Today, we are writing this FiiO M23 Review, which discusses this new product from FiiO. The M23 is a digital audio player with features that create better-sounding tunes. It also has other elements that you will love.
We will discuss everything you need about the product in this FiiO M23 Review. These include its features, functionalities, performance, design, and specifications. But before looking into those, what did FiiO include in the box?
FiiO M23 Packaging
This digital audio player ships in a white cardboard box that is thick, durable, and secure. The front showcases an image of the product, its name, and the company branding. The back of the box features more details about the product.
Inside, you will find the following items along with the M23:
- Protective film pre-applied
- Protective case (Stainless steel version comes with a genuine leather case)
- USB data/charging cable
- USB-A male to Type-C female adapter
- Tray eject pin
- Quick Start Guide
FiiO M23 Review – Design and Functionality
When testing the product for our FiiO M23 Review, we saw that it drives wired/wireless headphones. It houses a 3.5mm unbalanced and 4.4mm balanced output for connecting to your headphones. Moreover, it also connects to external audio tools like powered speakers and amplifiers.
The 3.5mm jack works as a versatile output, doubling as a digital coaxial output when paired with a DAC. Bluetooth 5.0 enables wireless connectivity, allowing the M23 to function as a transmitter and receiver. It supports AAC, SBC, aptX HD, and LDAC codecs in transmission and reception modes.
We also have to highlight its selection of physical controls in this FiiO M23 Review.
The buttons are well-placed around the edges of the M23. You will find the on/off, volume up/down, play/pause and skip forward/rewind. It has a hold button to prevent accidental operation, a customisable multifunction button, and a D-mode (Desktop Mode) slider.
The M23 has two USB-C sockets for data transfer or using the digital audio player as a desktop DAC.
Key Features of the FiiO M23
Combining AKM Flagship DACs
FiiO equipped the M23 with the flagship AKM DAC combination: AK4191EQ and AK4499EX. This new design separates the analogue and digital areas of the audio and features DWA Routing Technology. As a result, the M23 has improved signal-to-noise ratio.
These technologies deliver a purer audio background to reproduce audio with higher resolution. As a result, the sound is more relaxed and natural.
Patented Desktop Mode
The M23 has a desktop mode toggle switch (D.MODE). An external source powers the M23 and does not charge or deplete the built-in battery. It allows using the M23 as desktop equipment without damaging its battery.
Independent Type-C Power Port – Unlimited Power
A unique feature we noticed when we examined the product for this FiiO M23 Review was its two USB-C ports. One is POWER IN for accepting power or charging. Fast charging activates Super High Gain Mode for additional gain and output power.
Super High Gain Mode can deliver up to 1000mW + 1000mW output power per channel. It makes the M23 suitable for driving high-impedance headphones.
In this mode, the other USB-C port does not consume power. Therefore, the M23 works as a USB DAC when you connect it to a sound source, like a smartphone.
Balanced Eight-Way Parallel Amplification With the New THX AAA 78+ Headphone Amp Design
Many consumers and audiophiles praised the THX AAA 78 headphone amps in the M11 Plus and M11 Pro. FiiO refined its design for several years and produced the THX AAA 78+ amplifier for the M23. It offers higher power output with increased fidelity for impactful and accurate audio.
High-Calibre HiFi Audio Architecture of the FiiO M23
The M23 has a high-calibre audio architecture composed of DAC, LPF, I/V, parallel amplification, and voltage amplification stages. Two low-noise and high-precision OPA1612 op-amps handle the LPF and I/V stage. Plus, two high-bandwidth and low-noise OPA1662 op-amps manage the voltage amplification.
The op-amps guarantee accurate playback of audio signals with ample power output. As a result, many headphones and IEMs work well with the M23. The digital audio player also has four gain levels, allowing you to enhance its audio.
High-Calibre HiFi Components
The I/C, THX, and LPF amp parts use many high-precision film resistors. The LPF area has eight Panasonic film capacitors, ensuring highly detailed and stable sound. They increase the consistency of the left & right channels and the output of each frequency band.
Four-Stage and 20-rail Power Supply for Accuracy and Consistency
FiiO shows its superior experience designing power supplies for high-fidelity audio with the M23. The product performance in our tests for this FiiO M23 Review proves this digital audio player uses high-quality power supplies.
The M23 uses four stages and a 20-rail power supply. As a result, it offers a solid foundation for the digital and analogue portions of the audio circuit.
Dual-Mode Fast-Charging System
The dual-mode fast-charging system uses extreme and standard fast charging. When the battery is low, the M23 uses fast charging for safe 30W charging speeds. It reduces your waiting time when charging and maintains battery health.
