One of the questions I often get when recommending a portable music player is whether they already have everything you need in your phone, or what these devices can do that Apple’s latest iPhone can’t.

It is there that I try to explain to them (not always with the expected success) what for me are the four big advantages that these players have. First, the sound quality is better than any mobile phone, no matter how expensive it is. To do this, they are usually equipped with internal components designed specifically to: make music sound better.

Second, and unlike virtually every smartphone on the market, these players support high- and ultra-high-definition audio files in a wide variety of formats. In addition, they usually have a user interface specifically designed for audio playback, with advanced options that allow you to work with equalization, gain, different types of headphones, etc. Finally, both in terms of storage and autonomy, they tend to be more attractive options for people who spend a large part of the day listening to music.

And to the question of whether we already had all this in the iPod and other classic MP3 players, the answer is what you imagine: No. All of these arguments tend not to convince, to be honest, most of the people I have the opportunity to talk to about this topic. However, from time to time I can exchange impressions with music lovers, authentic audiophiles, in which to invest the 600 euros (approx.) that this FiiO M11 S can be more than justified.

Portability is not incompatible with quality

Some of you may remember the review we published about the FiiO M17 a few months ago. The essence of this device was similar to that of this FiiO M11, which is presented as the “little brother” of the previous one. And it’s because, although of course the M17 went very well for us a sensation in terms of strength, construction and overall quality, it just kept coming. HEis more of a portable than a portable player: Too big and heavy to use comfortably outside the home.

The first thing we notice about this M11, if not its lightness, then at least that it weighs half as much as the previous one: 310 grams compared to 610 grams of its older brother. In addition, and although the width and length of the M11 are only slightly smaller, the thickness is also almost halved (from 28mm to 17mm). That being said, outwardly we have two frankly similar devices, which in fact differ only in their connection options, with the largest having up to three independent line outputs, and in this model it is reduced to two. With an internal storage capacity of 32 GB (perhaps the player’s weakest point), however, we have the option to expand this capacity using microSD cards up to 2 TB or even connect an external hard drive via its USB-C connector (which we will also use to charge the device or synchronize our files.

On its 5.5” IPS screen (1440x720p), we can manage this FiiO M11 based on Android 10 in five different ways: pure music (based on native device software), Android (a mode in which we can install applications such as Spotify or Tidal), USB-DAC (which changes its use to a portable DAC – eg for our computer), a receiver bluetooth (if we want to connect it to speakers that do not have this function), or a receiver airplay.

musical warmth

As in almost all devices of the Chinese brand, in this M11 we find a balance between top-level components and a more or less modified price. And here this balance is achieved by a DAC ES9038Q2m×2, amplifier OPA926*2 and processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 660. While the processor matches what we found in the M17, what we got inside was a massive desktop with a standalone unit. Saber ES9038PROone of the most powerful solutions on the market that we can find for audio processing up to 32 bits.

And of course we’re not going that far here, but it’s not necessary either because the DAP performance levels reach 550 mW, also have three gain levels, making it easy to use with high-impedance, high-sensitivity headphones. As an add-on, it includes technology All for DSD, which converts PCM audio signals to DSD format during the digital/analog conversion process, allowing you to experience natural and clear sound and which in its third version consumes 30% less power. Also, fans of “space saving” storage will be happy to know that the device also has support for decoding tracks MQAfor reproduction in master quality, but with manageable files.

First of all, it has a battery to feed the “animal”. 5.300mAh with 27W fast charging for QC2.0/3.0/4.0 and USB PD fast charging. All this translates into a player capable of playing music for up to 10 hours continuously and more than 1,000 hours in standby mode. This When we add all the elements involved, it translates into a precise, elegant sound quality with great detail and clarity in the mids and highs, and compact depth in the bass without perceiving any degree of distortion even in the heaviest tracks. .

On the other hand, in its work as a DAC, the M11 is capable of reaching speeds of up to 384kHz/32bit in the USB DAC function, support for a wide range of formats via USB connector including DSD128, DoP/D2P and native DSD.

Software

As we previously pointed out, the FiiO M11 offers the user up to five different modes of use, thus becoming a small-big Swiss army knife for fans who want to squeeze the most out of their music collection.

With Android 10 at the heart of this device, it is true that we will be able to rely on the most popular applications, for example, when playing music in the cloud or on various streaming platforms. However, in the “Pure Music” mode, we still think that the company should make more efforts to improve the translation of certain menu items and offer a more precise explanation of the various technical options offered when playing files, somewhat unclear to those who do not have some prior knowledge.

We have an example with FiiO Link. What the company puts in our hands in this case is a small utility that allows us to control our FiiO device remotely from an Android/iOS phone, which is very useful when we connect the player to external speakers, for example. And yet, it’s something we have to figure out for ourselves, as neither the device’s manual nor the menus direct us to what it’s for.

And that’s a warning to boaters. Chinese brands like FiiO have matched (and sometimes even surpassed) established US or European names in build quality, component quality and audio experience… but they still need to learn when it comes to creating user interfaces… already the experience can be somewhat frustrating in some cases.

conclusions

If you’ve made it this far, it’s probably because you’re seriously considering getting a portable HiFi player. And surely you have come to the conclusion that this FiiO M11S has a lot in favor and little against. And you can’t go wrong if… you’re picky about the sound quality you want from your headphones, but you’re definitely not willing to spend a fortune.

So if balance is the word you’re looking for, the M11 S is for you. It’s not perfect, of course, and as we’ve pointed out, its software needs to improve… but once you get over the small learning curve between the different menus and options it offers, it’s a lot of fun. FiiO M11 S is available for 549 euros.