Many people complained about the latest firmware update locking up, the software being sluggish, and so on. I am seriously considering this player but I wouldn't want to have a rubbish software with it. What are your experiences? Have you upgraded to latest SW and it's all good?
I don't think it would be flawless as it is just released, it took FiiO time to bring software on X3 Mk2 to the perfection but once they did it - my X3 Mk2 was (and is) the best I ever owned so far. I am not here to suggest but while I'd like to get my hands on X3 Mk3, I would wait until mid-2018 and keep an eye on firmware thread at their website.
I gotta spend time wrapped up in music and then give it a good solid opinion. The first FW update went smooth. not having any issues in any way. Good stuff
Yes bro! Please do the comparison between this and the DX200. I'm looking to buy a DAP in the coming weeks but not sure which DAP I'll get. Some people on HF even said they like the DX200 sound more than the Chord Hugo or other DAP that cost more than twice its price, and I'll be like.... whatever. The DX200 got no Play Store and its stock EQ is almost useless but the hype train on HF is real. Can't wait for your review!
Would be great to have a sound comparison eventually with Opus#1 metal. Deciding between the two at the moment. Thnx for doing this, really helpful to have the walkthrough.
Thank so much for a good English review. I have the 2nd gen with very little complaints,but for grouping or playlists.For those who don't know,,a smart phone vs High Resolution is........well 🍎vs 🍊.Keep up the good work!! This ones in my cart!!
Are items like this made for "regular" people that just want to listen to music on some "audiophile" headphones that don't want an ipod? And does it sync with itunes? thanks
Does it always take almost a minute to turn on? Is this normal of all "smart" DAPs? Is it not the case on the Fiio's that don't have a touch screen? Sorry for the newby questions.
Finally! Thanks for the review. still waiting for my preorder within this month. Now thinking if I should get asura or espresso monks. any suggestion? tyia keep doing this simple yet great reviews my friend.
2021.... do you still have this? How's it working out? I am a bit late in the game and this is i guess now considered a budget DAP.... i can afford it now. Thanks for the insight!
Hi and thanks for the review. Don't know if it's been asked but were you able to get Nova Launcher to work. Can't wait to do a bit of customization but I can't get it to work (it will apply bit as soon as I hit the home button it returns to original. Thanks!
I have had my Fiio 5, Gen III for a few years now and still use it every day to listen to music. One thing I have been trying to do is put a key lock function on the forward/back key and also the stop/start key. If I have my player in my pocket, it doesn't take much to accidentally move the player to the next track. Does anyone know how the keys can be 'locked' to prevent this from happening?
The X7 has the exact same updated Fiio Music UI and features in version 3.x beta which is available from the Fiio support/forum pages. On the X7 you can toggle between the old UI and the new UI. And the X7 hardware and add-on amps customized to different headphones and listening preferences are amazing. You would never be able to get the same sound from any smartphone with decent headphone gear.
I only heard the tour unit with the IEM module on one of the first firmwares. Someone told me after the vid that the X7 was identical. Thanks for the info!
Hey man, great review! Already Subscribed! I Am in dilemma. I cant decide between the Fiio X5 and OPUS 1, My go to phones will be the new Denon's 7200 that I Am waiting for. I've always have been a smartphone user but I guess time came for an upgrade. Thanx in advance!
Okay so after many sleepless nights I came down to two options. The first is the X5iii - but I have concerns, the battery, how long it lasts going with FLAC/Streaming ? Second option is Cowon PLENUE M2 128, My concern is lack of Spotify and BT options. Thanks a lot by for the quick response!
ROG Moonspell I have to say the fiio x5iii is a great device, with new firmware they are still working kinks out which is kind of normal for new dap. now from i have heard the opus 1 is a bit more neutral less Smooth but very detailed device, but without streaming capabilites...so if you need just a player it's good player. I think for 100 dollars less you get equally as good sound quality just different signature but with the ability to stream and great detail and easy to listen to. also are your denons more bass and warm headphone because sometimes pairing with a detailed neutral source with a warm headphones is a good way of balancing out the sound. either way I think you cannot go wrong with x5 III
i5 has apparently not honed the art of making full use of the RAM it has. It was unable to play Neutron and display the EQ in real time. X5iii can. That is a RAM event. These are music players first BUT.....LAG is not O.K. with me. Sound is very warm and I was not into that at all
It's just over a year since I asked questions about the Fiio X5 and thanks to the helpful responses I received, I bought one shortly after. I recently tried to pair it up to my car media player and whilst it plays through it, I cannot get any artwork or titles on the car media screen. The same files on a pen drive produce artwork and descriptions. Any ideas please?
Just out of interest, I copied three folders of music (FLAC) onto a pen drive, then inserted the pen drive into one of the USB sockets in my car. The songs played and guess what? The titles came up and it even had a photo of the artist. Could it be that our beloved Fiio is not compatible to my car (although it plays perfectly well). Would a different player (that is to say, software programme) give the titles and artwork?
So does it put out the clarity or mid range? also, I've heard it's able to put out 384khz dsd, but some other reviews are saying it's unable to put out or play certain files? dff or 1bit e.t.c.
It has a mid centric sound like the Mojo but no perceived roll-off. If clarity is neutral than this is not that. It has all the details in my flac's through Sony EX1000. Nothing is lacking in the sonics. People who say otherwise are voodoo bullshit reviewers trying to hype shit. I bough my device and am totally pleased. re: 1 bit files I do not know? I saw a screenshot from jmills on Head-fi playing a 1bit jazz file. dff...no idea.
