The Fiio X3 Thread.

[Marlene]

  I mentioned that no amount of fiddling with the treble and bass would correct for the loss of sound in the "phantom center", at least in the time I gave it last night. SallymaeHogsby got it right a few posts ago when she said that classical music sounds "gutted". I was listening to some Vivaldi today on the 3.0 fw, and the solo violinist sounded a little washed out. If that's how it's supposed to sound, I'll stick with "wrong" because all of my other DAP outputs sound just as wrong, and much better to my ears. I dunno what to tell other people, maybe my unit is defective in some kind of way that only exhibits itself when running the 3.0 fw?

 
Strange. I have the opposite effect with FW 3.0. Everything in the center is more pronounced and can be understood more easily. It was more difficult on FW 2.14 where center material seemed to take a step back, was further away and seemed to blend together with left/right information: a fairly flat experience.
 
FW 3.0 sounds wider... but deeper as well, to me the stage is less shallow. And I continue to marvel at the "directness" of everything in the center and the precision with which it is rendered.
 
I don´t know if it´s possible that your unit displays a different character when both use the same firmware.

 

[faiyaz9786]

Couldn't agree more. I use the E11 / X3 combination (headphone out on x3) too, and I find it so much better than in quality and depth when compared to using X3 alone. I always wondered if I was the only one experiencing it, but now I know I am not the only one feeling that way

 

[Stuff Jones]

  Thanks, Stuff.
I'm just trying to get a handle on the process for readying files for copying to the X3.
Since I'm starting from scratch, I want to do it correctly.
By workflow I mean:
-Using Ashampoo Burning Studio on my Windows 7 P, I would rip a CD to FLAC format, saving the album in a folder.
(Not sure if I would label the folder by Artist name or Album name...)
When I connect the X3 to the computer, I can just drag-and-drop these file folders onto the "TF" card.
The X3 puts them in Categories, if I understand correctly?
I'll have to look at FOOBAR, I am not familar with it.
Eventually, I'll back all these files up on an external HD.
(i already have my iTunes mp3 library backed-up.)
Again, Any additional information is greatly appreciated!
Thanks, all.
Charlie

 
This is my system. I don't know that its ideal but it works well for me. I use two free programs - EAC for ripping and foobar for playing, organizing, tagging, etc.
 
Use EAC to rip CDs to flac. Use this folder structure on my PC: Flac\Artist\Album\track number - trackname.flac. I batch attach pictures because X3 require/d (?) the picture to be embedded, not just a jpg in the folder. This is very easy to do with Foobar. Copy the Flac folder onto a backup hard drive.
 
Connect X3 to PC. Drag and drop all my collection except 7GBs that fit onto the X3s internal storage onto the TF card by just dragging the lot of them from my PC. Drag and drop the rest onto the X3s internal storage. 
 
The X3 does have a category system that works pretty well now, but I still like to have my music well organized in Artist\Album folders so I can browse it by folder too. 
 
Hope this helps!
 
edit: be sure to upgrade to firmware 3.0. (http://www.fiio.net/news/index.aspx?ID=100000163834271&page=1) Its a huge improvement! Just download and then extract the file to your TF card. Unplug the X3. Then hold the return button and press the power button and it will update itself.

 

[steelglam]

   
Strange. I have the opposite effect with FW 3.0. Everything in the center is more pronounced and can be understood more easily. It was more difficult on FW 2.14 where center material seemed to take a step back, was further away and seemed to blend together with left/right information: a fairly flat experience.
 
FW 3.0 sounds wider... but deeper as well, to me the stage is less shallow. And I continue to marvel at the "directness" of everything in the center and the precision with which it is rendered.
 
I don´t know if it´s possible that your unit displays a different character when both use the same firmware.

As I indicated a few pages back, I have the same perception as umdesch4 and SallymaeHogsby regarding the middle/center.  Most things appear panned hard right and left to my ears with 3.0, which improves the stability of the image of those things, but the result is a hollowing out or muted quality of the center.  My perception of 2.14 is also exactly the opposite of yours: to my ears, everything was up front, if not slightly forward, rather than further away.
 
umdesch4, your unit isn't displaying a different character.  You aren't the only one in this thread that is perceiving what you are.
 
Nor is Marlene.
 
It really comes down to perception.

 

[WAV-4-my-X3]

   
Flac. Its the same quality as WAV but 60% the size and allows for tagging. Not sure what you mean by workflow. I use foobar for tagging.

It's been my experience that some FLAC is compressed, and some not.
I have a Mac.  I've converted WAV to FLAC (0 compression) with Max and the bit rate turns out to be smaller than the WAV, and smaller file size.
I've converted a WAV file to FLAC (0 compression) with XLD and had it turn out the same bit rate, same exact size as the WAV.  So I stick with XLD.  ALL the sound quality of WAV, and I get to tag and add cover art, and no loss of bit rate.  
"Smaller file size" has never been a selling point with me.

 

[nmatheis]

Also, big thanks to Mr Trev and to nmatheis for their awesome list based theme, I feel like having upgraded my X3 to a 200% better DAP at no cost at all.

Glad you like it. I didn't do much. It was almost all Mr Trev!

