There are some unchanging phenomena on our planet: the sun rises in the east, in winter it's cold, the Russian rap from the ears goes blood, FiiO update their players. FiiO X3 long enough is the "main clip" in the company's lineup, and here's the update line got to it.
Presented FiiO X3 Mk3 was in the summer, but only now began to get to the stores. This time, the company did not make any drastic changes (the reserves of the innovation have gone to X5-3), although, on the other hand, the upgrade of X3 is not very small either.
FiiO continue to unify its line of devices and move to a new code base. For older models, the firmware is based on Android 5.1.1, and the youngest got, apparently, Linux - the X3-3 software became similar to X1-2. Also, changes have touched the design (now the wheel has become a touch, there was a "universal button" on the side). Changed and stuffing (now DAC was two, but this time it's PCM5242, and the amplifier is balanced with the corresponding output), Bluetooth was added.
Expected, the price remained the same, the recommended cost of X3 Mk3 is $ 200, in local markets it can differ due to taxes and working conditions of distributors.
Specifications
- SoC: JZ4760B
- DAC: 2 × PCM5242
- OU: OPA2140 + OPA1622
- Screen: TFT 320 × 240
- Bluetooth: V4.1
- Battery: 2350 mAh
- Charging time: <3 h
- Operating time from one charge: ≥10 h
- Support lossless formats: FLAC, APE, AIFF, WAV, WMA, ALAC
- Support lossy formats: MP3, AAC, OGG, WMA
- DSD support: DSD64 (.iso, .dsf, .dff)
- Dimensions: 114 mm × 59 mm × 12.8 mm
- Weight: 126g
- Recommended load impedance: 16Ω ~ 150Ω
Linear output
- Frequency range: 5 Hz ~ 70 kHz (-3 dB)
- Total harmonic distortion + noise: ≤0,002% @ 1 kHz
- Channel separation: ≥103 @ 1 kHz
- Signal to noise ratio: ≥113 dB
- Dynamic range: > 107 dB
- Voltage: > 1.9 Vrms
3.5 mm output
- Frequency range: 5 Hz ~ 70 kHz (-3 dB)
- Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise: <0.002% @ 1 kHz
- Channel separation: ≥69 @ 1 kHz
- Signal to noise ratio: ≥112 dB
- Output Impedance: <1.4Ω
- Voltage: > 6.5 Vp-p
- Power: ≥160 mW @ 32Ω, ≥15 mW @ 300Ω
Balance output
- Frequency range: 5 Hz ~ 70 kHz (-3 dB)
- Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise: <0.003% @ 1 kHz
- Channel separation: ≥97 @ 1 kHz
- Signal to noise ratio: ≥112 dB
- Output Impedance: <1.2Ω
- Voltage: > 7.1 Vp-p
- Power: ≥190 mW @ 32Ω, ≥20 mW @ 300Ω
Packing and delivery kit
I do not know if there is any sense in repeating, but everything here, as usual, is very worthy. A traditional two-layer box with good printing on the outside and a thick cardboard inside. As always, the player is on top (immediately dressed in a silicone case), beneath - a compartment with accessories. In addition to the above, to X3-3 put:
- a pair of spare protective films on the screen
- MicroUSB cable
- adapter for coaxial output
- leatherette cover
I note as a very positive point the fact that FiiO put in the kit even an inexpensive player just two covers, offering the user a choice of two convenient options and not requiring additional spending. This, by the way, is a pebble in the garden next in line for review of the player top segment, but about him another time.
Design and management
The change in design causes a slightly mixed feeling. On the one hand, the player has become a little larger than the previous generation on the "front projection", on the other - it has become thinner, too, therefore, from my point of view, the ergonomics and "pocketability" of the X3 Mark III has improved, it is more convenient to hold, it's easier to reach buttons, easier to manage.
The appearance itself, in my opinion, also became more modern, of course, not the same as the X5-3, but aluminum in combination with the glass front panel looks good. For connoisseurs of aesthetics there is an option in red and with a red cover. The build quality is also at an altitude, nothing hovers and does not tread.
In general, the management bodies remained almost the same as they were in the previous generation.
On the left side there are a volume rocker, an on / off button, also used for locking, and a "multifunction key". By default, it works as a central button on the headset: a short press starts playback or pauses it, double-tapes it to the next track and so on. In the setup menu, you can assign other functions to this key: switching the preset equalizer, themes or playlists. In my opinion, all options except the first one are not needed at all, but I want to believe that FiiO will come up with (or users will prompt) more useful scenarios for using this key. The first option is quite useful for controlling, say, through a pocket.
At the bottom of the left end there is a memory card slot.
At the bottom of the player are connectors - 2.5 mm "balanced", 3.5 mm, which can be a headphone output, a linear output or a digital signal on the coaxial. Accurate between them is MicroUSB. Yes, it could perhaps be replaced with USB-C, but then we lose the universal connector for connecting to the dock and K5, and FiiO can not go to this yet.
