FiiO M6

Introduction
In May 2022, I decided to buy my first pair of IEMS, my budget range was 50-100 dollars. I was looking for a long term solution. I know there are more expensive IEMS but I was planning to use them while I was commuting or traveling. I pulled the trigger with Fiio's FD1. My experience with FD1 has been great overall, the packaging, the accessories and the sound exceeded my expectations and I have not thought of an upgrade to be honest, Fiio had gained my respect. About 18 months later, I wanted to buy a DAP since my digital collection had increased dramatically and I needed a player that supported a wide variety of formats and streaming service support. My personal phone (Samsung S10e) worked decently as a DAP, but the driving power was very limited. I tried to DAPs before the M6 which I will use for comparison:

• LG V30 (Quad DAC): there are not a lot of phones with a dedicated audio section, but LG's V lineup impressed the audiophile community. Their phones worked with the latest ESS Tech SoCs providing new features, improved audio and efficiency. I could say the V30 is one of my favorite audio products, the sound was great and my only real complaint is the low impedance and line-out voltage output.
• Sony Walkman A55: I was really excited to test Sony's new walkman lineup. The A55 main feature was the build quality, although this should have been expected considering the high price tag in comparison to other DAPs with similar features. The sound was also excellent, it's the only time I have understood the concept of analog sounding. For example, paired with the HD560s which is a bright and revealing headphone, the sound was soft but detailed with little to no harshness; I couldn't achieve this with any other device. I have 3 problems with the device: the screen quality, the power output and the price.

The entry level DAP market seems to dominated by Chinese companies nowadays. They have been able to offer a ton of feature like MQA hardware decoding, balanced outputs and higher power outputs for as little as 150 dollars. This means you can get an excellent DAP for a low price. FiiO M6 is about 5 years old, released in 2019, its features are bit outdated and it's difficult to find but I decided to try this because it seem like a great product with the features I needed, a great design and just enough power f. Let's start with the review.

Packaging and accessories

Fiio doesn’t disappoint at all in the packaging. The box is very small, the printing quality is good as always. Inside, we find the M6, a USB C to USB cable, a screen protector, a hard case and some manuals. It’s always welcomed to get this type of accessory included.

Build quality and design

The chosen materials are awesome, the metal chassis feels good and the glass back give the M6 the feel of a high end smartphone. I like that it is just a rounded black box, keep things simple.

Setup

You can start using the M6 in just a few minutes, no account is required at all, you just need a WIFI connection to access updates and third party apps. Installing a MicroSD card was very simple as well and it read all my files with no issues (over 50 gb of music).

Screen quality

This screen resolution is 480 by 800 pixels (3.2 inches), just a bit higher than HD resolutions. In addition, it’s an IPS panel so colors and viewing angles are good as well. Contrast was pretty decent as well, resulting in a very good viewing of the menus and album cover arts. The screen got very bright as well, I never used above 25%.

Features

The M6 uses a 7270 Exynos processor and an ES9018C2M SoC. The processor gets the job done especially when the M6 is just doing tasks such as playing music, if we start downloading, streaming and searching music the performance drops but this is an uncommon scenario.

Battery life.

Battery capacity is 1200 mAh, this might seem huge but the device is very efficient. Using the line-out option, the player can last around 7 hours with a single charge. Using IEMs, you can probably hit 10 hours. Charging time is very short, about 1 hour to get from 20% to 100%. My only complaint here is that some cable I had didn’t work
the M6 so I suggest keeping the included cable.

Power output and driving capabilities

I could find the maximum voltage the M6 can output, I can say around 1.5 to 2.0 volts. This is relevant since the standard line-out voltage is 2 volts and this same voltage is the minimum I needed to power my HD 600 with all my library. I’m not sure it hit 2.0 volts but it’s pretty close. Using sensitive-low impedance IEMS such as the FD1, the experience is excellent, I would say any dynamic driver headphone with medium to high sensitivity will perform great with the M6.

Sound

There is not a lot to say about M6’s sound. It’s pretty clean and transparent but I never found bright or thin in any of the 3 scenarios. Don’t think this is a warm sounding source, but you are not not going to have any problem with pairing. There is no harshness or any other audible issue,

Final thoughts

To be honest, I can’t really recommend this DAP. Even though the software experience, the third party app support and Fiio music player are great, the limited features and below average power output reduce my excitement for this player. In addition, finding it brand new is almost impossible so you will have to look in second-hand markets such as Ebay. I would pay only up to 100 dollars for this device in 2024, in you have a bigger budget I could suggest an LG V30 or USB DAC.

Tiny Music Machines - FiiO M5 // M6 DAP Review



FiiO M5 and M6 are novel creations from FiiO, tiny DAPs that have both a very portable form factor, but also a good sonic performance, FiiO trying to defy the concept that a small DAP can't sound good with both. Priced at a price point of about 150 USD for M6, and about 100 USD for FiiO M5, they have quite a few competitors, as more and more companies are designing new DAPs that are both affordable and rely on a portable form factor to bring you all the joy and fun of music.



Introuction

FiiO has became quite known lately for being one of the largest and most popular audiophile boutique brands, especially with many of their products being used even in flagship or high-end audiophile setups. When it comes to their name and warranty, FiiO lately has been growing so much that you can rely on them better if purchasing their products from the local dealers rather than directly from FiiO, as local dealers will most often replace the entire product with a new one, and provide faster support if any issue is to arise. This being said, from about 10 FiiO products I owned and reviewed to date, and none with issues of any kind, and having received worthy updates for all of them, some of those updates quite interesting, like the latest FiiO Q5S update, I think that FiiO are reliable and make one of the best companies to get your audio delights from, especially if you're on a budget.

I have decided to make this review a comparative one and include both the M5 and M6 in the same review, because a lot of the questions about each were along the lines of me comparing them, so here we are.

It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with FiiO, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. I'd like to thank FiiO for providing the sample for this review. This review reflects my personal experience with FiiO M5 / M6. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in FiiO M5 / M6 find their next music companion.



About me

https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/about.html



Packaging

First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:

M5













M6





Both M5 and M6 come in slightly minimalistic packages, although you could say that they include all the bare necessary. IF you're coming from older FiiO DAPs, like the FiiO X5 or the X5 MK II, you're probably expecting a larger package, and more extras to come in the package, but you'll soon notice that you have all you need to start enjoying both M5 and M6 once you open each of their packages.

More precisely, each comes with an interesting case, M5 with a clip case, and in some parts of the world, with a watch-like case, while M6 comes with a few screen protectors, and a silicone case.



What to look in when purchasing a high-end DAP

https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/what-to-lookl.html



Build Quality/Aesthetics/UI/Firmware



M5

Starting with the little one, M5 is pretty much an ultra-portable DAP, just like Shanling M0, or HIDIZS AP80. They all remind me of the iPod Shuffle, and it seems that the market for those is growing, with more and more people wanting an affordable tiny something to take on a run, so if you're concerned, you can always just get one of those and enjoy it.

The device is entirely metallic, with a smooth rounded design, so it is comfortable to use, and the entire device is simply quite ergonomic. I think that the ergonomics of M5 are considerably better than either M0 or AP80, simply because the shape flows better, and it sits better in hand.



