Yandex.Market data

Main functions
Type	Hi-Fi player
Max. bit depth/sampling rate	24/192
Playing video	No
View graphic files	No
Dictaphone	No
Work in as USB DAC	There is
Carrier
Type	Flash
Memory card support	one microSD slot
Maximum memory card capacity	128 GB
Screen
Screen	LCD color, diagonal 2 inches.
Screen resolution	240x320
Interfaces
Connecting to a computer	USB 2.0
Interfaces	line output, coaxial output
Format support
Audio format support	MP3, WMA, OGG, AAC, FLAC, APE, Apple Lossless, WAV, AIFF, DSD, DFF, DSF, SACD ISO
Nutrition
Batteries	own Li-Pol
Maximum operating time	11 o'clock
Charging batteries	from USB
Charging connector type	microUSB
Frame
Housing material	metal
Dimensions (WxHxD)	57.7x96.7x16.1 mm
Weight	135 g
Additionally
Digital equalizer	There is
Signal to noise ratio	114 dB
DAC	Cirrus Logic CS4398
Peculiarities	sleep timer, firmware option
Additional Information	10 band equalizer; two quartz oscillators; low pass filter

Reviews of mp3 player Fiio X3 II

Yandex.Market data

Rating: 5 out of 5

Mauni Devam

Pros: Excellent, realistic, detailed sound. OTG and DAC modes. Mechanical control (subjective). Convenient, well-thought-out interface. Great quality manufacturing (It seems like it was made in Japan. The Chinese can do it whenever they want!)

Disadvantages: No built-in memory, dim screen.

Comment: The sound is great! I compared X1, X5II, HIFIMan HM-700 and X3II with Sennheiser HD 555 headphones and settled on the X3II. In my opinion, the X5II wins only with two card slots and screen quality. The sound of the X5II and HiFiMan is seriously different, but not for the worse or for the better, just a different sound - I decided not to overpay. You pick it up - you wave the thing! Very pleasant to the touch. Back panel, by the way, is also metal, but for some reason it’s covered with a film the same as on the screen, which makes it seem like it’s plastic. The rubber cover was only on the X1, which was disappointing at first, but then I became convinced that the plastic cover was still better (IMHO). Regarding the lack of a home button and similar quibbles, read the manual, it has everything, an extremely user-friendly interface. I was very pleased with playback without pauses, although on FLAC it works flawlessly, but on MP3 there is a jump that is not present on software players. Well, okay - lossy format is an option here and there is no desire to listen to it on such a device. The screen is the only serious and annoying drawback - on a sunny day, outside even with full brightness can't make out anything. Strange requirements for the charger, 2 amps! Out of fright, I started charging from USB port 3.1. But it seems that they are overkill - one ampere should be enough. It heats up noticeably during playback, this is not a drawback but rather a feature, which is why the case is metal. But overall, it’s a great device – I recommend it to everyone! The disadvantages pale in comparison to the advantages.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Advantages: Size, appearance, simplicity and ease of use, created for one thing - the thrill of music, period. And it fully justifies its purpose, not bad equipment, support from the manufacturer, release of firmware with improvements and fixes, support for micro-SD up to 128 GB. (you need to take a high-quality card), the ability to play by folder, the ability to adjust the volume with the scroll wheel, a good reserve of autonomy, button lock and sleep mode settings, the presence of linear and digital coaxial output, the ability to edit a memory card via usb connection, usb support OTG, availability physical buttons allows for blind control, which is very convenient in contrast to the touch screen, the presence of several interface design themes to choose from, the presence of low and high gain, for different types headphones, good output power, drives headphones up to 150 ohms. In my opinion, a perfectly balanced sound, rock plays simply divine, equalizer off!

