FiiO M3 Pro Review

Specifications

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

SABRE DAC

For $89, we didn’t expect a high-end DAC of course.

The FiiO M3 Pro was fitted an ES9218P DAC from Sabre. A good, yet entry-level, DAC which, as the P letter implies, is made for “Portable” devices, who can’t draw too much power.

It supports 16/24/32bit playback and up to 768kHz PCM files or DSD256. For obvious reasons, FiiO limited the M3 Pro to 384kHz and DSD128 decoding. More than enough, if you ask me.

The CPU ? Ingenic sourced, an X1000E with “low power consumption yet high performance”. And, for what it takes, it works really well with the FiiO M5, handling every request with ease. Even the catalog scan, didn’t take long. Always noteworthy.

Numbers? 

• THD <0.001%
• Output impedance: < 0.3 ohms
• Separation: 78dB
• SNR : > 117dB
• Noise floor: < 2microV

Microphones, calculator and ebooks

Not audiophile by any means, the FiiO M3 Pro supports microphone recording.

In comparison to the M5 who gets you full, stereo recording, the M3 Pro only got one microphone. If this is very niche, in my opinion, I found it pretty useful at work, as I could record my meetings and send the file back to teammates that couldn’t make it. Sound is much better than you’d expect to be, and if not professional sounding, this will be quite enough for a podcast or a quick recap.

Obviously, the most useful app, remains the calculator option. It’s as simple as it can get, but when you don’t want to get your phone or your calculator, the M3 Pro became a good alternative. Sadly, there is no scientific calculator, but for the price… I can’t complain.

Last but not least, the FiiO M3 Pro supports ebooks. But, to be honest, I will never use this option, as the screen remains too small for that.

Full specs

General

• • Type : Digital Audio Player
  • OS : FiiO OS (M3 Pro)
  • CPU : Ingenix 1000E
  • RAM : 64MB Gb LPDDR5
  • DAC : ESS 9018P
  • Sample rate : PCM : 8Hz – 384kHz (16/24/32bits) native 
  • DSD64/128
  • Outputs : 3.5mm headphone out – line out 
  • Input : USB-C
  • Screen : 3.46″ 340×800 IPS
  • Micro SD : SDHC / SDXC (single slot)
  • Battery : 3.8V 1000 mAh Li-Polymer
  • Battery life : 15h
  • Charging time : around 2h
  • Size : 95.8mm x 45.4mm x 10.4mm
  • Weight : 70g

  3.5 mm Headphone out 

  • Output power : 92mW @16ohm / 75mW @32ohm / 8mW @300ohm
  • Frequency Response : 20Hz – 20kHz
  • THD : > 0.001%
  • SNR : > 117 dB
  • Crosstalk : > 78 dB
  • Output impedance : < 0.53ohms (32ohms)

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