Since a plastic case is also included in the package, M5 has good points for portability, but it is uncomfortable to use with just one finger if you're a slightly larger fellow, like me, and the display is simply physically not very practical for portable usage with my fingers, but neither was the display of any other DAP in this shape and size.

The Firmware and UI are very stable, but very basic, there's nothing magical going on with M5, and regardless of how hard you'd try to pop more features into a device of this shape and size, it is only going to be less and less practical, with my biggest issue being that I am mostly unable to select an option, not because the touch isn't good, but because I can't find a way to handle the device ergonomically.

The display gets extremely bright, and is easy to read under direct sunlight, during mid day, the device has a microSD slot, which supports a huge music collection, and the 2.5D edges of the M5 make it really nice to use.







In terms of battery life, M5 lasts for about 10 hours of actual music play time, especially with lower impedance IEMs, and about 12 hours if used as a Bluetooth receiver, which is one of the major selling points, if you need a simpler music listening experience, and the ability to still manage your playlist and app using your smartphone. Relying on a Qualcomm CSR8675 BT Chip, and a AK4377 DAC, M5 supports DSD decoding up to DSD128, and LDAC when used in BT mode, although it only has one single 3.5mm Single Ended Output, so no Balanced outputs for this one.

Not only M5 can do USB DAC from a computer, using FiiO's drivers, but it even has the ability to act as a transport for other USB DAC/AMPs, like Chord Mojo, or FiiO Q5s, making M5 one of the most versatile ultraportable DAPs I tested to date.



M6

Much like M5, M6 comes packed full of features, and also with an extremely ergonomic shape and design, smooth edges, no corners, being a true happy device to keep and hold in hand. In fact, M6 is at the lower end of what I'd consider comfortable for my hands, but I can control it just fine, and even compared to the larger M7, I think that M6 is the sweet spot for FiiO's Ultraportable DAPs at this moment, if you don't need something that is a bit smaller, like M5, or the features of M7, which still has a few advantages over M6.



M6 is like M5, fully metallic, and although it is a bit larger, a large portion of the device is covered by its front display, which is a 3.2" 480x800 IPS display that gets very bright and is legible under full sunlight. With a microSD card support like M5, of up to 2 TB, M6 feels like a true smartphone, although it relies on a heavily modified Android OS, which works with a list of apps, all of them whitelisted by FiiO, and customised to work on M6, and relying on Exynos 7270, just like M7 and M9 to work. In a sense, M6 is the smallest of the FiiO DAPs that relies on this SoC, but also the newest, so you'll probably feel that it is the most snappy and fluid of all.

The DAC inside is a bit better this time, M6 relying on a ES9018QC DAC, also featured in DAPs that are quite a bit more expensive. The DAC has some nifty features, but the most interesting of those are that 118 THD, and the 110mW at 16 OHM output. If you're sensitive to hiss, don't worry, M6 has zero hiss, even with IEMs like Atlas, making it one of the most silent DAPs in terms of hissing and background noise.



Similar to other DAPs, or actually even slightly better, M6 has almost 12 hours of battery life, which is pretty much excellent, and I've been able to use it for close to that time. The list of apps supported on M6 includes TIDAL, Spotify, Qobuz, Roon, Deezer, JOOX and Bandcamp.

If you like Bluetooth, M6 has quite a few things in store for you, especially dominating most competitors in terms of BT codecs supported, including LDAC, APT-X and APT-X HD. Speaking of BT, M6 can also be used as a BT receiver, making it pretty versatile, although the setting and the way to do this is a bit more hidden, in its settings.

M6 has just one Headphone Output, which is a 3.5mm Single Ended Output, but which has a few tricks up its sleeve, being able to receive controls and commands from remotes, and also being able to be used as a Line Out, although the Line signal from M6 is limited at 1.5V instead of the usual 2.0V expected from a Line.

There's even a USB DAC function to complete the list of features for M6, at the end of the day, both M5 and M6 being quite incredibly versatile devices.



Sound Quality



M5

I should start off by noting that M5 has a pretty low maximum power output, of just 42 mW at 16 OHMs, pretty lower compared to M6, and where I'd use M6 even with some larger headphones, like the Ultrasone Signature DXP, or Meze 99 Classics, M5 surely won't be able to drive them well, and I'd keep M5 around for IEMs only, and even there, for lower impedance IEMs.



With an output impedance of just 0.5 OHM, M5 is pretty silent with hissy IEMs, so you don't have to worry if you're IEMs are prone to hiss.

I could describe the sound as a bit shy at both ends, with little power, and a fatigue-free upper midrange and treble, M5 makes a total point out of being polite, and polite it is. This being said, the midrange never lacks detail or textures considering its price point, and the overall sound, paired with the right IEM can be quite excellent, although, as I said, I do think that M5 could use a bit more strength and power at both ends.

You can notice that the decay on M5 is a bit slow, especially when you compare it to other devices that do have better reach in the lows, or better depth, but overall the bass doesn't miss a lot of detail, even below the upper bass, being enough to call it interesting, and most of times a proper upgrade from a smartphone.

The midrange doesn't have a lot of subtleties, instead having a very coherent and natural presentation that relies on a good macro detail and instrument separation to make a name for itself. Furthermore, the midrange can be called sweet and a touch warm, which, considering its price point, and what you're most probably going to pair it with, make M5 a very good option, as it will make most IEMs that are a bit harsh and bright, or too bitey, into a sweeter, smoother versions of that sound. Since the weight of each note is good, the whole presentation comes through as natural, although the width of the soundstage is about average, where the depth is below average, being a more wide than deep kind of presentation.

The treble of M5 is very polite, to the point where it is a slightly too simple treble going on, making it much better for classical, pop, and electronic, than it is for Metal and Rock music, where you want a bit more bite to the cymbals.



M6

FiiO M6 has a pretty good amount of driving power, and virtually zero hiss, making it quite a bit more versatile than its little brother M5, and despite being only a bit more expensive, it feels quite a bit more balanced, and more extended both ways, with both the treble and the bass being better expressed, with better control and detail, than the little M5.



The bass and the sub-bass are moderate in quantity, so don't expect something crazy or bloated, like some smartphones or entry-level devices do, but the bass could also called to be a touch soft, but not really sloppy. Where the decay of M5 feels a touch slow, on M6 the bass feels just soft, not necessarily slow or sloppy. When it comes to drums, and snares, M6 is pretty snappy and doesn't have any midbass hump, making it much easier to pair with a wide variety of IEMs and Headphones, compared to thicker or more colored sounding DAPs.

The midrange is on the full bodied end of the spectrum, with a slightly thick presentation that is warm and a bit sweet. There's no mudiness though, and the midrange never feels suffocated nor dry. The vocals are presented in a clean fashion, but given its slightly thick overall sound, M6 compliments male voices better than female voices, and this can be felt even in rock and metal.

The upper midrange and lower treble are in line with the bass and the midrange, but the treble tends to roll off above 6 kHz, and the higher you go, the softer it is, making M6 best suited for either pairing with harsh / bright headphones or IEMs, like the UFO Ear 112, Adam Audio SP5, or paired with softer music like Jazz or classical.

