fiio m11 plus vs astell & kern sr25

You have to really want to carry this brick around. The M11 Plus ESS has a bigger 6000mAh battery and the M6 Pro 21 only has 4000mAh inside, yet their playback hours are roughly the same. If youre used to a more spartan music listening experience, the granularity of control the M11 has can seem like a lot. At the end of the day, those features drive up costs and dont make the DAP any better at playing music. However, the device is almost an inch thick with the case on and only a hair thinner with it off. Like the DX300, its now super fast and downloads take seconds, instead of minutes. It is, at the moment, one of the fastest DAPs together with the iBasso DX300 and the awesome Shanling M6 21. Sony does make the DAC and amp chips of the NW-ZX507/S in house instead of buying from the manufacturers other DAP manufacturers do, so it's hard to make an apples to apples comparison of the chips that really matter here. I leave it on for some apps, off for others. The THX module offers good headroom to sensitive IEMs and is more natural in tuning, while the gain/ power is sufficient to hold together clear imaging and transients, with decent control especially on All to DSD mode. Unless it gets loud enopugh, there is no issue. The presence of the multi-function button on the M11 Plus ESS is what really makes the difference, allowing users to operate the DAP more efficiently and intuitively especially when operating single-handedly. Like the Shanling M6 21 and iBasso DX300, the M11 Plus LTD supports duplex Bluetooth. However, the biggest determining factors in battery life are the gain, which jack youre using, and your headphone impedance. Balanced jacks are becoming more and more common in even entry-level audiophile gear like FiiOs BTR5, and its nice to see support for the four and five-pole varieties here. Nanotechnos still collects all gear he gets, even his first MPMAN MP3 player. DNLA, AirPlay, UPnP are all there and of course, you can access a wide range of high-definition streaming platforms: Tidal, Spotify, Qobuz, Deezer, Napster, TuneIn, etc.. That said, the new CPU makes a big difference when youre downloading files and music. The higher the volume, the better. Sample rate : PCM : 8Hz 768Hz (8/16/24/32bits) native DSD64/128/256/512 MQA 8X, System clock: Full synchronization technology with 4rd Gen FPGA processor and dual Japanese crystal clock, Outputs: 3.5mm headphone out line out coax out / 2.5mm TRRS / 4.4mm Pentaconn, Streaming supported directly Full Google Play Support, Bluetooth support: SBC, apt-X, apt-X HD, LDAC, HWA, (AAC receive only), Duplex Bluetooth: player can emit and receive music, Quick Charge : yes, QC2.0/3.0/4.0, PD2.0, DC12V/1.5Ah, 9V/2A, 5V/2A, Battery life: 10.5h with wired headphones, 20h with a Bluetooth headphone, Output power : 300mW @16ohm / 210mW @32ohm / 33mW @300ohm, Output power : 400mW @16ohm / 660mW @32ohm / 90mW @300ohm, Frequency Response : 20Hz 50kHz (-0.5dB), Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 Review, BLOG: The Fav Album Of. When youre storing massive DSD files that can be over a gig each, you run out of room very quickly. Standalone digital audio players (DAP for short) have been around for a while, but high-end players used to be reserved for people who already had large collections of high-def and lossless music at their disposal. With other apps, the tonality may change so it is recommended to try other music apps such as UAPP, Kaisertone, Onkyo Player, etc., which could bring about more synergy with various IEMs. I would still consider the M11 Plus ESS to sound balanced without any frequencies being pushed out. and sponsored partnerships, so we receive a share of the revenue from some of your purchases. You want a mid-range DAP that has lots of flagship features without the four-figure price tag. So, after the stock ran out, the brand had no choice but to go for another manufacturer, ESS tech as it appears, with the great ES9068AS. Do you still want the full specs? Looking at the 40% more playback time I had doubts whether it would perform as well, but the actual performance is quite convincing. We hope you like the items we recommend and discuss! This is likely due to the more power-consuming SoC on the M11 Plus ESS. Dont do my same