FiiO X5 2nd Generation Audio Player Review

Equipment used:

Headphones: RHA T10, T20, AKG K7XX, LCD-2f, Momentum, RE-400, HD-650

Firmware: 0.05b (later updated to 0.11b)

Music used:

From Röyksopp to Amber Rubarth, Diana Krall to Apoptygma Berzerk, Tom Jones to Sphongle, Yello to Camouflage, mostly FLACs 24/96 or 16/44.1 – some mp3 320kbps, some AAC 256kbps

Depending on headphone high or low gain – no EQ

Disclaimer: I received the Fiio X5II review unit from www.samma3a.com the local distributor of Fiio products. I have to return the unit, so there is no financial interest. I am not affiliated with Fiio or Samma3a.com Though I really highly appreciate what these guys are doing for the audiophiles in the region!! Thank you so much for letting me test and review this player. I had so much fun doing it!!

When I review DAPs I tend to use an input switcher and play the same song on both players, volume matched by ear and switch back and forth. Then I do some extensive listening with the unit and different headphones.

I owned a lot of Fiio products over the years, the X3, X5, E07K, E7, etc. and so far never had any issues with them.

TL;DR

PROS:

More details in every frequency band.
Good build quality
powerful
Works as external DAC on Mac & PC
Two micro SD card slots
Great gain

CONS:

No optical out.
Silicon sleeve is a dust/lint magnet.
No more internal memory.
No dust covers for the mSD cards

While the X3ii came VERY close to the original X5, the 2nd Gen X5 now puts a little bit of distance between them again, the X5ii is clearly the best Fiio has to offer right now.

Now, the longer version:

Packaging & Accessories

It consists of a 1m high current micro USB charging/data cable, 3.5mm to RCA COAX digital S/PDIFadapter, 2 spare screen protectors in the box, 1 already fitted on device, pattern stickers in three different designs (US flag, wood grain and carbon fibre), HD Tracks coupon, warranty card and quick start guide. The Titanium colored X5ii also comes already packed into a black silicon sleeve/case and with a screen protector applied.

Technical Highlights

DAC Chip: BurrBrown 1792A , LPF:OPA1652, OPA: OPA1612 + BUF634U

Ouput: 436mW @16 Ohm, 245mW @32 Ohm, 27mW @300 Ohm

Output impedance: smaller than 0.2 Ohm

Headphone out, Digital (COAX) out (switchable to line out), 2.4 inch 400×360 pixel colour display, 2 mSD card slot for up to 128GB cards (256GB total).

Size: H109mm, W63.5mm, D15.3mm (compared to oldX5: H114, W67.6, D15.6)

Weight: 165g (old 195g)

Gain: 3.6dB (Low), 9.1dB (High)

THD: <0.001% (1 kHz)

Battery: 3,300 mAh (>10 hours)

Formats supported:

DSD: 2.8 MHz/1 bit (dff/dsf)

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;

All MP3, OGG, MP2, AAC (as used on iPads, iPhones, iPods)

Size comparisons & Input switcher

X5 original and X5 second generation in size comparison.

User Interface and Build Quality

As it has been mentioned before, I keep this part short as well. The build quality is very good, solid, nothing squeaks, buttons and ports have no play and feel solid. The scroll wheel is much improved over the scroll wheel of the original X5, it seems to have less feel and locks in you movements more reliably, however sometimes a “click” or turn is ignored. My particular demo model has quite some serious issues with the scroll wheel but I was assured that they won’t be present on the production model.

I repeat what I said on my X3ii review: The machined case is a joy to hold and handle and it feels really solid and well made. It loses quite some appeal when put in the silicon protection case. It’s a shame that you wont’ see much of this nice device when using that case.

The User Interface is already known from the X3 and X1 and has slight variations to it. Overall it’s pretty straight forward and easy to master once you get the hang of it.

What I particularly like about Fiio players is that you have still dedicated buttons for many functions. You have volume buttons, play/pause/select and a FFWD, RWD (long press) buttons that skip forward and backward with a short press. Makes blind use at night or in the pocket easier.

I tested the device with Firmware 0.11b which is NOT the release Firmware. So while it’s unlikely the sound might change marginally (usually for the better).

Overall the UI has only a few little quirks and is pretty well thought through. They are a couple of “shortcuts” that you can access with long pressing certain buttons, since that might change before official release, have a go yourself…you might be surprised how much time this can save.

The Deep Sleep mode is a very helpful feature and the battery seems to go on forever!

Sound Quality Comparisons

General

The X5ii has double the power at 16 Ohms than the X3ii. I was surprised how well usually hard to drive headphones sounded with it. Native DSD support in this price range is pretty crazy as well. For the comparisons below I used the Fiio HS2 Headphone Output switcher. I pitched the X5 against only one single competitor this time.

Compared to X5 1st gen (or original)

Main differences:

• mids a little more forward

• same bottom end but a tad more detail in the bass

• more detail in the treble (just)

I felt that the X3ii was VERY close to the X5 original, maybe even on par. It was a very close call.

I feel that with this release Fiio has put a bit of distance again between their X3 and X5 2nd generation offering. The X5 is now superior to the X3 (again). But to be honest, not by an awful lot.

Here is a quote from my review of the X3ii compared to the X5 original:

This was surprising. It seems that the design brief for the technical team was: Make the new X3II sound like the X5 for half the money. And they succeeded mostly.

I felt the X3II to have a slightly larger soundstage (!!) and shockingly similar in overall sound quality and signature. The X5 still has the upper hand in power handling and drives the headphones with ease where the X3II reaches its limits. So there is still a slight advantage for the X5 in regards to detail retrieval, clarity, musicality and fun.

End of quote. So, with the X5ii the order of things is restored. I found the soundstage to be slightly better, probably caused by the more detailed and extended treble. The mids are a tad more forward and the bass, while still a bit on the warm sound is more detailed and layered.

One could say that the overall texturing is improved across all frequencies, as mentioned the bass is dry, hard and also a bit more rumbly in the very low sub bass frequencies. There is definitively more clarity (or transparency?) in the sound.

Please note, these are all very small differences when using an input switcher and very intensely trying to hear these differences.

Line Out & Digital Out (COAX)

Now instead of separate sockets for line out and COAX digital SPDIF out, it’s a joint socket. The function of it is switched in software. So you have to dive into the menu to check which setting it is and to change it of course, if desired.

The combined port also means that some of the previously working COAX cables don’t work anymore. Hmmmpf. I don’t like that. However, with the supplied adapter, you can use any COAX cable and be good. The adapter cable though feels flimsy and is not of the usual Fiio quality.

DAC use on a Computer

The X5 works like a charm on Macs (and I am assured on Windows equally well) without any drivers and offers an easy use as external DAC/Amp.

Pros:

increased sound quality and sound stage
nicer case
better display
smaller size and lower weight

Cons:

no micro SD card covers anymore
separate sockets for line out and digital out now combined
small evolutionary updates not a revolutionary new product

Conclusion

So… should you buy the new X5?

Well, if you own the X3ii and run into storage space issues, the X5ii is awesome as it provides two micro SD card slots.

This digital audio player is fantastic and very much worth its money. However I wouldn’t run out and buy it if I already have the second generation X3. As an owner of the original X5 it is worth considering, only if you are unhappy with the weight, size or battery life of your aging X5.

The X5ii is an evolutionary improvement in regards to build- and sound-quality, it feels better and sounds better. The improvements especially in the sound quality are subtile but they are there.

DSD native is also something only the new X5 can do.

Overall the new X5ii is a worthy successor, rather an evolutionary upgrade than a revolution.

THANKS to www.samma3a.com for the review loaner!