xDuoo X3II

Released some a time ago while still being a part of xDuoo lineup, X3II DAP is staying one of the most popular and functional budget HiRes audio players. Didn’t have a chance to review this product at the time of the release but it would be even more interesting now to see why X3II doesn’t loose its popularity and keeping up with newer rivals.



As a small hystory excursion: X3II is a 2nd generation of X3 DAP that was released in year 2015. First generation became so popular in some countries that there was third party custom RockBox firmware released for this DAP. It did solve some of the issues with the proprietary xDuoo firmware. With the release of X3II, xDuoo decided to go on with HiBy OS which was a very good decision instead of reinventing the wheel. As the result, overall functionality became much better placing the new generation right to the leading place of the higher, but still a budget class.



xDuoo X3II technical specifications:

• CPU: X1000
• OS: HiBy OS
• DAC + AMP: AK4490EN + OPA1652 + LMH6643
• Screen: 2.4′ IPS, 240×320
• Max stream processing: 32bit/384kHz, DSD128
• Power output: 210mW@32Ω
• Frequency response: 20Hz — 20kHz (+/- 0.15dB)
• Crosstalk: >75dB
• S/N: >=114dB
• THD+N: 0.0015%@1kHz(32Ω @ 1kHz)
• Bluetooth: 4.0 (aptX + HiByLink), bidirectional, BT DAC supported
• Memory: MicroSD cards up to 256GB
• Battery: 3.7V, 2000mAh (up to 13 hours of play)
• Connection: USB Type-C, USB DAC, USB OTG
• Controls: physical control buttons
• Dimensions: 102.5mm X 51.5mm X 14.9mm
• Weight: 112g
• Shell material: aluminum

Technical specifications remind me of another good entry level DAP from Hidizs — AP60Pro. It has very similar SoC and other secondary specifications but the audio part is based on ES9118C. The rest looks really familar — same HiBy OS, physical control buttons, screen resolution and lots of connectivity functions. Unfortunately, cannot do the comparison between X3II and AP60Pro since I no longer have the later…



Anyway, X3II is based on a very capable and respected AK4490EN DAC which was commonly used by the expensive flagship DAPs couple of years ago. Accompanied by the mighty OPA1652 amp, this pair is not only discolsing the meaning of HiRes audio but also can drive tough loads of the most demanding full-sized overheads with the impressive 210mW (32Ω) of power. For instance, some of the closest rivals would have something between 80 to 150mW at max. Such a huge difference in power output together with all connectivity options are the main advantages of X3II DAP over the most of competitors.



Packaging, design and materials:

xDuoo X3II DAP comes in a small box with the outer carboard layer that provides specifications and the desctiption of the features of this product. Inner box is matt black with rough patterned surface and a single visual element — brand name imprint filled with silver paint.



Inner compartment consists of two layers: DAP on special soft podium at the top and all pf the included accessories underneath.

Box contents:

• XDuoo X3II DAP
• USB type-C -> USB A cable (charging and data transfer)
• 3.5mm -> 3.5mm line out adapter
• 2 extra screen protectors (3rd is preapplied on the factory)
• a set of sticky silicone legs (protecting a DAP and other equipment from sratches)
• 2 dummy caps for 3.5mm Line OUT and headphone outputs
• warranty card + user manual

Very good that xDuoo X3II has screen protector preapplied and also comes with 2 extra potectors. Dummy caps and silicone legs are also quite irregular but very useful accessories for a DAP that might be used as a part of audio sandwich or as pure Bluetooth audio source — just to protect the case from scratches or dust coming inside the outputs. The only thing that is also highly demanded and was not included is the protective case…



X3II DAP shell is made of aluminum except for the top insert at the back which is made of plastic for the sake of good Bluetooth reception. In contrary to many other DAPs, X3II can be easily torn apart by undoing 4 screws at the back. Modders with soldering iron should be happy about this solution and such a friendly approach.



Front side consists of 2.4′ 240X320 resolution IPS screen with no touch sensor layer. All controls are done with physical button underneath (plus the buttons on the left edge of the case).



Despite the modern tendency to virtualize all interactions with any device, I still admire and prefer to use physical controls in such kind of equipment due to convenient «blind» operations. Moreover, button placement in X3II is logical in comparison to first gen X3 where all controls were mixed in a very strange way…



Left edge contains the additional buttons and microSD card slot. USB type-C port, 3.5mm Line OUT and headphones ports are on the bottom edge.



