I could easily get by with a single slot DAP and a single 512GB card.

However, dual 512GB cards would allow me to walk around with my entire collection plus have plenty of room to grow. Not totally necessary, but nice to have.

I sometimes find it overwhelming to scroll through a big card full of so many choices.

 

[Slater]

To anyone that has accidentally broken off the volume buttons from their X3 after removing the circuit board.

I just got done fixing my broken X3. I had accidentally sheared off both volume buttons from the circuit board when I did the colored button swap mod. I was in a rush and I was not careful, so it was totally my fault.

Anyways, the total repair time was about 20-30 minutes. Total cost was $0.48usd. And best of all, the repair involves ZERO SOLDERING.

I repeat - NO SOLDERING WHATSOEVER.

The switches are made of 3 parts: the actual SMD micro switch, a plastic 'button' that pushes the switch, and a metal cover that goes over the plastic button. Think of it like a hamburger: the bottom bun is the SMD micro switch. The middle burger is the plastic 'button'. The top bun is the metal cover that sandwiches everything together.

Since the actual part that shears off is the middle part (the plastic 'button'), it's possible to harvest the plastic 'button' from GOOD switches, and transplant them into the stock broken switch. And all this requires no soldering.

You will also need some crazy powerful magnification. I used reading glasses AND a pair of jeweler's optivisors (available from Amazon, and are helpful for all sorts of things). You could also perhaps use a digital microscope. But there's no way you can do this with the naked eye. The parts are smaller than a grain of rice.

If you break anything, it's not my fault. Do it at your own risk. However, since this is intended to help you repair an already broken/worthless X3, what do you have to lose?

Basically, the steps I followed were:

1. Order the correct switches from Aliexpress ($1 for 5pcs). The part # you want to order (from this seller at least) is AJ-070: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Pow...-515-520-525-Nokia-8800-6288/32630894610.html

The size of the actual switch is 3.5mm (L) x 3.5mm (W) x 1.3mm (H), as seen below:

​

2. Once they arrived, I carefully disassembled the actual switches. To do this you gently pry the metal tabs on 1 end of the switch's metal top cover (ie the 'top bun') using a sewing needle or syringe needle. The only part we're saving for reuse is the grey plastic thing in the middle (ie the same part that shears off on the X3). This is the 'middle burger' in my analogy above. Also, don't BEND the heck out of the metal tabs, but rather just apply just enough gentle prying pressure that they 'spring up' and unlock.

3. Use the appropriate screwdriver (with Torx bit, etc) to remove the circuit board (including disconnecting the battery).

4. Now CAREFULLY pry the metal tabs from the metal cover (ie the 'top bun') of the stock X3's broken switches using a sewing needle or syringe needle. The metal cover will pop off on 1 side only. Use the tweezers and remove the cover totally and set aside. Be careful not to break the body of the stock switch! Also, don't BEND the heck out of the metal tabs, but rather just apply just enough gentle prying pressure that they 'spring up' and unlock.

5. Now use your tweezers and remove the broken plastic piece (ie the 'middle burger').

6. Take the GOOD plastic piece that you removed from the NEW switches in step 2 above, and using the tweezers insert them into place in the switch (ie the 'middle burger'). Note the orientation of the plastic switch. Be careful not to install it upside down! Carefully look at one of the 3 NIB Aliexpress switches to see what direction the plastic button goes!!

7a. Replace the metal cover (ie the 'top bun') that you removed in step 4 back onto the stock switch. Be aware of the direction it goes. It only goes on 1 correct direction! Carefully look at one of the 3 NIB Aliexpress switches to see what direction the metal cover goes on. In the very center of the metal cover, there's a metal 'tongue' that bends down. This metal tongue must be pointing in the correct direction for the switch to function properly. Again, double check one of the 3 NIB Aliexpress switches to see what direction the metal cover goes on!! You can see the metal 'tongue' in the photos below.

7b. Assuming you didn't bend the tabs of the metal cover, it will snap right back onto the stock switch. It will be helpful to attach it at an angle - hooking the metal tabs from one side (using the tweezers) at a 45 degree angle. Then swing the metal cover down and snap the metal tabs on the other side of the switch. If that sounds confusing, think of it like how you close a toilet seat.

8. Once both stock X3 switches are repaired, CAREFULLY reinstall the circuit board. MAKE SURE NOT TO BREAK THE VOLUME SWITCHES AGAIN! If you do happen to break the volume switches again, no worries. Just repeat steps 2-8 again (since you bought 5 switches, you have 3 extras).

9. Reconnect the battery and replace the back of the X3.

10. Turn it on and test everything. It should be working perfectly again!

Sorry I didn't take any pics. The size of these parts are soooooo small, I wasn't really able to photograph the process.

Here's photos of the switches though. In the photo you can make out the metal tabs from the top cover, the plastic button, etc.




I hope this is helpful to someone else! I know there's been a number of people that have broken their X3. Some have even tried to resolder new switches and managed to break it even more (it's a very difficult solder job).
​

 

[anthony01]

Slater, would you mind posting a detailed step about how you reflash your X3. Mine got stuck with RB since almost 2 yrs ago. I've sent you a PM but no reply yet. Thanks.

 

[Batfleck]

to delete please thanks

 

[bachankas]

Is the higher and hearable hiss normal on Rockbox? I checked the stock FW and no hiss with Fiio FA1. Using RB there is a hiss hearable when music is not playing.