Disadvantages: The body material is good and pleasant, the buttons too, but the scroll wheel, although convenient and without any special complaints at all, is still not so tactile that you don’t want to take your finger off it.. not that it’s a drawback, rather there is still room for improvement , the glass of the screen protrudes slightly from the body - it is not very pleasant to the touch, but remains unnoticed when in use. Lack of a home button - you have to press back several times, it causes discomfort... not the best fast charging Battery even from the socket, the screen does not display the exact remaining battery charge in the display, there is not enough brightness even at maximum, on a bright day - this is not convenient. There are problems with displaying track names when displaying a disc with a .cue file - you have to split it into separate tracks in foobar.

Comment: I spent a long time choosing, I never buy something “for myself” impulsively, even for $200)), I slowly read a bunch of articles, the choice came down to three models, Fiio x3ii/x5ii, Ibasso dx80, Astel

Rating: 5 out of 5

Matvey Sergeevich

Pros: Balanced sound, even in the Sony MDR XB series with their low frequencies turned up to the ceiling. The ability to use it as an external audio card instead of the almost ubiquitous realtek on PCs with its disgusting resampling and microsoft direct sound. Exceptional omnivorous, including DSD and Losless from apple. The amplifier produces an output of 224mW at 16 Ohms, which means take care of your ears. However, fans of indirect brain massage should like it. Abandoning the ever-fashionable touch controls will show its best side in winter, when snow will fall from above and instill evil spirits into every device with a capacitive sensor. Equipment from caring Chinese. 3 films for the screen, one of which has already been carefully pasted by a caring Chinese (do not forget to tear off the applicator). To the heap, the kit comes with a silicone case so as not to scratch it, but in the case the device hardly fits into your pocket. In a word, to cover it or not to cover it is up to you. For lovers of perversions, the kit includes 3 sets of sticker decorations, and as a useful thing, in addition to USB, the Chinese put an adapter for a coaxial output.

Disadvantages: In the long term, the mechanical wheel is not encouraging, however, from personal experience, I expected that the cowon E1 “key fob”, carried in a key ring for as many as 4 years, would die from mechanical damage (the buttons would fall off), in the end it is still alive, although and rubbed himself. The kit does not include a USB-to-mains adapter, and this is with a stated charging time of 3 hours from the network versus 8 hours from a PC. When installing drivers on win8.1 for an external DAC, I had to tinker with an unsigned driver.

Comment: This is my first decent sound source. Before that I had a mobile phone and a cowon E1 (Korean answer to Apple's clothespin). I heard everything for the first time with X3! No mess, in some compositions there were backing vocals that I didn’t suspect about. Previously hidden in a chaotic heap, the jazz bass rhythm began to sound like a separate instrument. The scene feels incredibly clear, even if you are practically deaf on one side. We close our eyes and hear what it sounds and where it comes from. I can’t say anything about the battery, because when used outdoors and at home as a DAC, the device does not have time to discharge. For long trips, the stated 11 hours with a 2600 mAh battery should be enough.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Alexander Shleyonkin

Advantages: The sound is quite detailed, transparent, in my opinion it beats its money by 200%, who needs even more X5 II, but this is for complete sound aesthetes. I liked the boost function, I don’t need it, but it’s nice that it’s there. I really liked the lack of pickiness about monitors, I’ll highlight this separately, it’s important to me. There are no questions about the bass and mids at all, there were complaints, but it turned out that the problem was in the headphones, in Sonya everything is much better.

Disadvantages: Tried to use it as sound card, it seems that I even picked up the ASIO emulator in my sequencer, it’s difficult to achieve minimal delays like in studio sound systems, but it will work, it’s not necessary to reproduce this, but I’m already meddling in my audio matters.