Overall build quality is perfect. All elements and labels are very neat and precise. Spacing between different case elements is minimal. X3II feels very solid and durable in hands.

Control elements and functions:

Front:

• Play/Pause
  • OK in the menu
  • Track Info — long press while in Music app
• Back
  • Home screen — long press in any menu or app
• Options
  • OK — short press in Menu
  • Track options — short press in Music app
  • EQ — long press in Music app
• Next | Previous track
  • (Up | Down in the menu)
  • Seek — long press in Music app

Side:

• Power ON | OFF (long press)
  • Screen ON | OFF + Key Lock (short press while powered)
• Volume UP | DOWN

Unfortunately, there is no option to use volume keys to switch tracks… But there are 4 Key Lock options to choose from when screen goes off: lock all keys, only volume, only play keys or nothing.

Menu structure and functions:





Device and UI operation:

Found absolutely no problems with the fluidity of HiBy UI and X3II operation in overall. The only thing that is taking a bit more time than necessary is the initial music scan. But this is quite common for most of the DAPs with the same basic SoC and HiBy OS on board… Haven’t noticed any lags or freeze, not a single Chineese characters in the menu items. I am running the latest version of OS (1.2) which had some bug fixes addressing the overall stability and some issues with album covers. Current firmware looks to be pretty stable and responsive.

If you think that stock OS is not what you wanted and there is a need to increase the functionality of the device — you can try RockBox FW which has much more interesting features. This is the advantage of having such universal and popular product as xDuoo X3II. For me, personally, stock OS is completely enough. X3 first gen required RockBox FW due to severe bug in the proprietary FW that wasn’t fixed by xDuoo. But when it comes to X3II — there are no critical bugs in HiBy OS that forces me to move to a custom firmware.




Very good thing about HiBy OS and X3II HW pair is the playback time. Around 10 hours with 96kHz flac files and couple of hours more with mp3. Good figure in comparison to my other DAPs that would last ~7H under the same circumstances. Charging time is about 4.5 hours. Don’t know what xDuoo mean by mentioning quick charge — all of my charging devices with up to 2Ah power output produced similar results.

Connectivity:

One of the main xDuoo X3II advantages is the amount of different connectivity options that would allow to use this DAP in many usage scenarios. Let’s look at the connectivity options:

USB cable:

• Data transfer
• USB DAC (passing audio data from smartphones, PC, etc)
• USB OTG (reading files from flash drives, etc)
• Digital transport (passing stream from X3II to other DACs)

Bluetooth:

• Using Bluetooth with BT headphones (aptX is supported)
• Using Bluetooth to pass audio data to other BT DACs
• Using Bluetooth to receive audio data from other devices (BT DAC)
• Using Bluetooth to control X3II music app (HiByLink)

Line Out:

• 3.5mm output to connect to external AMPs

One more improtant function to make the use of X3II as audio source easier: Car Mode. It allows to switch X3II ON and OFF when you start and stop the engine in a car (voltage present or not on charging port).

Altogether, such connectivity features mean that X3II can play a central role in buiding good audio system, no matter the usage scenario. Portable, shelf or car use — all types of usage are preconsidered and possible.



There is a dedicated ASIO driver for X3II to use it as USB DAC with Windows PC. But even if the driver is absent, Windows 10 does recognize USB audio device and you can use it over Wasapi or DS. In this case audio lag is not a problem and video to audio stream synchronization is almost perfect. Using ASIO instead would result in better audio quality but would also introduce some lag that might prevent from watching videos comfortably.



Audio quality:

Tested with Tanchjim Oxygen IEMs. Compared to Shanling M0, xDuoo X3, Hidizs AP80.

First of all it should be stated that the sound picture of X3II is totally dependent of the GAIN option. With the gain set to LOW sound becomes kind of «flat» with limited extension and expressiveness affecting mostly the volumetric presence of bass, power of midbass and exposure of mids. Treble range is not that susceptible to changes. Switching to HIGH GAIN would bring back the full potential of the lower end, force mids stand out much better and make the sound more engaging and complete. So, with those two settings you can find the most suitable sound for your ears — either going very flat and mostly neutral or getting much more juicy and expressive picture.