Hi ! good review, and tour. I own a X5 first gen. Looking into third gen... Also interested in the Mojo + Poly since I think it's more versatile. What's your opinion in this point of view since you own both. Thanks !
I am not a fan of the poly or it's price THB. Love the Mojo as I am mostly a Note 4 /amp/DAC user but poly....mmmm..no. This hobby is about happy so if that's what you like? We all know the Mojo sounds excellent
Thanks for such an in depth review! Definitely helped in my choice to purchase yesterday. Now in terms of UI there is only one thing I would like which doesn't seem available. Sort folders on my SD Card by date added. Don't ask for much, has anyone managed to work this out?
Do apps like Spotify/Tidal/Google Play Music pass audio streams in bitperfect format direct to the DAC or do they still get pushed through the Android media system like they do on an Android phone? I know that the default music player will pass audio straight to the DAC without passing through the Android audio system so is bitperfect.
Spotify does not appear to be snagged by A.L.S.A /Audiofinger but I m not sure about other streaming services. I sometimes use Spotify but that's it. Japan is very anal, up tight , paranoid about anything that they can't see a clear profit in. Spotify just went live in Japan a few months ago and that's a few years old now.
It's a great player, Viper eq is great on the fiio music side. But I can't find an eq app that works with spotify on,this device. I also have an LG v30 that I run spotify on and have no problem with getting a work8ng eq with that device and app. Anyone have a solution?
Is the sound on this an improvement on the Fiio X5 2nd gen? I've had that for a few months, and no matter how I try to modify it - better headphones, headphone amp, etc - I've always been disappointed in what I'd hoped would be incredible sound. This looks like a definite improvement on the interface, but is the sound different? Thanks.
I skipped the x5ii. It was a minor upgrade of the 1st version so I skipped it. A few folks I know who own(ed) the 2 like this 3 generation better. Smoother sound from AK dac's
Hi, do you think this would sound good with a V-moda m100? I keep reading about the m100 not being a "great" headphone and that it doesn't scale well with higher quality gear. I thought maybe they were right when I listened to the X7 and didn't hear much difference from my ipod classic, but your review of the X7 made me think otherwise.
The X7 is not my thing. Sounds like an ipod like the DX200. That was with original amp so i have no idea how X7 sounds with AMP2 or others. Be careful about what "other people " say. Including me, we are all full of shit to a degree.
Thanks for answering. I figured that was the case but I asked cause I really don't have as much experience as you do. A lot of this is new to me. I'm pretty happy with the m100 right now which is why I'm looking for a good DAP instead of better cans. I appreciate the honesty in your videos and your impressions on the X5iii are what I'm looking for in a DAP.
thank you so much for your review what headphones do you like best. I'm currently favoring the oppo pm3 s. have you tried the AK100 ii as far as sound comparison not so much interface. I understand this is full android
I'm looking to get one of these to get out of the Apple ecosystem. I now have an ipod classic with a Fiio amp. How hard would it be to make the transition from itunes' streamlined interface? I've got a little over 10,000 songs so it seems like a pretty daunting task
simon3102000 I had this same issue last year. My old Classic was on its last leg and I was in desperate need of a new DAP. I ended up getting a Sony NW-A35 and less than four months later my Classic died completely. As with any transition, it took some time to get used to (I also have a large library), but if you hunker down and don't mind spending some time making sure all of the little details are ironed out regarding your files, it's really not that bad.
what devise can I buy to play my 500 Gig of music (About 20.000 songs on it) from a external hard drive or my thumb drive with a screen to be able to scroll thru the files to find what I want to play? Seems like everything is made for using on line services thru a phone...WTF? anyone make anything for people that don't want that stuff?
Not neutral like X7 from FiiO. Warm implies lack of detail and the X5iii has lots of detail. It is not neutral though. Fun sound, musical, lots of fine detail :)
I own a FiiO X5iii 3rd right now I am looking to upgrade to a device between 5-600 the only thing I require is a dual micro SD slot without the trays, I prefer just to pop out the cards once a month, any suggestions?
Mind if I ask what you think makes this sound better than the X7? I ended up getting the X7 for the heck of it, because I was really expecting it to blow me away with audio quality (like the sound card on my gaming laptop, which can actually give me the lowest notes in the rap/electronic songs I listen to). But honestly, I was extremely underwhelmed, especially when I couldn't even get this thing to sound even close to as good as my phone (Galaxy Note 4)! After messing with the EQ on the music player, I can't even get the music to not sound muddy, and compressed. The audio from my phone is a lot more open and clear. I just mainly wanted a mobile device that can actually produce the lowest notes in any song (or at least the ones I listen to...), but I still need to do my research as to what actually makes that a reality in a device, if that's actually something that can be found in specifications (I'd certainly hope). I'm honestly about to return this thing because, I don't even think it'd be worth changing out the amp for one of the other options, if that'd actually improve my listening experience, which I highly doubt. After seeing so many people swear by the X7's "superior" audio quality, it's really making me feel left out and question "what the hell am I missing that everyone else seems to be getting?" 😂😂
I believe you use a 3.5mm optical to Toslink (assuming you have Toslink at the other end). Or you can buy an adapter (3.5mm-Toslink) and use a regular Toslink cable.
How's the hissing with this beautiful device? Thinking about getting it, but people said even FiiO was up front about this being hissier than the X7. Also do you think a comparison between this and the Cayin i5 is possible? P.S. I don't use IEMs often I own the HD 650 if this helps with measuring the hiss.
