FiiO X5 3rd Gen (FiiO X5iii): Stream of Consciousness Impressions & Review

Thanks gixxerwimp, totally glossed over that. I have an adapter that converts my balanced cable with 2.5mm jack to 3.5mm, but I don't know if it converts it to single ended. It's the ALO audio adapter if you're wondering.

Edit: I guess the root of my question is how the FiiO x5's 3.5mm jack can take the balanced input from the iematch. I thought the 3.5mm was a dedicated single end output and the 2.5mm was the dedicated balanced output.

 

If it does, that's a problem.

The iEMatch has a 3.5mm TRRS (balanced) plug on it. If you plug that into a standard 3.5mm TRS (SE) socket, then the way it is wired still results in the L+/R+ connections being made correctly (i.e. as normal) and only one of the grounds gets connected, which is then bridged in the iEMatch itself when it's set to SE mode.

On the X5iii the 3.5mm is a dedicated SE output, and you'll only get SE output from the iEMatch, per the above, if you connect to that.

A properly wired 2.5mm TRRS to 3.5mm TRRS (female) cable lets you use the iEMatch with the 2.5mm TRRS balanced output of the X5iii with the iEMatch in "BAL" mode.

 

@Torq , Do you have a write-up somewhere comparing the Schiit Modi Mulitbit and the DAC portion of the X5-III?

 

No, not directly.

The DAC output on the X5iii is pretty much comparable to the regular Modi 2, so a comparison of Modi 2 to Modi MB will get you most of what you need. Unfortunately I've not written up a Modi 2 to Modi MB comparison either, but others have. Another possible angle is to look at what I said about the Bifrost 4490 vs. Modi MB, and the immediately preceding posts that talks about the 4490's general signature.

Do not take that as me saying that the X5iii sounds the same as, or as good as, a Bifrost 4490, however. It's just that that's the closest thing I've written to the comparison you're asking for. I've done said comparison but if I do get around to writing that up it'd probably be in the context of a proper X5iii review - which will be aways out.

For now, I can say that the Modi MB is, for me, a better listen than the X5iii.

 

I'm not sure if it's down to the most recent firmware (v.1.1.5) or the latest build of the Android TIDAL client, but I don't seem to be able to play more than half a dozen songs without it deciding I have no network connection. This is new behavior ... I've happily sat out looking over the water, as far away from my access point as I can get, and streamed music for hours with none of this nonsense previously.

The unit isn't being moved around, and is sitting about six feet from the WiFi access point.

Firing up the TIDAL client on my iPhone 7 (just to keep it so WiFi is still involved) exhibits no such issues.

If you're contemplating a purchase here, this is something to keep an eye on for a bit. As stated, it didn't USED to do this, but I'm skeptical that it's a TIDAL service issue as it's not causing any issues with iOS, but the minute I come back to the Android/TIDAL combination I can't get more than a few songs without it shitting the bed. I don't have another Android device around to let me see if it's a pure TIDAL-client issue, or if it's the X5iii/TIDAL combination.

 

Very interested to hear if other users of Android and TIDAL are having issues with streaming playback failing after three-to-six tracks with a "Network Connection Error".

 

With the new update I've used a Pixel XL while out and about and at home and my older Nexus 6 only on the wifi at home. I had some issues on the Pixel but none on the Nexus 6

 

Not with my Nexus 6p

 

The X5iii/TIDAL disconnect issue persists - coming very close to rendering this unit unusable for it's original, functional, purpose (for me). Still don't know if it's something on the X5iii itself, the TIDAL app, or the combination, but regardless the overall experience is much like that with other openly-Android devices ... one step forward, one step back, one step sideways, in an ever-slowing cycle.

At least, when it is behaving, it sounds very good.

Did manage to get 24/192 output as a transport. There are audible artifacts in places which appear to be drop-outs as they are much more prominent as the effective bit-rate goes up. Native 9,216 Kbp/s (uncompressed 24/192) suffers from this to a significant degree. If FLAC-compression, or the native bit rate, comes under about ~5,000 Kbp/s (roughly 24/96) then I don't see the issue. This makes me think it's a limitation of file access speed ... which, at least in terms of file-transfer, is VERY slow compared to a lot of devices. I need to test this on internal storage to see if it changes, but it's definitely an issue with the fastest available* microSD cards.

--
*If you're buying cards specifically for this, don't go overboard ... it can't utilize the higher read/write speeds.

 

I'm exhibiting the exact same behavior. Looks like it's only happening with Tidal but I will test further with spotify/apple music.

 

Looks like WiFi is timing out after about 45 minutes. Just goes into a sleep mode and disconnects WiFi regardless of music service I'm using (apple music, spotify & tidal). Hopefully they fix this on the next firmware update.