Comment: Let’s compare: I don’t consider Sansa Clip+ an audio player at all on any firmware, it’s significantly worse than Fiio X3 II. ASUS Zenfone 2 on realtek gives more low frequencies than Fiio X3 II, but the presentation is worse, since ASUS has some mess, while Fiio has everything clearly in place. Fiio X1, in my opinion, loses very much in low frequencies, X3 is not so picky about monitors, the X1 had to be selected, which is not a good indicator, if you take studio equipment, the X1 loses at once in the lows and highs, the middle is almost par. Cowon J3 listens well only with software delights, so the sound quality is inferior to the X3. I recommend it to those who are looking for Cowon's sound Asus smartphone Zenfone 2 and install JetAudio from Cowon there, you will get sound even better than in the famous J3, but this again is not the “better” for which sound is usually valued. Sound is valued for linearity, purity, transparency, and evaluations of how loud it is or how loud it is is already beyond the bounds of sound quality, I hope I explained it clearly. I listened to DSD on “live” music, good, but Flac 24bit is more functional, in my opinion there is no point in spending so much money on volumes, and if you are not listening to “live” music, then at all. In terms of dimensions and weight, we are hardly distinguishable from the X1, as if I were using the old X1. I'm happy with the purchase, I got what was missing in the X1 in the X3, and that's exactly what I needed.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Konstantin Luchin

Pros: - Very good sound - Easy navigation, nothing superfluous - Ability to use as an external DAC - Playback from folders - Support for 128 GB memory cards - Build quality - Housing materials

Flaws: Bad screen, on which nothing is visible in the sun Small font in the menu The control wheel “slips”

Comment: The player makes a good impression with its appearance. Well assembled. Nothing rattles or wobbles. Sound. I listen with sennheiser ie60, fostex tn-05 and audio-technica ath-50x. Genre dependent. Works great with techno, trance, house, light rock, jazz, and orchestral music. Worse with heavy ones. On some heavy metal recordings, the guitars sound too bright and loud. Bass. Accented, powerful, clear, energetic. Mid frequencies. Smooth. detailed, emotionality is present. The voices sound a little dry and a little harsh, but not distant, but rather the opposite. High frequencies. Crystal clear and truly high. Detailed and voluminous. For some there will be a lot of them. It's already a matter of taste and color... The highs sound enchanting in a trance, help build the scene, add volume. But at the same time, in, say, Slayer, the guitar riffs are not brutal enough, and the hats and cymbals are tiring with their ringing and quantity. The sound presentation is very honest. Background noise is somehow suppressed by software or hardware - I don’t know. Melody sounds appear from the silence. No hissing, no crackling, it’s surprising at first. The sound is delicate, neat, subtle. There is dynamics and pressure. Music is not playing in the background. But in this regard, it’s still a long way from multibit. The scene is drawn in all directions, the volume is felt. If you don't listen to heavy metal, I highly recommend it! For 11,500 it doesn’t have any shortcomings. I would also like to write about the possibility of using it as a DAC. If you have a native built-in one or some cheap sound one, then the difference will be striking. For example, I had external Asus Xonar U7, I was happy until I connected the player. Immediately such pressure, dynamics, width of the stage... The speakers just need to be of a normal level (microlab solo 6c, 7c, sven royal 2, I have edifier 2600). Happy and good luck to everyone!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Alexey Valiullin

Pros: SOUND! Metal body, touchless control. Only physical buttons.

Disadvantages: Haven't found it yet

The Chinese company FiiO was popular for its high-quality and inexpensive DACs. Observing the rapid growth in popularity of high-quality portable audio players, FiiO decided to start creating its own models and, just over a year and a half ago, released the highly anticipated good sound my first player X3. It was not perfect, but thanks to its good price/quality ratio it outperformed many competitors and became very popular. We also did not miss the chance to take it for review, after which I got it too. Later appeared top and entry level. Now we will get acquainted with the new second generation X3, the commercial name will be X3 2nd gen, as indicated on the official website (or FiiO X3 II, for simplicity). We got our hands on a non-sales sample called X3K.

What is this?

The X3 II is a portable Hi-Fi player with high-quality sound and a price tag that is pleasant compared to its competitors; the model is perceived not as just an improvement on the original X3, but as a full-fledged new model that will fill the niche in the FiiO line between the entry-level X1 and the top-end X5 .

Why is he interesting?

The player can play all (or almost all) popular lossless and compressed formats and high definition audio up to 24 bit/192 kHz, used for storing music microSD cards up to 128 GB. Can be used as a USB DAC. The player is made of polished metal and has a very nice design.

