The FiiO X3 Thread UPDATE: Project Back On! Read the First Post for Information.

[Coupe]

You are one of the very few people using AAC files from iTunes on an external portable player. Most of the people downloading AAC files from the iTunes store use them on an Apple device.
That's why chipmakers choose not to support AAC format...
 

And let's not forget the apple tax.
:mad:

 

[audionewbi]

thanks, make my search a tone easier

 

[Zida]

Hmmm... Would the X3 be able to play high-resolution audio formats through it's digital outs that it's not able to play through it's own DAC?

 

[ClieOS]

Quote:

Hmmm... Would the X3 be able to play high-resolution audio formats through it's digital outs that it's not able to play through it's own DAC?

No. it is not about the DAC, but the CPU.

 

[Zida]

Thanks, that's what I had assumed.

 

[Br777]

im still curious how anyone (myself incuded) is going to muster any sort of portable digital coax cable... if anyone has suggestions please share.
 
otherwise i just imagine the wire being to stiff and thick to be usable in any short length - creating tension on the jacks, as well as awkwardnes in transport.. even 1ft would be pushing it. 

 

[BlackbeardBen]

Quote:

im still curious how anyone (myself incuded) is going to muster any sort of portable digital coax cable... if anyone has suggestions please share.
 
otherwise i just imagine the wire being to stiff and thick to be usable in any short length - creating tension on the jacks, as well as awkwardnes in transport.. even 1ft would be pushing it. 

Well, there's already 6 inch single RCA cables out there...
http://www.shortycable.com/shorty1.htm
 
Even cheapie RCA cords are usually coaxial.  They're plenty flexible.
 
But I'm willing to bet that we'll see new 3-4 inch single RCA cables soon after the X3 comes out, and certainly by the time the E17 comes out.

 

[JoetheArachnid]

On S/PDIF cables:
If you're running a stationary setup, the size and length of the cable really doesn't matter. Simply have a coax cable terminating in a mini jack plug coming out of the back of your DAC of choice.
 
For portable, one would hope that the portable DAC is using something other than the clunky and large (for portable use) RCA connector, and instead use another mini jack socket. I'm almost certain that this would be the case with the E17. So in this case the cable would be physically, if not functionally, identical to the short 3.5-3.5mm cables we all know and love. And given that the cable is so short and that some of the connectors are not available in 75ohm variance anyway, it's likely that any short 3.5mm interconnect would work perfectly fine.
 
I fail to see the issue here.

 

[BlackbeardBen]

Quote:

On S/PDIF cables:
If you're running a stationary setup, the size and length of the cable really doesn't matter. Simply have a coax cable terminating in a mini jack plug coming out of the back of your DAC of choice.
 
For portable, one would hope that the portable DAC is using something other than the clunky and large (for portable use) RCA connector, and instead use another mini jack socket. I'm almost certain that this would be the case with the E17. So in this case the cable would be physically, if not functionally, identical to the short 3.5-3.5mm cables we all know and love. And given that the cable is so short and that some of the connectors are not available in 75ohm variance anyway, it's likely that any short 3.5mm interconnect would work perfectly fine.
 
I fail to see the issue here.

I didn't even think about that...  The coaxial in on the HM-801 is a mono mini-trs jack, isn't it?
 
But there's a decent number of portable DACs with coaxial RCA jacks (iBasso D10, for example).
 
Hmm...

 

[JoetheArachnid]

I don't know where this picture is from, but a quick Google Image search shows that low-profile RCAs like this exist. I'm sure that they'd work.
 
And yes, the HM801 features 3.5mm coax in. I guess the X3 + HM801 would be a good combo if you can't stomach the 801's ancient UI, though there's little reason to couple two DAPs together otherwise.

 

[BlackbeardBen]

Quote:

And yes, the HM801 features 3.5mm coax in. I guess the X3 + HM801 would be a good combo if you can't stomach the 801's ancient UI, though there's little reason to couple two DAPs together otherwise.

Lol, that'd be funny...  But I figure you could get an equal (and certainly more powerful) portable DAC/amp with coaxial in for less than $800...

 

[Br777]

maybe i dont understand cables... both the x3, and the jh3a have 1/8" "headphone jack style" digital in and digital out jacks respectively..   i would only assume that using a standard mini to mini is not the same as a digital mini to mini cable..  or is it?   i dont know..
 
so my question remains.. is their a practical, thin/flexible 1/8" coax to 1/8" coax digital cable that could be use portably between two devices such as these?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Many 75ohm coax cables typically require only crimping, not soldering. So as long as you can order a few meters online, just cut and terminate them at home, and order plugs online or get them from pro-audio stores in your area. The only problem I see with coupling the X3 stacked on top of E17 is the low-profile chassis (and maybe with the D10/D12 too). Most 75ohm cables I know of are stiff, with a few exceptions that have the same flexibility as most analog patch cables, so this is one thing to look out for.

 

[Br777]

ive started a new thread asking about 1/8" to 1/8" digital cable portability/feasibility.. thanks all

 

[JoetheArachnid]

Quote:

maybe i dont understand cables... both the x3, and the jh3a have 1/8" "headphone jack style" digital in and digital out plugs respectively..   i would only assume that using a standard mini to mini is not the same as a digital mini to mini cable..  or is it?   i dont know..
 
so my question remains.. is their a practical, thin/flexible 1/8" coax to 1/8" coax digital cable that could be use portably between two devices such as these?

Technically most digital signals should use coax cable with a special resistance rating, in this case 75 ohms for S/PDIF coax. However, this is only really necessary over longish distances (>20cm, say), and below will probably have little if any effect on the signal. The other problem is the connectors - these also need to be 75 ohm rated for consistency's sake. The usual coax connectors (RCA, BNC etc.) do have 75ohm versions, but 3.5mm jacks do not, or none which are easily available at this time. Some even question whether a 'true' 75ohm connector can even be achieved.
 
So with the nonstandard connector and the short distances (<10cm) the benefits of using 75ohm coax cable would be minimal. In other words, any of FiiO's interconnects (L2, L8) or any 3.5mm wire that catches your fancy should be fine. I think.
 
You could use one that costs several hundred dollars if it would make you feel better.