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Review of Hidizs AP100 portable HiFi music player w/lots of pics!!!

This is a review of Hidizs AP100 portable HiFi music player. http://penonaudio.com/Hidizs-AP100 (manufacturer website: http://www.hidizs.com/EN/Products/Audio Players/AP100.html)
It takes a lot of confidence to enter a market of portable DAPs (digital audio players) considering the latest sophomore releases from FiiO and iBasso as well as a few other budget audio players. And that's exactly what I found with a freshman release from Hidizs, a new kid on the block that decided to make a bold statement with their first release. Everything from the packaging to the build quality and selection of components indicates they did their homework studying competition to match the level of finesse and also to come up with a few of their own tricks to distinguish themselves from the crowd. Let's take a closer look at what I found after spending the last few days testing Hidizs AP100.
Packaging / Unboxing
Taking a page right out of HiFiMAN book, AP100 arrived in a very elegant formal attire of a black box with a silver print of the company/model on the front and detailed spec in Chinese and English on the back. As you remove the outer sleeve, and slide out the inner tray, you see a form fitting cutout opening with AP100 wrapped in ESD bag (a similar detail I have seen in the past with HM700). Beside audio player, the included accessories are usb to micro-usb cable for charging and data transfer, a short 3.5mm male to male patch cable for connecting Line Out to external amp, a 3.5mm to coaxial cable for connection with available coaxial In/Out ports, a pair of screen protectors for 2.4" display, a quick start guide card which has walkthrough of all the ports and buttons in Chinese/English, and a very comprehensive high quality glossy print user's manual. AP100 also comes with a leather case which I'm still waiting to receive due to my shipment being one of the early samples Penonaudio (as official authorized Hidizs distributor) received in their store. I was also told, along with a leather case they're going to include 3.5mm TRRS to TRS adapter since by design AP100 3.5mm headphone port will not be able to accommodate correctly headphones with a built-in inline remote/mic. Typically high quality headphones have either audio only cables or have access to removable audio-only cable. In some cases, like my Beyer T51i where in-line remote doesn't come with a removable cable, you can easily use an adapter. I also noticed, Penonaudio eBay page list AP100 with a bonus free set of hi-fi earphones (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hidizs-AP10...ortable-HiFi-Audio-Music-Player-/291155982192), though I'm not sure about the model.
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Design overview
Once you take AP100 out of ESD bag, you are presented with a very portable and lightweight audio device, approximately 107mm x 65mm x 16mm and weighting 152g (including microSD card). The housing of the player has a solid metal enclosure (no flex) with rounded edges. Upper half of the front side hosts a flush mounted 2.4" TFT color screen with 320x240 resolution. Though not IPS, it actually has pretty wide viewing angle and it wasn't too bad for outdoor viewing. The placement of control buttons in the lower part of the front has a great layout for one-handed operation with either right or left hand. You have a dedicated volume -/+ buttons, a 4-way circle button with next/prev selection placed horizontally and fast fwd/rev placed vertically, where all these buttons are also used as navigation up/down/left/right while scrolling through the menu. In the middle of this circle you have play/pause button which also functions as Enter/Select key, and in the lower right corner a Return button which takes you back to a previous screen and also brings up song playback setting menu when long-pressed during playing music. At the top of the player you have 3.5mm jack for headphone out (HO) and line out (LO) and a power button which also turns the screen on/off while playing music or after screen display time out. On a right side you have a lock button; while enabled this one prevents accidental key presses. On the left side you have SRC button which changes the playback rate by cycling between 16b/44.1k, 24b/88.2k, 24b/96k, 24b/176.4k, and 24b/192k, and EQ button which cycles between General (default flat), Rock, POP, Classic, Jazz, Bass, and User custom EQ setting, and also Reset pinhole. At the bottom you get micro-USB charging/data port, microSD card port (supports max 64GB card), and Coaxial In/Out ports.
Under the hood and User Interface
Inside of AP100, you have 8GB of built-in internal memory (plus up to 64GB through microSD expansion), 3000 mAh li-ion battery which supposed to last 10hr, and array of very impressive chip selection from Cirrus Logic and other top premium IC manufacturers. I find it refreshing how every manufacturer decides to use different building blocks of ICs for their signal chain. Trying to stay unique with sample rate on-a-fly switching, I can see why Hidizs made a decision to use this particular chip set (low jitter phase lock loop, separate clock crystals, asynchronous SRC, etc.) which offers a very clean audio recovery and processing all under a dedicated hardware control. Processing is done using dual core Ingenic 4760B CPU, the same one used on X5.
On top of this hardware, you have a very stable firmware with a clean minimalistic GUI interface. It's not as fancy as scrolling wheel of X5, and doesn't have the same GUI details, but it's functional, easy to get around, and never locked up on me (though I don't have a large library of files to index). Actually, only one time it locked up because I unplugged AP100 from laptop without "ejecting" usb connection - my own fault since it was a part of the provided instructions which I didn't follow. Once you turn the power on, you are presented with 2 choices of going to a playlist or a setup menu. Setup menu has a lot of detailed selections and actually reminds me of X5 in it's look and feel. I tried documenting in pictures all the available options. When it comes to playback menu, it actually resembles a look of HM700 where you have a scrolling list of all the songs according to a file name. The ID3 tags are displayed during individual song playback, otherwise it's just an alphabetical list.
Once you start playing a song, you have a screen with all the detailed info indicating EQ selection, enabled SRC (with a sampling rate displayed on the screen), volume level, battery level, available cover artwork and ID3 tag content, play/pause/ffwd-rev icon indicator, track time line, and full file name (scrolling if its too long). Long pressing Return button takes you to song playback menu with more options. To assist in a better management of your playback, each song can be tagged as "favorite" to be added to a separate directory under "My favorite". Since you have access to up to 72GB of storage space, you probably would want to have a structure of separate sub-directories according to an album or an artist for a better management of content. Those with an excessive audio library probably will be looking elsewhere like X5 where you can use up to 2x 128GB microSD cards and OTG USB storage option. Also, if you want to use your DAP as external USB DAC for your laptop or computer, AP100 will not be able to support this.
Audio quality
As you can see, a lot of thought went into the design, presentation, and selection of components for this new product from Hidizs. But how does it all translates into the most important task, the sound quality? Let me re-assure you, there is NO disappointment in here. The sound is very neutral, detailed, no coloration of excessive low frequency warmth or upper mids/treble harshness or sibilance. The tonality is very natural with sound being accurately represented. Typically I prefer to leave a more detailed sound analysis to when I'm reviewing headphones, but in theory any sound representation comes down to 3 main factors: your sound source file (mp3 or FLAC or other lossless formats), the hardware decoding it (your dedicated audio player or smartphone or combination with an external DAC/amp), and your headphones. When it comes to hardware, in my opinion you want it to be as neutral as possible so you don't add any artifacts to a source, and I think AP100 accomplished that goal. It supports most of the popular audio formats, such as MP3, FLAC, WAV, OGG, WMA, APE up to 24b/192k sampling rate, and it's able to accurately decode these audio formats leaving it up to your headphone sound signature to deliver the final result.
In comparison to X5 (running the latest FW2.0) and HM700, I found AP100 (in 24b/192k setting) to be a little smoother and laid-back, a little warmer, and a bit less bright. Now, keep in mind, this is not a description of the sound, but rather a relative comparison using the same audio file source with the same set of headphones. In direct comparison of AP100 and X5, I found Hidizs soundstage to be a little bit wider and deeper, though not as wide as HM700 with balanced RE400B. Also, switching SRC to 24b/192k which I'm planning to leave on permanently, added more body to AP100 sound and on some headphones improved the sound with a better separation and layering. The results will vary from headphone to headphone, but the most significant change I was able to hear with Beyer T51i where the sound improvement with AP100 was almost like I added an amp to X5.
I do realize that for some a big question going to be if you are on a budget and at a crossroad deciding whether to go with X5 or AP100 or you need to get another DAP. From a form factor, AP100 is a little bit shorter and lighter. From a storage capacity and expansion, X5 is hands down a winner. Perhaps due to a same CPU maybe in a future updates Hidizs will add support for 128GB flash, though you are still limited to a single card and not sure about OTG. Regarding GUI and interface, I think they both have their advantage and disadvantages where I love scrolling wheel of X5 for a quick navigation through a list of songs, but when it comes down to menu selection or more precise song selection - using button navigation will give you more control at expense of slower speed. Also, there is no denial, X5 interface is more polished. Sound quality is where you going to see more distinction. If you need to invest $150-$200 into a portable amp to enhance sound of some of your headphones, perhaps a dedicated DAP might be a better option. The sound quality improvement will vary depending on headphones you use, but I can tell you from a personal experience I will be driving T51i only from AP100, while for my workouts with hifi sound - it's HM700 + RE400B in an armband for convenience. Another great pair up example of AP100 I found to be with ATH-IM50 and IM03. Beside adding more dimension to a sound, it really brings bass alive and makes it stand out especially with IM50 where low end is the strongest point to begin with. So there is no clear answer since it will depend on your individual preferences due to YMMV.
Overall, I must say I was very impressed with this DAP considering I never heard of this company before. Between hardware, firmware, and sound quality - this is one solid release for a newcomer. I especially like how they are trying to differentiate themselves by offering something different with SRC functionality. Please keep in mind, my previous DAP experience is based on Clip+, X5, HM700, and using my Note 2 w/Neutron, so perhaps other higher end DAPs already implement something similar, though I'm not sure if anybody else does it in $300 price range. Also, SRC is not a magic button to improve the sound of every headphone, but it works rather well on those that lean more toward balanced sound signature with enhanced bass response and require a stronger driving signal. Not sure if you will get the same level of improvement pairing it up with analytical headphones since I don't have my Etys and IM02 for testing anymore. Also, all the headphones in my collection are low impedance and Hidizs site doesn't talk much about HO output level driving different impedance loads. But if you look at their spec of 2.2Vrms and assume the lowest supported impedance, it will still scale up to a very decent signal level going up to 250ohm and 300ohm loads and maybe even to 600ohm. While testing with my headphones, I had my volume setting between 1/4 to 1/3 of maximum allowable volume, never approaching 50% of max volume output. That's a good indicator and also goes along with my previous comment of AP100 driving T51i like it was X5+amp. Now, I can't wait to see what future firmware updates going to bring and what other products Hidizs guys have in queue!

While I'm waiting for the leather case to arrive, I wanted to come up with a storage solution for AP100 when I throw it in my bag. Amazingly, Pelican 101 case has perfect dimensions to accommodate that but it requires a little modification.
This 1010 case is bulletproof, and cost only $13.50: http://www.pelicancases.com/1010-p/1010.htm and I'm also using pick'n'pluck foam insert: http://www.pelican.com/cases_detail_accessories.php?Case=1010 to keep it from rattling inside, but you can use any kind of spacer, or maybe just put your IEMs in there.
The plastic shell of the case itself has perfect inner dimensions, but the inner rubber lining makes it a bit too tight, pushing on the side buttons of the DAP. So, I just cut out the top part of the lining keeping the base which prevents AP100 from rubbing against the plastic. On top, I used foam insert, so it looks like this:

