FiiO M9 , Android based Hi-Res smart DAP with 3.5/2.5 powerful output|AKM4490 X2 |WiFi|aptX/aptX HD/LDAC/HWA(LHDC)|USB DAC|USB AUDIO OUT

[Ichos]

Now A3 is 450mW/16Ω and 270mW/32Ω
M9 single ended is much lower with 125 and 170 respectively.
You need to balanced to get 125 and 220 at 32Ω.
This is made to be used balanced and still is not very powerful.
So you have to return it or hook it up to your A3.
You can save for M11 that is more powerful.

 

[Martinstraka8282]

Well, if that's true it kind of ruins the player for me. I only have one set of headphones that are balanced and I don't even have a 2.5 cable for them.
I don't get it....with all the technology stuffed under the hood of this DAP, it can only power low ohm headphones to 70% volume? For $300 it can't even get as loud as their $80 A3 amp??
The whole point of me getting this player was to simplify things....having to use a standalone amp, or re-cabling 3 sets of headphones is the opposite of simplification. I like Fiio products, my A3 has been a really good little portable amp, but so far this is really disappointing...

This thing is fairly weak and while I can usually drive 3.5mm connected sets well enough to satisfy me, the bluetooth volume output ceiling is too low and I cana relate to your ddisatisfaction.

I ultimately settled on a volume boosting app as the only feasible option for the M9. It was either that or buy a different product altogether.

 

[Cruelhand Luke]

Thanks for the information y'all.
I read the specs, it said it could power up to 300 ohm, I saw a couple of reviews, all of them positive...at no point did anyone mention, 'hey by the way, this thing is about as powerful as an LG G7'
I live on a sailboat, space for everything is at an absolute premium, as is power consumption. I wanted to get away from the cell phone/amp stack, I wanted to unplug my desktop amp from my solar panels and simplify things....but I guess the M9 isn't the solution. And what if I do go up to the M11? That's $400, to just be able to adequately power my headphones...my very low ohm headphones? I mean, I haven't even mentioned my delusional hope that this thing might power my 600ohm Sextetts or my Modhouse Argons, that's just embarrassing how naïve I was, way back before the election....

 

[dharmasteve]

Thanks for the information y'all.
I read the specs, it said it could power up to 300 ohm, I saw a couple of reviews, all of them positive...at no point did anyone mention, 'hey by the way, this thing is about as powerful as an LG G7'
I live on a sailboat, space for everything is at an absolute premium, as is power consumption. I wanted to get away from the cell phone/amp stack, I wanted to unplug my desktop amp from my solar panels and simplify things....but I guess the M9 isn't the solution. And what if I do go up to the M11? That's $400, to just be able to adequately power my headphones...my very low ohm headphones? I mean, I haven't even mentioned my delusional hope that this thing might power my 600ohm Sextetts or my Modhouse Argons, that's just embarrassing how naïve I was, way back before the election....

HiBy R5. I had FiiO M9, but now have HiBy R5. HiBy R5 is extremely good and the 4.4mm balanced will run nearly anything. In the 11/11 it will be really good value.

 

[Cruelhand Luke]

Who is this DAP for? the more I think about it the more it annoys me. Why make a $300 DAP that can't play a 16 ohm/105db headphone to an acceptable volume?? The Fidelio L2 is just about the easiest full sized headphone to drive and somehow this $300 DAP, with an amp and 2 DACs and all the bragging about being able to power up to 300 ohm headphones, can't even make them ...kinda loud? I normally have to be careful with certain amps not to blow out my ears with these things...but the M9 at FULL VOLUME sounds wheezy...

maybe I am missing something here, but I honestly feel kind of insulted. Like I wouldn't notice this thing can't actually drive my headphones? or I would just be ok with having to ALSO use an amp.... for my DAP, that has an amp and 2 DACS!
Fiio, why? Please explain a $300 DAP that can't play louder than your $69 amp?

 

[fish1050]

I recently got an M9 because I had seen good reviews. I don't know if my expectations were too high or if I have a defective unit but it just doesn't get loud enough no matter what headphones I use: Fidelio L2 16ohm, Fidelio X2hr 32ohm, Grado 325e 32ohm, etc. At the max setting the volume is identical to my LG G7.
If I hook the M9 up to my FiiO A3 it sounds great...actually how I expected it to sound out of the box to be honest. I got the M9 hoping to get away from having to hook up multiple devices to listen to my headphones.

