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Post by zigg on Feb 17, 2017 18:56:14 GMT 12
These seem to be a bit scarce here these days, I guess most people are happy using their phone. I prefer a separate device, currently using a Transcend MP870 which has been fine, although I need to charge it more often these days so the battery's days are numbered. Got some cheapo brand from Deal Xtreme but navigating around it is a mission and I ended up giving it away. Looking at a FiiO - they have mostly favourable reviews on Amazon, not sure on the model yet. Anyone got one? How's the menu navigation, etc?
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Post by 40hz on Feb 17, 2017 19:39:35 GMT 12
Which FiiO unit are you looking at? I've had a number of their products, but only one player (the X3, first gen). All of them worked reasonably well, but if there was one thing I was never particularly impressed with it was the casework - all plastic, and not especially well put together. At any rate, FiiO are now on to the third gen version of the X5, probably a similar iteration of the X3 is in the wings, and there are also an X7 and an X1 out there, I believe. I may be wrong, but I think Cooksferry may have had an X-something or other, which I recall him being happy with, so maybe he'll chime in.
There are a huge number of options and variations out there these days, and it at least partly depends on what file types you have - just good old MP3s, or a bit of FLAC and WAV etc; how much you want to carry around with you, GB-wise, and what sort of functionality you want. For me, having moved the X3 on (didn't like the build or the menu system), I went back to my versatile, light, Cowon J3. It is limited to ~40GB, though, so I tried an iBasso DX90, which can carry a huge amount if you want to spring for a big micro SD card. It sounds very good, but is also hefty and has constantly changing firmware, so like many others I ended up using/trialing a phone. I picked up a cheap (sub-$200) android phone, popped a 64GB micro SD into it, and use the mobile version of Foobar2000 or the Onkyo HF player - both free apps. The phone isn't up to the Cowon / iBasso level sonically, but I use it whilst out walking a lot and it is easily good enough for that. Saves me having to cart around a phone and a player, too...
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Post by zigg on Feb 18, 2017 17:40:24 GMT 12
I was looking at the X1 gen 2. Play mostly mp3s (which are converted from my flac CD rips), and a handful of iTunes EPs/Sessions. Storage space isn't a dealbreaker as long as it can take a micro SD card. This model also plays flac, so I won't need to bother with the extra conversion step. Might check out the Cowon range too.
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Post by cooksferry on Feb 21, 2017 6:26:17 GMT 12
I'm on my 2nd Fiio player, started with a X3 which has been passed onto my son. About 3 years old and still going strong. My current model is the X5 2nd gen which I got in part for the convenience of having 2 card slots. At this time I'm running dual 128gb cards with over 6000 songs available. Around 2000 of those are mp3, a couple of dozen in high rez and the rest wave/flac cd quality. The build quality appears to be good, metal case, buttons easy to use and after an update the scroll wheel is nice and responsive. I dont do playlists etc, just store everything a complete albums as the music gods intended so unsure how good some of the other functions are. Can't really comment on battery life as I recharge it every night as a matter of course. The Fiio is used on my walks to work and a holiday device with a number of different headphones so it's permanently connected to a Fiio 12a amp with a stacker kit which makes for a bit more bulk but means that it handles my harder to drive Grado G8s or Oppo PM3s without any problems. I haven't played with the on board equalizer, just leave it flat with the bass boost (which is quite subtle) on the amp turned on. Can't offer much on sound as obviously the phones used in conjunction have a major bearing on that but if the worst ever happened I could live quite happily with just this setup without feeling I was missing out on too much.
I did purchase both the devices from the NZ agent as I felt any malfunction would happen early on and after the failure of my HiFi Man RE600 phones in short order didn't want the hassles of trying overseas for returns or warranty.
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Post by guitardude on Feb 23, 2017 13:41:14 GMT 12
Don't know if its of any interest but I've got an ipod thing that my wife bought me for my birthday and its sat in the drawer ever since. Don't really have a clue how to use it or a need to use it, and don't really know what model it is or anything but if you're interested I'll have a closer look over the weekend and let you know.
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Post by zigg on Feb 28, 2017 12:50:06 GMT 12
^Thanks for the offer, I've got a Fiio on the way. iPods fetch a pretty good price on Trade Me these days.
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Post by guitardude on Feb 28, 2017 14:07:16 GMT 12
Do they ? Such is my level of interest that I've never even looked !
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Post by zigg on Mar 3, 2017 18:53:39 GMT 12
Some have finished around the $150 mark. An iPod Touch 32gb went for $260.
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Post by deano1974 on Mar 3, 2017 19:00:02 GMT 12
Which fiio did you buy Zigg
Manager & Product specialist at Rapallo AV & HI-FI
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Post by zigg on Mar 10, 2017 17:47:25 GMT 12
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