The features of the FiiO DM13 are very distinct – compact size, exquisite craftsmanship, high specifications, lightweight, and multifunctionality. Moreover, priced at less than 150 dollars, it offers a great budget advantage among portable CD players.
- $150 – Check latest price on AliExpress, Amazon US, Amazon Germany or other Amazon countries
Design: Portable & Versatile Ports
The FiiO DM13 measures 144×137×27mm and weighs about 450g – Holding it, you can clearly feel that it is much smaller than traditional CD players. For someone who travels frequently, it can easily fit into a backpack without taking up much space, making it very convenient to carry.
Currently, the FiiO DM13 is available in various colors and versions, including a standard version and a bluetooth version. I chose the silver bluetooth version, which has a simple and elegant appearance that blends well with any setting, whether on a desk or on the go.
FiiO has not deliberately adopted a retro design but has instead incorporated a modern aesthetic. The silver matte aluminum body, black display panel, and meticulously designed buttons offer both visual and tactile satisfaction. The aluminum body gives a sense of sturdiness and solidity.
The FiiO DM13 features a mechanical semi-automatic pop-up design with just the right amount of damping when opening the lid. The closing mechanism also has a good buffer, avoiding any harshness. The top button layout is reasonable and easy to operate. The button feedback is clear, providing a definite tactile response without any insensitivity or accidental touches.
The LCD display is clear and allows you to easily see the volume, track number, song time, and other information, making it easy to understand the current playback status. Notably, by long-pressing the function button, you can select your favorite songs and then press the play button to create a favorite playlist. This feature is very useful when you want to loop a few songs.
The side of the player has only a toggle switch for opening the lid. The back features various interfaces and switches, including a 4.4LO output (which can be used as an independent DAC to connect to active speakers or amplifiers), a 3.5LO output (shared with COAX and OPT outputs), a USB REC port (for ripping CD), a Type-C 5V power port, an ESP (Anti-shock Mode) switch, and a D.MODE (Desktop Mode) switch.
Basic Operations & Playback Modes
Press the power button to turn it on (no need to hold it down), and it boots up in about 4 seconds. Hold the power button for 2 seconds to turn it off. The toggle switch on the side quickly pops open the lid with no noticeable delay.
In terms of CD reading, several original music CDs and two burned CDs I tested were all read and played normally. The reading time depends on the quality of the CD but generally completes within 8-15 seconds.
During regular playback, operations like play, pause, track switching, and volume adjustment are all smooth without any lag. The FiiO DM13 has 99 levels of volume adjustment, and I usually set it between 25-30, which is loud enough. The LCD screen displays volume, track number, song time, and playback mode – the letters and numbers are clear and easy to read.
Playback mode include single loop, random loop, and full loop. Additionally, the DM13 does not have bass boost or surround sound EQ functions. Also, during playback while charging, the device hardly heats up, with only a slight warmth at the bottom.
By pressing the power button, you can switch output modes, including PRE OUT, USB OUT, SPDIF OUT, and BLUE OUT. The FiiO DM13 only supports bluetooth transmission, not reception. By clicking the power button to switch to BLUE OUT and then holding the previous track button for 3 seconds, you can enter bluetooth pairing mode. It supports aptX, aptX Low Latency, aptX HD, and SBC codecs.
Battery Life & Charging
The FiiO DM13 is equipped with a 3750mAh lithium battery, and the FiiO claims it can play continuously for 10 hours (presumably with single-ended output) – equivalent to the battery life of a music player. In actual testing, using the 4.4 balanced output for 1 hour consumed about 15% of the battery.
Unfortunately, the DM13 does not support fast charging and only supports 5V2A charging. It’s worth noting that pressing the power button once while the device is on allows you to check the remaining battery. BAT5 indicates a full charge, and BAT0 indicates less than 20% battery. A design flaw is that there is no charging indicator on the device when charging while it is off.
Dual Power Supply Modes
The FiiO DM13 has two important power modes – ESP (Earthquake Shockproof Precaution or Anti-shock Mode???) and D.MODE (Desktop Mode). Both can be quickly toggled via switches on the back without affecting the currently playing song.
ESP Mode: When enabled, the player will shake but still read the CD stably, and the song will play normally. Even after turning off, there has been no interruption in reading – its overall shockproof level is indeed very good. Additionally, turning ESP on and off does not noticeably change the sound quality – I recommend keeping it off for evryday use.
D.MODE: Before enabling, you need to connect an external power source; otherwise, the player will automatically turn off. The D.MODE has two main functions: first, it maximizes the driving power of the DM13; second, it does not consume the internal battery and can charge the battery at the same time. By comparing the sound with D.MODE on and off, the difference is minimal for wireless earbuds. For HiFi over-ear headphones, it does bring better results – the soundstage and energy are stronger.
Acoustic Configuration & Sound Description
The FiiO DM13 is equipped with two Cirrus Logic flagship DAC chips (CS43198) and two low-noise HiFi amplifiers (SGM8262). This configuration significantly enhances audio quality and better drives various headphones. Additionally, the DM13 uses a custom low-jitter crystal oscillator to ensure precise digital clock synchronization, resulting in purer and more stable digital signal transmission.
The driving power of the FiiO DM13 is excellent, with official parameters (D.MODE): single-ended output reaches 180mW@32Ω, and balanced output reaches 660mW@32Ω. I tested it with several in-ear earphones, and the DM13 easily drove them to a good state.
The sounding of the DM13 remains in the “FiiO HiFi Original” style. The overall sound is very clean, and even with high-sensitivity, low-impedance headphones, no noise is heard when connected to an external power source and D.MODE is enabled.
The player’s tuning does not overly interfere with the song’s timbre, ensuring high transparency and musical detail. The overall resolution is excellent, with clear, transparency, natural, and non-harsh sound.
The bass quantity is moderate, without excessive overtone, and the extension and rebound are good. The treble brightness is just right, it is smoother, burrless, making it very listenable. The vocals are at a moderate distance, and there is no pursuit of the ultimate sense of line. The mid-bass is full, creating a very atmospheric experience when listening to pop songs.
When listening to pop music, the background music and vocals have good layering. The mids area shows warm and natural characteristics, and both male and female voices can show delicate tones.
Overall, the FiiO DM13 with its refined sound quality, balanced frequency response, and good resolution, meets high-standard for both evryday listening and professional use.
Conclusion & Specs
The FiiO DM13 has won the favor of many music lovers with its high-fidelity sound quality, portable design and long battery life. Moreover, it offers a great budget advantage among portable CD players. For users who value sound quality and portability and love CDs, the DM13 is a product worth trying.
FiiO DM13 Specs and Features:
- 10 hours of playback on a single charge
- 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs
- Supports USB ripping, optical/coaxial digital outputs
- Dual power supply modes & 660mW+660mW power output
- Comes with a 3.5mm coaxial adapter, USB-C charging and data cable, and user manual
- $150 – Check latest price on AliExpress, Amazon US, Amazon Germany or other Amazon countries