AP100 leather case and other accessories
As promised, here is an additional review of Hidizs AP100 accessories and other bonus goodies that come bundled when ordered from Penonaudio (http://penonaudio.com/Hidizs-AP100).
The included leather case adds a protection for AP100 and also allows you to carry this digital audio player in style. Today it's really hard to tell apart real or fake leather, but material of this case felt genuine to me. The fitment inside of the holding sleeve was secure, not too tight or loose. It has the precise cutouts to access all the control buttons, keeps the top of the player open for HO/LO and power button, and at the bottom allows access for micro-usb cable. You also have access to SRC and EQ buttons on one side, and Lock button on the other side. The flip cover stays closed thanks to a hidden magnet, and inside there is a small velctro pocket for mico-SD card.
Btw, leather case is included with AP100 purchased from anybody, but Penon audio guys add a few additional exclusive bonuses.
As I mentioned in my original review, the headphone output jack of AP100 supports a standard TRS connection which is a problem if you are using headphones with built in in-line remote control/mic. It's not a showstopper since there is a number of adapters available to allow use of headphones with in-line remote. But additional adapters cost money and some are bulky or long-wired. Included in this package is a slim 3.5mm female to 3.5mm male adapter which I found to work great with all of my "smartphone" headphones. As a matter of fact, Penon guys sell it on ebay for $4+ shipped (http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5mm-Femal...=US_Audio_Cables_Adapters&hash=item43af220270) for anybody who in general interested in it, but it's included for free here. I like that I don't have to worry about hanging wires, and it doesn't stick out too much.
Last but not least, they also included a pair of high quality in-ear headphones, Hisoundaudio PAA-1 model which they actually sell in their store for $20 (http://penonaudio.com/Hisoundaudio-PAA-1). Honestly, I was a bit skeptical about freebie headphones, expecting it's going to be something cheap, but was surprised to find these to sound really good!!! These are not exactly in-ear type headphones, but rather one of those iPod style, and I even put a few pictures side-by-side for a better comparison. Surprisingly, these have a nice soft cable with TPE sleeve and OFC wires. The fit was comfortable, but for some people with small ear opening it could be a problem. The sound is balanced, nothing is recessed. It has a nice punchy low-end with some sub-bass extension, great separation of mids with enough detailed clarity (great with vocals), and crisp treble extension without any hint of sibilance. One thing that surprised me the most was a super wide soundstage. I'm not gonna tell you these are giant killers that beat $100-$200 IEMs, but they sound VERY good and even for a standalone price of $20 it's a great value.
Furthermore, and to be clear these adapters below are not a part of AP100 package but definitely a good investment to have, I would like to mention about impedance adapters you can get from Penon guys ($13.90, http://penonaudio.com/3.5mm-Inpedance-Plug). As I mentioned in my review, paired up with high sensitivity headphones you are going to hear some background hissing noise listening to AP100 due to it's high output power. It's a common problem with other DAPs or AMPs as well. A solution is very simple, you need to use an impedance adapter, usually in value between 50-150 ohms. It helps to attenuate the background noise, though you also will reduce output level (will need to raise your volume up when using such adapter). Most of the adapters I have seen or own are bulky with a wire extension. In this case, you are getting a brand name DUNU impedance adapter, either 75 ohm or 150 ohm, at a very reasonable price. I have tested both with a lot of my headphones, and found that 75 ohm does a perfect job silencing the background noise without any sound quality reduction. This 3.5mm female to 3.5mm male adapter is relatively small and not going to stick out too much. It's one of those must-have accessories any audiophile should have in their tool box

Review of FiiO X3 2nd gen DAP w/lots of pics!!!

This is a Review of FiiO X3 II (2nd gen) DAP. http://www.fiio.net/en/products/39 and also available on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Generation-Resolution-Player-Titanium-NEWEST/dp/B00VR5JHVK/
As a diehard fan of FiiO audio products, I feel a little embarrassed how the original X3 II announcement flew under my radar. Can't believe I almost missed it considering I used to count days before X5 and X1 releases, knowing in depth specs of those new gen FiiO DAPs that followed up their popular X3 – the original FiiO DAP that started it all. I guess it’s very easy to get overwhelmed in today’s “DAP” market with so many new releases and announcements where unfortunately some companies pay more attention to sound quality rather than design ergonomics or the other way around with fancy looks to compensate for performance shortcomings. Also, a trend of using popular brand name chipsets for marketing hype can stir you the wrong way if you don’t consider a fact that without experience of a proper architecture design, schematic capture, and layout tricks – not even the best and the most popular DAC going to make your DAP sound good.
I became a fan of FiiO not because I get a chance to review a lot of their products, but because I see they really know what they are doing, they have a clear plan of how to do it, they deliver on their promises, and they have a great support. But going back to my "confession" intro, perhaps I was under an impression that FiiO already covered entry level DAP market with their budget X1 ($99) and upper mid-fi market with X5 ($349), while the upcoming X7 ($TBD) should make a serious dent in TOTL hi-fi market. So where would X3 II fit in? For starters, it can still fit in very comfortably in a pocket of your pants (lol!!!), and it got a few tricks under its supercharged X1-hood to go head-to-head with some of the more expensive DAPs. So let’s take a closer look at what I found after testing this new release from FiiO and comparing it against their other DAPs.
Starting with packaging, I do appreciate FiiOs attention to details with a sturdy carton "gift" box inside of a packaging sleeve which comes handy for storage of DAP and accessories. It definitely enhances your unboxing experience and adds to a premium feel of the product versus cheap plastic throwaway packaging. I do have to note that considering this is an early review unit, it still has X3K label on the cover though moving forward it will be changed to either X3 or X3 2nd gen. X3K was an early reference, similar to updated designs of E10k and E11k where "k" suffix was added to distinguish a new model. Moving forward, the model number should stay the name, only new generation reference will be used to indicate updated version. Also, on the back of the packaging sleeve/box you still have a comprehensive listing of main functionality and spec summary.
Unboxing.
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With a cover off, sitting in a protective foam cutout you will find X3 with a very familiar “face” of X1 DAP dressed in a silicone black skin. In addition to this skin and already attached screen protector, as part of the included accessories you will also find additional replacement screen protectors, a charging power/data usb to micro usb cable (quality thick cable to handle 2A charging), Coax digital patch cable, personalized skin stickers (3 sets with wood finish, carbon fiber, and USA flag?!?), warranty card, a quick start guide, and X3 II quick reference card. Obviously, personalized stickers are for scratch protection, though I would prefer to carry X3 II naked without any stickers covering its slick titanium finish aluminum alloy body (front to back). As a matter of fact, in comparison to X1 where the back was plastic, X3 II is all metal including a thicker metal back cover where thickness of the unit is the main physical exterior difference between X1 and X3 II. Another interesting detail I noticed was a transparent film used on the back of the DAP - comes handy to protect back of X3 II from scratches without covering its smooth back, just wish they would include a spare set.
At the same time, for a piece of mind, silicone skin does a good job protecting from both scratches and minor drops, not to mention of being an excellent lint magnet lol!!! Also, I was pleased to see FiiO guys finally added a small pinhole in silicone skin at the front bottom of the case to show power led. Other open ports in this silicone case are micro-usb at the bottom, and 3.5mm HO at the top, with LO/Coax port cover with a rubber flap to keep dust away. Obviously there is a cutout for navigation wheel, while 4 control buttons and volume up/down and power are covered/sealed with a raised shape imprint. As a bonus, X3 II will have add on accessories with HS12 stack up kit (the same as X1), LC-FX3221 leather case (crafted to access all the buttons without flipping a cover), and C03 clear plastic cover case - all to be purchased separately. If I get a hold of these accessories, I will update my review with additional pictures.
Accessories.
For anybody familiar with X1 footprint, physical exterior design of X3 II will be nearly identical with an exception of a slightly thicker body – only 2mm difference. Other than that, you will be greeted with a familiar layout of 2” TFT screen (with a decent contrast and 320x240 resolution) and a mechanical scroll wheel with a large round button in the middle and 4 small round buttons in the corners. Furthermore, you have 3 buttons on the left side where a Power button is leveled with a body of the housing (to prevent accidental power up/down) and a slightly raised volume up/down with a small dimple on volume up which you can id just by sliding a finger across it. Buttons have a nice tactile response, and there is no rattling or shaking. Right above the volume/up, there is a Reset pinhole, something fortunately I didn't have to use during my testing. Micro-usb port is at the bottom, along with a pair of pentalobe screws located toward the corners. MicroSD card (X3 II supports up to 128GB) is at the bottom corner of the right size, and at the top you have a dedicated Headphone Out (HO) 3.5mm port and a shared Line Out (LO) and Digital Coax Out port.
I have been enjoying FiiO’s mechanical scrolling wheel since the day I got X5. After awhile of using it, I did find some little issues, but to this day it’s still my favorite navigation control. I’m sure FiiO got a lot of feedback from their users, and with every new release I see the wheel being updated with further improvements. Keeping in mind my X5 was the original production unit and X1/X3 were early preproduction review samples, here is how I would rate evolution of this navigation wheel:
X5 - mushy, a bit loose, no feedback, and feels plastic to the touch.
X1 - a little tighter control, some click-feedback, and still feels plastic and slippery to the touch (a wheel "friction" sticker would definitely benefit in here).
X3 - rubbery finish with a nice grip, wheel feedback with a noticeable click, a better scrolling control.
Design details.
After turning X3 II on, you are greeted with a fast boot up sequence. I'm always pleased to see how with every new release FiiO firmware feels more stable and polished. This is definitely not your typical beta software release, and actually feels mature and solid. Obviously, FiiO didn't start it from scratch but rather found a way to port X1 firmware and GUI as a basis for X3 II. But still, X3 II boot up and shut down time was faster than X1 and X5. Another really cool and very useful feature FiiO added in X3 II is a new power management referred to as "deep hibernation". Even so X3 II comes with a very capable 2600 mAh battery which I was able to verity lasting anywhere from 10hrs to 11+ hrs (depending on audio source files and listening volume level), you still get a deep sleep mode with idling to conserve battery drain down to less than 5mA of current draw. And with a click of a Power button it wakes up instantaneously "on" again!
