Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 13, 2016 6:42:42 GMT
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Post by timjthomas on Oct 13, 2016 9:08:59 GMT
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 13, 2016 9:43:09 GMT
Thanks for that Tim. Didn't see it. The old arrangement is clumsy with the same jack doing both jobs, but it does indeed look like there's a separate output for line out which is great news.
The old one sounds good so this might be a rather nice player as well with the wrinkles kind of ironed out...
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Oct 13, 2016 19:04:04 GMT
Thanks for that Tim. Didn't see it. The old arrangement is clumsy with the same jack doing both jobs, but it does indeed look like there's a separate output for line out which is great news. The old one sounds good so this might be a rather nice player as well with the wrinkles kind of ironed out... eh!!!! there is nothing wrong with wrinkles. did not know they had brought out a 2nd version, looks interesting.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 13, 2016 19:20:37 GMT
I'll have one here soon to try. It's good news that the silly wheel has gone electrical. Hopefully, it'll work as well as the old IPod Classic one. Not sure about the line out. Whether it's a shared one again or separate.
It looks slightly improved on the old one. My wife uses my old X1 for work. So I have an excuse .....
I like the Fiio players a lot. They all sound really good.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 14, 2016 9:14:20 GMT
On checking, the line out is done the same way as the old X1. It shares the same jack socket as the headphone out and is set in the menus to avoid the electronics. At least it's a 'true' line out and isn't going through the volume control and it bypasses the amp. I'm not keen on the sharing really though TBH. Prefer a separate out because it's too easy to send line out into your headphone, although to be fair, you do get an onscreen warning.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 14, 2016 10:41:26 GMT
I have one here now. It comes with instructions (of course), some curious stick on backs, and two screen protectors (red markings at the bottom, not my carpet!!) and a plastic protective back. The player itself looks and feels really nice. It's lighter than the old X1 but actually feels very substantial and has rounded corners and edges. Looks really nice actually. Just getting it on charge now. Sound is fine and robust enough to drive my K702. I don't like the sharing of the headphone out and line out though. Every time you want to change it, you have to go into the menu system and when it's on lineout, nothing happens until you press OK after it warns you. It's the most cumbersome thing about it. I'd rather have seen the option on the front menu on its own. Screen is nice. They offer a black screen at last, so it's readable!!
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 14, 2016 16:22:56 GMT
I've put the latest firmware on which fixes numerous bugs, but the card scan is very slow if you have a 128gb card. So that's not brilliant. Best to get it scanning and go off. When it's finished, the machine will then switch off at the end.
The scanning allows random files of say, any genre or artist etc.
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Oct 14, 2016 17:36:06 GMT
looks a nice good value player as the mk1 was. i think if i was to buy another dap i would upgrade to the x3/5.(though i find my x1 does all i want at the moment) as we are coming in to winter now i probably wont use mine for a while anyway.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 14, 2016 18:04:22 GMT
I like the Bluetooth option with my Sony headphone. Good range and sounds fine. I think the sound is more full than the original x1. Only slightly.
I do wonder whether it's best to have the dap on 100% and control volume with the headphone, or whether it's better to have the dap lower in volume? I don't get distortion with it on full........
It's supposed to be a slightly improved version of the v1 and is certainly sleeker looking although I feel it's a bit more plastic looking. Good value player though.
I like them all. M3 is great for walking around say, shopping. (Yuk) X3 is good for portable with amp into digital in the garden. X5 is great as a home player with DSD as well. X1 is now, really nice with the Bluetooth option. I like that. Can use it while wandering around the house.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Oct 16, 2016 10:16:58 GMT
After a good long listen, there's good and bad.
The Good
Sound is great. Sufficient power to drive a lot of headphones well. Supports a wide selection of file types. High memory capacity. Looks good. Also feels substantial. Slightly smaller than the old X1. New wheel is much better. Bluetooth works well in spite of no aptx. It responds to in line remote controls. (I always felt that was an underestimated feature by many. Very useful when out and you don't want to be searching for the player hidden under your coat. I often feed the iem wire down my shirt into my pocket - no loose wires then) So a remote access is very useful for me. Cheap.
The Bad
Plasticky front might scratch easily. Bluetooth makes a noise if switch on with wired headphone connected. Sd card curiously the other way around compared to all other Fiios. Put it in wrong and it jams!! Sharing of the headphone and line out jack is a pain. Needs a quicker way of switching between them. Card reading is PAINFULLY slow. This needs to be looked at properly by Fiio. Checking the firmware is PAINFULLY slow. It's like the unit has locked up for a while. No reset button.
The Ugly
The interface remains basically the same although a black and white option is now there so a bit easier to read. The firmware is bloody SLOW. Needs looking at or this player might well not last too long. Card reading is ridiculous. We're back to Sansa Clip times here or worse.
It's a mixed bag but basically a good player, I think. The sweet spot has always been the x3 for me. They are releasing a third version of the x3 with the new wheel, which is much more IPod like and feels way better than the physical wheels.
Problem is that the X3 is twice the price of the X1 and I'm not sure that it shows so much in terms of sound TBH. The x5 makes more sense if you want to play DSD but the x3 doesn't.
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Post by timjthomas on Apr 16, 2017 12:11:16 GMT
Hi Ian,
An updates on the X1 Gen 2? I got the X5 Gen 3 in for a loaner, but hate the interface. I am considering the X1 Gen 2 or perhaps the Cowon Plenue D.
Any thoughts?
-Tim
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 16, 2017 13:47:40 GMT
As long as you just use it as a basic player, it's fine, Tim. Sound and power are both very good. Sound is warmer than X5 with slightly more bass.
Interface is shite. Virtually the same as X5 in structure with a wheel. It's prone to fingerprints since it's like the Superlux headphone plastic finish. I have a posh case for mine to cover it up.
Best way to use it is via the 'browse folder' option and forget about card scanning. It's painfully slow. Useless really, if you file everything efficiently, the 'browse folder' option is the best by far.
The 3.5 socket doubles as a line out. Can be a nuisance if you plug a headphone in. It tells you that line out is enabled and you have to switch it out. No double sockets.
Battery life is ok. Not brilliant but useable. Bluetooth is average. Again, not great. If you leave Bluetooth switched on, boot up is again, painfully slow.
Sad thing is that it sounds really good, but is only good if used as a very basic player.
My favourite is the x3 v1. No stupid wheel. Good sound and plenty of power. X5 is really good as a home player. Bit hefty to carry around.
X1 is cheap though so you get a good sound for your money.
I've never tried a Cowon player.
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Post by timjthomas on Apr 16, 2017 15:53:34 GMT
Thanks Ian. The Cowan interests me with the 50+ hours battery life and no wheel These things are getting ridiculously priced.
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