FiiO X3 Mark III Portable High Definition Audio and MP3 Player 192Khz/32Bit Bluetooth 4.1 Satnav Wheel

Product Information

Design-wise the Mark III is a huge step up from the older shape of the X3ii. It looks far more modern and slimline than the two previous X3 generations. For those that have seen, used or own asecond-generationX1, the X3 Mark III form factor is very familiar. In fact, face down you could argue that the Mark III is a blown-up X1 Mark II. Usually, I have some type of gripe on where certain folders are left and stored. But, in this case, I really have nothing negative to say. Great job, Xduoo. The player looks and feels fantastic in setup. Heavier hitting than previous generations of the X3 but also tighter sounding. It takes the fullness of the first gen X3 but pushes it a bit further forward than the 2nd generation. The 2nd Gen will sound a bit leaner in comparison and more neutral in positioning. Hence in the last two years, FiiO has been increasing the size of their RnD department substantially. You only have to walk into their huge open plan office to see the fruits of that long-term vision.

First off, I will just give you the overview of the X3. The FiiO X3’s UI is not ultra good looking, but current updates have made it much more appealing to the eye. The first menu includes the settings, EQ access, Browse Files option, Category Options, Favorites, and the Playing option which includes all the folder options. From that layer, I find what are two types of file finding styles in the X3. Automatic and Manual organization. I found the FiiO X3 III to sound neutral and to couple well with most headphones I own. Its sound is balanced and it does not lean towards any particular colouration, thus being able to reproduce all genres without any bias. In short, the FiiO X3 III appears to be well-designed and not to have any flaws that make music sound differently from what it should. This drives the AKG Q701’s with no problems(high gain), and can drive even my more sensitive IEM’s without problems as well due to the 60 steps of volume control and using low gain. FiiO has inserted anOPA1622 based amp stage into the X3iii. This is another product from TI and is actually quite new being launched only last year. Impedance matching is not super low, around 1-1.5Ω for both its balanced and unbalanced outputs. That should be low enough for most efficient IEMs to sound “correct” and true to their tuning. Power WAV (16 – 32 bit, 44.1 – 384 kHz), FLAC (16 – 24 bit, 44.1 – 192 kHz), DSD64, APE (up to 24 bit, 192 kHz), AIFF (16 – 32 bit, 44.1 – 192 kHz), AIF (16 – 24 bit, 44.1 – 192 kHz), WMA Lossless (24 bit, 48 kHz), ALAC (16 – 24 bit, 44.1 – 192 kHz), MP3, OGG, WMA, AAC

Battery

The X3 comes with a coaxial adaptor, silicone case, screen protectors, and a micro USB cable used to charge the device. [4] Features [ edit ] The recent split from HiBy meant that FiiO had to basically come up with their own replacement software for the X3 series DAPs without breaking that previously known pitch of power, battery life, and portability. Yet it also had to remain competitive for their usual 12-18 month product life-cycle which has been a feature of their media player roadmap over the last few years.

You’ll just need a good portable amplifier to strap to the X3II if that is the case. If you are going to do that, I suggest the XRK Uber. It pairs nicely with the X3II and will make it sound yummy, velvet-like and very dense feeling. FiiO seems to be aiming for a better performance than before with demanding or sensitive earphones. It might mean a slightly decreased output gain for more demanding headphones but I personally think the net benefit of a more controlled and better IEM performance is where FiiO should be heading with this DAP. Functionality CodecsI’d actually rather sacrifice some screen size there for something physically raise up with button placements. Not at all a big grip, but could be if your hands are large. The X3 3rd Gen is part of that Infinity sound pitch of summer 2017. Alongside the F5 and the Q1 Mark II everything was about enhanced portability and the inclusion of a balanced output or cable capability. The X3iii is no different in that respect with a balanced output to match up with the F5, F9 or F9 Pro. FiiO is pitching the balanced output as enhancing the X3iii’s staging and detail performance over the unbalanced output. Dual DAC I actually wish a lot more DAPs and sources would sound like that. I subjectively enjoy that type of sound field in my preferred music listening. I don’t like harshness. Those who enjoy a more simplified and enjoyably soft approach to it all will really feel at home with the X3II. The X3 3rd Gen is part of that Infinity sound pitch of summer 2017. Alongside the F5 and the Q1 Mark II everything was about enhanced portability and the inclusion of a balanced output or cable capability. The X3 Mark III is no different in that respect with a balanced output to match up with the F5, F9 or F9 Pro. FiiO is pitching the balanced output as enhancing the X3 Mark III staging and detail performance over the unbalanced output. Dual DAC The void bubble of sound coming at you is so well balanced and snug. I enjoy it very much subjectively. But, the stage doesn’t play well with the relaxed midrange appeal on a flat EQ. Meaning, if the mids were more bloomed and more forward, this X3II could have been one of the best intimacy lovers portable players I’ve heard in a while.