What is in the box?

The FiiO X3 II is packaged in the standard black and red packaging for all the company's players (the exception was the first batches of the first generation X3), inside of which there is a black box made of thick embossed cardboard:

As usual, FiiO generously packages its players. In the box: FiiO X3 II, black silicone case, 2 spares protective films on the screen (one is already glued), MicroUSB cable, 3 .5mm coaxial S/PDIF adapter and three sets of body stickers. The solution is not for everyone: I would not spoil the appearance of the player with them.

Does it look cute?

Externally, FiiO X3 II has nothing in common with its first-generation predecessor. It is similar to FiiO X1, but has larger dimensions and a different color. In this case, dark gray polished metal. All controls are in the same places. The front panel contains a display, a control wheel, a button inscribed in it, and four more in the corners of the wheel. The first one is responsible for calling up the menu, the second one is responsible for returning one level in the menu. The lower buttons are responsible for switching tracks. They protrude sufficiently from the body and switching tracks in your pocket is very convenient. There is an LED at the bottom which glows blue when working, red when charging and green when fully charged:

On back cover- FiiO logo and standard information about the model and manufacturer:

On the right side there is an open slot for MicroSD. The connected card is slightly recessed into the case, everything fits well, unlike the first X3, where the memory card protruded and was fixed a little crookedly (in any case, this situation was observed in some copies, including mine), although this did not affect the performance :

On the top of the case there is a headphone output and a linear output, also known as coaxial. The required one is selected from the menu:

At the bottom there is a MicroUSB connector:

On the left side there are round power/lock and volume control buttons. They also feel good in your pocket, even in a case. To avoid confusion, the manufacturer marked the volume up button with a bulge:

Comparison with first generation X3:

This is how the player looks in the case. All controls, LED and headphone and MicroUSB jacks are available. Linear/coaxial is covered with a plug that can be turned away if necessary:

The player looks very solid and well assembled; a silicone case is provided to preserve its presentation for a longer period of time. The player does not look as impressive in it, but it will be more intact. All parts are adjusted, the buttons do not wobble.

Is it convenient to use?

The player's controls are implemented similarly to the budget X1: all physical controls are in the same places, the control wheel is similar. The controls seemed to me very convenient and more logical compared to the first X3, where it was completely push-button, the buttons themselves were quite small and at times there were misses when controlling without taking them out of your pocket. In this case, the buttons are larger and located so that switching tracks or adjusting the volume blindly is done conveniently and simply, both in a case and without it.

The interface is also similar to FiiO X1 and can be seen in more detail in the corresponding review: the main menu has 5 items: playback, track library, something like a file manager, playback settings and player settings. The playback screen displays all the basic information and cover art of the track, right on this screen you can open the menu and add a track to the playlist or delete it. In the library, you can sort tracks by artist, album, playlist, and so on. File manager allows you to view content by folder. The playback settings have a standard set of modes (repeat, Shuffle, and so on), you can enable playback without pauses, gain level (low and high for high-impedance headphones) and equalizer. It would be hard to call the interface user-friendly, although devices of this class have never been famous for it.

How does it sound?

Almost everything inside the FiiO X3 II has changed compared to the first model. All that remains is the dual-core SoC Ingenic Z4760 600 MHz. Cirrus Logic is now used as a DAC CS4398 instead of Wolfson M8740. Used as reinforcement OPA1642 and LMH6643, low-pass filter - OPA1642. Such changes definitely benefited the player; it sounds much more interesting than its predecessor. Headphones used during testing included in-ear hybrids T-Peos H-300, dynamic Ostry KC06 and closed studio monitors Sony MDR-7506.