Oh man it's like a whole new challenge just trying to buy or find it XD. Like it's never in stock or when it is, I just see sellers with "misplaced" prices like 599$ or 899$ lol. How to buy and for actual MSRP? XD
xD I managed to buy it, now i just have to wait till the 10-17. Not too bad I guess, it's on the week of my birthday I guess special gift to myself xD.
newbie here looking at entering the realm of DAP, will this be a good entry for a newbie like me ? And where do you guys get your music files for loading into DAP ? Right now I only listen to music on my phone using spotify
Thanks for the review. I currently have an IPod Classic which I think is dying as it is skipping various tracks so I am looking to upgrade to something that will play FLAC files. Does this have a dedicated programme to add songs to it (I currently use Musicbee and would love to be able to continue using that for this device).
Please forgive me asking this as I have no experience of Android usage, having avoided getting anything other than a very basic mobile phone but with the Fiio X5 3rd gen having Wi-Fi, does that mean it's possible to surf the Internet on it or just selected sites?
Great tutorial. I received mine yesterday and I bought this device to use on my Mac with iTunes. Although I can move/copy music to the device. The device will not show my music in the fiio music folder. So what am I doing wrong?! Please contact me..
You could go for the LG V20, ~$100 for a nice dac and android (put in airplane mode to turn off phone radio, saves a lot of battery) Oh forgot to mention, it has a swappable battery.
hi, is there a sound difference between their native player and other 3rd party player? if you use spotify, does it mess up the native player settings? Thanks for the review btw!
Other player apps have parametric EQ while the device sports a 10 band graphic EQ so the potential sound differences are their but no clear sonic differences just with another app that I could tell
Nice presentation. Need help!! Two different dac with different frequency response.. help me to choose the better one. 20Hz-20KHz, +/-0.25dB 10 Hz to 80 kHz, +0/‒3 dB Thanks in advance.
I am considering buying this but I am torn between it and the Pioneer XDP-300r-- Have you tried that one? If so, which would you recommend in terms of interface and sound quality?
Pioneer has bigger screen but FiiO has a better sound IMO. I almost bought the Pioneer you mentioned but opted not to at this time. I might review it in a month or so.
Lesser? No. Dual sabre is a sound I am familiar with as I have a couple items with that DAC. I like the smooth sound of the AK dac. Just a personal pref.
Since I haven't tried either DACs and for someone who listens to prog rock/metal mainly (mid-range), never tried any DAP but FiiO X5 2nd gen, which of the two is the better option?
I have the X3II and love it, paid $300 CND about 2 years ago and still works great. This X5III is tempting for sure I'm assuming the X5II is better than X3II in sound so my question, If I get the X5III there will be no chance of disappointment correct? Oh ya Does anyone any one know about Canadian availability?
no chance? No idea what you like or any number of variables. I would never tell someone they won't be disappointed. Anyone who does is a spaz. i love it. Price is reasonable and it sound better than a $980 DX200. I am sure about that (my opinion).
I'm guessing you can now search for tracks on this 3rd gen? I had the Fiio X5 and i think one of the reasons i sold it was because you couldn't search for a specific track.. something so simple wasn't included in the original model, unless i was just being stupid haha.
You can search the device for tracks. The 1st gen drove me nuts and sounded just o.k. and the scroll wheel made me wanna throw it against a fucking wall ;)
Thanks for the reply. I owned Fiio X3 but the UI is very lagged and it is bricked after a year. So a little bit skeptical about Fiio product line. Hence the question. :) Keep up the good work M8.
No problem. Most of the Android based DAP's have a lag while basic nav or scrolling. NONE of them match a smartphone with 3 or 4 gig of ram and full droid....not yet :)
I owned the x3 as well.. Stopped working last week.. And only clicks when u try to turn it on.. But I took another chance and bought this latest x5.. And honestly it doesn't have the punch the x3 had.. It seems more amped on the high end frequency..
No. It is going to be roughly half the price in Japan as the X7 was at first. This is the mid tier offering that happens to have top tier sound. I expect it will be like that globally X5iii relative to the prior X7
I would actually recommend going on ebay and trying to find one there. I just got one in mint condition with all accessories and a 128gb micro SD for only 150€
The ui are the same with X7 ver3 firmware. Not sure dual AK4490 would be better than single ESS9018. I bought X7 with AM5 module so that I can push my 300ohm HD800s. Not sure X5 can do that as well. Also viper effect is better than the EQ, the eq setting cannot be applied when playing dsd file (not sure why)
Yeah I figure what they learned with X7 was applied to X5iii. I love my PHA which is the 9018. This sounds smoother but detail rich. Great with Vinyl rips so far. Like it a lot
Works perfect. Just updated the firmware and nothing broke or fucked up so...good. It has a smooth sound but not too warm like the i5 from Cayin. This pairs well with my favorite gear. EX1000,800,MA900.
Cool bro! I already purchased most of the stuffs that you recommended. Sony mdr ex1000, mdr 7550, TFZ 5S, etc... I learned about Neutron from you video and got that as well. The X5iii will be my first DAP once it arrive in the US and this will add to your list as well. I'm still waiting on your "rec" between the FLC8s or the PM4 :).
I would rec the PM4 right away if that cable was better. I might have a loaner that has a bad cable (comes loose) If that is not an item issue and just my issue I rec the PM4. Thunder or detail...it does both
Plug it into PC put it into usb storage mode when prompted. Take downloaded zip file and drag and drop into FiiO main drive or any mSD drive on device. Unplug from PC. restart press button on start screen white with dots icon. Select fiio assistant ( ??) update firmware locally scroll to bottom where file should be then tap and let the device update. don't touch as it will restart om its own
I just got the X5 ii and fucking hate it. Apparently you can't use the EQ for files above 48Khz. All I want to know is if you tried to use the EQ for the gen 3? Does it work for Hi-Res files or is just a another glorified .mp3 player?
