r/FiiO

▲ 4 r/FiiO

Need help/advice as an amateur

So I have been looking into FIIO the past month or so. I am torn between the 4GB/64GB JM21 and the M21. Is there really any value to getting the M21? I do like the cassette holder/case for it as it's super nostalgic, but the 4 DAC vs 2 DAC, is it worth a 100+ upgrade. Is the cassette holder more of a gimmick and the JM21 is enough for 95% plus of listeners?

Also, what would be the best all around iem for either of these? I want to spend less that $100 ideally but could go up to $120-$150 if I hold off a little longer. As for my musical tastes, I listen to anything from old big band to classic rock/blues to metal to rap. I have an eclectic taste in music. That being said, I am guessing a neutral sound would be good instead of (looking through research on different IEM types) a V or bass heavy. If I am wrong please let me know. IEMs I am considering are: Zero:Red, Juzear x Z Defiant, KZ ZS10 Pro, Hexa, or EM6L (this is a higher priced than current budget but I have seen good review on this. Also, part of me also wants to get the EH11 for the retro look too haha.

What are your opinions? Any help is appreciated. I have seen a lot of posts, but I want to get up to date responses in case there are any additional factors.

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u/xXIIIx — 14 hours ago
▲ 1 r/FiiO

What are the physical dimensions of the K11?

Metric preferred but I take anything.
Found a few measurements online, none of which agree with each other.

Height, width and depth.

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u/Wormminator — 15 hours ago
▲ 6 r/FiiO+1 crossposts

Is it worth upgrading from FiiO M21 to FiiO M33 R2R?

I’m currently using the FiiO M21 and considering upgrading to the FiiO M33 R2R.

For those who’ve tried both (or similar setups), is the upgrade actually worth it in terms of sound quality? Will I hear a noticeable difference, or is it more of a subtle “audiophile” improvement?

Would love to hear your experiences 🙏

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u/hashanr — 1 day ago
▲ 13 r/FiiO+2 crossposts

[NEWS] Echo Mini Firmware 3.4.0 Causes Track Order Bug

The firmware 3.4.0 update for the Echo Mini, released yesterday (April 24), is causing issues with track ordering. See user reports and learn how to temporarily resolve the problem.

u/VFValeri — 1 day ago
▲ 32 r/FiiO

Like a next generation Walkman.. Fiio DISC - CS43131 - ($98)

After spending some time with the FiiO DISC, I started to realize it does much more than its size and price suggest.
This is a compact digital audio player built around a dual CS43131 DAC architecture and features a touchscreen.

It can deliver a refined output that is clean, efficient, and without excessive power consumption. In practice, it becomes something even more interesting. It's a fast, intuitive device ideal for everyday use, with a surprisingly mature sound.

You can follow all my reviews here 

First Impressions (Sound Signature and User Experience)

With the CS43131 DAC chip it houses, the DISC offers a musical yet controlled signature. It has a rather enjoyable presentation.

The bass is clean and slightly boosted, but avoids unnecessary bloat. It focuses on speed and clarity. The sub bass reaches well when the track requires it, but never feels exaggerated. The mid bass has a subtle warmth that gives body to drums and bass lines, but always remains under control.

The mid frequencies are the range where the DISC shows its character. There's a slight smoothness here, but it's not colored. Vocals are natural, slightly front and very easy to follow. Instruments are well separated and there's a sense of layering you don't always get at this level. It doesn't aggressively force details, but brings them out naturally.

The treble is clean and well extended. It offers a balanced sense of airiness. Cymbals sound realistic, not metallic or overly clear. Long listening sessions are effortless, and that's more important than the initial sparkle.

The soundstage is surprisingly well structured. The width is above average for this class, but it was the depth that impressed me more. There's a clear sense of front and rear layering. The rendering is stable and believable, not artificially exaggerated. You enjoy listening to it.

If I had to summarize the sound signature:

Balanced, Slightly musical, Clean but not sterile, Not tiring, Very consistent

User Interface and Ease of Daily Use

This is where the DISC really stands out, in my opinion.

The touchscreen is responsive, fluid, and easy to navigate. There's no lag that breaks the immersion. Navigating large music libraries feels natural, and the overall user interface design is clean and intuitive. You don't need to learn, you just start using it.

The menus are logically structured. Library browsing, playback controls, Bluetooth settings, and system options are all where you'd expect them to be. There's no unnecessary complexity. At the same time, it doesn't feel limited.

The startup time is fast. Shutting down is equally fast. This might seem like a small detail, but it makes a big difference in daily use. You pick it up, press the button, and start listening within seconds.

FiiO's approach to software updates is also worth mentioning. Over the years, they've earned a reputation for actively supporting their devices. Updates aren't just about bug fixes; they often improve stability, performance, and sometimes even audio behavior. This level of consistency places them among the most trusted brands in terms of long term user satisfaction.

Of course, it's a new device and still not entirely perfect. Minor glitches are quickly fixed by Fiio with updates, but the issues that might bother you during a month of daily use seem to have significantly decreased with the latest update.

Bluetooth Performance and LDAC (Sony Codec) Experience

The DISC's Bluetooth performance is excellent for its class.

