Review: Fiio M7 – Back to basics

 Sound

Fiio’s marketing department doesn’t really describe anything related to the sound on their website. The only thing we can find there are technical features and the only mention related to sound is this:

“Incredibly low noise floor”

And as you’ll read later on in this article, they actually are right about it. This however, doesn’t tell us anything about what the M7 sounds like.

The first impression you get when listening to the M7 is that it is a very full sounding DAP with full bodies bass, mids and even treble. The balance between these however is quite nice and your music is presented in a smoother, slightly warmer way in order to make everything musical sounding. The Fiio M7 is very easy to listen to and with its soft and musical performance it indeed is a DAP of which the sound signature will please the masses. Of course Fiio tuned it this way on purpose as the regular non audiophile consumer likes this kind of presentation.

The bass is somewhat lifted but not too much, the mids are smooth and musical and treble soft yet energetic. The presentation is very clean (no background noise as with several other Fiio DPAs) and engaging. Sound stage wise the Fiio M7 performs pretty good for its price but it isn’t the widest, deepest or most spacious sounding DAP on the market. The Fiio M7 for me finds itself between entry-fi and mid-fi and taking this into account the Fiio M7 performs above its price point.

Bass is always present yet it never becomes overpowering. It isn’t the most detailed and refined or layered bass but it’s bass which is easy to like, with good speed and impact. If you’re in to pop, R&B, and all those other mainstream genres( no offense) you probably like some good bass and that’s exactly what the M7 will deliver. Don’t expect audiophile grade bass texture and depth, it’s fun over quality, though the quality is perfect fine for the level the M7 is playing at.

The mids, just like the bass, are full bodied and easy to like. The presentation is smooth and a little warmer though it never becomes too thick or slow. Mids flow perfectly from the bass and there isn’t a particular focus on anything. The voices blend perfectly in and overall the mids bring you a musical sound which is really easy to like.

Treble is full bodied and easy to like. That means it has enough energy to contrast the bass and mids and keep everything lively, but you don’t have the best extension, detail or speed. Treble again is tuned for the general consumer which doesn’t necessarily likes strong treble. For a lot of people treble quickly becomes offensive when it’s peaky and extended, but there’s nothing to worry about here.

All in all the Fiio is very musical and fun to listen to. Its sound and performance is addictive and engaging. It’s the perfect DAP for on the go or when running or working out as it’s just pure fun and enjoyment. At the same time the Fiio M7 has a very good technical level for its price point. Looking at the Fiio DAPs that are still available the new M7 gets the bronze medal, right after the X5III and the X7II, but more on that in the next chapter.

Vs Fiio X3iii and X5iii

The Fiio X3iii is available for $189.99 and that makes a direct competitor within Fiio’s own ranks. For only $10 more you get the M7 with the bigger touch screen and it’s ESS Sabre 9018Q2D (M7) compared to the double PCM524 of the Fiio X3III. UI-wise the X3III uses the old scroll wheel, so it has no touch screen and even less customization options compared to the new M7. Sound-wise The X3iii is more noisy where the M7 is cleaner sounding. The X3iii has a darker and slower presentation and doesn’t sound as clear as the new Fiio M7. Going from the M7 to the X3iii is tough but once your ears and brain adjusts to the sound, the typical bass and the musicality than the X3iii still is very enjoyable. The M7 though has better precision and speed and presents the music in a more spacious way, with lighter bass. Coming from the X3iii you’ll feel a veil has been lifted and you’ll experience a higher quality sound with less noise and more clarity and detail. The M7 just sounds so much more natural and wide. It’s a’ easy choice for me.

Fiio’s X5iii ups the game with a better sound level compared to the X3iii. The X5iii sports an AK4490 chip and that’s definitely a step up looking at its little brother. The only thing I still don’t like about the X5iii is the level of noise it produces. User Interface-wise the X5iii of course is a pleasure to work with as you get a large touch screen in combination with a customizable Android firmware. The X5iii nowadays can be bought new for only $329 and that brings it very close to the Fiio M7. The big difference here is that the X5iii does allow you to customize it. You can install Tidal, stream from a DLNA source over Wi-Fi and so much more. So while they usability-wise are at the same level, the X5iii easily has it beat for what concerns versatility. Sound wise the M7 to me sounds more clean (less noisy) but these sound-wise are actually fairly close to each other. I would still say the X5iii performs best as it’s clarity level is a bit higher and there is slightly more detail in combination with a little more extension. The X5iii is the more audiophile one, where the M7 just is the really good sounding fun one.