Besides a fast boot up, you also will be happy to know that FiiO continued with a same new GUI introduced in X1 - a cleaner interface in comparison to X5. Staying consistent with their original interface, you have a status-notification bar at the top with a volume level, gain setting, menu selection, flash card presence, and battery status. The only thing that would have been good to see in there is EQ indicator to know if it's off or on with a preset. In the main screen section, you are presented with 5 menu choices, scrolled in a circular motion. With a help of a scrolling wheel it's a simple operation which is comfortable for either left or right hand navigation with turning a wheel to simulate scrolling, pressing middle button for Enter/Select/Play/Pause/OK, upper left for Shortcuts key, upper right for Back/Main Menu with hold down, lower left for up/prev/rewind, and lower right for down/next/fast forward. Also, holding down the middle button gets you into Volume change so you don't even need to push dedicated volume up/down buttons. Another fantastic feature is a support of headphones with in-line remote to Play/Pause and double/triple click to skip tracks - a fantastic feature to remotely control X3 II (the same as X1) hidden in your pocket or while exercising.
So, back to the GUI and menu selection. Starting with Now Playing you will see a list with all of your songs, displayed by what appears just a file name. Category sorts songs in a more organized sub-categories of All Songs, Albums, Artists, Genres, Favorites (which you can tag individually), and Playlists. Browse Files gets you to select MicoSD card folder or OTG folder (confirmed to be working like a charm, reading files from usb otg microSD card reader and usb otg thumbstick). Also, I like a folder view since I have albums in separate folders while misc songs are below it in a separate list. Moving on to Play Setting, you get a nearly identical to X1 menu selection with Play Mode (with different repeat and playback mode options), Resume Mode, Gapless Playback, Max Volume and Default Volume, Fixed Volume, Gain (L/H), 10-band EQ with a number of quality presets and custom setting option, Balance (L/R), and Play Through Folders option. The last Main Menu selection is System Setting, also with a similar selection of choices like you can find in X1 and X5. Those include Media Library Update (Manual/Auto), Key-lock setting (key function setting when screen is off), Screen timeout, Brightness setting, Idle poweroff, Idle poweroff time, Sleep mode, Sleep timer, Multifunctional output (Line Out vs Coax Out), USB mode (storage vs DAC), Theme selection (among 6 color choices), Support in-line headphone control (enable/disable), File Name display (by file name or title), About X3 (with info about microSD card capacity, number of songs, and firmware version, as well as full Quick Start Guide), Language selection, Storage formatting (helps to format Fat32), and Factory reset.
Graphic User Interface (GUI)
I personally think that ergonomics of hardware interface and layout of GUI is very important in DAP design. You can have the best sounding DAP in the world, but if its operation is awkward and uncomfortable - it will take away from the enjoyment of the product. At the same time, sound performance is still very important. When I reviewed X1 and compared it to X5, I was impressed with a scaled down design for under $100, and always commented “for the price, it sounds great” where the sound improvement came when paired up with an external amp. But there was always a big gap with a clear separation in sound quality and features/functionality between X1 and X5. With introduction of X3 II, FiiO is bringing this gap closer.
X1/X3/X5
First of all, starting with fundamentals, FiiO used a better DAC and amplification stage similar to X5. Before anybody calls me a hypocrite considering I always preach about treating a DAP like a black box where I don’t care about its chipset, I’m only bringing this up for a relative comparison of improvement and considering I have other DAPs that use the same Cirrus Logic CS4398 DAC. As a matter of fact, Hidizs AP100 uses the same DAC and it was an interesting comparison to find X3 II vs AP100 having a similar sound sig tonality where X3 sound was a little tighter and punchier while AP100 was a little more airy and wider and slightly more transparent, perhaps due to a different amplifier section. As a step up to utilize quality of this new DAC, X3 II also added USB DAC functionality similar to X5, where you have a simple plug’n’play connection to your laptop/PC to turn X3 II into an external audio card. As a bonus, due to a native DSD support/decoding, you can play high res DSD files after you install corresponding drivers and plug for your audio player (Windows).
And speaking of audio formats, X3 II is a true hi-res DAP supporting everything under the sun, from lossy compression MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG to lossless formats of DSD (DSD64 and DSD128), APE, FLAC, WAV, WMA, and Apple up to 192kHz/24bit. I was especially impressed with native handling of DSD files decoded in hardware, something X5 supports through internal conversion to PCM only. But ironically, you do need a considerable amount of space for DSD files where X3 II only supports a single 128GB microSD card, while X5 supports 2 cards. Still, not a show stopper considering X3 II was upgraded with USB OTG support where you can attach external drive to expand your storage capacity – very convenient using some of the latest usb otg mini thumb drivers or usb otg microSD card readers.
USB DAC and USB OTG.
So how does it actually sound? Figuring out sound signature of DAP is a bit tricky since you’re judging it through a sound signature of headphones, and as a result need to reference the sound to other sources or be very intimately familiar with a sound sig of your headphones from a flat source. To my ears X3 II has a full body balanced sound with a touch of warmth and a bit of enhancement toward the low end. The sound is detailed and smooth, background is relatively black, and soundstage is above average. I don’t have any high impedance cans or super sensitive IEMs, but I can reassure you that level of hiss with some of the sensitive IEMs in my collection was on the same level as X5. In comparison to X3 II, X1 is warmer and darker and bassier, clear but not with the same level of detail retrieval, and with a sound being a bit more congested and not as wide. Looking at X5, in comparison it’s thinner and brighter, more revealing and open/airy, and with a wider soundstage.
Some might consider X3 II sound to fit right in the middle of X1 and X5 sound sigs. I personally do consider X3 II to be a noticeable improvement over X1, but with X5 it almost felt like a sidegrade, though still being a notch below. It is not on the same revealing level as X5, but at the same time I found it to have a much better synergy with some of my brighter/analytical headphones to smooth out the harsh top. As an opposite, my darker/bassier headphones sound better with X5 to “clean up” a sound. So for example, A83 was a better pair up with X3 II while UM Pro 50 was a better match for X5. But you are not limited to being tied up to HO output, and with added flexibility of LO, you always have an option to try different external amps. For the purpose of this test, I used E11k and E12A amps, keeping it all in FiiO family! Here are some of the observations I found comparing X3 II against X1 and X5 with different combinations of amps. To keep the write up cleaner, I will refer to X3 II as “X3”, and obviously I’m referring to HO output of DAP when used without an external amp. Also, testing was done using ATH-MSR7 headphones.
X3 vs X3+E11k - I prefer HO of X3 vs X3+E11k since E11k affects soundstage a bit and makes sound a little bit darker.
X3 vs X3+E12A - adding E12A improves soundstage a bit, makes sound wider, slightly better retrieval of details, a little better separation/layering, definitely an improvement.
X3 vs X1+E11k - X1/E11k combo is brighter and more transparent in comparison to X1 by itself, but still sound is a little warmer and with more sub-bass rumble comparing to X3. The tonality of X1 gets cleaned up, but its warm characteristics is still amplified. In comparison, X3 still sounds more neutral, transparent, and more detailed, not by a huge margin, but noticeable enough.
X3 vs X1+E12A - X1/E12A combo takes it to a whole new level with improved detailed sound, closer to a neutral level with just a little bit of low end boost inherited from original X1 sig. With an exception of that "bass boost", X1+E12A pair up closed a gap with X3, bringing it almost to the same level.
X5 vs X3+E12A - X5 sound is more neutral and transparent in comparison to X3/E12A, also it's a little thinner with less body, while X3/E12A is a touch warmer, with a faster mid-bass attack, and overall having a more energetic sound.
While test and comparison between X1/X3/X5 and different amp combinations is valuable, my next test round was using three different pairs of IEMs directly from HO of X1/X3/X5 to compare the sound. For this test I choose to use Fidue A83 3-way hybrid since it has a great low end reproduction and bright top end, UM Pro 50 5-way BA with silver litz cable since it’s my darkest signature IEMs with a smooth sound and excellent bass, and Havi B3 Pro 1 which is neutral warm dual-driver known to be power hungry.
A83 testing (stock silver/plated cable).
X1: warm and smooth sound, not as much low-end definition, upper mids/treble are less revealing, soundstage is just average.
X3: brighter sound with better layering/separation, punchier bass with more details, more clarity and details in mids/treble which still remains smooth, wider staging.
X5: more revealing, vivid/open/airy sound, punchy detailed bass, upper mids/treble are more analytical/revealing, pushing it to a borderline harsh. Treble is crispier, with a little better extension. Soundstage is a bit more 3D.
UM Pro 50 (w/Pure Silver Whiplash Litz cable).
X1: warm dull sound, bass is too rounded (slow attack), lower mids are a bit thick, upper mids are too warm and overly smooth, treble doesn't sound too extended. Soundstage is narrow.
X3: still warm sound, but more detailed. More definition and punch in the bass, better separation with lower mids, upper mids brighter and clearer. Better treble extension, but not as much sparkle, still smooth. Soundstage has more depth.
X5: still warm sound but improved transparency and retrieval of details. Bass punch is slightly improved, separation with lower mids is still good, upper mids are still clear and brighter, treble has more sparkle and improved extension. Soundstage is wider and deeper.
B3 Pro 1 (v# signifies volume where X1 doesn’t have Gain selection, so volume dial is lower).
X1: (v55) warm and bassy, bass is textured and with a slower attack, good separate from lower mids, clear upper mids, nice smooth treble with a good extension, soundstage has an average width.
X3: (v77) warm and bassy, bass has more crunch and a faster punch, more transparency and better layering and separation, mids are more detailed and brighter, treble has a better extension and more crunch. Soundstage is wider.
X5: (v75) more neutral with enhanced bass, bass has a deeper texture and more details, better separation from lower mids. Mids are smooth and detailed, not too bright. Treble is brighter and has more extension. Soundstage is open, and with more width and depth.
Overall, I think X3 II was definitely a big surprise for me. I know that FiiOs product line is partitioned with X1<X3<X5<X7 in order of design and sound improvement, and I was expecting X3 II to fit right in the middle between X1 and X5, but in reality found it to be closer to X5. With some bright/revealing headphones I felt a synergy with X3 II to be even better than with X5. Without a single doubt in my mind, I would say that X3 II is easily worth a double of X1 pricing due to an additional improvements of a new DAC and amp section, USB DAC support, native DSD playback, dedicated LO port, USB OTG support, 10 band EQ (vs 7 band in X1), selectable L/H gain, and very useful Deep Sleep mode. X1 is still a great DAP if you are on a budget of $100 or planning to pair it up with a good external portable amp. But in my honest opinion if you are deciding between X1 and X3 II or thinking about upgrading X1, I would strongly recommend looking into X3 II. Sure, X5 is another step up, but if you are looking for a truly portable high quality DAP with an innovative scroll wheel control, great battery life, support of every audio file format under the sun (including native DSD decoding), possibility to use it as USB DAC, and being able to control it with in-line remote of your headphones – X3 II will be hard to beat in $200 price range.

