Overview of player FiiO X7 Mark II — successor of the traditions

In modern society, with its established tradition of over was impossible to produce one product and feel confident (of course, if you are «Hoegaarden Brewery»). The market of personal audio is no exception to the principle «go forward or die» it also provides a fully. Why FiiO decided not to tighten and renew your .

As is often the case, nothing supernova in the company do not have, the main burden of innovation this year came in , that's why gather a lot of prestigious design awards. Looking at this achievement X5-3, FiiO decided that the new X7 need this side socket. Mark 2 it got. About the change of design I will cover in the appropriate section, but for now let's talk about the filling. The player still works 4-core RK3188 processor, of course, not the new one, but for portable players is more than enough. To help him cope with hardship and pain, FiiO added device RAM, increase the total volume to 2 GB. To please the audiophile, the DAC has been upgraded to the Pro version of the ESS Sabre 9028, also added a third master oscillator, now DSD frequency is a multiple of 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz tatuada independently. Slightly increased the volume of the battery (enough to offset the voracity of more modern DAC) and added support for Quick Charge. For owners of large collections made support for the second memory slot, which, combined with 64 GB «on Board» gives a very impressive amount of storage. Processed and the internal layout, with shielding, improving protection from interference when working wireless modules.

Also took into account the complaints of AM1 and, in the spirit of fashionable trends «a day without balance», equipped with a X7 Mk2 «out of the box» a special version of the balanced amplifier AM3A with reduced power (which has benefited and consumption, and noise).

The Price increase did not, player in the U.S. are still sold for the same $ 650, but how much it will cost from our distributors, I don't know (the only thing we can say for certain — is that the official vendors it will be more expensive).

the

specifications

the

the
• Processor: 4-core RK3188 @ 1.4 GHz
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• RAM: 2 GB
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• DAC: ESS9028 PRO
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• OU: 2 x OPA1612 + 2 × OPA926
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• OS: Android 5.5.1
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• WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n (supports 5 GHz)
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• Bluetooth: Bluetooth V4.1, APT-X
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• Screen: of 3.97″ IPS TFT, 480 × 800, 16.8 M colors
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• onboard memory: 64 GB (user available ~55 GB)
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• External memory: 2 x MicroSD up to 256 GB
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• Entrance: MicroUSB (supports QuickCharge USB DAC, Doc)
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• Outputs: line, optical and coaxial S/PDIF
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• Outs of the complete amplifier: 3.5 mm and 2.5 mm balanced
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• Battery: 3800 mAh
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• charging Time: up to 2.5 hours with the usual adapter, less than 100 minutes with QC
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• operating Time (approximate): about 8 hours with a conventional outlet AM3A, about 7 with balanced
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• Support lossless formats: APE, ALAC, AIFF, FLAC, WMA
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• Support lossy formats: MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG
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• DSD Support: DSD64/128 (ISO, DSF, DFF), DXD: 352, 8 thous kHz
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• Dimensions: 128,7 mm x 67,2 mm × 15.5 mm
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• Weight: 212g

line out

the

the
• frequency Range: 5 Hz ~ 70 kHz （- 3dB）
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• Total harmonic distortion+noise: <0,0008% @ 1 kHz
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• Division: ≥103 @ 1 kHz
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• the Ratio signal/noise: ≥119 dB
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• Dynamic range: >114 dB
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• Voltage: >1.8 Vrms

3.5 mm output

the

the
• frequency Range: 6 Hz ~ 60 kHz （- 3dB）
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• Total harmonic distortion+noise: <0,003% @ 1kHz
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• Division: ≥73 @ 1 kHz
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• the Ratio signal/noise: ≥116 dB
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• Output impedance: <1,2 Ω
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• Voltage: >6 Vp-p
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• Capacity: ≥150 mW @ 32Ω, ≥17 mW @ 300Ω

