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

[Dobrescu George]

  I wouldn't know about the X5, but you're right: I completely overlooked buttom_bg.png thinking it pertained to buttons.

 
Glad it worked! 
 
We had a thing going on with the first X5 and X5ii, where a few of us spent some time making themes, if the same rules apply to X3, the theme is highly customizable if you have the time to work on it 

 
Even though the resolutions won't match, you can check X5 FW threads as he examples in there are very useful on how we did some things when we made a few themes for it. 

 

[Mustainized]

Finally I've placed an order for X3-II + EM3 + 16GB Sandisk Micro SD Card limited-time bundle on Aliexpress Official Fiio Store. 16GB won't be sufficient for my lossless archive though. That's why I've already bought a 64GB.

 

[timb5881]

Finally I've placed an order for X3-II + EM3 + 16GB Sandisk Micro SD Card limited-time bundle on Aliexpress Official Fiio Store. 16GB won't be sufficient for my lossless archive though. That's why I've already bought a 64GB.

You may want get an even larger card for hi rez! I have my X3 II with a 200gb card, and it is filled full.

 

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You may want get an even larger card for hi rez! I have my X3 II with a 200gb card, and it is filled full.

I know, some budget problems limited me. I have 350gb of lossless archive on my personal computer but I've seperated a 60gb for outdoor. 

 

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When I use X3ii with my computer, should I look for the line out Vrms? It's lower than headphone out Vrms, which means as USB DAC X3ii will be weaker compared to headphone out? Or I am totally missing a point?

 

[FiiO]

When I use X3ii with my computer, should I look for the line out Vrms? It's lower than headphone out Vrms, which means as USB DAC X3ii will be weaker compared to headphone out? Or I am totally missing a point?

Dear Mustainized,
 
The line out output need an AMP as well. But the headphone out will go through the AMP module of the X3II. So the line out ouput is measured as output level and the headphone out is measured as output power. You can't compare this two datas because they are of different meanings.
 
Best regards

 

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Dear Mustainized,

The line out output need an AMP as well. But the headphone out will go through the AMP module of the X3II. So the line out ouput is measured as output level and the headphone out is measured as output power. You can't compare this two datas because they are of different meanings.

Best regards

I see. Can I use an external AMP with X3ii paired with my computer? I want to bypass my computer's DAC and AMP as well.

 

[FiiO]

   
I see. Can I use an external AMP with X3ii paired with my computer? I want to bypass my computer's DAC and AMP as well.

Dear Mustainized,
 
You can use an external AMP if you use the LO of the X3II. When the X3II works as the DAC for the computer, the output from X3II will bypass your computer's DAC and AMP.
 
Best regards 

 

[Mustainized]

  Dear Mustainized,
 
You can use an external AMP if you use the LO of the X3II. When the X3II works as the DAC for the computer, the output from X3II will bypass your computer's DAC and AMP.
 
Best regards 

What if I don't use an external AMP and just use X3II as stand-alone DAC? I would pair my headphones to headphone out and X3II to my computer via line out right? So I should consider headphone out voltage without external AMP.

 

[x RELIC x]

What if I don't use an external AMP and just use X3II as stand-alone DAC? I would pair my headphones to headphone out and X3II to my computer via line out right? So I should consider headphone out voltage without external AMP.

If using the X3ii as a USB DAC from your computer you are sending a digital signal so you won't use the computers' line out (line-out=an analogue signal). This will bypass the DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) and the amp in the computer.

The X3ii does not have an analogue input so you can not use your computers' line out to the X3ii, you can only input USB and must be in DAC mode on the X3ii.

When connecting headphones to the X3ii in DAC mode you want to use the headphone output of the X3ii as the line-out from the X3ii will likely be too loud for safe listening (it's basically full volume).

If you need an even more powerful amp for your headphones only then would you use the X3ii's line-out to another external amp. The output impedance and output current from the line-out is really meant to only send the analogue signal from the X3ii's DAC to an external amp.


Edit: It would be helpful if you stated which headphones you are using so we can help you to know if the X3ii's built in amp is powerful enough.

 

[Mustainized]

If using the X3ii as a USB DAC from your computer you are sending a digital signal so you won't use the computers' line out (line-out=an analogue signal). This will bypass the DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) and the amp in the computer.

The X3ii does not have an analogue input so you can not use your computers' line out to the X3ii, you can only input USB and must be in DAC mode on the X3ii.

When connecting headphones to the X3ii in DAC mode you want to use the headphone output of the X3ii as the line-out from the X3ii will likely be too loud for safe listening (it's basically full volume).

If you need an even more powerful amp for your headphones only then would you use the X3ii's line-out to another external amp. The output impedance and output current from the line-out is really meant to only send the analogue signal from the X3ii's DAC to an external amp.


Edit: It would be helpful if you stated which headphones you are using so we can help you to know if the X3ii's built in amp is powerful enough.

I don't have a budget to buy an external amp since I will also buy headphones too. So, in this case, there is not a problem on headphones->headphone out and lineout->computer after setting USB DAC in X3ii options. So, since there won't be an external amp, I should look for headphone out voltage, right? 

Headphones will be most probably Shure SRH840 and AKG K601 or K612 or K702, not sure on AKG part. But they are similar on driving I think.

 

[JWolf]

If using the X3ii as a USB DAC from your computer you are sending a digital signal so you won't use the computers' line out (line-out=an analogue signal). This will bypass the DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) and the amp in the computer.

The X3ii does not have an analogue input so you can not use your computers' line out to the X3ii, you can only input USB and must be in DAC mode on the X3ii.

When connecting headphones to the X3ii in DAC mode you want to use the headphone output of the X3ii as the line-out from the X3ii will likely be too loud for safe listening (it's basically full volume).

If you need an even more powerful amp for your headphones only then would you use the X3ii's line-out to another external amp. The output impedance and output current from the line-out is really meant to only send the analogue signal from the X3ii's DAC to an external amp.


Edit: It would be helpful if you stated which headphones you are using so we can help you to know if the X3ii's built in amp is powerful enough.

 
You can turn down the output from the line out in the settings.

 

[Mustainized]

   
You can turn down the output from the line out in the settings.

I should look for headphone output voltage level of X3ii when I use it as USB DAC too, right? Because I will be still plugging my headphones to there, not to line out. 

 

[x RELIC x]

You can turn down the output from the line out in the settings.

Yes, I know, I have the X5ii which also has variable line out. The point is that the usual output impedance and lower current of a line-out is not exactly the optimal way to drive headphones directly. FiiO doesn't list the specs so I'm saying don't even consider line out for headphones, use the amp.

 

[x RELIC x]

I should look for headphone output voltage level of X3ii when I use it as USB DAC too, right? Because I will be still plugging my headphones to there, not to line out. 

Forget the output voltage as FiiO doesn't list the spec for the built in amp (headphone output). They list the power in mW (240mW@16 Ohm, 200mW@32 Ohm, 24mW@300 Ohm). The X3ii is pretty powerful for most headphones. The specs for the X3ii list 16-150 Ohm impedance headphones as suitable. Others have used higher impedance headphones like the Sennheiser HD600 without any issues for their tastes. There is also the sensitivity spec of the headphone that plays a large part in drive ability.

Again, which headphone were you thinking of pairing with the X3ii? You'll get a pretty quick answer as to the X3ii's capability to drive it.