mistake: is just NOT powerful! My issue I think is with the lack of consistency in this site's review methodology. It is not the first time for us to compare Shanling and FiiO products which take a very different approaches to design while being similar in size. As previously mentioned, the LCD display of the M11 Plus is just five and a half inches at 720p, but just because its low specd by todays standards doesnt mean its a bad screen. The M11 Plus also has support for LDAC Bluetooth, but if youre just going to use wireless earbuds or headphones, there are cheaper standalone players (and phones) you could get instead. I compared it to the FiiO M17 and honestly, they work exactly the same. Overall, the highly responsive and feature-rich UI plus the hardware features come together as an enjoyable product experience, marking the M11 Plus ESS as one of the most versatile players in sound with a modern and appealing design to go along with it. Maybe, but only if youre interested in diving head first into the audiophile realm. Headfonia Lieven. You can use the player as a Bluetooth receiver with a smartphone, computer, or any Bluetooth emitter. That said, it offers the usual mix of features, namely: As usual, you can top that with 32-bit HyperStream II architecture and Quad DAC Technology, and you get a very versatile chip, which will deliver at least on paper an insane high level of quality. As I said in my previous review, FiiO managed to grab a lot of 14 000 AK4497 chips and decided to make a few sets of DAC and DAP with them. Most of the time, the player will use low-power cores to achieve basic tasks and will rely on the high-power one only when really needed. Top to bottom on the left side are the power button, the touch-enabled volume rocker, and an assignable button. And in top of all that, the M11 Plus ESS continues to use THX-AA78 amps, the same found in the previous M11 Pro. This customizability doesnt stop at the hold switch, either. Both DAPs feel equally powerful, and should be satisfactory for most IEMs in the market. The upper frequencies are rendered smoother, more controlled, and with more air. Qobuz works like it does on any Android device so no issues. 6 21 and iBasso DX300, the M11 Plus LTD supports duplex Bluetooth. By comparison, Apple sells almost 850,000 iPhones every day! Ive already mentioned how much control over the listening experience you get with the M11, but that isnt just limited to the audio. With regards to the balanced configurations, the M11 Plus ESS can get as high as 660mW in the output while the LTD can only go up to 588mW. On the balanced outputs, it maxes out at 32bit 384kHz for FLACs and WAVs, supports full 8x MQA decoding, and DSD files up to DSD256. The SNR goes head-to-head using the balanced configuration. If youre not partial to the touchpad sliding volume control, that can be turned off, too. many thanks for your in-depth review! Testing with the Dethonray Tender 1 planar IEM the midrange has great fullness with impressive bass detail. It also only has a little over 3000 mAh of battery capacity compared to the 6000 of the M11. There are 3 gain levels and at a higher gain, some sensitive earphones may pick up more noise but it is negligible listening outdoors. Comparing the balanced output, the M6 Pro 21 feels more delicately tuned for smooth and intense mid-treble, having the vocal being more forwarded and polished. The M11 lets you use it in a few different ways, the main ones being Android and Pure music mode. The bass is well layered and decays rather speedily to keep the pace fast and controlled, while the instruments imaging is well defined with good intensity. Still, youd be hard-pressed to find a better standalone music player for the money than the M11 Plus. However, its Android so you can use it as a roon endpoint and its a USB-DAC, and the driver should be picked up just fine by Roon. As far as delivering a dark background is concerned the M11 Plus ESS is satisfactory with the noise level measured at 2.5V. While both players only have 64GB of internal storage, and sleek metal frames, FiiO manages to outspec Sony in virtually every other way for $130 less. I leave autoplay enabled, but only when it's on by default. The push for lossless and hi-fi music from streaming services has made it easier than ever for people to make the jump into the audiophile hobby, and the FiiO M11 Plus ESS is a great value for the money in this spacebut it's not for casual music listeners. Connor is 6'5", quite literally making him a massive nerd. Just sold it after 7 days. He likes spreadsheets, technical specs and all this amazing(ly boring) numbers. Even if you have AirPlay available, or DNLA, or prefer a Wi-Fi connection, Bluetooth is still much easier to connect. Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Google Pixel 6a: Which deserves your $450? You want to dip your toes into audiophile gear for as cheap as possible. The few accessories that do come with the M11 Plus are nice. 120/150 results in way higher sound quality than 70/150, so this is a positive thing. The A&norma SR25 is more android based than you may be used to, and any streaming apps need to be sideloaded onto it through a computer instead of through a play store, and the list of supported apps is only about 20. There is a bigger difference when testing with sensitive IEMs. The Hi-Res Audio Wireless Certified logo is well-endowed at the back of the player, with the Hi-Res Audio logo and THX blazon. It achieves 33mW on 300 load compared to 23mW only on the LTD. Thus, easy-to-drive cans on low gain out of the 3.5mm jack will earn you a few extra hours compared to higher ohm headphones out of the balanced jacks on high gain. Oh my god! For the nitpickers and nerdy ones here, Im giving the specs and technical sheets. Good bass layering is presented with the M11 Plus ESS doing a good job in getting the Tender 1 under control while outputting strong dynamics and very airy bass. The articulation in the mid-range frequencies is very smooth with a V-shaped signature that helps deliver strong transients and bass attack for fast electronic music. That means you want an as high as possible Volume as this does have the highest sound quality. The two DAPs are basically from the same mold. Amazon Prime Day: Grab these deals while you still can, Boost your Wi-Fi for $140 less this Prime Day with this Eero Pro 6 multi-pack deal, The Pixel Buds Pro make for some complicated feelings on the Android Police Podcast, Google would rather ruin its products than pay Sonos, and that's unacceptable, Level up your Google Pixel 6a game with Spigens cases and MagFit accessories, Get the Samsung Galaxy S22+ for only $800 right now, Amazon Echo Show 10 review: A luxurious Alexa experience, This juicy deal brings Jabra's best earbuds back down to their lowest price, Powerful amp and DAC chips for great audio, Very sleek modern design with glass front and back and a metal frame, Three headphone jack options from standard 3.5mm to fully balanced 2.5mm and 4.4mm, Super customizable music experience and adjustable hardwar interface, You want a pocket-sized music player with desktop-quality audio. All of those chips are covered by custom anti-EMI modules that ensure perfect isolation from each other and avoid the annoying buzz while playing files from your streaming app, or just when you use Bluetooth. The M6 Pro 21 does not need a pin pusher to unlock the card slot and I like that approach. Sonys $4,200 DAP has a 4 480p screen, Android 11, and the product page doesnt even list the processor. Right from the quick menu you can easily change settings like the gain level and the output type, and the settings menu has options like low pass filter modes front and center. While you have access to the Play Store, FiiO also preloaded the M11 with its own app store (its just an APK repository) that has most streaming services placed front and center for maximum convenience. There is enough power on the M11 Plus ESS to drive multi-BAs well. The Shanling M6 Pro 21 is more rounded with a cool curved screen, while the M11 Plus ESS feels techier and uses an innovative slider volume button that offers a newer experience. The below impressions are made after weeks of burn-in with different IEMs on both the SE and balanced connection and are based on the default filter settings in Pure Music Mode. The SNR is also higher on the M11 Plus ESS reaching 126dB and the LTD gets up to 120.5dB. Had no intention to buy another IEM since I acquired recently an IE600 and listed the Advar by fluke, just killing. The use