Slowly getting there 😅. Saved up enough to purchase a 7hz timeless and couldn't be happier with the sound it produces. Just ordered the M11 plus to step up in the audiophile game.
I don't think the Apple dongle is meant to enhance or improve the music. Its purpose is to allow the use of a headphone when using an Apple product since they have eliminated the headphone jack from newer devices, like their iPads and iPhones.
Hi, nice video thank you, I have the Fiio M11 pro, really nice to, very good quality/price balance. I live in Belgium and I like your music choice, Hooverphonic (Belgian group !) and Air (my favourite but French group). Do you know Arsenal ? Not de football club but the music group form Belgium, look after Outsides, good album if you don’t know 👌 🙂
Does it support Apple music at bit perfect without resampling and bypassing SRC? Some reddit articles says that Apple music can be installed but cannot login to the account in Fiio M11 plus ESS.
You reach 100 volume with DCA Stealth? Was that on balanced out? I used to own the AKM version of this and it was comfortable driving HD800 at 70+ volume on balanced.
I have the older M11 Pro. It has a battery problem. when left on the charger for long periods of time, the battery bloats. I've now gone though two batteries, it appears to work without a battery so thats how it will stay. Any battery problems in the newer models?
I have a LG V60 and LG V50 both running Android 12 and i confirme, they sound way better than my Fiio M11. The only thing missing is a 4.4 mm Balanced Jack. I hope LG make a comeback with a new V-version that has a 4.4mm Balanced Jack, it will be "The King off DAP"
Original M11? Also, what do you mean by "way better"? For some people, a brighter, harsher sound is "way better". For others, more bass is "way better". For me, more detail and resolution is "better". :)
No phone comes close to even the old Fiio M11. I have heard all the LG phones and their sound isn’t that great. The LG V60 isn’t even as good as a decent dongle DAC. So please don’t start spreading lies 🤥
These things are a shakedown. In the early 80's when the Walkman launched, I received one as a gift. The whole idea of wired headphones were a pain as you had limited movement with them. Listening to audio from a quality hifi was way better. In the modern age everytime you purchased a mobile phone, they gave you headphones which were crap. I did however reluctantly bought a pair of wireless earbuds when I wanted to listen to music at work and to take/make wireless/handless calls. I did think about getting an amplifier for the earbuds because I like to listen to music, loud. Then I realised it becomes a wired system again that I hate. Furthermore I discovered that the latest high quality phones already have the technology built in. Like all tech every model becomes redundant in 6 month period as an updated device hits the market. So all this is, is posh toy for yuppies & wannabees. Sorry to say.
I have to disagree with you there, if you bought this particular DAP you'd find loudness is not an issue as are wires because Bluetooth technology has come on leaps and bounds and these products are not aimed at who you suggest, but those who want the highest quality sound in regard for their love of music. The DAC's in mobile phones are getting there, but are pretty sub standard compared to a dedicated device and aimed at those wannabees as you put it, just like the earbuds, for people more about the brand type than the quality of sound you actually get.
My thoughts/impressions I've had this device for five months, and I was able to download Qobuz (and Tidal/Spotify, etc.) directly from the play store (I live in the US) with zero issues. In my opinion, the M11 has plenty of power to drive full-size headphones like the Aeon Closed Noire and the 6XX (using the 4.4 output). I mostly use it for offline listening, and it's great for that. Wifi streaming is very solid. I also plan on using it in DAC mode (with the Fiio doc) when my new JDS Labs Element 3 arrives next week. I previously owned a Hiby R5 Saber, and I much prefer the Fiio. Great review, I learned some things about the player that I didn't know.
can you download hi-res from apple music to the sd card? when you listen offline can you play the dowloaded hi-res music in hi-res format or is it downgraded to lower resolution? thanks
Yeah dude I also have have the hiby r6 gen 3, I had the fiio m11 plus ess first, but when I saw the hiby I just loved the design so I just pulled the trigger on it, I didn't think it would sound any better than my fiio but I was wrong, it blows it out the water.
@@cocktailuk I have the fiio but I didn't like it very much, I found it too soft in the mid-high frequencies, not engaging, a little too warm for my taste. R6 iii is more engaging and resolving?
All I actually want is a device that fits my whole music library (20000 songs right now), I don't have the best ears, so I don't really care about audio quality that much. Any ideas?
1 or 2 tb micro sd card interfaced with the latest smartphone via a USB C multi adapter with whichever music file type you choose. A pair of Sony top of the line earbuds or headphones. Your preference. An app of your choice to listen to your music.
I've had the first M11 for 3 years. I use Poweramp for music. The built in Fiio music app stinks. Whoever wrote it should be ashamed. The player feels like a small brick in your pocket. It cost me just under $700. It's audio is better than my phone's but NOT $600 better. Not even close. Maybe 10% better in some cases. No better in most cases. Even using lossless FLAC files the M11 is no better than a phone. That's one reason the audiophile hobby is dead. The same reason Apple iPods are dead. With a good set of earphones phone audio is good enough. I drive a nice Honda Accord and not a Rolls Royce. Same idea.
True! You can get better listening quality for half of the price..M11 Plus is drastically overprized..sounds really dull and lifeless..have sold mine after 2 weeks..
There are benefits to not having unnecessary electronic components cramped in a small space. Even today, electronic noise is real. And even with DAP, manufacturers compete in isolating certain components from internal and external interference.
Have the original M11 Plus Ltd. with the AKM 4497s. Sounds good but runs hot and is a battery hog. This one makes more sense. Get the upgrade real leather case it's much nicer. Much more aesthetically pleasing. Thanks again Amos.
