Review FiiO X3 – Digital Audio Player (Part 2)

I initially test out the X3 on typical mobile usage with my habitual Etymotic ER4 headphones using custom moulds. The results are extremely positive – it is immediately apparent that the FiiO has plenty of power to drive whatever headphones you throw at it making it a much more straightforward proposition than the fussy AK100. Deafening yourself is a possibility here, something the AK100 would struggle to achieve.

The sound characteristic is also significantly different. Where the AK100 specialises in a slightly staid but extremely detailed presentation, the X3 is very good at raw excitement at the expense of a little bit of detail.

This makes it best suited to compressed modern pop. Using Chloroformby Phoenix from Qobuz as an example, it is hard not to feel swamped by the massive synth sounds, but the X3 gives a satisfying sense of the midrange being able to cut through the ponderous bass pads. The high frequencies do feel a little constrained, though.

The FiiO has plenty of power to drive whatever headphones

A move to the similarly sourced Hey Nowby London Grammar reassures to a degree – the vocal has a fantastic richness in this version and the imaging is impressive. There is still some concern that the metals and other high-end effects slightly lack fidelity. This is where the delicacy of the AK100 can be preferable – despite the common converter the voicings are quite different. Accordingly this is perhaps not one for the classical aficionados. The new 24/96 Bach St Matthew’s Passionfrom Harmonia Mundi does not come across as well on the X3, lacking the choral and instrumental separation necessary for real enjoyment.

Switching to the new USB DAC functionality is achieved by flipping USB Mode from ‘Storage’ to ‘DAC’ in the X3 System Settings menu – so long as you have the latest firmware version installed. It is immediately apparent that the OSX Sound preference panel can driverlessly switch to FiiO X3 and the X3 storage is no longer available from the computer. Audio/Midi Setup also defaults to 24/192 output settings.

It best suited to compressed modern pop

Listening to the results of this smooth setup using the Decibel player from a MacBook Pro gives an equally smooth sound, with open and impressive soundstaging. Although the line out is separate from the headphone out unlike the AK100, the sound quality with the analogue stage renders the 24/44.1 version of Hot Chip’s Night and Day much more brashly (in an enjoyable way) than the restrained AK100, but with the vocal suffering from a slightly recessed quality in comparison.

Up the resolution a bit and these concerns are allayed. Edie Brickell’s vocal on the 24/88.2 version of her Steve Martin duet When You Get To Ashevilleis as clear as a bell. The voice sits above the banjo picking, all ably supported by a warm bed of strings that have real body, life and soundstage width. The real X3 advantage is felt with the step up to 24/192 conversion, which the AK100 cannot match. Mr. Pastoriusfrom Miles Davis’ Amandlagives a tasteful balance of the faithful trumpet tone. The rough edge to the high frequencies in the cymbals is the only indicator that this is a device doing its ‘second’ job.

Conclusion

There is no stronger recommendation for the FiiO X3 than that ‘I want one’ feeling

There is no stronger recommendation for the FiiO X3 than that ‘I want one’ feeling. If it had been more readily available when I procured my own AK100 it would have been a tough call whether to go for the substantial saving or the more luxe operation and increased capacity. Your own purchasing decision should be based on whether your preferred headphones are hard to drive. If they are, the cheaper player is definitely the way to go, unless you want to customise your AK. The only real differentiator is that new firmware has brought DSD playback to the AK100 – even this may follow for the X3 in the fullness of time.