Extension of lows with high gain settings is impressive, yet the bass still stays very precise and defined. Bass texturing is not that apparent, but the feel of «tight» and shaped sound of lows is compensating some lack of extra details.

Resolution and detalization goes up with the higher frequencies — more than average on mids and decent on treble. Treble is the most impressive in X3II — very clear, detailed and creates the feel of transparency. Again, it might have been more delicate and extended as the sound feels quite simplified but the accented presence of treble and its clarity come very close to be called crisp and icy cold. Only some lack of extension makes it more rough and thick in comparison to DAPs from a higher price segments.



Mids with high gain are exposed well and thick enough to sound naturally and not annoying. Resolving potential is on par with another great DAP as AP80 by Hidizs with a little bit brighter and colder perception provided by more accent on lower treble part. Therefore, female vocals and string instruments would be a bit more emotional and expressive. Anyway, such inhomogeneity is very subtle. I would say that mids sound very satisfactory and more than expected from the DAP of this price range.

Good instrument separation and overall layering throughout all frequency ranges help to build good stage width and depth. Tracks with good quality of recording result in a distinctive sound with each single instrument at a precise location and clearly presented in the mix. Good results with lower quality tracks would be mostly dependent of IEMs resolving potential as this DAP is very precise on reproducing everything — best or worst parts.



Sound in overall:

Sound of xDuoo X3II can vary from «flat», boring and neutral to more bright and cold with HIGH GAIN setting. Treble is the most impressive in terms of clarity and detalization, followed by well exposed and quite thick mids and very good presence and contouring on lows. In overall, xDuoo X3II is universal enough to eat any kind of music and provide enough pleasure to the ears tempted by the units with much higher price.

Compared to Shanling M0:



Shanling M0 is not a competitor to xDuoo X3II at all. It is not that convenient to operate, doesn’t have physical buttons, its screen is too small… The worst is the sound — M0 has high bass boost and treble accent that reduce the normal perception of mids. Moreover, lows are muddy and undefined. Treble is much more simple and less extended…

Compared to Hidizs AP80:



Hidizs AP80 or xDuoo X3II — this is a serious battle… AP80 has a better screen, newer and more sophisticated HiBy OS for touch screen control, better shell materials and more appealing design, LDAC support, more convenient volume dial. The most important is the sound. AP80 sounds very good. It does have a bit more accent on bass but, at the same time, the texturing of bass is also higher. Treble is not that crisp but more delicate and less annoying for longer listening. Mids are adequately exposed in both DAPs. The main advantage of xDuoo X3II is more output power, LineOUT port and full physical controls. Soundwise they are on par as both units provide pleasing experience and engaging sound.



Conclusion:

The best outcome of this review is the fact that entry-level DAPs are becoming more impressive and packed with new function each year. First generation of X3 DAP was more simple and limited. With the release of such DAPs as X3II, the boundaries of the respective classes are fading away, blurred by the use of higher grade audio components together with common firmwares also found in more expensive products. X3II sound quality is far exceeding the expectation, especially in the direct comparison to older entry-level DAPs from the other or the same brand. This tendency is promissing — X3II is the vivid example of the right path chosen by the manufacturer which leads to better products at much lower cost. Absolutely good HiRes player and worth the respect at this price point.

xDuoo X3II DAP is available at XTenik shop

Three full months shy from the site’s 1st music player realview, we are finally seeing another finally gracing our site. This time by xDuoo, a company whose mantra is “Confident, Responsible, Stable and humble” which leaves me guessing if they’re talking about their products or their employees.

xDuoo first gained traction in the audiophile market with their widely used xDuoo x3 entry level DAP which if placed next to an iPod shuffle and Nano at the time, blows competition away and a makes Sansa clip and fuse owners want to upgrade. It was so hot that time that it slug it out against FiiO with their x1 offering. Fast forward and now we have the xDuoo x3ii, a sandblasted piece of CNC aluminum alloy coated in matte black which diverges from the former x3’s silver and glossy black finishes. Spec’d out with the AK4490 DAC chip and the Texas Instruments OPA1652+LMH6643 AMP chips, support for 256gb TF card expansion, Bidirectional Bluetooth 4.0, USB DAC function, Hiby Link function, Car mode, 10 EQ sections and 18 Sound effect options supporting DSF, DFF and DSD up to DSD128 as well as DXD, FLAC, APE, WAV, ALAC, AIFF up to 32Bit/384KHz while not leaving behind MP3, AAC, WMA formats. The xDuoo x3ii also supports CUE, M3U and M3U8 files as well as album art and track lyrics display.