The soundstage of M6 is average in both depth and width, although it has a bit more depth than it has width. This being said, it has excellent positioning, and fairly good instrument separation, making the entire M6 experience enjoyable, as it also has a fairly strong dynamic range, backed by the good power output.



Portable Usage

In terms of portability, the main difference between M5 and M6 lies in their physical size, with M5 being just a bit smaller than M6, and a bit lighter, M5 being actually one of the smallest DAPs in the world, which still features a display, and isn't a full blown shuffle DAP.



Both M5 and M6 have good points to their portability, although if you want to use some apps, like Tidal, M6 will be the one to go for, also having Wifi, and offering support for a hand of other apps, besides Tidal.

Both M5 and M6 have the ability to work as a Bluetooth Receiver, and both of them can act s a USB DAC, although as far as I can tell, only M5 can act as a transport for most DAC/AMPs.

M5 comes with a clip plastic case, and in some areas of the world, with a watch-like rubber case, making it quite favorable for its portability. This being said, M6 also comes with a rubber case, and despite the fact that M6 cannot be made to look and act as a watch, I like M6 better for its ergonomics, the physical size of the device being better for my hands, and feeling more comfortable.



Select Pairings

The main combos I selected here are FiiO M5 + FiiO F9PRO, FiiO M6 + FiiO FH7, and FiiO M6 + Dita Twins Fealty.



FiiO M5 + FiiO F9 PRO - FiiO M9 PRO is an easy to drive IEM, so M5 surely has enough power for it, and more, and F9 Pro is on the brighter, more neutral side of things, so the softer presentation of M5 compliments them well, making them more balanced, and an easier listen for those who wanted a less fatiguing, and a lighter listen, but still with the detail and the technical resolution of F9 PRO.

FiiO M6 + FiiO FH7 - FH7 is also pretty easy to drive, so both M5 and M6 would be more than enough for them. The interesting part here, though, is that FH7 has a more neutral and a brighter signature, that is really well complemented by the fatigue-free presentation of M6, and the deeper soundstage of M6 also compliments them well. FH7 is a bit sensitive to hiss, and the hiss-free sound of M6 also pairs quite well with FH7. The technical detail doesn't feel limited at all, and FH7 shines quite intricately, with a good amount of textures and clarity, when paired with M6.

FiiO M6 + Dita Twins Fealty - Dita Twins Fealty is an interesting flagship I just reviewed, and an IEM some may overlook when considering their next purchase, but here, I wanted to make a point of how easy they are to drive, and despite their typical 1200 USD price point, they are easy to drive with a FiiO M6, and not only they are pretty easy to drive, but also sound quite nice from a little DAP like M6, making them a really easy portable choice. The Dita Fealty is the more warm, light and wide of the Twins from Dita, and this is complimented well by M6 which is also soft, warm and sweet, enhancing the original signature of Fealty, which, while not impressive from the start, grows to be quite sweet and musical after you pair the two together. The wide stage of Fealty also works well together with M6, which has good depth, the resulting sound being quite well rounded.



Comparisons

The main comparisons I picked are FiiO M5 vs Shanling M0, as HIDIZS AP80 really doesn't make as much sense in terms of ergonomics, and m5 is too much of an easy choice given its really nice ergonomics, only M0 from Shanling making actual interesting competition here. I also will be comparing M6 to M9, as I've received a lot of questions about this one, and M6 vs Cayin N5ii, as a lot of you have been asking me about this one recently.



FiiO M5 vs Shanling M0 - The fun begins here, with the most important comparison, M5 vs M0. Now, I personally enjoy the buttons on M5 more than the wheel on M0, which in my honest opinion feels like the first thing that will break on M0, especially with the ultra-portable usage scenario, of keeping it in your pocket at all times, and using it while doing exercise. M0 sounds better for bassheads, and is thicker, warmer, more creamy in signature, and has more driving power, but M5 has a much more quiet overall background, is more refined with sensitive IEMs, and also has a more balanced sound. The treble is softer, and more smooth on M5, helping it mask the APT-X and all bluetooth codec artifacts, but it also manages to have a wider soundstage compared to M0. This being said, if you want a DAP with more driving power, and a mini size, M0 should be your to-go choice, while if you're looking for a more well-rounded option, M5 surely makes a very good option at this moment.

FiiO M6 vs FiiO M9 - Now, I didn't necessarily wanted to go into this comparison directly, as M9 is quite a bit more expensive than M6, and I usually try to keep things fair by comparing a DAP only with DAPs in a similar price range, but I received just enough questions about how they compare, to make it an official statement here. Let's start with the important parts, M9 has more driving power, quite considerably so, and M9 has both a single ended, and a balanced output, where M6 has only a Single Ended Output. This being said, both rely on the same CPU or more precisely, SoC, which means that they both rely on a similar firmware, and both have the same list of apps that can be installed on each, which is different from M11, which has a full android firmware, and works with almost any app. M9 has a volume wheel, where M6 relies on buttons for its volume control, but I personally think that the volume wheel on M9 is handy, being well protected during usage, and not feeling like the kind of volume wheel I'd be afraid to use and keep in my pocket. They have the same display, and they both support the same BT codecs, although only M6 supports Airplay at this moment, despite being the smaller and less expensive device. M9 has a SPDIF output, where M6 doesn't. It takes less time to charge M9 fully, from a zero battery state, but the battery life of M6 is longer, despite M6 having a smaller battery inside. In terms of sound, M9 is more detailed, considerably more natural and more even, and also more neutral. The bass is more rich, goes lower and slams with better impact on M9, but is also tighter and more snappy on M9. The midrange is pretty much better in every way on M9, with more detail, clarity, a wider and deeper soundstage, and with more textures and even nuance and micro-detail. The treble extends better on M9, and manages to still be fatigue-free, all while being a bit more upbeat and better extended, although this is to be expected. Overall, M6 is like a mini version of M9, though it actually does have some features M9 doesn't have, M6 is more portable, and this can be felt when it comes to its sonic performance, FiiO's larger M9 still being better than M6, but also considerably more expensive.

FiiO M6 vs Cayin N5ii - Cayin N5ii is a DAP released quite a while ago, but which is still relevant to the market. It seems like some people have encountered quite a few bugs with it, but happily most of those have been solved with subsequent updates throughout the time. N5ii is still more expensive than M6, but a lot of people have been curious how the two compare, so here we are. In terms of apps, theoretically N5ii should support more apps, and it should feel more free and more open than M6, but with the very ergonomic shape of M6, very good optimisation, and despite having a pretty limited app support, moving very smoothly, it feels like M6 is more open, unless you'd want to use an app that is not supported, thing which will be entirely impossible to do. One thing to note here, that I did not note in the other comparisons, is that N5ii has a considerably worse display, which is blue tinted, and which doesn't have a lot of brightness, where M6 has a much brighter, more vibrant and cleaner display. Not overly important to most people, but for those wondering about it, may come in handy. In terms of sound, N5ii is clearly warmer, but also has more hiss with sensitive IEMs. N5ii has better dynamics, and more overall impact, and better treble extension and sparkle, along with a deeper soundstage, and N5ii has a balanced output. This being said, both devices are quite relevant to their price points, and for IEMs, I'd probably recommend M6 more in general, because it has a lower noise floor, and feels easier to use and enjoy.



