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

[PinkyPowers]

@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.)

 
The problem isn't being unable to hear the difference, it's that there's a HUGE difference. The X3II sounds small and enclosed, veiled heavily, with very little detail or clarity. The Dragonfly is the exact opposite.
 
It doesn't surprise me that you would choose the DAP. Most would. It's why I'm looking for one. But I won't sacrifice superior quality for compactness. The Galaxy>Dragonfly fits in my pocket just fine. That's the defining criteria for mobility, after all. lol.

 

[betula]

   
The problem isn't being unable to hear the difference, it's that there's a HUGE difference. The X3II sounds small and enclosed, veiled heavily, with very little detail or clarity. The Dragonfly is the exact opposite.
 
It doesn't surprise me that you would choose the DAP. Most would. It's why I'm looking for one. But I won't sacrifice superior quality for compactness. The Galaxy>Dragonfly fits in my pocket just fine. That's the defining criteria for mobility, after all. lol.

I do not agree with you on this. I think X3ii has a lot of details and clarity.
Galaxy+Dragonfly is a more colored and bassier, less neutral, less natural sound. It might sound more exciting though. Depending on where you are coming from.
Also, our brain can get used to a certain sound signature. And it takes 3-4-7 days to get used to another one and start to appreciate what is better in it. (Of course, it depends on what music genres you are listening to and what sound you are looking for.) The main point is to enjoy what you like/what you have. And do not try to convince others your gear is better, cause it is not. You just like it more. (In most of the cases according to my experience.)

 

[PinkyPowers]

  I do not agree with you on this. I think X3ii has a lot of details and clarity.
Galaxy+Dragonfly is a more colored and bassier, less neutral, less natural sound. It might sound more exciting though. Depending on where you are coming from.
Also, our brain can get used to a certain sound signature. And it takes 3-4-7 days to get used to another one and start to appreciate what is better in it. (Of course, it depends on what music genres you are listening to and what sound you are looking for.) The main point is to enjoy what you like/what you have. And do not try to convince others your gear is better, cause it is not. You just like it more. (In most of the cases according to my experience.)

 
I am continuing to use the X3II for exactly that reason. I am trying get used to the sound, as to formulate a finer opinion. And yes indeed, it is beginning to sound less warm than it originally did. My second full day of listening is finished. I have enjoyed the unit loads.
 
There are certain things that will not change with time, however. Detail is one of those. It's either there, or it isn't. I'm doing some A/B testing right now, and the X3 doesn't come close. Clarity and soundstage is another thing I doubt will change much as I grow accustomed to the new sound, but we'll see.
 
I'm purposefully holding back, taking my time as I write the review. I don't want to publish half-formed thoughts on something that I've barely listened to.
 
That's what these posts are for.
 
I have to entirely disagree with your characterization of the Dragonfly sound. If you were talking about the X3 I would have said "Spot on, mate!"
 
You mustn't be irritated that I'm talking so much about the Dragonfly. It has nothing to do with "my gear" being better. The X3II is my gear. I bought it. I'm talking about it. I'm comparing it to the closest thing I have to a competing DAP. The Galaxy>Dragonfly is my only point of reference. I'm new to this.

 
 
In fact, the X3II is better than the Galaxy>Dragonfly. It's smaller. More portable. The battery lasts longer. It has more output options. I'd love to use this instead. It just doesn't sound half as good.
 
Maybe you're right. Maybe all this will change the more I listen to it. And listen I will. I plan to finish out the week with her at the very least. I feel she deserves that. The X3II is one tighty DAP.

 

[coletrain104]

   
I am continuing to use the X3II for exactly that reason. I am trying get used to the sound, as to formulate a finer opinion. And yes indeed, it is beginning to sound less warm than it originally did. My second full day of listening is finished. I have enjoyed the unit loads.
 
There are certain things that will not change with time, however. Detail is one of those. It's either there, or it isn't. I'm doing some A/B testing right now, and the X3 doesn't come close. Clarity and soundstage is another thing I doubt will change much as I grow accustomed to the new sound, but we'll see.
 
I'm purposefully holding back, taking my time as I write the review. I don't want to publish half-formed thoughts on something that I've barely listened to.
 
That's what these posts are for.
 
I have to entirely disagree with your characterization of the Dragonfly sound. If you were talking about the X3 I would have said "Spot on, mate!"
 
You mustn't be irritated that I'm talking so much about the Dragonfly. It has nothing to do with "my gear" being better. The X3II is my gear. I bought it. I'm talking about it. I'm comparing it to the closest thing I have to a competing DAP. The Galaxy>Dragonfly is my only point of reference. I'm new to this.

 
 
In fact, the X3II is better than the Galaxy>Dragonfly. It's smaller. More portable. The battery lasts longer. It has more output options. I'd love to use this instead. It just doesn't sound half as good.
 
Maybe you're right. Maybe all this will change the more I listen to it. And listen I will. I plan to finish out the week with her at the very least. I feel she deserves that. The X3II is one tighty DAP.

I think its funny that so many rave about the X3ii soundstage. To me it seemed reasonably deep, but it has nothing on modi in width and general separation. Of course, it is a DAP with an amp and firmware, other considerations, etc. I wouldn't expect it to compete with modi, but I would rather run from my budget desktop gear any day. Not super surprised you prefer the dragonfly. Good impressions from the earlier posts

 

[betula]

   
I am continuing to use the X3II for exactly that reason. I am trying get used to the sound, as to formulate a finer opinion. And yes indeed, it is beginning to sound less warm than it originally did. My second full day of listening is finished. I have enjoyed the unit loads.
 
There are certain things that will not change with time, however. Detail is one of those. It's either there, or it isn't. I'm doing some A/B testing right now, and the X3 doesn't come close. Clarity and soundstage is another thing I doubt will change much as I grow accustomed to the new sound, but we'll see.
 
