At this time, we evaluate the FiiO S15, an all-in-one community participant from FiiO, promoting for $999 USD.
FiiO
FiiO is a model that wants no introduction. It’s a well-renowned participant on the earth of audio. If you happen to’re not acquainted with them but, you may rapidly go to their retailer or official web site to turn into acquainted with their product line. FiiO boasts an enormous vary of moveable audio units and strives to compete in each subject it operates.
We’ve reviewed dozens of FiiO gear over time, and you may examine them out right here.
FiiO S15
The FiiO S15 is the corporate’s try on the community participant market. It’s designed for individuals utilizing stereo programs, but in addition appeals to quite a lot of utilization eventualities. It’s a versatile all-in-one desktop machine that may perform as a streamer, DAC, BT receiver and transmitter, relying in your audio wants. It goals to offer the last word lounge HiFi expertise with flagship elements, interface, and quite a few methods to regulate it.
The unit makes use of flagship AKM elements in its DAC part, together with the AK4191 modulator and AK4499EX DAC chip.
You may take a look at FiiO’s R7, an all-in-one- desktop answer, as beneath:
FiiO is presently specializing in attracting a selected viewers that requires an entire answer, significantly for desktop and lounge setups. This has led them to discover the keyboard market, launch audio system just like the SP3, and launch full-size headphones just like the FT5. On this context, the FiiO S15 is the system’s central part.
It lets you stream music, play native information, make the most of wi-fi capabilities, or decode music by its pure DAC perform.
The S15 has coated inputs and outputs for you, together with every little thing you presumably want, resembling an SSD slot. Let me present you what inputs/outputs you have got on the again aspect of the unit within the diagram beneath, in addition to the entrance panel, so it will likely be simpler to grasp:
Packaging
Being a big desktop unit, the packaging is sort of substantial, however I respect the protecting foam inside. It’s a supremely safe package deal, and the contents, in typical FiiO style, are rich. Take a look at beneath to see what’s included:
Design & Construct
Operation
You could have a big touchscreen to function the machine. The display screen has double-tap to wake, and the responsiveness is sort of good. Moreover, the knob on the left aspect permits for machine management with out requiring display screen interplay. Rotate the knob to decide on the app or menu, then click on it to pick. Primary however straightforward to work with.
Nonetheless, there are extra choices out there, which makes the S15 much more user-friendly. First, the FiiO Management App lets you management the unit out of your smartphone. That’s a superb characteristic for sitting again and having fun with the S15 from a distance. You additionally get the RM3 distant controller for controlling numerous features.
The S15 provides complete user-focused options to cater to each attainable want.
There are additionally numerous modes to pick:
- Android Mode
- Pure Music Mode
- AirPlay
- USB DAC Mode
- BT Receiving Mode
- Coax/Optical Mode
- Roon Prepared
- HDMI Enter Mode
- HDMI ARC Mode
Consumer Expertise
The brand new S15 is provided with the Snapdragon 660, a extremely standard processor in at the moment’s audio market. It boasts 4GB of RAM and 64GB of inner storage, which within reason adequate for a tool of this type. Nonetheless, bigger numbers would have been nicer.
The actual-world expertise is superb, with the machine being snappy, having a clear UI, and feeling near the inventory Android expertise. The Android model is 12, which is nice, however might have been increased.
The amount and output knobs have good weight and sturdiness, however they’re additionally straightforward to function and switch. You may customise the LED lights on each knobs. By default, they alter relying on the pattern price. On the left aspect of the display screen, you have got navigation buttons for tapping.
These are for returning to the house UI, returning, and deciding on the machine modes menu. 5Ghz WiFi works like a attraction, and the BT high quality is nice.
The evaluate continues on the second web page. Click on right here or use the jumps beneath.