That's awesome! So, are you using Android mode with that or the Pure Music mode? I'm interested in minimal EQ, but how is the EQ like in the Pure mode?
It can. You should PM FiiO or check head-Fi for instructions. it requires a certain setting on the device which I cannot say for sure since i do not use in that manner
So it's literally just a ancient android phone with apps that let you have music? Any android can have a misic app with way more ram, cpu and everything else.
The sound quality of the DAC's are much much better than phones. I use a Note 4 with no sim mostly so it is the boss for hosting but SQ is not great without an amp/dac..which i own several and love :)
The mojo by itself with a phone is a TOTL music device. The Mojo has no extra impact (perceived) in the bass area actually maybe rolled? But it has amazing clarity and power so a X5iii and Mojo would be overkill but very excellent :)
This has terrible reviews on Amazon because the OS apparently never stop crashing. This makes me very hesitant to buy it. Does anyone who owns it experience a lot of issues when using it as an android device?
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it can't be wrong buying this...I just bought my Fiio x5iii with Fiio A5 and Audio Technica headphone,,,,sound 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍!!!!!!
Many people complained about the latest firmware update locking up, the software being sluggish, and so on. I am seriously considering this player but I wouldn't want to have a rubbish software with it. What are your experiences? Have you upgraded to latest SW and it's all good?
I don't think it would be flawless as it is just released, it took FiiO time to bring software on X3 Mk2 to the perfection but once they did it - my X3 Mk2 was (and is) the best I ever owned so far. I am not here to suggest but while I'd like to get my hands on X3 Mk3, I would wait until mid-2018 and keep an eye on firmware thread at their website.
Does it play vidoes. Possibility to watch netflix?
been waiting on this one...lookin forward to the detailed review.
I gotta spend time wrapped up in music and then give it a good solid opinion. The first FW update went smooth. not having any issues in any way. Good stuff
On the hunt for something soon here....
good review man, thank you
Yes bro! Please do the comparison between this and the DX200. I'm looking to buy a DAP in the coming weeks but not sure which DAP I'll get. Some people on HF even said they like the DX200 sound more than the Chord Hugo or other DAP that cost more than twice its price, and I'll be like.... whatever. The DX200 got no Play Store and its stock EQ is almost useless but the hype train on HF is real. Can't wait for your review!
Video compare coming
Great review, Thanks for sharing
Would be great to have a sound comparison eventually with Opus#1 metal. Deciding between the two at the moment. Thnx for doing this, really helpful to have the walkthrough.
I will be doing that and the iBasso DX200 as well
this did help me thx
Thanks for posting:)
Thank so much for a
good English review. I have the 2nd gen with very little complaints,but for grouping or playlists.For those who don't know,,a smart phone vs High Resolution is........well 🍎vs 🍊.Keep up the good work!! This ones in my cart!!
Good purchase. High quality sound and not a stupid expensive price. FiiO did good
Thanx man good vid just ordered it
Thanks for the comment!I like my X5iii very much. it is easy to rec at this performance and price. Enjoy!
Are items like this made for "regular" people that just want to listen to music on some "audiophile" headphones that don't want an ipod? And does it sync with itunes? thanks
Does it always take almost a minute to turn on? Is this normal of all "smart" DAPs? Is it not the case on the Fiio's that don't have a touch screen? Sorry for the newby questions.
i`ve got lg v10 and fiio x5 gen 1 do you think this fiio x5 3rd gen is worth the upgrade? is it more to “digital“ or “analog“ sound?
Finally! Thanks for the review. still waiting for my preorder within this month. Now thinking if I should get asura or espresso monks. any suggestion? tyia
keep doing this simple yet great reviews my friend.
Smooth sounding DAP so a more neutral leaning sound (IEM) will be compensated by the smooth delivery. IMO
2021.... do you still have this? How's it working out? I am a bit late in the game and this is i guess now considered a budget DAP.... i can afford it now. Thanks for the insight!
Hi and thanks for the review. Don't know if it's been asked but were you able to get Nova Launcher to work. Can't wait to do a bit of customization but I can't get it to work (it will apply bit as soon as I hit the home button it returns to original.
Thanks!
I'm soo getting this device, thanks for this video
It's pretty dope! Enjoy! I love mine :)
I hope you do :) ordered mine Yesterday based only on the specs and your video .)
Have you tried the x5-3 with the pandora hope VIs?
Yes, yes but will it drive 300ohm HD650's? No-one is telling anyone whether it can drive high end headphones, so I'm thinking it probably won't...
Did the software improve? Are there any major problems still left?
Fiio x5 3rd compare to hiby r6. ,which one sound better? Thank you guy!
Can you create customizable playlists with this device? Roughly how long does it play before needing a recharge?
I have had my Fiio 5, Gen III for a few years now and still use it every day to listen to music. One thing I have been trying to do is put a key lock function on the forward/back key and also the stop/start key. If I have my player in my pocket, it doesn't take much to accidentally move the player to the next track. Does anyone know how the keys can be 'locked' to prevent this from happening?
The X7 has the exact same updated Fiio Music UI and features in version 3.x beta which is available from the Fiio support/forum pages. On the X7 you can toggle between the old UI and the new UI. And the X7 hardware and add-on amps customized to different headphones and listening preferences are amazing. You would never be able to get the same sound from any smartphone with decent headphone gear.
I only heard the tour unit with the IEM module on one of the first firmwares. Someone told me after the vid that the X7 was identical. Thanks for the info!
Hey man, great review! Already Subscribed!