The player produces a very detailed, dynamic sound with a wide stage and good separation of instruments. Low Frequencies are designed much better than their predecessor: they are elastic, deep, rich and detailed. The first generation X3 had a slightly blurry bottom end. Mids and highs are also developed at an excellent level, detailed and lively. The player sounds smooth and “musical”, there is no protrusion high frequencies(at least with the headphones used), which is sometimes observed in some players, especially on armature headphones. The player performed excellently with all models used, even with fastidious Sony MDR-7506, which like to highlight any existing shortcomings of the source and the recording itself. The power is enough to drive most portable headphones; for high-impedance monitors, a portable amplifier may also be useful.

The player is largely dependent on the quality of the material being reproduced. To a much greater extent than X3, so it is strongly recommended to listen to Lossless and not force your ears with MP3 and other compressed formats.

How long does the battery last?

The Fiio X3 II has a 2600 mAh lithium polymer battery. In practice, the player lasts about 12 hours on a single charge at medium volume and low gain. Used for charging Charger from the tablet. A full charge takes about 3 hours. From USB, the manufacturer promises charging in 8 hours.

Bottom line

FiiO X3 II is an excellent and improved in every way update of the super popular player. Considering that the new model has practically nothing left from its predecessor, the player is rather perceived as a new model that complements the line. The player produces excellent sound by the standards of its price range (about 5000 UAH), it definitely sounds better than the first generation X3, the current budget X1 and its competitor iBasso DX50. There is no limit to perfection, but for better sound you'll have to pay more. FiiO X3 II is the optimal middle option for those who want to get high-quality sound, but are not ready to pay a much more impressive amount for top-end players, the price tag of which can reach up to 30,000 UAH. Besides high-quality sound The player boasts omnivorous formats, a metal body and the ability to be used as a USB DAC. From unpleasant moments It is worth noting that the interface is still inconvenient.

5 reasons to buy FiiO X3 II:

• excellent (within the price range) sound quality;
• High resolution audio playback (up to 192/24 inclusive);
• support for all lossless formats;
• Can be used as a USB DAC;
• nice design and metal body.

1 reason not to buy FiiO X3 II:

• inconvenient interface.

FiiO X3
CPU	dual core Ingenic Z4760 600 MHz
Operational amplifier	OPA1642 and LMH6643
Display	2", TFT, 320x240 pixels
Memory	cards microSD memory up to 128 GB inclusive;
Channel balance	± 5 dB, step 0.5
Equalizer	± 10 dB (hardware)
Supported Formats	DSD: DSD64, DSD128, DSF, DFF, SACD ISO, FLAC 24/192, WAV 24/192, APE 24/192 (Fast), APE (Normal) 24/96, APE (High) 24/96, WMA Lossless 24 /48, Apple Lossless (ALAC) 24/192, MP3, MP2, OGG, AAC; gapless support
Battery	Lithium polymer, 2600 mAh, up to 12 hours playback
Interface and outputs	USB 2.0 (microUSB), 3.5 mm output (headphones), 3.5 mm linear/coaxial
Dimensions and weight	96.7x57.7x16.1 mm, 135 grams
Headphone output	Power: 224 mW at 16 ohms, 200 mW at 32 ohms, 24 mW at 300 ohms Output impedance:< 0.2 Ω Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz THD+Noise:< 0.0015% (импеданс наушников 32Ω) Signal to noise ratio: >113 dB

Few events cause such a stir in the world of portable audio as the release of a new player from Fiio. The company doesn’t really need any introduction; its products are sold in huge quantities, each time setting a new bar for the price-quality ratio. Introduced almost two years ago, it also became a milestone in the world of portable audio, but time moves on and you can’t stand still for long, so Fiio released the second generation of this player, which I’ll talk about.

Let's start with the name. Traditionally, Fiio named updated models by adding a letter after the model index, for example E17K, E11K and so on. This player was also supposed to be called Fiio X3K, but literally at the last moment the company changed their mind and decided that the player would be called the second generation Fiio X3; almost everywhere, for convenience, it is written as Fiio X3-II. I don’t know what caused this decision, but perhaps this is the least of what worries me about this device.