Balanced output

the

the
• frequency Range: 6 Hz ~ 60 kHz （- 3dB）
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• Total harmonic distortion+noise: <0,003% @ 1kHz
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• Division: ≥97 @ 1 kHz
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• the Ratio signal/noise: ≥119 dB
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• Output impedance: <1.7 Ω
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• Voltage: >10 Vp-p
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• Capacity: ≥400 mW @ 32Ω, ≥63 mW @ 300Ω

the

Packing and delivery

Box FiiO learned to do even 5 years ago. Of course, no wooden boxes or is there a leatherette-covered plywood there. Traditional black cardboard core boxes and the same black «jacket» with minimal printing. Inside, just under the cover is the player, on a layer below — the included accessories. The kit includes:

the

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• Screwdriver to change the amps
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• Spare screws
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• Alternative side panel for amplifiers
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• Adapter for coaxial output
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• MicroUSB cable
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• Silicone case, immediately put on the player
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• Black with red thread leather cover

Also from the factory on the player screen is pasted protective glass (for which the manufacturer thanks, I always glue unevenly and bubbles).

In General, the package is more than good, but do not forget about the accessories: dock, remote, and everything else is a nice plus player. The kit, by the way, put the booklet is all of this stuff, for some reason, also mentioning about the headphones F1 and F3, although they are clearly not vapor X7-2.

the

Design

The Main change in the design we can see, in the left pane appeared the same as X5-3, the line with rocker navigation tracks, the volume wheel and play/pause. Also visible «drive» the power button on the top face and add around her signature red ring (FiiO decided to reflect upon its own identity). In fact, the design changes a little deeper, they give the X7 a second generation of more «adult». Left the tabs on the front and back panels that distinguished the first generation, the screen is now made almost flush with the body. Front panel logo has disappeared (step dare not all «big players»), slots for memory cards made with the trays, and it looks much more impressive. If we add to this high-quality Assembly (includes good click buttons, no loose wheel with a quality encoder) and the fit, now the FiiO can be compared with the players of the top echelon. Let's see how the model behaves for a few months of operation, but for example my A&K AK320 the volume wheel works a little worse than this player.

Controls that I mentioned above, there are still universal socket on the top panel (linear and coaxial optical outputs were added) and the connectors on the amplifier (normal and balanced). There and the bottom is a MicroUSB connector. Of course, in our age of rapid development of USB-C would like to see it, but this standard can not bring everything required for proprietary docking stations, so you have to use a 11-pin MicroUSB, compatible with the standard.

Perhaps, X7 of the second generation is for me the ultimate pocket-size device. If he had been just a little more, carry it in jeans pocket it would be unrealistic, and so a player with a little work, but is still there. New asymmetrical design puts the device ergonomics (from the first generation player is sometimes forgotten, that the answer button on each side). Then the device itself occupies a convenient position in the hand and fingers go straight to the button control.

Of Course, the second revision has retained the compatibility with the amplifier modules of the first model. To link them visually with a new side panel, the developers made part of the ledge, falling to the amplifier, removable. Such decision allowed to kill both birds with one stone — and design, and backward compatible. If you plan on using the X7-2 K5 offers a slim version of the nozzle included in the kit, the player will stand in the dock.

If you compare the new X5-3, it can be noted that the «younger brother» looks more catchy — absolutely straight angles, interesting texture front and back panels, black color makes it more «wow-spectacular». Steel «Titan» colour X7-2 gives the device more discreet, as well as suit often emphasizes the social status of the person.

Can Not fail to note the presence of features QuickCharge. In my tests with Pinnacle MEEAudio P1 in the role of load player worked 8 hours and 10 minutes with normal release and 7 hours and 5 minutes with balanced. The result is not a record, but that's the price of use «full» 9028 in a non-mobile version. Thus, the ability to charge a player an hour and a half to 100% becomes a very useful addition to functionality.

the

Firmware

Of Course, the main management work falls on the touch screen (it has improved, resolution has remained the same, but the contrast, the stock of brightness and viewing angles the grown). Under the screen is still gently blinking strip-indicator, you can still disable in the menu.

In the role of operating system as before, working Android but with IOM...