Review : FiiO M11 – So Far, So Good

Fiio M11

USB-C and SD Card

The FiiO M11 uses a USB Type-C port. It’s the best option available yet, with a reversible design, fast data transfer, and Quickcharge to fill the 3800mAh battery. Yes, that’s a lot of juice, but you need a lot of power to feed those amps.

The USB port works as an entry and a gateway : you can either plug the M11 to your computer and use it as a DAC, or connect a DAC, and use the M11 as a source. A cool option we are seeing more and more on DAP.

You don’t get one, but two micro-SD slots. This is great if you own a very (very) large catalog of High Definition Tracks. Theoretically, you are still stuck at 2Tb max, but that is if you find two 1Tb cards, which might not be possible before another year. Still, 1Tb is already monstrous on a DAP.

Warning: the FiiO M11 is a bit more complicated to connect to your computer than usual.

On PC, you’ll have to connect it once, via USB, copy/paste the driver’s folder on your computer and install it. Then the FiiO M6 will be visible and usable from your usual explorer.
On Apple computer, you’ll have to use Android File Transfer. It’s available directly from the FiiO website or from iriver.

Streaming / DNLA / AirPlay / FiiO Link

The FiiO M11 doesn’t support google play store but supports streaming applications. All it takes is a WiFi connection and you can directly install them from the FiiO Marketplace or APK Pure. As of today, you’ll find all the major applications: Tidal, Deezer, Apple Music, Spotify, Qobuz, Moov, KKbox or NetEase Music.

The installation is really easy, and compared to the FiiO M6/M9 which needed a computer, all you’ll ever need is a WiFi router. Airplay is still supported so you can stream your music from your iPhone/iPad directly through the FiiO M11, wirelessly.

FiiO Link is another addition to the M11, with Bluetooth pairing you can control your player directly through your phone. It works well and somehow gives the same seamless experience than the Hiby link on Hiby and Cayin player. The only catch is that’s only available for Android.

Battery Life and Charging

The FiiO M11 carries a 3800 mAh battery and is advertised for 13h of continuous playback. In real-life usage was more around 11h, with WiFi and Bluetooth always on, so if you switch it off you might stick to the advertised values.

The deep sleep function seems even more powerful. FiiO advertises 50 days of standy for its M11, and from personal experience, this might be true. Sure, I couldn’t try it for 50 days but even after 48h, the player didn’t lose much of its battery.

Also, the FiiO M11 is the first player of the M series to be compatible with USB-C PD. A big plus in my opinion as I can now use the same charger for all my devices !

Bluetooth

The FiiO M11 does it all, Bluetooth speaking.

SBC, aptX, apt-X HD, LDAC, LHCD/HWA… It’s Hi-Res Audio Wireless Certified so you can be sure that it connects to anything, at the best possible transmission rate.
Basically, with a compatible headphone or receiver, you’ll always get the best quality available. Of course, if you have a TOTL IEM or a massive can, a wired connection will always be the best one.

Another good news, like the Shanling M2X and FiiO M6, the M11 supports duplex Bluetooth. You can use the player as a Bluetooth receiver with a smartphone, computer or any Bluetooth emitter. Since the M11 already has access to a WiFi connection this was not necessary, but it’s a nice addition from FiiO.

The longest battery life is obtained through Bluetooth use, so don’t stress out and use if as much as you can. Even more, if you have an LDAC headphone or an apt-X HD one.

Everyday carry

This might be one of the few weak points of the FiiO M11 : it’s a bit bulky and compared to the M6, which is the epitome of portable, it can’t even compare.

Think of it as a supersized smartphone, or one with a big battery attached. It’s not impossible to carry – we’ve seen so much more – but I would be lying if I said it’s an easy player to carry.
If you have a bag, no problem. Big pockets ? That might work. Skintight jeans ? No friggin’ way.

The article continues on Page Five, after the click here

4/5 - (85 votes)
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A nerdy guy with a passion for audio and gadgets, he likes to combine his DAC and his swiss knife. Even after more than 10 years of experience, Nanotechnos still collects all gear he gets, even his first MPMAN MP3 player. He likes spreadsheets, technical specs and all this amazing(ly boring) numbers. But most of all, he loves music: electro, classical, dubstep, Debussy : the daily playlist.

10 Comments

  • Reply July 23, 2019

    Erick Osmanto

    Hi nice review, can you give detail impressions for the S8F with fiio M11?

  • Reply July 23, 2019

    PCiez

    Copy and paste works when you replace M9 with M11 ????

  • Reply July 23, 2019

    Sergei Lokhmachev

    Interesting and very detailed review, but what about the comparison?
    Can you compare it with Cayin N5iiS, Onkyo DP-S1 or HiBy R6 in terms of a sound?

  • Reply July 24, 2019

    Kevin Glimmersten

    I bought the M11.

    I was extremely disappointed with its sound performance. The soundstage is ANYTHING but massive, and the bass is thin and not dense at all.

    Its a boring, analytical presentation.

    • Reply July 27, 2019

      Alessandro

      È meglio di AK SR15? Sono indeciso tra questo e Cowon PL, cosa mi consigliate? Grazie

  • Reply July 24, 2019

    Kayla

    Hi!
    Being that you noted this is a worthy albeit not “the best” DAP – I’m wondering what you’d recommend to someone whom has a budget of around $1000 and is strictly concerned with sound quality? I’ve heard the soundstage on the M11 leaves much to be desired, so this is a definite detractor for me.

    Thanks!

  • Reply July 25, 2019

    Timmy

    Just tell it like it is Headphonia, this player according to a lot of people sounds like crap.

  • Reply July 25, 2019

    Scotosan

    Are you people shills/trolls The soundstage IS big and the sound while neutralish isn’t boring by any means. Kayla, who says the soundstage leaves a lot to be desired? Kevin Glimmerson on these comments? Can you link any of these reports of the soundstage leaving a lot to be desired?

    The bass goes deep and isn’t thin by any means, I switched to neutron from fiio to get a little LESS bass.

    Look this thing sounds like an sp1000 or wm1a for 500 bucks.

    If you’re not messing around or putting out some fiio anti, I’d go see an audiologist stat for a hearing test.

  • Reply September 16, 2019

    nik from moscow

    > Is it better than the FiiO X7 Mark II ? Sorry… but yes !

    No, it’s not.

    I just bought the X7 MK2 the other day, and M11 was in the test-listen list. It is comparable with X7, at best. You also mention M9 to be… ok, sorta? Dude, my LG smartphone sounds cleaner than the M9!

    The only thing i remember about M11 is how crazily loud it is. Then i stuck in the final selection between DX150 and X7, because although X7 gives clearly more detail, the DX150 sounded kinda… more interesting.

    Until i realized, it’s just about EQing. Use a little eq on your X7, and you get the same flavour of DX150, with the detail of X7. I bet, it goes the same with mimicking M11.

  • Reply February 11, 2021

    Isaac Tan

    Hello! Just wondering if I intend to use an external DAC (Chord Mojo) to pair with my M11, should I use the USB-C or coaxial to connect my M11 to the mojo!

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