[PuPS]

for those still looking for a transport case. Can be bought here.

In such a case, only an ingot of gold can be transported!)

 

[Currawong]

I can only hope the dialogue for ‘more RAM’ can be put to rest.
Educate the consumer.
(It was a terrific post explaining why FiiO went with the modules they did. There reasons were nearly five vs one (the one being ‘bragging rights’).

More RAM is a burden more than a blessing (if ‘more power draw’, then shorter battery life, more heat under load as well…) The company investment in the ‘larger boards’ (by config, not necessarily ‘size’), with the longer ‘lead times’/ ‘wait times’ to get them, AND on such large ‘minimum order quantity’; ‘the liquidity caught up in those parts that may, or may not, sell quickly (needed to recoup outlay), means that the actual costs passed on to the consumer, with markup at retail, in the HiFi industry being a significant ‘bump’ (yes, I know ALL OF THIS WAS IN THE FIIO POST) for zero actual benefit, would be a ‘very poor business decision. (unless intending to sell to people who are not interested in absolute audio quality and usable features, but would rather ‘bragging rights’- remember extra RAM will not help in ANY WAY if it is not used. I cannot think of a single way to use ‘so much RAM’ in music player, so the negatives, again, which FiiO redressed.. they did the math and realised consumers could buy ‘practically ZERO markup (micro) SD cards’, and the huge amount saved on what FiiO would have had to sticker price the units at retail, means that end users essential get a free 512GB or possibly larger, amount of storage space. (that has the benefit of being removable as well)

There isn’t any part of their reasoning about this that is questionable.
In fact it had the effect on me, to realise that FiiO are ‘all about the sound and usability, and passing on ‘best bang for buck’ and know how to prioritise aspects that matter. (and are willing to ‘take the hit’ by not being on the radar of ‘spec sheet warriors (brave!)’.

The problem with buying the ‘extra RAM and storage capacity’ part, would have mostly destroyed their position in the market with these players, leading to slower sales rate, quite likely, and delaying the time it would take to have FiiO have their large outlay returned. (and take hits on interest or related issues of what happens when your money is tied up)
As they stated, the larger boards may have been usable in ‘other products’ so if the M17 DIDN’T sell quickly , they would have had less options in front of them to recover.
Of course the added operation costs lost to ineffective parts selection (in this case ‘significant’) would have meant a greater return on investment would be needed in the next part (whether that be budget segment or otherwise.. )

This is why good business decisions, carefully weighed up, benefit companies, and then ‘we don’t know what we are doing so we will sell ‘flavour of the moment fads’ (ie 6GB of RAM in a DAP with a storage amount that basically is inconsequential to any user.. (64 vs 128)..

I imagine the savings allowing a half tearbyte of reusable storage (removable) is more useful than having ‘super fast storage’ (designed for 4K video recordings) that in no way benefits a music player. (unless you move large amounts of data, regularly, only to internal storage… (most would rather external storage that can be removed and use their laptops much faster card bay for data copying.. )(and again, having 512GB-1GB of data, at ‘local office supplies stores prices’, given for ‘free’ (vs the price hiked unit due to bad engineering/‘parts selection’)

I know I am repeating myself, but it seems that many in the threads are repeating how useless the 6GB is /‘quoting the FiiO explaination that lists MANY LEGITIMATE REASONS for them making ‘the best decision’.


TL: DR
4GB of RAM is OVERKILL for a DAP.
Android devices didn’t really need 512MB of RAM, and each variant that ‘uses more RAM‘ is generally preloading all your ‘potential apps’ (in a phone that does everything, and runs bloaty phone platform software). A DAP could be streamlined down to ‘bugger all’ (embedded systems would have been happy with 4MB, ‘once upon a time’; literally having four thousand times more than a music player needs is SAFE OVERHEAD in case a user wants to experience Apple Music etc.

Once Android moved to 1GB for the Operating System ‘working pool’ there was ‘so much overhead’ and redundancy, having 2GB of RAM in a music player, I would consider ‘more than needed (by a long shot).
I gather some power social media die hards, using their DAP ‘like a phone’ might have several consumption platforms open, and even if running lots of bloated apps, are still in ‘over kill territory with 2GB, but 3GB is ‘future proofing the device’.

What happens if you don’t have enough RAM to have 300+ webpages open, and lots of apps etc?.. the device simply drops the least used webpage from RAM, and you have to reload it again if you reselect that tab (from the 300 that you have open).
The problem is with european privacy laws, most platform holders get around ‘don’t send user data’ with “reload everything all the time” (we get their user data by the nature of them requesting things); so for a few years now, most platforms barely keep ten webpages in active memory, and ’all those gigabytes sit around useless’ (happily draining power, so not useless; they keep our devices ‘warm’ for us!)

More RAM than we need doesn’t speed anything up. This has been an IT fact for many decades. A reasonable excess is nice (futureproof).. 4GB is vastly more than a DAP needs, based on a range of reasons. But never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
Most phones built for the Chinese market need to have ‘bragging rights amounts of RAM’ (that serves no purpose).
Consumers must buy based on spec sheet warfare, and that shows FiiO has a backbone in ‘such a silly market place’

I commend FiiO for doing this, as we know it will cost them ‘some’ sales in their home market, but out of duty to end users (pro ‘consumer’), they take the hit.

