In this article we review the FiiO TT13, the first vinyl turntable from the brand, priced at just $229 USD.

Disclaimer: The FiiO TT13 was sent to us, free of charge, by the brand in exchange for our honest opinion.

FiiO

Established in 2007, FiiO has become a powerhouse in the audiophile realm, offering an impressive line-up of affordable and high-quality products. From IEMs, headphone amps, DACs, to DAPs, FiiO has consistently delivered top-notch devices, setting benchmarks for other brands to follow like the FiiO M23, the mighty FiiO Q7, or the everlasting E10K, which has remained on the market for over a decade.

An unceasing saga of success, propelled not only by a steady flow of high-end devices but also by the introduction of smart, budget-friendly products. Their latest series of USB DAC/Amps is a prime example—compact dongle-sized gadgets that hark back to the venerable FiiO E5 and E3, first revealed over a decade ago. An expansive range that includes the delightful FiiO KA13, the formidable FiiO KA17, and the lovely KA15 we had the chance to listen to a few months ago.

And if that line-up already seemed very complete to me, the brand pushed even further this year, with products seemingly out of FiiO’s usual bracket :

• the FiiO KB3, a mechanical keyboard embedding its own DAC/Amp
• the FiiO SP3 / SP3 BT, a set of desktop active speakers
• the FiiO SR11, a compact desktop streamer designed to complete the KA11
• or even the FiiO ESTICK, a mini power bank made especially for the FiiO KA17, so you could use the desktop mode on the go

But, those were just the tip of the iceberg, and the brand decided to go even further, with… a vintage line-up! Yes, you read that right, the most famous chi-fi brand (if still considered chi-fi) developed their own line of retro devices.

What kind of product do you say?

• the FiiO CP13 first, a cassette player for those missing the Walkman era – a device strangely popular, like the Wearerewind K-7 player
• the FiiO DM13, a portable stereo CD Player for those missing the CD Era – one I’d be really curious to try though, with optical/coaxial digital outputs and USB CD ripping (nice)
• and last but not least, the FiiO TT13, an automatic turntable, surfing on the spectacular hype trend initiated a few years ago by the vinyl

And today, we are reviewing the TT13. The first, and maybe not the only, turntable review on Headfonia!

FiiO TT13

Design & Build Quality

Casing

Designed to match their new range aesthetics, the FiiO TT13 extend the SR11 and K11 design to its limit, which isn’t a bad thing in my opinion.

With a wide chassis, made of a plastic base topped with an aluminum plate, the turntable looks like your usual record player, only betrayed by the illuminated FiiO logo on top, and ring led around the platter. This is something that not everyone might like – especially on a turntable – but in real life situation, this isn’t as geeky/dorky as it may look in picture.

Quite large but not too tall, out of the box the TT13 left a very good impression compared to your usual entry-level turntable. Sure, it won’t offer much of fight against the like of Rega P1 or Pro-Ject T1 – two of the most popular option out there – but against the Teac TN-180BT for example, I’d definitely choose the FiiO.

As usual with the brand, build quality is very very good, with no gaps and premium materials everywhere your eye can see, and your hand’s touch… until you pick up the lower end of the TT13, where the plastic casing might not live the best impression (but hey, for less than $250USD, this isn’t surprising). Still, on a closer inspection, you won’t be able to spot any real discrepancies, nor major flaw: every button fit, they click good, the RCA port is quite sturdy and, if a bit thin, the aluminium panel remains a feast for the eyes.

And if it doesn’t look as retro as other turntables, I think the vast majority of you will be more than pleasantly surprised by the perceived quality of the TT13. In my opinion, this is one of those turntables that look better in real life than in pictures, which is no small feat. Bonus point for the tonearm, entirely made of brass instead of aluminium, for a better render.

Of course, not everyone will be a fan of its geeky design, even more with the RGB illuminated base, but that’s also why it’s one of my favorite designs, it goes “all-out” – like the FiiO SP3. And, for those that might find the silver a bit too shiny, know that the TT3 also comes in a very cool black finish.

How about the layout then ?

Layout

In terms of I/O, the FiiO TT13 is almost perfect. Almost, because it lacks one crucial feature for a turntable: a phono output.

That said, considering this turntable was designed to pair seamlessly with the FiiO SP3 compact active speakers—or even a Bluetooth setup if you opt for the TT13 BT—this omission isn’t all that surprising.

So, the back panel offers you:

• A 33/45 switch, allowing you to define what kind of vinyl you’ll be listening to
• A balance potentiometer, allowing you to adjust left and right volume levels in case you hear some volume imbalance
• Your usual RCA Line-out, combined with a GND port if you’d prefer to ground your turntable (not always useful since the turntable comes pre-amplified by default)
• A DC port in case you’d like to use FiiO’s own dedicated DC supply
• And finally, a full-size AC port

Last but not least, on top of the turntable you get:

• A power button
• A speed button to set 33 or 45 turns per minute
• A Bluetooth pairing button, to connect your headset or a set of Bluetooth speakers
• A start/stop button
• A repeat button (more useful than I thought)
• An up/down button, allowing you to lift the tonearm whenever you like

So yeah, it offers everything you might need—except a phono output. But realistically, no one is going to pair a high-end phono preamp with the FiiO TT13 anyway.

Now, let’s get it set up!

Comfort and Specifications

Daily use

On a daily basis, it’s hard to get something simpler than the FiiO TT13. If you’re new to this, this turntable might be your ideal step into this world.

