Fiio M17 audiophile portable music player

Deal Score0

€1,431 – Easylounge

Hello everyone,

I am offering you my very first deal in a field which is a passion – among many others – namely music 😉

It allows us to escape, to remember good or sad moments, in short it never leaves us indifferent, as it is a vector of emotions. Come on, here we go:

Are you the type who wants the best possible sound quality? Let me introduce you to the FIIO M17, an audiophile portable music player unanimously recognized by the specialized press (Diapason d'Or 2023), by critics through glowing reviews, but above all by those who own it (5-star portable music player)

So, yes it is expensive, VERY EXPENSIVE even;
it only runs on version 10 of Android
It's a brick and with more than 600 grams on the scale, it doesn't fit in a pocket

However, we don't care -> find out more (see the opinions at Son-Vidéo for example) about this beautiful and big baby, it offers high-end manufacturing and concedes absolutely nothing on its very high fidelity qualities

The FIIO M17 in a few words

What does the FIIO M17 have in its belly? It's a monster: just imagine a device that combines the power of a home amp with the portability of a portable music player

Technical characteristics

Design
Operating system: Android 10
Modes: Android/Pure Music/USB DAC/Bluetooth Receiver/AirPlay mode
ESS ES9038 Pro Dual DAC
THX AAA-788+ amplifier technology
Compatible 32-bit / 768 kHz, DSD256 (DSD512 externally) / MQA

Connectivity
WiFi: dual-band 2.4 GHz/5 GHz
USB Type-C (USB 2.0)
Bluetooth transmitter: LDAC, aptX HD, aptX, SBC
Bluetooth receiver: aptX HD, aptX, SBC, AAC
AirPlay
DLNA/NAS UPNP compatible
Transferring audio files via WiFi

Screen
Screen size (diagonal): 5.99″ (15.2 cm)
Resolution: 1080 x 2160 pixels
Multi-touch touch interface

Memory
RAM: 4 GB
ROM: 64 GB
ROM available to user: approximately 46 GB
Expansion possible by micro-SD memory card (2 TB max.)

Buttons
Power on/standby
Previous/next title
Volume potentiometer

Connectors
USB Type C port (battery charging, file transfer, USB DAC, USB Audio)
3.5mm mini-jack headphone output (unbalanced)
2.5mm mini-jack headphone output (balanced)
Pentaconn 4.4mm headphone output (balanced)
6.35mm jack headphone output
3.5mm mini-jack SPDIF output shared with headphone output
3.5mm mini-jack line output shared with headphone output

Output specifications 3.5 mm mini-jack line
Total harmonic distortion + noise (THD+N): < 0.0007% (1 kHz/10 kΩ)
Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): > 120 dB
Frequency response: 5 Hz~80 kHz (-3 dB)
Floor noise: < 3.5 μV
Output voltage: 11.3 V
Output power:
≥740 mW (16 Ω / THD+N＜1%)
≥500mW (32Ω /THD+N＜1%)
≥63 mW (300 Ω / THD+N＜1%)
Output impedance: ≤1Ω

Specifications balanced headphone outputs mini-jack 2.5 mm & Pentaconn 4.4 mm
Output power:
≥1.4W (16Ω / THD+N＜1%)
≥1.1W (32Ω /THD+N＜1%)
≥126mW 300Ω /THD+N＜1%)
Output impedance: ≤1Ω
Total harmonic distortion + noise (THD+N): <0.0009% (1kHz/32Ω)
Frequency response: 5 Hz ~ 80 kHz (-3 dB)
Floor noise: < 3.8 μV
Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) ≥ 122 dB

Supported lossless file types
DSD：DSD64/128/256（“.iso”,“.dsf”,“.dff”)，DST iSO
DXD：352.8K/24bit
APE FAST/High/Normal：384kHz/24bit（MAX）
APE Extra High：192kHz/24bit（MAX）
APE Insane：96kHz/24bit（MAX）
Apple Lossless：384kHz/32bit（MAX）
AIFF：384kHz/32bit（MAX）
FLAC：384kHz/32bit（MAX）
WAV：384kHz/32bit（MAX）
WMA LOSSLESS：96kHz/24bit（MAX)

Food
Built-in rechargeable battery, fast charging compatible
Capacity 9200 mAh
Recommended chargers: QC3/MTK PE quick charger, PD3.0 charger, DC 12V/1.5A
Charging time: approximately 4.5 hours (DC 12V/1.5A)
Battery life
– 3.5mm headphone output: > 10h
– 2.5mm/4.4mm headphone output: > 8h

Accessories provided
External DC adapter
Cooling stand with fan
PET screen protector with oleophobic layer (NOT pre-applied)
Leather case
micro-SD card eject pin
USB 3.0 data and power cable
Aluminum dust cap

General
Dimensions (wxhxd): 88 x 156.4 x 28 mm
Weight: 610g

DAC Dual ES9038PRO : For sound quality that neither your headphones nor your speakers can spoil
3.5mm/4.4mm balanced output : these two types of outputs to satisfy all headphones
5.99 inch touch screen : Because we don't just want to listen, we also want to be amazed
9200 mAh battery : You have long listening sessions ahead of you
Android 10 : it is a portable music player but also a mini-computer.

Sound quality

Imagine sitting in a private concert hall, every note, every instrument clear and precise. The FIIO M17 gives you this experience. The bass is deep but not overbearing, the treble is crystal clear without being shrill. A perfect balance

Field performance

So, hang in there. Whether you are at home, in the office or on the go, the FIIO M17 adapts. No loss of quality, no extraneous noise. It's like having your own sound engineer in your pocket.

Design and ergonomics

Design-wise, FIIO didn’t do things by halves. The M17 is sturdy yet stylish, with an aluminum finish that exudes quality. The buttons are well placed and the touchscreen is a real pleasure to use. And the weight? We're talking almost a kilo, so you will feel its presence, but for good reasons.

User reviews

Wondering what others think? Here are some reviews found on Reddit:

“The FIIO M17 has literally changed the way I listen to music. The clarity and power are insane.”

“I bought this to replace my old player and I couldn't be happier. The battery lasts for hours and the sound quality is just perfect.”

Small selection at Son-Vidéo:

“Really satisfied with this product. I use it with ZMF Vérité Closed headphones. The sound is very dynamic and precise across the entire frequency range. Certainly, it's a tank, but the performance more than justifies the weight. I 'Used as an amp/DAC when I'm at work, it's connected to a Feliks Euforia headphone amp. Delighted with this purchase.'

Comparison with other models

How does the FIIO M17 compare to some competing audiophile DAPs?

Astell&Kern A&futura SE200 : Excellent, but the M17 offers more power
Sony NW-WM1A : Very good, but the M17 is more versatile thanks to its Android OS
iBasso DX300 : In terms of sound quality, they are close, but the M17 wins on autonomy

Conclusion

The FIIO M17 is not just a portable music player, it is a real revolution for audiophiles. If you're looking for the best possible sound quality in a portable device, look no further. The FIIO M17 is the one you need. Get ready to rediscover your music in a new light.

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