Verdict
The FiiO M15S does n’t just scream portable for a digital audio frequency player , but for those who want to listen to their medicine program library in greater particular , this is an realised and well - featured portable player , though Astell&Kern still has the edge in terms of sound character .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
It ’s a common chorus but , like wired earphones , the portable music player is apparently dead . And yet company like FiiO keep making them as the M15S shows , so citizenry , somewhere , must still be buying them .
Like FiiO’sM11S actor , the M15S brings high quality on - the - go sound to those who do n’t want to rely on their smartphone . But the M15S isn’tjusta player to be sway in your sac , as it can function as a USB - DAC to route your medicine through , or ping your euphony library to other devices in the domicile withAirPlayand Roon Ready livelihood .
There is n’t a huge amount of challenger , which is indicative of the downturn in pursuit and the advance of smartphones , but the FiiO ’s carrying out is accomplished enough for those who want an upgrade on their smartphone .
Design
Big is the first word that total to my mind with the FiiO M15S. It ’s a machine that looks huge sitting next to theAstell&Kern SR35 . You could place it in your pocket as long as a ) it ’s not too skinny and b ) your smash is tight enough to keep your trousers up . Those who wear off baggy pant may find they ’re cause to rend them up often .
irrespective of where you keep it , the FiiO M15S is a handsomely designed gimmick from its smooth , curvaceous physical structure to its gigantic 5.15 - inch screen , and dial to scroll through intensity level . The build is of high quality than the cheaper M115 .
It also comes with a leather typeface , Burgundy wine red in colour with aged , rough looks . It have the machine something of a 1940s traveller aesthetic , while the raddled grain grants it a classy look and feel . It ’s better than the pliant Thematic Apperception Test that came with the M11S.
Around the back of the grammatical case is a heatsink to disperse heat , and it is worth have – the FiiO M15S gets lovesome during role .
phone output are up top in similar fashion toAstell&Kern ’s devices , with 2.5 millimeter balanced , 3.5 mm single - ended , and 4.4 mm balanced outputs include . On the sides you ’ll find the push button in recess area : volume controls and a curl screen on the rightfulness , top executive , and playback buttons on the left .
The size of the cover suits bigger hands , and I ’d suggest being mistrustful of how it ’s take hold . The buttons can be quite sensitive , and music starts play without you realising . I moved the player and come back to see medicine playing without me .
The screen is better than the M11S ’s , stick with its 720p declaration but doing more with it . To my eye it ’s brighter , shameful level are stronger , contrast pops more , with colours that are punchier and more exact ( whites on the M11S had a chickenhearted tinge ) . It ’s also a bit sharper , making school text easier to read .
The dial is a lovely style to control the volume , and you ’ll also acknowledge the built - in light-emitting diode that changes colour calculate on the single file , which is an easier way of recognizing what ’s playing .
TheUSB - Cport and microSD input are located at the bottom . astonishingly , the microSD is put in via a tray like a sim card with a smartphone , the first of a few similarities with smartphones . You need a tool to eject it , and thankfully FiiO includes one in the accessory , which also include USB - C , USB - C to A cable , and an USB - A adaptor .
One last aspect to mention is the M15S comes with FiiO ’s DK3S rut dissipation bob . It ’s not voiceless to assemble and rather clever in how it slots together , but more importantly , plug the USB - C overseas telegram and the fan sucks high temperature aside from the machine . Considering this is all included and not optional , it ’s an unexpected soupcon .
Features
The spec comprehend similar ground to the FiiO M15S , though of course there are a few raise . The DAC is a two-fold ESS ES9038PRO configuration and considering it is used for desktop DACs , that ’s an indicant of how much world power it pack .
Audio is pass through FiiO ’s 4thGen FPGA ( Field Programmable Gate Arrays ) with form - locked grommet technology and paired with two Nipponese NDK femtosecond quartz glass oscillator , which all sounds like techno - babble , but are there to distill a purer audio .
The chipset is a midrange Snapdragon 660 , but RAM has been upgraded to 4 GB . Like the M11S , using the touch screen is fleet with no stave noted . In fact , I found it zippier and more responsive than the Astell&Kern SR35 .
Android OS is another area where the M15S feels like a smartphone as it offers the full Android 10 experience with a few necessary customisations such as short-circuit Android SRC ( Sample Rate Conversion ) for higher timber playback . you may download the ilk ofNetflixandPrime Video , which feels a footling odd for a equipment primarily about music , but the screen is good enough to watch mental object , albeit stripped of HDR backing .
The Android port is one of six you’re able to choose from , with the Pure ( or FiiO ) Music interface , Bluetooth experience , USB DAC , AirPlay , and Roon Ready modes that make the FiiO M15S a streaming Swiss Army knife of a gimmick . There ’s alsoMQA support , though with Tidal affect forth from MQA it ’s not as essential as it was .
Bluetooth 5.0is supported and the M15S can receive Bluetooth signaling in the following format : SBC , AAC , aptX , aptX HD , aptX Low Latency , LDAC , aptX Adaptive ; as well as transmit in SBC , AAC , aptX , aptX HD , LDAC , and LHDC . Wi - Fi connectivity comes in 2.4GHz and 5GHz flavours .
filing cabinet backing is up to 32 - bit/384kHz and DSD256 ( up from the M11S ’ DSD128 ) , and there are five levels of addition to take from in Ultra High , Super High , High , Medium , and Low .
