Fiio is launching merchandise quicker than Xiaomi, and that is a sizeable feat in and of itself contemplating simply what number of issues Xiaomi rolls out on a month-to-month foundation.The newest launch is targeted on the digital audio participant class, one which Fiio has dominated lately. The model’s M collection of merchandise are extremely regarded, and having used the $499 M11S for a couple of months now, I can attest to its sound high quality.The M15S sits one tier larger in Fiio’s portfolio, and it’s accessible for $999. That’s loads of money for a music participant, however the M15S is packed filled with helpful options: it is principally an Android machine with out the cellphone bits, and as an alternative you get a high-end DAC and all of the connectors you want for hooking up your audio gear.I used the M15S for over a month now, and this is what it is advisable know concerning the music participant.Fiio M15S at Amazon for $999.99 (opens in new tab)Fiio M15S: Pricing and availability(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Fiio launched the M15S earlier within the yr, and the music participant is now accessible on the market in all international markets the place the model has an official presence. The audio participant retails for $999 on Amazon (opens in new tab) in North America, and it’s accessible at most main audio retailers. It’s bought in a single shade possibility, and there is a single variant that features all of the equipment it is advisable get began.Fiio M15S: Design(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Fiio has a definite design aesthetic that focuses on angular strains and daring styling, and the model outdid itself with the design of the M15S. The machine has a curvier design than its siblings, with flowing curves on all sides and rounded buttons, and whereas that is completely different to the likes of the boxier M11S, Fiio went with an etched diamond-cut sample on the again that appears fabulous.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)This sample jogs my memory of comparable designs utilized by Chinese cellphone producers a couple of years in the past, and it seems simply as hanging on the M15S. The chassis of the M15S is made out of aluminum — as you’d think about for a product on this class — and it feels sturdy and sturdy. To defend the entrance and rear panes of glass, you may discover a luxurious leather-based case bundled within the field. In truth, the M15S is tucked into the case on the manufacturing facility, and it’s delivered that means — guaranteeing the machine does not get broken whereas in transit.Image 1 of 5(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The leather-based case offers you entry to all of the ports whereas offering an extra layer of safety, and whereas I typically do not use instances basically, I did not thoughts utilizing the one Fiio bundled with the M15S. It feels nice in-hand and provides to the upmarket look of the participant.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Continuing with the design, the M15S has a quantity knob on the prime, and it features a tiny LED ring mild. You’ll discover the ports subsequent to the quantity knob, and there is a single-ended 3.5mm port together with balanced 2.5mm and 4.4mm ports.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Both sides of the M15S have rounded buttons; the left contains the facility and music playback controls, and the appropriate aspect homes the quantity rocker and a customizable button that can be utilized for any motion you need. There’s additionally a Hold toggle that locks the display screen, stopping any mistouches.Image 1 of 3(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You’ll discover the USB-C port on the backside, and this can be utilized for charging in addition to connecting to focus on units. There’s additionally a MicroSD card slot on the backside, and the M15S homes MicroSD playing cards as much as 2TB in measurement, so in the event you’ve obtained a big offline music library and also you wish to carry it with you, that is potential right here.Fiio is understood for being beneficiant with equipment, and it is no completely different with the M15S. You additionally get all of the cables you want, together with USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to Lightning, and there is a USB-C to USB-A dongle if you wish to join the participant to your Windows machine to make use of as a DAC.Image 1 of 3(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The most attention-grabbing addition is a DK3S foldable cooling stand that is meant to be used with the M15S. The stand sells for $39 by itself, and with the M15S working scorching below load, it is comprehensible that the model is bundling the fan with the bundle — it did one thing comparable with the Q7 DAC as effectively.I just like the design of the M15S fairly a bit; it feels far more premium than the $499 M11S, and that sample on the again is a sight to behold.Fiio M15S: Screen and {hardware}(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The M15S is Fiio’s flagship digital audio participant, and it’s packing loads of attention-grabbing {hardware}. The participant has a 5.5-inch LCD panel with a decision of 1440 x 720, and whereas I’d have points with that on an Android cellphone, it really works rather well for this use case.