How would you compare the sound with Hidizs AP100?

MUG3NHC said:
How would you compare the sound with Hidizs AP100?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just purely on a sound quality (neutral revealing sig with a more open soundstage), AP100 edges out even X5. But as an overall user experience - I favor scroll wheel controls, layout of buttons, and GUI of FiiO products where X3 2nd is clearly a superior product.
Sound quality is important, but lately I have been looking at the whole package. As a matter of fact, I'm reviewing right now AK120ii (yeah, $1.7k DAP) and it blows everything else out of the water in terms of build quality and touch screen user interface. But the sound quality is just unique/different and not necessary the best.

vectron said:
Just purely on a sound quality (neutral revealing sig with a more open soundstage), AP100 edges out even X5. But as an overall user experience - I favor scroll wheel controls, layout of buttons, and GUI of FiiO products where X3 2nd is clearly a superior product.
Sound quality is important, but lately I have been looking at the whole package. As a matter of fact, I'm reviewing right now AK120ii (yeah, $1.7k DAP) and it blows everything else out of the water in terms of build quality and touch screen user interface. But the sound quality is just unique/different and not necessary the best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Thanks for the answer. I was tempted to get X3II cos of the scroll wheel, but on the end i purchased AP100. I read tons of really good things about it.
Yeah, AK120II looks like its from the future, although i don't have that kind of money

Nice review ! ?

Nice review! How about comparing AP100 vs X3+e12? you said (or most reviewers said) that AP100 tops X3 or even X5.. i like the scroll wheel to like the ipod classic.

rickets208 said:
Nice review! How about comparing AP100 vs X3+e12? you said (or most reviewers said) that AP100 tops X3 or even X5.. i like the scroll wheel to like the ipod classic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In terms of sound quality, AP100 tops even original X5, and it will give X3ii + E12 run for its money. But, AP100 is a dinosaur, outdated design, rather large in size, outdated interface, frustrating clicking through the song list and menu choices. I use AP100 and FiiO X1 now only for headphone burn in...

Old thread but I'm hoping someone is still paying attention to it. I'm running version 1.4 and for some reason when my X3ii goes into sleep mode it will not come back on with a quick tap of the power button. It requires me to hold it for two seconds and then goes through the initial start screens. But it does resume with the last song that was playing. Any ideas?
Edit: Please disregard. My X3 is still very new and I was apparently not pressing the button firmly enough. It works correctly when I do.

Best one! I want one

Hello everybody,
I am expecting X3-II and wanted to buy headphones for them.
I am a bass head to listen to Pop Rock and Techno. What is the best option for me to choose from
Yamaha PRO 500, Audio Technica ATH-M50x or BeyerDynamic DT770 Pro 80 ohm?
If anybody uses one of those with X3-II please share your opinion about the combination.

alex5908 said:
Hello everybody,
I am expecting X3-II and wanted to buy headphones for them.
I am a bass head to listen to Pop Rock and Techno. What is the best option for me to choose from
Yamaha PRO 500, Audio Technica ATH-M50x or BeyerDynamic DT770 Pro 80 ohm?
If anybody uses one of those with X3-II please share your opinion about the combination.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have M50x, great pair up with X3ii, but those are not basshead headphones They do have a great bass impact, but not a heavy slam.

Review of Astell & Kern AK120 II High-res Dual DAC Music player w/lots of pics!!!