If you try to characterize the front panel briefly, the most appropriate word is "expected". At the top there is a screen, compared to the previous version of the X3 it became bigger, although at the expense of not the highest resolution the image looks a little grainy. Of the pros - everything is quite legible, with normal viewing angles, and even in the sun you can see what is displayed there.
Below are traditional for FiiO 4 buttons and a wheel with an inscribed central button. The wheel became sensory, as in X1-II, despite the presence of critics of such a solution, in my opinion, this is still a step forward in terms of reliability, and taking into account the adjustment function, sensitivity is also in terms of convenience. The purpose of buttons is also traditional. The upper left opens the submenus where it is available (for example, on the playback screen), the upper right returns back to the lists, the two lower serve to navigate through the tracks and menus. Central is for selecting menu items and controlling playback / pause.
At the bottom of the front panel is a LED indicator, it is normal brightness and does not irritate when using the player.
The player's running time in my standard test (44.1 kHz / 16 bit FLAC, MEEAudio P1 as a load on a 3.5 mm output, volume at a comfortable level for me) was 10 hours and 25 minutes. Charging time with a 2A charger is 3 hours and 20 minutes. The player has a "deep sleep" mode, which allows you to save battery during idle time. In general, in terms of energy consumption, the indicators are normal.
Firmware
In general, this is probably the main reason for criticizing the new player, as it happened with X1-II. Previous models of players FiiO differed very "adult software", polished for years of use. Now the company is in the process of a long transition from uOS to Linux, with all the ensuing consequences. In general, my personal experience with the software X3 Mark III is quite positive - I did not notice any strong glitches, there are special lags too. The only thing I had to face personally was a slow enough scan of the library, but since I rarely change the contents of my memory cards, waiting for me for a few minutes is not a problem. Plus, even in the new FiiO players, there is no volume equalization function that was in their old software, I can not say that it is critical for me, but fans would listen to all the files mixed, perhaps, would find it useful.
From the point of view of design and logic, before us is the same familiar firmware from FiiO with a menu of 5 items.
Playback screen . Well, yes, it returns to the playback screen, by the way, you can also access it by clicking the "Back" button from the main menu.
The media library . In addition to the standard lists for artists, albums, genres and "all tracks", there are also favorites, playlists and a list of recently added files.
Files . Here everything is obvious, it's viewing your memory card. By the way, here also the context menu button (from which you can send the current file / folder to the playlist or delete them).
Playback settings . Standard gentleman's set: the order of the playback, the memorization of the position and the track, the memorization of the volume, the gain, the equalizer (as usual, better without it), the balance of the channels, the line-out mode (adjust the volume or not) and go to the next folder during playback. Immediately placed the settings of the multifunction button, about which I wrote above.
System settings . Here too, everything is expected: update media library, Bluetooth, adjust buttons with locked screen (convenient), brightness, backlight time, sleep and sleep timers, output settings, USB settings (mass storage), select multiple themes and language (Russian available) . FiiO also placed more rare options: should the player be controlled from the buttons of the headset, the font size, the display of the cover and lyrics, the sensitivity of scrolling and turning off its clicks, formatting the memory and resetting the device.
By the way, about Bluetooth. It is implemented here easier than in analogues from Shanling / Cayin, the player can not act as a "receiver" for wireless connection, but in X3 the wireless module began to work faster and more stable X1, so FiiO are moving in the right direction. However, the wireless functions of the low-end FiiO models still need to be regarded as "data for delivery".
Sound
To listen to the device used the following headphones: iBasso IT03, Meze 99 Classics, Audio Zenith PMx2, Noble Kaiser Encore, Campfire Audio Andromeda, 64 Audio U12, HUM Pristine and others.
For X3 third-generation developers have chosen a neutral sound feed, focused on lovers of detail and unattractiveness. The new "three" sounds lighter than the previous model and the "X-rays", so lovers of accented low frequencies will remain unhappy, although with impartial listening the player is not bad.
The bass of the X3 Mark III is fast, with a reasonable resolution and textures for its price. It does not have enough weight for it, so it does not reach the ideal (again, in this price category), but it is not smeared and is normally controlled without damping the overhead frequencies. In principle, there is a well-known culinary principle "nedosol is better than a pick", because it is easy to add low mass using headphones, but it would be problematic to improve resolution and control.
MFs are fed in a neutral manner, something even reminiscent of the X7 Mk II (I do not put an equal sign between the players), there is no additional pumping with emotions, there is no attempt to advance the vocal or emphasize something in the composition. The player simply plays what is recorded in the track, as far as its level allows. Not bad X3 conveys the nature of the instruments, but does not pull out all the dirt from the record. The imaginary scene is medium in width and slightly less than average in depth, but the separation is done normally.
