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

[Brooko]

  Of course the plug is fully inserted. The desktop cans are AIAIAI TMA-1 Studio headphones.

 
They're 32ohm with a sensitivity og 103 dB - so on paper the X3ii has no problems at all driving them.  Your description of "like I was at the bottom of some deep swamp plugged into the X3 II" is puzzling.  Assume you have no EQ engaged?

 

[BudC]

No EQ and no real difference in sound "quality" with lo/high gain which is exactly why I was puzzled. I want to blame the firmware update but can't since I didn't use that with the original firmware.

 

[Sound Eq]

why the eq in fiio daps is not well implemented, really what is wrong with eq, it is really not well implemented at all

and this applies to all fiio daps i have x3, x5 and now x3SG

 

[x RELIC x]

why the eq in fiio daps is not well implemented, really what is wrong with eq, it is really not well implemented at all

and this applies to all fiio daps i have x3, x5 and now x3SG

It's well implemented. Boost the volume after engaging the EQ to compensate for the reduced volume. FiiO reduces volume when using EQ to avoid clipping. Adjusting the sliders provide a clean adjustment of each frequency band with no distortion, what more can you ask for from a graphic EQ?

 

[ZMan2k2]

I think my X3ii and Cayin C5 amp together, are the perfect combo. Power, bass on demand, and I haven't even touched high gain on the amp. Now just to wait for my stacking kit to arrive, so I can get rid of the ugly blue band.

 

[Brooko]

why the eq in fiio daps is not well implemented, really what is wrong with eq, it is really not well implemented at all

and this applies to all fiio daps i have x3, x5 and now x3SG

 
I couldn't disagree more.  The EQ implementation in the X3ii, X5 and X5ii is (IMHO) brilliant.  The only thing that would make it better is parametric.

 

[interpolate]

Or a spectrum analysis mode although this will incur extra CPU load and therefore more battery power usage,

 

[WitzyZed]

No EQ and no real difference in sound "quality" with lo/high gain which is exactly why I was puzzled. I want to blame the firmware update but can't since I didn't use that with the original firmware.

Is your desktop system rather "bright" sounding? iirc the aiaiai studios have a pretty dark sound. that's my other guess. but mayhaps firmware as you suspect.

 

[aldikristanto]

Hey guys,  I need better DAC (DAP is a bonus feature)
 
which is the best deal for me between android phone (xperia Z) or laptop bypass the dac with smsl m2 ($65) or fiio e07k ($89) vs buy a new dap fiio x3 2nd gen ($200) ? my headphone is sony XB-950BT (no amps needed), I use mostly via wire connection in front of my laptop (80% of the time) for listening all kind of music.
 
Is it worth to spend around $100 more to get a Fiio x3 2nd gen but use it 80% of the time for usb DAC? Especially, is there any reasonable different in sound quality between the Fiio x3 (as DAC) vs Fiio e07k or smsl m2 for additional $100?
 
I'm looking forward for your opinion. I'm really appreciate it

 

[PinkyPowers]

For pure sound quality, I use the DragonFly 1.2. Significant step above the X3II.

I hope to try the X5 soon, and see if that can beat it.

 

[interpolate]

As a DAC come soundcard it pretty does everything you need for playback. The driver works on Mac, PC and Linux. So happy days all round.
 
Compared to say the EMU1212M which is has a good DAC setup, I would say the playback quality is good enough.

 

[aldikristanto]

For pure sound quality, I use the DragonFly 1.2. Significant step above the X3II.

I hope to try the X5 soon, and see if that can beat it.

I can't find DragonFly 1.2 in my local store. Just info, I heard X5 2nd gen has released and coming to production.

 

[PinkyPowers]

  I can't find DragonFly 1.2 in my local store. Just info, I heard X5 2nd gen has released and coming to production.

Yeah, I've been following the X5II's progress. It seems like it is fairly great. But then, they said the same about the X3II. And to be fair, it is quite good in a lot of ways. The X3II is a remarkably versatile little thing indeed. The sound it produces is smooth and easy to listen to. There's nothing unfriendly about it. Only when I compare it to my Dragonfly does it fall short.
 
I want something a bit more compact... something ready to go on a second's notice. Something that doesn't drain my phone battery. I want a DAP. So if I can gather the funds, I'll see if the X5II can match, or even trounce, this GalaxyS4>Dragonfly1.2 system of mine.
 
This

 
Is more compact than this...
 

 

[betula]

Here is a review of the new X5ii from an old head-fi member. With a little comparison to the X3ii.
http://www.headfonia.com/review-fiio-x5-second-generation-part-1/
He says the same I read from other reviewers before.
Sound quality is just marginally better than X3ii.
If you need 2 microSD card slots and a little bit more power for hungry headphones, go for the X5ii.
Otherwise X3ii is a wiser choice.

@PinkyPowers, I would choose X3ii over GalaxyS4>Dragonfly1.2 anytime. (Unless you need the above mentioned advantages of X5ii.)

 Of course, you can not hear major differences unless you use a really good pair of headphones. (Headphones should cost more than your player to hear what your player really can do... As a general approach.)

 

[Happytalk]

Yeah, I've been following the X5II's progress. It seems like it is fairly great. But then, they said the same about the X3II. And to be fair, it is quite good in a lot of ways. The X3II is a remarkably versatile little thing indeed. The sound it produces is smooth and easy to listen to. There's nothing unfriendly about it. Only when I compare it to my Dragonfly does it fall short.

I want something a bit more compact... something ready to go on a second's notice. Something that doesn't drain my phone battery. I want a DAP. So if I can gather the funds, I'll see if the X5II can match, or even trounce, this GalaxyS4>Dragonfly1.2 system of mine.

This



Is more compact than this...

Please let us know. Maybe include a link here if it's in another thread. Thanks!