Durable, Long-Lasting 5500mAh Battery
The low-resistance fast-charging batteries of the M23 use materials resistant to high temperatures. FiiO also paired it with technologies like low-resistance MOS protection to make it durable and future-proof.
DAPS – Digital Audio Purification System
DAPS is one of the primary features we must highlight in our FiiO M23 Review. It avoids audio resampling to ensure accuracy in audio reproduction.
The DAPS consists of a HiFi audio core and a low-jitter clock co-processor, providing a low-jitter and high-precision clock source. This system preserves the original sampling rate of the audio stream.
Global PEQ Adjustment
Any operating mode lets you use the ten-band PEQ with the proprietary FiiO tuning algorithm. With the intuitive interface of the M23, users can adjust the gain, bandwidth, Q value, and frequency point. All these accessible settings allow fine-tuning and correcting the frequency response curve of headphones based on your preferences.
Aside from comprehensive customisation options, you can enable the ALL TO DSD function in any operating mode for optimised audio.
Six Operating Modes of the FiiO M23
The M23 lets you use six operating modes: Roon Ready, Android, Pure Music, Bluetooth, USB DAC, and AirPlay. You can switch between these quickly and conveniently, allowing you to enjoy the best listening experiences.
Aside from six working modes, the M23 can stream music over DLNA by accessing local networks, cloud servers, and NAS.
Specifications
- Operating Modes: Android, Pure music, USB DAC, Bluetooth Receiving, AirPlay, Roon Ready
- Display: 13.9cm bezel-less screen
- Resolution: 1440 x 720
- RAM: 4GB
- Internal Storage: 64GB
- Available Storage: Approx. 46GB
- Storage Expansion: Single microSD card, up to 2TB
- Channel Balance: L20~R20 (0.5dB per level)
- Headphone Out: 3.5 mm
- BAL Headphone Out: 4.4 mm
- COAX Headphone Out: 3.5 mm (shared PO, supports up to 384kHz-24bit/DS128)
- SoC: Snapdragon 660
- DAC: AK4191EQ and AK4499EX
- Amp: 4-way THX AAA-78+
- Gain Modes: Low, Medium, High, Super High (for fast charge)
- Adaptive Impedance: 8150Ω (PO), 8350Ω (BAL)
- WiFi: 2.4GHz/5GHz
- Bluetooth Reception (5.0): SBC, LDAC, AAC
- Bluetooth Transmission (5.0): SBC, AAC, LDAC, LHDC, aptX, aptX HD
- Local Decoding: Up to 384kHz-32bit/DSD256
- Maximum Supported Sampling Rate of USB DAC: up to 384kHz-32bit/DSD256
- Maximum Supported Sampling Rate of USB Audio: 768kHz-32bit/DSD512
- Dimensions: 75.7 x 136.5 x 18.1mm
- Weight: 299g (Deep blue), 392.3g (Stainless Steel)
Hands-on with the FiiO M23
When we tested the FiiO M23 for this review, we found its sound quality to be outstanding. It enhanced our enjoyment of music across various genres, whether using wireless or wired headphones.
The M23 produced a natural and neutral tone without excessive warmth, making it suitable for a wide range of music genres and listening preferences. Its frequency response was meticulously balanced from lows to highs, ensuring that no frequency band dominated or felt underrepresented.
This careful tuning resulted in a harmonious integration of bass, mid-range, and treble frequencies, each contributing to a cohesive and unified sound profile.
The bass response was tight and impactful, providing a solid foundation without overwhelming the other frequencies. It offered enough depth and punch to satisfy bass enthusiasts while maintaining clarity and precision.
The mid-range was clear and detailed, allowing vocals and instruments to shine with natural tonality and texture. This ensured that the critical middle frequencies were neither recessed nor overly forward, striking the perfect balance for an engaging listening experience.
The treble was crisp and well-defined, adding just the right amount of sparkle to the upper frequencies without becoming harsh or sibilant. This provided a sense of airiness and openness to the sound, enhancing the overall clarity and resolution.
The seamless blending of these frequency ranges created a soundstage that felt expansive and immersive, allowing each element of the music to be heard distinctly while still contributing to the overall sonic picture.
Overall, the M23’s ability to deliver impactful and controlled bass, detailed mid-range, and sparkling yet neutral treble made it a well-rounded performer capable of handling a wide variety of music genres with ease and finesse.
FiiO M23 Review Summary
The M23 is an excellent digital audio player if you prefer having a separate device for listening to music. It is the ideal product for audiophiles who want to maximise their headphone capabilities. It has a high-quality build and design and delivers superior neutral audio.
Visit the official product page of FiiO for more information about the M23.