Really appreciate your thorough reviews! i,ve been pairing a MOJO with my iphone and samsung tablet (for usb audio) and wondered if there was a good all in one option. Clearly I need to step up in price to get the same or better sound. Ill be content with what i have, yay!
I find my mojo does not sound nearly as good out of my iPhone or iPad. I don’t now why :| I’m comparing to feeding it from a laptop with a “Curious cable” or optical from my Allo DigiSignature One. Otherwise, I absolutely love my mojo and can only see replacing it with something bigger in the Chord line up.
I never has any experience with a dap mostly used my smartphone to stream music. At this point I'm thinking of investing in a dap mainly to play music in my vehicle. My vehicle have a very decent audio setup that sounds great when using Bluetooth from my phone to my vehicle. I was wondering if investing in a dap would make any difference in sound quality? Edited is this dap support usb output hoping to use it as wired connection instead of Bluetooth. Thanks
I've a Samsung galaxy s23 ultra with a dragonfly cobalt connection to kef lsx active speakers. I don't really need a fiio as sound is as good as dap? Thanks
Hello, I have a question; which sounds better, the Mojo 2 or the M11 plus? I have the Mojo 2 and I wonder if I should buy Chord Poly to use airplay on the go or a FiiO M11 Plus to connect Mojo 2, instead of Poly (Since they cost the same in my country)
Are you guys using the DSD feature. I have mixed feelings about the setting. Mids and highs sound better, I think but bass takes a hit. Is the setting legit or a gimmick? Thanks for any help
Your still buying your music through a streaming service. The quality of the music being received through those services doesn't lose some sound quality like playing it through a sub quality player?
If you select lossless audio, then they are obligated to give you un-adulterated audio. There was an issue some years ago where some of the music that was available had watermarking added, but that was removed. Then, there's MQA, which is (was?) an outright scam. That being said, if you use a streaming service, make sure to switch off any volume levelling in the app.
I get the impression the dap market is dying..dongles are way more popular now...look at COWON they are pretty much finished..the older generation like myself still love daps it seems...I remember Wolfson DACs..I still love that warm sound ☺️
Too bad most smartphones sound like crap! I cannot stand Bluetooth audio, either. I only use my iPhone14 with my car for music at times, or content, but that's about it.
Right now im using samsung m71 offline mode, with cayin ru6 and neutron player, very satisfied with the sound quality, and of course great battery life with 7000mah battery from m71.
I am not sure I would shell out this much money.The two that I would look at would be $400- Shanking 3X or Hiby R5 which gives you the streaming that sub #200 Hidizy does not but $700 is a lot for the extra features and screen etc
I play it for the last 3 months with fir audio vxv and I love it, battery life is great , and I love it that nobody can interrupt you like on a phone (that’s the biggest reason why I bought it) just love the quality and its more alive than a much more expensive Lotoo touch and not the software problems that you get for free with an A&K
You can get cards up to 1TB or 1024 GB. But beware, there are a bunch of no-name or random name cards out there that are fake. Here's a list of cards I recommend: Recommended "must have" genuine micro SD cards on Amazon: (Affiliate links) Sandisk Extreme (32GB to 1TB): amzn.to/3zrw9Xm (Very fast. Shown in video.) Sandisk Extreme Pro 1TB: amzn.to/3MJOmpl (If you need speed.) Sandisk Ultra (32GB to 1TB): amzn.to/3LLzohd (Better value, especially the 400GB card.) PNY (64GB to 1TB): amzn.to/3gmseDC Samsung EVO (32GB to 512GB): amzn.to/2v76uX5 (Shown in video.) Lexar (Up to 1TB): amzn.to/3MKvDtv (Very fast cards.) Silicon Power (64GB to 256GB): amzn.to/2S5T6vz (Lesser known, but good brand.) Other cards: Teamgroup: (16GB to 1TB) amzn.to/35mb9U0 (Ratings are all for lower capacities. The reliability of this brand for 1TB cards is unknown.) Amplim (16GB to 1TB): amzn.to/3glLxwG (See the comments where someone tested the 1TB card. Long-term reliability is unknown.)
can i download hi-res songs from apple music on the sd card and play them offline without downgrading to lower resolution? your answer would help me decide whether to buy this or not. I only listen to apple music and dont have any other music files. thanks.
This review helped persuade me into a purchase. I absolutely love this unit. I'm mainly using Tidal Master off-line. Using a brand new pair of Focal Clear. Total cost out was about 1500$ . On the go, I'm going to pick up some of the above Fh9 IEM's.
Can this DAP by controlled by a phone using bluetooth? For example if you put this device on a desk (audio setup) can it be remote controlled by another phone? Would be cool if that's possible.
Existe de fato um ganho rela na qualidade e percepção de som melhor com estes modelos? e agora está no mercado novos modelos, o FiiO M11 Plus ESS e o FiiO M15 PRO. eu gostaria de saber se terei muitas diferenças ou perda de qualidade, porquê atualmente eu uso Black Shark 3. e eu queria um ganho verdadeiro de qualidade e eu não entendo muito. Muito obrigado! Is there really a real gain in quality and better sound perception with these models? and now new models are on the market, the FiiO M11 Plus ESS and the FiiO M15 PRO. I would like to know if I will have many differences or loss of quality, because I currently use Black Shark 3. and I wanted a real gain in quality and I don't understand much. Thank you very much!