I Am in dilemma. I cant decide between the Fiio X5 and OPUS 1, My go to phones will be the new Denon's 7200 that I Am waiting for. I've always have been a smartphone user but I guess time came for an upgrade. Thanx in advance!
The X5iii or the OPUS #1 ? The X5iii.
Okay so after many sleepless nights I came down to two options. The first is the X5iii - but I have concerns, the battery, how long it lasts going with FLAC/Streaming ?
Second option is Cowon PLENUE M2 128, My concern is lack of Spotify and BT options.
Thanks a lot by for the quick response!
I cannot comment on streaming battery life. My library is all flac and it is giving me between 8-10 hours on that
ROG Moonspell I have to say the fiio x5iii is a great device, with new firmware they are still working kinks out which is kind of normal for new dap. now from i have heard the opus 1 is a bit more neutral less Smooth but very detailed device, but without streaming capabilites...so if you need just a player it's good player. I think for 100 dollars less you get equally as good sound quality just different signature but with the ability to stream and great detail and easy to listen to. also are your denons more bass and warm headphone because sometimes pairing with a detailed neutral source with a warm headphones is a good way of balancing out the sound. either way I think you cannot go wrong with x5 III
So how has the device performed now? Laggy? Firmware Updates?
Interesting to me that the i5 was not recommended but the X5iii is, since they have the same quantity of random access memory. Thanks for your review!
i5 has apparently not honed the art of making full use of the RAM it has. It was unable to play Neutron and display the EQ in real time. X5iii can. That is a RAM event. These are music players first BUT.....LAG is not O.K. with me. Sound is very warm and I was not into that at all
thanks man... i will stop my trawl of youtube rambles and rants now, and go find a supplier where I can look at one of these :-)
Can this unit be connected to a car stereo for a source?
Does this device let you download and use google play music (their streaming app which I subscribe to already?)
It's just over a year since I asked questions about the Fiio X5 and thanks to the helpful responses I received, I bought one shortly after. I recently tried to pair it up to my car media player and whilst it plays through it, I cannot get any artwork or titles on the car media screen. The same files on a pen drive produce artwork and descriptions. Any ideas please?
Just out of interest, I copied three folders of music (FLAC) onto a pen drive, then inserted the pen drive into one of the USB sockets in my car. The songs played and guess what? The titles came up and it even had a photo of the artist. Could it be that our beloved Fiio is not compatible to my car (although it plays perfectly well). Would a different player (that is to say, software programme) give the titles and artwork?
So does it put out the clarity or mid range? also, I've heard it's able to put out 384khz dsd, but some other reviews are saying it's unable to put out or play certain files? dff or 1bit e.t.c.
It has a mid centric sound like the Mojo but no perceived roll-off. If clarity is neutral than this is not that. It has all the details in my flac's through Sony EX1000. Nothing is lacking in the sonics. People who say otherwise are voodoo bullshit reviewers trying to hype shit. I bough my device and am totally pleased. re: 1 bit files I do not know? I saw a screenshot from jmills on Head-fi playing a 1bit jazz file. dff...no idea.
Hi ! good review, and tour.
I own a X5 first gen. Looking into third gen... Also interested in the Mojo + Poly since I think it's more versatile. What's your opinion in this point of view since you own both.
Thanks !
I am not a fan of the poly or it's price THB. Love the Mojo as I am mostly a Note 4 /amp/DAC user but poly....mmmm..no. This hobby is about happy so if that's what you like? We all know the Mojo sounds excellent
thanx a lot
PLEASE Try and compare Shanling: M3X, M3 Ultra, M6 (pre-2021models , and a current high-end special edition, were based on AKM [analogic DAC])...
I have an opportunity to buy one of these for 150 used should I go for it/??
Thanks for such an in depth review! Definitely helped in my choice to purchase yesterday. Now in terms of UI there is only one thing I would like which doesn't seem available.
Sort folders on my SD Card by date added.
Don't ask for much, has anyone managed to work this out?
Do apps like Spotify/Tidal/Google Play Music pass audio streams in bitperfect format direct to the DAC or do they still get pushed through the Android media system like they do on an Android phone? I know that the default music player will pass audio straight to the DAC without passing through the Android audio system so is bitperfect.
Spotify does not appear to be snagged by A.L.S.A /Audiofinger but I m not sure about other streaming services. I sometimes use Spotify but that's it. Japan is very anal, up tight , paranoid about anything that they can't see a clear profit in. Spotify just went live in Japan a few months ago and that's a few years old now.
It's a great player, Viper eq is great on the fiio music side. But I can't find an eq app that works with spotify on,this device. I also have an LG v30 that I run spotify on and have no problem with getting a work8ng eq with that device and app. Anyone have a solution?
A DAP that works like normal android phones? I'm sold.
Yup, pretty much :)
Is the sound on this an improvement on the Fiio X5 2nd gen? I've had that for a few months, and no matter how I try to modify it - better headphones, headphone amp, etc - I've always been disappointed in what I'd hoped would be incredible sound. This looks like a definite improvement on the interface, but is the sound different? Thanks.
I skipped the x5ii. It was a minor upgrade of the 1st version so I skipped it. A few folks I know who own(ed) the 2 like this 3 generation better. Smoother sound from AK dac's
Hi, do you think this would sound good with a V-moda m100? I keep reading about the m100 not being a "great" headphone and that it doesn't scale well with higher quality gear. I thought maybe they were right when I listened to the X7 and didn't hear much difference from my ipod classic, but your review of the X7 made me think otherwise.
The X7 is not my thing. Sounds like an ipod like the DX200. That was with original amp so i have no idea how X7 sounds with AMP2 or others. Be careful about what "other people " say. Including me, we are all full of shit to a degree.
