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

[cireyay]

Do i still have to use a dac with this. Sorry im a noob to this

 
 

  If you own a higher level dac than that which is already inside the X3ii, then you should use it. Otherwise there is no need for an external dac. 

 
I don't think that's the question he meant.
 
Please correct me if i'm wrong, dylanmcbean0819, I believe you are asking do you need to use an extra DAC to use with the X3ii. The answer is no. The X3ii like all DAPs(Digital audio player) or PMPs(Portable music player) have an DAC and Amp built in so you are good to use it independently without needing to connect it to a separate DAC.

 

[cireyay]

   

erm, well looking at your figures, it does make sense that the X3ii (or X3K as its known where I'm from) has enough current to drive the Havi B3s. But I'm not exactly referring to that kind of driving. Its more of the kind of sound signature the X3k is feeding the B3s. It's not my kind of sound signature, I much prefer the way the X5 and the older X3 make my B3 sounds like.
 
The older X3 could also comfortably drive the B3s in terms of current, so its like what the sound engineer tunes the DAP to sound like, it knows it has enough current at this impedance, but how does it sound like? its the tuning and the other sound engineering that goes into it which I'm not entirely familiar with. Ultimately, sound signature is a combination of many factors in my opinion, sufficient current is one of them but there are many other factors that affect how a DAP sounds. 

 

[needmoretoys]

How do the Havi B3 Pro1 compare to any of the Etymotic earphones or even the old iM616 or iM716? My X1 drives my iM716 fine, but doesn't really have the power to drive the DT880-250. The iM616 and HF5 are easy to drive with even my Clip+.

 

[twister6]

  How do the Havi B3 Pro1 compare to any of the Etymotic earphones or even the old iM616 or iM716? My X1 drives my iM716 fine, but doesn't really have the power to drive the DT880-250. The iM616 and HF5 are easy to drive with even my Clip+.

 
You guy do realize B6 is about to be released any day now (single driver "Pirate" version, more bass enhanced), and shortly to be followed by a dual-driver more balanced/neutral version?  No need for any amping, and mmcx detachable quality cable
 
Clip+ will not drive B3P1, needs amp.  Regarding my previous comment about B3P1 not sounding as nice from HO of X5, I didn't mean it in terms of power.  You can make it loud, that's not a problem.  But Havi sound pops out and comes to life with a quality amp.  It's all about personal preference of sounding nice and just OK, and having a wow! sound factor with a right synergy after a perfect pair up!  B3P1 is still among the few IEMs that gave me that wow! feeling (and their soundstage and layering/separation is amazing!!!) from day one, but I was always struggling with their wire-up fitment.  Now, I'm having high hopes for both B6 versions

 

[Brooko]

  erm, well looking at your figures, it does make sense that the X3ii (or X3K as its known where I'm from) has enough current to drive the Havi B3s. But I'm not exactly referring to that kind of driving. Its more of the kind of sound signature the X3k is feeding the B3s. It's not my kind of sound signature, I much prefer the way the X5 and the older X3 make my B3 sounds like.
 
The older X3 could also comfortably drive the B3s in terms of current, so its like what the sound engineer tunes the DAP to sound like, it knows it has enough current at this impedance, but how does it sound like? its the tuning and the other sound engineering that goes into it which I'm not entirely familiar with. Ultimately, sound signature is a combination of many factors in my opinion, sufficient current is one of them but there are many other factors that affect how a DAP sounds. 

Makes sense if you don't like the Havi signature - it's fairly neutral/flat, and some will find it dull anyway (I don't) - especially if your preference is more V shaped (fun sound).
 
However, in my experience the X3ii sound signature is very close to that of the X5 - so given its output power is so similar, there should be no real difference between listening via X5 and X3ii.  I'd suggest any difference you heard would probably be down to volume matching 

 

[Brooko]

  Regarding my previous comment about B3P1 not sounding as nice from HO of X5, I didn't mean it in terms of power.  You can make it loud, that's not a problem.  But Havi sound pops out and comes to life with a quality amp.  It's all about personal preference of sounding nice and just OK, and having a wow! sound factor with a right synergy after a perfect pair up!

 
Sorry mate - synergy I get (personal preference) - power I don't.
 
The X5 drives the Havi B3 Pro 1 with no issues.  In side-by-side testing with my NFB-12 they sounded similar to me.
 
The problem is that everyone makes out that adding "more powah!" to the Havis is going to make them into a TOTL IEM.  As long as you have enough to drive them properly - they aint gonna change.

 

[twister6]

 

  Regarding my previous comment about B3P1 not sounding as nice from HO of X5, I didn't mean it in terms of power.  You can make it loud, that's not a problem.  But Havi sound pops out and comes to life with a quality amp.  It's all about personal preference of sounding nice and just OK, and having a wow! sound factor with a right synergy after a perfect pair up!

