Marcus opinions the FiiO DM15 R2R, a brand new transportable stereo CD participant that includes a 24BIT R2R DAC and as much as 1.15W of balanced output energy. It’s presently priced at $269.99.
Disclaimer: I obtained this pattern in trade for my trustworthy opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or companies. I need to thank FiiO for his or her help.
You possibly can click on right here to study extra concerning the FiiO audio merchandise beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This publish follows our present scoring tips, which you’ll learn in additional element right here.
FiiO DM15 R2R Evaluation
Abstract
The compact and well-built FiiO DM15 R2R is a comparatively clean, analog-sounding transportable CD participant with a strong, dense low finish and full-sounding vocal performances.
Professionals
Weighty sound works very well with dynamic driver lows.
PRE Out energy improves dynamics and staging depth with headphones.
Vastly improved prime loading lid mechanism in comparison with the DM13.
Cons
No NOS/OS choices
Mechanical buttons are fairly small.
Lack of LDAC for BT tranmission.
The thirst for retro-inspired audio merchandise continues with FiiO’s newest transportable CD participant launch, the DM15 R2R.
At $269.99, it’s a step up from the entry-level DM13 participant, however with the worth enhance comes an upgraded R2R DAC, considerably boosted amplification, and an expanded management suite.
I had a chance to check the DM15 R2R again in August 2025 on the SIAS present in Shenzhen, so I knew what was coming. Commerce exhibits are by no means the best to evaluate, however it positively sounded smoother and extra mature than the DM13.
Sadly, my DM13 has some technical points, so I won’t be able to check it to the DM15 R2R. Nonetheless, I’ve Shanling’s very aggressive EC Zero AKM and the R2R-equipped Zero T, in addition to the superbly designed MOONDROP DISCDREAM 2 Extremely, for comparability work.
How does the DM15 R2R carry out and compete towards these fashions? I came upon in my full assessment beneath.
Options
The FiiO DM15 R2R is primarily used as a conveyable bodily CD participant just like a basic DISCMAN from the 80s.
Nonetheless, since it’s 2026, FiiO has built-in a number of trendy audio-centric options into the DM15 R2R, together with line and digital output, Bluetooth wi-fi transmission, a desktop mode just like FiiO’s newest DAPs, USB-DAC performance, and enhanced EQ or DSP modes for tweaking the sound.
So, past being a conveyable CD participant, you may place the DM15 R2R within the coronary heart of a HiFi system with analog output to an amplifier, digital output to a Third-party DAC, or wi-fi transmission to a streaming receiver or a set of wi-fi headphones.
Battery life for headphone use will fluctuate relying on whether or not you employ USB-DAC decoding or play CDs straight. Its 4700mAh 3.85V battery ranges from 7 hours SE or balanced for CD decoding as much as 11 hours for USB-DAC mode (po output on a 32Ω load).
Desktop mode is the important thing. This lets you bypass the inner battery and arrange the DM15 R2R as a powered desktop unit, which helps to extend the battery well being.
DAC
Much more retro in some ways is the customized totally differential 24-bit R2R DAC contained in the DM15 R2R, a decoding expertise that predates transportable CD gamers.
The usage of an R2R DAC is in keeping with a number of of FiiO’s refreshed 2025 and 2026 audio merchandise, akin to the brand new M33 DAP and their desktop K13 R2R, so it isn’t that shocking to see it of their newest CD participant launch.
This specific model is a 192-resistor array, 48 per channel, which appears to be the de facto commonplace depend per channel at this value level.
It’s an all-to-PCM digital sign administration setup with digital-to-analog as much as 32-bit 384kHz and DSD256 natively in USB-DAC mode, dropping to 24-bit/194kHz for coaxial, and 24-bit/96kHz for optical output.
For CDs, it’s commonplace Crimson Guide plus HDCD, the CD layer of SACD discs, CD-R and RW audio and digital information, together with FLAC.
Amplification
The DM15 R2R is provided with single-ended, balanced, and glued, line-level analog outputs, with its PO output functionality getting a big improve in comparison with the DM13.
You now have a single-ended headphone output score of 315 mW right into a 32 Ω single-ended as much as 1150 mW balanced on the identical load.
Notice, nevertheless, these numbers are in desktop mode, and whenever you swap to battery mode, the PO output energy drops to 220mW and 812mW into the identical 32Ω load.
There are additionally voltage variations within the line-out Vrms, starting from 3.3 Vrms single-ended in desktop mode to 2.8 Vrms in battery mode. For balanced, the DM15 R2R will ship 6.5 Vrms in desktop mode, dropping to five.4 Vrms in battery mode.
This can be a marked enhance over the DM13’s most 180 mW SE and 660 mW balanced output energy score and may present sufficient juice for extra demanding headphones.
Design
For some unusual motive, I got here away from the DM15 R2R testing at SIAS 2025 considering the unit was bigger than it really is.
