Latest news with #FiiO
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
FiiO Reveals K15 Desktop DAC And Headphone Amplifier For Premium Private Listening
The FiiO K15 DAC and headphone amplifier is designed for headphone enthusiasts who listen to hi-res ... More music. Audio brand FiiO is back again with yet another product launch in the form of the new K15 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier. The new unit merges power and innovative engineering in a slim case designed to be aesthetically pleasing. Anyone attending CanJam London 2025 can get a sneak preview on June 19. At the heart of the K15 are dual AKM AK4497S DAC chips, part of AKM's new 'VELVET SOUND' range. These are premium chips designed to deliver pristine digital-to-analog conversion, preserving the smallest of details from low to high frequencies while ensuring ultra-low distortion and a wide dynamic range. The K15 is one of the first audio products in the world to implement these flagship AKM chips in a dual configuration. FiiO claims they achieve an organic and immersive sound signature. The K15 also has a 10-band parametric EQ available via the FiiO Control app, which can be used to tweak the sound. At the heart of the K15 are dual AKM AK4497S DAC chips, part of AKM's new 'VELVET SOUND' range. Powerful Amplification The K15 can drive demanding pairs of headphones thanks to a discrete Class-AB amplifier circuit with up to 3,000mW per channel via the balanced output. Whether it's used to drive sensitive IEMs or high-impedance over-the-ear headphones, the K15 does it with low-noise and high-current performance. From its DACs to the amplifier stage, the K15's audio path is fully balanced and differential. This means the layout is designed to enhance channel separation and also minimizes distortion and noise while maximizing fidelity to keep the music uncolored and sounding lifelike. To further protect the integrity of the signal, FiiO has used a tri-board design with separate digital, analog and power supply sections spread across different circuits. This layout reduces the chance of crosstalk and electrical interference which should result in an audibly cleaner sound. There is a full complement of inputs and outputs at the rear of the FiiO K15 DAC and headphone amp. Precision Power The K15 has a high-efficiency 30W internal AC power supply but also supports 12V DC input for external linear power upgrades. It has independent digital and analog power rails with a multi-stage analog supply with multiple dropout regulators that guarantee a constant supply of clean current to each audio stage. A 3.93-inch color LCD touchscreen on the K15 front panel provides visual controls, while tactile knobs provide quick access to key functions. For hands-free operation, there's an infrared remote and the FiiO Control app enables the unit to be controlled remotely. With a choice of Gigabit Ethernet for lossless network streaming or 2.4G/5G dual-band Wi-Fi for wireless convenience, the K15 can remain connected with both stability and speed. The FiiO K15 will be released on August 1, 2025. The price is $549 / £499 / €599.
Forbes
12-06-2025
- Forbes
FiiO Unveils M21 Digital Audio Player With Snapdragon Processor And Android 13
The new FiiO M21 DAP has the latest technology combined with a dash of retro styling. If you've ever fancied buying a digital audio player so you can listen to audiophile-quality music on the move but were put off by the prices of brands like Astell&Kern, this new player from FiiO could be the answer. The prodigious audio brand has announced the global launch of the M21, a powerful and portable digital audio player that's Android-based. Combining flagship hardware elements, rugged design and retro aesthetics, the M21 puts high-resolution audio within reach of many. Sporting a compact 4.7‑inch HD IPS screen, the M21 has a sleek and palm-sized interface with plenty of functionality. It's powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset and runs Android 13 for a quick and responsive performance running both native and streaming apps. The M21 comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage which can be expanded to 2 TB by adding a microSD card. At the heart of the M21 are no fewer than four Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips, arranged in a matrix configuration. FiiO says this architecture minimizes crosstalk and noise. Meanwhile, two-stage amplification circuits provide voltage then current gain to create a clean and dynamic sonic profile. The M21 DAP from FiiO is an affordable Android player with the latest digital technology onboard. The M21 introduces 'desktop mode' which is a first for FiiO's entry-level Android players. When connected via its secondary Type‑C power-in port to an external power supply, the M21 bypasses its onboard battery to deliver up to 21 Vpp peak voltage and 950mW per channel into 32Ω loads. FiiO claims that's comparable to high-end desktop DAC/amps. In portable mode, the player's output remains powerful with a 15-hour battery life for a single-ended 3.5mm and 11.5 hours for balanced 4.4mm listening. The Desktop Mode also means the M21 can be used as the streaming component of a high-end hi-fi system. The M21 also uses the updated FiiO Control app which provides full control from a smartphone alongside settings and advanced PEQ filters. FiiO offers a retro cassette-tape-style protective case for the M21 which is available to buy separately. It comes complete with vintage UI and tactile buttons to go completely old school. The FiiO M21 digital player is available to buy now and priced at $329 / £279 / €329.
