The FiiO X3 2nd gen (ex X3K, X3II) Thread : 192K/24B, CS4398,Native DSD, USB DAC with LO and inline remote

[jenia1]

i have a simillar question to that of Zachik here.
i was planning to buy the X1 for quite a long time , almost right after it was announced, but then i was traveling, having exams, and in general no time..
im almost done with my exam session and was planning to get the X1, only that they have announced the X3 II.
my headphones are not cans, its simply Blox Anv3se and i love them! my current dap is rockboxed 240gb 5gen ipod.
should a difference between the 2 daps be noticable for someone not using power hungry cans?

 

[razorpakk]

You should all wait a few weeks before asking those questions, a (very) few people just got the player.

 

[Ultrainferno]

  You should all wait a few weeks before asking those questions, a (very) few people just got the player.

 
And on top of that we can't really post anything that looks like a review before a certain date

 

[jenia1]

then let me alter the question. is it even worth buying the "old" X3 instead of an X1 for someone with my build?
in other words, will it not affect the SQ?

 

[bruce1967]

   
When I saw it at CES, it pretty much looked exactly like the X1.  I have a picture of their table if anyone is curious, but it's kind of boring.  lol
 
I saw it at the end of the day when I was on gear overload so I didn't realize that it was BRAND new or I would have spent more time with it.  I completely forgot at the time that the X3 looked different than the X1 and X5.  lol

Well the the look of it seems to be very similar to the X1 but thicker I guess and the color is darker right? I'd like to see any pictures you might have. Thanks.

 

[bruce1967]

  90% same UI as X
 
It has a more shaded semi abstract look to it. Creates a more 3D look I guess while still being very flat
 
Comparisons when I have a bit more time. 
 
 
 
 
*NOTE. This is BETA Software and is not representive of what the X3 Second Gen will come with. This is NOT the official firmware but a display/exhibition/BETA test fw. 
 
However, this is the first time that I've had such a bug free UI on a beta fw. All other betas on units that have come to me were barely working or would have freezing errors. 
 
 
 
Maybe you can see it from these pics
 

 
This one is slightly better at trying to show it.
 

 
A comparison of the bottom interface's build, design, and layout similarities. The X3 Second Gen uses the felt/soft wheel of the X5 while retaining the design of the X1. However, it is stabalized moreso than the other two.
 
Picture also shows texture differences between X1 and X3 second gen
 

 
Another UI change is that at the top, it will continuously display folder title even when you go into it. Done slightly different than it is now. 
 
This is not with the sorted file browse but with manual file browser.
 

 
Look at the 10band EQ
 

 
 
Bottup screen
 
 Pencil shows that X3 II is thicker than X1

 

 
 
Also X1 is thinner

Very nice looking DAP! Thanks for the pictures!

 

[oldschool]

 

[Jeff Y]

umm.. maybe it's an obvious question but no touchscreen right?

 

[jenia1]

  umm.. maybe it's an obvious question but no touchscreen right?

it doest get more obvious than that. no.

 

[jamato8]

For someone else with the X3 2nd gen., can the buttons on the side, for volume, be turned on and off, not by the locking of the unit by using the top button on the side but are there other ways to activate or deactivate the buttons for volume?

 

[originalsnuffy]

So what is the thinking on sound quality. I know firmware changes are coming, but my guess is that one has a strong hint at this point.

Sound quality would be described fist independently of everything you own, then perhaps relative to a X1 or X3 (original).

My guess is that this is more like the X1 ? Or do we get the happy instance of the X3 mellowness.

Now I have both the X1 and X3 and like both, but will admit that the X3 is my "go to " machine.

 

[jamato8]

So what is the thinking on sound quality. I know firmware changes are coming, but my guess is that one has a strong hint at this point.

Sound quality would be described fist independently of everything you own, then perhaps relative to a X1 or X3 (original).

My guess is that this is more like the X1 ? Or do we get the happy instance of the X3 mellowness.

Now I have both the X1 and X3 and like both, but will admit that the X3 is my "go to " machine.

You won't find me in the X3 camp for mellowness. I don't enjoy mellowness, it takes away from the music for me. I like real music and listen to live stuff and most of the time, if done right, and it isn't meant to be mellow, it isn't. So that is how I like my daps or amp etc. I find it more important to compare the dap to sound, to music not always to other daps. That is how I listen most of the time and if I forget about the dap, then something is right. 

 

[jenia1]

so let me ask again,for a person not using hard to drive earphones 38 ohm if im correct(Blox anv3se).  will there be any difference in sound between the X1 and old X3? and should i wait for the new X3 or just settle with the X1?

 

[Ultrainferno]

  so let me ask again,for a person not using hard to drive earphones 38 ohm if im correct(Blox anv3se).  will there be any difference in sound between the X1 and old X3? and should i wait for the new X3 or just settle with the X1?

 
Of course there's a difference. We can't decide for you if it's worth it or not though

 

[jenia1]

   
Of course there's a difference. We can't decide for you if it's worth it or not though

this is obvious, thanks though. i will wait for impressions and comparisons once they'r available.