LDAC support really makes a difference. When paired with Tanchjim RITA Bluetooth Headphones, the connection remained stable without interruption throughout long listening sessions. The Bluetooth 6 implementation clearly makes a difference here.

The sound quality via LDAC is truly impressive. There is a noticeable increase in resolution compared to standard codecs. It maintains bass control, mid frequencies remain clear, and the highs retain their smooth extension. It doesn't feel like the experience has been compromised.

What impressed me most was the consistency. Whether I was walking around the house or using it outdoors, the connection remained stable. There were no random interruptions, no sudden drops in quality. My wife confirmed the same consistency in daily use.

For a device in this price range, this level of wireless performance is not only acceptable but competitive.

* Performance with 5 different IEMs, including Punch Audio Martilo, is in the link. >>

You can read the rest of the in-depth review here >>

Pros

Very clean and balanced sound signature with CS43131 DAC
Excellent control across all frequency ranges
Very good compatibility with both simple and complex IEM’s
Fast and responsive user interface (I loved this)
Stable and high quality LDAC codec (Sony) Bluetooth performance
Strong software support and brand reliability
Compact and practical design
Very strong price performance ratio

Cons

Soundstage depth is naturally a bit behind more expensive models
Power output may be limited for demanding headphones
Not ideal for those seeking ultra analytical sound

Fiio Disc Official Link

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Disclaimer: I would like to thank Fiio for providing the Disc Player for review purposes. I am not affiliated with Fiio beyond this review and these words reflect my true and unaltered opinions about the product.

All Photographed taken by me (ADR) from Instagram: u/electroaudioworld

Used photo Gear : Sony A7 III + Sigma 24–70mm F/2.8 DG DN II Art Lens

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u/Afraid-Bunch6373 — 1 day ago
▲ 2 r/FiiO

Any way to create playlists for Snowsky Echo?

Hi there!

Just got my Echo few days ago, and I'm pretty stoked with it. Already filled it with about 600 flacs, but there's one issue I have with it.

It either goes through metadata (album, artist, etc) or directories. There's no way (or I don't see one) to create a Playlist. Like reference songs that are already on the device to play them in some set order.

Sure, I can put them in directories and play from there, but this doesn't solve the issue if I want to have a particular song in several playlists. In this scenario I have to have duplicates of this song in every directory that is considered a playlist.

I can also play around with tags, and add the songs that I want to have in a playlist to some fake album, but that's also not ideal.

What would be the best - support for the standard .m3u8 files. But either I'm stupid, or there's no such capability in the device.

Cheers!

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u/Leniwcowaty — 1 day ago
▲ 3 r/FiiO

Is this blue, cyan or white?

In the online guide, it states:

SBC - Cyan light pulsing

LDAC - White light pulsing

However, inside the app, I can't find SBC, and I only activated LDAC, which should be white. I see the color as cyan but maybe due to the quality of led it's not purely "white".

I'm using it on a Windows with lossless Spotify and Sony WH-1000XM4.

u/goreneko — 1 day ago
▲ 1 r/FiiO

Fiio Disc firmware update

I just bought Fiio Disc and I am trying to update the firmware from V1.43 to V1.56, I followed the instruction online which is to download the firmware then drag it to the storage without extracting. I still can't update and is still stuck in V1.43, am I missing something?

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u/DidIgetRichToday — 2 days ago
▲ 1 r/FiiO

Control App - IOS?

I’ve got the KA15 portable and tried the Control App which didn’t detect the device. Just continuous spinning arrows when I try the “choose a device” menu. Does the IOS version just not work properly?

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u/Bewgnish — 1 day ago
▲ 1 r/FiiO

Fiio KA selection.

ok, i've been using the ka3 for a while now and unfortunately, it has stopped working.
so i'm keen to get user inputs on what to go for next.
i use the sony IER-Z1R as my main driver and the S24 Ultra, macbook pro M3 as my main working tools.

I don't need all the fancy displays and EQ settings.
Hence, any advice which is the next KA to go for that suits my needs?

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u/rdbmas — 1 day ago
🔥 Hot ▲ 258 r/FiiO+1 crossposts

No difference in sound quality between my new Fiio M21 and my $29 TRN black pearl dac

u/jspecefini35 — 6 days ago
▲ 2 r/FiiO

DM15 70-minute glitch

I just bought a DM15 and I saw a review stating that both it and the DM13 can't handle anything past the 70 minute mark on a given CD. It claims that, past that point, it starts to either skip uncontrollably or randomly stop playing.

I've only seen the one review making this claim. Has anybody else seen this issue or anything like it?

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u/SociallyIneptBoy — 2 days ago
▲ 1 r/FiiO

Fiio FT1 - Focusrite Scarlett Solo

Hi all,

My Corsair Void headset has kicked the bucket and wanted to finally upgrade to a decent set of cans.

Already have a King Bee mic going to a Scarlett Solo and wanted to know if this would be sufficient for FT1s?

These will unlikely ever be used away from the desktop so something like the BTR7 etc would be a bit overkill.

Cheers

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u/Moobert7 — 3 days ago