The xDuoo x3ii is currently priced at $120 which you can get yourself a pair off DD Audio’s Aliexpress site. The x3ii price places it right on the upper entry level music players such as FiiO x1ii, Hidizs AP60ii and the Zishan DSD which is a far cry from the x3’s slugging it out with at least 2-3 competitors at that time, with the new features being added on the x3ii, will be able to hold its ground after the dust settles? Let’s find out.


xDuoo x3ii Spec sheet:

• Display: 2.4inch IPS with 7H hardness
• Frequency Response: 20Hz-20KHz (±0.15dB)
• Output Power: 210mW (32Ohm/THD + N<0.0015%)
• Crosstalk: >75dB (32Ohm@1kHz)
• S/N: ≥114dB
• Battery: 3.7V/2000mAh
• Charging Time: <3H quick charge, <5H slow charge
• Estimated Battery life: 13H
• Weight: 112g
• Size: 102.5x51.5x14.9mm

The xDuoo x3ii comes in a simple cardboard box with a more durable glossy black container inside which has enough cushion to protect the x3ii while still being stored and shipped. The accessory set included in the package features 2 scree protectors, 2 lineout/headphone out rubber protector plugs, 4pcs 3M silicon feet, Type C charging/data cable and a 3.5-3.5 interconnect cable. The lineout/headphone out rubber protector is a nice addition which most music players don’t give although notably missing is a free protective case which would really be nice.
The xDuoo x3ii is a 2 piece design with the backside being held together by 4 allen screws and all buttons fitting nicely with no noticeable rattling sound when shaken. All buttons rest on the front underneath the display and on the left portion leaving nothing on the right portion as well as the top sides. All buttons are in black with white markings with the volume up having a raised pin and the power button being red. Connection outputs are situated on the lower portion with enough gaps with each other giving no issues when all 3 ports are used. The only real weird aspect is the forward/backward/next/previous buttons being pointed up and down although at 112g, the x3ii is easily pocketable and fits nicely in the hand like your old Nokia phones.
The User Interface is indeed way better than the x3, it now has color, RGB y’all and thankfully uses a dark theme since I personally hate white themes except on my desktop rig. Navigation is straightforward and easy to use with zero learning curves as all options are labelled correctly and no weird layouts. I didn’t find it hard to be back with button controls since this doesn’t have a touch screen which other music players are. Cycling through the numerous music files using the forward/backward/next/previous buttons is smooth and no lags.

There 6 main UI categories being Music Browser, My Music, Now Playing, Music Settings, System Settings and Bluetooth Settings. It houses all the expected sub-categories with notable options such as OTG support, Gain setting(High and Low), Digital Filter(Sharp and Slow Decay), Breakpoint Play, Gapless Playback, Fixed and Default Volume, USB DAC mode, Car Mode and Hiby Link. Those are the sub categories which I did find worthy of tinkering on like a side quest mission gameplay for audiophiles since we don’t do EQ around these parts of the world although you can but be discreet since EQ Nazi enforcers are sensitive to such behaviors.

I have mainly used the x3ii for a full month as my sole DAP and experienced not one hiccup, restart, lag or audio cutting out. The weight was perfect for everyday use and doesn’t feel like carrying a lot and fits on almost all empty spaces my jeans, denims, bag and work table offers. Button positioning are great and one handed use is awesome. One thing I would have wanted is a damn protective case since the metal build makes me nervous when going up and down the stairs or any sort of activity where I use the x3ii without eye contact, a sense of protection is always welcome. This is a DAP were getting a case is a big MUST.