Usually with a record player, you’d have to install the counter-weight, check the stylus, check the connection, etc… Not with the TT13. Out of the box, the only thing you’ll have to install, will be the platter; no tonearm setting, no need to screw the cartridge, just set the FiiO on your desk, connect the cables to your speakers, plug in the power, and you’re ready to go. Being a belt-driven turntable, FiiO even included a handy strap to make attaching the belt to the spinner effortless—a thoughtful touch.

Once powered on, you’re greeted by a charming animation: a glowing LED ring begins to shine. If the default blue lighting isn’t to your taste, FiiO offers a variety of colors to choose from, including purple, red, orange, cyan, green, white, and, of course, blue.

Then, all you have to do will be to put your vinyl onto the platter, and click “start” to watch the magic happen. The FiiO TT13 lifting automatically the arm, gracefully moves it to the first track, and automatically returns it to its resting position once playback is complete. And, if I tried a few automatic player before like my old Technics SL-1900 or the technics SL-1500C (semi-auto yes) I found the TT13 to be the most elegant of them all – truly.

One final note, the repeat button is a very nice addition – as is the up/down option – and for those of you that don’t want to get up and reinstall everything at the end of each face, it’s just perfect.

A very good job, so kudos to the team.

Bundle and Accessories

Inside the box

Obviously, at a price this low, the FiiO TT13 doesn’t come with an extensive bundle, but compared to some other turntable in this price range, it’s not bad at all.

In the box, you get :

• the FiiO TT13
• an RCA to RCA cable, with a GND wired
• the cast aluminium platter
• a black platter mat
• a power cord
• the 45 RPM record adapter (you’ll need it for your singles)
• some documentation
• and… a remote!

Yeah, FiiO gives you a remote with your turntable so you can control it from afar – a game changer! Will I use it? Not too often. Do I need it? Absolutely, as this allow me to rest comfortably in my couch and control the turntable from a distance.

So yeah, nothing fancy, but for the price, I won’t complain!

Specifications

Two-stage amplification circuit + APT-X Bluetooth transmitter

Being a turntable, the FiiO TT13 features a fully analog audio architecture.

The signal comes straight from the Audio-Technica AT3600LA – a very popular entry-level cartridge, like the AT-VM95 – then goes through the JRC5532, a dual low-noise operational amplifier (op-amp) known for its powerful output drive and high signal-to-noise ratio. Then, the signal goes into a second set of JRC5532, for enhanced performances and a higher output level (800mV @ 1kHz) compared to the usual 300-500mV found on pre-amp turntables.

Then, the processed signal goes sideways:

• directly through the balanced potentiometer, before leaving out via the RCA output
• into Qualcomm’s Bluetooth transmitter module, allowing you to connect the turntable to your own BT speaker

It tried both and to my own surprise, the balanced potentiometer worked through both of them!

And while some turntable remain stuck to the old SBC/AAC codecs, the FiiO TT13 supports all of APT-X majors formats: APT-X, APT-X HD and even APT-LL with compatible speakers.

Top that with a custom-made MCU controlling the playback speed for maximum accuracy, improved signal-to-noise ratio in BT and an optimized layout that effectively isolates the audio circuit from strong interference, and you’re good to go!

Numbers? Check below!

Technical specs

• Type: automatic, belt-driven, turntable
• Model: FiiO TT13
• Cartridge: Audio-Technica AT-3600LA
• Motor: custom low-noise motor
• Movement: custom fully automatic movement
• Tonearm material: Brass + surface sprayed paint
• Pre-amp: 2x JRC5531
• Bluetooth chipset: Qualcomm QCC3040
• Bluetooth compatibility: SBC, aptX, aptX LL, aptX HD
• Wow and flutter: <0.15% WRMS
• Compatibility: 33 and 45 RPM
• DC power in: 6.2mm port, DC 12V >1Ah
• AC power in: 100-240V-50/60Hz
• Outputs amplitude: 800mV
• Signal to noise ratio: 75dB
• THD: < 3.5%
• Noise floor: < 150uV
• Weight: 3850g
• Dimensions: 450 x 350 x 114mm
• Price: $229

Sound performance

For this review, I chose to pair the FiiO TT13 with the FiiO SP3, my own set of KEF LS50 Wireless and my set of Waterfall Audio Iguescu + Fosi V3 Mono amp (review incoming). Three different sets, at different price point that allowed me to test the turntable through and through.

Overall signature

Ok, let me spoil it for you: for a first draft, the TT13 is quite an impressive turntable, even exceeding expectations at times. Sure, there are drawbacks—we’re talking about an automatic turntable under $250—but for me, the pros clearly outweigh the cons

Let’s start with the flaws—or rather, the flaw. Yes, the AT3600LA isn’t the best cartridge out there. You can’t expect this conical stylus to outperform the likes of Ortofon’s 2M series or even match the accuracy of Audio-Technica’s slightly more expensive AT-VM series.

Head to head with my SL-1500C, the difference was immediately noticeable. The Technics delivered details that the FiiO could only dream of. But… to be fair, the SL-1500C is a turntable six times the price, made by a brand known for producing some of the best turntables in the world. So let’s scale it down a bit and compare the TT13 with something more in its league—like the Teac TN180BT, for example.

This time, I found the FiiO better. Not AMAZINGLY better, but enough to say that if I were to spend money on an entry-level TT, I’d chose the FiiO ten times out of ten: apart from the higher volume, the FiiO gave me higher dynamic range, better control on low extension – rumble was much more noticeable on the Teac – and surprisingly better voices, even though both turntable shared the same cartridge.

The article continues on page two, after the click here, or after the jump

Page 1: About the brand, design, bundle and build quality, specs, Sound Pt. 1

Page 2: Sound performance