I've read the critical reviews of the the X5 on this and other sites, and from some of the more extravagant criticisms, you'd think you were getting something the size of a house brick that is impossible to use, buggy, and falls apart if breathed on. Unless you really absolutely MUST have something the size of an iPod, then this is still a small item that you can easily carry around. The unit is very well built, it is robust, and works perfectly well. A lot of the early criticisms about the operating system have been dealt with by firmware upgrades (which are very easy to download). As for the operating system, the hallmark of good design is that you can work out function without opening the operating manual. Unless you are seriously hard of thinking, you can work out what everything does with no more than five minutes of exploration. And if you do find anything difficult, there are instructions in the packaging that should tell you all you need to know.
The X5 has slots for two micro SD cards with a max of 128 GB each, meaning that at the moment you can store 256 GB of music, which should keep most people entertained for a while. When larger cards become readily available, Fiio have promised firmware upgrades to accommodate these. Formatting the cards takes about thirty seconds. Inserting and withdrawing the cards is fiddly but not difficult and even my large hands (I take an XXL in gloves) managed it without any swearing. As to storing music on the cards, I advise putting them in a card adapter and putting them in a card reader slot in your computer if you have the facilities to do this. Loading a full 128 GB of music onto a card takes several hours on most systems. This is not a fault of Fiio, however, and applies to all manufacturers. But on the plus side you are not likely to be doing this task all that often.
Regarding the sound quality of the Fiio, it is excellent. I started into hi def portable music with the Sony Walkman, which is competent, but the Fiio blows it out of the water. The sound is controlled, erring slightly towards the bass, but you can easily adjust the frequency balance using the easy to use sound equaliser that is integral to the X5. The exact impression of the sound of course depends on the headphones used. I use Atomic Floyd Super Darts, which are pretty bass heavy. The X5 gives a good controlled bass that on the Sony and my iPhone and iPad tended to run amok, even on ALAC files. Generally speaking, the quality of sound from the X5 demonstrably improves the higher the sampling rate. I am well aware that nobody supposedly can reliably hear any improvement past CD quality, but this ignores the fact that some hi def albums are specially mixed to take account of the audiophile market. The X5 definitely can cope with good quality high def recordings and show them off well, remaining controlled and not getting swamped with distortion and blurred sound images when the volume goes up.
Whilst the Fiio is excellent by itself, if you combine it with the Fiio E12 amplifier, the sound quality goes up yet another notch. Basically, you use the line out option on the X5 and feed the raw sound into the E12 to amplify. There is a definite improvement in control and sound stage. You can also get a special kit (about £10) to connect the E12 and X5 together, and it is well worth the money.
Very strongly recommended.
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 January 2015
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I studied all the reviews of modern gear and they all seem to offer good sound but had a few drawbacks
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