FiiO M11 Plus (ESS version) - forced change to even better
Вставка
- Опубліковано 21 лип 2024
- New, not limited version of the FiiO mid-segment player uses dual 9068 DACs and offers all features of the modern Android DAPs
Official site: www.fiio.com/m11plusess
0:00 - Introduction
2:42 - Unboxing and accessories
4:09 - Design and controls
9:40 - Firmware
18:52 - Sound
26:42 - Pairings and comparisons
Tracks, mentioned in the review
Brian Reitzell feat. Mark Lanegan - I Put a Spell on You
Snarky Puppy - Beep Box
Marvin Gaye - Right On
Peter Gabriel - Solsbury Hill
John Coltrane - Part 3: Pursuance
James Brown - Lost Someone (Live at the Apollo)
Music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b... - Наука та технологія
Could listen forever to your reviews. Your are legend. Thank you for all your hard work. Happy New Year to you.
I appreciate that! Happy holidays to you too!
I really prefer the rounded design of the M15. Seems more comfortable in use. I'm really bummed out that it is no longer for sale. I wish I'd learned about it sooner so I could've bought one.
FiiO had some plans for a M15 successor, but who knows how it will look like )))
Thanks for the review. I'm thinking of this, the ibasso dx240 or possibly an A&K Kann (I like a wide range of music, especially classical and women's vocals).
I had an android based Sony nwzx2 which was great. But lack of update of android became an issue as some apps I wanted to use alongside music (audible, pocketcasts) stopped being supported on android 4.2.1
oh yes, 4.2 is way too old :)
Hi, I have the M17 and I love the expansive sound, the soundstage and the kind of bass, I do not know how to describe but I like so much that kind of bass. I have an Ibasso dx248 that I will sell looking for a less powerful version of m17 with almost similar tunning , do you think that the M11 plus ess could be that dap? I mind blowed by the soundstage and bass of the m17 (in battery mode too) and the clean presentation of the sound.
well, I have a bad news here :) M17 is a really unique device, so it's really unlikely to find something similar. M11 Plus ESS has pretty similar tuning ideas, but it's noticeably inferior in terms of dynamics and all that it bears
so it can be some kind of "compromise" device, but difference is terms of "level" is pretty noticeable
Hi there, just wondering when using in USB DAC mode, is there an option to turn the CHARGE=off?
as far as I remember, there is not such option. but it's better to double-check this with FiiO's support
I was deciding between the m11 plus ESS, the m11s, and the shanling m6 ultra. Compactness is first priority then sound and battery life. Also minimum of android 10. Which DAP do you recommend? Also open to any other choice you have. Right now I'm tilting towards fiio m11s. I currently own sony nwa105.
If you need a compact and small DAP, you can consider Shanling M3Ultra or FiiO M11S, they are from a lower segment, but they are more compact than higher-end DAPs
Would you say it’s able to replace a midrange amplifier for portable over ear headphones with low impedance?
sorry, I can't do any generalisation here, there are different amplifiers, and some of them, paired with a decent DAC can probably compete with this player. others can't, but it depends
After watching your video i bought one and just got it, How do you save the downloaded songs from apple music to the sd card instead of the internal drive so i can listen them offline. I dont think internal drive is enough for high res music, so i want to start by saving it all to the sd card. i don't have any song files from other sources except from apple music. thanks .
You can toggle saving in internal memory or on SD card in settings
@@PortaFi thanks for your reply.i thnk im happy with it. its just heavy and huge.
Hi Porta, I hope you are well and that you are keeping safe. Just an Fyi I had 2 x FiiO M11 Plus. The 1st one died and was replaced and today the 2nd one from May 2022 stopped playing some of my music. I don't know why but as I have been dealing with health issues I decided to get a refund and wait to see what FiiO brings out soon. I love the M11 but reliability has been an issue for me.