This is a Review of Astell & Kern AK120ii Digital Audio Player (DAP). http://www.astellnkern.com/eng/htm/ak120/ak120_2_feature01.asp , also available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Astell-Kern-AK120II-Resolution-Player/dp/B00L3NAW42/
Either if you are a novice audio enthusiast or a seasoned audiophile, you are probably familiar with a name of "Astell & Kern". It’s like a fashion brand name or a luxury vehicle known for their stylish looks, durable design, and top of the line performance. Nevertheless, for a number of people A&K products are still an intimidating mystery because of their premium price and somewhat exclusive review coverage. I've read some of those reviews and still had a few unanswered questions, especially what makes this DAP so special at a premium price? As you can see, I've already mentioned “premium price” twice, and I'm only a few sentences into my review. Unfortunately, premium price quite often clouds are judgment since we have high expectations when in reality we are looking at diminishing returns. In the last few years I covered close to a dozen of DAPs priced between $50 -$700, and as a reviewer when you focus on a performance and features it makes it easier to judge a product without a biased opinion clouded by its price, though you still have to consider it. So let me proceed with my review, to share with you what I found, and to let you be the judge if this amazing piece of electronics (oops, a biased slip!) is worth your hard earned money.
People, who appreciate the art of sound or just educated enough to understand that free earbuds supplied with your smartphone or endorsed by celebrities just don’t cut it, are usually in constant search of new headphones to get closer to their ideal sound signature. Unfortunately, a lot of the times we neglect an important variable in this sound signature equation - the audio source. No matter how good you think your iDevice or Android phone sounds, it’s not an ideal source even if you manage to load it with lossless audio files. It will not substitute a dedicated DAP designed with one specific functionality in mind - playing audio without compromises or interferences from 3G/4G radios, noisy power supplies, social media updates, and a ton of apps running in the background. I always looked at DAP as anti-smartphone, and perhaps that’s why I was happy with small screens, hardware buttons, and other mechanical scrolling options. Now, I made a full circle and came back to a product which you can almost call a smartphone without a “phone”.
Arrived in a formally dressed silver carton sleeve, A&K wanted to keep an element of surprise without any revealing glossy pictures or too much of an artwork beside a stamped logo and a company name with a sticker of DUAL DAC on the front. AK120ii is their dual CS4398 DAC version, very similar in looks to AK100ii - a single CS4398 DAC version with a slightly shorter body and a few other cut down specs. On a back side of the packaging you will find a very comprehensive device specification that resembles a typical compact smartphone spec. We are talking about 3.31” AMOLED touch screen display with WVGA 480x800 resolution, 3,250 mAh li-polymer battery, 128GB of internal NAND memory with microSD expansion supporting up to 128GB flash card, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, MTP media device connection, micro USB input, and OTA (over-the-air) firmware upgrade. Yes, we are still talking about DAP, and to reassure that – I removed the sleeve and opened an impressive black gift-box to reveal AK120ii inside of it.
Unboxing.
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I have seen pictures of AK100ii/120ii before, but the first hand experience of opening the box and taking a glance at this DAP is priceless. Out of the box I found AK120ii to be surprisingly compact with dimensions of approximate 118mm x 55mm x 15mm and very lightweight at only 177g. Along with AK120ii, included accessories were a high quality usb to micro-usb charging/data cable, clear screen protectors for the front display and the back, a comprehensive quick start guide (printed on a quality paper like it was a wedding invitation), a warranty card, and a fancy leather case. And by fancy, I mean a designer quality "Made in Italy" case with perfect cutouts to reveal all the hardware controls and ports, and to provide a full access to touch screen where only a microSD port was covered. Btw, once fitted, the case is not easy to slide out, but I found a little trick by pushing it out with an eraser tip of a pencil through micro-usb port opening at the bottom. Could A&K have included additional accessories? I certainly would be happy to see more considering the asking price, but optional color leather cases, cradles, and some cables are available for purchase directly from Astell & Kern website.
Accessories.
As I already mentioned, the unit itself felt very compact and rather lightweight despite its solid build and alloy metal housing with a front touch screen. If this would have been a smartphone, I would have already proceeded to power it up, but I was still hesitant holding it in my hand while examining design details. I think the experience of testing and reviewing other DAPs made me appreciate this design even more, including how thoughtfully it was crafted. The ergonomics was perfect for use with one hand, and it felt very comfortable to reach hardware transport controls and volume knob as well as touch screen - not bad considering I have just an average size hands. The transport control buttons are located on the top left side, and you have Play/Pause in the middle between Skip Next/Prev where single click skips a track and a long press fast forwards/backwards. Buttons felt solid, no rattling or shaking, with a very nice tactile response. At the bottom of the same left side you will find microSD slot with a card sitting flush once fully inserted. The bottom of AK120ii has micro-usb connector for charging (impressive battery life of up to 12hrs) and connection to a computer (for a file transfer and use as USB DAC). The top has 3.5mm TRS headphone output (HO which also doubles as electrical/optical Line Out) and 2.5mm balanced output with a 4-pole TRRS connector (for a balanced wired output).
The upper right corner of AK120ii is protruded with a small power button at the top and a dedicated volume knob facing to the right. There is no denial it looks and feels like a real authentic scaled down hardware volume knob you can find in high end desktop systems. The rotation of the knob felt well controlled with a nice feedback, and I was able to adjust it even with a roll of a thumb. I was kind of wishing this volume knob would also function as a push-button control, but it didn’t. I mean, the whole look of the knob design with a cap just screams to be pushed, maybe with some hidden functionality like a quick mute. At the same time, I can understand it would be too easy to accidentally trigger it in your pocket, so this volume knob can only rotate.
Design.
Finally, I was able to tear myself away from pushing the buttons and turning the knob, and went ahead to power it up. Greeted by a glowing “A” logo, it took a little while for the player to boot up. From what I understand, previous AK versions were Unix/Linux based, and the new AK100ii/120ii/240 are Android based for a better support of wireless connection with OTA updates. As a matter of fact, as soon as I booted up and connected to Wi-Fi, within a minute I had a message in notification bar informing me about downloading a system update. It felt like at home with familiar smartphone functionality, especially with touch controls and notification bar. Touch screen was very responsive with every move/slide/touch registering without a lag or a delay, thus suggesting a well optimized custom OS on top of Android. The main screen was well laid out with tiles for Songs, Albums, Artists, Genres, Playlist, and Folder – all corresponding to a specific sorting method of accessing your song library. On top of that there were also tiles for MQS Streaming and Setting. Also, there was an “invisible” Home touch button at the bottom in the middle which took you back to a playback screen. From playback screen, where you have access to touch transport controls and song/album artwork, you can also create a Playlist by clicking on the screen and selecting "+".
The Setting menu was my first stop where you have toggle switches for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, EQ, Gapless playback, Line Out and Balanced Out selection, L/R Balance, Brightness control, and Theme selection. There was also system settings related to Date/Time, Language, Power management, USB Connection, and Downloads folder. Further in System Info you can keep a track of model and firmware, internal storage management, and SD card management. But I think the greatest feature of A&K OS is how you can access most of these settings from one place in pull down notification bar. It was simply brilliant how you get a bird eye view of all the important settings where you enable/disable it with a simple touch and get into a detailed setting menu by touch’n’hold of the corresponding control. With notification bar accessible from any screen, this was the best and the easiest way to change settings on the fly.
One of the settings I found quite interesting was EQ where you can create a numerous custom presets. Also, you can draw EQ curve on the screen with a finger, and every EQ-band slider will self-adjust in animated fashion following a drawn curve. It was great to see a complete set of 10-band EQ (30Hz/60/120/250/500/1k/2k/4k/8k/16k), but I found it a bit frustrating to adjust individual bands since they were too close to each other to zero in with a finger touch. I would suggest for A&K to implement a zoom-in feature to expand EQ screen for a more precise selection of the EQ band.
In general, it was a pleasure to be able to see song names and artwork, and effortlessly control the playback and selection from a large and clear touch screen without straining my eyes. But it's not only the size of the screen, but how logical everything is laid out and utilized, from pull-down notification bar with access to all the settings, to a "home" button to get back to the playback and the rest of the controls and settings. I also liked how cool it was to adjust the volume once you turn the volume knob and get on-screen volume-arc graphics to slide your finger up/down and also to quickly enable/disable Balanced output. It takes a little bit of time to figure out controls, but afterwards it becomes a second nature to navigate. Going back to my other DAPs after using AK120ii was a painful experience using small screens and clicking buttons to navigate around.
GUI/Interface.
Having an ample storage is very important when you are dealing with high resolution audio and lossless formats, where AK120ii supports everything under the sun. And despite the fact that AK100ii/120ii doesn’t support native DSD decoding (only 240 does it natively while 100/120 converts it internally to PCM), you still will be tempted to load this DAP with your DSD files. Depending on the size of your lossless library, even 128GB of internal storage and another 128GB of external one might not be enough. Or perhaps when you are at home you want to listen to a few other songs/albums without going through a hassle of copying them to a DAP. To expand your storage capacity while you are at home connected to your local Wi-Fi, AK120ii supports MQS Streaming from your local computer. All you have to do is to download a small lightweight MQS Server program to run on your laptop or PC/MAC, select your shared directory, and within seconds it will be mirrored and ready to be accessed from your AK DAP. It’s insanely easy and efficient, and there is no delay or buffering stutter as you streaming the music – sounds just like you are playing it from internal NAND memory. Of course, with a full Android based OS on my smartphone I can also stream anything from the cloud (Pandora, Spotify, Tidal, etc.), but unfortunately you can’t run any 3rd party or even native Android apps with AK120ii. Furthermore, you can also play music directly from your laptop/PC/MAC through AK120ii by utilizing its USB DAC functionality like an external soundcard.
MQS Streaming.
Obviously, AK120ii has an excellent design and one amazing GUI with hardware buttons to complement touch controls, but how does it sounds? Here, I found a few surprises. Keep in mind, the intent of my review was to test AK120ii as a standalone portable DAP rather than a puzzle piece of the equation that requires another $2.5k DAC/amp and $2.5k pair of IEMs to complete a picture in order to make it sound good. I found that it was absolutely not necessary to stack up AK120ii with other portable Amps or to use it exclusively with TOTL multi-driver IEMs in order to enjoy the sound. To my surprise, it paired up quite well with a lot of my headphones straight out of HO, but you have to be VERY selective which headphones to use - everything comes down to finding headphones with a perfect synergy to work with sound signature of AK120ii.
I had a bit of a rough start when I began testing AK120ii only to realize that warm, bassy, and generally v-shaped headphones are not a perfect match for this DAP. I found sound signature of this DAP to be neutral-smooth with a slight touch of warmth. It made my bright and revealing IEMs and Headphones to sound lush and organic while retaining clarity and high level of details. I would even go as far as saying this DAP shapes a sound to be more smooth analog rather than cold-analytical. The background was perfectly black, and I didn't experience any hissing or high level of noise, though my headphones are not that sensitive either. With a help of it's Dual DAC architecture, soundstage had a great level of width/depth, though it wasn't too airy in my opinion. I wasn't able to quite reach that precise level of detailed analytical layering and separation. Don't take this as a negative comment, actually AK120ii was able to breath in a new life into some of my brighter tuned headphones, adding more body and texture making them sound more natural and less fatigue.
As expected, once you switch to 2.5mm Balanced Output and if your headphones can support wide imaging, balanced output did improve soundstage width/depth by further expansion and even some treble enhancement. The difference wasn't exactly night'n'day, but after closer listening it was definitely noticeable, especially with my UM Pro 50 (advantage of replacement cable to go between 3.5mm and 2.5mm was priceless). To get the most out of the balanced output you really need to look into aftermarket quality replacement cables for your headphones. Just a stock OFC or cheap silver plated wires won't be enough. For example, I noticed a better margin of improvement once I switched to low impedance Linum Balanced BaX cable. A balanced wired Whiplash Pure Silver cable (part of modular system) did introduce an improvement as well, but hearing my UM Pro 50 or W40 or A83 with Linum Balanced BaX took it a notch higher, which I attribute to lower impedance of Linum Litz cable.
Speaking of headphones I used for testing, I picked Pro 50 since it has a darker/warmer signature, while W40 is smoother and brighter, and A83 hybrid delivers revealing bright upper mids/treble thanks to BA drivers balanced out by dynamic driver covering low end. I also used ATH-MSR7 since these full size cans deliver a high-res extended and detailed sound and not as forgiving when it comes to bright recording. With AK120ii a performance of all these headphones was very consistent and sound became very smooth and organic in upper mids and treble while still preserving high level of detail retrieval. It's very interesting how with the same CS4398 DAC used in Hidizs AP100 DAP and FiiO X3 2nd gen as well as AK100ii/120ii, due to variations in low path filter and voltage/current amplification there is a difference between colder analytical bright sound of AP100 vs smother warmer sound of X3ii vs analog-smooth detailed sound of 120ii. Of course, you do need to try different pairs of headphones to find a match with a better synergy. When it comes to low end (bass), AK120ii favors headphones with more quality than quantity. A sound with headphones that have a typical v-shaped signature and exaggerated bass spilling into lower mids will become muddy. Even a more controlled low end of UM Pro 50 with stock cables (or Pure Silver cables) wasn't shining until I went through cable-rolling to find a better match which turned out to be Linum Balanced BaX. In there I found Linum to be a better match to open up the sound with even more details and soundstage expansion, while their new prototype of Super Balanced BaX impressed me a lot with a smoother balance of low end.
Even so I'm not a fan of EQ tweaking and hate how other DAPs usually have one custom preset option, being able to have numerous custom presets you can name according to your pair of headphones was very convenient with 120ii. I was actually pleased with sound shaping after EQ adjustment where frequency boosting didn't introduce any unnatural harsh artifacts. YMMV since its a matter of a person taste, but I just wanted to make a point that you can sound-shape any pair of headphones to make them work with AK120ii.
Another great way of sound shaping is to pair up AK120ii with your favorite portable amp while bypassing the internal one. I really felt like a mad scientist playing with all these combinations of headphones, cables, and amps - but it turned out to be quite a rewarding experience. I know I already mentioned that my review intent was to see how it performs standalone without any external stack up, but I was actually able to shape a sound other than with EQ by pairing it up with two of my favorite amp (FiiO E12A and Cayin C5). These both amps did take a bit of an edge off analog warmth in comparison to 120ii internal amp, but they also introduced more byte to the sound with a different texture at low end and brighter crispiness at top end. Especially C5 added more analytical clarity to upper mids and a touch more details while brightening the treble, though I personally liked the "looks" of 120ii stack-up with E12A.
I'm sure a lot of you will be curious how does $1.7k DAP compares to other cheaper DAPs I tested in the past. I know the sound quality is very important, but when it comes to A&K DAPs you have to look at the whole picture where overall experience plays a significant factor. It probably sounds very cliché and some of you might think I got spoiled by having access to test and to compare different DAPs, but it's an important point where you can forget for a minute a price tag and just focus on the product's sound, ergonomics, flexibility, and control interface. All I have to say is that experience of testing and reviewing AK120ii ruined the enjoyment of my other favorite DAPs. Maybe it's a temporary infatuation since I spent the last few weeks mostly using this A&K DAP, but I felt that a touch screen interface made such a perfect sense in song browsing, playback control, and overall settings - I actually became a bit frustrated with a button clicking or a wheel scrolling to get to where I wanted in other DAPs. And this touch screen interface was not a reminder of a "smartphone", absolutely not! It enabled me to be in full control of how I wanted to listen to my music, and I found that to be quite liberating.
Nevertheless, if you compare it to other DAPs like for example Cayin N6, those who are after a lush organic sound will prefer A&K sound signature, while if you want a more analytical detailed sound - N6 is a better candidate. In my opinion, they both are relatively neutral, but AK leans more toward neutral-smooth with a touch of warmth, while N6 leans more toward neutral-bright with a slightly better retrieval of details. With something like FiiO X5, I hear X5 being thinner, more neutral, less dynamic (sound is a bit flatter), and soundstage being narrower. Especially with X5 (single DAC architecture), you can hear an advantage of dual dac design of AK120ii and N6 where the width/depth of soundstage along with airiness and improved separation/layering becomes more apparent.
Next to N6, X5, and X3ii
Conclusion.
I mentioned early that I took a pricing out of the equation, just focusing on design and performance. I guess in a conclusion with my traditional "Overall" statement, I should put this variable back in and look from a perspective of the overall AK120ii value. I have reviewed a lot of DAPs and various stack up combos of my Note 4 with portable Amps or usb otg DACs, thus I tend to believe I have a good base for comparison. With that in mind, I still feel that Astell & Kern delivered a product that took the best out of all that audio equipment and encapsulated it in a very compact Digital Audio Player with the most logical touch and hardware controls I have experienced to date. It looks solid, it feels solid, and with a right pair of headphones it sounds solid! I know some people expect $1.7k DAP to sound 2x as good as $800-$900 DAP, but you have to keep in mind that with TOTL audio equipment (just like with multi-driver IEMs) you are in a territory of diminishing returns. Can Astell & Kern keep this crown forever? Only time will tell since we are facing a number of new TOTL DAPs from other manufacturers planned for this summer, and I know that competition will heat up! But I can tell you with certainly, A&K set a very high bar (and not just in pricing) where all my upcoming reviews will be measured against this little masterpiece!

