What modern gadgets evoke emotions? It's hard to answer, isn't it? After all, a smartphone, an MP3 player, a tablet, or a smart watch is a set of soulless microcircuits that should do their job. But after getting to know the FiiO X5-II, I can’t say that this brick is just a soulless piece of metal. The player produces sound of the highest level, which penetrates through the ears into the jungle of your soul and touches the very points from which we receive a surge of positive emotions.
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Sound
The first thing we should talk about is the sound. When I sat down to listen to music on the FiiO X5-II, the choice fell on the British Electric Light Orchestra, which I’ve been listening to a lot lately. I have four albums in the 192/24 format in my collection, and the Audio-Technica MSR7 suitable for this was in place.
So, one of my favorite records is Time, in which Twilight comes after the prologue - you get imbued with the music, motives, incredible detail, breadth and emotionality. After the cosmic Yours Truly, 2095, the famous Ticket to the Moon begins - and on this track, tears just begin to appear in my eyes and goosebumps appear on my skin. Isn't this a sign of ideal sound?
Next came old Michael Jackson with the royal album Thriller, I have it in DSD and ISO SACD image (yes, this is also supported). The feeling is indescribable - a sea of details, the King’s voice sounds gentle, but at the same time does not get lost in a flurry of rhythmic music, the scene is amazing.
And this happens with all music. I listened to many albums, and I got the feeling that I was hearing them for the first time - a sea of new details, overtones, and the sound itself, without exaggeration, brings the player to a level with more serious stationary electronics. I spent hours listening to the same songs using a DAC with an ASUS EONE MKII MUSES headphone amplifier and a FiiO X5-II player. And here I can say with confidence that the sound score is almost equal, the only difference is that the ASUS creation has a colder and drier sound, while the X5-II is still a little warmer and richer in low frequencies. A whole range of reference circuitry is responsible for all this:
Compared to the FiiO X3-II, the sound is more rich in small details, the maximum volume has also increased, which justifies the use of all those chips. There is no comparison with modern smartphones, especially when listening to music on high-end headphones.
The most interesting thing is that the X5-II shows its character and style on the not particularly musical single-driver Lear LHF-AE1b. As you know, a single driver with a suspended armature is more for professional musicians than for listening to music. But the situation turned out to be ambiguous and the dry mid-frequency flavor of the headphones sang well with the capabilities of the player. As a result, the sound became full of wide stage and naturalness.
For the sake of experiment, I listened to the JVC HA-FRD80 - the ears work to the maximum, but they are not created for this portable player. No, the model is decent for the money, but FiiO can do more, much more. FiiO X5-II is worth buying only if you have excellent headphones or in a set with new ones of a decent level.
Appearance
The design of the second generation FiiO X5 is almost identical to the FiiO X3-II.
The difference is that the older brother is slightly larger, has a more elongated display, angular ends, headphone jacks and linear/coaxial output have been swapped, and the microSD slot has moved from the right end to the bottom, but now there are two of them. A status diode has appeared on the power button; previously it was located under the control ring. Well, the front part now has a rough metal structure.
The brothers are almost equal in thickness. The “fifth” looks cool and without frills in a high-fi style; in comparison with the same “troika”, this is no longer a teenager in a suit, but a mature, self-confident, gallant gentleman. If anyone doesn't know, the body is completely aluminum.
Leather cases are also available for sale, which protect the case from premature wear and at the same time make the appearance more premium.
Ergonomics, controls
Both FiiO X1, X3, and X5 lie confidently in the hands and feel weighty due to the already mentioned metal. The fighter under review is the oldest, which means that it is the largest and heaviest - 109 × 63.5 × 15.3 mm, weighing 165 g. But using the device is as comfortable as other models in the line. The elements are located in intuitive places and are quickly remembered; blind control is also implemented conveniently (press the volume keys to switch tracks). The main control element is a mechanical rubberized ring - the Chinese would have trouble sleeping if they had not copied at least one element of the iPod.
The interface is almost identical to FiiO X3-II, only the animation, icons, style and colors have changed. The nuances are described in the Fiio X3 II review. I was surprised by the quality of the display; now we have IPS with a 2.4” diagonal and a resolution of 400×360. This is immensely pleasing, because both generations of FiiO X3 had problems with the screen, in particular with viewing angles and brightness, which made it impossible to see the image on the street. But the main problem remains - the size, although here it has grown by 0.4”, but this is not enough to easily browse the playlist and select the desired tracks on the go. Personally, with normal vision, I had to stop in order to choose a composition.