How is the shuffle music option, I noticed my android phone music player sucks under the shuffle...ipod mastered the shuffle option if I had a 1000 songs Ipod would start from 1 and shuffle every song in the library until reaching 1000 songs on my android will repeat songs already played in shuffle 😑....I download several music apps and none have a true shuffle , it should shuffle from the 1st song selected and play every song until reaching 1000
You can use any music software on this that you can on your phone, so I'd suggest trying the FiiO music player and other apps on your phone first, as the experience on the M11 will be the same.
@@Currawong great point, just downloaded the fiio app and it has the shuffle option but it doesn't eliminate each song played while shuffling, if i have a 1000 songs a real shuffle will eliminate each song until it reaches 1000...but I guess ipod was the only device to do it
The AKM dacs are the truth and the light. I've always settled with ESS devices with price point in mind. But when i decided to splurge for the AKM devices, I am NEVER let down....
I wish they shrunk this down to the size and weight of the Fiio BTR7. This thing is a giant brick, too big for most pants pockets, unless you wear cargo pants and stuff them in there.
Can you use this as a dedicated dac for your 2ch stereo like plug this in a aux solution in your amp/preamp then listen to music that way will that work? Or is the dac only for a computer solution
You can use it as a music player with a 2-channel system instead of headphones, yes. That is, play music stored on the DAP. You'd just plug in an AUX (3.5mm to RCA) cable, and set it to "PO" mode, with or without volume control as desired.
Currawong, you are a legend I have watched your reviews for years. I would be grateful if you could advise. I was about to purchase this player, but am concerned if it is powerful enough. I will be using firstly with bluetooth headphones Focal Bathys (which are amazing) and will probably purchase more high end IEMs later. Is there another DAP you could recommend that would be a bit better than the Fiio 11 plus but not overly expensive. I am reluctant to buy Astell and Kern as I used to have the 120 and 240 and felt I was just paying for the design. I am not sure what they are like now though. I think the Fiio M17 would be too overkill. Thank you again.
Great video. Thank you. I am very close to buying my next dap. This is my top three. What would you recommend if i wanted a better amp and wanted to watch more UA-cam videos
An iPad or iPad mini with one of the better USB dongle DACs. That'll cost the same or less than one of the $1000+ DAPs that have better headphone drive and you wont be chained to the hardware. You'll also have a vastly better viewing experience than on a DAP.
Really ? Hmm. Well, i don’t want to carry my ipad around. I want more power than an iPod touch. And my samsung s22 ultra is out of the question.@@Currawong
I am looking for something to brighten up my car stock speakers. I was mainly interested in the BTR7 then the m11 plus and q7 dsd512 caught my attention. Any suggestions which one would be best for my usage? Thanks
I never has any experience with a dap mostly used my smartphone to stream music. At this point I'm thinking of investing in a dap mainly to play music in my vehicle. My vehicle have a very decent audio setup that sounds great when using Bluetooth from my phone to my vehicle. I was wondering if investing in a dap would make any difference in sound quality? Edited is this dap support usb output hoping to use it as wired connection instead of Bluetooth. Thanks
Does that USB Audio app have the potential to let me use an aptX Adaptive dongle with the M11 Plus? It doesn’t work as-is just now. Waiting to see if FiiO resolve this issue via an update but keen to see if this app is a workaround.
@@Currawong oh a variety of Chinese ones… does the KB8P/KB9P mean anything to you? I have another which is USB-C and I don’t really know what it’s called. They’re all quite similar. Work fine with PC/Mac/iOS/iPadOS/Samsung Android.
@@Currawong I don’t understand. Are you passing judgement on the dongles??? So, if you have the M11 Plus and the UTWS5… would you just settle for aptX Classic on the UTWS5? I’m hoping they add LHDC to the M11 Plus in an update and then I can use that directly with the UTWS5. The codec is available for AOSP. Doesn’t seem like LDAC is coming, allegedly because it doesn’t work well in TWS earbuds. A problem Sony obviously solved for itself. Where BT is an option someone wishes to avail of then why shouldn’t they strive for the best quality they can get. I prefer not to go for a walk or run with wired IEMs. I’ll use wired when I’m sitting still.
If FiiO can update the Bluetooth firmware to include APTx adaptive, that would probably be best. I have doubts though that there would be an audible difference though with the UTWS5. If FiiO updates their DAPs to support APTx adaptive, I'll consider reviewing products that use that codec and find out for myself. :)
You say bluetooth is cutting the quality, and i won't argue with that. But is it very noticeable with LDAC being able to do 990kbps? I don't have LDAC on my Audeze Penrose, looking back i should have bought the mobius. But using a Fiio BTR7 i could add LDAC functionality to my Penrose (although having a cable from BTR7 to Penrose) Would that be equal, or better as switching to the Mobius? (not taking the usability in mind, ofcourse a mobius is easier to use as a penrose wired to a BTR7 DAC) PS: Im a new to all of this, so sorry for all the questions.
Bluetooth is very convenient, sadly we're probably 25 years off from having it be really high quality that we currently enjoy from wired high end gear with a good amp involved, and .wav FLAC etc. bla bla bla. I'm not a big fan of BT.
I just placed an order for this to listen with my new LCD 2 closed planar magnetics. Now I'm feeling i may have made a mistake because maybe this won't drive them well?
Hi there 👋🏻 I just bought Audeze LCD-2c, does the M11 plus got enough power to run the 2c? I'm planning to get this, but I was told that it lacks the power to run the 2c. I'm running it on Topping G5 now. Thanks!