case for this is super narrow since the M11 can play anything your phone couldyoure probably better off just playing those files directly on the M11 and getting rid of the Bluetooth bottleneck in your audio quality. In fact, the M11 Plus LTD output the same level of power as the M11 Pro, with a 1mW variance. A lot of people have heard about MQA, and are probably at least acquainted with popular lossless audio file types like WAV and FLAC. With hardware support for MQA, 384kHz 32bit FLACs, massive DSD files, and 3 different types of headphone jack to choose from, the M11 Plus is clearly a contender. A nerdy guy with a passion for audio and gadgets, he likes to combine his DAC and his swiss knife. Hardware features like the hold switch can easily be customized to the extreme. There are also some fine volume steps to allow users to turn to the optimal volume level without shocking your ears. wont affect the price you pay and helps us offer the best product recommendations. Switching between various apps is instantaneous, searching for your files is faster, and most of all, boot-up time is 5 times shorter than before/. Asian engineer and a tech lover who listens to Cantopop, jazz, and JPop genres. With 120 volume levels, its very easy to dial in exactly where you want it. AndroidPolice has affiliate The M6 Pro 21 reaches a higher output rating at 760mW in its ultra-high gain mode, compared to the 660mW maximum on the M11 Plus ESS. The LTD version sounds more dynamic and lusher in the mids and the ESS version is cleaner and less intense in the bass. On the M11 Plus ESS, the vocal isnt as polished as the M6 Pro 21, which is shaped for enhanced lushness. With so much attention paid to little details, it feels odd that there would also be such a lack of internal storage. String plucking on the double bass or bass guitars is clean in attack while not lacking body, where good balance and separation between the instruments are maintained. Required fields are marked *. What it may have in uniqueness, it lacks in flexibility, though. While it doesnt include a charger, it at least includes a type-A to type-C cable both for charging and to use in USB DAC mode. You can hear it being able to power some demanding IEMs quite well. The iPod may be dead, but this thing is better at playing music anyway. In contrast, the ESS version emphasizes the technicalities more and has a lighter touch in the midrange frequencies, which paints the output smoother, more opened up, and less colored. BLOG: The Fav Album Of. Reach me at c.nolan at androidpolice dot com. From left to right on the bottom youll find the 2.5mm and 4.4mm balanced jacks, the type-C port, and the 3.5mm headphone jack. the output power is awesome though everything else is lacking in comparison. I'm not the type of guy to change my devices, that why I ask about reliability since I'm planning to use my next. The clean touch in the midrange brings out more details in the upper register and in the lows which helps to reveal more airy details that stretch the staging deeper and boosts the dynamic range. It has remarkable voltage, so it will drive high impedence headphones. Headfonia Store aka Michael Ting. The output power is even stronger, so it seems true that the ES9068AS is much more power-efficient while not compromising technicalities. On the right are the skip back, pause/play, and skip forward buttons as well as the hold switch and the MicroSD card tray. The Kann Alpha is anything but powerful, unfortunately. While its shape and weight remind me a bit of a brick, I really like the heft that comes along with that sturdy aluminum body. Stepping up from even nice Bluetooth earbuds to a DAP like this one is almost like going from listening to a performance in a garage to one in a concert hall. The bass kicks pretty deep with a rather fast decay to keep the output clean, and the vocal frequencies are pushed. Out of the 3.5mm jack it still supports full MQA decoding, but FLAC and DSD support drop to 24bit 384kHz and DSD128, which is still higher quality than the vast majority of music releases will ever get. Another difference would be the <2 impedance on M11 Plus ESS compared to the 0.6 on the M6 Pro 21, which gives it some advantage to sound more accurate with very sensitive IEMs or CIEMs. Even