Forbes
26-05-2025
- Forbes
FiiO's New BTR17 Pocket-Rocket Portable Headphone Amplifier
The FiiO BTR17 can handle a huge range of Bluetooth audio codecs offering CD quality sound without ... More wires. If you enjoy listening to music on the move using a great pair of wired headphones, you will know how frustrating it is that most smartphones no longer have a 3.5mm headphone socket so you are forced to use a pair of wireless earbuds. However, if you use the new FiiO BTR17 you can go back to those favorite wired headphones or in-ear monitors. Ever since smartphone makers ditched headphone jacks, we've been forced to use wireless earbuds to listen to our music when we are out and about. Wireless listening is handy, but it's nice to have the option of using a favorite pair of wired headphones or in-ear monitors, especially if you have Hi-Res music stored or streamed on your phone. The new FiiO BTR17 is a compact DAC and headphone amplifier that has outputs for 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphones. The BTR17 can connect to a smartphone or computer using USB or Bluetooth. Thanks to premium digital-to-analog converters and a THX AAA 78+ amplifier, the BTR17 can provide audiophile-quality playback on the move. FiiO BTR17 is a compact headphone amplifier and DAC that can serve up audiophile-quality music on ... More the go. With a size similar to an old-school cigarette lighter, the FiiO BTR17 is based around Qualcomm's flagship QCC5181 Bluetooth chipset and uses the latest Bluetooth Version 5.4. It also supports the new Bluetooth LE Audio standard, making it future-proof. The FiiO BTR17 offers LDAC, aptX Adaptive 96kHz/24bit, aptX Low Latency audio codecs, as well as the usual AAC and SBC protocols. When combined with Qualcomm's Snapdragon Sound technology, the BTR17's Bluetooth performance can finally match the kind of sound that a wired pair of headphones can provide so it's a wireless upgrade for many smartphones. A dedicated D. Mode switch on the BTR17 invokes Desktop Mod so that, when connected to an external independent power supply, users can connect the BTR17 to a smartphone using a USB cable and then it becomes a high-powered DAC and headphone amplifier. In desktop mode, the BTR17 has a powerful audio output that can drive power-hungry headphones without gobbling up the battery of the host smartphone. All. the controls for setting modes etc are ranged down the left side of the FiiO BTR17. A three-position switch on the side of the BTR17 can put the device into one of three playing modes: PC / BT / PHONE. The switch can move between the three operating modes while optimizing the power supply status depending on the kind of device that's connected. In PC mode, the BTR17 is powered by the host computer through a USB cable. When switching over to BT Mode, the BTR17 can receive audio wirelessly from a smartphone or a computer and its internal and rechargeable battery can be charged and powered using the BTR17's USB port. Finally, in Phone Mode the BTR17 uses its internal battery to help lower the battery drain on the host device while the BTR17 is functioning as a DAC and headphone amp. At the heart of the BTR17 is the flagship XMOS XU316 chip, with low latency and more stable transmission with better compatibility than most USB controllers. With the ability to handle audio files up to 768kHz/32-bit, DSD512 native and MQA full decoding, the XU316 chip can cope with almost any audio stream. FIIO has made a big effort to integrate the software and hardware inside the BTR17 and it has also developed a user-friendly smartphone app and web interface for controlling things. The refined proprietary PEQ adjustment algorithms let users fine-tune EQ frequency points, gain, levels, bandwidth and Q value of the BTR17. This feature can simulate or correct the frequency response curve of various headphones. It's even possible to import, export and share custom EQ curves. The FiiO BTR17 has a sophisticated knurled control knob for selecting menu items. Inside the BTR17 are a couple of ESS ES9069Q DACs, based on fourth-generation, 32-bit, HyperStream architecture. These chips can provide high performance decoding while consuming less power than previous-generation DACs. The architecture also helps to reduce digital noise, enabling the DAC to hit 130dB dynamic range and -120dB total harmonic distortion. The BTR17 uses a THX AAA 78+ headphone amplifier, which was previously used in FiiO's M23 digital audio player. The amp's four-channel, fully balanced design has eight op-amps that work in parallel for a robust and controlled power, that FiiO claims produces a clear and natural sound. When the BTR17's Power input is connected to a USB power supply and is in Desktop Mode, the THX headphone amp uses four op-amps in parallel for current amplification, resulting in a balanced output power of up to 650mW+650mW. That's the sort of figure that's equal to some high-end desktop headphone amplifiers. The FiiO BTR17 is available in Blue and Black colorways. Digital signals in the BTR17 are handled by a dual digital clock and DAC. In addition, the LPF pre-amplification and multi-stage analog audio processing can boost details as well as the dynamic range. With an eye-catching volume knob featuring a double-sided and engraved 3S design, the BTR17 looks sophisticated. It has a pressable volume knob which can be rotated for scrolling and selecting from the BTR17's menu which is displayed of the player's 1.3-inch IPS screen. The knob has a strong tactile feel for definite control while font colors on the display change depending on the audio codec being used. The FiiO BTR17 is available now and is priced at $199 / £199 / €199 from FiiO and various retailers.
