On Envers Du Plan “I Want Your Love” track (Cafe del Mar: 20th Anniversary) it just filled the HEDDphones TWO with music, there was almost none of that too direct character that can sometimes feel almost nauseating with many other sources. For example, the same track on my desktop headphone combo (EarMen CH-Amp and Tradutto) sounded a bit different, with a more technical presentation in general that lost some of that emotional appeal that M23 clearly has. And one more thing while we’re at the more technical side of things – the M23 is actually very proficient at most of the objective aspects of reproduction, it just doesn’t show it off all the time. But if we listen to tracks that could make some sources sound brittle or harsh – it will turn out that it’s surprisingly capable.
That was pretty obvious on the Annie Lennox’s “Diva” album, and especially on the tracks like “Money Can’t Buy It” and “Precious”. Especially the latter has a tendency to sound a bit harsh on the Lennox’s vocals on many, even very expensive sources and systems. What FiiO offered here was a great blend of both tonal balance which is very important for that track and very good rendition of vocal, which was not too up-front, yet still very clear. This was another proof of the FiiO’s innate ability to present things with a lot of breath, maybe just from a slight perspective, but still making that perspective sound very believable and easy on the ears. Even on direct and devoid of any euphonic phones like HEDDphone TWO the sound was relaxed and free of any hardness in the upper midrange that is – especially considering the price – quite a feat.
Compared to the older, but still actually quite good by today’s standards M11, the new player has a lot to offer. First and foremost, while both players have that trace of the AKM-like sound, the M23 is much better in objective terms. When directly compared, the newer player is offers both more control and more resolution as well. The M11 sound somehow closer and cruder, the sound edges seem to be drawn with a thicker brush. And the M23 is definitely better in the rendition of the subtle details, it makes them more woven into the very track, rather than presenting them as something that is detached from the whole. If we compare the M23 to one of its closest competitor price-wise, which would undoubtedly be Astell&Kern SR35, things get really interesting. Because the latter in the Dual-Dac mode sound really different, but in the Quad-Dac mode it’s all about the small details and where the focus is put on in the sound. Because for example, AK SR35 in the Quad-Dac mode will offer similar size of the soundstage, but I the sound timbre will be a bit more on the analytical side of things. The same would be, unsurprisingly with the FiiO’s own M11 Plus ESS. Where the M23 compared to it will have better soundstage, the decay will be better as well as there will be more refinement and smoothness. The M11 Plus ESS may in some cases have a slight edge when it comes to directness, but it’s more about the individual preferences than the fact that one or the other has a better midrange altogether. It’s also – also considering the comparison with the SR35 from the Astell – more about the presentation as a whole, the M23 has this open, but relaxed and at the same refined way that it presents the sound that is really easy on the ears. Yet somehow it still manages to be transparent and detailed and really good at all the objective terms.
FiiO M23 – conclusion
I will be brief here. I believe that FiiO has a really strong contender for the best player in its price category here. For some, the M23 will be a worthy successor to the first AKM-based M11. But it’s actually much more. It’s sound is much more refined and it’s still open and transparent. For all those that are looking for a very good DAP that offers a glimpse of hi-end without the hi-end price – this would be the one to get. Moreover, it worth noting that this is a complete package. Because to that sound FiiO adds a lot of really practical functionality. And these advantages combined warrant the highest recommendation.
Adam Kiryszewski
Manufacturer: FiiO https://fiio.com/
Price: 580 Euro