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

[NCSUZoSo]

I can already see the direction this thread will head in as more and more people get their X3K   

 

[originalsnuffy]

It would seem that there is special class of hi fi endeavor to find headphones (or cans as it were) that have sufficiently difficult impedances that they cannot be driven with otherwise fairly beefy components like the X3 Gen 2 or the X5 family.
 
I feel like such a piker because both the X3 and X5 drive all my puny IEM units with ease.  
 
Do they take away the keys to the executive washroom around here when that happens?

 

[Dobrescu George]

  Just FYI -
 
Did some listening tests with X3ii and my Audio Technica ATH M50. High Gain, 120 max volume. Loudness is on par or maybe ever lower than my EarSonics SM64.
 
The M50 are rated 38 ohm 99db. The SM64 are rated 98 ohm 122 db.
 
I could use more volume on both phones when listening to metal, rock and basically any kind of music that may demand pumping up the volume, and is recorded in the 90es or earlier (i.e. before the loudness wars).
 
Listening volume preferences vary from person to person but for me anyone's opining saying that the X3ii can drive a HD600 or HD650 should be taken with a BIG grain of salt.

That is louder than what I would use at any given time. I was a very loud listening person. With ath m50 on low gain and EQ engaged I was able to approach 110, but it hurt physically, and could not bear it for listening. My music is more recent though.

 

[Dobrescu George]

Some people just like to listen really, really loud for some reason...

It seems fun at first, but with very good headphones, lower volumes are better for better detail retrieval, at least in my experience.

 

[x RELIC x]

Some people just like to listen really, really loud for some reason...

It seems fun at first, but with very good headphones, lower volumes are better for better detail retrieval, at least in my experience.

haha, there's no detail retrieval when you're deaf!

 

[oldschool]

I guess I really listen at louder volume than the average person but my point was that everyone's mileage may vary. Just as an example, on these forums I've read reviews of the SM64s saying that they are really sensitive and can be effortlessly used with a Clip+, and other reviews saying just the opposite - that they are not sensitive at all and need an amp.
 
In any case, I personally would not rely on the X3ii to drive something like HD600/HD650. These are notoriously difficult to drive and just the notion that a portable DAP can be used with them is amusing to me. Sure, sound will be coming out but the analogy to that combo would be driving a 4x4 on methane..

 

[Brooko]

  I guess I really listen at louder volume than the average person but my point was that everyone's mileage may vary. Just as an example, on these forums I've read reviews of the SM64s saying that they are really sensitive and can be effortlessly used with a Clip+, and other reviews saying just the opposite - that they are not sensitive at all and need an amp.
 
In any case, I personally would not rely on the X3ii to drive something like HD600/HD650. These are notoriously difficult to drive and just the notion that a portable DAP can be used with them is amusing to me. Sure, sound will be coming out but the analogy to that combo would be driving a 4x4 on methane..

 
Sorry - but that doesn't wash.
 
I own the HD600.  I've had them on and off for more than 4 years.  Three different pairs.  The X3ii has no issues driving the HD600 to far more than tolerable volume, and the only difference between my desktop amp and the X3ii is that with the X3ii it's missing just a little mid-bass (probably because the impedance spikes in the mid-bass, and the X3ii can't quite deliver).
 
The HD600 and HD650 are not notoriously hard to drive - they're both actually a pretty benign load.
 
I see you own the HD600.  Are you really listening so loud that you aren't getting adequate volume from your HD600??

 

[oldschool]

   
Sorry - but that doesn't wash.
 
I own the HD600.  I've had them on and off for more than 4 years.  Three different pairs.  The X3ii has no issues driving the HD600 to far more than tolerable volume, and the only difference between my desktop amp and the X3ii is that with the X3ii it's missing just a little mid-bass (probably because the impedance spikes in the mid-bass, and the X3ii can't quite deliver).
 
The HD600 and HD650 are not notoriously hard to drive - they're both actually a pretty benign load.
 
I see you own the HD600.  Are you really listening so loud that you aren't getting adequate volume from your HD600??

 
Haven't tried them with the X3ii, I see no point in doing so. But maybe I will now.
 
The Audio-GD Compass drives my HD600 pretty well but it pumps 300 mW at 300 ohm. With the HD600, I use high gain on it and the volume almost at max. With the M50 I used low gain and volume close to max, depending on the particular record.
 
Maybe I just like to listen much louder than the average person 

 

[Brooko]

   
Haven't tried them with the X3ii, I see no point in doing so. But maybe I will now.
 