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The display screen itself is vibrant and has zero points in terms of out of doors visibility, and there is no latency right here. That’s right down to the {hardware} on supply; the M15S is powered by the 14nm Snapdragon 660, and whilst you will not discover it on any cellphone in the present day, it’s greater than sufficient for the music participant. There’s 4GB of RAM as effectively together with 64GB of built-in storage (45GB is usable), and I did not see any points switching between music streaming providers.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You simply get 9 hours of battery life because of the 6,200mAh battery, and it hasn’t been a difficulty in my use case. Fiio says it’s optimizes battery charging instances to delay longevity, and seeing as how it is a sealed unit, that is a superb factor. What is not nice is the charging time itself — it takes over 3.5 hours to completely cost the M15S. While it is not anyplace near even mid-range Android telephones, you are unlikely to wish to cost this factor in the midst of the day, so I do not thoughts the sluggish charging instances.There’s additionally the flexibility to make use of the M15S in a desktop configuration by connecting it to a USB PD charger, and on this mode, it does not use the inner battery in any respect, and also you get a better energy restrict.On the entire, there’s nothing to fault when it comes to the {hardware}. Fiio did a stellar job on this space, and whereas I’d have preferred to see extra battery life, 9 hours of music playback over the balanced 4.4mm port needs to be first rate sufficient for many customers.Fiio M15S: Software and connectivity(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Fiio did not change too many issues on the software program entrance. The M15S nonetheless runs Android 10, and that looks like an oversight contemplating there are gamers these days that function Android 12 out of the field. I can perceive the reasoning for persevering with with Android 10; Fiio made loads of audio-related customization to the vanilla Android interface to take full benefit of the audio {hardware}, and it must rework all these parts if it had to make use of Android 12 as a basis. Still, I’d like Fiio to do higher on this space.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)That stated, the interface is fluid, and there is no bloat to be discovered. Fiio has its personal app retailer that permits you to set up common music streaming providers, and due to Google Mobile Services, you get full entry to the Play Store. The interface does not have any customization, so it’s similar to vanilla Android 10, and which means you get the older notification pane with rounded toggles and a card-style overview menu. You’ll discover a system-wide darkish mode right here, and navigation gestures.Thankfully, there’s nothing lacking on the connectivity entrance. You get all of the ports you want, together with the single-ended 3.5mm jack, balanced 4.4mm and a pair of.5mm ports, and USB-C for connecting to different units. There’s line out for all of the ports, and you should utilize the 3.5mm as a coaxial interface.It’s the same state of affairs in terms of wi-fi connectivity. The M15S has Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6, and it contains all of the wi-fi codecs you may ever want: SBC, AAC, AptX, AptX HD, LDAC, and LHDC. There are completely no points on this entrance, and one function that I notably like is Roon integration.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)I lately began utilizing Roon to handle my music library, and it has been a revelation. I’ll do an in depth function on the service very quickly, however Roon is basically the very best resolution for managing massive music libraries. It has a contemporary UI that is straightforward to navigate, kinds your library robotically by artists, albums, genres, and different metadata, and has its personal set of codecs that ensures you get the very best audio high quality.I wasn’t fairly positive why a music participant that does not have any streaming of its personal prices $15 a month, however I now perceive its potential. If you’ve got a big offline music library, you need to give Roon a attempt. The M15S works seamlessly with Roon, and it has been an absolute pleasure to make use of the machine to stream tunes from my music assortment.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Fiio has its personal music consumer bundled out of the field, and it does an honest sufficient job in its personal proper. To spherical out the options, the M15S has six modes on supply: Android mode is the default, and it has the complete Android interface. Pure Music Mode switches to Fiio Music, and you do not get entry to the Android UI. You also can use the M15S as a USB DAC, or use it as a Bluetooth receiver, as an AirPlay goal, and as a Roon Ready machine.Basically, the M15S is likely one of the most feature-rich music gamers round, and in the event you’re already utilizing a price range or mid-range possibility and wish to swap to a flagship, this may serve you very effectively.Fiio M15S: Sound high quality(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Coming to the audio aspect of issues, the M15S options the flagship ESS ES9038Pro 8-channel DAC, the identical that is present in a slate of the model’s merchandise, together with the Q7 DAC and the K9 Pro. Unlike the K9 Pro, the M15S has a single DAC module, and it goes as much as 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256 in USB DAC mode and 32-bit/768KHz and DSD512 in USB audio mode. There’s additionally MQA right here — permitting you to make use of Tidal with the participant — and it unfolds at 8x.