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Being on the go is standard for the modern man. To ease the hectic nature of our lives and provide some enjoyment during commute we suggest mp3 players. Specifically, we will suggest either Fiio X1 vs X3. This suggestion will be based on their strengths and how they compare to each other.
Fiio X1 vs Fiio X3 – Similarities
Quick Glance
Bluetooth
Our entrants today boast Bluetooth 4.0 and 4.1 which allow them to connect to headphones without the hassle of cords. Alternatively, you can cast your favorite music onto a tv.
Ports
X1 and X3 provide a standard 3.5mm headphone port as well as a shared line out 3.5mm port.
Status LED
Devices share light-based indicators of their status. Blue means it is operating, red that it is currently charging and green signifies full charge.
Storage
Outside storage is key for products we are revising today. Both of them are able to support micro SD cards of up to 128 GB of storage space. This’ll provide plentiful storage space for many albums you want to have with you on the go.
Screen
The size of their screens is 2.0 inches and the resolution obtainable on these is 320 x 240 pixels. Very standard for this sort of device.
Hibernation
You have an option of automatically entering hibernation for instant wakeup or playback with minimal battery drain.
Differences Between Fiio X1 and Fiio X3
Battery
Fiio X1
Clocking in at 1700 mAh it is capable of giving 11 hours of playback time with a single charge. This however assumes you possess firmware 1.0, however, you can upgrade it to higher versions and reach up to 15 hours with future optimized firmware. Two options are given for charging the battery up. One is below 500 mA current which can be used when charging through the computer’s USB port requiring approximately 8 hours, alternatively, you can utilize an 850 mA current that provides less than three hours of charging.
Fiio X3
Upping the ante to 2600 mAh, X3 provides those same 11 hours with greater power necessity. While it can play at normal volume for the same duration X1 can firmware upgrades are not prominent for it. Batteries themselves are charged through one of two currents. Either 450 mA via computer USB cable, which will take up to 8 hours to charge fully, or through 1.3 A current via 2A USB charger that requires only 3 hours to fully charge.
Despite the close call in battery lifespan, Fiio X3 will last you longer as it has more charge, thus making non-operating battery use affect it less.
The Winner: Fiio X3
Supported File Formats
Fiio X1
Fiio X1 conforms to a large number of music formats, lossless ones especially. It supports APE format with fast compression, offering up to 192 kHz/24 bit on this front. Normal and high level is provided with 96 kHz/24 bit for its compression needs while Extra High and Insane compression isn’t supported. On the other hand, FLAC has the same 192 kHz/24 bit for compression levels between 1 and 8. ALAC is a lossless music-compressed format for apple and has the same support as other ones. WAV is the same support-wise. The highest lossless format for WMA is supported to 48 kHz/24 bit. Apple’s lossy format, ACC, is supported as well here leaving along with Ogg, mp3, and mp2.
Fiio X3
While X3 supports the aforementioned formats it has a few new ones to add, as well as upgrading WMA’s support from 48 kHz/24 bit to 96 kHz/24 bit. Namely, these formats are DSD and AIFF. Giving Fiio X3 an advantage in format support.
The Winner: Fiio X3
Sound Quality
Fiio X1
The sound quality of X1 owes its performance to a high-quality DAC chip found within and dedicated, professional, high-quality amplifier.
Fiio X3
What makes X3 stand out, from the other entrant at least, is dual crystal oscillators that are dedicated to multiples of 44.1 and 48 kHz respectively, which ensures low jitter and highest precision for music playback at all rates and eliminates conversion artifacts. In more layman’s terms, this means it removes crisp sound as well as removes issues with sound quality that can come as a result of compressing or converting files. We shouldn’t neglect its DAC that, coupled with a low-pass filter, realizes extremely low noise and phase distortion.
The Winner: Fiio X3
Appearance
Fiio X1
The light, small design of X1 makes it easy to store on your person when going outside. A mere 3.8 x 2.24 x 0.55 inches in size and 3.73 oz you can put it in even the smallest of pockets while using Bluetooth functionality for listening to music. The aesthetic of its classic design has a charm of its own as well as the effect on functionality with the functionality wheel.
Fiio X3
Being of slightly heavier size at 4.76 oz as well as a bigger frame with 3.8 x 2.27 x 0.63 inches body, X3 is at a rougher start although the difference isn’t all too noticeable. Aluminum alloy affords good durability just as it did to its predecessor. However, there is a difference in durability as it feels more metallic and its buttons are sturdier than that of X1. In practical application, this will reduce the chances of buttons going loose and breaking.
Despite some increase in weight, X3 offers better chassis for its sound.
The Winner: Fiio X3
Pros and Cons
Fiio X1
PROS
- Lightweight
- Classic design
- Bluetooth
CONS
- Lacks some audio formats
- Base battery power is average
Fiio X3
PROS
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Great sound quality
CONS
- Price is higher than predecessor
The Final Verdict
Looking through these players’ categories we note that, save for a more compact design, Fiio X1 is left in the dust when compared to Fiio X3. Be it battery power, sound quality, or even the number of audio file formats available. If you crave more customizable options Fiio X1 may offer a better selection although otherwise, it falls short in comparison. Fiio X3 is our victor of today’s comparison and as such gets our recommendation as a preferable option between the two.