Thanks for answering. I figured that was the case but I asked cause I really don't have as much experience as you do. A lot of this is new to me. I'm pretty happy with the m100 right now which is why I'm looking for a good DAP instead of better cans. I appreciate the honesty in your videos and your impressions on the X5iii are what I'm looking for in a DAP.
thank you so much for your review what headphones do you like best. I'm currently favoring the oppo pm3 s. have you tried the AK100 ii as far as sound comparison not so much interface. I understand this is full android
AK sounds wider. The person who convinced me to get the FiiO also uses PM3 so it is apparently a nice pairing
I'm looking to get one of these to get out of the Apple ecosystem. I now have an ipod classic with a Fiio amp. How hard would it be to make the transition from itunes' streamlined interface? I've got a little over 10,000 songs so it seems like a pretty daunting task
simon3102000 I had this same issue last year. My old Classic was on its last leg and I was in desperate need of a new DAP. I ended up getting a Sony NW-A35 and less than four months later my Classic died completely. As with any transition, it took some time to get used to (I also have a large library), but if you hunker down and don't mind spending some time making sure all of the little details are ironed out regarding your files, it's really not that bad.
At 6.52: That chick is hot...lol ....no argument there.
Hi, thank you for this review. Just wondering if you are able to review FiiO X3 Mk3?
I do not have that item. sorry
how do u find the X3 Gen 3?
what devise can I buy to play my 500 Gig of music (About 20.000 songs on it) from a external hard drive or my thumb drive with a screen to be able to scroll thru the files to find what I want to play? Seems like everything is made for using on line services thru a phone...WTF? anyone make anything for people that don't want that stuff?
How is the sound signature of this??? Its warm, neutral, analitic...
Not neutral like X7 from FiiO. Warm implies lack of detail and the X5iii has lots of detail. It is not neutral though. Fun sound, musical, lots of fine detail :)
I own a FiiO X5iii 3rd right now I am looking to upgrade to a device between 5-600 the only thing I require is a dual micro SD slot without the trays, I prefer just to pop out the cards once a month, any suggestions?
iBasso DX120
Mind if I ask what you think makes this sound better than the X7? I ended up getting the X7 for the heck of it, because I was really expecting it to blow me away with audio quality (like the sound card on my gaming laptop, which can actually give me the lowest notes in the rap/electronic songs I listen to). But honestly, I was extremely underwhelmed, especially when I couldn't even get this thing to sound even close to as good as my phone (Galaxy Note 4)! After messing with the EQ on the music player, I can't even get the music to not sound muddy, and compressed. The audio from my phone is a lot more open and clear. I just mainly wanted a mobile device that can actually produce the lowest notes in any song (or at least the ones I listen to...), but I still need to do my research as to what actually makes that a reality in a device, if that's actually something that can be found in specifications (I'd certainly hope).
I'm honestly about to return this thing because, I don't even think it'd be worth changing out the amp for one of the other options, if that'd actually improve my listening experience, which I highly doubt. After seeing so many people swear by the X7's "superior" audio quality, it's really making me feel left out and question "what the hell am I missing that everyone else seems to be getting?" 😂😂
i cant awnser cus i dont have any DAP at the moment, what headpohes did you pair with x7 ?
I can't even find out where to pre-order in the US. Any suggestions? I've even tweeted Fiio.
Visit the Head-fi 5iii tour thread and the reps in there can help you out :)
CSNY 1974 is awesome!
Classic. Get's favorited right away on every new device i load it on :)
if I wanted to use the FIIO with a unit that accepts optical out, what cable would i need ?
I believe you use a 3.5mm optical to Toslink (assuming you have Toslink at the other end). Or you can buy an adapter (3.5mm-Toslink) and use a regular Toslink cable.
How's the hissing with this beautiful device? Thinking about getting it, but people said even FiiO was up front about this being hissier than the X7. Also do you think a comparison between this and the Cayin i5 is possible?
P.S. I don't use IEMs often I own the HD 650 if this helps with measuring the hiss.
Most hissing claims are with expensive multi BA IEM, It is not an issue with my EX1000 which are single dynamic or overears.
ooo ok thanks yous :P.
Oh man it's like a whole new challenge just trying to buy or find it XD. Like it's never in stock or when it is, I just see sellers with "misplaced" prices like 599$ or 899$ lol. How to buy and for actual MSRP? XD
Good luck. I bought mine before they hit the main airwaves. Ahead of the curve....for once :)
xD I managed to buy it, now i just have to wait till the 10-17. Not too bad I guess, it's on the week of my birthday I guess special gift to myself xD.
newbie here looking at entering the realm of DAP, will this be a good entry for a newbie like me ?
And where do you guys get your music files for loading into DAP ?
Right now I only listen to music on my phone using spotify
Hi I am wondering the same thing. Did you get it? Thanks
Thanks for the review. I currently have an IPod Classic which I think is dying as it is skipping various tracks so I am looking to upgrade to something that will play FLAC files. Does this have a dedicated programme to add songs to it (I currently use Musicbee and would love to be able to continue using that for this device).
You can just drag and drop music onto device once it is plugged in. easier than an ipod in that it doesn't need software
Thank you. That's good to know.
Please forgive me asking this as I have no experience of Android usage, having avoided getting anything other than a very basic mobile phone but with the Fiio X5 3rd gen having Wi-Fi, does that mean it's possible to surf the Internet on it or just selected sites?
You can surf the internet anywhere you like
Great tutorial. I received mine yesterday and I bought this device to use on my Mac with iTunes. Although I can move/copy music to the device. The device will not show my music in the fiio music folder.
So what am I doing wrong?! Please contact me..