Get yourself a good headphone amp and pair it with the player, that's what I've been doing for the past six years or more, with my older Fiio X1 player, and it makes a massive difference in the sound quality, power, and, once you get one, you won't have to worry about driving planars or energy-sucking headphones ever again.
If you can find the time mate, could you give us a review of the FH9? I bought the FH7 without regret after your lowdown and love them to bits, I understand comparison is a bugger, but I'd appreciate your opinion on this (as I'm sure millions would agree). Did they sort out that phwap on certain bass heavy stuff, for example?
That's absolutely the plan. I'm just behind on the reviews. The good thing is, if you liked the FH7, the FH9 is better still. They fixed the harsh treble.
Hello. Looking to upgrade from my iPod touch. I kinda feel the iPod lacks in the bass department. Do these players sound much better if using them with powered speakers? I won’t be using them with headphones. Thank you!
don't do it. You can go a lot better bang for your bucks with a more specialized device. What do you need exaclty? a digital audio player for your storaged audio files? a streamer? a dac for your cd player? something to do a little all of that?
Any ios device does bit perfect out of the box even on streaming.. Hi fidelity doesn't exist on any android device due to its limitation sorry. Better back to school mate..
Not sure why you're posting this on multiple of my videos, but as I have already replied, FiiO (and Cayin and Hiby) have customised the Android system so that apps can get bit-perfect output. That's why, for example, on the web pages for all the FiiO DAPs, it says "SRC (sample rate converter) bypass". To repeat: It's a custom Android build.
Bluetooth headphones? Then even the cheapest player with LDAC will be sufficient. I think a lot of phones have it, so if it's just better Bluetooth you need, even a recent Android phone should suffice.
Why am I an audiophile? To listen to a review of the FiiO M11 on my Fiio M11 with my $2000 IEMs to feel good about my purchases.
Slowly getting there 😅. Saved up enough to purchase a 7hz timeless and couldn't be happier with the sound it produces. Just ordered the M11 plus to step up in the audiophile game.
Best way to avoid buyer's remorse
Because we end up more interested in the equipment than the music.
Since u have M11 wanted to check is coax out is as good as analog for headphone?
Lol 😂
My DAP is an entry level Samsung Galaxy A13 (no sim card) and a variety of different dongles, mainly the FiiO KA1 and Q3.
I don't think the Apple dongle is meant to enhance or improve the music. Its purpose is to allow the use of a headphone when using an Apple product since they have eliminated the headphone jack from newer devices, like their iPads and iPhones.
Excellent review as always Currawong, please review FiiO BTR7 as in my opinion its outstanding.
Please comparison Shanling m3x & Fiio m11 S
Hi, nice video thank you, I have the Fiio M11 pro, really nice to, very good quality/price balance. I live in Belgium and I like your music choice, Hooverphonic (Belgian group !) and Air (my favourite but French group). Do you know Arsenal ? Not de football club but the music group form Belgium, look after Outsides, good album if you don’t know 👌 🙂
Does it support Apple music at bit perfect without resampling and bypassing SRC? Some reddit articles says that Apple music can be installed but cannot login to the account in Fiio M11 plus ESS.
Yes, it does. I've used Apple Music on multiple FiiO devices and the output was not re-sampled.
@@Currawong Thanks to you sir.
Did you see the picture of the Staphan Quintet? It is awesome!
No, not yet! Thanks for the heads' up!
You reach 100 volume with DCA Stealth? Was that on balanced out? I used to own the AKM version of this and it was comfortable driving HD800 at 70+ volume on balanced.
Yes, balanced output. The Stealth are very insensitive headphones.
@@Currawong i see. Great review as always btw.
I have the older M11 Pro. It has a battery problem. when left on the charger for long periods of time, the battery bloats. I've now gone though two batteries, it appears to work without a battery so thats how it will stay. Any battery problems in the newer models?
The main thing to do is, keep the battery charge between 30-80%, or thereabouts. Lithium batteries don't like being full charged or discharged.
@@Currawongdoes the software have a battery protection function to keep it below a certain percentage/cut off charging at a percentage?
I have a LG V60 and LG V50 both running Android 12 and i confirme, they sound way better than my Fiio M11. The only thing missing is a 4.4 mm Balanced Jack. I hope LG make a comeback with a new V-version that has a 4.4mm Balanced Jack, it will be "The King off DAP"
@Fisher Man He doesn’t get it.
Original M11? Also, what do you mean by "way better"? For some people, a brighter, harsher sound is "way better". For others, more bass is "way better". For me, more detail and resolution is "better". :)
@Fisher Man The LG V50 has a ESS Sabre ES9218P Quad DAC (tuned by Meridian) and The LG V60 has ESS Sabre ES9219 Quad DAC
@@kovy689 Send me your mail an i will send you Pics of my configuration or for shot live video
No phone comes close to even the old Fiio M11. I have heard all the LG phones and their sound isn’t that great. The LG V60 isn’t even as good as a decent dongle DAC. So please don’t start spreading lies 🤥
A 700-dollar music player will get you broke. 😆
These things are a shakedown. In the early 80's when the Walkman launched, I received one as a gift. The whole idea of wired headphones were a pain as you had limited movement with them. Listening to audio from a quality hifi was way better. In the modern age everytime you purchased a mobile phone, they gave you headphones which were crap. I did however reluctantly bought a pair of wireless earbuds when I wanted to listen to music at work and to take/make wireless/handless calls. I did think about getting an amplifier for the earbuds because I like to listen to music, loud. Then I realised it becomes a wired system again that I hate. Furthermore I discovered that the latest high quality phones already have the technology built in. Like all tech every model becomes redundant in 6 month period as an updated device hits the market. So all this is, is posh toy for yuppies & wannabees. Sorry to say.