Autonomy
Inside there is a 3400 mAh battery, the stated playback time through a 3.5 mm jack is 10 hours, through a balanced jack - 8 hours. Assuming continuous music playback, the numbers are justified, however, during testing, leaks were noted in sleep mode. The battery drains especially badly if you do not turn off the power indicator.
An outdated microUSB is used for charging. This is hardly a big problem; most audiophiles are conservatives. Includes high-quality wire with clamp. The player supports Qualcomm Quick Charge, but there is no corresponding adapter included.
Functionality
The beauty of the FiiO X3 and X5 is that they can act as a digital-to-analog converter for your computer. Roughly speaking, when you buy a portable player, you also get an external sound card. The second feature is the presence of a linear output, which is combined with a digital coaxial one. In this way, you can, for example, output normal (yes, normal, not distorted) sound from the player to the car’s audio system using the AUX connector. Or connect speakers via a digital interface and get the highest quality sound.
As mentioned above, we now have two microSD memory card slots at our disposal. The maximum capacity of one cell is 128 GB - a total of 256 GB should be enough for a decent Hi-Res collection, and there is always the possibility of replacing memory cards.
Just like on the FiiO X3-II, you can switch tracks if the headphones have a remote control installed and the connector has a CTIA pinout. OTG is also supported.
Review of the flagship Hi-Fi player FiiO X5 2nd gen
The editors would like to thank the Avero company for kindly providing the player for review.
FiiO very quickly began to develop and promote its line of players. They do it very well: the players have a very good price/quality ratio and invariably become hits. The company learns from its mistakes, so that each new model becomes better than the previous one.
Let us recall the history of FiiO players. The X3 and the top-end first generation were the first to come out, FiiO “targeted” them, experimented with design, components and controls. They cannot be called ideal, but despite their shortcomings, both models sold well. Starting with a budget player, your own design and sound. The second-generation X3 was a completely new device and only shared a common index with the first X3, simply due to positioning. It's time to get acquainted with the senior model of the updated line, the top-end X5 2nd gen.
What is this?
X5 2nd Gen is the company’s flagship player at the moment, which can play any (or almost any) audio formats, DSD up to DSD128 and WAV, FLAC, APE, WMA, ALAC, AIFF up to 192 kHz / 24 bit. An X7 with a touch screen, Android and other things that are not so important for a pleasant listening to music should appear soon, but the price tag for it will be 2-3 times higher. But until this happens, X5 2nd gen is the most advanced in the FiiO line.
Why is he interesting?
The player supports any lossless audio recording formats, native support for DSD up to DSD128 inclusive has been added (SACD ISO images are played directly). X5 2nd gen has acquired analog volume control, which eliminates the loss of dynamic range inherent in digital control. The player has become smaller and lighter than its predecessor, and how much the sound and everything else has changed is something we have to find out
What is in the box?
The packaging of FiiO X5 2nd gen is typical for the entire line of FiiO players (with the exception of the first batches of X3). This is a nice-looking black and red cardboard box with an image of the model, X5 marking and support for DSD and PCM 192/24. Inside is another black box with the FiiO logo:
Inside which is all the most important. The kit is similar to that of the FiiO X3 II. The player itself, a black silicone case, 2 spare screen protectors (one is already pasted), a MicroUSB cable, a 3.5mm coaxial S/PDIF adapter, three sets of vinyl stickers for the case, documentation and a discount coupon for HDtracks.com.
Does it look cute?
In the first X3 and X5, FiiO experimented with design and controls and there were indeed complaints there. Since then, FiiO has done a good job on the controls and found its own signature style, so that starting with the X1, the entire line has acquired a certain recognizable appearance and a similar layout. So it is with the FiiO X5 2nd gen: it is a rather impressive block of beautiful polished aluminum alloy. The front panel has a display, under which there is a navigation wheel, a Play/Pause button in the middle and four control buttons in the corners of it: calling up the menu, returning one level and switching tracks:
Metal back cover with FiiO logo and standard model and manufacturer information:
At the bottom end there is a MicroUSB and two slots for MicroSD memory cards (up to 128 GB each). In the first version, the slots were covered with plugs that could be accidentally torn off. At the same time, both the plugs and the memory cards themselves were quite difficult to pick out. In the second generation X5, the plugs were removed, the slots look like two slots in a monolithic case. Removing cards is easy and convenient.
