Review of FiiO M7 DAP

[@FiiOOfficial]

Thank you for the nice review!

[@PortaFi]

thank you for a good DAP

[@arshedfazal]

Thank you for this. Your review is heartfelt and badass

[@dynamic-audio]

Hi again. Excuse me. What do you think about Pioneer XDP-300R vs Fiio x5 III and vs Cayin n5ii? About features and sound which is better for you?

[@PortaFi]

sorry, I didn't have an opportunity to test Pioneer

[@dynamic-audio]

ooo.. and do you know if the fiio x3 3er Gen support DSD NATIVE? Or convert to PCM. Now i have a pioneer 300r but this dap converts dsd to pcm in order to reproduce.

[@PortaFi]

to be honest, I don't know, as I think DSD is a waste of space, especially on low-end DAPs. I've done tones of blind tests, and if records have same mastering, there is no much sense in DSD if it's not some hi-end setup

[@skm5878]

Fiio M7 is now selling for less than the price of Shanling Q1 & Hiby R2 at $100. So, at this price, looking at the sound quality, which of these 3 do you prefer?

[@PortaFi]

I like FiiO's sound, but actually it's a subjective choice

[@skm5878]

@@PortaFi Thank you.

[@billforster8150]

Came for the review. Stayed for the Maiden. Up the Irons!

[@PortaFi]

double win for me :)

[@AndrewAkuyami]

Got the Shanling M3S over my Sony A45. Very happy with the change. Sounds a bit better than A45 and more neutral and natural.Nice review as always !

[@PortaFi]

congratulations! M3s is the most stylish DAP ever created :)

[@AndrewAkuyami]

Porta_Fi Thank you! I agree with you!

[@princejeromegersan839]

Can you somehow distinguish the difference of sound quality by using this DAP over a phone?

[@PortaFi]

yes, I can. difference isn't huge, but audible, especially with a good recorded material I even did some blind tests (my wife hates me for that, as she always have to do that blind switching :) )

[@princejeromegersan839]

@@PortaFi I happen to order this M7 DAP and its a refurbished 2nd hand, I'm wondring if its just a waste of money if it doesn't sound better over my phone. Thank you for the response even though this video were uploaded years ago :)

[@stargazer3284]

Does the equalizer work during bluetooth operation? Thanks.

[@PortaFi]

as far as I remember yes, but I'm not 100% confident here

[@aqwandrew6330]

hello sorry for asking too much, m7 or hidizs ap80 better for BA sensitive iem?

[@PortaFi]

Hidizs is more resolving and detailed, so it's a better option. Difference isn't huge, but anyway

[@marcelbruinsma]

Thanks for the nice review! I have ordered one in combi with the Fiio F9SE. . One question; can you select 2 keyboards? (Like US International and Russian) . 50% of my music is Russian and with the great Search function I would like to be able to enter text in roman and cyrillic characters. It's android but since it's slimmed down so much I'm afraid that option might not be available.

[@PortaFi]

after all, it's Android underneath, so you can have as many languages as you want

[@leonc1493]

Hi Porta_Fi, how long does it take to recharge when the battery finally runs out? Thanks & keep up the good work! Hope you have a great day!

[@PortaFi]

well, I haven't measured precisely, but roughly it's about 2 hours if I remember right if you need correct and precise figure, you should probably ask in the owner's thread on Head-Fi, they'll give the correct answer or I'll try to measure correctly, when I'll drain my M7's battery. it's really working for about 20 hours, so I charge it pretty rarely :)

[@leonc1493]

Thanks, actually after I asked this question, I saw it on the Fiio website a few hours later but it is good to know your experience with battery life is positive

[@PortaFi]

I actually like M7, despite other reviews

[@leonc1493]

That is my feeling from your review so it makes me even more interested, thank you! Please continue your good work!

[@huynguyen7327]

hi, i'm using meze 99 classics and i like warm sound but not too thick or forward mids. which dap would you recommend for me? i'm considering fiio m7, l&p l3, ibasso dx80.

[@PortaFi]

well, if you need a warmer sound, probably best inexpensive option will be HiBy's R3. L&P is neutral, and DX80 is on brighter side

[@asrig3880]

Can you install 3rd party app with the latest firmware? Especially poweramp.

[@PortaFi]

sorry, I don't know for sure. I've seen mentions that thirdparty apps installation was allowed, but I didn't check in practice

[@pouyanmousavi4669]

Can it drive mee audio pinnacle p1 compltly? (Its a 50 ohm earphone) please answer

[@PortaFi]

I didn't test, but probably more powerful source will be better for them to drive P1 properly

[@pouyanmousavi4669]

@@PortaFi tanx for the fast answer - one more question - in ur oppinion which one is better sony NW-A40 or fiio m7 in terms of sound quality?

[@PortaFi]

@@pouyanmousavi4669 M7 is better (or, more precisely, A40 is worse :) )

[@JabierAlberto]

Hi Porta.Fi, please advice for best Fiio dap under 200. My regards.