Value and Conclusion

This review has been a lot of fun to write and both M5 and M6 have been a lot of fun to explore and listen to. As we're used to, when talking about FiiO stuff, both M5 and M6 have excellent value, and both are priced really friendly for your pocket and wallet, so don't worry, you won't be breaking the bank with either, and both are just excellent in terms of value.



The package is a bit spartan for both, but both come with at least one useful carrying case, and one USB cable. There's more to have with M5, if you get the edition with a watch-like rubber case, but I personally prefer the Clip Case better, since I find it more useful in practice.



In terms of build quality, both are really well-thought, ergonomic devices, and both have a rounded shape that's just happy to hold in hand, both have a long list of features and are very stable devices, the only difference here being that M5 is smaller, and M6 larger, but M5 is below what I'd call comfortable to use with my fingers, while M6 is pretty much at that limit, actually being comfy to use.



The sound is good for both, both being a touch on the smooth and soft side, warm and a bit on the non-fatiguing side of things. Neither isn't thick though, and both are well balanced for a pleasing musical experience.



At the end of this review, if you're looking for a very ergonomic ultraportable, that can do a ton of tricks with its Bluetooth, and which supports up to 2 TB microSD cards, M5 should totally be on your list, while if you're looking for a frontier DAP, that has both support for microSD cards up to 2 TB, good bluetooth support, but also a bit more driving power, and sounds better, M6 is a really sweet DAP, especially if you wanted Streaming abilities, which it surely has.



Full Playlist used for this review

While we listened to considerably more songs than those named in this playlist, those are excellent for identifying certain aspects of the sound, like PRaT, Texturization, Detail, Resolution, Dynamics, Impact, and overall tonality. We recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you're searching for new most, most of them being rather catchy.



Youtube Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu



Tidal Playlist

https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/64555551-ec3c-4279-ae44-248fdfcf6c4b



Song List

Bats - Gamma Ray Burst: Second Date
Eskimo Callboy - Frances
Incubus - Summer Romance
Electric Six - Dager! High Voltage
Kishida Cult - High School Of The Dead
Dimmu Borgir - Dimmu Borgir
Breaking Benjamin - I Will Not Bow
Thousand Foot Krutch - The Flame In All Of Us
Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.
Infected Mushroom - Song Pong
Attack Attack - Kissed A Girl
Doctor P - Bulletproof
Maximum The Hormone - Rock n Roll Chainsaw
Rob Zombie - Werewolf, Baby!
Escape The Fate - Gorgeous Nightmare
SOAD - Chop Suey
Ken Ashcorp - Absolute Territory
Machinae Supremacy - Need For Steve
Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Wanna Stop
Crow'sclaw - Loudness War
Eminem - Rap God
Stromae - Humain À L'eau
Sonata Arctica - My Selene
Justin Timberlake - Sexy Back
Metallica - Fuel
Veil Of Maya - Unbreakable
Masa Works - Golden Japang
REOL - Luvoratorrrrry
Dope - Addiction
Korn - Word Up!
Papa Roach - ... To be Loved
Fever The Ghost - Source
Fall Out Boy - Immortals
Green Day - Know The Enemy
Mindless Self Indulgence - London Bridge
A static Lullaby - Toxic
Royal Republic - Addictive
Astronautalis - The River, The Woods
We Came As Romans - My Love
Skillet - What I Believe
Man With A Mission - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Yasuda Rei - Mirror
Mojo Juju - Must Be Desire
Falling Up - Falling In Love
Manafest - Retro Love
Rodrigo Y Grabriela - Paris
Zomboy - Lights Out
Muse - Resistance
T.A.T.U & Rammstein - Mosaku
Grey Daze - Anything, Anything
Katy Perry - Who Am I Living For
Maroon 5 - Lucky Strike
Machinae Supremacy - Killer Instinct
Pendulum - Propane Nightmares
Sirenia - Lithium And A Lover
Saving Abel - Addicted
Hollywood Undead - Levitate
The Offspring - Special Delivery
Escape The Fate - Smooth
Samsara Blues Experiment - One With The Universe
Dope - Rebel Yell
Crazy Town - Butterfly
Silverstein - My Heroine
Memphis May Fire - Not Over Yet



I hope my review is helpful to you!

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Contact me!











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Greeting! Welcome to another review! Today we are checking out the fiio m6.

Disclaimer:
I would like to thank fiio for providing a free sample for review.


Old And New Features

Fiio's centre group of spectators has consistently been the customary mass customer showcase and the M6 is the most purchaser benevolent DAP plan from the organization since its endeavor began. The new model is being offered at passage level estimating yet you will see propelled parts and highlights, for example, ES9018Q2C DAC and DSD support just as howdy res Bluetooth, for example, LDAC.

A portion of these highlights are intended to be intended for the better quality clients and in spite of being entirely reasonable M6 includes significantly more premium element than its better quality siblings including airplay and an outwardly engaging IPS screen.

The radio capacity is gone and battery life is 1/4 not exactly the M7. The size is a lot littler than the M7 enabling you to slide the M6 into the pocket and overlook its reality. I cherish the smooth bends and non-nerdy look however in the event that you are a bad-to-the-bone audiophile you may need more edges on your DAPs and you may miss the absence of adjusted network.

Innovation Inside

Processor

The smooth body packs in the equivalent 14nm created Exynos 7270 processor like the M7 and the M9. The fabricate is comprising of a 1.0GHz Dual-Core with a GPU, under 14nm FinFET Process intended to help wearable gadget up to qHD illustrations at low power utilization.

Sound Circuit

The sound circuit highlights ES9018Q2c DAC chipset utilizing the widely praised ESS licensed 32-piece HyperStream™ DAC design with Time Domain Jitter Eliminator. The sound yield it quantifies >118dB THD and >110mW yield @16ohm. These are not too bad estimation results and quality parts for a passage level DAP.

There is one feature that would fulfill touchy audience members. The M6 figures out how to control the commotion under 3uV, that implies even on Andromeda you won't hear any clamor.

Assemble Quality

The M6 is a reduced telephone style DAP. It uses a bended plan with a 2.5D glass screen melding. The metallic body sort of looks like plans like the Apple watch. The size feels helpful in my palm and can be fitted into a stogie box.

The catch design is cordial and you can likewise impair the catch work when the screen is off. There is likewise great tender loving care, for example, the back board, including another bit of toughened glass a lot of like the screen so it won't slide out of your palm and feel modest.

Extra extras with the M6 incorporate a straightforward delicate case and a lot of screen defenders. The shading and pixel thickness on the screen is extraordinary and the screen could be extremely brilliant

Screen

The new 3.2″ IPS screen inside the bezel-less board configuration is unbelievably appealing and present day looking. Not only a high screen-to-body proportion, the 480×800 HD screens has great pixel thickness and the proportionate to some leader gadgets. For instance, the AK SP1000's 5″ 720x1280px screen and the DX200's OCA-fortified 4.2″ IPS 768x1280px screen.