The upper frequency range is exactly the part by which the category of the player is most often guessed, solutions that do not have compromises on HF usually start somewhere in the upper-middle segment (and even then not always), in general X3-3 did not become here exception. HF here are not bad, but with the amendment "for their price", if you compare this player with something expensive, you can note the lack of energy in the attacks, and the lack of "layering". If you equate the player with your classmates, then everything is fine, the "top" here have a normal resolution, and attacks (on the mountain by that, does not like HF) are recouped very fervently. So the X3-3 escaped the typical curse of the "comfortable" sound that manufacturers like to make in the lower segment.
Of course, it will not do without comparisons. I will not deal with stupid things and compare this player with different top (or not very similar in the submission) models, we will still consider his "nearest environment" and competitors.
Fiio X3-2 . In general, almost full parity is observed between these two players. Differences in sound are not global (when carrying out a quality blind test), the second generation is slightly more massive on LF, the third is better resolution. At the same time, the X3-3 looks better, is equipped with Blutooth and balanced output, but X3-2 can now be bought cheaper, and its firmware works a little more evenly. So, if you already own the X3 of the past generation, there is no point in upgrading, but if you're just thinking about purchasing - the new version looks, in my opinion, more interesting.
Fiio X1-2 . The X3-3 works a little faster, has a balanced output, sounds a little better (resolution, naturalness), offers greater Bluetooth range. In general, the case when from the little things there is a noticeably big difference.
Fiio X5-2 . Given the fall in the price of this player (the difference is now literally tens of dollars), X5 of the previous generation is perhaps the strongest competitor of X3-3. On the side of the previous generation, a more vigorous and full-bodied sound, firmware, two memory cards. The novelty is attracted by the design and Bluetooth, well, the price decrease in the future, which will correct the situation.
Fiio X5-3 . Once again I am surprised at how FiiO competently distributes its models by segments. If the X5 of the new version were a cosmetic update, the difference with the X3 of the new generation would be small and not a fact that is justified. Then we have a completely different player, starting with the Android OS and ending with an interesting sound for fans of the combined feed. So X5-3 turned out to be a significant step forward, as it should be.
Cayin N3 . Another strong competitor of the hero of today's review. Purely by sound - the N3 sounds more massive, offering a little emphasis on LF and more "smoothed" MF, while the X3-3 has a slightly better resolution and processing of HF. From the point of view of the non-musical difference, the N3 is better at implementing Bluetooth, a bit smaller in size, working a little longer. On the side of X3-3 - higher power, a lower level of background noise and overall "better" design and management (well, at least for my taste).
Shanling M2s . Another competitor is X3-3, which also offers a better implementation of BT and a more elaborate firmware, but M2s do not like management at all (I understand this is subjectivism, but this is my review, so I can express a subjective opinion), and yes by the sound he concedes both X3-3, and N3, even a little, but still ...
Compatibility
Of course, Audeze LCD-4 or, say, HiFiMan Susvara this kid will not rock, but for most headphones, which makes sense to use in a portable, it will be quite sufficient. I would recommend a slightly darkened model for it, capable of adding massiveness to the LF, but in general, it is necessary to proceed from what sound you want to get.
The player is better suited for styles in which you do not need to pump the user with additional portions of the bass, but in general - more or less universal in the frame of your niche. On the sensitivity to the quality of the material, I would rate it somewhere in 5 out of 10.
Traditionally, several sample tracks
Edward Elgar - Enigma Variations . Remember this sad melody of Rob Dougan from the soundtrack of the very first "Matrix"? Many people know this, but still I will say that the introduction is taken from one of the best works of Sir Edward William Elgar, which I decided to use as the first example. I will not here retell the history of the creation of the work, but still I advise you to reread the article about him in Wikipedia. Speaking specifically about X3-3, it is well suited for such tracks, conveying all the nuances, albeit not perfectly, but very good for its price.
Leila Martial - Left Alone . I generally do not like audiophile vocal records, so my collection is often bypassed by popular records like Amber Rubarth, but some such discs are so beautiful that I can not resist, as happened, for example, with Leila Martial. There are all typical "audiophile" chips - minimalism in instruments, very cool recording, emotional vocals - exactly what is particularly suitable for a detailed feed of the new X3.
Oscar Peterson - Bag's Groove . Usually with jazz compositions I prefer players with a darker pitch that forms a pleasant "background", but the X3 Mark III is so nice playing the piano on this track that I just could not resist and not include it in a selection of examples.
conclusions
In general, a good evolutionary update of the popular model. As usual, there will be reviews of "disappointed" by the fact that the player is not so different from the previous generation, but FiiO simply did not set such a goal. You can also blame the X3 Mark III for the fact that for some reason it does not replay the model more than 2 times more, but again - it's so conceived. Simply put - the player fits nicely into its niche and plays there, offering, among other things, a good design and a necessary set of modern chips.
The article is based on materials .
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