X3 User Guide -2
(192KHz/24Bit USB DAC)
Be applicable to any versions beyond FW2.05
Foreword:
This article will detail the preparations and precautions regarding using the X3
as a USB DAC, and the USB DAC driver installation method. Frequently asked
questions will also be answered. Please study this article in detail for a quick
trouble-free installation of the X3 as a USB DAC.
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Contents
1. Items to prepare before driver installation: 3
2. Precautions: 3-4
3. Driver installation steps 4-8
4. Operating instructions 8
5. Frequently asked questions 8-9
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1. Items to prepare before driver installation:
The X3, a TF card (microSD card), the computer, USB cable, ASIO driver and the firmware
provided with this article.
2. Precautions:
1. For desktop computers, connect the X3 to a USB port on the rear of the case, not the
front. This is because front USB ports on desktop computers are connected to the
motherboard via long unshielded cables. As a result, front USB ports have low power
output, low transfer speeds and are prone to electrical interference, degrading sound
quality or causing crackling / dropouts.
2. When the X3 is decoding 192k/24bit audio via USB, the required data throughput is
huge. A high quality USB cable, with low signal loss and good shielding, is required.
Please use the original USB cable provided with the X3 if possible. If you need to
purchase another cable, please do not buy generic USB cables (including cables
provided with most smartphones), but buy USB-to-micro-USB cables from a reputable
brand supporting the USB2.0 standard.
3. If the X3 doesn't work as a USB DAC after installation of the driver, please try rebooting
the computer.
4. With Windows XP computers, the X3 will not enter the DAC interface before
installation of the driver. This is normal. You may proceed with installing the driver
normally.
5. Known issue: the driver will fail to install on Windows 8 64bit computers. This is
related to the driver signature module. The driver has not been signed for Windows 8
64bit and will not work while driver signature enforcement is in effect. Please disable
driver signature enforcement as follows:
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Mouse over upper right corner of screen->settings->Change PC settings->General->
Advanced->start-up->Restart
now->Troubleshoot->Advanced options->Start-up Settings->Restart
After such a restart, the computer will be able to install unsigned drivers, but give a
warning when this happens (as is the case with installation in XP, Vista, Windows 7), just
click “Install anyway” to proceed.
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http:// b bs. p cbeta. c om/ v iewthread- 1 122886- 1 - 1 . h tml
Please refer to above threads to know more, or Refer to this video for a walkthrough of
the process.
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6.The driver attached to this article should only be run on windows systems. Mac and Linux
computers have no need for such a driver and will be able to use the X3's USB DAC function
as soon as the X3's firmware is updated.
3. Driver installation steps (using Windows 8 as example)
1. Upgrade the X3's firmware to version beyond FW2.05 as follows:
Copy the “x3.fw”file provided by FiiO to the root directory of a TF (microSD) card formatted
in FAT32 and insert the card into the X3. With the X3 powered off, hold down both the
menu and power on buttons until the upgrade via TF dialog shows up on the screen.
When the progress bar to the upgrade is completed, the player will restart automatically.
Precaution: The TF (microSD) card should preferably be 32GB or smaller, and be a blank
card formatted in FAT32. Please ensure the X3's battery is sufficiently charged (preferably
fully charged) to prevent failure during the upgrade. Please do not touch the player's
buttons while the upgrade is in progress. If the upgrade fails the first time, please hold
the power button for over 10 seconds to perform recovery, and repeat the actions
described in this step (1) to complete the upgrade. After upgrade is complete, please
refresh the songs database.
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2. After upgrade is complete, a USB mode will be added to the X3's system settings menu:
DAC mode. This is the new default. The other mode is mass storage mode (the old mode).
3. After confirming that the USB mode is “DAC”, connect the X3's micro USB port to the
computer's USB port via the prepared USB cable. (for desktop computers, please
connect to a rear port and not a port on the front panel), and the X3 will enter the
USB DAC interface after startup (except when connected to a windows XP computer).
Double click the in the driver package attached to this article, and the following dialog
will pop up:
Click Next
Use the default installation path and click Install
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While the installation is proceeding, the following warning dialog will pop up more
than once (usually twice). Select “install this driver software anyway” each time the dialog
pops up:
Select “install this driver software anyway”
Next>
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The above dialog will pop up indicating successful installation of the driver. Click Next.
Click Finish to complete installation.
Icon would appear at the bottom right corner:
After installed the driver, set “FiiO X3” as the default audio play device.
(Control panel>Sound>Playback).
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4. Operating instructions
Key functions:
Previous / down and Next / up : In USB DAC mode, these
two buttons are used to select between the 5 options in the DAC interface.
Menu / back :no function on short press. A long press exits the X3 from
USB DAC mode and puts it back in the main menu.
Volume down “-“ : a short press lowers the volume one step while a long press lowers
the volume continuously down to the minimum.
Volume up “+” : a short press increases the volume one step while a long press increases
the volume continuously up to the maximum.
Power on / off | Play / Pause : a short press mutes the DAC, a
second short press unmutes. A long press switches off the X3 directly.
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5. Frequently asked questions
1. When switching between songs of different sample rates, there will be a slight pop
sound. This is caused by the WM8740 changing its system clock.
2. When you change TTPlayer's output device from wave out to KS (kernel streaming), it
may show a “cannot open” error. Please restart TTPlayer to fix this.
3. Why can't I adjust the X3's volume from the computer?
A: You may adjust the music player's output options. If wave out or Directsound output is
chosen, both the computer and X3 may adjust the volume. If kernel streaming or ASIO is
chosen, only the X3 may adjust the volume.
4. Can the X3 switch between storage and DAC modes without switching off or pulling
the USB cable?
A: No. Please unplug the USB cable, change the USB mode on the X3 and then replug.
Or change the mode, switch off or reset the X3 and turn it back on.
5. Is the X3's decoding synchronous, adaptive or asynchronous?
A: Asynchronous transfer and decoding.
6. Changes in the X3's volume, bass / treble settings, and channel balance in DAC mode
will be reflected back in player mode and vice versa.
7. Under windows XP, using Directsound or wave out, playing songs with sample rates
64kHz, 32kHz and under 32kHz, the X3 will show the sample rate as 192kHz. The coaxial
output will also be upsampled to 192kHz (e.g. while connected to the E17 for decoding)
8. The X3 always shows the output bit depth as 24bits, even when the song itself is 16
bit. This is because the data is padded to 24bits before sending to the internal DAC and
is a known issue.
