XDuoo X3 DSD 24Bit / 192KHz CS4398 Chip Lossless Music Player

[Dexter22]

No question that they've been penny wise and pound foolish.  Earlier I only recommended the xDuoo X3 if Rockboxed if you were sensitive to pitch errors.  These days I'm not so free with my recommendations.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm happy with mine and use it for out and about.  I still much prefer my desktop > foobar2000 > Modi 2 > G1217 Polaris > Senn HD580 or 600.   My poiint here is that I doubt very much that xDuoo will see any future business from me given how they've handled the whole firmware fiasco.   tony@xDuoo are you listening?

now that anyone who would google about xduoo would land into this page, I wonder joy just us, but others too might be bit reluctant too. This would affect the more new releases as well, as people might be scared of trying it.

 

[Holypal]

 
No question that they've been penny wise and pound foolish.  Earlier I only recommended the xDuoo X3 if Rockboxed if you were sensitive to pitch errors.  These days I'm not so free with my recommendations.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm happy with mine and use it for out and about.  I still much prefer my desktop > foobar2000 > Modi 2 > G1217 Polaris > Senn HD580 or 600.   My poiint here is that I doubt very much that xDuoo will see any future business from me given how they've handled the whole firmware fiasco.   tony@xDuoo are you listening?

 
I agree with you. I think the xduoo team are really good at audio electronics, but suck at firmware/software development. Maybe they're not a big team to support that. But why not hire a Russian guru. This kind of job can be done remotely. 
 
Anyway, I'll probably still buy the next xduoo player, which is coming soon. 

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

   
I agree with you. I think the xduoo team are really good at audio electronics, but suck at firmware/software development. Maybe they're not a big team to support that. But why not hire a Russian guru. This kind of job can be done remotely. 
 
Anyway, I'll probably still buy the next xduoo player, which is coming soon. 

 Next Xduoo player?
 
Are they alreay on something new

 

[Holypal]

 
 Next Xduoo player?
 
Are they alreay on something new

 
Yes, they're not going to fix the x3 problems. But release a x3plus instead.

 

[Bob A (SD)]

 

 
 Next Xduoo player?
 
Are they alreay on something new

 
Yes, they're not going to fix the x3 problems. But release a x3plus instead.

But with what quality firmware?

 

[Holypal]

 
But with what quality firmware?

 
No idea. But it has AK4490 dac chip and also good amps. It also has much better look. Xduoo is testing it now.

 

[saratoga]

   
I agree with you. I think the xduoo team are really good at audio electronics, but suck at firmware/software development. Maybe they're not a big team to support that. But why not hire a Russian guru. This kind of job can be done remotely. 
 

 
I think a lot of these companies just get the whole firmware package when they order a certain amount of chips from the vendor and have little or no ability to make changes beyond adding their logo and theming some fonts and menus.  

 

[harry501501]

  Xduoo X3 with 2x 200gb microSD and a Cayin C5 is the only way I've been listening for a long time. The X3 is just that good.

 
How does the C5 change the sound?

 

[harry501501]

Hi, if you use a headphone AMP in the line out are you basically bypassing the Xd 3's own chip and using the AMP's instead? I'm not totally clued up on AMPs.

 

[seanwee]

   
Yes, they're not going to fix the x3 problems. But release a x3plus instead.

 

   
No idea. But it has AK4490 dac chip and also good amps. It also has much better look. Xduoo is testing it now.

Can you link me to the thread for this?

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

   
No idea. But it has AK4490 dac chip and also good amps. It also has much better look. Xduoo is testing it now.

 
 

 
GREAT!!
 

 

[fish1050]

 
But with what quality firmware?

I suspect that Xduoo like many Chinese DAP makers suck at firmware and simply don't have the expertise necessary to fix major issues with firmware updates.  So they source new components that hopefully are easier to work with and will create fewer firmware issues.  In short they try to fix firmware issues through hardware and not firmware.  Instead of wasting their limited resources trying to fix firmware it is easier to start from scratch with a new model which hopefully will have fewer problems. In other words the same philosophy Japanese manufacturers have followed for years, why fix issues with firmware updates when you can release a new model every year (Sony). 
 
Even as big as Fiio has gotten with the resources they have can't produce good firmware though they have gotten better.  Chinese companies need to be willing to reach out and contract to professional firmware developers even if they aren't Chinese.  Until they do that they will continue to make good hardware and terrible firmware.   Either that or stick to making portable
Amps and DAC's and leave the DAP's to other more qualified companies like Fiio and dare I say Sony and maybe Cowon if they can get their act together.  Look at the Japanese companies getting into the DAP market like Pioneer, Onkyo, Teac etc.. they are going to be able to produce much better DAP's although at much higher prices in most cases.
 
The small Chinese companies simply don't have the buying power to purchase good quality components at high enough volumes that will produce fewer firmware issues.  These small companies need to start merging if they want to survive and start producing better products.  Could you imagine what kind of DAP's an xDuoo/iBasso merger would produce. I know I would buy one for sure

 

[Live with Sound]

New dap looks so plain. Awful. At least you can pull of the x3 with certain styles but this thing attempts a look that it can't hit at its price point. Either flashy or basic is fine, but something basic trying to be a little flashy doesn't do it for me. Like wearing a 30 dollar suit.

Edit: then again I might still get it if it hits the spot sq/price wise.

 

[seanwee]

New dap looks so plain. Awful. At least you can pull of the x3 with certain styles but this thing attempts a look that it can't hit at its price point. Either flashy or basic is fine, but something basic trying to be a little flashy doesn't do it for me. Like wearing a 30 dollar suit.

Edit: then again I might still get it if it hits the spot sq/price wise.

lol

 

[vadergr]

I bought the Xduoo X3 last week.
To be honest i didn't expect any fw support for the price (less than 100$ on ebay) .
The specs are awesome for the price (same dac as fiio x3 , good sound quality , great built and 2x microsd slots).
The fact that it mainly sells on ebay and massdrop , means that most of the future owners are informed and aware of the highs and lows of the product.
 
If i want more features , i will look elsewhere ...