 
Sorry mate - synergy I get (personal preference) - power I don't.
 
The X5 drives the Havi B3 Pro 1 with no issues.  In side-by-side testing with my NFB-12 they sounded similar to me.
 
The problem is that everyone makes out that adding "more powah!" to the Havis is going to make them into a TOTL IEM.  As long as you have enough to drive them properly - they aint gonna change.

 
Yep, they are neutral/flat with a bit of low end tilt up.  Reminds me a lot of HP150 full size cans.  The synergy of pair up with the right amp to add some coloring (especially with C5 which enhances soundstage) made a big difference for me.  As I mentioned, this is not about enough power to drive them, but rather adding some excitement to them.  Just a matter of personal preference.  But other than that, my Havis been collecting dust for a very long time, which is also part of having too many headphones to play with...

 

[cireyay]

  Makes sense if you don't like the Havi signature - it's fairly neutral/flat, and some will find it dull anyway (I don't) - especially if your preference is more V shaped (fun sound).
 
However, in my experience the X3ii sound signature is very close to that of the X5 - so given its output power is so similar, there should be no real difference between listening via X5 and X3ii.  I'd suggest any difference you heard would probably be down to volume matching 

Brooko, you are mis-reading my posts and as u have misread Twister6's posts as well I believe.
 
I LOVE MY B3s, it has got nothing to do with the IEMS! I have said its about the DAP sound sig, more specifically its about the X3K's sound sig. I love the Havis out of the X5 HO and even the LO for that matter, the older X3, the cayin C5 and especially my Dacport but NOT the X3K. The Dacport is known as a very neutral dac+amp combo by the way, so why does it sound so different from a neutral X3K?
 
And I agree with Twister6, its about the synergy when you find a right dac/amp with the B3s, it can be quite a picky IEM but its very satisfying to find the right match for it. He also mentioned it isn't about the power that drives the B3. 
 
Anyway Brooko, we can agree to disagree, I really don't see that you get my point. You enjoy the X3K, I don't, as simple as that.

 

[originalsnuffy]

Brooko;
 
How does the X3 rev II sound compared with the Pono ?

 

[jamor]

Do these Fiios navigate folders "as is".   i.e. the folder structure you put on your sd card is how you navigate your music?
 
Or does it smart-compile your music like an ipod/zune in its own way allowing you to navigate and sort by your songs internal ID Tags like Title, Album, Album Artist, Song etc.. 

 

[cireyay]

  Do these Fiios navigate folders "as is".   i.e. the folder structure you put on your sd card is how you navigate your music?
 
Or does it smart-compile your music like an ipod/zune in its own way allowing you to navigate and sort by your songs internal ID Tags like Title, Album, Album Artist, Song etc.. 

you can navigate by folder or by genre or by album if i recall correctly. its your choice

 

[Prognathous]

How long does it take the player to index the card? My Clip Zip and Cowon X7 become unusable for a long time until they finish indexing. I vowed to never buy another player that does this. Hopefully the FiiO X3 II doesn't.

 

[Brooko]

  Brooko;
 
How does the X3 rev II sound compared with the Pono ?

 
Sill getting to grips with the Pono.  It has a leaner sound - X3ii slightly richer / more full bodied.  Both sound pretty darn good.  Don't worry I'll have an in-depth 0 probably Pono vs X5 by next week.
 

  How long does it take the player to index the card? My Clip Zip and Cowon X7 become unusable for a long time until they finish indexing. I vowed to never buy another player that does this. Hopefully the FiiO X3 II doesn't.

 
Only indexes when you add music (if set to auto).  I leave mine set to manual.  I rarely browse using tags nowadays - mostly by folder (quicker and easier), although I do occasionally shuffle by genre.  I'll time a full library update for you later - but if you only do it when you need to (manual), there really is zero hassle.

 

[Brooko]

3 minutes 50 seconds to do 5749 tracks.  Again though - I only index maybe once a week at most.

 

[Prognathous]

  Only indexes when you add music (if set to auto).  I leave mine set to manual.  I rarely browse using tags nowadays - mostly by folder (quicker and easier), although I do occasionally shuffle by genre.  I'll time a full library update for you later - but if you only do it when you need to (manual), there really is zero hassle.

 
Thanks, this is great to know. With this and the removal of the 5800 song limit (in the latest firmware for the X3 I), the X3 II is now the leading candidate to replace my X7. It ticks most of the attributes I'm looking for in a DAP. I wish it had longer battery life and 5 band EQ instead of 10 band, but I guess you can't get it all.