Did you re-scan your library?
Could I use my Oppo HA-2 SE with the Fiio X5 gen 3?
I'm pretty sure you could but it is a nice dac itself so ...maybe too much unless you wanna use it with other gear as well
that wallpaper tho :DDD lol
BTW does it play video too or just music?!!
good question. I need to know that as well.
Just use your smartphone for that. Its a music player. I definitely know that RUclips works. You probably know this by know though.
Need you advice, considering the Pioneer 100R. Can you compare the pioneer vs this fiio
Dinh Long Le fiio beats this.
@BGGAR nice video. would the x5-3 good with shure se215 and hd650?
With the HD650 yes.... the Shure? I have not tried it
thank you for the reply. I am leaning towards the fiio x5iii atm but the onkyo dpx1 seems interesting too but can't find a good comparison :(
They are both good devices. FiiO is more likely to update and address issues via FW or reply more than Onkyo.
i am really thinking about getting this to replace my lg v20. does it have a better dac? I am running a cayin c5 aswell
It has a better 2 DAC's AK4490. Sounds very nice.
Is this worth buying in 2019? It’s on sale for $229 and it would be my first DAP.
Curious as well. I'm looking for a decently clean android music player. And this is a lot cheaper compared to the upcoming Walkman a105
You could go for the LG V20, ~$100 for a nice dac and android (put in airplane mode to turn off phone radio, saves a lot of battery) Oh forgot to mention, it has a swappable battery.
hi, is there a sound difference between their native player and other 3rd party player? if you use spotify, does it mess up the native player settings?
Thanks for the review btw!
Other player apps have parametric EQ while the device sports a 10 band graphic EQ so the potential sound differences are their but no clear sonic differences just with another app that I could tell
The Best Bass Headphones are... I see, thanks for info! Appreciate it. :)
Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews The fact that I can use Poweramp makes me excited. I see you download it. Would you use that over Fiio's native player?
neutron...yeah
Nice presentation.
Need help!!
Two different dac with different frequency response.. help me to choose the better one.
20Hz-20KHz, +/-0.25dB
10 Hz to 80 kHz, +0/‒3 dB
Thanks in advance.
If i use with low impedance earphone like shure se846, using the maximum output level, it will gonna break?
No. The hissing is minimal and it plays nice with low impedence gear. Nothing gunna break ;)
Thank you =)
I am considering buying this but I am torn between it and the Pioneer XDP-300r-- Have you tried that one? If so, which would you recommend in terms of interface and sound quality?
Pioneer has bigger screen but FiiO has a better sound IMO. I almost bought the Pioneer you mentioned but opted not to at this time. I might review it in a month or so.
Thanks for replying. If you opted out of buying the Pioneer-- if I may
ask, how did you know it has the lesser sound quality compared to the
FiiO?
Khalid Bam I think you can also find one in Jareer book store.
Lesser? No. Dual sabre is a sound I am familiar with as I have a couple items with that DAC. I like the smooth sound of the AK dac. Just a personal pref.
Since I haven't tried either DACs and for someone who listens to prog rock/metal mainly (mid-range), never tried any DAP but FiiO X5 2nd gen, which of the two is the better option?
I have the X3II and love it, paid $300 CND about 2 years ago and still works great. This X5III is tempting for sure I'm assuming the X5II is better than X3II in sound so my question, If I get the X5III there will be no chance of disappointment correct?
Oh ya Does anyone any one know about Canadian availability?
no chance? No idea what you like or any number of variables. I would never tell someone they won't be disappointed. Anyone who does is a spaz. i love it. Price is reasonable and it sound better than a $980 DX200. I am sure about that (my opinion).
Hello :) i have a question, if right now you are given a chance to buy the x7 or the X5 III which one will you get ?
X5iii. No question. I did a video on here with the X7. Not a fan. Love the x5iii and don't likethe X7 at all so that would be an easy choice for me.
Got it and pre ordered. thanks man :)
no problem. It is smooth but detail rich. it is a great piece of kit
Is this iTunes compatible?
Nice screensaver!!! where didi you get it? :-)
it's a picture of my girlfriend
I'm guessing you can now search for tracks on this 3rd gen? I had the Fiio X5 and i think one of the reasons i sold it was because you couldn't search for a specific track.. something so simple wasn't included in the original model, unless i was just being stupid haha.
You can search the device for tracks. The 1st gen drove me nuts and sounded just o.k. and the scroll wheel made me wanna throw it against a fucking wall ;)
Haha, i feel your pain.
Is 3rd generation better than 2nd. What's highest gb Micro SD I can put it?
256 gb is the max as far as i know, so two of those would be 512 gb.
it's Feb 10 here in India, and the video is posted not more than 1hour ago, but the date shows Feb 9.
I'm waiting for the next Gen of X7, though
Will it work with SANDISK EXTREME PRO microSDXC UHS-II CARD?
I do not have that card. You could ask on Head-Fi or send FiiO a mail.
It'll work. Not at the full speed though.
i have seen this device sold for as low as 200$..is it still worth it?
Where you se that price?
Does this come with a DAC or do I need to use a separate DAC?
It has 2 DAC's inside :)
Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews Very cool ... thanks!
You should put it against Onkyo DP-X1 Digital Audio Player and who wins.
That would be an interesting compare
how's this compare to onkyo dp-x1a?
Sorry, I only listened to a demo unit of that Onkyo for a little while. Sounded nice but I cannot compare :(
Thanks for the reply. I owned Fiio X3 but the UI is very lagged and it is bricked after a year. So a little bit skeptical about Fiio product line. Hence the question. :) Keep up the good work M8.