I'm purposefully holding back, taking my time as I write the review. I don't want to publish half-formed thoughts on something that I've barely listened to.
 
That's what these posts are for.
 
I have to entirely disagree with your characterization of the Dragonfly sound. If you were talking about the X3 I would have said "Spot on, mate!"
 
You mustn't be irritated that I'm talking so much about the Dragonfly. It has nothing to do with "my gear" being better. The X3II is my gear. I bought it. I'm talking about it. I'm comparing it to the closest thing I have to a competing DAP. The Galaxy>Dragonfly is my only point of reference. I'm new to this.

 
 
In fact, the X3II is better than the Galaxy>Dragonfly. It's smaller. More portable. The battery lasts longer. It has more output options. I'd love to use this instead. It just doesn't sound half as good.
 
Maybe you're right. Maybe all this will change the more I listen to it. And listen I will. I plan to finish out the week with her at the very least. I feel she deserves that. The X3II is one tighty DAP.

In this audiophile world everything is very relative...
A certain combo sounds better than this or that, but it all depends on where you are coming from. What your preferred (usual) sound signature is.
 Imho objective differences are 20%. Subjective differences are 80%. Even in "professional" reviews...
So just go after your ears and what you like... My 2 cents...

 

[PinkyPowers]

 
In this audiophile world everything is very relative...
A certain combo sounds better than this or that, but it all depends on where you are coming from. What your preferred (usual) sound signature is.
 Imho objective differences are 20%. Subjective differences are 80%. Even in "professional" reviews...
So just go after your ears and what you like... My 2 cents...

 
I've come to know this truth in my travels, as well. Reading reviews only furthers this impression. One person likes something, the other hates it. One finds a thing boring, another is forever ensnared by its intricacies.
 
Perspective, history, expectations... this casts a pal, one which we can never fully penetrate, and it lies over everything we experience.
 
-~::Edit::~-
BIG update to my impressions:
I tried my Klipsch X7i in-ears, and they sounded quite beautiful with the X3II. The sound was a lot clearer, and detailed. I then plugged them into my Dragonfly, playing the same FLAC file. It was only a slight improvement. So slight, that I wouldn't really care which I was listening to.
 
Your pairing REALLY does matter.
 
I'm still going to be listening with my ATH-IM03 set. They are my newest and nicest phones, and all I've been listening to for weeks. So I want to change my brain's expectations with a few more days of hard X3II listening.

 

[dbdynsty25]

I've gotta admit, after not being ALL that impressed with the X3II, it has surpassed the AK JR in my eyes from an overall usability standpoint.  Both sound fantastic, and of course the AK JR has the nice and pretty interface but the slowness and sketchy touchscreen really hamper it.  Sure, it looks great, feels great, but I can't get over the price difference when the sound is so similar.  Using both my full sized portables (M100s and PM-3s) and my IEMs (Vsonic GR07BE), I can't be happier with the sound.  So it looks like the AK JR is on it's way back.  X3II wins!
 
Fiio just keeps doing it.  Between them and V-MODA, it's great to see the "little" guys put out fantastic products.

 

[rowoad]

 

 

   
I've come to know this truth in my travels, as well. Reading reviews only furthers this impression. One person likes something, the other hates it. One finds a thing boring, another is forever ensnared by its intricacies.
 
Perspective, history, expectations... this casts a pal, one which we can never fully penetrate, and it lies over everything we experience.
 
-~::Edit::~-
BIG update to my impressions:
I tried my Klipsch X7i in-ears, and they sounded quite beautiful with the X3II. The sound was a lot clearer, and detailed. I then plugged them into my Dragonfly, playing the same FLAC file. It was only a slight improvement. So slight, that I wouldn't really care which I was listening to.
 
Your pairing REALLY does matter.
 
I'm still going to be listening with my ATH-IM03 set. They are my newest and nicest phones, and all I've been listening to for weeks. So I want to change my brain's expectations with a few more days of hard X3II listening.

 
I totally agree with you, pairing with the X3II is very important. It sounds rather flat with my in-ear D-Jays whereas it sounds fantastic with SoundMagic HP150! Playing with the equaliser doesn't make a huge difference as the D-Jays are not very bassy, but I was used to how they sounded with my Cowon J3 with a custom equaliser.

 

[oldmate]

  Fiio just keeps doing it.  Between them and V-MODA, it's great to see the "little" guys put out fantastic products.

Absolutely. Still rocking with my original X3 with my latest headphone purchase the ATHM50X's. Good combo.

 

[oldmate]

duplicate post - sorry.

 

[arcam81]

Hi, just one small questión, is there a way to play all folders at the same time in random? Now i just can do it with one folder at a time..

Thanks

 

[betula]

I agree pairing is important. For example V-Moda M100 with the 1st gen X3 is just too dark for my taste. (Even though I prefer darker sound to brighter one.) But with the 2nd gen X3 it is stunning.

 

[x RELIC x]

Hi, just one small questión, is there a way to play all folders at the same time in random? Now i just can do it with one folder at a time..

Thanks

Put the play settings on shuffle and use the All Songs category.

 

[bruce1967]

I have a question for anyone here. If I have my X3 set to high gain it uses more battery so if I set it to low gain will the battery last longer even if I have to turn the volume up louder to match the volume I was getting with high gain turned on?

 

[PinkyPowers]

I have a question for anyone here. If I have my X3 set to high gain it uses more battery so if I set it to low gain will the battery last longer even if I have to turn the volume up louder to match the volume I was getting with high gain turned on?

 


In one of the reviews I read, the battery lasted nearly as long in High Gain as it did in Low. I wouldn't worry about it. It lasts quite long.