 

[dustmos]

  It's been my experience that some FLAC is compressed, and some not.
I have a Mac.  I've converted WAV to FLAC (0 compression) with Max and the bit rate turns out to be smaller than the WAV, and smaller file size.
I've converted a WAV file to FLAC (0 compression) with XLD and had it turn out the same bit rate, same exact size as the WAV.  So I stick with XLD.  ALL the sound quality of WAV, and I get to tag and add cover art, and no loss of bit rate.  
"Smaller file size" has never been a selling point with me.

????
 
Encoding to flac will NOT alter the bit rate. Flac is lossless. It seems your software had a resampling setting turned on (not a part of flac).
 
The recommended compression for flac is the default (flac with no switches), which is 5.
0 just gives the flac container, and 9 has minimal size reduction advantage over 5.

 

[aangen]

3.0 is much more effective if you turn your tinfoil hat to the rear. The highs are so smooth and dreamy you almost feel like leaving the basement. But don't, someone may see you.

 

[dennisksc90]

If anyone is looking to buy X3. There is a deal now on Adorama. 139.99 for a new Fiio X3

 

[Chaz1952]

This is my system. I don't know that its ideal but it works well for me. I use two free programs - EAC for ripping and foobar for playing, organizing, tagging, etc.

Use EAC to rip CDs to flac. Use this folder structure on my PC: Flac\Artist\Album\track number - trackname.flac. I batch attach pictures because X3 require/d (?) the picture to be embedded, not just a jpg in the folder. This is very easy to do with Foobar. Copy the Flac folder onto a backup hard drive.

Connect X3 to PC. Drag and drop all my collection except 7GBs that fit onto the X3s internal storage onto the TF card by just dragging the lot of them from my PC. Drag and drop the rest onto the X3s internal storage. 

The X3 does have a category system that works pretty well now, but I still like to have my music well organized in Artist\Album folders so I can browse it by folder too. 

Hope this helps!

edit: be sure to upgrade to firmware 3.0. (http://www.fiio.net/news/index.aspx?ID=100000163834271&page=1) Its a huge improvement! Just download and then extract the file to your TF card. Unplug the X3. Then hold the return button and press the power button and it will update itself.

Thanks for sharing your approach, Stuff! Exactly what I was looking for. I have on hand a 32gB SanDisk micro SD card and plan on updating the firmware first thing. I'll download those two programs and start getting to know them. Been using iTunes so long, hope I can do this right. Charlie

 

[WAV-4-my-X3]

  ????
 
Encoding to flac will NOT alter the bit rate. Flac is lossless. It seems your software had a resampling setting turned on (not a part of flac).
 
The recommended compression for flac is the default (flac with no switches), which is 5.
0 just gives the flac container, and 9 has minimal size reduction advantage over 5.

I must have had my settings wrong when using Max.  And I could always tell the difference between FLAC and WAV.
I use XLD now, and FLAC and WAV sound identical.
Thanks for the FLAC info.  Sounds like I need to read up on it more and play with settings.

 

[KLJTech]

   
This is my system. I don't know that its ideal but it works well for me. I use two free programs - EAC for ripping and foobar for playing, organizing, tagging, etc.
 
Use EAC to rip CDs to flac. Use this folder structure on my PC: Flac\Artist\Album\track number - trackname.flac. I batch attach pictures because X3 require/d (?) the picture to be embedded, not just a jpg in the folder. This is very easy to do with Foobar. Copy the Flac folder onto a backup hard drive.
 
Connect X3 to PC. Drag and drop all my collection except 7GBs that fit onto the X3s internal storage onto the TF card by just dragging the lot of them from my PC. Drag and drop the rest onto the X3s internal storage. 
 
The X3 does have a category system that works pretty well now, but I still like to have my music well organized in Artist\Album folders so I can browse it by folder too. 
 
Hope this helps!
 
edit: be sure to upgrade to firmware 3.0. (http://www.fiio.net/news/index.aspx?ID=100000163834271&page=1) Its a huge improvement! Just download and then extract the file to your TF card. Unplug the X3. Then hold the return button and press the power button and it will update itself.

 
I'm late to the party with regards to updating my X3 and I haven't had time to follow what most feel about the update. 
 
Simply extract the downloaded Zip file to the "onboard memory" (not the 64GB card I've added...correct?) and then press and hold the Return and Power button to allow it to update? 
 
Thank you!

 

[Mr Trev]

   
I'm late to the party with regards to updating my X3 and I haven't had time to follow what most feel about the update. 
 
Simply extract the downloaded Zip file to the "onboard memory" (not the 64GB card I've added...correct?) and then press and hold the Return and Power button to allow it to update? 
 
Thank you!

That's a big negative. Unzip the downloaded file. Copy the x3.fw file to your sd card. Then do button presses.

 

[KLJTech]

  That's a big negative. Unzip the downloaded file. Copy the x3.fw file to your sd card. Then do button presses.

Worked perfectly, thank you!
 
I was using FW2.1 and to make sure that the artwork would show up I would resize the JPEG to 300X300 (this still didn't work with albums in WAV format) but is there a new size limit that needs/should be used or was that simply a bug that had to be worked out? Do most of you resize the cover art? 

 

[Joe Bloggs]

In case the X3 hangs on you on the latest firmware , you may report any such incidents here
http://www.head-fi.org/t/722411/the-official-hung-up-on-my-player-thread

and we'll see what we can do about fixing it in further firmware updates.