Those who know me, know that I like to barter. One long term barter has been in constructing an audio site and maintaining it in trade for gear. Just the other day I received a portable hi-rez audio player...the FiiO X3 http://fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?ID=100000045041475&MenuID=105026016 (Need to scroll down a bit before the actual product pops into view.) I am pretty impressed with it. It outputs at 192/24, and will play FLAC files as well as many others. It has a port so that you can plug it into a coaxial input, another line out port, recharges through the USB port, and is built like a tank.
The X3 also has an option so that one can set the gain to either high or low. The beauty of this is that instead of earbuds, I can switch to high and use both my HD-650 and DT-770 cans. It also has a slot for a mini-card and will take up to a 64Gb card. The big brother of this thing, the X5 is even more impressive but has not been released yet. The cost of the X3 is $199 and the X5 is $350. The X3 is far easier to use than any iPod. Moving music onto and off the thing is like working with an external HD. The sound is far superior to any iPod, and the fact that it can play FLAC is all the more impressive.
The chap who sent it to me knows the in-and-outs of the company since they are based where his dad was born. He said FiiO has always been very meticulous in building their products and put a great deal of emphasis on quality. It is the first portable player that I have enjoyed since I can use my cans, and I don't have to fight putting music on or moving music elsewhere.
The X3 also has an option so that one can set the gain to either high or low. The beauty of this is that instead of earbuds, I can switch to high and use both my HD-650 and DT-770 cans. It also has a slot for a mini-card and will take up to a 64Gb card. The big brother of this thing, the X5 is even more impressive but has not been released yet. The cost of the X3 is $199 and the X5 is $350. The X3 is far easier to use than any iPod. Moving music onto and off the thing is like working with an external HD. The sound is far superior to any iPod, and the fact that it can play FLAC is all the more impressive.
The chap who sent it to me knows the in-and-outs of the company since they are based where his dad was born. He said FiiO has always been very meticulous in building their products and put a great deal of emphasis on quality. It is the first portable player that I have enjoyed since I can use my cans, and I don't have to fight putting music on or moving music elsewhere.