Swiping activity on the screen is smooth to the touch. Nonetheless, the absence of home catch implies you should swipe from the base of the screen zone to leave the present page, much like the rationale on iPhone X.

The review edge is extraordinary and everything about the screen and shading is right on target at the cost point. You can utilize the M6 as a versatile photograph collection additionally when space isn't a worry with 2TB memory card support.

Memory

The little memory on board could just hold a couple of high res collections, and by expanding the memory with microSD card the M6 could be a 2TB databank. Additional tips, you could reorder between an outer usb stockpiling gadget and the card in the opening, this could enable you to oversee back up, likewise to reorder records between cards.

Battery Life

Like the Sp1000 the M6 enables you to play music for 12 hours, it works as expressed and I played my playlist medium-term with 20% battery power left.

With nothing unexpected the more playback battery time propose the less power yield, the M6 doesn't sound weak yet the exhibition would at present be upgraded recognizably by including an outer enhancer. There is a red light over the screen that will illuminate when you charge, it will likewise light on when you start up the machine.

Remote Functionality

Hello there Res BT

The M6 has a superb spilling capacity with a great deal of applications locally available to siphon music to speakers by means of Airplay or to go about as a recipient through multi-way Bluetooth associations. Pressing in cutting edge codecs, for example, LDAC this is a distinct update on standard aptX capacity I am so used to hearing on sub $150 DAPs.

aptX-HD/DLNA

The M6 will cover something other than the new LDAC BT codecs including support for aptx-HD HWA/SBC just as DLNA utilizing WiFi. The main proviso is that, so far, there are not very numerous models of headphones and earphones supporting aptX-HD as a collector. Striking notices of apparatus that uses the codec incorporate the beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless and the HBS-1100 aptX HD headphones that were reported with LG G5.

Quality Setting

The separation for a decent sign with the association is somewhat shorter with codecs, for example, LDAC utilizing the M6. Typically this identifies with utilizing LDAC on its greatest setting which permits 3x a bigger number of information than customary Bluetooth principles. FiiO will enable you to bring down the nature of yield for an increasingly steady association on the off chance that you like, much like the M7 arrangement.

USB-DAC

With a USB-C association, you can either connection up to the PC/MAC as a DAC or interface with another outer DAC utilizing the USB yield of M6. You should introduce a driver preloaded on the M6 by entering the USB Disk mode if utilizing a PC with Windows adaptations lower than the Creative Edition. Macintoshes are still 'fitting and play'. When you effectively interface with your PC you will have the option to translate up to 24BIT/48k.


Sound Impressions

Rundown

To be completely forthright, I don't expect much from a section level gadget. As I would like to think, what characterizes a decent section level player will be a smooth and neighborly interface for an impressively enormous music accumulation and better commotion control and power. For the most part a superior exhibition than your normal telephone. The M6 shocked me in such manner for its exhibition.

The M6 sounds very controlled and dynamic out of the case with touchy IEMs. Dissimilar to certain telephones that yield thick bass, brutal treble or V-shape marks the goals of the M6 is useful at the cost point however the treble is somewhat bashful. Instrumental detachment is acceptable for sparser tracks without complex courses of action or current popular music.

Vocals are perceptibly somewhat warm with what is by all accounts a mid-run help. On better quality FiiO players, you will discover more goals and power however the M6 will most likely make clients bouncing from telephones to DAPs feel the distinction, not to mention telephones with committed sound chipsets and improvements.

Bluetooth Audio Performance

It's more down to the headphones' mark than the association standard for this situation. At the point when the M6 is utilized as a recipient and set to HWA/LDAC it conveys a fundamentally the same as introduction to M6's wired sound.

Matchability

Testing was finished with the M6 utilizing the most recent Fiio FA7, Brainwavz Koel, and the Final E3000 IEMs. For earphones, we picked the fantastic Meze 99 Classics.

The simplicity of passage into spilling on M6 makes this a perfect section level DAP for the individuals who need music in a hurry and a lot of it. In the event that you are new to the leisure activity or searching for something to new the M6 could be the most current first-time DAP out there.

We have seen numerous brands outfitting their lead gadgets with gushing highlights and better quality Bluetooth alternatives. Be that as it may, it is extremely startling for Fiio to incorporate these highlights on a DAP at this value point. I surmise I ought not be astounded given FiiO have consistently punched over the value focuses on the majority of their apparatus as the years progressed.

I had high hopes for the Fiio M6 but they - unfortunately - were not met. Yes, the price is low and yes, the device is very compact and nifty.

However, the interface is very slow. You feel the CPU really stretched thin on almost every corner. The display size is also not very helpful to navigate larger music collections - and using 3rd party apps like Spotify sometimes takes seconds to recognize taps and clicks.

The fact that the side buttons double as volume and skip buttons is confusing and un-intuitive. The skip-functionality also only works when the display is off.

USB-C is nice, the battery life of about 10 hours for such a small device is plenty as well. The display quality is good and volume as well as sound quality is fine as well.

If you think you need a device to play music other than your phone, it should be better than your phone, right? This device probably isn‘t. It feels like a compromise and not like a dedicated tool. I have send it back and switched to the – much better – M11 instead.

Official M6 info

Specifications



And full specifications may be found here.

Price: $150~180; may vary depending on the sellers.

Many thanks to the FiiO team for the M6 review unit.


The FiiO M6 arrives in a simple white colored paper board box. The small player is neatly arranged with the TPU clear case already installed. Beneath, there is a USB cable, Type-C to Type-A, and an extra screen protector film if needed. For the price and the M6's features there's nothing else needed.


Design & Build Quality

As a new model of the M series from FiiO, the M6 player maintains a compact and very portable form factor. The simple and lightweight design (~80g) is very comfortable, and the rectangular shape with round corners and very smooth finish gives excellent ergonomics over more many DAPs that usually present some sharp edges. It looks like a small smart device with the whole front panel occupied by the 3.2" touch screen and does remind of old smart phones models. The dimensions are similar to those of the lower priced M3K player, only the M6 being wider but also with a more round shape.


Build quality is very good with the main frame made of CNC anodized aluminum and both front and back panels are of 2.5D glass perfectly fitting the metal body. The four buttons are plastic and tightly assembled with no rattling sound; they are easy to control even with the TPU case installed.


The whole layout is well arranged. At the top side there is the power button placed at the right corner, which naturally also works to turn screen on and off, while on the left corner there is the standard 3.5mm jack. This 3.5mm slot works both as standard headphones output, including those with in-line control and as line-out option that can be set from the settings options. Note that on LO the volume will be set to maximum.


At the bottom part there as USB Type-C slot that obviously not only works for charging or data transfer but also allows the M6 to work as external USB DAC and as music source for other DAC. It is worth noting it is possible to use the device as source for DAC even when working as Bluetooth receiver.


