The Fiio X5 Thread

[kimvictor]

Quote:

Hello, I hope you will enjoy your purchase tomorrow.  since X5 is not yet released commercially, it does not make sense to compare it on certain attributes such as design, size and stuff.
 
However if we down a notch to compare it with X3:
 
1. Design, Agree totally, the design of AK100 is more sleek
2. Size, X3 is bigger but it is not crazily big and will fit in most jeans/pants pocket.
3-4. X3 is still cheaper
5. I feel that even if it can be used as a DAC, the lack of Line Out and Optical Out will prevent you to connect to home equipments
6. My feeling to the modification on the market is a reminder of the design flaws in the product itself and the hefty cost. The upgrade to X3 I can think of right now is buying an external amp and better iem
7. X3 will be released next month
 
My experience with AK100 so far.
1. Bought immediately when my friend told me in a dinner party about a DAP that can support 24/192 FLAC
2. Felt that there is something missing with the sound quality
3. Searched on internet and stumbled upon head-fi and the discussion of RWAK

4. Found out the release of Ak120 to fix the problems of AK100...

5. Bought a portable amp but still not satisfied with the SQ, tried many different vol output

6. Bought Fiio E17 to improve SQ

7. Learnt about Fiio X3
 
and PROBLEM SOLVED!

Well, the size and design is pretty much set, from what I've heard. Anyways, I was considering X3, but I really didn't like the design and UI. Also, I heard the X3 gets warm after some use. I'm planning on using it with my leckerton, so as long as the DAC is good, it will probably sound really really good.

 

[kkcc]

Quote:

XBA4 has impedance of 8, AK120 OI is 3 or 3.5. I am sure its FR chart is changed a bit but apparently that sounds better in this way 

 I removed HM901 from my list due to build quality problems and service of Hifiman. Fang doesn't seem very keen on communication and care about us. I respect him and his job, he brought a lot of delightful equipment but sometimes it doesn't feel correct. HM901 is one of these products in my eyes. Doesn't matter how good it sounds if I buy it, it will drive me crazy I know it.

 
Can totally understand.  Proximity and language are definitely two barriers for you and others in Europe to deal with before they have proper distribution in your region.  Was filling in HFers on many of those issues from the Chinese forums earlier and even I myself is surprised (pleasantly) with the quality of the unit I received (packaging notwithstanding LOL)!
 
The XBA4ip had been the weirdest IEM I had ever own and the only one I'm keeping despite it don't really like the sound for any genres.  I guess it's quirkiness with various sources and low resell value (since Sony Hong Kong marked it up crazily when I first got it, and subsequently slash it prices like crazy even before 40 came around) got me stuck with it.
 
In any case, DX50 and X5 are definitely interesting DAPs for the 2nd half of this year.  Hope they'll be released sooner!

 

[AmberOzL]

Quote:

 
Can totally understand.  Proximity and language are definitely two barriers for you and others in Europe to deal with before they have proper distribution in your region.  Was filling in HFers on many of those issues from the Chinese forums earlier and even I myself is surprised (pleasantly) with the quality of the unit I received (packaging notwithstanding LOL)!
 
The XBA4ip had been the weirdest IEM I had ever own and the only one I'm keeping despite it don't really like the sound for any genres.  I guess it's quirkiness with various sources and low resell value (since Sony Hong Kong marked it up crazily when I first got it, and subsequently slash it prices like crazy even before 40 came around) got me stuck with it.
 
In any case, DX50 and X5 are definitely interesting DAPs for the 2nd half of this year.  Hope they'll be released sooner!

I saw the packaging of 901. Omg it was like a joke. People should show it university lectures and say '' This is how you are NOT supposed to do it'' Sorry but that's how I see 

 
FiiO is covering a lot of things like distributions and support and when I buy X5 from authorized dealer I know that unit will not explode in my hand, whatever happens I will find service easily. I can't trust Hifiman on this subject.
 
I like James's plans on this dap. It will most probably be the thing we have been waiting so long. Everything we want from a reference level dap will be there and all the useless things will be out. Functionality and SQ are their main purposes.
 
Currawong somewhere stated that there are 3 parts of the game, SQ, Nice UI and battery and he said you get only 2 of them not all. I think X5 will have it all 

 

[kkcc]

Quote:

Hello, I hope you will enjoy your purchase tomorrow.  since X5 is not yet released commercially, it does not make sense to compare it on certain attributes such as design, size and stuff.
 
However if we down a notch to compare it with X3:
 
1. Design, Agree totally, the design of AK100 is more sleek
2. Size, X3 is bigger but it is not crazily big and will fit in most jeans/pants pocket.
3-4. X3 is still cheaper
5. I feel that even if it can be used as a DAC, the lack of Line Out and Optical Out will prevent you to connect to home equipments
6. My feeling to the modification on the market is a reminder of the design flaws in the product itself and the hefty cost. The upgrade to X3 I can think of right now is buying an external amp and better iem
7. X3 will be released next month
 
My experience with AK100 so far.
1. Bought immediately when my friend told me in a dinner party about a DAP that can support 24/192 FLAC
2. Felt that there is something missing with the sound quality
3. Searched on internet and stumbled upon head-fi and the discussion of RWAK

4. Found out the release of Ak120 to fix the problems of AK100...

5. Bought a portable amp but still not satisfied with the SQ, tried many different vol output

6. Bought Fiio E17 to improve SQ

7. Learnt about Fiio X3
 
and PROBLEM SOLVED!

 
LOL Can totally relate to your experience re AK100, but I was really a bit hot-headed to impulse-purchased the AK120 on step 4 above.  