Conclusion (again) X7ii>X5iii>M7

Vs the competition

When looking at the competition and the DAPs in my collection, the Cayin N3 and N5ii as well as the Hiby R3 are the DAPs to look at. The N3 goes for $149 and is $50 cheaper than the M7. The N5ii is selling for $369 officially though I have seen it go for only $299 at the moment with a free leather case. So it’s about $100 USD more expensive right now. The Hiby R3 costs around $299 and that makes it a direct competitor.

I really liked the little Cayin N3 when it came out and I said it outperformed its price level. Navigation and looks-wise it wasn’t the strongest but connectivity and sound-wise it really was/is a winner. The N3 easily convinced us to put it on the list of recommended DAPs. Unlike the M7, the Cayin N3 doesn’t have a touch screen. Customizing the experience or streaming from Tidal isn’t possible on both, but the M7 wins it in the user interface and usability category. Sound-wise the little N3 sounds darker and coming from the M7 you immediately miss the clarity. The N3 is darker, slower and more veiled. Its bass is bigger and not as tight. The overall sound of the M7 is faster but the mids are very similar except that the vocals in the N3 are more forward and distant sounding where they blend in more with the M7. The treble section in the N3 is energetic but rather dry compared to the Fiio’s treble which is more dynamic and extended. The M7 sounds richer, wider, more spacious and it does everything without less effort. The N3 is a great sounding little player for its price, but the M7 just beats it in so many categories, including sound.

The Hiby R3 probably is the biggest competitor to the M7. The R3 looks stunning and has an awesome and excellent touch screen. The R3 is also limited when it comes to customization but you can stream from Tidal with the R3. Sound wise both of these are very much alike but the M7 is a bit thicker sounding from top to bottom. The clarity in the R3 is even higher than in the M7. In the mids section the voices are more forward and overall you get less warmth and smoothness. The R3 also is extremely musical but it has more detail and a higher level of technicality. The treble section of the R3 is also further extended and more lively. If you’re more into the typical audiophile tuning you’ll probably prefer the more spacious and precise R3 but for the general consumer the heavier bass, softer presentation and easier to like treble are probably more popular. The Fiio M7 is good but the Hiby R3 just is incredible for its price. Sexiest DAP of the year? Possibly so.

The Cayin N5ii is another player that made it to our recommended list. It’s Android and fully customizable, has a nice touch screen, double SD slots, etc. It far outperforms Fiio’s new M7 UI and versatility wise (streaming, and much more).  Sound wise the N5ii is more neutrally tuned and there’s no focus on bass and body like in the M7. Treble also is further extended and you get a wider and deeper sound stage with a more dynamic sound. The level of clarity is higher and the presentation is cleaner with better a better instrumental separation. Cayin manages to keep the presentation musical but the Fiio M7 does so with a smoother and warmer presentation. These are quite different sounding but the normal consumer would probably prefer the ticker and bass heavier sound of the M7 over the more audiophile sound from the (technically better) Cayin N5ii.

End Words

Even though the Fiio M7 isn’t the typical audiophile DAP, I have really enjoyed using it to get to work and back home. Yes, it’s a “back to basics” device but it comes with an FM Radio, looks great and most important of all, it sounds more than just good. I’m pretty sure a normal consumer will be blown away with its performance, both in usability as well as with its sound.

At the same time I’m convinced that even the most hardcore audiophile will be genuinely pleased with the M7. For only $199 you get a perfectly working and good sounding DAP in return. It’s a “no worries” DAP that goes back to basics, but it does that perfectly so. Its sound signature is mostly musical and very easy to like but at the same time it has enough detail and clarity to keep things qualitive and entertaining.

And then there’s the new DAP Fiio is presenting this weekend at Canjam London…I wonder what that will be…

Specifications

The full list of specifications can be found on Fiio’s website right here:  http://www.fiio.net/en/products/89/parameters