On the right side, there is only a micro SD slot, and the M6 can potentially read even up to 2TB cards, so it worked perfectly with a Samsung EVO 128GB card. The M6 also holds little 2GB of internal memory, which partially used with by the Android firmware and apps.


On the left side there are 3 physical buttons for playback and volume. Upper button for play and pause, and below the up and down volume control. All buttons can also work on screen off and won't turn the screen on. Moreover, while screen is off, the volume buttons can be used to skip to next or previous track if held a few seconds, + for previous track and - for next. Also, on the settings menu it is possible to disable any of these buttons for when screen is off.



And with the TPU installed


User Interface & Software

The FiiO M6 runs on an Android 7.0 platform with a full 3.2" touch screen 480x800 of resolution. However, it is not a standard Android interface as it has been highly customized by FiiO to work as a more audio dedicated device instead of a smart device. It still keeps all the strong points of an Android 7.0 system which is still a solid version for modern devices. The result is really nice, giving the compact portable audio player extra versatility and a more user-friendly and intuitive interface.


The system responsiveness is quite fast, maybe not on par with higher smart phone devices with stronger processors and memory, but definitely faster than other contenders on the same price tag. The current firmware is completely stable, even better than the M3K which is already solid enough. The touch screen has good color depth and resolution for the ~3" size, nice viewing angle and brightness can be set high enough. The navigation is very easy and has quick response, probably thanks to the Exynos processor and the simplified Android running system.

Upon powering the M6 player on it takes around 30 seconds to boot, a very average record, though power off time is much faster; alternately, the M6 has a long sleep standby time if you prefer to avoid restarting the system every time. On the current firmware, the device starts on the main home screen with some apps icons over a black or white background (to the user's preference). There are no 'home' or 'back' physical or touch buttons, but instead they're replaced by simple touch gestures. A swipe up from the bottom right of the screen immediately takes back to the home screen, while swipe up from the left bottom takes to the previous screen. This works flawlessly and it's also quite convenient when browsing through folders on the compact screen. The right and left swipes also work on certain screens. Everything is quite intuitive and if needed, the manual and quick-start guide are already included on the M6 memory.

The main application on the M6 is the FiiO Music App, which is available for both Android and iOS systems. It is an easy, fast and reliable app that includes all the main features as music player software. The Gapless and playing through folders work well and there are also 6 different EQ options, including a wide custom user-defined EQ choice.

Being an Android based player, the M6 includes four preinstalled apps, and extra apps may be installed by downloading the APK files directly from the FiiO site. Tidal and Spotify are available for music streaming too. However, the available apps are limited to a 'white list' allowed by FiiO; this may sound as a disadvantage, but was done in order to avoid any issues on the M6 performance as a simple and stable portable music player. Playing video files is possible too; at least it works through the ES File Manager app, though a more dedicated video player would be nice if could be added. The screen does not rotate for full screen view, something that may be fixed on a future update, or FiiO may allow a dedicated movie player application.

The volume control is great. The changes from each step to the next are very subtle, so a perfect match for sensitive gears, like in-ear monitors and high sensitive portable headphones. The volume raises up to 120 steps and can be set to a maximum level to prevent going unintentionally too loud and can be also set to start at a fixed volume.

Below are some of the multiple M6 screens:


Fiio Music App screens

Playback screen
And with album covers

Swipe to the right for current playlist
ES File Explorer app


Battery

The battery inside is lithium polymer with a capacity of 1200mAh. The specifications rate a playback time of around 13 hours on wired connection and even higher on Bluetooth mode of 15 hours. The numbers are quite accurate after almost a month of daily use (2~3 hours per day), so charging the device just once a week was enough. The suggested record may not be too high when compared to the 20+ hours of both M3K and M7, but the performance is very good for small DAP with a solid Android platform. Moreover, the battery percentage indicator is very accurate, and there are no sudden drops on the remaining battery time. Charging too is fairly good of around 2 hours. Expectedly, playing higher music files, using the WiFi streaming or DAC usage would drain it faster, but overall is good enough.


Wireless features

The FiiO M6 player packs multiple wireless features. The Bluetooth version is 4.2 supporting the better audio codec including hi-res and low latency options like AptX HD, LDAC, HWA and SBC. It may be also used as both a transmitter and receiver. As transmitter it is possible to pair only one headphones set a time. As a receiver, it will play music from either the 3.5mm output or the Type-C port, and can set to work as a wireless Amp/DAC.

The WiFi can be used for streaming music, supporting DLNA and Airplay for Apple devices. Moreover, it has the FiiO Link feature to control the M6 directly from a phone.

Tested with various Bluetooth headphones like the M&D MW60, u-Jays, SoundMAGIC E11BT, Soundcore Spirit Pro and Zolo Liberty+, the connectivity quality is excellent. The transmission is clean and very solid with no hint of drops. Just as reference, with the Shanling M0 there were some compatibility issues and certain drops, but nothing with the FiiO M6. It is worth noting that the volume needs to be raised higher than from the wired connection, though doesn't seem to affect the battery time.

DAC functionality

The M6 also supports various functions as a DAC trough the Type-C port. It can be used as an external DAC or can work as a source for other DAC. Even small portable DAC like the AudioQuest Dragonfly can be used, and the volume is controlled by the M6. The DAC function works also when set as wireless receiver.


Sound Quality

Main gears used: iBasso IT01s and IT04, final E4000, BGVP DMG, FLC 8N, Custom Art Fibae 3 and Black, Periodic Audio Be, Meze Audio 99 Classics, Master&Dynamic MW60, VE Monk Lite SPC.

DAPs: Shanling M0, Lotoo PAW Pico, iBasso DX120, Fiio M3K, xDuoo X10.


The FiiO M6 implements a Sabre ES9018Q2C as DAC chip, a solid option for modern audio devices. The suggested headphones impedance is a typical standard of up to 300Ω, which expectedly is a bit too positive. There are no gain options on the M6, but has enough power to drive sensitive IEMs and portable headphones, providing good dynamics range and plenty fullness on the sound without requiring extra amplification. Floor noise is surprisingly low with a clean background that should match even the more picky IEMs. However, it won't give best sounding results on larger headphones or high impedance gears 300 or higher. On the above mentioned IEMs, a 40/120 volume was usually enough, and for the Meze 99 it was around 50~60. Plenty power and good dynamics for the 120Ω VE Monk SPC, but the ZEN was not really good with the higher impedance, not to mention some planar headphones like the Hifiman Sundara.

Overall, the M6 DAP offers a well balanced sound without boosting the lows or highs and still very nice weight and fine touch of extra musicality. There is very good control and dynamics with fine resolution for the suggested price, fair linearity and natural timbre too. It is rich in details without sounding analytical or too revealing.

The bass is well defined, with a fuller touch and good dynamics. There is no extra emphasis or coloration added to low notes, but has great quality and texture. The control is very good too, decent speed, and more importantly, good depth and natural decay when paired with more bassy sets (like Periodic Audio Be and BGVP DMG). The transition from sub to mid-bass and then to lower mids is very smooth, resulting in a lower bleeding to the whole midrange. Missing the last bit of extension and rumble if compared to more expensive players, but well presented for the given price.

