Golden Ears: Fiio M23 Digital Audio Player Review
It has been ages since the iPod disappeared from the mainstream, but for music lovers, there’s still a demand for dedicated listening devices that put sound quality and features first. The Fiio M23 is exactly such a device, pairing powerful, audio-first components, an Android operating system, and powerful output to drive just most headphones and any IEM. Retailing for $699, it’s not cheap but is an excellent value against other DAPs, even for significantly more.
Specifications
Current Price: $699 (Amazon)
Fiio M23 — Design and Highlights
The Fiio M23 follows in the footsteps of the M11 Plus, which we reviewed back in 2022. It returns in a similar form factor but with more power and enhanced components. Like last time, it comes with a metal frame for heat dissipation and improved durability. It features a 5.5-inch touchscreen, making it about the size of a midrange smartphone with about double the thickness to accommodate its larger components. Like the M11 Plus, it’s a very pocketable device.
That’s important because this is exactly the kind of accessory that you’ll want to carry with you everywhere you’re able to listen.
At $700, the M23 is an impressive showing – as it should be. Its features and capabilities are competitive with players $1,000 or more and is a leap ahead of its predecessor in terms of power output. Like the M11 Plus, it’s not totally perfect, but it definitely earns its keep as one of the best players you can buy under that price right now.
Not only does it feel very sturdy, with tactile buttons for track controls, desktop mode, and a programmable multifunction button, as well as a clickable touchpad for volume control, it’s internals are more than up to the task of an Android audio player.
It’s built with a combination of two AKM DAC chips, the AK4191EQ and AK4499EX. This combination is able to reproduce audio up to 32-bit/768kHz in its USB mode with support for DSD512 and 32-bit 384kHz locally with DSD256 support. Both offer full MQA decoding
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