 

Hi guys, I am a new user of the X5 III with the new firmware version and I noticed 2 things:

1. Has anyone experienced the Fiio stock music player cutting off the first few seconds of a song? Nothing to do with the file itself because it works fine in other players.

2. The equalizer on the Spotify app does not work.

 

Very occasionally. Usually only if the player hasn't been rebooted recently. And then only at the start of a given playback session. When I've encountered it, it seems to be due to a small lag in the output stage getting turned on. Other players often don't turn this on/off directly so you don't get the same effect.

It is, of course, possible that you're encountering a different issue with similar symptoms, and there have certainly been reports of tracks getting the first half a second or so skipped.

The Spotify app uses the standard Android EQ component, which is bypassed in the FiiO X5iii's custom audio stack.

No word on whether the custom output stack will get the ability to read the stock EQ settings and apply those internally. I wouldn't bet on it. You can try the Viper stuff and see if that'll get you what you need.

 

This is why I eventually decided against a ZX2- however good it might sound, I didn't fancy babysitting a neglected OEM Android 4.x in 2017. I sort of want a DAP to work first time, every time.

My Nexus-class Android devices with 7.xx are fine (if I bypass the system audio), but they're expensive, powerful machines. It's a different proposition.

 

Firmware 1.1.6 has been released.

Too early to say what it addresses (or what it breaks). I will say that the OTA download only took a couple of minutes ... which is a dramatic improvement over the two-to-three million years that it took to download 1.1.5.

 

Random WiFi disconnects are still an issue.

This started with firmware 1.1.5 (I had not seen it in 1.1.4 or prior). It's a major problem if you want to use this thing for streaming as it tends to lose WiFi connectivity every three to six songs.

For reference, this occurs even when the X5iii is about a foot and a half from an AC-class WiFi router - so it's not about signal strength. Since I only have this thing to combine a large local library with streaming capability, if the streaming part is going to be crippled by network loss every 30-45 minutes the entire enterprise is pointless.

Be very wary if you're looking at this as a unit to do streaming with right now.

 

I concur, still disconnecting.

 

Has anyone used this DAP with TIDAL in offline mode, with songs stored on an SD card?

Many android DAPs struggle with this, and is the only reason I'm hanging on to my ZX2. I understand the sreaming issues outlined above, but I'm mostly interested in if it plays well in offline mode. I know @Torq mentioned this still needed to be assessed in an early post, but haven't seen anyone in this thread mention offline.

 

First of all, Torq obviously has great ears and I mean that as a compliment. I'm mostly a troll (don't post constructivly often) but only bought this because I have been hovering over this thread for a while and can't justify springing for the Sony. I am trying to play within my means which means mostly portable/non-vinyl is secondary. So observations…and observations only:

For the Andromeda, there is a hiss when music is not playing, but, BUT, so far this has been greatly exaggerated in a lot of online reviews I have read, not this one that I can recall, it's there but I doubt my shattered ears would have noticed it if I didn't greatly troll the net and expect it. On a side note, if anyone ever noticed my slight dissatisfaction with the Andromeda (don't have a following so I doubt it), I finally figured out it was down to not getting a good seal…weird ears but it's sorted now.

I think this might be a great match with the Aeon. Too soon to tell and I've only used it line out to external amps, but so far I like what I am hearing a lot more more than the AK100 I was using before, but then again I was using the non-dedicated line out from that too so I don't know if it is the dec or something in the amp section. As I understand it the player itself has a bit of a mid-bass tilt so maybe it makes up for the Aeon dip a bit.

For the price I don't think there is a lot to complain about. I don't play in heavy, expensive portable waters anymore but I used to and this one seems a lot more finished and thought out than some of the things I have owned in the past.

Major annoying complaint so far falls squarely on the eq and it's twofold. First, it's hard to find, you have to be in the screen with the current song to access it. Intuitively I would think it would come down in the upper screen drop-down. Secondly, five bands. Really? I've been too busy at work to update the firmware and maybe there's an update. Honestly, I prefer not to use eq but I think we all at least want to play with it. There's always hope for a perfect implementation, right? I opted out of Viper. I'm a super paranoid gun nut with a boat and don't ever agree to "terms"…won't see me again here if I get a cookie warning. I'm mostly joking but get enough junk email and phone calls that I really don't agree to "terms" anymore unless it really is worth my time to read through it.

Finally, Goddamn Andromeda with a good seal! Kind of off point but I wouldn't have bought the Aeons and would have had an online garage sale instead. Really though no regrets as they are good enough and supper comfy.

Disclaimer: I mostly post when drinking so anything I say doesn't matter. I enjoy this site and the online "company" it provides. Really, I do, we get old and drift. Maybe a sentence of this will help someone, my big takeaway is the basic lack of his and it's better than the AK DAC I own. On a side note, I hope nobody from ebay reads this if I actually stop being lazy and sell it.