The midrange is well rounded, neutral or just a bit more forward depending on the pairing, fairly smooth with a hint of warmth for nicer musical presentation. Very good detail retrieval, clear and accurate too. Resolution is well achieved for the price, micro details are well present, not trying to be too forward on the presentation, what results in a more coherent and natural timbre. The sound is particularly rich with sweet vocals that stand out on some selected gears like the IT01s, IT04, Meze 99 Classics and both CustomArt Fibae IEM.

The highs are also well rounded, neither dark or nor overly bright, which is a good thing for entry-level players that tend to offer emphasis the treble region to appear as more detailed but then result in a more artificial tone. Clarity and control are very good and extension is more than decent, and just like with the bass, missing the last bit of reach and some extra sparkle even with brighter sound earphones.

The micro detail is easy to notice within the richer musical presentation. Soundstage is spacious enough, not too wide but not closed either, rather quite precise, convening good imaging and decent separation. Overall, the sound quality is perfectly matched for the price, a noticeable step over the own FiiO M3K budget oriented player, and even better balanced and enjoyable than Shanling M0 or xDuoo X10. The iBasso DX120 is step above the M6 sound quality, but then the DX120 goes for around twice the price of the M6, probably being a competitor for the M9.


Value

There are a few audio products that could deserve the title of 'all-rounder', and the FiiO M6 is surely one of those, gathering all the necessary features for a modern portable player. A compact and well built device, easy to operate with a popular, convenient and fast Android platform and responsive full touch screen, very stable firmware and solid battery performance even in Bluetooth mode. Also, multiple wireless features, 2-way Bluetooth, WiFi, works as a DAC, even as wireless amplifier. The white list of allowed apps maybe limited but seems to be updated regularly. And, most importantly, the sound quality is very good for the suggested price, well balanced, accurate and detailed, making a very solid option as a portable music audio player.


The Fiio M6 has quickly become one of my favorite DAPs for daily portable use. Fiio haven't released a specific case for the M6, so I found one at the DD Electronics store. After exchanging a few emails directly with a Fiio representative, they kindly arranged a sample of the M6 case (along with another Fiio product- to be reviewed soon). DD carries a few accessories for other Fiio's products and various cables and interconnectors too.

Links: DD Electronicswebsite and the Aliexpress store.

The price is $16 and can be purchased from the Aliexpress site here.

The case arrives in a very simple cardboard box conveniently arranged with a plastic foam inside. Nothing fancy and actually matches the own Fiio packaging with their simplistic and discreet packaging. The only extras you get with the case are a few of 'Hi-Res Audio' stickers to attach to back of the case (not that it will improve the quality anyway).


The case is available only in black color which fits well the own M6 player color. Quality of materials seems to be durable enough, at least for the price. Haven't used for more than two weeks as to comment much about the durability in the long run, though, but it works properly to give a better grip on the device and adds the necessary protection over the included stock PU case that arrives with the M6 itself.

The case is made by multiple layers of different materials. The outer cover is logically all PU leather - no real leather to be found at this budget prices but still gives a nicer look to the player in addition to the better protection. The inner layer is made of a fabric material with a soft and very smooth finishing. A more important feature is the middle layer that holds a steel plate for the back part of the player; it is thin enough to maintain the light weight of the M6 player but also adds the best protection for it.

The shape matches perfectly well the design of the M6 with rounded corners. Like the stock PU case, the C-M6 case has no openings for the 3 playback side buttons or for the micro SD slot, but of course it has the hole for the Type-C USB port at the bottom. The left side still has 3 marks for each of the buttons that can be discerned without looking at the player, and fortunately does not affect the sensitivity; in fact, it works as good as without the case and even a bit better than with the stock case. The fit is very tight and needs some effort to remove the M6 from it. It is a good thing but will make it tedious to remove the now concealed micro SD card if you tend to that too often.

The front side is completely open revealing the whole small touch screen of the player, but there is still the extra layer around the corners so it is only possible to remove the player from the upper opening. As can be seen there is an extra metal ring added to the back of the case so can be easily attached to a lanyard or clothes. It is attached by a single piece of PU leather material and the only weak point of the whole case.

Overall, this case works neatly for the price. It is more convenient than the included plastic case, gives a better grip and more importantly adds the needed protection.

Introduction
FiiO was established in 2007 and has experience in researching and developing countless portable music products of different types and sell FiiO-branded products through sales agents worldwide. The brand name FiiO is composed of Fi(fidelity from HiFi) and iO(number 1&0), representing the real feeling and convenient life that digital brings to life. Meanwhile, the Chinese “飞傲” is the transliteration of FiiO, indicating the positive and innovative spirit as thriving as spring.

Since I am into this hobby, FiiO always provide affordable solutions for poor students like me. I have very unique experiences with FiiO - Loves and Hates. I love the price of FiiO for sure and their passion in producing good products especially their DAPs; I frustrated with the old user interface - slow and laggy sometime.
Last year, FiiO launched their new DAPs - FiiO M7 and M9. This launch finally mitigated the laggy interface. I am satisfied with this 2 new products, especially the bucket machine FiiO M9. Nicely done with competitive price.

This year, FiiO launched their mid-range DAP, M6 with an entry level pricing (SGD 279.00). Why I list this DAP in mid-range category? The features embedded in this DAP is beyond what are provided by conventional entry level DAP. Amazing right? The features are tested and will be introduced one by one in the latter part of this review!

Design
To describe this DAP in term of the physical appearance, I would use sleek and pocket-friendly. The design is minimalist, modern and sleek. FiiO chose to have a full touchscreen on this DAP instead of the usual scroll-wheel. Actually, FiiO has been using touchscreen frequently in the recently launched DAPs – X5 3rd Gen, X7 MkII and M7. With the touchscreen, M6 looks simpler and nicer.

The power on/off button is located at the top of this DAP. Unlike the recent release, M6 does not have a volume control knob. FiiO utilised physical buttons for volume control - similar to what you can find on your mobile phone. On the left side of this DAP, there are 3 buttons:

• The Play/Pause button
• The Volume Up button
• The Volume Down button

The micro SD card slot is located at the right side of the DAP. This time round FiiO chose to use a push in micro SD card slot instead of using a tray. This is easier for user to remove or insert the micro SD card. There might be some compromises – dust maybe collected if the slot is not used.

The screen of FiiO M6 is nicely done. Adorning the front of the M6 is a vibrant, clear 3.2-inch IPS screen capable of 16 million colors and supporting 5-point touch. Although no reliable source for this, I believe M6 is utilising the same screen as M9. This IPS screen allows you to easily operate your device with its ability to show even the finest of details. Attractive colour and relatively responsive touch response as compared to a lot of the DAPs which equipped with touchscreen in the market. Unlike M9, FiiO removed all the bezel around the screen creating a bezel-less DAP - looks like a mini smartphone.

FiiO did not forget the back panel of this DAP too. Glass is used on the back of the DAP, making the DAP looks modern and classy. I did not expect this design to appear in a DAP which costs less than SGD300. I like this implementation!