after more than 10 years of experience, Once again, FiiO did the right choice and push a Qualcomm 660 CPU in the FiiO M11 Plus, with 4 big cores and 4 small cores. For comparison lossless CD-quality audio, which is the best you can manage if youre on Bluetooth, maxes out at just 16bit 44.1kHz. This is fine for anyone who has a large collection of hi-def tracks, but Android mode is a necessity if you depend on streaming apps. The Bluetooth 5.0 chip can transmit in SBC/AAC/aptX/aptX-HD/LDAC but only supports SBC/AAC/LDAC when receiving. Balanced connections yield audibly better results on the M11 Plus ESS where the bass punch is more solid and agile. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. On single-ended output, the M11 Plus ESS version is always more powerful in the output, especially when with a higher load. The fact that Google stopped supporting Android 7, the M6 Pro 21 with Android V7.1 OS is more prone to security threats if you are using other non-music apps that require login. Its Achilles heel is the miserably low internal storage, but thats easy enough to fix with a decent MicroSD card. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. To help alleviate this, theres a MicroSD slot that supports up to 2TB, but more storage on a device meant for hefty audio files seems like a fairly straightforward idea. I wanted to say AK, Cayin :-D. I think all of these are good really, I use AK, Cayin, Fiio and HiBy the most. Good for EDM/Fun only. In fact, 98% of the mobiles phones in the market today do not have a user-replaceable battery. The LPF is changed to OPA927x2 from the OPA1642x2 on the LTD version. With some hoarse or darker voices, it may actually feel more realistic and it allows more of the backing instruments to be heard. I have asked him to add the missing part. The M11 can handle them all, plus it has the hardware to play much more demanding DSD files. All good! Thank you. The case looks good, and it also has a hidden feature. The age of getting chargers with your mobile devices is well and truly over (thanks Apple) if even a $700 music player doesn't include one. EQ is also very easy to adjust, for those who want that. A chip that isnt very popular for no obvious reasons and could only be found in a fistful of players, or receivers like the Astell&Kern Kann Alpha or SMSL SU-8S. Learn how your comment data is processed. DAPDAP12, AmazonAmazon Music HDApple MusicDAP, DAPSDSONYDAPBluetooth, DAP6, DAPAIFFWAVMP3AACALACMQADSDFLACDAP, DACDAPDAC(Digital to Analog Converter/)CDDAC, DAP3.5mm, microSDDAP, BluetoothSBCCDaptXaptX HDLDACaptX LL (Low Latency)Bluetooth, AmazonAmazon Music HDApple MusicAndroid OSDAP, DAP, ShanlingDAPM3X, Astell&Kern A&normaSR25 MKII4.4mm, iBasso Audio DX240DAP, SONYNW-WM1AM2NW-WM1ZM2, , Cayin N8iiDAP3, DAPDAPDAP, SONY LinkBuds S , Bowers & Wilkins Px7S2, SONY WH-1000XM5 , FAudio Mezzo3, KLH Audio Ultimate One, DAP 2WeeksAstell&KernDAP20211226-202218, DAP15<2021>, 2Weeks2021919-102, AIFFWAVMP3AACALACMQADSDFLAC, OP-AMP() TUBE-AMP()2HYBRID-AMP()3, DSFDFFISODXDAPEFLACWAV AIFFAIFDTSMP3WMAAACOGG ALACMP2M4AAC3M3UM3U8OPUS, DAC 20 / 19 / Bluetooth 46, MP3WMAFLACWAVAACAIFFDSDMQAALACOggVorbis, 3.5mm/3 2.5mm/4 4.4mm/5 , APEWAVFLACAIFDSDM4AWMAOGGAACALACMP3CUE, 2.5 / 3.5 / 4.4mm 34.4mm, MQAAPEFLACWAVWMAACC ALACAIFFOGGMP3DFFDSF DXDDST(CUE)ISOM3UM3U8, MP3WMAFLACWAVAACHE-AACApple LosslessAIFFDSDAPEMQA, WAVFLACMP3WMAOGGAPEAACALACAIFFDFFDSFMQA, WAV FLAC MP3 WMA OGG APE AAC ALAC AIFF DFF DSF, 3.5mm 2.5mm 3.5mm , MP3WMAFLACWAVAACHE-AACApple LosslessAIFFDSDAPEMQA, DSFDSDIFFSACD-ISOWAVAIFFFLACALACAPEAPEAPE WMA LosslessWMAMP3AACOGGOPUS, 3.5mm ()16.35mm 12.5mm (4 )14.4mm (5 )1RCA()1USB Type-C(USB ), microSD 1 (SDHC/XC 1TB ). The M11 Plus ESS has enough power and speed to drive the dynamic drivers in hybrid IEMs to sound punchy in the lows while boosting the treble details gently. Like the. Want volume control but no skip buttons? : Shanling Hiby iBasso FiiO Not to mention Sony since they're on a league of their own when it comes, full high-resolution PCM decoding, up to 32bit/768kHz, an insanely high Signal-to-noise Ratio, up to 130dB, It is, at the moment, one of the fastest DAPs together with the iBasso DX300 and the awesome, The Hi-Res Audio Wireless Certified logo is well-endowed at the back of the player, with