CONCLUSION
The X3 may not be so pretty display-wise but – button pressing apart – was one of the easiest players I have used to date. The menu system is visually unattractive and the buttons not so lovely either, but they are usable and the X3 never once crashed, with its old or new firmware. It fired up quickly and got on with playing music, always sounding easy and entertaining. Because FiiO have used a good DAC and headphone amplifier it delivers high-resolution music with gusto.
    It will play compressed MP3s, iTunes files and such like (but not .aiff), CD rips and modern 24/96 or 192 material too. At the price it’s a great portable, and a good high-quality domestic digital player. It isn’t up with the Astell&Kerns, but it isn’t their price either.
    The X3 is great entertainment though – and a fine budget starting point in high-resolution digital.


FiiO X3 PORTABLE DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER,   £150  (U.K.)



EXCELLENT - extremely capable

VALUE - keenly priced

VERDICT
An affordable high resolution digital player that can drive a hi-fi or headphones. Excellent quality and value.

FOR
- sound quality
- line output for hi-fi
- small and light

AGAINST
- basic display panel
- no touch display
- downsamples 192k

Advanced MP3 Players

+44 (0)843 289 6880

www.advancedmp3players.co.uk