Review of FiiO X5 2nd gen (X5ii) Digital Audio Player (DAP) w/lots of pics!!!

This is a Review of FiiO X5 2nd gen (X5ii) Digital Audio Player (DAP). http://www.fiio.net/en/products/41.
With a consistent flow of new releases, I feel like we have been spoiled by FiiO and their quality audio products. I didn’t even realize it has been year and a half since the release of their original X5, and now I’m looking at their new X5ii flagship DAP released a few months after another impressive X3ii DAP update. What strikes me the most, FiiO continues to update a number of their previously released models (DAPs and amps) while keeping price in the same ballpark. And I’m not talking about a cosmetic refresh or a firmware update but actually a complete redesign. Perhaps it’s the way how they challenge themselves, trying to come up with a creative update without raising the cost. In my opinion, they do succeed every single time, with their latest X5ii being another perfect example of it!
At the same time this high pace of new releases sometime feels like smartphone industry where every six months to a year we are faced with choices to either stay with a current phone or to upgrade, and if you decide to upgrade - either going with a smaller or bigger screen model. I think a lot of FiiO fans will be facing a similar choice, either keeping their original X5 or upgrading to a “smaller” X3ii or a “bigger” X5ii, figuratively speaking. If you want the latest and the greatest new release, a decision is simple - go with X5ii without looking back. But for other loyal FiiO fans or new customers who are looking into different DAPs, I hope my review will provide some useful guidance to make your decision easier. FiiO is very active and generous in various audiophile communities, such as Head-fi, where a lot of reviews and impressions have been posted already. With my write up I hope to fill in some gaps and to offer a different perspective to compliment other available info.
Though the unit I received is pre-production review sample, the content of the packaging should be close to the final product which I'm sure will include a colorful outer sleeve on top of the box my unit came in. Keeping up with a tradition, X5ii arrived in a formally dressed black gift box setting with a nicely padded interior to ensure a secure transport of its content. I personally like such gift-box detail, actually adapted by a number of manufacturers, since it makes unboxing experience a little more special and a sturdy carton box is also a great storage.
Unboxing.
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Already dressed in silicone skin and ready for action, after removing X5ii from a cutout of the foam insert tray, I accessed the accessories box and was able to explore the rest of the included goodies. No surprises were found here, just a familiar set of accessories consistent with their other models. You get a quick start guide and a separate flash card with a layout and explanation of hardware controls, extra 2 sets of screen protector in addition to the one which comes already pre-installed, a cover stickers for the front/back/sides if you decide to personalize your DAP further (includes US flag, wood, and carbon fiber themes), usb to micro-usb power/data cable, and a short Coax patch cable. I think a final production unit will also feature a flash card reader.
While a carbon fiber sticker doesn't look too bad, I’m not so sure about other two themes and would suggest in a future to include something alternative for the ladies. Brushed aluminum and carbon fiber finish is great for guys, but I would like to see FiiO making an effort to widen their sex appeal. Actually in my personal opinion, the brushed aluminum body finish is too cool to cover with anything permanent, except with an included silicone case. Screen protector is always a good idea to protect X5's gorgeous 2.4" HD IPS screen from scratches and smudges. As for usb cable, FiiO usually includes a quality one which also guarantees a fast 2A charging with an appropriate supply. The micro-usb connector is slim and has a nice lock grip, just another detail I want to bring up since with a few of my other usb charging cables I had to take silicone skin off in order to get a proper fit/connection. Coax cable is different from the original X5 since in X5ii LO and Coax 3.5mm ports are shared, thus you will find extra ring-contacts (TRRS style) on 3.5mm connector side.
Accessories.
I usually don't spend too much time talking about silicone case, but still wanted to bring up a few important points. There is no surprise, silicone case gets static and becomes a lint magnet, but I still prefer it over any slippery plastic case because I like a secure grip. Another benefit, it protects your DAP from scratches and minor drops, creates extra friction when placed on a smooth surface, protects outside surface itself from scratches, and protects the shell from scratches when stacked with external amp rubber-banded together. The case has a perfect cutout for screen and navigation wheel, micro-usb port, a flap over LO/Coax port, and open HO port.
HO port opening is very useful in this case because FiiO flipped HO and LO ports in comparison to their other DAPs where left-most port used to be always for Headphone Output. We are creates of habit, and without a case and both ports exposed there is a very good chance that you will make an attempt to plug in your headphones into LO port to get a very unpleasant ear-full surprise, especially if you are a/b it with original X5 or X3ii. So even if you prefer to go naked without a case, use it for the first few weeks as training wheels until you get used to HO port being on the right side at the top.
Another interesting discovery I made even before turning the power on was a hole right in the middle of the power button cover. In this new X5ii model FiiO integrated a status multi-color LED right inside of the power button thus an explanation for a small opening in the case to view the light. Volume up button on a silicone case, just like with an actual DAP button, has a little id bump so you can identify volume+ control blindly in your pocket with a brush of a finger. Power button itself is flush mounted to avoid accidental pressing. The other 4 control buttons around navigation wheel are flush mounted as well and also nearly flat on the silicone case. It's useful if you have selected Lockscreen option that enables their control for track switching, and you no longer have to worry about accidentally pressing buttons in your pocket the way how it was with raised buttons in original X5. But at the same time, I would prefer buttons to be raised just a little bit like it was in X3ii which is the most ideal in my opinion.
Silicone case.
When it comes to the actual design, in my opinion X5ii is definitely a step forward in terms of a more compact footprint in comparison to the original X5. While keeping the thickness nearly the same, the length and the width got trimmed down and weight got reduced by nearly 30g. Similar to X3ii design, top of the unit has 3.5mm Headphone Output (HO) and a shared Line Out (LO) and Coax outputs. There is nothing on the right side, and left side is consistent with a top Power button (already discussed with a built-in status led) and volume up/down buttons. No longer will you find a reset pinhole, just need to press and hold power button for the same functionality. Consistent with the original X5 design, the bottom has 2 micro-SD card slots and micro-usb connector. You are also going to find 2 screws at the bottom if you dare to take X5ii apart, though be aware of voided warranty.
You will no longer find a dust cover rubber flaps over micro-SD slots similar to the original X5. If you carry your X5ii in a silicone case, it really doesn't matter since it will be covered and protected from dust already. I also believe it's not a big deal without a case with a card inside, like it is with any other DAP. But considering dual card slot and if you are not using a case and only have one card populated - it's not ideal for the other slot to be open while collecting the dust. Perhaps, get some dummy or super cheap micro-sd card from ebay just to use for the purpose of keeping a dust away.
The front of X5ii has 2.4" HD IPS screen at the top and a scrolling wheel with 4 control buttons around it and one button in the middle, a familiar layout carried over through all of the X-models (after the original X3). I know a lot of people will be curious about a scrolling wheel "evolution" since FiiO has been consistent with improvements from X5 to X1 and X3ii. Unfortunately, my review unit came from a first pre-production batch where FiiO made it clear this is not a final wheel version. It wasn't as wobbly as X5 wheel, but still had a loose movement without a click-feedback like implemented in X3ii. FiiO mentioned that final production units will have a scrolling wheel similar to X3ii which has been already confirmed by some users who got their hands on final production units. When it comes to my actual review unit, I wasn't as pleased with a wheel due to a light-touch turning by simply brushing against it. Unfortunately that happened a lot because control buttons were flushed with a surface and I had to hover over a surface with my finger to locate them. Even with a scrolling wheel mechanism such as the one used in X3ii, I personally think the layout of these buttons pushed away a little more from the wheel and the flush mounted design is a step back from X3ii where it was just perfect for one handed operation. X5ii is still feasible to use with one hand, but I just wish the beveled area and buttons around the wheel were similar to X3ii. Either way, if I get a chance to play with final production unit, I will come back and update my scrolling wheel impression.
Design details.
Though exterior changes are the most obvious differences when you first look at the new X5ii, the 2nd gen update included a lot of substantial internal design changes and improvement as well. Probably the first and the most noteworthy change come from a new redesigned amplification stage and analog volume control. To my ears the improvement was noticeable enough and I will talk more about it in sound test section of the review. Another change had to do with all new digital audio architecture with a dedicated dual crystal oscillator covering all major rates. Using multiples of common clock rates to derive other rates ensures a reduced jitter performance. I was also glad to see implementation of hardware DSD decoding with a native DSD support without a need for internal PCM conversion - another noticeable improvement when playing hi-res lossless files. Of course, X5ii still supports almost every available lossy and lossless format under the sun, everything from DSD64/128 to 24bit/192kHz in FLAC, APE, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, WMA, and other formats such as MP3, AAC, OGG, etc.
Native DSD support was introduced in X3ii already, the same way how the introduction of in-line remote control support got carried over from X3ii to X5ii. Don't expect volume control on in-line remote to work, but a single click Play/Pause and multi-click track skip worked flawlessly with a lot of my headphones. It's true that a lot of audiophiles prefer audio-only cable, but when you are on the go and want a simple remote control without reaching for your DAP or fumbling in your pocket - support of in-line control is extremely valuable. Another improvement carried over from X3ii was a new power management with a deep-sleep standby and instant-on resume - an absolute life safer when you take periodic breaks from listening and don't want to restart your DAP if it shuts down after time out.
Btw, this deep sleep is not a gimmick. I tested it on a number of occasions and was always amazed by how little battery was drained while in this standby mode. Even when you are playing the music, battery life was still impressive with playback of about 10-11 hrs depending on the gain level and the volume level. FiiO also mentioned about implementation of Coulomb meter for precise battery level readout. I just hope that at some point they will implement the actual % of battery display in notification bar as well. This 10-11 hrs battery endurance was accumulated across various tests where most of the time screen ended up being off - a typical real life usage. With a screen on the time will be reduced a little, though it's hard to quantify it since it all depends on your usage. And speaking of a screen, the rich color saturated display of X5ii is among the best out of the entire FiiO lineup, and it was an absolute pleasure to use it indoors and outdoors with a clear and crisp visibility of menus and full album cover art, actually a big step up from X3ii display.
Since I mentioned about a display, I think now it's a good time to dive more into FiiO’s updated GUI. Actually those who are intimately familiar with X1 and X3ii, X5ii GUI layout will be seen more like a dot update. With a clear semi-circle left to right menu layout, it was updated with an improved graphics details and more features added under setting and playback menus.
The main screen presents you with 5 selections of Now Playing (defaults to a currently playing track), Play by Category (with a choice of All songs, Album, Artist, Genre, Collection of Favorites - tagged from song playback, and Playlists selection), Browse Files (my favorite selection to view files by folders in Card 1, Card 2, and OTG connection - as long as you have FAT32 formatted device, you can expand your storage capacity by connecting external memory through usb OTG adapter), Play Setting, and System Setting. As you can see, there are plenty of choices for music browsing and playback, and navigation is super easy with a scrolling wheel. Once you select a song and it starts playing, the playback screen will display song/album art, if available, and you will see a current time marker for the song and the total time, the title of the song and the artist, and briefly a display with info about the file type.
In the notification bar you can always see a volume level with corresponding value, Gain setting (L or H), EQ selection, a number of populated micro-sd cards, Playback status (plays/pause), and a battery status. During the playback you can skip a song using two control buttons at the bottom or just by scrolling a wheel which brings you to a folder list where you click Play to select another song. Pressing and holding skip song buttons will fast fwd/rev through a song, while a middle button works as Play/Pause, unless you press'n'hold it to get into volume control using a scrolling wheel. Upper right button works as "go back" and upper left button brings up an icon menu where you can add a song to a favorite list or to a specific playlist, to delete a song, or to select different playback modes (loop, through, crossfade, and repeat one). All this is extremely convenient for one handed operation.
Going back to Play settings, you have a very comprehensive list of options related to playback. You can change Play mode (similar to accessing playback modes), enable Resume mode, Gapless playback, cap the max volume level, set power-on volume and associated fixed volume setting, select between Low and High gain, enter EQ screen (10-band EQ with a custom setting and a lot of genre specific presets), L/R Balance setting, and a new option of Play through Folders setting.
System settings gives you an option of language selection, Media Library update, Key-lock settings (with different options for lockscreen controls when display is off), Screen timeout, Brightness setting, Idle standby and corresponding timer, Sleep on/off and corresponding timer, Selection of shared output as either Line Out of Coax, File name display (as either Title or the actual file name), USB mode (DAC or Storage), enabling support of in-line headphone controls, display theme selection (5 unique choices), About X5 inf (which gives you both cards total capacity and available capacity, total number of songs, firmware version and serial number, and entire digital copy of detailed Quick Start Guide), Format (important if you are having problem with FAT32 format of your flash card), and last but not least - Reset to factory defaults.
I already mentioned about in-line remote control, and just want to talk briefly about USB mode. Storage selection enables you to connect X5ii to your computer where you can update the content of the flash cards by a simple drag’n’drop. But with USD DAC selection you turn X5ii into an external usb soundcard. After installation of proper drivers, X5ii is recognized as usb audio output to stream audio from your computer. Though I personally prefer a dedicated USB DAC and feel like using DAP for this functionality is overkill, it was still nice to be able to improve sound quality (more detailed clean sound) of my ThinkPad laptop with a help of X5ii. In this configuration while using DAP as usb DAC you are also charging it in parallel through usb port so you don't have to worry about drain a battery. Furthermore, you can use Play/Pause and change volume right from X5ii remotely - very convenient for an external audio interface. Just remember, you are not changing volume level on your computer, just relative to X5ii playback.
GUI details.
I'm sure the most important question on everyone's mind is how X5ii sounds, especially in comparison to the original X5 and X3ii DAPs. Evaluation of a source sound quality is not an easy task because it's a function of your headphones sound signature, and sometimes it’s easier to describe in a relative comparative analysis to other DAPs. Still, it was clear as a day to hear sound improvement of X5ii which shifted more toward the neutral sound signature with a decent extension at both ends of the spectrum and a detailed airy sound with an above average soundstage. Background was perfectly black with no audible noise floor even in high gain.
While going through a round of checking various headphones, I found a lot of solid pair ups with an impressive synergy. Driving full size ATH-R70x (470 ohms) was with ease and authority at both low gain (vol at 105) and high gain (vol at 90) - at high gain bass had a bit more textured rumble and treble had a touch more sparkle, where in comparison X5 sound was looser and not as dynamic. With UE600 iem, my “hiss” test case, there was literally zero hissing with X5ii while original X5 had a noticeable hissing when idle. ATH-MSR7 had a nice wide soundstage, excellent retrieval of details, no sibilance, and well controlled low end punch. With Havi's B3 Pro I the volume was raised by 10 notches (to 77), soundstage was still wide, and it still had a great extension at both ends of the spectrum with a warm neutral sound. ATH-CKR10 had a nice tight bass and detailed and crispy treble - both complimented by a clear smooth mids which bring the best of AT house style. It was also driving A83 low end with an authority, keeping bass tight and punchy with a great sub-bass extension, mids being clear and detailed, not harsh or grainy, and treble with a nice extension, soundstage width/depth was excellent as well. With Westone W60 sound was warm, smooth, detailed, wide/deep soundstage, punchy bass, mids pushed a little back, and treble detailed but not overly crisp/bright.
Next to the original X5, X3ii, and X1 (for a size comparison).
Stack up with X5ii/E12A/UM Pro 50.
I’m sure a question on many people’s mind will be how X5ii compares in sound to the original X5 and recently released X3ii.
While comparing X5ii to X5, I found original X5 sound to be warmer, flatter (less dynamic), loudness to be on the same level but not driving headphones with the same level of authority, with difference more noticeable at low end where I’m hearing some additional sub-bass rumble/texture in X5ii. I’m not discounting and actually quite certain that different people will hear these changes on a different level. Furthermore, since most of the sound changes could be attributed to a newly redesigned amp section, I wanted to find out how these compare from LO using a few of my favorite portable amps. To my big surprise, I found pair up with Cayin C5 (connected to LO of X5 and then X5ii) to yield nearly an identical sound. With FiiO’s E12A amp, sound was very close but X5ii still had a little more sub-bass texture with an overall perception of a fuller body. This observation brings up a very important point where if you are happy with a current gen X5 interface and control ergonomics and you prefer to use an external amp – perhaps there is not much advantage for you to upgrade to X5ii.
What about those who recently upgraded from X5 to X3ii, is it worth taking a step further with X5ii upgrade? With a volume level matched for a more accurate comparison between X5ii and X3ii, I found X3ii to be a little warmer and with a little less treble extension, all of which results in X5ii having an edge in detail retrieval across entire frequency range. Pairing it up from LO with C5 and E12A yielded the same test results where sound was nearly identical with C5 and had a little more sub-bass rumble and top end sparkle with E12A. I tested it numerous times, going back’n’forth between X5, X5ii, and X3ii, and my results were consistent despite different DAC being used in X5/X5ii and X3ii. This reinforces my previous point where if you are a fan of aforementioned portable external amps, perhaps sticking with an original X5 or X3ii would make sense if you only care about a sound and happy with a footprint and storage capacity of your current DAP.
Since both X3ii and X5ii support native DSD decoding versus X5 processing it through PCM conversion, I was also pleased to hear a noticeable difference when playing hi-res files on X5 and X5ii/X3ii. Without a doubt during DSD (2.82MHz test files) playback in comparison to X5, X5ii sound was noticeably wider and deeper, more dynamic, more layered, and with a higher level of detail retrieval. When comparing X5ii to X3ii, I found DSD playback to have a very similar level of width and depth, with a sound being equally layered and dynamic, though X5ii stayed consistent with its brighter and more detailed signature while X3ii was warmer and less detailed.
For those who are considering X5ii along with other non-FiiO DAPs, here is a brief comparison notes with some of my other favorite DAPs, such as N6, AK120ii, AP100, and LP5.
X5ii vs N6: N6 has a little wider soundstage, tighter bass, slightly brighter sound signature (based on fw2.0) with a little better retrieval of details. N6 sub-bass extend a little deeper and sound is a little more layered/dynamic. There used to be a bigger gap between X5 and N6, but now X5ii is a lot closer to N6 in comparison. Also keep in mind, N6 is bigger in size and almost 60g heavier in weight, thus X5ii is more portable and pocketable. With a sound quality getting closer, size getting smaller, and price still at almost a half, X5ii is a better value. But if you want to squeeze every drop of sound performance without adding an external amp and only care about sound quality – in my opinion N6 still has a slight edge (which recently got even more ahead with N6 fw3.0 update).
X5ii vs AK120ii: AK sound is warmer and with a fuller body, a little wider in soundstage (similar to N6), with a little more sub-bass rumble, a very similar retrieval of details, and with a bit less treble extension. When it comes to a sound quality, I would probably choose X5ii due to my own personal taste, but in terms of a sexy compact design with touch screen and hardware controls and volume knob and balanced output – I still haven’t found any contender to dethrone AK120ii. Also, keep in mind that X5ii cost quarter of AK120ii. Furthermore, X7 is just around the corner with touch screen and modular amp design; though I believe it will have a bigger footprint.
X5ii vs LP5: Luxury & Precision has a wider soundstage, tighter more detailed bass, overall more layered sound with a much better retrieval of details, better dynamics, etc. In terms of sound quality, LP5 is very hard to beat thanks to its AKM DAC and cherry-picked component (I have Gold model), and yes LP5 stands out in looks with a rather boutique style. But in terms of the usability, display, GUI, controls, and features, it falls far behind X5ii which cost 1/3 of the price.
X5ii vs AP100 (with 24b/192k enabled oversampling): Now we are getting to a more interesting competition since I mentioned in the past that AP100 sound quality was better than X5 (by a noticeable margin). In this new comparison, sound is very similar in quality to X5ii, but AP100 has just a little wider soundstage. I believe X5ii really closed a gap on this one, though AP100 is still smaller and more compact.