Hello, I'm fine, thank you! I wish you to solve your issues fast and easy
As for M11 Pluses - I understand that your experience is awful with them. Sometimes it an be not an issue of player, but, for example, SD card. But I understand that you don't want to dig into that now
I don't have any statistics to say something, but all 3 M11 version I currently own, are feeling great
Woudl you recomend the FiiO M11 Pluss ESS or the iBasso DX240?
both are good, so it's a matter of preferences in terms of sound and features. I've used to FiiO's interface, so I like it, but it's really subjective
Do you think the Cayin RU6 sounds better than this M11 plus DAP? Also can any of these be used as pre output only for car audio?
no, I don't think so. RU6 is pretty good, but not that good )))
@@PortaFi upon receiving my m11 plus(ESS version) and playin music on it...Im comparing the youtube music app in high quality audio vs the flac files loaded into the M11 plus in the Fiio app player. I dont know if Im crazy but while playing same song, same album...I feel the youtube music version sound a bit fuller, more weight.. while the Flac file sound about only 2% cleaner. No EQ applied on any of the apps. I wonder if this an EQ thing or what? I would think that a flac file would sound noticeably better than a youtube music stream. If this is the case there is no point for me to purchase and download music. Also there is a chance for me to get the M11 plus LTD ( AKM version) I tend to listen to pop music most of the time, I wonder if I should get the limited version intead of the ESS. What do you think would be the best option for my type of listening?
@@canillocanillo3371 I didn't use UA-cam music, so just an assumption: maybe they're using some different mastering or some kind of DSP applied. As for AKM version, difference is pretty small, you'll get a bit more weight and slightly less bright sound, so IMO it's not worth loosing a few hours of battery life
Thanks for a great review! Would this be able to drive Meze 99 and 109pro Headphones to a good sound level?
For 99 Classics - definitely, for 109 Pro - not sure, as I didn't test them. Most probably it'll be good pairing, but it's still an assumption
@@PortaFi thanks so much for your response! I have had the Meze 109 pro for about 1 months now, and I really like them. They are a bit more on the neutral side compared to the 99 classics. They sit at 42 ohms, so using my chord mojo 2 it takes a bit more juice to get them to the same volume level as the 99 classics. But I really don’t listen to loud music much… bad for the ears. :) I just ordered the fiios M11 plus yesterday, listening and reading many reviews, but your review cemented my decision. I think I should be fine as my most of my listening is through the 99 classics, 109 pro, rai solo’s and the Sony WF1000xm4.
@@mden2490 Totally agree with you about hearing hygiene, I'm also trying to avoid high volumes and recommend others to do so. As for 109 Meze, I think it'll be OK with this player too! Congratulations on your purchase!
Does apple hi-res files play bit perfect without being resampled to 48khz by the Android OS?
I tried high res in Apple Music on M17, and indicator showed high resolution. M11+ uses same software, so most probably it'll be true for it too
Can i use a mini toslink for the m11?
Where i can plug it?
I have to connect the Fiio at my Dsp, but this has only the SPDIF connection, so i want to use a Cable Toslink to mini toslink.
Thanks for your video!
sorry, I'm not a good advisor here, as my experience with toslink and SPDIF is limited
I think it's better to ask this question on head-fi, there are much more users and you'll definitely get a proper answer
@@PortaFi Thank you for response! ❤🙏
Is it a noticable improvement over the regular M11? If yes, would it be worth the upgrade?
yep, it's an improvement both in firmware and sound
Get the plus all the way, it's barely more expensive
@@KiLLJOY1056 here in Germany is almost 300 euros more expensive...
@@PortaFi how bad it sound from the AKM dac?
@@17shakil why is it bad? It's pretty good
I really like those DAPs with the possibility to stream my music. But I have one concern. It seems that every few months a new one comes out and after a year it isn‘t even supported anymore. So I think more about something like Cayin N3Pro or Lotoo PAW 6000.
but Cayin N3Pro and Paw 6000 won't be supported forever too
@@PortaFi You are right. But it will play my music so on. When I buy something with streaming apps, than at a sudden I can‘t update my streaming service, e.g. Astell Kern…
@@marchaberberger4464 of course, at some point, you can face some issues. But currently, this M11 Plus for example runs Android 10 and supports Google Play store, so most probably you'll be able to update streaming services for quite a long time. It's not 100% of course, but so far even old Android 7 DAPs are still ok
@@PortaFi But anyway. Your reviews are great. So you really have more experience in those DAPs than me. Is the FIIO THE Dap you would recommend for someone with a lot of own music and Apple Music?