Dimension-wise, it’s solely about 10-15% greater than the diminutive DM13, and fairly a bit extra compact than competing items such because the EC Zero AKM and the DISCDREAM 2 Extremely.
Regardless of the extra capabilities, the aluminum-alloy DM15 R2R ought to be rated as one of many smaller baggable items on the market, with an ESP safety function to encourage you to do exactly that.
The pattern I’ve right here is in black, however you may seize it in silver or crimson as effectively. Personally, I just like the look of the silver one, however everybody has their preferences.
What all of them have in widespread is a clear perspex lid on prime with quiet hinges and a slick magnetic latch mechanism that doesn’t require a lock.
The aesthetic is a quiet evolution from the straightforward DM13 styling, with an identical boxing look, although the DM15 R2R is maybe a little bit extra squared-off as a result of built-in lid design.
The main distinction is the tempered glass entrance panel. It now has a set of mechanical controls and an HD TFT with a soothing orange glow. It’s a extra pleasing aesthetic than the colder black and white of the DM13 show.
And there are much more controls to the DM15 R2R in comparison with its cheaper sibling, and right here I’ve one slight critique, and that’s the sizing and labelling of the mechanical buttons. They’re fairly tiny, making it barely difficult to learn if the unit is beneath eye stage.
So brownie factors for going with mechanical, however except for the multi-functional rotary dial to the far proper, I must placed on my glasses to function them.
I/O
The DM15 R2R rear panel inputs and outputs are a little bit extra spaced out than the DM13’s again panel, however in any other case they’re fairly related, except for a slight rearrangement within the left-to-right ordering.
That’s excellent news to be trustworthy, as a result of I all the time rated the DM13 as one of many better-equipped transportable CD gamers available on the market for wired connectivity.
Nonetheless, there’s one new addition from the DM13 rear panel performance that makes an enormous distinction, and that’s the USB REC possibility doubling as much as work as a USB DAC enter USB-C port on the DM15 R2R.
From this port, you may rip CDs as earlier than, but in addition swap the DM15 R2R right into a USB-DAC mode for broader system-wide integration.
The balanced and single-ended pre-outs have moved to the best facet of the DM15 R2R rear panel, with the three.5mm output nonetheless serving as a SPDIF for coaxial and optical output. FiiO has included a 3.5mm-to-standard coaxial converter to make the connection simpler for conventional HiFi setups.
ESP is there, must you need to transfer round with out stuttering. This digital buffer provides you with a wholesome 60-second pre-read on common disks and 120 seconds on MP3 disks.
The ability in and D.Mode on the far proper ought to actually be seen as a bundle deal. When turned on, it permits the DM15 R2R to bypass the battery for playback, preserving battery well being and providing you with limitless playback time. That is particularly helpful in case you are utilizing the DM13 as a transport in a HiFi system.
Controls
The DM15 R2R management suite is way extra immersive than the easier prime lid button array on the DM13.
FiiO has gone for a mechanical button-and-switch combo surrounding a retro-inspired TFT display screen that, regardless of its comparatively compact measurement, can stuff in various data and stay fairly legible.
To make issues significantly simpler and maybe as a forward-thinking response to those that would possibly grumble relating to the button measurement and labelling, FiiO has additionally thrown in a small distant management.
It just about covers the whole lot the mechanical buttons present apart from the slider switches on the left-hand facet of the entrance panel, which management the analog and digital output modes.
Many of those new buttons replicate the improved options on the DM15 R2R; as an example, the brand new Magic BASS possibility has a slide swap for prime, low, and off.
This can introduce lots of thickness and heat into the low-end and feels extra like a distinct segment tuning tweak for my tastes.
The 6 buttons to the far proper management playback, EQ choices, and energy throughout CD playback, with a level of management throughout USB DAC mode in case your supply interface permits it.
EQ mode has a number of presets, together with rock, pop, and jazz, however probably the most fascinating one is Retro, which introduces a personalized “analog’ sound in step with the product profile.
The amount dial doubles as a multifunction dial (in keeping with lots of FiiO audio merchandise). An extended press will get you right into a deeper submenu that features environmental controls for show brightness, USB 1.0 or 2.0 choices, getting into REC, and replace mode.
Packaging & Equipment
The DM15 R2R is available in a compact retail field and features a respectable variety of equipment for a contemporary transportable CD participant at this value level.
Inside, you get the distant management, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, 4 x 3M blisters to stay on the bottom of the participant for grip on desktops, a brief 3.5mm to plain coaxial conversion cable, and a display screen protector for the highest lid.
I might advise placing on that display screen protector. It appears to be fairly susceptible to smudging from fingerprints. Additionally, in the event you purchase the elective leather-based case (and you need to), filth can accumulate within the center cut-out portion.
Holding the lid clear is vital to maintain the mud and filth out when opening and shutting the lid, which you’ll do so much.
Except for that, you get your normal product fast begin information and guarantee pamphlets all neatly tucked away right into a well-padded inside tray.
Click on on web page 2 beneath for my sound impressions and advisable pairings.