It really became a hit. Despite a barrage of criticism, it sold in huge numbers and, to Fiio's credit, received a long history of support. Over almost 2 years of life, the X3 received a number of firmware updates that increased its operating time, added a new menu and a number of functions that were absent at the start of the model, but later became necessary for almost any self-respecting player: work in USB-DAC mode, DSD support, USB-OTG support.

The second generation X3 was designed on an ambitious scale, in which Fiio decided to correct everything that was complained about with the first X3: from design to sound. To achieve this, almost everything in the new product has been changed, from the body to the filling. Now the CS4398 from Cirus Logic (perhaps the most popular chip in modern players) is responsible for playback; the amplifier uses OPA1642 and LMH6643, as in the older X5 model, but is slightly simplified in circuit design.

The price tag of the new product is planned to be around $200 (this is the price recommended by Fiio, what it will be for end sellers is unknown), and this is another strong step, sweeping out competitors, among other things, by dumping the price. The player is scheduled to launch in late March - early April.

Amplifier

• Output power: 224 mW @ 16Ω, 200 mW @ 32Ω, 24 mW @ 300Ω
• Output Level:>2.5 V
• Recommended load impedance: 16Ω - 150Ω
• <0,0015% (на выходе для наушников с нагрузкой в 32Ω)
• Signal to noise ratio:>113 dB
• Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 KHz (±0.1 dB)
• Output impedance: <0,2Ω
• Maximum output voltage (peak-to-peak):>7.5 V
• Maximum output current:>84 mA

• Output Level: 1.45 V
• Total harmonic distortion + noise: <0,0009%
• Signal to noise ratio:>113 dB
• Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 KHz (±0.1 dB)

Player

• SoC: JZ4760B
• DAC: CS4398
• Amplifier: OPA1642+LMH6643
• LPF: OPA1642
• DSD format support: DSD64，DSD128, DSF, DFF, SACD ISO
• Support for lossless formats: APE Fast: 192/24, APE Normal and above: 96/24, FLAC：192/24, WAV：192/24, WMA Lossless：96/24, ALAC: 192/24
• Support for lossy formats: MP2, MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG
• USB DAC mode: asynchronous, up to 192/24
• Battery: 2600 mAh
• Operating time on one charge:>11 h
• Charging time: <3 ч (зарядное 5 В, 2 А)
• Dimensions: 96.7 mm × 57.7 mm × 16.1 mm
• Weight: 135 g

Packaging and delivery

The box that I reviewed is not final yet, even the printing on it says about Fiio X3K, which will obviously be changed, but the name is not the point. The box is standard for Fiio, with a red and black print and a black cardboard box inside. There is a sticker on the box; by scraping off the protective layer, you can find out the authentication code. Enter it on the Fiio website and you will find out if your device is original. It is unlikely that anyone will undertake to fake the X3, but there were precedents with simpler models.

The box contains everything you need for work, in addition to the player itself you will receive: several protective films for the screen (one is already glued on from the factory), a silicone case, a MicroUSB cable, a cable for coaxial output, three sets of stickers for customizing the player and various instructions with warranty coupons. In general, everything you could want is included in the package.

Design and management

The second generation is an almost complete copy of the X1 in design, the older brother is a little thicker, a little heavier and made entirely of metal (the X1 had a plastic back cover). The X3-II also gets a new color, dark graphite gray, like the Fiio E12A. In general, the step is very reasonable, since the design of the X1 was already close to ideal, and there was little point in retreating from it in search of something “better.” The dimensions of the player are very compact, all competitors of a similar level are larger, the ergonomics are comfortable, it can be controlled with one hand, and in addition, many X1 accessories will be compatible with the new X3 (except, perhaps, for covers, which will have an impact on the increased thickness).

However, Fiio has worked on the controls, and the wheel on which the entire interface is built has become better in the new generation X3 than its predecessors, the menu responds more accurately to rotation (although there are still errors), this has benefited the perception interface.

In my subjective opinion, the X3-II is one of the best players in terms of ergonomics. Surprisingly small size, thoughtful controls, excellent build quality - all this gives the player a holistic and complete look.