Thank you for taking the time to explain this.

 

[PuPS]

Which alternatives - beside Ifi- are there for using a linear power supply with M17?

For you and the M17, the enterprising сhinese fussed...

 

[Klabauters]

To anyone who wants to use a power band with M17 and active the DC enhanced mode.

1, We are highly suggest you find a power bank which supports fixed 12V/3A output. it will be better includes a display which show the output voltage.

I know there are some special cables or adapters , they can " active " a fixed voltage from a power bank which supports QC or PD fast charge , because both PD and QC fact charge already includes the 12V DC output. but it is not an official features from any company, and we can't make sure it is safe even someone is success .

2, Not to connect M17‘'s DC input to any DC power source which is exceed 12V even there are protective circuit.

Thanks @JamesFiiO, for your comprehensive answer and the clear statement.



Finally I found a Powerbank which can drive the M17 DC mode and charge the device in parallel and is not too big/ ugly ...

The new "mobile home stack":

M17 on top

Powerbank inside the M17 Stand - looks quite nice and cleaned up (WAF definitely given ...), can also easily be moved, when needed ...

Omni 20+ INTL
https://www.omnicharge.co/pages/shop

 

[14christ]

Thanks @JamesFiiO, for your comprehensive answer and the clear statement.



Finally I found a Powerbank which can drive the M17 DC mode and charge the device in parallel and is not too big/ ugly ...







The new "mobile home stack":



M17 on top





Powerbank inside the M17 Stand - looks quite nice and cleaned up (WAF definitely given ...), can also easily be moved, when needed ...




Omni 20+ INTL
https://www.omnicharge.co/pages/shop

Nice job and it looks good too.

 

[NYanakiev]

@FiiO @JamesFiiO sorry I am posting about this on here- I wasn't able to PM you.

My power supply seems to be about to kick the bucket- please advise how I can request a replacement under warranty.

 

[newworld666]

As I bought, these last years, various USB-C powerbanks, I am testing some to find some really portable and compact batteries which are USB-C and limited to less than 15V output compatible with the FIIO M17 (charging and activating the enhanced Headphone mode)

So after the Samsung EB-U3300XJEGEU 10000mha with double USB-C, both limited to max output 12V/3A, I can also use the very compact Anker PowerCore 10000 Redux USB-C Power Delivery 18W which I could measure to be limited to 15V usb-c output....

I would still prefer the Samsung as it seems to be more portable (same size as the M17 and rather thin) than the very compact but thicker Anker bank, the M17 becomes a bit "hot" (probably due to the 15V output I could measure from Anker output), so we should use the desktop stand with the internal vent. Luckily, this powerbank can provide juice at the same time to the M17 and the Stand Vent.

 

[FiiO]

@FiiO @JamesFiiO sorry I am posting about this on here- I wasn't able to PM you.

My power supply seems to be about to kick the bucket- please advise how I can request a replacement under warranty.

Dear friend,

You could contact your seller about that first. If he could help locally, it would be more convenient. But if the seller fails to help, please contact support@fiio.com about that with the receipt attached. Thanks in advanced!

Best regards

 

[FiiO]

The FiiO DK3 Cooling fan with Stand for MP3/Mobile is now available in our Aliexpress store:​

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...m=5261.ProductManageOnline.0.0.15744edf1tQCHJ ​

 

[newworld666]

Another small, 220g 10000mha, USB-C Battery limited to 12V output so compatible with M17 in enhanced Headphone Mode and Charging the M17 (increasing playing in enhanced mode by something like more or less 5 hours too with the DCA Stealth (82/120 vol level) with Neutron Player for Hires Files)
Can be found on amazon under various name like DEKSMO Wireless Power Bank Fast Charging USB c pd 22.5W 10000mAh 20W Mini Slim Laptop Wireless Magnetic Portable Charger

The samsung is 251g, the Anker 193g and the Deskmo 220g ... I didn't notice a significant difference life between those three 10 000mha batteries... all are increasing by more or less 5 hours the M17's playing time.

 

[JamesFiiO]

@FiiO @JamesFiiO sorry I am posting about this on here- I wasn't able to PM you.

My power supply seems to be about to kick the bucket- please advise how I can request a replacement under warranty.

usually you should contact the dealer who you bought your M17 first, and you can also send email to supports@fiio.com if they refuse to help you.

 

[Blackhades]

@FiiO I unboxed my unit tonight and was a little bit disappointed by your QC. The bottom of the leather case which should not have glue applied, has a spot with glue on it. The back of my unit has what looks like a bubble at the edge.

The spot on the bottom of the case looks glossy and apparent, and the bubble at the edge of the back panel is not small. I am not sure how the QC check missed these.

 

[PuPS]

Good old Depech...)

 

[Godwyn88]

How's the Fiio M17 with Solaris? I have the same IEM and I would like to buy the DAP...

Thanks!

 

[tomfox]

How's the Fiio M17 with Solaris? I have the same IEM and I would like to buy the DAP...

Thanks!

I have the solaris 2020 and it is a perfect match with M17 using M gain