FiiO JM21 Digital Portable Player – In Search Of Gold, We Found The Jade Audio Diamond
FiiO JM21 is a $199 USD DAP or Digital Audio Player which is now FiiO’s best entry-level DAP, fulfilled under the Jade Audio branding, and a good way to start your journey to the Audiophile Adventure. Today we will review the JM21 and broadly compare it to the rest of the entry-level market and see how it handles both IEMs and Headphones.
Introduction
FiiO has been on a roll refreshing and upgrading their products, and after having discovered just how awesome BTR17 is, my faith in FiiO has been restored, and how much they can offer for an affordable price. This means that we will explore a few more of their entry-level products, so today we dig deep in the world of JM21, a DAP that’s far more ergonomic and more beautiful than anything FiiO released before, and with the extra of being more affordable. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases, and using the purchase links in my reviews helps me maintain this website and Youtube Channel. Huge thanks to FiiO for providing the sample for this review, in exchange for my honest opinion.
PROs – Super versatile design, excellent ergonomics and a beautiful DAP that I love to hold in my hands and use. Sound is very relaxed, laid-back, smooth and spacious. The Quick CPU and beautiful display make a good user experience, battery has a long life even for the balanced output, and it has plenty of volume and power at max for anything you may be driving.
Cons – Delay on the USB DAC function.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4aE0KnC
Build Quality/Aesthetics
FiiO JM21 is pretty in a way no other DAPO before it has been this pretty, it has almost the thickness of a smartphone, it is smaller than a smartphone, but has a beautiful 2-Color design, with a silver back, and a blue half body to the front. Holding it in hand finally feels like handling a high-end smart device, and it is nowhere near as clunky of a feeling as you get with mini DAPs that are extra thick like the Shanling M1 Plus, or FiiO’s own M11 PRO. JM21 weighs just 156 grams, and has a thickness of 13 mm, being actually lighter, and feeling more comfortable and more ergonomic in hand when compared to my Red Magic 10 PRO Smartphone.
A lot of the action happens inside of the JM21, and it is the first DAP on the market running the Qualcomm 680 CPU, an 8-Core midrange unit based on the Kryo 265 architecture, with frequencies up to 2.4 GHz and made on the 6nm fab process. This CPU is quite a bit faster than what most audiophile brands implement in their DAPs, and I am currently running a Snapdragon 8 Elite in my Red Magic 10 PRO and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in my Red Magic Nova Tablet, so I am a fan of having a quick CPU.
To complement the ambitious CPU, FiiO installed Android 13 on JM21, and it has 3 GB of RAM, FiiO recommending you to use JM21 as a pure Music DAP instead of installing games or other apps, because Android 13 already consumes a lot of RAM, and JM21 will handle best just music apps. This is actually a good idea, and we will not explore any other apps, as the display is also limited to a lower refresh rate to save on the battery, so for me it feels quite slow compared to the 144 Hz that smartphones use nowadays, so it is not ideal for anything else. As I read on a 11″ Tablet, I find the idea of reading using a DAP not ideal, but most ebook apps will work just fine.
Google Play is installed by default, and JM21 has a few extra music features, including the option of disabling charging, and that the USB DAC is implemented at a system level, promising a better quality and performance than when it is implemented in the FiiO Music app. The maximum driving power of JM21 is a huge 700mW + 700mW using the balanced output, and with just the 13mm of thickness it has, this will be interesting to study further, especially for heat production.
The 3 gain levels have 3 distinct volume curves, so increasing the volume is not exactly linear, and at low gain, you have a far slower increase in the volume with each step until you reach half of the max volume, while in high gain, each step increase the volume a lot up to 50%, then they increase the volume more slowly. This helps a lot, and especially as JM21 has no wheel and uses buttons + Touch operation, you will have a better control this way.