The xDuoo x3ii starts up by greeting you with a “Welcome” and goes straight to the point. The SE output is reinforced by a gold plated jack as well as the Lineout. The SE output fits snugly and doesn’t shake one tiny bit as well as the Lineout when connected with an external AMP such as the Ibasso Dzero Mk2. Speaking of AMPs, the x3ii ergonomically sits well with most portable AMPs such as the Walnut V2s, xDuoo XQ-20 and XD10 and the Ibasso Dzero Mk2. Its USB DAC function via my MSI GF62 8RE (i5-8th Gen/1060) and Acer Aspire F 15 (i5-7th Gen/950m) using Foobar2000 v1.4 performs well too with no delays when cycling through my whole music library of about 200gb of mixed file formats although the x3ii displays and outputs 32Khz/24Bit by default, just make sure to set the x3ii on DAC mode via System settings. The USB mode did well too for managing your x3ii SDc card library, type C clearly does have its perks.
Bluetooth connectivity is at 4.0 which at the price point of $120 is a very good choice since it targets the wireless market IEM which mostly features BT4.0 and lower since BT 5.0 with its 48MBps(x2 4.0) speed and 985ft (x4 4.0) perks needs appropriate hardware changes since 5.0 features won’t run on 4.0 IEMs and HPs, synergy even in wireless is still a thing to note although it would have been great to see 5.0 specially due to its lower power requirement.

Connecting the x3ii via BT to the Brainwavz BLU-300 is a perfect fit with its 4.1 support, there were no cut-offs when the x3ii is in my backpack or jean pockets when travelling and when running and doing light exercises as well. Moving around a 25sqm room also did great with no cut-offs except when moving to another room with a concrete wall, cut-offs were then observed. Volume controls were separate on both the IEM and the DAP which makes for volume adjustment very versatile. It is great to know that the x3ii with all its new features, modest they might be, works well and is reliable.

The xDuoo x3ii features a 2000mAh battery with quick charge capability, not that 3 hours for 2000mAh passes as quick charge in Q4 2018. I have loaded a 128gb card on the x3ii with a mixture of MP3, FLAC and DSD and playtime reached around 8-10 hours at 25-40/100 volume and toggle 3 brightness. It easily lasts me a full week with 3-4 30 minute bursts of usage on weekdays and lasts me the weekends at 3-5 hours usage both on a Saturday and Sunday with occasional BT usage of an hour/day.

Now to the part we all usually scrolled to directly, the sound. The x3ii is damn smooth and soft sounding, like modern NBA soft. The AK4490 on the x3ii is implemented to the best of its ability making the overall sound to be presented as a flat frequency response with minor touches on the low end and highs. The overall low end of the x3ii is of low impact, diffused and lingering bass and sub bass. The overall midrange sound has a slight laid back presentation. The highs being its smoothest spectrum presentation, no peaks and non-fatiguing and also kind of boring. I have really enjoyed using the x3ii as one of my reference review DAPs with its overall lacking yet identified flat sound.

It is with great emphasis for an entry level music player to pack a lot of useful features, solid build quality and reliable connectivity while being priced as low as possible. The xDuoo x3ii, despite being entry level showcases almost all the must haves an entry level DAP needs with a few added novelty such as lineout/headphone out rubber protectors. I have always advocated of going flat for your source and letting your IEMs and HPs do the heavy lifting of satisfying your sound signature preferences and the xDuoo x3ii does that really well and despite not having a protective case, it surely did held its ground when the realview dust settled.

The new DAP xDuoo, the second version of the successful X3, is a very useful multi-functional player:

• USB DAC.
• Bidirectional Bluetooth 4.0, aptX protocol support.
• DSD128.
• Bidirectional USB port, device supports OTG, USB Audio output function, DOP, D2P output mode.
• DAC AK4490.
• IPS Screen 2,4”.
• It can be controlled remotely by using the buttons on the earphone.
• 10 bands equalizer.
• SD until 256MB.
• Line Ouput.
• Car Mode.
• Hiby Link.
• 13 hours long life battery.
• OpAmp used OPA1652+LMH6643.

Disclaimer:

I bought this DAP at the end of July 2018 at the Penon Audio store. I want to clarify that I did not receive any kind of discount. My purchase and product review is completely voluntary and honest.