On the top panel there are two outputs, headphone and linear, combined with coaxial (you can select one of the two in the menu). It’s good that the X3-2 did not repeat the X1 experience and combine the headphone output with the linear one. On the left panel there are volume control and power off/lock buttons. The bottom panel contains a MicroUSB connector, probably combined with a dock connector for future devices. On the right panel there is a slot for MicroSD cards. The player supports cards up to 128 GB and does not have its own memory.

The front panel is also familiar from the X1, at the top there is a screen that is good by the standards of players, below it is a control wheel with a button inscribed in it and 4 additional buttons located diagonally. The bottom two are responsible for switching tracks and rewinding, the top right is used to return to the menu, the top left opens a submenu in playback mode. The screen is the same as in the X1 (more precisely, better, since the screen in the new X1 has become a little worse due to a lack of components), the resolution and viewing angles are good, but the brightness in direct sunlight is not enough. I hope one of the player manufacturers will take a bold step and start using LCD or eInk screens in their devices, because for a music player this is no longer necessary.

My player does not have the final version of the firmware installed, so something may change slightly before release, but now the player is working very, very stable, there have never been any freezes.

The interface is simple and already familiar from previous Fiio models. The main menu consists of 5 items: returning to the playback screen, viewing the library, viewing the contents of the card, playback settings and player settings.

The playback screen is well thought out and convenient, showing the album cover and brief information about the current track. Pressing the top left button opens a submenu where you can add a track to your favorites or playlist, delete it, or change the playback order.

The Music Library lets you view the contents of your card organized by album, artist, and genre. Here you can see your favorites, playlists and all files in one list.

If you have a mess in your tags and the library can’t handle it, viewing the map by folder will come to the rescue, the third one in the menu.

In the playback settings, you can select the repeat mode, enable memorization of the current track and position in it, enable playback without pauses, select the volume limit and save the selected level, switch the gain, adjust the balance and 10-band equalizer. You can also enable a mode in which the player, during playback, having exhausted the current folder, moves on to the next one in the list. I should immediately note that the equalizer is software, so the sound does not change for the better with it, so I am against using this feature. This is inherent in all Chinese players, Fiio is no exception.

In the player settings you can select: language, theme, USB operating mode, lock screen options, brightness, sleep and shutdown timers.

The company has optimized power consumption well, so on 1 charge the player lasts surprisingly long for its size. In tests I got 11 hours 20 minutes. The player has a deep sleep mode, so when idle, the X3-2 consumes much less battery than usual, so you don’t even have to turn it off; this is a very convenient feature that allows you to “wake up” the player in a split second and immediately enjoy your favorite music.

Sound

The following headphones were used to listen to the player:

In the X3-2, Fiio tried to retain the sound that they found in the X1, but improved it in those areas where it was necessary. To say that the result is a player with the best sound would be a clear exaggeration, but in its price category the new X3, perhaps, outperforms all competitors. In general, the newcomer’s pitch can be described as dynamic, with good energy and drive.

If one could slightly (I emphasize, slightly) find fault with the X1 for the lack of impact in the low frequencies, then in the X3-2 this is more than corrected. The bass is not only well controlled, but also delivered with pleasant energy and density. By simply selecting headphones to suit your taste, you can achieve almost any bass response, from a roaring wave of sound to an intelligent, elastic background for a melody. From the intelligent electronic music of Daft Punk to the unbridled neo-hardrockers of Royal Republic, X3-II is at its best.

Mid frequencies are developed at a level worthy of the price category. Of course, top players outperform the newcomer in these parameters, but there is already a completely different category with a different price level. The mid frequencies are quite lively and emotional, the separation of instruments is at a decent level. The elaboration of background sounds is very decent, thanks to this, the depth of the imaginary scene is well constructed, and the width also does not leave much to be desired. The “holographic” effect characteristic of, for example, the QLS360 is not here, but the volume is conveyed, and the three-dimensional effects are also fascinating.