Conclusion.
I’m going to make this short and simple. If you are still using your smartphone as a main source to listen to music because you mostly stream your media - wait for X7. I know that expectations are high, but I will give FiiO the benefit of the doubt regarding this upcoming Android-based touchscreen DAP which I think going to set a new bar. If you want to leave the world of push notifications and social media updates behind, and ready to make your first audiophile step into the exciting world of hi-res audio without breaking the bank - X5ii should definitely be at the top of your list. At the current moment it will not be easy to find another DAP in this price range with similar solid hardware build and slick design, unique hardware controls, mature firmware, high quality audio, and a ton of configuration options. The decision gets a little harder if you already own the original X5. If sound quality is at the top of your priority list and you are using your first gen X5 with an external portable amp, I'm not sure if you will benefit switching to X5ii while continuing using external amp. But if you are like me who wants improved sound quality and values portability of a slick pocketable design without the hassle of bulky add-ons - X5ii is one great option. As an alternative, if you don't mind a slightly warmer sound, especially if you have brighter headphones, and ok with 128GB micro-sd card storage - X3ii offers the best value in FiiO DAP line up. It will give you the most flexibility of a small footprint with a powerful sound, support of all hi-res audio formats including native DSD decoding, using it everywhere even during exercising while carrying it in armband, and also ability to pair up with an external portable amp to step up in sound quality. As a matter of fact, I think X3ii release made X1 a bit obsolete to the point where I would suggest to FiiO in the next X1ii update to get rid off scrolling wheel and make it more compact on a scale of Clip+. Overall, DAP market is on the rise with a lot of choices in sub $600 category, but you can rest assured that FiiO offers some of the best price/performance ratio products in corresponding price categories.

does the folder browser function list ALL the files in the folder or just the ones the device knows how to play?

Son of Kalas said:
does the folder browser function list ALL the files in the folder or just the ones the device knows how to play?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
only shows the supported audio format files.

can i use a heapdone with a balanced cable or i need an adapter?

obi1301 said:
can i use a heapdone with a balanced cable or i need an adapter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean like 2.5mm TRRS (A&K) balanced cable? X5ii only accepts 3.5mm single ended TRS, so you will need an adapter. The same if you are talking about HiFiMAN 3.5mm balanced, will need 3.5mm adapter like they use in RE600.

vectron said:
support of all hi-res audio formats
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well no. It does support more than some other players but it does not support all bitrates of APE (Monkeys Audio), it does not support Wavepak (IIRC) and it does not support MPC. Unfortunately I have a lot of rips from the old days that my X5ii won't play.
I realize FLAC now has the lion's share of the market and I appreciate FiiO supports APE at all when many others don't. I don't know how their firmware is designed but they should have had a pluggable codec setup and they should really support all the mainstream and not so mainstream but still popular formats and they would be unbeatable. It can't be that hard, PowerAmp Android seems to decode a lot more than FiiO.
Other than that I do agree it is quite good and am happy with it.
vectron said:
including native DSD decoding
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not all bitrates and not compressed DSDs. I have had like 25% luck getting a DSD to play on my X5ii.

Nitpicking This is an old DAP
Here is what is support Lossless:
DSD: DSD64, DSD128 (.iso&.dsf & .dff);
APE (Fast): 192 kHz/24 bit;
APE (Normal): 96 kHz/24 bit;
APE (High): 96 kHz/24 bit;
AIFF: 192 kHz/24 bit;
FLAC: 192 kHz/24 bit;
WAV: 192 kHz/64 bit;
WMA9.1 Lossless: 96 kHz/24 bit;
Apple Lossless: 192 kHz/24 bit;
and Lossy:
MP2、MP3、AAC、WMA、OGG.
as far as the current "industry" standard, many listen to FLAC as high res since it's the best compromise between the sound quality, compression, and the file size. DSD is a true jewel, but files are huge, and not too many popular recordings you can find in DSD (mostly classic music, etc). So, to be fair, it supports all the POPULAR lossless and lossy formats.
For a full format coverage, you need to step up to full Android based X5 3rd gen or X7 2nd gen. This will allow you to run audio apps that decode and support all the formats. Not sure, maybe Neutron will support everything under the sun?
midnightrider said:
Well no. It does support more than some other players but it does not support all bitrates of APE (Monkeys Audio), it does not support Wavepak (IIRC) and it does not support MPC. Unfortunately I have a lot of rips from the old days that my X5ii won't play.
I realize FLAC now has the lion's share of the market and I appreciate FiiO supports APE at all when many others don't. I don't know how their firmware is designed but they should have had a pluggable codec setup and they should really support all the mainstream and not so mainstream but still popular formats and they would be unbeatable. It can't be that hard, PowerAmp Android seems to decode a lot more than FiiO.
Other than that I do agree it is quite good and am happy with it.
Not all bitrates and not compressed DSDs. I have had like 25% luck getting a DSD to play on my X5ii.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

vectron said:
Nitpicking This is an old DAP
as far as the current "industry" standard, many listen to FLAC as high res since it's the best compromise between the sound quality, compression, and the file size. DSD is a true jewel, but files are huge, and not too many popular recordings you can find in DSD (mostly classic music, etc). So, to be fair, it supports all the POPULAR lossless and lossy formats.
For a full format coverage, you need to step up to full Android based X5 3rd gen or X7 2nd gen. This will allow you to run audio apps that decode and support all the formats. Not sure, maybe Neutron will support everything under the sun?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah like I said I am very happy with mine and I think it's a good value. The problem is for people who have a lot of old rips in APE or MPC or WV etc. Which I do...
It kinda sucks to have to play them on a phone since they're not supported on the x5ii. And I really don't want to buy an Android-based portable music player. I can just use my phone and PowerAmp.
Edit: another point I should make is what's old in America is new or unavailable in ROW. So.. everything is relative.

DAC
midnightrider said:
Yeah like I said I am very happy with mine and I think it's a good value. The problem is for people who have a lot of old rips in APE or MPC or WV etc. Which I do...
It kinda sucks to have to play them on a phone since they're not supported on the x5ii. And I really don't want to buy an Android-based portable music player. I can just use my phone and PowerAmp.
Edit: another point I should make is what's old in America is new or unavailable in ROW. So.. everything is relative.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi.
You can use FiiO X5II as a DAC with your phone as I do (but I can not find any good short cable USB-C --> microUSB to bundle them together as compact multidevice). Because I am missing OTG and CopyPaste support or any possibility to move files, you can only delete them. Another thing is why it is not support .txt and .jpge/.png as viewer (I know it is not necessary).
Regards

Review of Lotoo PAW 5000 HiFi DAP w/Bluetooth with lots of pics!!!