The Audio-GD Compass drives my HD600 pretty well but it pumps 300 mW at 300 ohm. With the HD600, I use high gain on it and the volume almost at max. With the M50 I used low gain and volume close to max, depending on the particular record.
 
Maybe I just like to listen much louder than the average person 

 
Mate - you're not listening loud, you're listening impossibly loud - and I fear your hearing is possibly mostly gone already.  I'm being serious here.  I own the Audio-gd NFB-12, and it will also put 300 mW into a 300 ohm load.  If I use the HD600 with it, on high gain, at almost maximum volume - on extremely well recorded music (Steely Dan), with the SPL meter I'm getting average SPL in the high 80's to mid 90's - and peaks at 99 dB so far.  It's so loud, I actually fear for the drivers.  There is no way I'd put the headphones anywhere near my ears at that volume.  If you played anything modern at those levels it would easily push through 100+ dB.
 
To put it in perspective - a comfortable listening level (on head) for me (if I was using high gain) would be less than 9.00 on the pot (or 25% of the available pot).  You're almost at 100% 

 

[oldschool]

   
Mate - you're not listening loud, you're listening impossibly loud - and I fear your hearing is possibly mostly gone already.  I'm being serious here.  I own the Audio-gd NFB-12, and it will also put 300 mW into a 300 ohm load.  If I use the HD600 with it, on high gain, at almost maximum volume - on extremely well recorded music (Steely Dan), with the SPL meter I'm getting average SPL in the high 80's to mid 90's - and peaks at 99 dB so far.  It's so loud, I actually fear for the drivers.  There is no way I'd put the headphones anywhere near my ears at that volume.  If you played anything modern at those levels it would easily push through 100+ dB.
 
To put it in perspective - a comfortable listening level (on head) for me (if I was using high gain) would be less than 9.00 on the pot (or 25% of the available pot).  You're almost at 100% 

 
Could be. I think my hearing is still pretty good, I am in my early 30es, but maybe I will check with a doctor in any case.

 

[JohnMarch]

  It seems fun at first, but with very good headphones, lower volumes are better for better detail retrieval, at least in my experience.

And you'll retain your hearing for longer !!!

 

[earfonia]

  The Audio-GD Compass drives my HD600 pretty well but it pumps 300 mW at 300 ohm. With the HD600, I use high gain on it and the volume almost at max. With the M50 I used low gain and volume close to max, depending on the particular record.
 
Maybe I just like to listen much louder than the average person 

 
I saw on Audio-GD website, Compass II headphone output is 11 Vrms at max... that is very2 high indeed. And you listen to almost max? 

I simply couldn't imagine how loud it is. My Mytek max headphone output is 10 Vrms, and seldom use more than 5 Vrms even with difficult to drive headphone.
Be careful, you might damaging your hearing.

 

[NCSUZoSo]

Of course my shipping date got changed from today to tomorrow... 

 

[oldschool]

   
I saw on Audio-GD website, Compass II headphone output is 11 Vrms at max... that is very2 high indeed. And you listen to almost max? 

I simply couldn't imagine how loud it is. My Mytek max headphone output is 10 Vrms, and seldom use more than 5 Vrms even with difficult to drive headphone.
Be careful, you might damaging your hearing.

 
I have the first version of the Compass, not sure how it compares to the more recent one.
 
In any case, I guess I listen much louder than most people (but it depends on the particular genre) but I rarely spend more than an hour at once, and probably sit once per week on average.

 

[Brooko]

  I have the first version of the Compass, not sure how it compares to the more recent one.
 
In any case, I guess I listen much louder than most people (but it depends on the particular genre) but I rarely spend more than an hour at once, and probably sit once per week on average.

 
Hey - at the end of the day it's your experience, and we don't know if there is possible something else at play here that is a factor. But if you do get the chance, I'd definitely see if you can monitor how loud you are actually listening - even if it is only a smart phone microphone and SPL app.
 
Hopefully your hearing is intact and all is good.  Take it from someone 25+ years older than you though - with permanent low level tinnitus - if I knew back then what I now know, I'd have taken care of my hearing a little more.  Sadly for me, my one major life-changing aural event was a concert I went to without hearing protection (one I didn't want to go to - but my wife's boss invited us, and didn't want to say no). Three hours exposure to excessive "noise" (Jimmy Barnes' screaming - I won't even try to call it music) in a closed large room - when I left I couldn't hear almost anything for 3 days. My hearing returned  - but with a little gift (tinnitus) that I've had ever since.
 
Nowadays my average listening level is around 70dB.  And it's actually just as pleasurable.  You just need to get used to it.