[ledzep]

The stand looks like a generic cheap fan stand you get for £10 and hardly holds the M17 in place, so unless you've got a decent length on you headphone cable it's a recipe for getting toppled over at some point as it doesn't look weighty at all. Some sort of solid dock with a heatsink base would be more appropriate if it's going to run that warm. Volume dial looks a bit restricted and I'm not a fan of those headphone sockets , a premium player looks good with the gold surrounds like on the M15 / 300max. I'm not trying to put a downer on it, I just like the finer details being taken into consideration. Been with Fiio on the 15 year journey and given them plenty of my cash in the process, most recently the FD7'S and just ordered the new FA7S. Maybe I will drop the cash at some point, trouble is over here in the UK we are limited on try before you buy so we rely on good reviews and something that's visually appealing, the 300 max fits both of these and is one of the best purchases I've truly been happy with for quite some time, I'll sit on the fence for now and look forward to someone who's spent their hard earned cash on the 17 and gives an in-depth review .

 

[Zachik]

Either the guys in the videos have tiny hands, or this player is HUGE...

 

[hmscott]

I was able to track down the jd.com URL for FiiO's pre-sale on Oct 23rd (deposit)/26th (balance)/Oct 31 (shipping pre-sales):
https://item.jd.com/10038894265236.html

More info here:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/fii...-release-after-july-2021.954441/post-16623536

 

[dududuckling]

Will this be enough to drive headphones such as the Focal Utopia / Sennheiser HD800s / Hifiman Susvara?

 

[hmscott]

Will this be enough to drive headphones such as the Focal Utopia / Sennheiser HD800s / Hifiman Susvara?

IDK if anyone but FiiO can know for sure yet

3.0w should be enough for the first 2, not sure if Susvara would be happy with only 3w, and that is only while the M17 is plugged into the desktop power supply 12v/15v, when on battery power or USB power IDK how much output the M17 has to offer.

I'm considering the FLUX Volot with 16w balanced to drive my Hifiman HE6SE V2 and 600 ohm headphones for home use.
https://fluxlab-acoustics.com/product/volot-dual-mono-class-a-headphone-amplifier/

The FiiO M17 would be best efforts "close enough" for "mobile"

The Volot is huge compared to the size of other "desktop" headphone amps:
https://soundnews.net/uploads/dscf5429.jpg
https://soundnews.net/uploads/dscf5374.jpg
https://soundnews.net/uploads/dscf5589-3.jpg
Interior build:
https://fluxlab-acoustics.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/10.jpg
https://soundnews.net/uploads/dscf4990.jpg

 

[DarginMahkum]

Why so negative, guys? We are talking about nearly double the power of DX300MAX, in a smaller package, with more I/O. There is a limit to what can be improved for heat sink. They could have just said "well, we just provide that much -like 1.7W- amount of power so that heat is under control, then they would be bashed for not doing anything new. But they chose to nearly double that, and now they are being bashed for requiring a cooler.

 

[dududuckling]

IDK if anyone but FiiO can know for sure yet

3.0w should be enough for the first 2, not sure if Susvara would be happy with only 3w, and that is only while the M17 is plugged into the desktop power supply 12v/15v, when on battery power or USB power IDK how much output the M17 has to offer.

I'm considering the FLUX Volot with 16w balanced to drive my Hifiman HE6SE V2 and 600 ohm headphones for home use.
https://fluxlab-acoustics.com/product/volot-dual-mono-class-a-headphone-amplifier/

The M17 would be best efforts "close enough" for "mobile"

Yeah - I am currently using the Fiio Q5s TC with the FA-9 and FD-7 IEMs. But I am thinking of upgrading sometime around Boxing Day. I value Fiio products because they are portable and do not take much space on my desk, and if they pack enough punch to drive these cans, I might stick with that and call it a day. I really want to just listen to my music and move on, or on the move, not wait for the DAC/AMP to warm up to get the best sound etc.

 

[hmscott]

Why so negative, guys? We are talking about nearly double the power of DX300MAX, in a smaller package, with more I/O. There is a limit to what can be improved for heat sink. They could have just said "well, we just provide that much -like 1.7W- amount of power so that heat is under control, then they would be bashed for not doing anything new. But they chose to nearly double that, and now they are being bashed for requiring a cooler.

We only wished FiiO had done a better job making the form factor of the M17 + Dock be complimentary and optimized for cooling - on and off the dock. It's a great step between, but I think the next model will get more right.