@@marchaberberger4464 yep, M11 Plus is one of the best options for Apple Music now
Not sure about the abolishment of the 2.5. However the m11 plus does look nice
Pentacon is becoming more and more popular
Hi Porta.Fi, thanks for this review. Really enjoy all your reviews! Question I have the availability to buy new the Fiio M11 Plus LTD & the Fiio M11 Plus ESS. Should I choose the Fiio M11 Plus ESS? Thanks & stay safe !
yes, unbless you prefer exactly AK's sound (slightly weightier and tad more "musical"), ESS is a better choice, as it's more powerful and works longer (IMO a nice additions)
@@PortaFi Thanks for the quick reply !
Hi, is it worth to replace my shanling ua5? Is the diffrenece that huge?
well, maybe not huge, but pretty significant: more natural, closer to neutrality, better developed treble
It broke my heart how you put the player out of the box and placed it on the table just like that
luckily player is safe :)
What means ESS Version, stands the letters for Extended Service Set?
ESS Technologies - famous company that makes DACs www.esstech.com/products-overview/digital-to-analog-converters/sabre-audiophile-dacs/
I can't believe I'm asking this on UA-cam but I have googled it and searched the M11 Plus' user manual and still don't know where is the 'Back' button (or finger swipe gesture). I'm referring to navigating the menus and after I have entered a menu to check or enable/disable some feature, I just want to go 'Back' to the previous screen.
it's a common for modern Android, just swipe right from the left side of screen, like you're trying to swipe the current menu away :)
if I remember right, somewhere in settings you can enable a bottom bar with virtual back button, but I'm not sure about that
@@PortaFi Thanks for your reply. I did the swipe but it didn't seem to work, maybe it wasn't hard enough. I'll see if they have a virtual button thanks.
@@artyboy1377 it shouldn't be hard, main "secret" here is to start from the left edge of the screen (or even out of it) and then swipe right. you should see a transparent curve appeared at the left side of screen, hinting that you triggered this gesture
@@PortaFi Finally got it thanks so much! Yes I have to start from the left edge of the screen, I've been doing it from the centre no wonder it didn't work. I see that "white curve" at the left edge when it detected my finger press now. Thanks!!
@@artyboy1377 glad to be helpful!
Fiio m11 plus or ibasso dx170 for clarity and staging sir?
Hello, friend. Unfortunately I didn't test DX170
So equal but different to the R6 2020 or better?
I'd said that "better" here is a matter of your preferences in sound"
Hello, mojo 2 vs this? Which sounds better thanks
Hello, unfortunately I didn't test Mojo (both versions)
Hola, saludos desde México, sera una buena combinación el M11 plus Ess con los Fh7s??
Hello, greetings from Ukraine. In general, yes, it will be a good pair, but it's also a matter of your preference here too
@@PortaFi ok, I understand you
Thanks for this amazing review! I have some very important questions for you: I already own a FiiO M11 PRO & I was wondering if this would be an upgrade in terms of sound quality/power - also, how would this compare to the A&K KANN MAXX & the SR25 MKII in terms of sound quality & output power? Thanks in advance!
Well, in terms of sound difference won't be big, but M11 Plus is faster and newer in terms of Android. But I'd suggest to wait for M15S release, I have a high hopes about it
As for Kann Max - it's more neutral and dryer in sound and has more power, but no open Android. So first question here is the sound you want to achive
But I havent' test SR25-II
@@PortaFi AH I see, thanks! Would you say the QUAD ESS DACs on the KANN MAX deliver better/clearer/more accurate sound compared to the Dual ESS DAC on the M11 Plus? I am also curious about the M15S now, thanks for letting me know!
@@RubyInferno their difference isn't a matter of chips quantity. TBH, 1 chip is enough to make a great sound. Adding more hypothetically gives better figures, but in practice, it's often beyond our ears' "possibilities." So I don't care about the chips themselves and their quantity. One of the best sounds I've heard was from DAC built with an "inferior and old Wolfson WM8741"
as for MAX vs M11 Plus, MAX is more focused on micro-contrast, so if you want a more analytical signature, it's your choice. M11 Plus is making less accent on that and slightly boosts dynamics, so it sounds more "organic". Both options are pretty engaging and popular, but you need to think about which one resonates more with you
M11 Plus or M11 Plus LTD? What do you perfer
unless you want a warmer sound, non-limited version is a better choice, as it has slightly more power and longer battery work time
Hi Porta ..How much better will this thing sound than a samsung s10 plus with iems like mest mkii
if you mean smartphone without and external DAC, than this player is really noticeably better
@@nellatl totally a matter of your preferences. I'm always carrying a player with me, it's simply more convenient to me. But many people of course will think that it's "too much"
@@nellatl I didn't test LG V60, but most probably it sound OK for regular usage. Players are the way of achieving "better than OK", but do you need it or not, it's only yours decision.