I have to disagree with you there, if you bought this particular DAP you'd find loudness is not an issue as are wires because Bluetooth technology has come on leaps and bounds and these products are not aimed at who you suggest, but those who want the highest quality sound in regard for their love of music. The DAC's in mobile phones are getting there, but are pretty sub standard compared to a dedicated device and aimed at those wannabees as you put it, just like the earbuds, for people more about the brand type than the quality of sound you actually get.
My thoughts/impressions
I've had this device for five months, and I was able to download Qobuz (and Tidal/Spotify, etc.) directly from the play store (I live in the US) with zero issues. In my opinion, the M11 has plenty of power to drive full-size headphones like the Aeon Closed Noire and the 6XX (using the 4.4 output). I mostly use it for offline listening, and it's great for that. Wifi streaming is very solid. I also plan on using it in DAC mode (with the Fiio doc) when my new JDS Labs Element 3 arrives next week. I previously owned a Hiby R5 Saber, and I much prefer the Fiio. Great review, I learned some things about the player that I didn't know.
Would it drive a 600 ohms Bayerdynamic?
can you download hi-res from apple music to the sd card? when you listen offline can you play the dowloaded hi-res music in hi-res format or is it downgraded to lower resolution? thanks
@@butch5187 I'm pretty sure you can't download any music from any streaming service to an SD card
@@brendangood1052 you can on tidal
@@monarakudumbiya957 Yes in high gain
I just purchased the Hiby R6 Gen III and I absolutely love it! it you love music you owe it to yourself to get a DAP!
Yeah dude I also have have the hiby r6 gen 3, I had the fiio m11 plus ess first, but when I saw the hiby I just loved the design so I just pulled the trigger on it, I didn't think it would sound any better than my fiio but I was wrong, it blows it out the water.
@@cocktailuk I have the fiio but I didn't like it very much, I found it too soft in the mid-high frequencies, not engaging, a little too warm for my taste. R6 iii is more engaging and resolving?
All I actually want is a device that fits my whole music library (20000 songs right now), I don't have the best ears, so I don't really care about audio quality that much. Any ideas?
1 or 2 tb micro sd card interfaced with the latest smartphone via a USB C multi adapter with whichever music file type you choose. A pair of Sony top of the line earbuds or headphones. Your preference. An app of your choice to listen to your music.
I've had the first M11 for 3 years. I use Poweramp for music. The built in Fiio music app stinks. Whoever wrote it should be ashamed. The player feels like a small brick in your pocket. It cost me just under $700. It's audio is better than my phone's but NOT $600 better. Not even close. Maybe 10% better in some cases. No better in most cases. Even using lossless FLAC files the M11 is no better than a phone. That's one reason the audiophile hobby is dead. The same reason Apple iPods are dead. With a good set of earphones phone audio is good enough. I drive a nice Honda Accord and not a Rolls Royce. Same idea.
True! You can get better listening quality for half of the price..M11 Plus is drastically overprized..sounds really dull and lifeless..have sold mine after 2 weeks..
I like the sound of this much better than my Astell and Kern SP1000
Not saying much for Astell & Kern, really. But i love Fiio stuff and so far have not been let down by them whatsoever, amps or players.
There are benefits to not having unnecessary electronic components cramped in a small space. Even today, electronic noise is real. And even with DAP, manufacturers compete in isolating certain components from internal and external interference.
Have the original M11 Plus Ltd. with the AKM 4497s. Sounds good but runs hot and is a battery hog. This one makes more sense. Get the upgrade real leather case it's much nicer. Much more aesthetically pleasing. Thanks again Amos.
never had the heating problem you had with the ltd version
Really appreciate your thorough reviews! i,ve been pairing a MOJO with my iphone and samsung tablet (for usb audio) and wondered if there was a good all in one option. Clearly I need to step up in price to get the same or better sound. Ill be content with what i have, yay!
I find my mojo does not sound nearly as good out of my iPhone or iPad. I don’t now why :|
I’m comparing to feeding it from a laptop with a “Curious cable” or optical from my Allo DigiSignature One. Otherwise, I absolutely love my mojo and can only see replacing it with something bigger in the Chord line up.
I never has any experience with a
dap mostly used my smartphone to
stream music. At this point I'm
thinking of investing in a dap mainly
to play music in my vehicle. My
vehicle have a very decent audio
setup that sounds great when using
Bluetooth from my phone to my
vehicle. I was wondering if investing
in a dap would make any difference
in sound quality? Edited is this dap
support usb output hoping to use it
as wired connection instead of
Bluetooth. Thanks
I used DAP as my car audio player. It's a big Difference in terms of sound stage and clarity if you use dap as Musis player
I've a Samsung galaxy s23 ultra with a dragonfly cobalt connection to kef lsx active speakers. I don't really need a fiio as sound is as good as dap? Thanks
Because it's chonk. Me likes chonk.
Hello, I have a question; which sounds better, the Mojo 2 or the M11 plus?
I have the Mojo 2 and I wonder if I should buy Chord Poly to use airplay on the go or a FiiO M11 Plus to connect Mojo 2, instead of Poly (Since they cost the same in my country)
I have the chord mojo 2 with the chord poly and it supports airplay 2. There is still not a DAP that can compete with the chord mojo!
@@mden2490 actually the analog out of the M11 sounds better than if the M11 is connected to the Mojo2
If I had a nickel for every sabre dac, I could afford a lamborghini.
