FiiO M21, Qualcomm Snapdragon 680, FiiO Android portable music player is available!

[Neeoo]

Received my M21 on the same day my friend sent me Rhapsodio Darker, Cartier dac and pa10.

I am incredibly happy with the M21. Till now I love the features and the smooth UI.

Sound quality is worth the price.

I bought it to use with my D16 and the regular spdif cable didn't work.

4pole coax to 3 pole coax worked like a charm with D16.

Using non over sampling filter.

Dop sounded inferior to D2p for pcm files.

Fiio music - used it for the first time. Didn't find it lacking anything till now.

Build quality his way above the asking price.

Desktop mode didn't had any perceptible change on rhapsodio's darker iem. I think maybe transducers like high impedance headphones will benefit. Will try it with R70X.
Edit: it was my fault, i didn't change the gain to super high after switching the physical button to desktop mode. Will try again and report

Also, Darker is like nothing i have heard before. Will write a review for darker in a couple of weeks.

 

[fidelityOne0]

What is the name of the store you used? I ordered the case and the DAP today.

Sailboat 3C and digital Oasis. Sailboat was $28 and Digital Oasis was $60. Neither delivered. I also ordered the M21 from World 3C Digital store and same story. No movement until the last day before automatic cancelation then order were marked as shipped but nothing. I ended up ordering the M21 from the HiFi Cat last week and it's just go delivered. No tax but $30 shipping to SoCal so I paid $330 total. Not bad considering the current situation.

I wonder if the cassette case is even available from Fiio yet?

hope this help.

@FiiO-Yellow
Do you have any plans to offer the Downloadable PEQ preset like the one offers on the KA15? the FD15 and other models. It's kinda a fun. Please consider doing it. It's quirky but it's so fun.

 

[StivVid]

I agree it looks gimicky, but sometimes emotional value is important.

To me, what this cassette player gimmick does is to turn a pretty serious and full featured piece of portable hifi equipment into a toy. I just don't get it. I bought the M21 and look forward to enjoying it though.

Also... It takes a compact, pocketable player and adds quite a bit of bulk to make it seem like a clunky cassette walkman from the 80's.

If you want a clunky cassette player, you can buy one. In fact, FiiO actually makes one of those. Not sure why the company is now trying to make every product bend to a form factor that we left behind several decades ago.

Just out of curiosity... What are the sound effects mentioned in the product announcement? Does the case make sounds, or are the sound effects heard through headphones?

 

[logboy]

I see there are optional leather cases, but does every M21 come with the silicone case? The silicone is what I would use.

comes fitted in silicone case. mine is a blue M21, has a blue silicone case on.

for others interested, look at aliexpress; there are leather cases and the cassette case too.

 

[fidelityOne0]

To me, what this cassette player gimmick does is to turn a pretty serious and full featured piece of portable hifi equipment into a toy. I just don't get it.

I think it’s kinda fun and not to mention that it takes away the convenience of searching forward or backward, well kinda. It certainly makes it more difficult to do compared to the phone or DAP. Music playing all the way through I like it. All the benefits of modern technology and the nostalgia of the previous era. Why not? I was thinking about Fiio cassette player but I’m not that hardcore and this is the next best thing.

I got the DM13 and put on my CD, it’s such a PIA to go back and forward or instantly search for a song I just did it the old fashioned way and listen to the music and leave it alone. Such a satisfying experience.

 

[FiiO-Yellow]

Sailboat 3C and digital Oasis. Sailboat was $28 and Digital Oasis was $60. Neither delivered. I also ordered the M21 from World 3C Digital store and same story. No movement until the last day before automatic cancelation then order were marked as shipped but nothing. I ended up ordering the M21 from the HiFi Cat last week and it's just go delivered. No tax but $30 shipping to SoCal so I paid $330 total. Not bad considering the current situation.

I wonder if the cassette case is even available from Fiio yet?

hope this help.

@FiiO-Yellow
Do you have any plans to offer the Downloadable PEQ preset like the one offers on the KA15? the FD15 and other models. It's kinda a fun. Please consider doing it. It's quirky but it's so fun.

Hi, yes, although this requires more manpower, the good news is that we already have some relevant plans in place.

 

[4ceratops]

To me, what this cassette player gimmick does is to turn a pretty serious and full featured piece of portable hifi equipment into a toy. I just don't get it. I bought the M21 and look forward to enjoying it though.

Also... It takes a compact, pocketable player and adds quite a bit of bulk to make it seem like a clunky cassette walkman from the 80's.

If you want a clunky cassette player, you can buy one. In fact, FiiO actually makes one of those. Not sure why the company is now trying to make every product bend to a form factor that we left behind several decades ago.

Just out of curiosity... What are the sound effects mentioned in the product announcement? Does the case make sounds, or are the sound effects heard through headphones?

I have exactly the same opinion about this "walkman" case as you do. It's just such a kitschy and impractical piece of junk. But many have a completely different opinion, so it will certainly find buyers.

 

[StivVid]

I have exactly the same opinion about this "walkman" case as you do. It's just such a kitschy and impractical piece of junk. But many have a completely different opinion, so it will certainly find buyers.

When in use, it actually reduces the functionality of the M21. Makes no sense.

 

[fidelityOne0]

When in use, it actually reduces the functionality of the M21. Makes no sense.

Yes. It’s
I think that’s the point. I would have been so awesome if there’s a mic button for the voice function,

 

[Neeoo]

I have this powerbank
https://energizerpowerpacks.com/product/qe10008pq/
When i use usb type A output, i am not able to switch on the desktop mode.
When i use the type c to type c output, i am able to turn on the desktop mode.
25 volume for darker in superhigh gain.

 

[KaiFi]

Just ordered from Amazon!

This will be my first-ever DAP. I wasn't quite sure if a DAP was for me (as someone who mostly listens to streaming), but a part of me is getting sick of relying on my laptop to listen to music. I would love to have something more portable. I've owned many Fiio products before, but never a DAP. I'm interested in the higher-end models coming out later this year, but I figure it's best to start with entry level since I've never owned one before and don't know exactly how I'll use it. I was a bit torn between this and the Shanling M3, but ultimately persuaded by my familiarity with the Fiio brand and the lower price.

I'm not intending to connect it to any other amps; I will be using the built in amp only. I will report back with my impressions.

 

[StivVid]

Yes. It’s
I think that’s the point. I would have been so awesome if there’s a mic button for the voice function,

Don't even get me started on the Xduoo robot dac/amp abomination!!!

 

[fidelityOne0]

Don't even get me started on the Xduoo robot dac/amp abomination!!!

I just checked, ok I have no come back.

 

[goody]

Great to see everyone enjoying their Fiio M21 that's why I called it a great value player in my review...for the money it is just great

 

[Samuel777]

Yes. It’s
I think that’s the point. I would have been so awesome if there’s a mic button for the voice function,

Let’s Be patient ! Expected via firmware upgrade!