the Hi-Res Audio logo and THX blazon. AKM version is the better sounding but we buy what we can buy. Lovely for all bit not vocal. His first Android was a Samsung Intercept he bought in 2010, and he's been a rabid Android fan ever since. The FiiO M11 Plus ESS packs high-end audiophile features into a sleek package. The music the M11 can put out is comparable to a decent desktop setup, but it doesnt cost much more and fits in your pocket. The charging tops out at 27W over USB-PD, so while itll take a few hours to go from dead to fully charged because of that massive battery, its still fast enough to give you about an hour of listening time in just a few minutes. The tuning will appeal more to those who seek uncolored vocal or cooler signatures. Kann Alpha is not as portable and the higher amping power pairs better with cans, with higher power the vocal has a sharper outline and the bass kicks fast, so you have to be careful with choice or IEMs to be matched. Also, WiFi transfer is still a thing, if you want to send music directly from your computer, without wire. The signature also favors such pairings to emphasize the dynamics and clarity. When he's away from his keyboard, he's usually taking photos or working out. In general, the M11 Plus ESS version has a more balanced and clean tuning as the midrange is not as forwarded and colored as the LTD version. You can use the player as a Bluetooth receiver with a smartphone, computer, or any Bluetooth emitter. This Sony also lacks the 2.5mm balanced jack supported by the M11, but manages to have a longer battery life while remaining about 3mm thinner. Google Search will be bringing back its timer in 3 2 Google's August 2022 Pixel update is on its way, DJI Mini 3 Pro review: The best pick for a small drone, ZTE Axon 40 Ultra review: An 'ultra' smartphone for less, Google Pixel Buds Pro review: Catching up, tuning out, and rocking on, Asus Zenfone 9 review: Power to the petite, Philips Hue Play Gradient Lightstrip review: The best lightstrip to mount on your TV, Boox Nova Air C review: Coloring outside the lines, The best phone chargers in 2022: USB-C PD, PPS, and fast chargers, Everything you need to know about Starlink, How to choose the best Amazon Echo for your home. To ensure the best performances, FiiO developed a fourth-generation FPGA chip with more advanced algorithms, more accurate clocks, and even further reduced jitter. Pure music mode is indistinguishable from FiiOs own music app, and limits your playback just to locally saved music or tracks on a DLNA server. Using sensitive IEMs like the Shure SE846 you should hear none to very faint hisses with a near-silent background and a high level of dynamic range. This review, When using the AP80 Pro with the DH80 can the volume wheel on the AP80 Pro still be used to control volume or does volume have to be controlled with, Bought one yesterday on the spot at Canjam London. Your email address will not be published. I didn't even know you could turn autoplay off. A gentle lift in the upper mids helps voices to cut through the mix and be separated from the backing track well. Is the unit Roon Ready? The selection of jacks on the M11 Plus is fantastic. But most of all, he loves music: electro, classical, dubstep, Debussy : the daily playlist. Just like the much cheaper FiiO BTR5, its possible to use the M11 as a Bluetooth receiver with your high-quality cans for better audio quality than Bluetooth buds can manage. It seems though that there are 1-2 paragraphs missing when your speak about pairings with the ME800 and the DM8 (on page 6). After formatting and the OS, the M11 Plus only has a little more than 45GB of internal storage left. The SNR is also stronger on the ESS version measuring 122dB, which is 2dB more than the LTD version. In terms of UI design, the M11 Plus ESS with Android 10 has enhanced graphics and is customized to a deeper level. Fully balanced jacks have extra oomph from doubling up on amps, and processing the left and right channels separately gives you a cleaner audio signal. The back of the M11 can get a little warm from the DAC and amp chips after a while, and the back of the case is vented and has an air gap to make sure it stays cool in your hand or pocket.

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