Chg: control panel now shows maximum ASIO buffer size depending on the maximum supported sample rate update media lib” can be set to “auto” or “manual”– it will automatically update the library when changes are detected, as opposed to only when manual action is taken;

The mids are a bit more thin on the X3, they have good detail, but the more strainy/whiny sound they produce is less than desirable. This can add a bit of fatigue to the user, but the amount they are off by is not much. They have a slight upper mid spike of brightness at the very top of the range, but below that, the spike isn’t really there, and features a bit more subduing in the mid range. The X3 Gen 2 also weighs almost 30g more than the X1 out of the box and combined with the added girth it does feel more substantial than the X1 in day-to-day use. Outs The X3 Mark III has retained the deep sleep functionality of the previous-gen which is a very useful feature. Deep sleep on the X3 Mark III will give you up to 19 days of instant-on capability in standby mode which is pretty darn good.

The FiiO X3 III inherits a lot of design cues from its predecessors: we find the same rectangular landscape screen with a wheel below it, surrounded by four buttons. It is very similar to the FiiO X5 II, though the wheel is now fully touch and is flush with the rest of the front. The X3iii has retained the deep sleep functionality of the previous gen which is a very useful feature.Deep sleep on the X3iii will give you up to 19 days of instant-on capability in standby mode which is pretty darn good. The casing is made entirely of aluminum alloy, the finish is in an attractive titanium color, and the second generation X3 looks high-end and feels robust. The TFT screen has a diagonal of 2 inches and is the same used in the X1 and has a resolution of 320 × 240 pixels, while the larger IPS display with a resolution of 400 × 360 pixels remains reserved for the more prestigious X5 model. Sadly, there is no warning about the battery being almost empty, so the player will suddenly stop reproducing music. There also seems to be a bug in the battery display: it often goes from two bars left to zero in less than 15 minutes. There either is an issue with the battery or the firmware shows the wrong result.Thank Thesycon company for working with us to work out the licensing plan for their latest and greatest! This review was written about two months after first receiving the X3. I was supposed to take only a month. If you hear nothing more out of me, Oyaide have probably... A new version and a new layout, the Fiio X3iii isn’t only a technical update. The new Fiio X3iii measures 59mm x 114mm x 12.8mm and weighs only 126g. That makes it a light and sexy, easy usable and transportable player with a small non-touch screen sized 320×240, and that last one for me is the weakest point of the new player. Another point a lot of ink has been spilled about, is the reactivity of the scroll wheel. Seeing there’s no touch screen, the scroll wheel is the most important “button” of the players. Compared to the very first Fiio scroll wheel, the Chinese company has come far. In fact they once again managed to make it more reactive and responsive, but it of course always remains a scroll wheel. ProGuard Custom Fleximonitors 2: The X3 has a bit more spacious sound than the Nova, but is also more mid-forward. Bass presence is close, with the Nova having slightly less bass presence. The presentation is clearer than the DX50 for a better overall sound. 6/10 For classical recording, best pairing is with JVC HA-FRD80 (similar as HA-FXD80-Z), this pair is really superb sounding for classical.