On the left side there are three round metal buttons: power/lock and volume control. They fit perfectly and are very comfortable. The protrusion on the volume up button will help you avoid missing shots in your pocket. The power button has an LED indicator that lights up blue when working, red when charging, and green when the battery is fully charged:
At the top there is a headphone output and a combo jack that functions as a linear and digital coaxial output. In the first version they were implemented with separate connectors. The required one is selected from the menu:
There are no functional elements on the right:
As can be seen with the naked eye, the player is smaller in size than its predecessor, and round buttons are used instead of elongated ones. They are much more comfortable and a little stiffer, which is definitely a benefit; now there are no accidental presses in your pocket. The screen now has no prominence above the body, it has become brighter, better in quality, and the frames on the sides have been significantly reduced. We saw the volume buttons for the new X5 above. In the old one they are narrow, oblong and protrude slightly above the body, making them less convenient to press:
The players are practically the same in thickness. The weight has become significantly less: 165 g for FiiO X5 2nd gen versus 195 g for the first X5.
Traditional FiiO silicone case in black. All necessary controls are accessible, the LED and headphone and MicroUSB jacks are also exposed. They only hid the linear/coaxial one and covered it with a flip-up flap, but there is no access to the memory cards, which is not necessary:
Like all the latest FiiO models, the player looks great and is well built. The X5 2nd gen surpasses its predecessor in this regard in all respects: it is smaller, more monolithic, lighter, looks nicer and the controls are thought out much better.
Is it convenient to use?
As we mentioned earlier in the review, starting with the X1, FiiO came to a common, recognizable design for its players, so that the physical organs are similar to the X1 and X3 2nd gen. The navigation wheel has become much more convenient than in the first generation X5; the buttons are separated from it, have a round shape and are quite large in size. It’s convenient to press them even blindly, without taking the player out of your pocket. The case is also familiar and implemented similarly to other current models. It completely follows the outline of the player and ease of use is not lost. It is worth adding that the player supports CTIA standard headsets, so if you have one, playback can be controlled using it.
We have already seen the interface several times in the review of FiiO X1 and X3 2nd gen. The X5 2nd gen has no news in this regard: there are 5 items in the main menu. Playback, track library, supports custom playlists, file manager, playback settings and player settings. The player supports OTG and it is possible to play a specific folder from an external drive. There are various interface design themes; there are no Ukrainian or Russian languages.
How does it sound?
The DAC in the player is the same: PCM1792A, but at the same time the gain has been significantly changed. As we already mentioned, volume control has become analog, using PGA2311. Operational amplifier - OPA1612, low-pass filter - OPA1652, buffer - BUF634. For testing we used in-channel hybrid models Dunu DN-2000J, T-Peos H-300, dynamic Ostry KC06 and closed studio monitors Sony MDR-7506.
Back in the X1, FiiO found the right course in terms of sound, the X3 2nd gen sounded great and was very superior to its predecessor, and it would be strange for the top-end X5 2nd gen to have any problems with sound. The player sounds great: very detailed, smooth, without any dips or overshoots in frequencies, and at the same time very musical and driving, which cannot be said about iBasso’s closest competitors. They produce a smooth, but very dry and lifeless sound. FiiO does not suffer from this. Low frequencies are well developed, bass is deep and voluminous, but not to the detriment of detail. With the middle and high frequencies, things are also in the best possible way: all the notes, the nuances of the recordings and all the little things, attenuations, muffled notes, and so on are perfectly audible. The X5 2nd gen has excellent separation of instruments. The player copes with any musical style and plays without problems even very fast pieces with a large number of notes in different parts of the frequency range without turning into mush, which can often be seen in smartphones and cheaper players. To summarize briefly: in terms of sound, 5 points out of 5. Excellent surround, musical, detailed and smooth sound.
