Feb 1, 2014 at 1:57 AM Post #4,006 of 19,652
  I am a little disappointed how ibasso published their specs...
 
or is it a normal marketing tactics?

 
Well, there is one thing to list the wrong spec while another to list an incomplete spec. What iBasso did is the later. Technically they are not wrong but the information they provided is so limited that it doesn't serve any good to the buyer. Unfortunately it is all too common for most manufacturer to leave in blank and way more convenience to let the buyer fill them in with assumption that most likely won't be true. Yes, you can say it is a way of marketing.
 
   


Fiio has published the max. current output of their DAP, X5 is rated at >150 mA, X3 at > 250 mA, so X3 has significantly better driving power when compare to X5?
 
Coming from a traditional HiFi setup background, I certainly appreciate the amount of current that an amplifier can put out determine its driving power, I guess the same will hold the same in HeadFi DAP design.  The obvious index in traditional HiFi game is whether an amplifier can double its output when the impedance drop by half (8ohm vs 4 ohm vs 2 ohm), I wonder is there an easy way out to speculate the current capacity of a DAP or headphone amplifier based on published specifications.
 
So DX50 high gain is hardly 3.1V as published?  You didn't specify the gain setting of X5 and DX50 in your measurements, I assume both units are set in high gain from the figures. In fact, even Fiio website didn't specify the gain setting regarding their DAP output, I have asked here before with no luck, wonder if this is too much trouble for you to measure the X5 output in both LO and Hi gain setting, much appreciated in advance.
 

 
For raw driving power, I think X3 and X5 are both way above the rest and really pushing to the same level as a good dedicated portable amp. I won't say X3 is 'significantly' more power than X5, but I think it is safe to say both have way more than you need to get good result as long as you are not driving something like planner magnetic.
 
Both DAP are tested on high gain and max volume. I never get 3.1V on DX50 but I'll guess you will probably need a 75ohm load or higher. The problem with speculating power from spec is that some manufacturer uses uncommon load (or worst, no load at all) to get a good looking spec that doesn't hold up in the real world. For example, most DAP will measure beautifully without any load. Even a 150ohm load will look very well. But put a 16ohm load in, the result can be very poor, as lower impedance load is really going to stress the DAP and tell you what the hardware responses under everyday condition, given 10 ohm multi-driver CIEM isn't uncommon these days among audiophiles. In short, it is always better to take the measurement rather than hoping for the best.
 
   
James, what about the output information at low gain?  is there any quick formula to work that out from the +6db gain directly?
 

 
Low gain max at 1.6Vrms, same 288mA current output into 47ohm load.
 
Feb 1, 2014 at 5:50 AM Post #4,007 of 19,652
SD MICRO CARDS (PERFORMANCE/SCANNING) With my Studio V3 – one of the ‘issues’ that I have is that every time it’s switched on, it scans the card for changes.  With approx. 2200 lossless tracks – this takes around 1m15s (64Gb card).  After that it’s pretty good – with very little lag.
 
With the X5 – the nice thing is that you only have to scan once – and then no scanning again unless you update / add to your library.
 
Scanning the same micro SD card on the X5 took approximately 3 minutes, - dual cards roughly double that.  Scanning a single 64Gb card filled with a mix of FLAC, aac and MP3 files (approximately 5500 files total) took considerably longer – but once again, after the initial scan – access has been very snappy.
 

One question, from Brooko's review, X5 will scan SD card. Can I set to "Manual Scan" like X3? Because I always swap my three SD cards all the time and play in browse mode only. I don't want to wait for library scan every time I change SD card.
 
Feb 1, 2014 at 5:56 AM Post #4,008 of 19,652
  One question, from Brooko's review, X5 will scan SD card. Can I set to "Manual Scan" like X3? Because I always swap my three SD cards all the time and play in browse mode only. I don't want to wait for library scan every time I change SD card.


yes, u can choose between auto or manual under settings
 
Feb 1, 2014 at 7:05 AM Post #4,011 of 19,652
Feb 1, 2014 at 9:44 AM Post #4,012 of 19,652
   
http://www.head-fi.org/t/661411/fiio-x5-thread-info-updated-on-jan-17th-2014/3690#post_10205472
 


I was trying to get an approximate date for the X7 but James never replied. What does the version two of the ones that are (or will shortly be) available mean and more importantly what are we talking about timeline/deadline wise? I won't even get into what features are targeted for each release cause he might not even be able to answer. I think in terms of the features it is a two part story; it's what people wants and what's being produced out there competitively wise.
 
Feb 1, 2014 at 10:11 AM Post #4,013 of 19,652
X3 is back to sq. One what James revealed about model release phase....being after launch of X5,X1,X7 &theiir subsequent version II's ....could be X3 III version?
 
Feb 1, 2014 at 10:40 AM Post #4,014 of 19,652
X3 is back to sq. One what James revealed about model release phase....being after launch of X5,X1,X7 &theiir subsequent version II's ....could be X3 III version?

 
That's it! 
 
I'm going to put myself into cryogenic suspension for ten years. 
 
ku-xlarge.jpg

 
Feb 1, 2014 at 10:53 AM Post #4,017 of 19,652
   
That's it! 
 
I'm going to put myself into cryogenic suspension for ten years. 
 

Yeah, it does sound like we are talking about a 5 to 10 year business plan.
I wish that FiiO would not have to go through so many revisions before they release the X7.
I might call them up and ask for a stainless steel container.
 

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