This is a Review of Lotoo PAW 5000 HiFi DAP w/Bluetooth. http://www.lotoo.cn/page/Default.asp?pageID=108, also available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011XIKX5E/
This year has been quite eventful with a lot of manufacturers releasing scaled down budget versions of their flagship DAPs, such as X3ii, AK Jr, N5, and now PAW 5000 (PAW5k). With Lotoo’s PAW Gold being highly regarded in audiophile community as one of the top summit-fi contenders, their announcement of PAW5k got a lot of attention, especially considering their $350 price tag vs PAW Gold still being offered close to $2k. PAW Gold has been on my radar for a long time, and even though I didn’t have an opportunity to review it, I was still very excited to spend time with PAW5k and to see how it compares in features and performance to my ever expanding review collection of other popular DAPs.
Of course you have to be realistic that at nearly 1/6 of Gold’s price there will be some noticeable compromises in a design and a sound, but even before receiving it I already had high expectations for PAW5k. It looked good on a paper with a rather interesting list of features, including USB3.0 support, Bluetooth 4.x wireless support, and A&K style 2.5mm balanced output, all of which would add up to an impressive price/performance ratio. So, were my expectations met? Let’s find out.
Prior to describing my unboxing experience, I want to bring up the actual shipping box and how well it was packaged inside with carefully placed pieces of styrofoam around PAW5k box. I received my package directly from Lotoo, so not sure if other retailers will offer the same level of packaging care, but I was still impressed with a level of attention. The product box itself was sturdy, and focused more on a detailed description of features on the cover and a complete spec on the back. Though it was a bit of a step back from a typical premium “all black” packaging, here you can get a pretty good idea about the DAP even before you take it out of the box.
After taking a shrink wrap off, the box cover (with another accessories box inside) just separated from the bottom where PAW5k was sitting inside of a foam cutout. Probably not a big deal for some, but that part of “just separated” caused me to drop the DAP since I was only holding the top part of the box. Perhaps a packaging sleeve would have been a good idea if you want to store this DAP back in the box and to make sure it's intact.
Unboxing.
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When it comes to DAP accessories, I’m sure many manufacturers are scratching their heads trying to come up with something original. After all, besides a charging cable and maybe a case, what else would you include? Well, PAW5k got one trick up its sleeve. First, you will find a quality USB3.0 charging cable, the one with an extended micro-usb connector though PAW5k is backward compatible to charge/connect using a regular smartphone micro-usb cable. You will also get a quick manual and a warranty card. Surprisingly, I didn’t find a screen protector which would have been a good addition considering what appears to be a real glass screen.
The element of surprise came when I found a plastic removable backplate and neoprene armband. It did catch me a bit off guard, but quickly made a perfect sense. This is a very lightweight and compact DAP, measuring 98mm x 55mm x17.5mm and weighting only 110g, and it would make a perfect companion to use during exercising, especially considering wireless support of Bluetooth connection. Similar to HFM HM700 and the included armband, PAW5k setup is actually more practical in comparison by exposing all the controls when the DAP is attached to the armband. There is also no need to worry about wires (with Bluetooth connection), and of course – in theory you don’t even need DAP controls since you can play/pause, skip, and change volume straight from your wireless headphones, depending on the model you have.
Accessories.
As I already mentioned, PAW5k is very small and lightweight, about the size of a deck of cards. For the reference, it’s nearly identical to FiiO’s X1 and X3ii in size. The build quality is good, but it’s not on the same level as some other DAPs that feature solid aluminum housing. The front and the back have aluminum metal panels, while around the side perimeter you have a hard plastic frame. The back of the DAP feels solid, no flex, but the front has a little bit of flex in the area between the scrolling wheel and the buttons. On the front at the top you have 2” OLED color screen with 220x176 resolution. The resolution is not exactly high enough for an album art, thus you won’t find any being displayed, but it’s perfect for a text and a basic screen graphics with an excellent contrast and a great visibility under any lighting.
In the lower left corner you will find the main scrolling wheel control with a play/pause/enter button in the middle. The wheel has a nice textured surface around the edge, a bit loose when it comes to rotation yet with enough resistance and a subtle click to give you a good sense of control when you are scrolling through a list of your songs or stepping through a settings menu. Other control buttons are spread around with Skip next/prev and Fast fwd/back buttons right above it, and Music/Fn button in the corner which brings up different sorting lists of music folders and also could be long pressed to execute shortcut assigned to Fn button. Underneath of that you have a Back/Esc button which also brings up Setup menu when you long press it, and right below it is ATE/PMEQ buttons to bring up digital sound effects and access to Parametric EQ. The lower right corner has a glowing “gold” power button which also turns screen on/off. This power button has a fading in/out backlight ring which creates a nice visual effect, but could also be disabled in setup to extend battery life.
Right side of the DAP has USB3.0 connector for charging and data transfer. On the left size you have Gain H/L slider, Volume up/down buttons which also double as skip fwd/back with a long press when screen is off, and Damp H/L slider. In my testing I found Damp button to function like another level of gain control. The bottom of the DAP has micro-SD card slot, while at the top you have all the ports. First one is 2.5mm balanced headphone output, wired identical to A&K 2.5mm port. Next to it you will find 3.5mm headphone output, then another 3.5mm port with LO and SPDIF digital coaxial and also a built in 3.5mm optical port (though I only read about it somewhere on-line and can’t confirm it for sure). The right upper corner is labeled as “Bluetooth” indicating the location of BT antenna.
Due to a dense population of all these similarly shaped buttons, it took me a bit of getting used to the layout, but shortly afterwards operation became second nature. I do want to mention that buttons feel plasticy and a bit on a cheap side. Nothing is flimsy or has a terrible rattle, definitely not that. But in comparison to a number of my recently reviewed DAPs, PAW5k build and construction felt on a cheaper side. What else do you expect when you have to scale down from their Gold flagship? One thing for sure, nobody going to mistake PAW5k for iPod or another smartphone - it has a very unique look and super comfortable ergonomics to use in one hand.
Design details.
The heart of PAW5k is ADI Blackfin 514 DSP which handles all the audio formats and processes digital audio to condition it for DAC output. When it comes to the actual DAC selection, Lotoo went with a rather basic low-power stereo audio CODEC (encoder/decoder) TLV320AIC3105 from TI. It's basically an OK stereo audio DAC that can handle up to 32bit data and a sample rate of up to 96kHz, meaning higher rates are supported but most likely processed and down sampled by DSP before sending it to that TI DAC. Also, it has just an OK signal-to-noise ratio of 102dB. Not sure about amplification output (which could be a part of TI DAC), but I found it to be just enough for IEMs and efficient headphones. And with a more efficient DAC/amp you can expect an improved battery performance, where I have seen an endurance exceeding 10hrs under a mixed high/low gain use with a moderate volume setting.
One important thing to keep in mind, PAW Gold uses exactly the same Blackfin 514 DSP which means that firmware didn’t have to be re-written and you’re already dealing with a mature code. As a matter of fact, based on the screenshots and some of the PAW Gold reviews I have read, the GUI and control interface are very similar. To be honest, I absolutely LOVE the interface and the amount of tweaking you get with PAW5k settings. You will get a slightly pixilated font and a very basic GUI, but this retro look is very efficient in my opinion. At the same time, I can see some people finding it less appealing if you are used to high res displays of other DAPs.
From the moment you power it up (very fast start up) you are greeted by a rather efficient all-in-one display layout with everything on a single screen. Starting with a status bar, you get a repeat mode in the left corner, Gain/Damp setting in the middle, and battery icon with % indicator to the right. You can also see which DSP effect or PMEQ preset is being applied and a horizontal bar graph with L/R channel level, assuming it's calibrated by Red Book standards from -50dB to 0dB. I tend to believe the value is relatively accurate because as you raise the volume or change Gain setting, it's reflected in the dynamic meter indicator. You also get song’s time duration and current play position, and file info with a file number within a folder and format with an exact sampling rate. Below that you can see a scrolling file name. While playing you can fast forward or skip the song with corresponding Next/Prev buttons, and when Paused you get a song’s time line which you can skip through with a turn of a scrolling wheel (every turn steps in increments of 0.04sec). Also, pressing and holding Play button for a few seconds changes the screen to dynamic Spectrum Analyzer view, and one more time changes to a blank screen with a CD graphics (not really sure about the purpose of that since it's blank).
When you press Music button once (long press activates a pre-selected Fn shortcut, more about it later) you are presented with a List where you have a file view by Folder (all the files and sub-folders), by Cover (looks like a folder view only), List1/2/3 which is a selection of 3 favorite lists where you can tag and add files to, ALL where every file from every sub-directory is in a single alphabetical list, and the last choice is to Update Database after adding new files. I think "Cover" selection is a bit confusing and redundant, but otherwise you can get around with fast and easy song navigation. Personally, I don’t have flash cards with thousands of cataloged songs, but for my general listening purpose I found it to be sufficient.
The Back/Setup button brings up Setup menu when long pressed where you presented with Play settings, System settings, Bluetooth settings, Sport mode settings, and Fn key definition. Play settings gives you Repeat Mode (sequence, single repeat, repeat all, and random), Time Display (current time and remaining time), DSD gain (from -12dB to +12dB in 6dB steps), Line Out Level switch to enable/disable it, and Channel L/R balance. System settings gives you Power off timer (enabling it and setting the actual time), Auto power off time selection, Language selection, Display extinction (timeout), Breathing Led (the pulsating light around power button, on/off), Brightness level (3 levels), Battery info (percent indicator, the same as in a status bar), Database update (file refresh), uSD card info (capacity and free/used space), uSD card speed test (pass/fail test based on read speed), Format (uSD card), Factory settings reset, System info, and Firmware update.
Bluetooth setting enables BT radio and lists Bluetooth devices available for pair up. I found BT performance to be pretty good with all of my wireless headphones, though similarly to AK120ii a wireless distance was a bit on a shorter side of 10-15ft. Other than that, I found wireless sound quality to be better than A&K. There is no apt-X codec support which I'm used to with my Galaxy Note 4, and being intimately familiar with a sound I'm expecting from my Wireless headphones, I do hear PAW5k wireless sound quality to be slightly inferior. In reality, BT wireless mode in here is more for a convenience in conjunction with sports armband when you want to use this DAP during your active lifestyle endeavors. And speaking of that, you have Sport Mode setting where upon enabling you get an option in your main Play screen to speed up/down the tempo of your music by +/- 20%. This was definitely something I have never seen before with any other DAP, a very clever way to get you going with a faster rhythm/beat. The last selection in Setup was Fn shortcut assignment where you have a choice of 8 functions to assign to Fn key when you long press it. I ended up assigning Mute to this function key, making it very convenient to mute a sound with a single key press.
Overall, my inner geek was delighted with a very comprehensive level of controls and system setup/customization options. Sure, graphics is pixilated and it's not the prettiest GUI I have seen, but it's very functional and easy to get used to. There is just one thing I wasn't too happy about. When used with wireless headphones you have a full playback control from your headphones (volume, track skip, and play/pause), but in a wired mode with screen off you can only change Volume by short pressing corresponding buttons and skip the track next/prev with a long press of the same buttons. Otherwise, there is NO play/pause option when screen is off and you have to turn the screen on (w/power button) and then press Play button in the middle of a scrolling wheel. I really hope in the next firmware update this issue will be addressed.
GUI interface.
Before I get into sound analysis, there is one more feature I would like to talk about - Parametric EQ. I have A LOT of DAPs, some don't even have EQ while others have Graphic EQ where you have certain amount of bands each at a fixed center frequency and fixed bandwidth. With graphic EQ you get a nice "graphic" visual of which band you are adjusting and the amount of adjustment, but you have no control of selecting a specific frequency or the bandwidth of that frequency. Parametric EQ gives you all these controls where you can customize F0 (center frequency), Gain (level adjustment), Type (Low Shelf, High Shelf, or Band Pass filter), and Q (bandwidth of the filter band). Lotoo recognized importance of PMEQ and digital effects, thus you have a dedicated button assigned to this menu selection. You get 8 quality presets covering different styles and 6 Custom User presets where you can fine tune your own setting. Each custom setting gives you a level of control per my description above, and in addition to that you can export and import PMEQ presets to share with others.
Also, under the same menu selection, in addition to PMEQ you have ATE digital effects giving you a selection of 7 distinct choices to customize your sound. One thing to note, you can only select one specific ATE effect or one PMEQ preset, but not both at the same time. Depending on your ATE or PMEQ selection, the main playback screen will display the choice right below status bar.
ATE/PMEQ.
Sound analysis.
Considering PAW Gold reputation, it's natural to approach PAW5k with high expectations of scaled down “mini-me” performance, though you have to be realistic considering price difference. I never heard PAW Gold but have read a number of reviews from trusted sources to get an idea of what Lotoo flagship sounds like. I also read PAW5k impressions where some people auditioned it in their local audio store (in Asia of course, we don't have this luxury in US/Canada), comparing Gold and 5000 side by side. For sure that created a noticeable contrast and influenced a negative biased opinion. You really have to step back and to evaluate it on a level of other similar mid-fi DAPs.
Despite its summit-fi heritage, PAW5k is mid-fi quality DAP with a neutral-warmish sound signature, an average soundstage expansion, good (not great) retrieval of details, and an average level of layering and sound separation. I actually found PAW5k very enjoyable with its clear and smooth musical sound quality, extended and slightly relaxed low end, detailed full body warm mids, and a smooth treble with a good extension and tamed airiness. While comparing 3.5mm vs 2.5mm headphone outputs, I found sound to be nearly the same. Maybe a little more power in balanced versus single ended, but not too much difference in soundstage expansion or background noise (low level of hissing only noticeable with sensitive low impedance IEMs/CIEMs).
While testing PAW5k with my headphones, I set DAMP permanently to High which yields the best sound performance. Gain setting (H/L) varied between full size and IEMs depending on power requirements, but there was no question about DAMP setting. Here are the notes I took while looking into PAW5k pair up:
MSR7 - in low gain closer to max volume - nice smooth relaxed sound, not as detailed as with some of my other sources, but for those who find MSR7 on a bright side this pair up would mean a definitive cure.
R70x (470 ohm) - in high gain closer to max volume - nice smooth organic sound, also not as detailed and lacking some airiness like I have experienced with these open backs paired up with some other daps. But sound was still very smooth and natural. Considering high gain and max volume, I was really pushing this DAP to the max and felt like it wasn’t driving these open cans to their full potential.
EL-8C - in high gain with a mid volume setting – a sound was slightly bright and a bit metallic, and I found bass to be not as tight. Surprisingly, this wasn’t the best pair up.
PM-3 - in high gain closer to max volume – this was a rather good pair up with a surprisingly nice low end impact and bright detailed mids. Color my surprised!!! I totally didn’t expect it to sound better than pair up with EL-8C, but apparently it had a good synergy with PAW5k.
VE ZEN (320 ohm) - in high gain closer to max volume – another great pair up, detailed sound, nice low end extension, clear mids, and smooth treble.
UE600 - in low gain toward the middle of volume scale – I found no hissing, clear smooth sound, though the performance was not very dynamic or detailed.
Ei.xx - in low gain toward the max volume – has a nice clear sound with a good bass slam, not too dynamic or layered, and with an average soundstage.
DN2kJ (8 ohm) - in low gain toward the max volume - bright slightly peaky sound, not as dynamic or layered, but clear and with tight low end, just upper mids are a bit harsh.
I was a bit worried that I won’t be able to drive a lot of these headphones, but turned out that in high gain closer to max volume PAW5k was able to pump some serious juice. Unfortunately, it left no headroom to drive anything more powerful. Bottom line, PAW5k is intended for more efficient headphones with impedance under 300 ohms. But if you need more power, use LO to stack PAW5k with your favorite portable amp.
Comparison to AP100, X5ii, X3ii, N5:
I saved the best comparison for last. I know I’m being a little critical about PAW5k because I had a slightly higher expectation for it, but in reality this is actually a very good DAP under $350 which compares nicely to some of my other DAPs in this price category.
PAW5k vs N5: N5 has more power, sound is more dynamic, and you can hear a better layering and separation, including more transparency. Soundstage of N5 was also slightly wider. Despite similarities of USB3.0 support, 2.5mm balanced output, and a similar scrolling wheel (though PAW5k feels looser) – I find N5 to have a definitive edge when it comes to sound quality, more solid build, and support of 2 flash cards while PAW5k has more flexibility in features such as Bluetooth, PMEQ, sports mode, and DSP effects. Sound difference is not exactly night’n’day, but N5 has an upper hand in here.
PAW5k vs X5ii: X5ii has more power, slightly better dynamics, a little better layering and separation, and a similar staging. Here, the gap in sound starts to close in but X5ii still has a slight edge in sound quality and support of 2 flash cards, while PAW5k is more compact and has other unique features such as BT, USB3.0, dsp effects, and PMEQ.
PAW5k vs X3ii: similar in sound quality and performance, though X3ii has more power. I would actually position PAW5k between X3ii and X5ii, where pair up with some headphones made it sound closer to X3ii while with others made it closer to X5ii. But overall I hear it as a closer match up. Of course, you have to realize there is $150 price difference toward the X3ii advantage, but the amount of extra features in PAW5k justifies it more than enough.
PAW5k vs AP100: AP has a brighter, airy, and more transparent sound, slightly better dynamics and improved layering and separation. While AP100 has an advantage in sound quality, PAW5k steps all over it in user experience, flexibility of settings, and other bonuses such as PMEQ, Bluetooth, sports mode, and DSP effects.
Conclusion.
I started my review by mentioning a recent popular trend where manufacturers releasing scaled down versions of their flagships. In case of PAW5k and considering I’m only familiar with PAW Gold from reading other reviews, I think Lotoo took a little different approach by taking a step back and then another sideways. While keeping the same DSP core, interface, and even similar button layout (with an exception of a scrolling wheel in PAW5k over 4-way gold-plated disc in Gold version), they really scaled down in sound quality by utilizing TI stereo audio DAC. It’s not necessary that bad since it actually compares fairly to some other mid-fi DAPs with more popular DACs and separate amp sections. Where it actually makes up for this scaled down sound performance is in features that elevate it to a whole new level. With a fast USB3.0 bus, BT 4.0 wireless support, sports armband with a mounting backplate, sports mode to speed up and to slow down music tempo by +/-20%, support of meaningful DSP effects, excellent Parametric EQ, and a great battery life of about 10hrs (at max output) – PAW5k will not replace your audiophile quality portable rig, but it will make one fine companion for any audiophile or audio enthusiast with an active lifestyle!