Fiio M23 Review

The DAP market has become saturated in recent years. Recently we’ve seen everything from affordable entry level DAPs to tube-based players. As each brand tries to outpace the competitive market, better features and price-to-performance ratios continue to crop up. One of the most steady competitors in this market, Fiio, aims for the latter. With entry-level to high-end players in their range, they have plenty of expertise in crafting fantastic audio devices. And that is where their new M23 comes into play. Coming in at $799, the M23 claims high-end performance at a mid-fi price. But does its performance live up to the hype? Let’s find out.

What’s in the Box?

• M23
• Screen Protective Film (Pre-Installed)
• Protective Case (for Dark Blue Version)
• Leather Case (For Silver Version)
• USB-A male to Type-C Female Adapter
• Tray Eject Pin
• GPL V2 Manual
• Warranty Card
• Type-C to Type-C data/charging cable
• Quick Start Guide

Build:

The M23 is built in a standard blocky way, though it does have some curves and indented lines to keep things interesting. One thing is for sure, though: this thing is built to last. It feels both premium and durable in the hand, without compromising on looks for build quality or vice versa. The M23 offers a nice 5.5 inch display that is highly legible. 

It features one 4.4mm and one 3.5mm headphone jack on the top. On the left side is a power/lock button, a multi-function button, and a touch-sensitive volume slider. On the bottom are its two USB-C ports for charging and Desktop Mode, as well as a microSD slot for file storage. And finally, on the right side, are your playback control buttons, as well as a hold switch and Desktop Mode on/off switch. 

For a feature-rich device, I’m impressed with how Fiio implemented its controls into an easy-to-use build. I especially love the volume slider for its modern and high-tech feel.

Design:

It’s the internal design of the M23 where the value for money starts to kick in. Running the show is the AKM AK4191EQ+AK4499EX chip combo. The analogue signal then runs through “DWA Routing Technology” which aims to further improve the signal-to-noise ratio. The analogue signal then runs through the THX AAA 78+ amplifier stage, which is meant to give an accurate and powerful output.

I’m flat out impressed with the design here. This helps the M23 compete with higher-priced devices, and delivers the listener an excellent value.

Of course, on a feature-rich portable device like this one, its features and implementation of these internals will be the great decider on how the M23 performs. So let’s get into what this thing is capable of. 

Features:

The M23 has a couple special features that are worth discussing. First and foremost is battery life. While this can vary depending on which output and mode you’re using (we’ll get to modes in a second), you’ll generally get a max battery life of 10.5 hours. However, the M23 does charge quickly. Just an hour of charge time can boost your battery by 80 percent. 

Now we’ll get into modes, of which the M23 has several. It’s capable of doing AirPlay, functioning as a USB DAC or Bluetooth receiver, and it has a stripped down “Pure Music” mode which unpeels the Android OS and exclusively uses the Fiio Music app. It also, obviously, works in standard Android mode and even has a Roon Ready mode. 

Now, the really interesting stuff: Desktop Mode and HiFi Boost Mode. We covered Desktop Mode a little bit in our review of Fiio’s KA17. In a nutshell, the device is equipped with a second USB-C port, this one to directly connect the M23 to external power. When this is plugged in and Desktop Mode enabled, the M23 draws its power from the AC power supply, allowing for more optimal output levels. In Desktop mode, the M23 boasts a full watt of power. 

Similarly, HiFi Boost mode allows you to reach even higher levels of power while using the battery. However, using this mode will decrease your battery life. So if you want to use power hungry headphones, this will be a trade off to consider. 

Sound Impressions:

Given everything I’ve mentioned so far, I was very excited to pair the M23 with some of my favorite testing headsets. For this review, I mainly used the Meze Liric II, the Focal Clear MG, and the Campfire Audio Cascara.

With the Liric II, I was immediately impressed by the soundstage that the M23 was capable of. And with this soundstage came a great sense of separation. Sounds were imaged quite well inside of the robust soundstage. The low end was strong but not aggressive. There was a good sense of dynamics, but it came across more deliberate than muscular. The tonal balance was very nice with an overall warm and relaxed sound signature. I definitely got the impression that the M23 is a relaxed player. 

This came across in my time with the Focal Clear MG too. In fact, I really enjoyed this pairing. The delicate presentation of dynamics matched the detail retrieving capabilities of the Clear MG really nicely, giving a tactile but smooth delivery. What was really nice was hearing the gentle but present decay in vocals, as on “Long May You Run” by the Stills-Young band. Harmonies layered nicely with smooth attack and release. 

Finally, the sound with the Cascara offered great instrument recreation and excellent detail retrieval. I love the value proposition of the Cascara because it’s lush and warm but also detail-rich. I was able to identify layers really well with the cascara. However, it was with the Cascara that I noticed that, depending on the pairing, the M23 could come across as too smooth. At some points I lost the dynamics of the top end, with crisp shimmers being replaced with muted splashes. This will come down to listener preferences, as I do think that relaxed sound signature can be really nice to listen to depending on the setting. 

Final Thoughts: 

Fiio has delivered yet again with a fantastic DAP. It offers excellent features, a solid build, and a relaxed and sophisticated sound signature. If you like a smooth sound for your source, or are looking for something that may balance out more aggressive headphones, the M23 may be a great place to start your search. 

The Fiio M23 is available at Audio46.