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The key distinction with the M15S over among the different Fiio merchandise is that it misses out on THX amps, as an alternative utilizing twin OPA926 amps. Now, this shall be a degree of rivalry for some customers because the THX {hardware} produces a clear sound that turned a attribute of Fiio DACs over the past 18 months, however the M15S nonetheless retains the model’s signature tuning, and the tonality befits a flagship product.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)There’s far more readability within the low-end versus the M11S, and I discovered mids to be extra participating, with vocals coming by means of with loads of airiness. The treble is clear and particulars, with no trace of sibilance or harshness. The finest a part of the M15S is the low-end tuning; you get a extremely participating bass that pairs effectively with a number of genres, and the participant actually shines when used with planar headsets just like the Audeze LCD-X and Moondrop Venus.Imaging and dynamics are glorious, and the M15S brings the very best out of your audio gear. On that notice, there’s greater than sufficient energy to go round right here, and with Fiio providing 5 achieve ranges in whole, the M15S can drive any IEM or headset available in the market in the present day, no matter how demanding it may get. Of course, you may flip that as much as 11 by connecting it to a wired energy supply.Fiio M15S: The competitors(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)If you need a high-end music participant, the Shanling M6 Ultra is a good different to contemplate. It retails for $919 on Amazon (opens in new tab), and a key differentiator is that it makes use of AKM’s AK4493SEQ in a quad-DAC configuration. It is powered by the Snapdragon 665, runs Android 10, has a 5-inch 1080p display screen, and has an evocative design. It contains Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 6, and comes with a 3.5mm and balanced 4.4 port, and delivers the identical 9-hour battery life because the M15S. It misses out on Roon integration, however you get MQA unfolding at 16X, and it’s marginally extra reasonably priced.If you do not wish to shell out that a lot money, Fiio’s M11S continues to be a stellar selection for $499 (opens in new tab). Sure, you miss out on among the niceties, however it delivers unbelievable sound that is almost on par with the M15S, and it additionally has Roon integration and all of the connectivity choices. There are first rate financial savings available right here, and what the M11S misses out in class it makes up for in worth.Fiio M15S: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You should purchase this if:You need the very best transportable music participantYou want all of the wired and wi-fi connectivity choices at the moment accessibleYou need a transportable participant that may drive any IEM or headsetYou want a clear sound that is participatingYou want Roon integrationYou need a participant with a hanging designYou should not purchase this if:You want a music participant with a latest model of AndroidYou need over 10 hours of battery lifeWith the M15S, Fiio is continuous its streak of launching one nice product after one other. The M15S delivers a lot of the options of the flagship M17 whereas costing $800 much less, and the sheer variety of options make it a simple advice. The design is elegant whereas nonetheless being in keeping with the model’s general aesthetic, it’s lag-free in day by day use, has a clear Android interface with helpful customizations to get probably the most out of your audio gear, and delivers first rate battery life.The tonality and stability on supply with the M15S ensures you may get the very best out of no matter IEM and headset you connect with the participant; that has been the case in my utilization over the past month. I additionally should reiterate simply how good the bundled leather-based cowl is; it makes utilizing the M15S that rather more pleasant. And in fact, Roon integration is a giant differentiator for my very own use case, and it has been a delight to entry the service on the M15S.If you are available in the market for a flagship digital audio participant, you may discover few choices which are nearly as good because the M15S. Sure, you may get the M11S for half the money, however if you’d like the best possible that Fiio has to supply proper now, the M15S is the apparent selection.
Today’s finest Fiio M15S offers (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
The M15S combines a chic design with a sturdy chassis, and also you get a big display screen, nice {hardware}, and all of the ports you want in a high-end music participant. Fiio completely nailed the tonal stability, and the M15S will deliver the very best out of your audio gear.
Fiio M15S: Price Comparison (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)