I find this very surprising as I am using my M9 with my NAD Viso HP50's on Low Gain 72-80/120 and they are more than loud enough (sometimes to loud on some tracks). The NAD's are 32 ohms and sound fantastic. Perhaps there is a problem with your unit.

 

[iranonfr]

Don't forget that sometimes, it's also about sensibility.
For example L2 is 100db whereas HP50 is 105 db. The last one need less power.
I don't use my M9 with cans , i use it with CIEMs that are easy to drive most of the time.

 

[fish1050]

Don't forget that sometimes, it's also about sensibility.
For example L2 is 100db whereas HP50 is 105 db. The last one need less power.
I don't use my M9 with cans , i use it with CIEMs that are easy to drive most of the time.

That isn't enough of a difference in sensitivity to make that big a difference in volume. I have tried the M9 with my friends Audio Technica ATH-M50X headphones which are 38 ohms and sensitivity is only 99 db and it drives them just fine on High Gain 70-74/120. I can also drive my AKG K240 at 55 ohms and only 91 db sensitivity (high gain 80-85/120) very well.

 

[iranonfr]

That isn't enough of a difference in sensitivity to make that big a difference in volume. I have tried the M9 with my friends Audio Technica ATH-M50X headphones which are 38 ohms and sensitivity is only 99 db and it drives them just fine on High Gain 70-74/120. I can also drive my AKG K240 at 55 ohms and only 91 db sensitivity (high gain 80-85/120) very well.

don't forget that Db scale is not linear, but logarithmic
And also just fine for you don't mean just fine for the OP.

 

[fish1050]

don't forget that Db scale is not linear, but logarithmic
And also just fine for you don't mean just fine for the OP.

Yes I understand it is logarithmic but 91 db is pretty low sensitivity with AKG240's and it can get loud enough to hurt my ears. I am also in my 50's so my hearing is depleted as well so I need to crank the volume a little more and it still gets very loud for me. I honestly haven't read any reviews where volume has been an issue unless you are using high impedance headphones meant for home use. I never saw the point in trying to use hard to drive headphones meant for home use on a portable DAP. It just means you need to spend more on a more powerful DAP with lousy battery life or spend more and add a portable amp which ruins portability. Save money on the DAP and get a proper set of headphones or use iem's they will make the biggest audible difference as well. Common sense is a wonderful thing!

 

[Cruelhand Luke]

Don't forget that sometimes, it's also about sensibility.
For example L2 is 100db whereas HP50 is 105 db. The last one need less power.
I don't use my M9 with cans , i use it with CIEMs that are easy to drive most of the time.

The L2 is 16 ohm/ 105db ... just based on those specs it should be EASIER to play loud than the HP50s.
Despite some peoples anecdotal claims that the M9 is plenty loud, I don't think I have a defective unit, it just doesn't have enough power.
I'm returning it...the Hiby R5 looks interesting, thanks to the person that recommended it.

 

[iranonfr]

The L2 is 16 ohm/ 105db ... just based on those specs it should be EASIER to play loud than the HP50s.
Despite some peoples anecdotal claims that the M9 is plenty loud, I don't think I have a defective unit, it just doesn't have enough power.
I'm returning it...the Hiby R5 looks interesting, thanks to the person that recommended it.

As i wrote previously : " I don't use my M9 with cans , i use it with CIEMs that are easy to drive most of the time "
for me M9 is for iem not cans. I use my M11pro with cans ( X2HR,ELEAR,S4R,SINE,AEON RT) and even then, i feel that they are underpowered...

 

[fish1050]

As i wrote previously : " I don't use my M9 with cans , i use it with CIEMs that are easy to drive most of the time "
for me M9 is for iem not cans. I use my M11pro with cans ( X2HR,ELEAR,S4R,SINE,AEON RT) and even then, i feel that they are underpowered...

Sounds to me like you should just get a desktop or home system. Doesn't seem like many DAP's would provide enough power for you.

 

[iranonfr]

Sounds to me like you should just get a desktop or home system. Doesn't seem like many DAP's would provide enough power for you.

It's hard for me to go outside with my Audio-GD
My M11pro is used when i want to move in my house, it's a good compromise.
Otherwise i use my desktop amps for sure.

Who is this DAP for?...

I was just answering about the lack of power on the M9 witch is, for me, best paired with IEM, not cans, and the difference in perception we can have about a well drived headphones.
That's all.

 

[morndewey]

Selling my M9. I am original owner. Excellent condition. Have original box. $156. You pay to ship. Thanks