Purchase link:

https://penonaudio.com/xduoo-x3ii.html

Leatherette Case:

https://penonaudio.com/xduoo-x3ii-leatherette-case.html

Specifications:

• Dimensions (Height, Width, Thick):102.5mm x 51.5mm x 14.9mm.
• Weight: 112gr.
• Lithium battery 3.7/2000mAh.
• Output power: 220mW (32?/THD + N<0.0025%)
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz (±0.5dB)
• S/N: = 108dB
• Crosstalk: =75dB (32?@1kHz)
• Charging time: <3H (Quick charge 5V/2A) <5H (Slow charge 5V/500mA)

Measurements (Maximum taken at 1KHz Rated voltage):

• 2.72V no-load
• 2.67V 32 Ohms
• 2.70V 100 Ohms
• Output impedance at 100 Ohms: 0.74 Ohms (1kHz)
• Output impedance at 32 Ohms: 0.6 Ohms (1kHz)

Packaging:
The packaging of the DAP is quite compact, it is only slightly larger than the player itself. The outer box is made of cardboard, decorated with the player's image on the front and with the specifications and features on the back. Inside is another box, quite robust and black. After removing the cover, you can access the DAP, wrapped in a white semi-translucent bag. The screen is protected by a plastic protector. Once the DAP is removed, two openings can be accessed to insert the fingers and remove the packaging. Underneath this is the USB charging cable, whose connector is USB type C, a 3.5mm male/male Jack cable, 5 adhesive tears of transparent plastic, two protectors of the 3.5mm Jack connections, another screen protector, the English/Chinese instruction manual and the warranty card.
The packaging is fair and simple.



Design, construction and other features:

The outer casing is made of aluminium alloy. All corners are rounded and the touch is pleasant. The shape and size of the X3II is reminiscent of the previous model, narrow and elongated. Otherwise it looks nothing like it. The 2.4" IPS screen is the main protagonist of the new look of the DAP. At the bottom there are 5 buttons, with a somewhat strange distribution, two small ones on the left for the "return" and "menu" functions. A central one for "play/pause" and two small ones on the right for "rewind" and "forward". On the left side there are three buttons, the top, in red, is the "off / on / lock", below it there are two buttons of the same size, but in color of the case, for the volume. On this side is the SD card slot. On the opposite side there is nothing. On the underside, say, at the base, is the charge/USB connector, the line output and the headphone output, both 3.5mm. On the back side comes the brand but not the X3II model.



Battery

From my tests the battery seems to comply with the 13h specified. The control of the battery is very reliable and I have not noticed any jumps or anomalous notifications.

Playback

Gapless, yes, since the first firmware version. After turning on the playback continues from the point at which it was turned off, with the volume at which it was, but in paused mode. After pressing "Play" the sound starts with a fairly fast "Fade in".
There are no clicks between songs, neither at the start of any song, nor after pressing buttons.

Volume Control

The volume is controlled by two side buttons and goes from 0 to 100. The maximum volume is configurable. It has low and high gain. The volume control with 100 steps is very precise and it is always possible to adjust it to the desired point.

Interface and usage:

The menu is somewhat curious, has an initial mosaic with 6 "buttons", are as follows:

• Music Browser
• Music Settings
• System Settings
• My Music
• Bluetooth Settings
• Music Playing

Pressing inside each button will access each menu:

As you can see, it has many options and features, it is not the subject of the following review to explain them all. It must be said that the operation is impeccable, there are no delays after pressing the keys. Everything works as it should, even being the first version of firmware.

I was able to test the Bluetooth with the car, the connection was fast. The reproduction was free of cuts and fluid. You can select the option "High Quality" to use the best playback quality via Bluetooth.

Sound and particular impressions

I'll start, like other times, talking about the output impedance. As it could not be otherwise in a player of this category, is inferior to 1Ω.

The frequency response is quite flat from 20 to 10kHz, thereafter decays to 20Khz at a value below 2%. According to the specifications the frequency response is 20Hz to 20kHz ±0.5dB..

The profile of the new X3II is similar to its predecessor, quite neutral throughout the range, with good level of detail and separation, pulling to the analytical side. It's a different sound to the Fiio I've heard (X1I, X1II, X3II, X5III) and this has been the reason for me to buy it: to run away from that somewhat dark and duller profile. I had the opportunity to try the xDuoo X3 a long time ago and its sound captivated me from the first listening, the sensation of clarity and openness, which I did not find in the Fiio, is what most caught my attention. After trying the DAC AK4490 in the Zishan Z3, I wanted the new xDuoo X3II to sound different from it, in the line of its predecessor, so I risked buying it. And it has been a success, everything I was looking for 100€ is there, even better.

