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

[despuit]

Does the sound signature change at all when going from DAP to USB dac? I know you can bypass the amp so I'd think there might be a difference in the signature when in USB dac mode.

If you're referring to my comment this was my complaint. The sound signature is completely different for the USB dac it is a lot more vivid. The brightness is brought right to you rather then residing in the background. The bass is powerful, and the soundstage is wide. Where as just using the DAP it is blah, I wouldn't like to sit there for an hour listening to it. Maybe looking at the thing as the device is nicely designed and great gui, but for me playback is lacking and have had others issue with decoding.

 

[interpolate]

To be fair, headphone amplification should be a different from line out as these are supposed to be dedicated. I have never used it as digital coax as yet. So when I convenient time i will.

 

[despuit]

To be fair, headphone amplification should be a different from line out as these are supposed to be dedicated. I have never used it as digital coax as yet. So when I convenient time i will.

 
I find it does sound better, someone else posted using the X3II by itself with the PC and it just lacks. I use it for the sample rate capabilites, granted the E17K can do 32 bit but I can't bridge it that way. I am content with 24 bit/192K for now.  But without the computer sending the signal through it just sounds dull coming from the DAP.
 

 
 

 

[interpolate]

I was listening to mine today with a pair of Bose Companion II speakers through the line out which by their very character have a deep low-end which makes up for any inadequacies of their source (typically a laptop source).  Through my Denon CD Microsystem it sounds really quite good, almost as good as any CD through the DAC.  The end result is always going to be determined by the output chosen.
 
Everything I listen to never has an equaliser applied unless it's for a desired alternation or colouration added to it.

 

[Dreamliner]

I've been holding off for a bit on this getting this, currently have a Fiio X3 MK1.
 
1) I heard that '1-tick' on the scroll wheel may not actually be 1 movement on screen...is that still true?  Is it annoying?
 
2) I'd use this as a stand-alone player, have the bugs been worked out?
 
3) Is this definitively better than the MK1?
 
4) Anyone regret the upgrade to the MK2?

 

[despuit]

  I was listening to mine today with a pair of Bose Companion II speakers through the line out which by their very character have a deep low-end which makes up for any inadequacies of their source (typically a laptop source).  Through my Denon CD Microsystem it sounds really quite good, almost as good as any CD through the DAC.  The end result is always going to be determined by the output chosen.
 
Everything I listen to never has an equaliser applied unless it's for a desired alternation or colouration added to it.

Never liked Bose, I know porches come with them now too. Just seems to be marketing thing too me. Denon is decent though, don't think they suite my purposes but from what I have used them for it works.  I know where you're headed with this and that's what I was saying orginally. I am using a crappy low speed USB cable from the PC as my source and it sounds better then it directly coming from the X3II. I could understanding not being the exact same, having unique signatures. But this is just two completely different levels of audio quality.
 
Yeah I stopped using filters, equalisers, level enhancements, and the like when I had the right tools to play music as it was meant to be. Like you said doing so is only beneficial if you're looking for something that isn't coming across.

 

[Zweistein]

I thought people were exaggerating about the scroll wheel, but at least on my X3ii it really is pretty bad. Miss ratio is worse than 1 in 5 clicks. Luckily, you can always use the buttons instead, except for the settings. The best use for the scroll wheel would be to scroll through long lists of artists, albums, songs, but the wheel hardly scrolls faster than the auto-repeat of the buttons. I'm kind of tempted to try to remove the mechanical clicking of the wheel, it might allow faster scrolling.

 

[despuit]

I thought people were exaggerating about the scroll wheel, but at least on my X3ii it really is pretty bad. Miss ratio is worse than 1 in 5 clicks. Luckily, you can always use the buttons instead, except for the settings. The best use for the scroll wheel would be to scroll through long lists of artists, albums, songs, but the wheel hardly scrolls faster than the auto-repeat of the buttons. I'm kind of tempted to try to remove the mechanical clicking of the wheel, it might allow faster scrolling.

I notice this as well, like 1 in 3. It doesn't impede my use of it, just makes it unique.

 

[interpolate]

You should try using one of those smaller Creative X-Fi players, talk about an exercise in futility especially when you have large fingers.

 

[despuit]

Yeah the three on the bottom right look like a nightmare:
 
http://www.pocketables.com/images/2008/07/20/zen_xfi_comp_2.jpg

I like that about the X3II, I barely notice the weight but it's solid. Not about to jump from my hands any time soon, and the reach between the buttons are about my thumb length couldn't ask for a more ergonomic design.

 

[bruce1967]

I agree, the X3ii has a very nice ergonomic design. Off the topic I was wondering if anyone has tried using Blu Ray M-Discs to back up their music library as well as photographs or any digital data. I've read good things about them and I'm going to try them out. They claim to have a 1000 year life span...sounds better than flash drives or external hard drives.

 

[despuit]

  I agree, the X3ii has a very nice ergonomic design. Off the topic I was wondering if anyone has tried using Blu Ray M-Discs to back up their music library as well as photographs or any digital data. I've read good things about them and I'm going to try them out. They claim to have a 1000 year life span...sounds better than flash drives or external hard drives.

That does sound amazing. They're expensive though, it is about 80 CDN for 25, 220 USD for 50 which doesn't make sense but it is amazon. I just did the math it is not too bad 2TB per 80 disc, and if it is a 1000 year gurantee I'd say it is worth it. Is about double the cost of standard HDD drives, quadruple depending on your supplier.
 
 
http://www.amazon.com/M-DISC-Blu-ray-Permanent-Archival-Backup/dp/B00KGWV6MI

I haven't tried it myself, never thought of going back to disc. But that sounds a lot more realiable then screwing around trying to set-up raid and all that. Look forward to see if anyone else has input on this!

 

[bruce1967]

  That does sound amazing. They're expensive though, it is about 80 CDN for 25, 220 USD for 50 which doesn't make sense but it is amazon. I just did the math it is not too bad 2TB per 80 disc, and if it is a 1000 year gurantee I'd say it is worth it. Is about double the cost of standard HDD drives, quadruple depending on your supplier.
 
 
http://www.amazon.com/M-DISC-Blu-ray-Permanent-Archival-Backup/dp/B00KGWV6MI

I haven't tried it myself, never thought of going back to disc. But that sounds a lot more realiable then screwing around trying to set-up raid and all that. Look forward to see if anyone else has input on this!

Yes they are expensive but if they are  as good as a factory pressed cd they would be worth it. They make 100gb discs too it says on their website but they are listed as out of stock. 
 
http://store.mdisc.com
 
I wasn't thinking of going back to disc either but these have me thinking other wise. Now I just need to buy an M-disc blu ray burner and some discs...

 

[ngs428]

Yes they are expensive but if they are  as good as a factory pressed cd they would be worth it. They make 100gb discs too it says on their website but they are listed as out of stock. 

http://store.mdisc.com

I wasn't thinking of going back to disc either but these have me thinking other wise. Now I just need to buy an M-disc blu ray burner and some discs...

The burner costs less than one pack of the discs. Not too bad of a deal on the burner.

 

[interpolate]

My writer can read them although i'm not sure about authoring.