Very entertaining review, thank you for your insights with regard to this device. Cheers.

Thank you for your review. I was thinking to sell Opus#1 and move to x5-3. Now I'll be collecting money for Opus#2.

Great review...

Good review, although my opinion slightly differ from yours.
You put SQ above anything else, good.
Now, as you adequately put it in your conclusion, even though X5-iii is sonically not perfect, it is still doing a great job for the price, given the impressive spec sheets.
In terms of pure SQ, I'd put it behind Cayin i5/N5, since they're so much more musical, but in terms of functions, UI and usability, the FiiO is just much more pleasant to use.
Opus#1, while offering great SQ, puts mids a bit too much backwards for MY taste (obvious when compared with i5/N5), and it lacks connectivity, so some people won't go for it.
 
And given the X5-iii hardware, there is certainly potential to make it sound closer to i5/N5 through firmware tweaks, if FiiO is willing to offer more flexibility for users.

Thanks for the props, mate. Good review, as always. Glad we can all agree to disagree!

Plays music on command - gotta love that feature!!

It's my favorite, oldmate.

Great write up! I have the X5iii right now and have only listened to a few songs so to early for impressions but the UI is something that seems to not have improved much since my time with the X7.

Sir Pinky Powers, as always brutual but dang honest. full respect and great review.

I dont want Em Pee Three

FiiO did everything in its power to keep me out of this review tour. I signed up for it, waited months, and in secret they started gathering confirmations. I nearly missed out. Luckily, my spycraft is honed to a razor’s edge and I slipped in against their best efforts

LOL

Yah... and if they would sell the AK120II and the Opus#2 for $399 or less then this review might be a good read.

It is my privilege and responsibility to talk about how the X5 does against TOTL players, since others have been so reckless in their own claims. When it comes to the detailed comparisons, however, I focused on competitively price players.

@Demo3 he did speak about Opus#1 , that is cheaper than Fiio X5, yes with out stream services, so boils down to wifi vs sq.

thanks for the review. Can you recommend anything portable drive hd600s to a decent level?

Opus#1 first. Cayin i5 a close second.

Nice review Pinky but in the end its still not clear to me, SQ wise, do you prefer X5 3rd or X7? You say SQ is top priority, give 2.5 stars to X5 3rd but say you'd pick X5 3rd over X7, why?

I didn't go into detail with the X5/X7 comparison because I haven't heard the X7 since launch. From memory, I think the X5-3 has more body and weight to the sound. I like the 2x SD slots. I like the volume wheel and general build of the X5. Basic sound quality goes to the X7, but I wasn't happy with how bright, and thin it sounded. So, I kind of, in a way, prefer the X5's sound. But, as you know, I don't really like the X5's sound, so I wouldn't choose either device. I'd go Opus#1.

Lol Smartphone. Call Home! Home is always calling for those lost in their own grandiose adventures of excellence beyond affordability. Smile Emote La la.

Sold my OPUS #1 metal finally. Enjoy your OPUS's. I liked it a lot but I like EQ to adjust to my drivers if need be. The $1,2,3,000 DAP's do not deliver on their implied promises. OPUS is pretty close to sonic perfection. Still like it over the A&K and Sony flagships and the DX200 is not worthy of mention in that tier. Is OPUS punching above it's weight or are the others just flat out over priced with almost zero sonic benefits? The flagships are a hobby treat/con game.  I wanted to freak about you trashing the X5iii because I ******* love it. Love it a lot. The fingerprint just made my head explode. I went out with my chick and we did nasty adult stuff and I feel better. this is just a hobby. sex is a life thing. Next time I see a review that stimulates me I will just go have sex.
 
FiiO X5iii is awesome, if you cannot see that then you force me to do stuff....my girl thanks you for that ...I thank you...LOL
 
 
Must be tough out in the middle of America? I get spoiled. I go out today, visit a shop and a Sony Engineer, JBL Engineer and an ONKYO dude are all just chillin listening to a turntable that costs more than a car.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQvqXGP5wDU&feature=youtu.be