The bass is very deep, slightly emphasized but never colored, not a warm DAP like the Fiio X3III, but seeks neutrality rather than warmth. This does not mean that the bass have a special point. Always under control, the X3II offers the necessary power in this segment when required, but with very good precision, detail and a remarkable resolution. Thanks to these qualities, the xDuoo is able to represent this range, from the deepest sub-bass to the lightest bass drum, with remarkable separation, something that is not within the reach of many DAPs.

The mids are reproduced under the same premises as the lower zone, where neutrality and openness again stand out, as well as the ability to extract details. The level of transparency and separation continues to stand out in this phase, without the precision of the mids meaning excess brilliance. The control and smoothness are still there to calm any wheezing. I insist that it is not a warm player and those looking for this kind of signature will have to buy something else. But it's not that it has a totally aseptic sound either, because the detail is displayed accurately but smoothly.

Trebles feel the same way, very slightly softened in the frequency curve but equally extensive. The maximums are delicate and subtle, clearly perceptible but free of any hardness.

But, in my opinion, the strong point of this DAP is the amplitude of the sound. In my quest to widen the stage, I go up small steps with every € I spend. And I'm sure I'll make it. And that's where I enjoy the most, with the separation, clarity, transparency, cleanliness and naturalness of the remarkable scene of this DAP.

Comparisons

xDuoo X3II vs xDuoo X3I



The sound of both have a very similar profile, but is the qualitative leap to sound level between them very big? Not really. The differences exist: the old version has a brighter sound, but also harder, treble is a little sharper, a little out of control. While in the new version they sound softer, less hurtful, more pleasant to my ears. Bass also differ, the sub-bass extends more, there is some emphasis on them, more depth and definition. Bass in the old version are drier, it doesn't feel like they go down so much giving a slight trimming sensation, although perhaps they have more of a presence in the middle bass. As for mids, the thing is very equal, I only find some incidence in the voices of the old version, due to that greater brightness it has. Globally it could be said that the new version is a little warmer than the old one.

In terms of scene the new version is better, although not for long. There is also more clarity, more space, more air and separation. The sound in the old version is more compact and tight.

xDuoo X3II vs Shanling M0



The M0 is one of the DAPs to beat. For its price, size, performance and power, it is a tough rival. In terms of size you can not compete with it. In addition to having a touch screen, good battery life, has a unique power, reaching up to 1.4V output. The profile of the M0 is reminiscent of the first xDuoo X3, but is more refined and softer. And although I think they have many similarities, the sound of the M0 is also an evolution on this first X3.

With respect to the new X3II, the M0 has the most present treble, most marked, while the xDuoo X3II has the deepest bass. In the M0 it seems that the bass is somewhat displaced, brighter, the sub-bass does not descend so much.

In terms of separation and scene the X3II is somewhat better, the details are perceived more separated, somewhat sharper. I find the X3II more precise. The scene is bigger in the X3II, as there is more air between the details, you perceive more three-dimensionality in the image. The sound is also wider in the X3II.

In terms of scene and instrumental recreation, as well as separation, I prefer the new xDuoo because I find it richer in details.

In general, differences in sound are based on subtle details in each other's sound profile. But the xDuoo X3II fits more into my personal preferences.

In the same way that the M0 gains in size and touch screen, the X3II gains in power, almost doubling the M0, which is a barbarity.

It is clear that both are excellent DAPs for their price range, the choice of one or the other will only depend on our preferences, as neither of them will be disappointed, if we assume the price they are worth.



Conclusion

The new iteration of xDuoo's X3 is not only a step forward from the original wonder that was its predecessor, but it is a fully-fledged evolution that adapts to new technologies, adding a large handful of features capable of competing without any fear with the rest of the segment's DAPs. But in addition they are allowed to extend quality in the sound, advancing in the same sonorous signature, adding even more power and better duration of the battery. And all this at a round price, around 100€, a psychological barrier that, for many, already represents a serious expense for a dedicated DAP.



Ratings

• Construction 90%
• Comfort 80%
• Accessories 60%
• Sound 90%
• Quality/Price 100%