I'm counting on the M17 doing enough right to run stable on Battery Power, and run well enough on the Desktop Power with the Fan Stand to be stable for hours - at least.

Yeah - I am currently using the Fiio Q5s TC with the FA-9 and FD-7 IEMs. But I am thinking of upgrading sometime around Boxing Day. I value Fiio products because they are portable and do not take much space on my desk, and if they pack enough punch to drive these cans, I might stick with that and call it a day. I really want to just listen to my music and move on, or on the move, not wait for the DAC/AMP to warm up to get the best sound etc.

That is why the DK1 + M15 is so nice, one pull up on the M15 and the M15 pops off the DK1 and it is free to go mobile/portable - no wires to unplug or roll up and pack.

I have a photo of the M17 sitting on the Fan Stand with it's round power connector plugged in... it shows the cramped crimp done to the wire being routed through the stand lower passthrough - there isn't enough loop in the power wire and it looks poorly run - too much strain on the wire / connector. I have asked permission to post the photo.
IDK how else the cable would run given the designed cable openings and bottom placement.

 

[FiiO]

Inherit all merits from desktop devices! The #FiiO Desktop Portable Music Player M17# features desktop-grade rich connectors, including commonly-seen 2.5mm/3.5mm/4.4mm headphone outputs, newly-added 6.3mm connector, standard RCA coaxial connector and USB3.0 and USB2.0 connectors, providing more possibilities for both playability and portability. On October 26, 2021, #FiiO 2021 Autumn New Products Launch Event IV# will straightly get to you. Let's stay tuned for it.

 

[Whitigir]

Why so negative, guys? We are talking about nearly double the power of DX300MAX, in a smaller package, with more I/O. There is a limit to what can be improved for heat sink. They could have just said "well, we just provide that much -like 1.7W- amount of power so that heat is under control, then they would be bashed for not doing anything new. But they chose to nearly double that, and now they are being bashed for requiring a cooler.

Not being negative, but rather being realistic, all 4 of those chips are running on a 9200mAh battery packs and can not cool off properly when cramped like that. The Ibasso Dx300Max has a hybrid amplifier that is also discrete as well, it has very low output impedance and low heat dissipation, the AKM 4499EQ is still warming up nicely though, but of course it is only 2 and not 4

 

[DarginMahkum]

Not being negative, but rather being realistic, all 4 of those chips are running on a 9200mAh battery packs and can not cool off properly when cramped like that. The Ibasso Dx300Max has a hybrid amplifier that is also discrete as well, it has very low output impedance and low heat dissipation, the AKM 4499EQ is still warming up nicely though, but of course it is only 2 and not 4

Man, let the people with the holes in their wallet decide if it is OK or not. The fan/stand is I think only for when you are using the external power supply, not when it is mobile. FiiO has been working on this long time and I am sure they did the best possible for the scenarios they wanted to cover.

Let's first see the first experiences...

 

[Whitigir]

Man, let the people with the holes in their wallet decide if it is OK or not. The fan/stand is I think only for when you are using the external power supply, not when it is mobile. FiiO has been working on this long time and I am sure they did the best possible for the scenarios they wanted to cover.

Let's first see the first experiences...

That is exactly what I posted previously. It has different modes of operations, and in one of many ways, it is gimped, watered down just enough to make music when being on the go , or portable.

Ibasso already showed us all that the AK4499 can be implemented in the minimal way by using 1 channel or ultimate way by using all 4, which brings doubts to us all as of what the AK SP2K has been running all this while

But of course, your money, your decisions

 

[zen87192]

I'm on board... ordering on release day. Will be great to have a totally different chip to the 3MAX SS/Ti and have a competitor (almost) going up against the 3MAX. Looking forward to it.

 

[funasianguy4u]

I'm on board... ordering on release day. Will be great to have a totally different chip to the 3MAX SS/Ti and have a competitor (almost) going up against the 3MAX. Looking forward to it.

Tempted too - but will this be a one of those midnight buying experiences, in 10min. all sold out?! - don't think I have that stamina.. - I remembered @Whitigir journey and drama with DX300 MAX Titanium ...hehe

 

[DarginMahkum]

Tempted too - but will this be a one of those midnight buying experiences, in 10min. all sold out?! - don't think I have that stamina.. - I remembered @Whitigir journey and drama with DX300 MAX Titanium ...hehe

As far as I know, first batch will be 2000 units. Then more. It is not a limited edition unit.