@@nellatl answered your question in other comments thread
@@PortaFi not just a phone bro..I'm asking about the galaxy s10 plus as it's sound output was surprisingly powerful and wide. It stands out from other phones including the LG V series.
So am wondering specifically about it vs the M11. Also if one already own a btr5, how much of "improvement" can be gained from upgrading to the M11?
Thanks buddy 🙏🤙
boa tarde, como você citou o X7, este M11 PLUS é melhor? você poderia me falar se este X7 foi superado?
good afternoon, as you mentioned the X7, is this M11 PLUS better? could you tell me if this X7 has been surpassed?
yes, M11 Plus is a better model, both in terms of sound and UX
@@PortaFi eu sempre tive muita vontade de ter um X7 MK2, mas nunca sobrou dinheiro.
e a menos de 3 dias comprei um M11 PLUS ESS, mesmo pensando no agora saído de linha X7 MK2.
e minha dúvida era essa, se eu terei um melhor sim, pois como você disse, ele não soa tão natural quanto o M15, M17 e até contra o M11S em seus vídeos anteriores.
Desde já, MUITO OBRIGADO pelos seus vídeos, por me dizer que fiz um bom negócio até porque meu celular é ótimo (Black Shark 3) e nunca escutei em um DAP, então sou movido pela curiosidade de usar um arquivo .flac em um aparelho desses, mesmo sem saber o que ele me entregará.
I always wanted to have an X7 MK2, but I never had any money left.
and less than 3 days ago I bought an M11 PLUS ESS, even thinking about the now discontinued X7 MK2.
and my doubt was this, if I will have a better yes, because as you said, it does not sound as natural as the M15, M17 and even against the M11S in your previous videos.
In advance, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your videos, for telling me that I got a good deal, because my cell phone is great (Black Shark 3) and I've never listened to it on a DAP, so I'm driven by curiosity to use a .flac file on such a device , even without knowing what he will deliver to me.
Right in website the ess got more power 660 vs 588. And more battery life even each other have 6000 mAh
yes, ESS is more energy efficient probably
@@PortaFi but i felt the ess more bright when i paired with mp145
@@DikinAhmadChannel that's also true, ESS is a bit more forward on treble
@@PortaFi now i felt like i bought wrong dap, maybe i should choose the akm version
@@DikinAhmadChannel new version of FiiO Music had PEQ, just reduce treble to your liking
M11 plus or A&k sr25?
I didn't test SR25, but I suspect that sonically M11 will be a better option, as based on reviews it's more neutral and natural
I switched from Tidal to Apple Music as it’s cheaper and a better selection as well as it’s lossless unlike MQA. I also sold my M11 because it didn’t play Apple Music but now the new M11’s do. Hopefully FiiO comes out with more than two DAP’s M11 Plus, M17.
yes, I'd like to see more of their DAPs in future too )))
I have both Apple Music and Tidal. Some MQA tracks do sound better. Could just be placebo but I really hear a difference..
@@timothyblitzkreepisaac7448 it's not a placebo, MQA is a lossy codec with a distinguishable impact on the sound. So, probably you're liking it :)
1.5 years with my M11 and I really love it. But is there anyway I can download Apple Music? I read that the problem is with Samsung CPU but there must be a way around it since the device is rooted from factory.
@@MS7.7 I don't know if there is a workaround for apple music. officially it's not supported
Is this m11plus better then the m15 ?
in general no, but if you'd like a bit less weightier sound compared to M15, then M11 Plus can be an option to consider
meanwhile I'm waiting for updated M15 that should be announces in next few month :)
M11 Plus, or Astell Kern AK300? :)
if you mean AK SE300, I didn't test it
@@PortaFi The baby brother to the AK320, so the AK300 from quite a few years ago ;) wonder if you've heard it and can say which is better?
@@H-4-D3423 no, AK320 was actually my first astell :) and then I skipped directly to SP1000
Thanks for the review.
