The X3iii is a fuller, rich sounding presentation with a more planted low end and a stronger even harmonic bias in its timbre. Simply put it is much smoother but more dynamic sounding than the older X3ii. In my X2ii review, I mentioned how the X3ii lost a bit of the original’s lusher timbre ...

July 30, 2016 - A great little unit that really upped the sound quality on my laptop. Tear-downs of the Fiio hardware show impressive attention to detail and some real wizardry putting these tiny devices together.

October 16, 2019 - Being used to the build quality of the Astell & Kern AK100 and AK120 players (Headfonia Store is a huge Astell & Kern reseller), the Fiio really doesn’t feel like it belongs in the same class but obviously that’s a stupid comment as the Fiio retails for 1/3 the price of the AK100. A more valid comparison is to the popular Cowon players as the X9 that retails for $199 and is heaps ahead of the X3 in terms of build quality, screen size and technology (touch screen and UI). This review would get huge if I would describe every single menu item the X3 offers.

September 21, 2020 - On the other hand, in terms of components, ease of use and sound quality, the second generation X3 is undoubtedly better than its predecessor and in certain areas it is getting very close to the flagship model, the X5. Therefore, we believe that the increase in price is fairly modest, and for less than $300 you will get an extremely modern, high-quality and versatile portable music player / DAC with great sound. FiiO X3-II High Resolution Music Player (2nd Generation)

June 1, 2015 - The details on this little thing are very good and I think that they are quite in the same league with X5. The same thing applies to the transparency, as X3 2 is capable of very clean sound.

October 16, 2019 - With the 3rd revision of the X3, Fiio has delivered the best sounding X3 DAP so far. It’s a nice addition to see the 2.5mm balanced output and its silent delivery but at the same time it isn’t the biggest difference either.

FiiO’s products have followed a very simple formula since 2007 – affordable, stylish, well built, functional, measuring well, and most importantly sounding good. DISCLAIMER The X3 3rd generation (from this point known as the X3iii) was provided to me gratis as a review sample.

December 10, 2021 - The Fiio X3 portable audio player is a 24 bit, 192 KHz sample rate standalone media play with asynchronous DAC functionality with one of the best interfaces for an upscale media player.

January 22, 2023 - Feted for their quality-to-price ratio and bang-for-buck kings they have kind of stepped into the unknown or a radically different and more competitive market of DAPs for the X3 and offered us a high-quality DAP for the price point of $200. I would have to say this is going to be a qualified rather than unqualified success. It is going to sell well for sure. The FiiO fan is almost ‘Apple-esque’ in their dedication and those who want a good quality DAP and are on a budget will take a second look at the X3 I have no doubt.

November 13, 2017 - With a complete renovation of design and the all-new all-touch navigation wheel, the X3 III feels new yet familiar. This, together with the X1 II, is the only device in FiiO’s lineup not to use Android as its operating system.

Sound quality is a good step up from phones and lower-end players and the ability to play high-resolution files up to 24 bit, 192 KHz allows users to enjoy higher quality tracks. The feature set is full with plenty of playback options and an ...

It has · good colour reproduction, decent viewing angles and adequate · brightness. The screen is good enough for browsing the interface and · displaying album art - just don't expect the colours or crisp HD quality ... Unlike the more expensive X5 and X7, the X3 is not a touch screen device.

September 22, 2020 - In short, the FiiO X3 is a great sounding player which emphasizes that a pure music player still has a role. It plays most formats (but not DSD) at all resolutions, and have a clear and open sound.

Nicely written review. Just one question, How how how did you get an X3ii for just 90 Bucks? ... It was £90 not 90 dollars: I'm in the UK. I got it from Gumtree sealed & boxed from some guy for whom it was an unwanted present. Takes all sorts to make the world! ... Cons: Aplifier significantly weaker than 1st generation, scroll wheel responsiveness frustrating, firmware issues, thicker than 1st gen, no internal storage · I upgraded to a second generation Fiio X3 after owning the first generation for over a year.

August 13, 2019 - Whereas the X1 had a plastic back cover to its metal chassis, the X3 II is full metal. The biggest offender in visual fidelity was the quality of the outer build in the old FiiO’s. The metal front on the X1 was grainy in finish and had rough edges…it was like an outer cover that you snap on to a frame.

October 20, 2019 - The sound of the FiiO X3 Mark III is great! It sounds very clean and transparent, reproducing detailed transients and frequency response alike. I do wish it support aptX because if you’re listening wirelessly, you will miss out on some music quality.

November 7, 2019 - Fun fact for those who still have the X3 but the primary hardware interface on the front panel was in fact modeled after the Sony PCM-D100 pro recorder interface. I love that big brick of a recorder as a DAP in its own right also. The recent split from HiBy meant that FiiO had to basically come up with their own replacement software for the X3 series DAPs without breaking that previously known pitch of power, battery life, and portability.

September 4, 2024 - Browsing around your music library or device settings feels a little clunky. The buttons on the front of the X3 contribute to the awkward navigation, but while I hope Fiio will improve the menu system in future updates, the X3 is primarily about delivering excellent sound, with the user experience playing second fiddle.

February 26, 2019 - Last updated on 26 February 2019This week we’re testing the FiiO X3 MK2 digital audio player, whose technical features will really whet your appetite, just as much as the price considering all the device can do. MP3 audio playback, FLAC files up to 24 bits/192 kHz, DSD 64/128, external USB DAC mode, gain switch for ?tricky?

November 6, 2021 - The death of a legend has opened a gap, one hell of a gap in a price point that is anyone’s game and FiiO are no schumcks when it comes to spotting a gap in the audiophiles arsenal and the new X3 Gen 2 brings just about everything to the table that is good about FiiO such as price, functionality and form factor and mixes in with a touch of what the big spenders deeply desire with modern hi-res codecs galore.