Review : FiiO M11 – So Far, So Good

Fiio M11

Specifications

For the nit-pickers and nerdy ones here, I’m giving the specs and technical sheets. For all the others, you can just go to the next page to see how the DAP performs.

DAC

The FiiO M11 uses a double DAC, double amp circuit to get the almighty “fully balanced” setup. Two AKM AK4493EQ are dedicated to digital to analog conversion, fed by an FPGA chip which translates the information received from the CPU.

This is a well-known setup, with two OPA1642 for low pass filtering, two OPA926 for the amplification and one OPA1642 for the line output. FiiO claims better performances, saying the OPA926 gives lower noise floor and distortion than the AD8397.

Must be true as the power output can now,reach 550mW @ 32ohms and 88.5mW @ 300ohms. Pretty good numbers here, and a pretty nice circuit if you take a closer look. There is even some plastic cover to shield the audio circuit from Bluetooth and WiFi EMI.

CPU and RAM

Hallelujah, the FiiO M11 has been gifted by the gods of Samsung.

The CPU is a full-fledged Samsung Exynos 7872 with six cores and true multi-app support. This means the player is more powerful and less power-hungry, all for your aural pleasure. Add to that 3Gb of LPDDR5 RAM and, the FiiO M11 will be ready to face any audio app you throw at it.

Only two core works at 2Ghz, the four other cores max out at 1.6Ghz, but that’s still more than enough for everyday use. Even more, if you take account of how big of a difference that makes compared to the previous mediated chip from the FiiO X5 Mark III.

Is it fast ? Very much so my good sir. So much in fact, that you may use it as a true side screen device, with Netflix and YouTube !

WiFi

The WiFi isn’t limited to 2.4ghz band anymore, the FiiO M11 supports 5GHz, for faster and steadier downloads. Oh, and there is AirPlay + DNLA, so you can stream not just from the internet but also from your local sources.

The signal’s strength is more stable and stronger, so you can download your music faster, whatever the app. As I said before, you can even imagine surfing the web !

Do you still want the full specs ? Ok, here they are for you.

Full specs

  • Type : Digital Audio Player
  • OS : FiiO OS
  • CPU : Exynos 7872
  • RAM : 3 Gb LPDDR5
  • Rom : 32 Gb (2Gb for the system)
  • DAC : 2x AK4493EQ
  • Sample rate : PCM : 8Hz – 384kHz (8/16/24/32bits) native – DSD64/128
  • System clock : Full synchronization technology with FPGA processor
  • Outputs : 3.5mm headphone out – line out – coax out / 2.5mm TRRS / 4.4mm Pentaconn
  • Input : USB Type-C
  • Screen : 5.5″ 1440×720 IPS Screen from LG
  • Micro SD : SDHC / SDXC (dual slot)
  • WiFi : 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz support
  • Streaming supported directly
  • Bluetooth support : SBC, apt-X, apt-X HD, LDAC, HWA
  • Duplex Bluetooth : player can emits and receive music
  • Battery : 3.8V 3800mAh Li-Polymer
  • Quick Charge : yes, QC2.0/3.0, PD2.0, DC12V/1.5Ah, 9V/2A, 5V/2A
  • Battery life : 12h with wired headphone, 30h with a Bluetooth headphone
  • Charging time : around 2h
  • Size : 70,5mm*130mm*13,5mm
  • Weight : 211g

Line Out

  • Frequency Response : 10Hz – 90kHz
  • THD : 0.001%
  • SNR : 115 dB
  • Crosstalk : 108dB
  • Line Level : 1.95V

3.5 mm Headphone out

  • Output power : 225mW @16ohm / 195mW @32ohm / 22mW @300ohm
  • Frequency Response : 10Hz – 90kHz
  • THD : > 0.002%
  • SNR : > 118 dB
  • Crosstalk : >72 dB
  • Output impedance : < 1 ohms (32ohms)

2.5mm / 4.4mm Headphone out

  • Output power : 480mW @16ohm / 550mW @32ohm / 88,5mW @300ohm
  • Frequency Response : 10Hz – 90kHz
  • THD : > 0.002%
  • SNR : > 118 dB
  • Crosstalk : > 107 dB
  • Output impedance : < 2 ohms (32ohms)

The article continues on Page Six, after the click here

4/5 - (85 votes)
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedin

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!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.