It might be worth adding that unlike the Hiby R6 202O the FiiO M11 Plus ESS does not have a global EQ.
Hopefully such a feature will come with a firmware upgrade.
Also on the Fiio M11 Plus ESS the Tidal application can't play master files with MQA ... (UAPP can). This is a serious drawback for folks that care about Tidal/MQA.
> Hopefully such a feature will come with a firmware upgrade.
I don't really expect it'll be added
> This is a serious drawback for folks that care about Tidal/MQA.
I switched from Tidal when they replaced some releases with MQA only. I prefer lossless quality
@@PortaFi I just want tidal to get rid of that mqa crap and go with true lossless. And they also went up by $1.50. could just be PayPal idk
@@MrTherandomvidsguy yep, I'd like that too. But luckily I'm in the Apple ecosystem, so Apple Music solved problems for me :)
That does suck about the eq…
You did not mention the included screen protector , and this is SMALL next to your M17 brick. Very Best Wishes to Ukraine!
thank you
Is this bitperfect or Android is resampling everything to 48kHz?
I know UAPP will play bitperfect but I don't know about the other players or streaming app.
@@pitou115 that makes sense. If one would stream from the UA-cam Music App, Android will likely resample it then.
@@FabioKasper it could well be. To be honest could be placebo or something but it always seems to sound better with UAPP. I am listening to the same track in the Qobuz app and then UAPP (bitperfect) and it is better with the later.
UAPP is the best Android app I have ever bought.
It depends on app, usually it's not resampled
as far as I understand, youtube music is lossy, so it's the biggest issue with it
I think you are wrong about 2.5mm being outdated or whatever. Who wants to drag around a 4.4 balanced on their IEM. Please stay safe!
well, I just mentioning what I see, 4.4 become more and more popular. adding here its benefits, I think this tendency will remain
I never ever had a single IEM with 2.5mm, but all the IEM i own have 4.4mm
A lot of companies never supported 2.5mm in the first place. This was pretty ChiFi exclusive.
@@Vamp898 I agree and still prefer 4.4 it's very durable unlike the terrible 2.5 I can break it with a sneeze 🤧
@@Vamp898 I'm afraid you're a bit mistaken here. Astell&Kern started using 2.5 mm as a balanced out and popularised it. And the only company in DAPs world that didn't use it is Sony. So 2.5 isn't definitely ChiFi exclusive
I need an LTE version because I'm a music Streamer and Im sick of using my Hotspot Data and Battery
I had one delivered last Thursday and I am returning it to the retailer. Main issues below:
1 - It is very heavy and bulky but build quality is nice.
2 - The display is really bad. Not very bright and bad viewing angles. No use for music videos with MX player.
3 - Charging takes literally forever, and that's with a compatible fast charger.
4 - Wifi won't connect to networks that require sign-in authentication.
5 - I personally don't think the volume output is that great.
6 - If you reassign a default app like a keyboard the player keeps overriding it with AOSP.
My Note 20 Ultra with Hidizs USB C DAC adaper sounds just as good and loud.
Oh, and the lack of a global system EQ is a massive oversight too.
glad that you like Hidizs DAC
@@PortaFi I don't. That was the point of my reply.
Heavy Electronics usually means good sound! Most of your complaints are not valid. HIDIZS products are some of the worst products I’ve ever tested. You must be a Audio Science fanboy
@@CarAudioHorizons you sound like a bill gates limp wristed turkey.
sorry . but very hard to understand you . and after a while , i have to move on . make it shorter . my suggestion
thank you for a suggestion, but I'm not limiting the length of the video
for me it's just a hobby, so I'm doing that in a relaxed manner
@@PortaFi For what it's worth, I definitely agree with you. Shortening would definitely rob us of some useful information. I find your reviews next best thing to actually holding/testing a piece of audio equipment. They helped me make many good choices and one not so good, but that was my bad. Device sounded as you described, I just misjudged how it'll pair with something else. 😄 In this price range what do you feel is closest to n3 pro type of representation? Thanks
@@adpr5278 well, the closest one is Cayin's N6ii. It's slightly more expensive but definitely shares the same ideas in tuning. Also, Shanling's players are closer to this type of sound, but still doing that in their own manner
@@PortaFi Thank you very much for your reply. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to hear a shanling one day too. 😊
russia = oIo