Unboxing
The bundle in the box adopted the same minimalist as the player – simple but useful:

• FiiO M6
• USB Type C cable
• Quick Start Guide
• TPU protection case
• Screen protector (One pre-applied and one spare)

User Interface
In the heart of the M6 lies the Android operating system, deeply customized by FiiO. This allows you to navigate through menus at an astonishing speed and with amazing ease due to the carefully thought out customized user interface. The user interface of the FiiO M9 is smooth and user friendly. No more changing between Android mode and Pure Music Mode like what you can find in X5 3rd Gen and X7 Mk II. FiiO Music is now the core of the player. The user interface is exactly the same as the one FiiO M9 is using. This is a good decision made by FiiO – smooth and free from crashing like X5 3rd Gen. Well done FiiO!


Streaming Services
The FiiO M6 does not support Google Play Store although the backbone of the user-interface is Android-based. Streaming services can be installed and supported by this DAP. It is a little confusing at first but after the first try it is pretty easy. Basically, you need to download apk file for the supported app from website using computer. Then, connect your M6 to the computer and copy the apk file to the storage. To install the app, go to file management and tap on the apk file. The app is now installed. Simple as that. I use Spotify frequently. M6 supported Spotify well. The speed is slightly slower as compared to phone, but it is considerably stable. If you need a dedicated DAP for streaming, M6 is a good choice. There is a list of available applications that are supported by this DAP on FiiO's website.


Battery Life
Under normal usage the M6 can last around 13 hours. This is advertised by FiiO on the website. It is sufficient for me because I always have a habit to charge all my devices at night. M6 supports deep sleep mode. While in deep sleep (standby) mode the M6 can be still be used after a whopping 26 days! And being in deep sleep mode does not mean sacrificing convenience – just hit the power button, and the M6 instantly is ready to go. If you are pairing this DAP with a Bluetooth headphone, the battery life is around 16 hours. Not too bad!

Bluetooth
The M9 uses Bluetooth 4.2 and supports virtually all Bluetooth formats including the high-resolution ones for your ultimate listening pleasure, including: 24-bit aptX HD (also backwards compatible with aptX), LDAC, and HWA. The DAP can act as a Bluetooth receiver too. With the latest M6-FW1.0.1 firmware update, receiver mode supports both SBC and LDAC codec. I connected M6 with my LG G6 which supports LDAC too. There are some mismatch in the codec. It showed LDAC on my phone but SBC on FiiO. I will drop FiiO a message regarding this and update when response from FiiO is received. FiiO has very good reputation built on Bluetooth connectivity by the launch of the BTR series. It is glad to see this DAP has the capability to do this too.


Digital Output and Input
The M9 utilizes the modern USB Type-C connector, which allows it to not only be used as a USB DAC but also allows output of digital audio signals to other devices through USB. Of course, USB Type-C also enables charging and file management on the M9 when connected to other devices. The M6 supports USB audio out (send digital audio bits through USB), with even support for DoP/D2P. I tested USB out of M6, it works flawlessly with the correct choice of cable.



The M9 can be used as an asynchronous USB DAC with both Macs and Windows PCs. With Mac computers, you can just plug-and-play the M6 with no drivers needed. With Windows PCs, a simple install of drivers by FiiO is needed. The M6 can also act as your computer's Bluetooth transmitter – simply hook the M6 up to your computer as a USB DAC, and then have the player transmit Bluetooth audio to your headset!

Specifications

• CPU: Exynos 7270
• RAM: 768mb
• Rom: 2 Gb (+ 2Gb for the system)
• DAC: ES9018Q2C
• Outputs: 3.5mm headphone out – line out
• Digital Input: USB Type-C
• Screen: 3.2″ 480×800 IPS Screen from LG
• Micro SD: SDHC / SDXC (single slot)
• USB DAC: Exynos 7270 Soc
• WiFi : 2.4 GHz support

The specification sheets can be found on FiiO Website. For those who are interested can read from there.
https://www.fiio.com/m6_parameters

The M6 utilised the same proven high-performance ESS Sabre 9018Q2C chip that combines a capable DAC and a robust amp in one package, the same as M7. However, FiiO redesigned and further optimised the audio circuit for M6. This results in a higher audio output power as compared to M7 - 50% higher as mentioned on FiiO website.

Sound
Finally, after so long we have arrived at the most important part of this review – sound performance. To examine and share this, I paired this DAP with my Campfire Nova (with Effect Audio Eros II 2.5mm terminated). I used a 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter by Effect Audio.

M6 exhibits the house sound signature of FiiO. The overall sound signature is considerably warm and lush. The spacing and soundstage of this DAP is moderate. With my Campfire Audio, the soundstage is acceptable. For those IEMs with slightly narrower soundstage, congestion might happen but this is common issue of entry level DAPs. The pairing is very important here. The presentation is clean – without noticeable hissing or noise despite having higher output power as compared to M7. M7 is powerful and energetic. It should able to unleash the potential for most of the IEMs in the market without any problem. I will include some comparison after this part of the review.

Lows
The lows of this DAP is dominant. The kick at the low frequency region will satisfy bass-heads. Can you imagine the power? Although having dominance at the lows, it does not bleed towards the mids - Fast and precise. I like this approach. Depth wise I would appreciate slightly deeper implementation. The lows and mids are on the same line which making it a little congested.

Mids
The mids is smooth and rich. For Singaporeans and Malaysians, I would describe this as Milo "Gao". For others, this can be described as having a cup of hot chocolate. Milky and thick texture in the mids. Very relaxing even after long listening. It flows and hits your eardrum gently, giving you the aroma and feel. For those who owned a warm IEM like Shure SE215, it might be too warm and saturated. Pairing need to be done over here too.

Highs
The highs shy a bit on M6. Its presence shall get more emphasis. It would be better to have a little bit more space and air as well as extension as the high frequency. For those who want a bright DAP, M6 might not be suitable for you but for those who owned a bright IEM and wish to tame the beast, M6 could be your beast master.

Comparison
I do not have a lot of DAPs within this price range so I selected the elder brother, FiiO M7 and Activo CT10 for comparison. In term of physical appearance, M6 is definitely the sleeker and most pocket-friendly. CT10 looks cheap because of its platicky back cover and the colour combination makes it looks weird. M7 is good but the top bazel is a little bit redundant. I would appreciate if the top bezel is removed but I know this is impossible because space is needed for circuit and parts.

In term of sounds, I find M7 and CT10 is more neutral as compared to M6. M7 has the widest soundstage among all. CT10 and M6 share second place together. Although the chip used in M6 and M7 is the same, but the design of circuit caused a major difference. Personally I prefer M7 in term of sound signature.

Function wise, M6 exhibits the bucket machine approach from his eldest brother, M9. It has list of features that can easily kills CT10 and M7. M6 creates a strong competition with its feature-rich property and competitive pricing.

Conclusion
With the launch of FiiO M6, the benchmark of sub SGD300 category is raised significantly. No features need to be compromised to lower the price. You can own a DAP with all the features you need without burning a hole at your wallet. I appreciate the hardwork by FiiO to cater different needs of audiophile community.

On behalf of the community, Thank you FiiO and well done on the latest release of FiiO M6.