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Design and operation:
In contrast to the first two versions of the ZEN X-Fi has become easier to Latest a leaner and more especially. Easy in the sense of operating and construction. The keys only mechanically executed are also the most important: volume up, volume and on / off / lock.
Otherwise sets the X-Fi 3 around to 'trendy' operation via touch controls and a lot of high-gloss paint drum. Unfortunately, the touch control is not yet really mature, at least the player part responds slowly or only after multiple touch on user inputs. Here one is used by the current generation of smartphones more clearly. Even the high-gloss paint screams already formally by scratches and streaks' I do not know who has chosen this trend.
All in all I would have expected more given the price for the 8GB model. The plastic of the exterior is fine and could also be used for the back. Elegant would be given the greatest course a "unibody design" the back and side walls made of brushed aluminum have been. Much more expensive the product would be unlikely to become.
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Sound:
But we come to the main point, the sound. No matter how good a music player may look and no matter how simple it is to operate: with bad sound all 'is the worthless. I tested the ZEN X-Fi 3 with my Ultimate Ears triple.fi 10 in-ear headphones.
And in this point, the ZEN X-Fi can be 3 points in any case, because the sound is very clean and can be adjusted well. Solang the equalizer to "Standard / Off", everything seems a little dull, the setting "Rock" I liked the interaction very well with the UE's. The bass is so powerful, the voices clear but not too dominant and the highs well balanced therefore.
Also .flac files (verlusstfrei compressed audio data), the ZEN X-Fi 3 play, but only files with 16-bit resolution per sample and up to 48 kHz sampling rate. Here is also only the true potential of the D / A converter of the X-Fi. 3
Solely from the sound "tweaking" a la "X-Fi Crystalizer" should refrain. FLAC files sound dull at once and in good MP3 files can usually make no difference.
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Conclusion:
Vielklang at a fair price, unfortunately with defects in workmanship and service. A follow-up version with brushed aluminum instead of glossy plastic on the back and on the sides and optimized touch controls would have the makings of a classic. So, the Zen X-Fi 3 "only" good.
