[FiiO M15S] Pocket Desktop-Level Player Discussion & Impressions Thread

[RIGATIO]

I'm going to try and stack the M15s with the Centrance Ampersand to see how that setup handles planars.... should work perfectly...

Pointless but good luck

 

[Patlezinc]

Yeah its very dynamic and clean. Im surprised it doesnt hiss with the u12t even on Super High Gain. The background is very dark. Maybe not as crazy dark as on the Shanling M8, M9m AK sp1000 and sp2000 but is close enough to enjoy the background darkness during a playback. It could be also due to a different DAC.
But the soundstage has A LOT of air and space between instruments, everything seems slightly pushed back which i enjoy a lot.

Thanks, I did not get the headphones selection, now it is ok.
Wavelet and autoEQ seems on, but when I switch autoEQ on/off, I don’t hear real difference.
It is applied instantaneously ?

 

[Patlezinc]

Sorry, I did not quote the right person @Dixter

 

[Dixter]

Thanks, I did not get the headphones selection, now it is ok.
Wavelet and autoEQ seems on, but when I switch autoEQ on/off, I don’t hear real difference.
It is applied instantaneously ?

what music app are you using.... it should be instant...

 

[Patlezinc]

PowerAmp. The HeKSE is not so far of the Harmann curve, except at 2000Hz. Maybe this.
By the way, does Wavelet apply the preamp setup too? I mean, if it adds +5db for bass, preamp should be at -5db. We don’t have control over this

 

[Dixter]

PowerAmp. The HeKSE is not so far of the Harmann curve, except at 2000Hz. Maybe this.
By the way, does Wavelet apply the preamp setup too? I mean, if it adds +5db for bass, preamp should be at -5db. We don’t have control over this

depends.... in the wavelet app at the top there are two options.. 1- the Auto EQ and 2 - Graphic equalizer.... if you have both turned on then you will have a harmon target and the EQ being applied at the same time... you just need to play with the two apps....

 

[Patlezinc]

I tried the Sundaras and Aryas with the m15s and it didnt do a job. Its a very similar situation as with the Shanlig M8, M9, Kann Max and IBasso dx320.
Daps just cant properly drive an open back planars. All the reviewers who "test" these more powerful daps with open planars and say they play on a similar level as their desktop amps, either lie or they are deaf.
Different story when it comes to the iems. Most of a better daps play on at least on a similar or higher level with iems than desktop equipment.
I find the M15s to be a perfect pairing for the iems, even on high gain. It doesnt power the Sundaras as well as the 170e IFI Zen Dac v2. Ive had a very similar situation when tried to power the Sundaras and Aryas with the Kann Max, dx320, M8 and M9. No chance, just focus on iems and you will avoid disappointments.
DAPS ARE FOR IEMS, end of story.

Aryas are only 90db, very low. Sundaras 94. I am worried about my HeK (96). How do you know it is not ok? 1.2W is , in theory, good enough. I don’t lack bass at all, or dynamics. What is the criteria?

 

[Patlezinc]

depends.... in the wavelet app at the top there are two options.. 1- the Auto EQ and 2 - Graphic equalizer.... if you have both turned on then you will have a harmon target and the EQ being applied at the same time... you just need to play with the two apps....

Hmm. I should hear a clear difference I guess… Not the case

 

[Dixter]

Hmm. I should hear a clear difference I guess… Not the case

should be noticable... when you click the graphic eq select the preset u shaped... just to hear that the mid range is dropped and the bass and treble are now changing the sound.... you can also just cycle thru the pre sets and hear the different signatures...

 

[Patlezinc]

ok, in options, there is something called « old mode ». If I choose that I can hear the difference. But it doesn’t tame the highs. Signal is changed but not in this range I guess . And I feel I am listening an old tape from 1980 . Harmann curve is not really adapted at the initial tuning of the HeK

 

[Dixter]

do you have a different playback app... like Apple Music to play with... Power amp app might be overpowering the wavelet... you have to setup power amp a bit differently.... its got way too many options...

 

[Galapac]

DAPS ARE FOR IEMS, end of story.

I find IEMs too confining/constricting.
I agree that these types of DAPs cannot power most planers sufficiently, but do well with many dynamic headphones including Sennheiser and Focal.

 

[Patlezinc]

I already tried with Crinacle simulation to reach the Harmann Curve and I did not like it at all. It seems to work here because… I don’t like it at all
The FR of the HeKSE doesn’t follow the curve around 2000Hz. If you touch this, voices are becoming like listened on an old tape. I guess Wavelet is doing us job here, but it is not ok with this Hifiman.
Anyway I thank you for you time to help my exploration

 

[Patlezinc]

I find IEMs too confining/constricting.
I agree that these types of DAPs cannot power most planers sufficiently, but do well with many dynamic headphones including Sennheiser and Focal.

I don’t get it. If the music is well recorded, there is nothing missing. How do you know something is wrong?

 

[RIGATIO]

I find IEMs too confining/constricting.
I agree that these types of DAPs cannot power most planers sufficiently, but do well with many dynamic headphones including Sennheiser and Focal.

Thats true, thats why i mentioned open back planars in my post.