High frequencies are worked out and supplied in normal quantities. This may upset owners of bright headphones and people sensitive to high frequencies, but here, in fact, “what is is what is”, so if there are a lot of high frequencies on the recording, the player will play them. High end detail is very good, percussion, cymbals, and high notes are easy to discern, as are decays. Tracks that have inherent volume benefit greatly from this; sometimes you can even guess the parameters of the room in which a particular track was recorded.

A little about subjective comparison with other players, for starters from Fiio. The X1 lags behind in sound, especially in the low-frequency range, although with a good selection of headphones it is not so easy to hear the difference. The X5 still retains its leadership in sound, it is even more dynamic, it plays out macrodynamics even better, although its high-frequency delivery may seem even sharper to many than the X3-2. Now as for the competitors. gets left behind due to boring and lifeless presentation. It loses in detail, but gains a little in musicality, but due to the confusing controls, it can only be recommended to very patient users. It wins in terms of sound, but loses in other performance qualities, and therefore stands a little apart. has a specific sound, and therefore I will not undertake to directly compare it with other sources, since a lot depends on the headphones and personal tastes.

Compatibility

Fiio X3-II has no obvious problems and is quite versatile in all respects. The increased power allows it to handle most headphones well, including over-ear models (without fanaticism, of course). Therefore, the selection of headphones for it should be done based on personal preferences in sound; it is difficult to give general advice here. In general, I would recommend avoiding overtly bright headphones and choosing options that can reveal the potential of the player. It is the headphones that determine the character of the player’s sound, and an option that does not suit your tastes can ruin the entire impression of the source.

There are a few combinations that I tried that I thought were worth mentioning (don't take these as a mandatory recommendation; tastes may vary). Of course, these are not all good options, there are many more.

Etymotic ER-4P- surround sound, with fairly intelligent bass, detailed mids and slightly bright highs, a good option for chamber recordings, instrumental music rich in nuances and binaural recordings.

Dunu DN-2000- driving, energetic presentation with elastic bass, good vocals and non-irritating highs, a very good option for old rock and live music.

Dunu Titan1- headphones that never cease to amaze, if you like their sharp and detailed presentation, their potential can grow with the source simply ad infinitum. With the new Fiio they produce a detailed sound with a pleasant aggression, well suited to almost all types of metal.

Ostry KC06A- an option that in English is called “all-rounder”, that is, a universal solution. The excellent detail and energy of a typical dynamic driver make them a good choice for almost any genre and style. If you don't like low frequencies, you can watch the regular version without "A", but I like the "fattier" version.

HiFiMan Re600- after reducing the price by 2 times, these headphones have become one of the best options among all dynamic in-ear models. The sound is as comfortable as slippers, musical and with good resolution - this model has all this in combination with the X3-2.

HiFiMan HE-560- I tried more of them as an experiment. This pairing plays quite tolerably, but the potential of these (and most other) isodynamic headphones lies much higher.

If you want some “big” headphones, then these are a very good option. Focal Spirit Classic. Despite minor problems with the design of the body, the sound of the “focals” is very good, especially for a closed model. The sound is typically music-loving, captivating and musical.

The player is also not picky about genres, but, of course, for complex music, more expensive players are better suited, especially in terms of conveying volume and building an imaginary scene.

The quality of recordings for the X3-2 is critical, but not prohibitive. You will, of course, hear all the flaws in the track, but you will still be able to listen to it. Nevertheless, high-quality remasters and music with competent mixing for X3-2 are recommended.

conclusions

Fiio has confidently reinforced its status as a leader in the personal audio segment. Of course, the new revision of the X3 is not a panacea for all problems and not a player with ideal sound. He plays in his niche, not trying to climb to a higher level, but in the price category in which he competes, competitors are burned out like napalm. The new X3 of the second revision is cheaper than its competitors (so you should expect price reductions from other manufacturers), has better sound, is more convenient to operate, smaller in size, and richer in functions. In general, he is not much, but he beats everyone in any of the possible parameters.