[@PortaFi]

hello, actually, there is only one modern model, it's M6, nice all-rounder. also you can consider HiBy R3 and Hidizs AP80, nice and small devices

[@juliangst]

Does the music has to be in one folder or does the fiio search for music in all sub folders on the sd card?

[@PortaFi]

FiiO Music scans all your files on SD card and then you can browse it by genre/artist/album or you can browse it by folder

[@nyithuta502]

Should I buy M7 over M6 if I get it with only $100 ?

[@PortaFi]

M6 sounds a bit better and offers more features (WiFi, streaming, etc.) but M7 offers FM radio and longer battery time I prefer M6 more, but it's more a matter of subjective requirements

[@nyithuta502]

@@PortaFi I'm not an audiophile and just a casual listener. I don't also need streaming. And I'm now using blon 03 and next iem to buy is Shoure tape. So, for me is M7 enough?

[@PortaFi]

@@nyithuta502 most probably yes (especially if longer work time and FM radio will be a plus for you). But I really suggest you reading/watching other reviews to get more opinions

[@nyithuta502]

@@PortaFi Yeah. Now I'm waiting the review of Hidizs Ap80 pro. Do you have a plan to try this?

[@nyithuta502]

@@PortaFi I found a M7 with just $100 and so I'm confusing what should I go for. If around $150 is not ok, I'll go for M9 surely.

[@paulpenhalegan1915]

I bought a Fiio M7..Read my comments to Fiio head office.. Hi, Received item Fiio M7, however there is a waving signal on all FM programs, it is not locking in on the channels. I am surprised that such an expensive device cannot pick up channels clearly and stay locked onto them. The earphones I use are Sony...My Cowons player has no issues at all and will play stations clearly and anywhere...all my other devices pick up stations with no issues with my Sony earphones.....I bought your as I bought a Sony N45 player, however that had an auto set scan fault, and so I sent it back. This is so disappointing as the sound is good....I have bought two 5 driver earphones and thus I will see what happens with the signal on your player......I do not understand the boast of an FM chip that is poor...

[@tombstonelv8506]

hello,can I use a spotify in this device via wi-fi or some onother conection?

[@PortaFi]

TOMBSTONE LV hello, unfortunately M7 doesn’t support streaming apps. For Spotify and other apps you need FiiO M9, or you can wait for newly announced FiiO M6, it’s inexpensive, but really promising

[@tombstonelv8506]

@@PortaFi Sounds great,tnx for answer :)

[@palashshil]

What about compared about Shanling M0 and Fiio x1 2nd gen sound wise?

[@PortaFi]

I have no M0 yet, unfortunately. As for FiiO X1-2, besides driving power, M7 is more lively and it's sounds more engaging (at least for me)

[@dl3996]

@@PortaFi Could you give your quick impression now that you have the m0? Would you say the Fiio m7 is better in terms of sound quality? Thank you.

[@PortaFi]

@@dl3996 I've made a review of M0, and I've made a comparison video kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4DdiIl-ad6ji80 so in short yes, for me M7 is better sonically then M0

[@IronRecord666]

Fiio m7 or hiby r3? Only sound.

[@PortaFi]

R3 if you're OK with darker sound

[@juliangst]

Good that I sold my Sony A45. The main problem I had was that in genre it only showed artist not album, but because the fiio shows album I will get it as soon as possible (But unfortunately amazon doesn't have it yet).

[@PortaFi]

well, on M7 thread on Head-Fi I've seen complaint that Genre -> Artist -> Album hierarch will be better

[@juliangst]

That exactly what I don't like. I don't listen to specific artists which would make finding my music way harder.

[@PortaFi]

on other Android DAPs FiiO made a switch for that grouping, I suppose they'll do it here too

[@juliangst]

Porta_Fi how is the UI on Astell Kern DAPs in comparison? Is genre grouped by albums or artists?

[@PortaFi]

sorry, I can't tell it :) I have only A&K SP1000, but it has it's own UI that differs from other A&K, and I've sold my AK320 like half a year ago, so I can't tell for sure. I think you can ask in owner's thread on Head-Fi, they can tell with 100% confidence as for general UI sense, A&K is faster and more reliable, difference isn't huge, but it's noticeable

[@aryadevas4976]

Fiio x3 3rd gen or m7 .?

[@PortaFi]

comparisons are at 21:35, and I've mentioned X3-3 there in short, X3-3 is more neutral and detailed, but M7 is more "for mass users" who prefer more colored representation also M7 is much more mature in terms of usability, so I think M7 will cannibalize X3-3

[@mindflayer]

UP THE IRONS

[@NiohNiohYT]

I have never seen uglier player except that wooden one and couple of astell n kerns. Who on earth told them it would be a good idea to make that top border 2 cm large :D

[@PortaFi]

I can't understand how it's possible to make a DAP that is controlled by ridiculous wheel on the side, but anyway they are popular so, tastes differ and there is no design that everyone will like

[@maxisenberg9093]

how does this stack up against the x5iii?

[@PortaFi]

Max Isenberg less powerful and more neutral

[@애린아기]

공장 초기화 누르고 안꺼짐 어캐해요??

[@PortaFi]

sorry, google translate doesn't help me to understand your question :(