Internal storage is boosted to 64 GB , which can be expanded with microSD card up to 2 TB .
With its 6200mAH battery , FiiO says it can be used for 9 to 10.5 hours of use but gain , book , screen use and the output used will all factor in terms of battery drain .
In the tests I carried out the battery fall from 95 – 78 % in two hours , that ’s about 12 hour in sum with Gain at its High setting and book at 40 .
Performance
TheFiiO R7 desktop amplifierand M11S portable instrumentalist both delivered speech sound in a neutral mode . The M15S takes its sound towards the warmer end of the spectrum but still puts in what I ’d deem as a balanced presentation .
That enjoin , up against the similarly priced Astell&Kern SR35 , there ’s no doubt in my idea the SR35 is the sharper , elaborate , and more precise performing artist of the two .
With Ezperanza Spalding ’s I screw You Know ( through aCampfire Andromeda IEM ) , the SR35 describes the drumbeats with clarity and detail . The strand of the track – from Spalding ’s voice to the instrumentation – are intimately separated on the Astell&Kern , which take into account for each part to be heard with more clarity .
The SR35 is also punchier , low oftenness hit with more assertiveness , while at the top end of the frequence mountain chain the FiiO is n’t as brilliant or as sharp , sounding rolled off – it makes for a less insightful read of the runway equate to the Astell&Kern . While the SR35 wastes no clock time digging into and revealing the intricacies of a piece of music of euphony , the FiiO is more laid - back , allowing the attender to keep an eye on the music in front of them .
But there are times where the M15S ’ warmer approach reaps welcome benefits . listen to Jorja Smith ’s album fell or falling onQobuz(with Austrian Audio Hi - X65 cans ) , and the tracks are submit roomily , the warmness of the FiiO overrides theHi - X65’scrisper theatrical role . It does intend those highschool are n’t pitched quite as discriminating , nor is the midrange expressed with much punch ; but the smoothness and mellowness of Jorja ’s voice is bring out well .
With Raveena ’s Headaches there ’s a similarly loose vibe without much dynamism , but the soundstage is spacious , and the warmth adds to the track ’s soulful feel . I favour the FiiO ’s tone with voices than I do the SR35 – they sound more natural and liquid , and there are time where the SR35 ’s more bright plan of attack feel a little too tax ; wads of energy and excitement whereas the FiiO ’s gentler coming is calmer and relaxing .
The bass voice is rather harden , astonishingly so , hit with not as boastful a thud nor as much deepness as I wait . I do like the balance that the FiiO goes for though , warm and rounded bass that ’s easy on the ears .
And how does it compare to the M11S ? It ’s certainly warmer in tone , basso is richer , and it resolves detail better with more sharpness in the high relative frequency . The soundstage consider on a bigger , wider presence , and there ’s a piddling more oink behind the active portion in medicine . The M15S vocalise well in every facet .
Plugged into my laptop and enabling the USB - DAC feature article , the FiiO M15S ’ character is n’t altogether dissimilar – it ’s an enhancement and refinement of its speech sound .
Music sounds slightly larger , muscularity levels are upped , and it sounds cleaner and polish . The differences can be subtle , but of the ways you could heed to medicine on the M15S , the USB - DAC option is the most articulate .
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Should you buy it?
Do n’t consider your Android smartphone cuts it in terminus of level-headed quality ? This DAP features more fictional character ( sonically ) and versatility to become a part of your home base setup .
The FiiO ’s ardent but balanced soundscape is n’t as insightful or revealing as theAstell&Kern SR35 , which is also less expensive .
Final Thoughts
Though the M15S is better than theM11S , it only gets 4 stars ( out of 5 ) compared to the latter ’s 4.5 stars , and that ’s primarily because of the jump in monetary value and its Astell&Kern competition . But do n’t allow the rating take aside from an complete portable euphony player .
It is stock with feature , has a adorable figure , and an entertaining audio operation . I do find its Android integration better in term of zip and responsiveness than theAstell and Kern SR35 , but it does n’t sound as good , nor is it as portable . Another ding against it is that it is considerably more expensive .
As an all - round software program , FiiO has come up with another enjoyable player with plenty of magical spell and a affectionate auditory sensation that has mainstream appeal . Those after more fidelity should check out its Astell&Kern competition , though .
Trusted Score
How we test
We screen every portable music instrumentalist we review thoroughly over an prolonged period of time . We utilize industry standard tests to compare features properly . We ’ll always tell you what we find out . We never , ever , accept money to review a ware .
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FAQs
The FiiO M15S plump for up to DSD256 , 24 - bit/352.8 K DXD , APE formats up to 24 - bit/384kHz , Apple Lossless up to 32 - bit/384kHz , AIFF , FLAC , and WAV up to 32 - bit/384kHz , WMA Lossless up to 24 - bit/192kHz , as well as MQA , MP3 , OGG , and AAC .