Are you guys using the DSD feature. I have mixed feelings about the setting. Mids and highs sound better, I think but bass takes a hit. Is the setting legit or a gimmick? Thanks for any help
I don’t use it seems pointless to me
Just in time. I was on the fence between the hiby r6 and M11 plus. This could be the decider.
Which did you go for?
How does this one stack up to the m11s
Does it do bit perfect output out of the 3.5mm port? I mean can it be used as a digital transport?
Yes.
Your still buying your music through a streaming service. The quality of the music being received through those services doesn't lose some sound quality like playing it through a sub quality player?
If you select lossless audio, then they are obligated to give you un-adulterated audio. There was an issue some years ago where some of the music that was available had watermarking added, but that was removed. Then, there's MQA, which is (was?) an outright scam. That being said, if you use a streaming service, make sure to switch off any volume levelling in the app.
I get the impression the dap market is dying..dongles are way more popular now...look at COWON they are pretty much finished..the older generation like myself still love daps it seems...I remember Wolfson DACs..I still love that warm sound ☺️
Maybe, but I personally can’t stand the dac dangling from a cable.
Too bad most smartphones sound like crap! I cannot stand Bluetooth audio, either. I only use my iPhone14 with my car for music at times, or content, but that's about it.
Right now im using samsung m71 offline mode, with cayin ru6 and neutron player, very satisfied with the sound quality, and of course great battery life with 7000mah battery from m71.
Same here
Dongle plus a smartphone that was left in the drawer is the way to go
Luxury and Precision W2 131 sounds great together with my Dunu SA6
like my astell & kern norma, price not very important.....💕👍
I am not sure I would shell out this much money.The two that I would look at would be $400- Shanking 3X or Hiby R5 which gives you the streaming that sub #200 Hidizy does not but $700 is a lot for the extra features and screen etc
You should look at the Fiio M11s as well, slightly smaller than the plus a lot cheaper but ironically has higher power output and can power any cans.
I play it for the last 3 months with fir audio vxv and I love it, battery life is great , and I love it that nobody can interrupt you like on a phone (that’s the biggest reason why I bought it) just love the quality and its more alive than a much more expensive Lotoo touch and not the software problems that you get for free with an A&K
How do you like the Fir Audio VxV? Is it good for the price?
Do the FIIO players integrate with android audio via USB? Could not get a $1300 A&K do do it
How do you mean "integrate"? They are designed to work with USB DACs, if that's what you're asking.
I'm confused between this and the hiby r6.
R6 2020 is great except for the battery life.
How many gigabytes can you put in a micro SD, thank you very much
You can get cards up to 1TB or 1024 GB. But beware, there are a bunch of no-name or random name cards out there that are fake. Here's a list of cards I recommend:
Recommended "must have" genuine micro SD cards on Amazon: (Affiliate links)
Sandisk Extreme (32GB to 1TB): amzn.to/3zrw9Xm (Very fast. Shown in video.)
Sandisk Extreme Pro 1TB: amzn.to/3MJOmpl (If you need speed.)
Sandisk Ultra (32GB to 1TB): amzn.to/3LLzohd (Better value, especially the 400GB card.)
PNY (64GB to 1TB): amzn.to/3gmseDC
Samsung EVO (32GB to 512GB): amzn.to/2v76uX5 (Shown in video.)
Lexar (Up to 1TB): amzn.to/3MKvDtv (Very fast cards.)
Silicon Power (64GB to 256GB): amzn.to/2S5T6vz (Lesser known, but good brand.)
Other cards:
Teamgroup: (16GB to 1TB) amzn.to/35mb9U0 (Ratings are all for lower capacities. The reliability of this brand for 1TB cards is unknown.)
Amplim (16GB to 1TB): amzn.to/3glLxwG (See the comments where someone tested the 1TB card. Long-term reliability is unknown.)
can i download hi-res songs from apple music on the sd card and play them offline without downgrading to lower resolution? your answer would help me decide whether to buy this or not. I only listen to apple music and dont have any other music files. thanks.
In the Apple Music settings for both iOS and Android you can set whether streaming or downloads are AAC, Lossless, up to 24/48, or up to 24/192.
thanks for the info, it would help me decide which DAP to buy.
I disagree, this player performs better than a few 1000 dollar DAPs.
So how do you feel about the FH9, then?
23:00
Thanks man. Big help!!!!!
Glad it helped!
I'm looking forward to get m17 fiio!
Please try out Poweramp music player really am contiplating to get M11 plus or not
This review helped persuade me into a purchase. I absolutely love this unit. I'm mainly using Tidal Master off-line. Using a brand new pair of Focal Clear. Total cost out was about 1500$ .
On the go, I'm going to pick up some of the above Fh9 IEM's.
How does the sound quality compare to something like the iFi iDSD Micro Black Label that I use now? Is it at least comparable quality?
How does it differ from Akm?
Can this DAP by controlled by a phone using bluetooth? For example if you put this device on a desk (audio setup) can it be remote controlled by another phone? Would be cool if that's possible.
The FiiO music app has that function. You can download it on iOS and Android and try it first.
At that price it should call and text too
That's what your phone is for....
Whoosh...!
You'll see a bigger sound upgrade getting better headphones. Lol.
Existe de fato um ganho rela na qualidade e percepção de som melhor com estes modelos? e agora está no mercado novos modelos, o FiiO M11 Plus ESS e o FiiO M15 PRO.
eu gostaria de saber se terei muitas diferenças ou perda de qualidade, porquê atualmente eu uso Black Shark 3.
e eu queria um ganho verdadeiro de qualidade e eu não entendo muito.
