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A Rising Force in Budget Hi-Fi Just Unveiled Its Most Powerful Portable Player Yet

The brand says it’s designed “for audiophiles seeking both power and refinement in a compact form factor.”

Hand holding a rectangular, metallic audio device with the brand name "FiiO" on the top. The device has multiple ports on one end, including a yellow circular port, and several buttons on the side. The surface has a textured, slightly reflective finish with small logos and text near the center.FiiO
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By Tucker Bowe

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It’s been a busy summer for FiiO.

Since the start of June, the hi-fi maker has introduced a versatile desktop amplifier (FiiO K15), a portable DAC/amplifier small enough to fit in your pocket (FiiO QX13), and a powerful desktop speaker system (FiiO SP5).

And now, FiiO has introduced a new pair of closed-back headphones (FiiO FT13) and, more excitingly, its most powerful and capable portable hi-fi player to date.

FiiO M27

Two portable digital audio players are shown side by side on a reflective surface. The player on the left has a textured, stone-like back panel with the brand "FiiO" and Hi-Res Audio logos. It features four buttons on the side and a gold-colored dial on the top. The player on the right has a glossy black front with a touchscreen displaying a music player interface, showing the track "Epic Trailer Theme" by Global Time Studios. It also has four side buttons and a gold-colored dial on top. Both devices have a modern, angular design with vent-like patterns on the sides.
The FiiO M27 will be released later this fall.
FiiO

Meet the new flagship

FiiO is a brand that, in recent years, has become well known for its budget-friendly hi-fi gear, such as desktop DACs and amplifiers, as well as portable hi-fi players, each of which is designed to bring audiophile-grade performance at a more accessible price.

That’s not to say it hasn’t made some really high-end gear, either. Its previous flagship portable hi-fi player, the M17 ($1,800), was such an example. And this new flagship, the FiiO M27, further extends that.

According to the brand, the M27 delivers “uncompromising sonic performance, precision engineering and next-generation features for audiophiles seeking both power and refinement in a compact form factor.”

Close-up of the back panel of an electronic device showing various ports and switches. Visible are an optical out port, a power input labeled "POWER IN," two USB-C ports labeled "USB3.0" and "USB HOST," a coaxial in/out port with a yellow connector, and three switches labeled "HOLD," "D-MODE," and "ON/OFF." The device has a black casing with blue ventilation slits.
The M27 features dual microSD card slots, each of which supports up to 2TB of additional storage.
FiiO

Desktop-level performance

First and foremost, FiiO’s M27 promises elite audiophile performance. It’s equipped with flagship-grade DACs (dual ESS ES9039SPRO) that promise to deliver superb high-fidelity audio, according to the brand, with “breathtaking dynamic range, pinpoint detail and low distortion.”

It’s also powerful enough to rival full-size desktop amplifiers. The M27 features 5,000mW and 5,000mW of balanced output power, and FiiO says it’s engineered to “effortlessly drive” even the most demanding headphones. It supports 6.35mm, 4.4mm, and 3.5mm headphone jacks.

Naturally, it has a dedicated desktop mode, too, so you can integrate the M27 into your home workout station when you’re not on the move.

Close-up of a black electronic device featuring a large round knob on the left and three smaller circular ports or connectors with gold-colored rings on the right, set against a gradient gray background. The device rests on a textured black surface.
The FiiO M27 supports 6.35mm, 4.4mm, and 3.5mm headphone jacks.
FiiO

Flagship smartphone specs

Other than its audio performance, the FiiO M27 promises to its fastest and most beautiful portable hi-fi player yet.

It’s spec’d out to run like a top-of-the-line smartphone. It features a Qualcomm QCS6490 processor, an eight-core CPU, 8GB of RAM and runs Android 13. It also has built-in Bluetooth (aptX lossless), for times when you’d prefer wireless headphones.

The M27 is also FiiO’s first portable hi-fi player to have a titanium alloy chassis, a material used in many of today’s flagship smartphones. It features a glass fiber rear panel, a design element also found in many of today’s smartphones.

Essentially, the M27’s design is intended to strike the right balance between being both lightweight and rugged.

Over-ear headphones with black padded ear cups and headband, featuring glossy dark brown wooden outer ear cup covers and metal accents on the headband.
The FiiO FT13 closed-backed wired headphones are launching alongside the M27. They’ll cost around $300.
FiiO

Price and availability

And now the crucial question: how much does it cost? That’s actually still an unknown.

FiiO hasn’t revealed the price of the M27 just yet. According to the press release, the price will be announced in September and the M27 will be released sometime this fall.

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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