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

Quote:

Well, the size and design is pretty much set, from what I've heard. Anyways, I was considering X3, but I really didn't like the design and UI. Also, I heard the X3 gets warm after some use. I'm planning on using it with my leckerton, so as long as the DAC is good, it will probably sound really really good.

Cool, hope you will enjoy. AK100 has a very very stylish design. The UI should not be a problem unless you have big fingers. The overall usabilty of the firmware is better than X3.
 
For the record, there is no heat issue with X3.

(I am just defending my new found love)

 

[kimvictor]

Quote:

Cool, hope you will enjoy. AK100 has a very very stylish design. The UI should not be a problem unless you have big fingers. The overall usabilty of the firmware is better than X3.
 
For the record, there is no heat issue with X3.

(I am just defending my new found love)

Thanks! I'm still hoping to try the X3, but there are no dealers in Korea with a demo unit.

 

[Mython]

 
 
Quote:

  BTW, not sure whether it is suitable to compare to others in here but X3 will be more cool than some other DAPs, and the temperature also depend on what headphone, what sound track you are listening, don't forget that X3 can push out 500mW @ 16ohms headphones/earphones.

 

 
1) I don't mind a DAP getting fairly warm if it is because it uses high-performance amp design. My Cowon J3 stays totally cool but it does not have enough amp performance and this is always frustrating to me.
 
So, I'm cool with the X3 / X5 running a bit on the warm side, if you know what I mean. That's all fine with me if the X3 / X5 have gutsy amp stage performance.
 
 
However,
 

 
Quote:

 
in fact, I used Galaxy note and S3, and iP4S before, what I found is that a power bank is more convenience than a replaceable battery, and it limited the ID design and build quality. and when we upgrade our E11 next year, we will also remove the replaceable battery. Trust me, now almost everyone 
will carry a power bank so you don't need an extra battery. and all our products can be charged via a power bank.
 

 
 
I respectfully disagree with you on this point, James.
 
I do not like powerbanks.
 
1) They are unnecessarily larger and heavier than a tiny slim spare battery
 
2) I don't want to mess around having to charge my DAP from a powerbank while I am walking/traveling. I just want to swap a fresh battery and immediately continue using the DAP.
 

 
Quote:

total not need to worry about the warm of X3 because it is cooler than a Android phone, and take care not to listening X3 during charging.  
 

 
So, James, are you now saying that it's 'OK to have non-swappable battery in X3 / X5 because we can just charge it using a powerbank battery', but we cannot listen to it whilst it is charging...? Do I have to stop listening when battery runs flat, and wait an hour or two for powerbank to charge the DAP in my pocket, before I can listen again?
 
 
.

 

[kimvictor]

Now that I think of it, we might be able to use Android with OTG to charge the X3 or X5. I've charged my daps/amps with my GS3 before(although, it's bit slow). That way, we don't have to carry around a powerbank.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

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Now that I think of it, we might be able to use Android with OTG to charge the X3 or X5. I've charged my daps/amps with my GS3 before(although, it's bit slow). That way, we don't have to carry around a powerbank.

 
What?! GS3 needs to go with a powerbank!

Even with batt saving mode on and only about 40% brightness, with 4G switched off all the time and never using it as a player I get 18hours tops with my usual phone use. Using 4G or WiFi to check mail, listening to music, GPS, etc will cut that down to about 10 to 12 hours. How'd you make your battery last for a phone and use it to charge something else?!

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

Quote:

 
So, James, are you now saying that it's 'OK to have non-swappable battery in X3 / X5 because we can just charge it using a powerbank battery', but we cannot listen to it whilst it is charging...? Do I have to stop listening when battery runs flat, and wait an hour or two for powerbank to charge the DAP in my pocket, before I can listen again?
 
 
.

 


Hi Mython
 
Just tested using Xperia Z charger to charge X3. You can still use the device when charging, but it is not recommended as it will make the battery die quicker.
 
I usually turn off the gadgets when charging with the exception of cell phone... cant turn it off ever...

 

[kimvictor]

Quote:

 
What?! GS3 needs to go with a powerbank!

Even with batt saving mode on and only about 40% brightness, with 4G switched off all the time and never using it as a player I get 18hours tops with my usual phone use. Using 4G or WiFi to check mail, listening to music, GPS, etc will cut that down to about 10 to 12 hours. How'd you make your battery last for a phone and use it to charge something else?!

Well, don't you have a spare battery?
 
NVM. Only certain region(including Korea) sells them with a spare battery. But with the spare battery, it's really not that bad. I also never use GPS, so I guess that saves me some battery life.

 

[eke2k6]

I propose a social experiment.
 
Fiio, please sell the first 30 units for $1,000, and directly market it at summit-fi type users who are willing to spend that much money on other DAPs. Then, ask for comparisons to their DX100s and AK120s.
 
Then drop the price back to normal and ask for another set of comparisons.

 

[uchihaitachi]

Wouldn't the outcome be fairly predictable?

 

[reeshahn]

Quote:

From the day I joined Head-fi, I was introduced to WWW:
 
1-Waiting .
 
2-Wallet, bye bye
 
3-Worrying (That the girl might know...!)
 
 
Thank you for the new thread and new WWW.

 
This is slightly off topic but it is good to know that somebody share the same feelings

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Quote:

Well, don't you have a spare battery?
 
NVM. Only certain region(including Korea) sells them with a spare battery. But with the spare battery, it's really not that bad. I also never use GPS, so I guess that saves me some battery life.

 
I use a powerbank instead, but not the GS3 as a powerbank for something else.