Muito obrigado!
Is there really a real gain in quality and better sound perception with these models? and now new models are on the market, the FiiO M11 Plus ESS and the FiiO M15 PRO.
I would like to know if I will have many differences or loss of quality, because I currently use Black Shark 3.
and I wanted a real gain in quality and I don't understand much.
Thank you very much!
From a Common man's affordable hifi, Fiio has moved over to Alien territory. Not for me.
How is the shuffle music option, I noticed my android phone music player sucks under the shuffle...ipod mastered the shuffle option if I had a 1000 songs Ipod would start from 1 and shuffle every song in the library until reaching 1000 songs on my android will repeat songs already played in shuffle 😑....I download several music apps and none have a true shuffle , it should shuffle from the 1st song selected and play every song until reaching 1000
You can use any music software on this that you can on your phone, so I'd suggest trying the FiiO music player and other apps on your phone first, as the experience on the M11 will be the same.
@@Currawong great point, just downloaded the fiio app and it has the shuffle option but it doesn't eliminate each song played while shuffling, if i have a 1000 songs a real shuffle will eliminate each song until it reaches 1000...but I guess ipod was the only device to do it
So what's the advantage of one of these devices over LGs old phones with the built in DAC?
The AKM dacs are the truth and the light. I've always settled with ESS devices with price point in mind. But when i decided to splurge for the AKM devices, I am NEVER let down....
I wish they shrunk this down to the size and weight of the Fiio BTR7. This thing is a giant brick, too big for most pants pockets, unless you wear cargo pants and stuff them in there.
They used to have the M9, which had Android, but it was slow, and it wasn't feasible for them to continue making it.
thanks for your video, i bought one and i should get it this week.
How's it been?
Can you use this as a dedicated dac for your 2ch stereo like plug this in a aux solution in your amp/preamp then listen to music that way will that work? Or is the dac only for a computer solution
You can use it as a music player with a 2-channel system instead of headphones, yes. That is, play music stored on the DAP. You'd just plug in an AUX (3.5mm to RCA) cable, and set it to "PO" mode, with or without volume control as desired.
Can any of these things support JetAudio player?
i'm good with my ipod classic
700 is nothing I paid 1600 for shanling M8
Question, can I plug this to my car so I can have better sound coming out my car?
Depends on your car stereo. If it is decent and has an analog (3.5mm or RCA) input, maybe.
Currawong, you are a legend I have watched your reviews for years. I would be grateful if you could advise. I was about to purchase this player, but am concerned if it is powerful enough. I will be using firstly with bluetooth headphones Focal Bathys (which are amazing) and will probably purchase more high end IEMs later. Is there another DAP you could recommend that would be a bit better than the Fiio 11 plus but not overly expensive. I am reluctant to buy Astell and Kern as I used to have the 120 and 240 and felt I was just paying for the design. I am not sure what they are like now though. I think the Fiio M17 would be too overkill. Thank you again.
At any price point, the differences in DAPs are mostly just subtle differences in sound, and maybe different features.
How do I connect this device to my computer to transfer music to the SD card?
The best way is to plug the micro SD card into your computer (via an adaptor) and do it that way.
still recommend m11 plus?
I'll buy this.....I don't know if I spent very well..
Great video. Thank you. I am very close to buying my next dap. This is my top three. What would you recommend if i wanted a better amp and wanted to watch more UA-cam videos
An iPad or iPad mini with one of the better USB dongle DACs. That'll cost the same or less than one of the $1000+ DAPs that have better headphone drive and you wont be chained to the hardware. You'll also have a vastly better viewing experience than on a DAP.
Really ? Hmm. Well, i don’t want to carry my ipad around. I want more power than an iPod touch. And my samsung s22 ultra is out of the question.@@Currawong
What do you recommend. Price wise, 1k is doable.@@Currawong
Can you compare the sound quality with M11 plus LTd (AKM version)
No, because they are no longer available. If FiiO make an AKM version again in the future I probably will.
So it wont be a huge jump in sound quality if I have a LG v60 with dual dacs and an audioquest dragonfly red
Indeed, it probably wont be.
@@Currawong true whys that
I am looking for something to brighten up my car stock speakers. I was mainly interested in the BTR7 then the m11 plus and q7 dsd512 caught my attention. Any suggestions which one would be best for my usage? Thanks
If you're using the analog line out of a DAP like this, then you can use EQ in the software to brighten things up.
I never has any experience with a
dap mostly used my smartphone to
stream music. At this point I'm
thinking of investing in a dap mainly
to play music in my vehicle. My
vehicle have a very decent audio
setup that sounds great when using
Bluetooth from my phone to my
vehicle. I was wondering if investing
in a dap would make any difference
in sound quality? Edited is this dap
support usb output hoping to use it
as wired connection instead of
Bluetooth. Thanks
If you use DAP as Player or music Streaming. It's from Night to day. It's a Big difference. Compare only for Mobile Phone.
Can someone tell me how many songs the device can hold?
Depends how big the SD card is, and what format the music is in.
I think I have the first M11. I have around 185,000 songs on that device. Though I only got it to work through Poweramp.
Is there google map?
It's not a smartphone.
You should try the new Avantone Planar BEATS EM ALL!!!!! I have owned very expensive Sennheiser, and Hifiman Ananda and the Avantone was much better!