No problem. Most of the Android based DAP's have a lag while basic nav or scrolling. NONE of them match a smartphone with 3 or 4 gig of ram and full droid....not yet :)
I owned the x3 as well.. Stopped working last week.. And only clicks when u try to turn it on.. But I took another chance and bought this latest x5.. And honestly it doesn't have the punch the x3 had.. It seems more amped on the high end frequency..
Finally pulled the trigger and got my DP-X1A from Amazon Japan. So far pretty happy with it. Solid build, smooth UI. A little bit bulky though.
One more thing, you said it's a steal for the price, how much would this be in the UK?
In Japan and America it is a steal compared to other gear. The U.K. price I am not sure?
Thanks anyway, guess i'll just wait and see, i can't see it being anywhere near the price of the X7, surely?
No. It is going to be roughly half the price in Japan as the X7 was at first. This is the mid tier offering that happens to have top tier sound. I expect it will be like that globally X5iii relative to the prior X7
It's around £390 in the UK
Thanks for letting me know. Very tempted to buy one lol.
It's around 200€ now should I buy it?
I would actually recommend going on ebay and trying to find one there. I just got one in mint condition with all accessories and a 128gb micro SD for only 150€
Could you save offline songs from Spotify?
Yes
The ui are the same with X7 ver3 firmware. Not sure dual AK4490 would be better than single ESS9018. I bought X7 with AM5 module so that I can push my 300ohm HD800s. Not sure X5 can do that as well. Also viper effect is better than the EQ, the eq setting cannot be applied when playing dsd file (not sure why)
Yeah I figure what they learned with X7 was applied to X5iii. I love my PHA which is the 9018. This sounds smoother but detail rich. Great with Vinyl rips so far. Like it a lot
How's the bass? PEQ such as Neutron work flawlessly? I guess it should be good since you gave the greenlight.
Works perfect. Just updated the firmware and nothing broke or fucked up so...good. It has a smooth sound but not too warm like the i5 from Cayin. This pairs well with my favorite gear. EX1000,800,MA900.
Cool bro! I already purchased most of the stuffs that you recommended. Sony mdr ex1000, mdr 7550, TFZ 5S, etc... I learned about Neutron from you video and got that as well. The X5iii will be my first DAP once it arrive in the US and this will add to your list as well. I'm still waiting on your "rec" between the FLC8s or the PM4 :).
I would rec the PM4 right away if that cable was better. I might have a loaner that has a bad cable (comes loose) If that is not an item issue and just my issue I rec the PM4. Thunder or detail...it does both
It just looks like a ancient android to me.
Can you reset the password on the x5... Thanks
Hi, how to update the firmware? Thanks
Plug it into PC put it into usb storage mode when prompted. Take downloaded zip file and drag and drop into FiiO main drive or any mSD drive on device. Unplug from PC. restart press button on start screen white with dots icon. Select fiio assistant ( ??) update firmware locally scroll to bottom where file should be then tap and let the device update. don't touch as it will restart om its own
Where did you buy it?
Online in Japan
Whats the wifi for??... Can surf Internet and download mp3 music?
Yes its a Android device just like a phone without the calling!
I just got the X5 ii and fucking hate it. Apparently you can't use the EQ for files above 48Khz. All I want to know is if you tried to use the EQ for the gen 3? Does it work for Hi-Res files or is just a another glorified .mp3 player?
All of my files are flac up to 24/192 and the EQ works fine. I need to eq the bass on my ex1000 so yeah, it works for sure.
Okay, well then clearly it must have a much better processor than the gen 2 X5. How long does the battery last?
I am getting 7-9 hours on my unit using IEM and high gain mode
That's awesome! So, are you using Android mode with that or the Pure Music mode? I'm interested in minimal EQ, but how is the EQ like in the Pure mode?
The sliders are in need of some firmware tweaking (sensitivity) but it works with Pure music and Neutron works in Android mode
Does anyone know if you can save offline content on your SD card from Tidal?
It can. You should PM FiiO or check head-Fi for instructions. it requires a certain setting on the device which I cannot say for sure since i do not use in that manner
Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews I will try thank you!
Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews It works Completely fine. I played it save and bought a 200gb Sandisk. Thank you!
So it's literally just a ancient android phone with apps that let you have music? Any android can have a misic app with way more ram, cpu and everything else.
The sound quality of the DAC's are much much better than phones. I use a Note 4 with no sim mostly so it is the boss for hosting but SQ is not great without an amp/dac..which i own several and love :)
fiio x5 3gen or astell Kern AK 70??????
Oh that's an easy one...X5iii Dual AK DAC and pretty much a full android experience
Should i get this or hiby r6?
I like both but hiby has more power and better screen and nav system
Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews ok so i should get the hiby as my very first dap
That would be a great first DAP. Fast and beautiful sound and display
Kinda wanna get one for Android
recommended dac for this one? 😀
It has 2 great DAC's already. You mean an amp? :)
I've heard that connecting it with chord mojo, gives it an extra punch. what do you think?
also, I'm actually leaning towards dac and amp combo :)
The mojo by itself with a phone is a TOTL music device. The Mojo has no extra impact (perceived) in the bass area actually maybe rolled? But it has amazing clarity and power so a X5iii and Mojo would be overkill but very excellent :)
thank you very much for your input. I guess I have to save up for the mojo haha
This or Hiby r3?
Fiio
What's the price tag?
Between 4 and $500 depending on where you are and some places are down to $385 with coupons/discounts
This has terrible reviews on Amazon because the OS apparently never stop crashing. This makes me very hesitant to buy it. Does anyone who owns it experience a lot of issues when using it as an android device?