When compared with the first generation X5, the first thing that is immediately noticeable is a smoother sound. The first X5 slightly emphasized high frequencies and with some, especially armature models, there is a desire to turn them down a little. The new X5 2nd gen does not have this problem, the sound is great, nothing bothers you and there is not the slightest desire to change the frequencies using an equalizer. Its existence should be forgotten. As for detail, the increase in comparison with the first model is quite small, but there is. The player sounds good with any headphones, and the power reserve is enough for quite serious full-size models. Whether it is worth replacing the old one with a new one is a moot point: you need to compare it with specific headphones on specific audio recordings. In the X5 there is a difference for the better, but not as colossal as in the X3 of different generations.
How long does the battery last?
The Fiio X5 2nd gen has a 3300 mAh lithium polymer battery, the first one had a 3700 mAh battery. According to FiiO, the power supply circuit has been redesigned in the new model: at a high gain level (High Gain), the maximum amplifier supply voltage was increased to 14 volts (+/-7V), which is 40% more than the first generation, in low gain mode - + / - 5V, which should have a positive effect on energy consumption. In fact, the player lives on a single charge for more than 11 hours in Low Gain mode at medium volume. The figure is approximately the same as in the first generation X5, so using a less capacious battery did not reduce battery life.
Bottom line
FiiO X5 2nd gen is an evolutionary, but not a revolutionary development of the X5. It has become better than its predecessor in all respects: smoother and more natural sound, reduced dimensions, improved ergonomics thanks to improved buttons and an improved navigation wheel. FiiO X5 2nd gen is definitely the best player in the FiiO line and outperforms most competitors in its price range in terms of sound quality, including the iBasso DX90. The player sounds great and musical, is easy to use, has a very nice appearance and good battery life, and the player does not have any obvious shortcomings.
5 reasons to buy FiiO X5 2nd gen:
- excellent sound quality;
- native support for DSD128 and WAV, FLAC, APE, WMA, ALAC, AIFF up to 192 kHz / 24 bit;
- Can be used as a USB DAC;
- USB OTG support;
- high quality, beautiful metal case.
1 reason not to buy FiiO X5 2nd gen:
- You have a first-generation X5 and don't see the point in shelling out a pretty penny for the updated model.
| FiiO X5 2nd gen | |
| CPU | dual core JZ4760B |
| Operational amplifier | OPA1612 and BUF634 |
| Display | 2.4″, IPS, 400×360 pixels |
| Memory | 2 microSD memory cards up to 128 GB inclusive; |
| Channel balance | ± 10 dB, step 1 |
| Equalizer | ±6 dB (hardware) |
| Supported Formats | DSD: DSD64, DSD128, DSF, DFF, SACD ISO, FLAC 24/192, WAV 24/192, APE 24/192 (Fast), APE (Normal) 24/96, APE (High) 24/96, WMA Lossless 24 /48, Apple Lossless (ALAC) 24/192, MP3, MP2, OGG, AAC; gapless support |
| Battery | Lithium polymer, 3300 mAh, more than 10 hours of playback |
| Interface and outputs | USB 2.0 (microUSB), 3.5 mm output (headphones), 3.5 mm linear/coaxial |
| Dimensions and weight | 109x63.5x15.3 mm, 165 grams |
| Headphone output |
|
Review of the new flagship FiiO X7
Contents of delivery
Included with the player you can find a transparent plastic case that is already attached to the device, a coupon for a 15% discount on HDtracks.com and 3 sets of vinyl stickers. Also included is a USB cable, an adapter from 3.5 mm jack to coaxial, 2 protective films for the display and documentation. The equipment package is almost identical to the new FiiO X3, there is no need to talk about its richness.
Player design and ergonomics
Most Hi-Fi players are massive metal bars. Our hero is no exception: he has an aluminum frame, glass on the front and smooth plastic on the back. The build quality is excellent, the body is absolutely monolithic. The weight of 186 grams indicates a large amount of audiophile hardware inside and a capacious battery.
The player is noticeably smaller, but thicker than modern smartphones. As a result, the FIIO X5S feels great in the hand and sticks out of your pocket. Putting the player in a backpack is inconvenient because of wired headphones; a chest bag is a reasonable salvation.
Leather case with stylish red stitching included. It protects the FIIO X5S from all sides except the bottom. As an alternative, a transparent silicone case is also included in the delivery.