Given this summary: www.head-fi.org/threads/avantone-pro-planar.941951/post-16912415 I'll think I'll pass.
@@Currawong Wow, you'll pass because of one broken headband, sad because these are some of the best headphones I have ever heard.
No, I'll pass because it looks like the design needs serious improvements before it's worth even considering for a review.
@@Currawong WHAT IMPROVEMENTS??? THey are solid and sound beautiful what more can you ask for???
@@Currawong Mine had faulty wiring and lacked dynamics when it did work-sent back.
cool
Does that USB Audio app have the potential to let me use an aptX Adaptive dongle with the M11 Plus? It doesn’t work as-is just now. Waiting to see if FiiO resolve this issue via an update but keen to see if this app is a workaround.
Which dongle?
@@Currawong oh a variety of Chinese ones… does the KB8P/KB9P mean anything to you? I have another which is USB-C and I don’t really know what it’s called. They’re all quite similar. Work fine with PC/Mac/iOS/iPadOS/Samsung Android.
Found the Head-Fi thread. Looks like it is not worth bothering with IMO. :)
@@Currawong I don’t understand. Are you passing judgement on the dongles???
So, if you have the M11 Plus and the UTWS5… would you just settle for aptX Classic on the UTWS5?
I’m hoping they add LHDC to the M11 Plus in an update and then I can use that directly with the UTWS5. The codec is available for AOSP.
Doesn’t seem like LDAC is coming, allegedly because it doesn’t work well in TWS earbuds. A problem Sony obviously solved for itself.
Where BT is an option someone wishes to avail of then why shouldn’t they strive for the best quality they can get. I prefer not to go for a walk or run with wired IEMs. I’ll use wired when I’m sitting still.
If FiiO can update the Bluetooth firmware to include APTx adaptive, that would probably be best. I have doubts though that there would be an audible difference though with the UTWS5. If FiiO updates their DAPs to support APTx adaptive, I'll consider reviewing products that use that codec and find out for myself. :)
You say bluetooth is cutting the quality, and i won't argue with that.
But is it very noticeable with LDAC being able to do 990kbps?
I don't have LDAC on my Audeze Penrose, looking back i should have bought the mobius.
But using a Fiio BTR7 i could add LDAC functionality to my Penrose (although having a cable from BTR7 to Penrose)
Would that be equal, or better as switching to the Mobius? (not taking the usability in mind, ofcourse a mobius is easier to use as a penrose wired to a BTR7 DAC)
PS: Im a new to all of this, so sorry for all the questions.
Bluetooth is very convenient, sadly we're probably 25 years off from having it be really high quality that we currently enjoy from wired high end gear with a good amp
involved, and .wav FLAC etc. bla bla bla. I'm not a big fan of BT.
Thanks!
Thank you very much. :)
I just placed an order for this to listen with my new LCD 2 closed planar magnetics. Now I'm feeling i may have made a mistake because maybe this won't drive them well?
How did you feel about it.
I would definitely invest in a good Fiio headphone amp/DAC and pair that with the player, for really good planars. They tend to just suck power!
FH9 review please
Hi there 👋🏻
I just bought Audeze LCD-2c, does the M11 plus got enough power to run the 2c?
I'm planning to get this, but I was told that it lacks the power to run the 2c.
I'm running it on Topping G5 now.
Thanks!
I don't recommend buying DAPs like this to run full-sized headphones, unless portability is a MUST, and then it wont be as good.
@@Currawong Alrite noted.. thanks!! 👍🏻
Get yourself a good headphone amp and pair it with the player, that's what I've been doing for the past six years or more, with my older Fiio X1 player, and it makes
a massive difference in the sound quality, power, and, once you get one, you won't have to worry about driving planars or energy-sucking headphones ever again.
If you can find the time mate, could you give us a review of the FH9? I bought the FH7 without regret after your lowdown and love them to bits, I understand comparison is a bugger, but I'd appreciate your opinion on this (as I'm sure millions would agree).
Did they sort out that phwap on certain bass heavy stuff, for example?
That's absolutely the plan. I'm just behind on the reviews. The good thing is, if you liked the FH7, the FH9 is better still. They fixed the harsh treble.
@@Currawong Much appreciated and I understand you have a lot to get through.
Take your time, it'll give me something to look forward to 👍
FH9 is a great gem. Will purchase it again at some point.
All the chicks in the world, that’s what it gets you! All the chicks in the world...
Does this support bit perfect hi-res streaming with apple music?
Hello. Looking to upgrade from my iPod touch. I kinda feel the iPod lacks in the bass department. Do these players sound much better if using them with powered speakers? I won’t be using them with headphones. Thank you!
don't do it. You can go a lot better bang for your bucks with a more specialized device. What do you need exaclty? a digital audio player for your storaged audio files? a streamer? a dac for your cd player? something to do a little all of that?
No
Any ios device does bit perfect out of the box even on streaming..
Hi fidelity doesn't exist on any android device due to its limitation sorry.
Better back to school mate..
Not sure why you're posting this on multiple of my videos, but as I have already replied, FiiO (and Cayin and Hiby) have customised the Android system so that apps can get bit-perfect output. That's why, for example, on the web pages for all the FiiO DAPs, it says "SRC (sample rate converter) bypass". To repeat: It's a custom Android build.
So this will give me better sound on my sony headphones etc vs using my iphone? Thats what I hear.
Bluetooth headphones? Then even the cheapest player with LDAC will be sufficient. I think a lot of phones have it, so if it's just better Bluetooth you need, even a recent Android phone should suffice.
Using iems and 4.4 connection