At the sonic heart of the JM 21 we have a Dual CS43198 DAC setup, with a central FPGA GW1NZ-1 controlling the digital signal, pushing the sound into each DAC chip, and then each DAC pushes the sound in an individual SGM8262 Op-AMP, with the Single Ended sound coming from just one of the OP-AMPs, and the Balanced sound coming from both. FiiO uses a complex isolation circuit for a lower crosstalk and enhanced stereo imaging / separation, feeding the power individually to each of the AMPs and the DAC. The same SGM OP-AMP can be found in Shanling M1 Plus, FiiO KA15, FiiO KA11 and Shanling Onix Alpha Xi1, being a popular solution for entry-level devices in 2025. The same DAC can be found in FiiO Ka15, Hiby R6 PRO II, FiiO K11, Creative Sound Blaster X5, iBasso DX160 and iBasso DX300, although in each in different numbers, this DAC chip having been a popular and reliable choice for HIFI and Audiophile products for a long while now.
For the battery, FiiO promises 12.5 hours of battery life, but this is measured for the single ended output, and with the balanced output you can expect to get around 8-9 hours if playing loud or using low impedance IEMs. We also have a 2-Way Bluetooth integration with LHDC, LDAC, aptX HD, aptX and AAC / SBC supported for transmitting, and just LDAC / AAC / SBC supported for receiving a Bluetooth signal. To interact with the JM21 you will be using the beautiful 4.7″ display, which is a colorful, bright IPS display with a high-resolution of 750 x 1334, which indicates a 325 PPI or Pixel Per Inch, far higher than what most tablets have, and being tack sharp to the naked eye. I can see the display in full sunlight, and it has a strong color that saturates the darker tones, but struggles a bit with presenting brighter colors, and has a bit of a blue tint to it. Reflections are handled really well, and the display of JM21 is easily visible even in the harshest of sunlight conditions.
USB DAC / Subjective Usage
FiiO implemented a very functional and high-quality USB DAC function in JM21, sonically. Unfortunately, I can confirm what I’ve been reading in the official description of JM21, it is not fit for real-time content playback, as it has over 250ms of delay for the USB DAC, which is the equivalent of around 16 frames of content in a 60 frame video. This delay is not stable either, upon multiple connections and reconnects of the USB DAC function, I ended up with a delay of 1.25 seconds.
A little usage issue, but you cannot use most IEMs with a balanced 4.4mm connector while the silicone case is on the JM21 DAP, as the case covers too much of the 4.4mm output, and most jacks are too large to fit, so for balanced IEMs and Headphones, you have to use the JM21 without a case. This being said, this was a sweet occasion for me to use JM21 outside of its case and I absolutely love how it feels in person.
As a portable DAP, I absolutely respect how well Tidal, and Streaming apps in general work, how quickly it loads file from the microSD slot. This is also the first time I find the FiiO interface to be so beautiful that I would use it above Hiby Music or any other app for music, the new design of the FiiO App is just gorgeous.
Sound Quality
Pairings and Match-up – To test the FiiO JM21, I have paired it with both IEMs and Full-Sized Headphones, and for the IEM list I have used Westone MACH 60, Tin HIFI P1 MAx II, Campfire Moon Rover, Simgot EM10, HarmonicDyne Devil, HeartField Blanc, and Soundz Flame. The headphone list includes Palma DHS-1, MIRPH-1, Audeze MM-100, Erzetich Mania V2024, Ecoute TH1 (both wireless and wired), Crosszone CZ-8a Enhanced. The maximum driving power, especially from the balanced output is plenty for full-sized headphones, as long as they are relatively easy to drive. Even using high gain and the 4.4mm balanced connector, most IEMs become loud above 60/100 volume. With IEMs, I cannot hear any background noise or hissing.
Overall Signature – Sonically, JM21 is different from the other DAPs and DAc/AMPs using the same DAC and AMP combo, as it sounds the smoothest, most relaxed of the bunch, having a really lightweight and laid-back sound. There’s nothing that can be offensive in the sound of JM21, it can make both Lorna Shore and Infant Annihilator sound relaxed, but this has the effect of making lyrics more easy to understand and JM21 delivers a spacious, wide sound with a strong separation and good definition for each instrument.
Bass – We have a rather neutral and flat bass, which does not tilt either way, allowing the earphones and headphones to have their default signature, but with a strong extension in the sub-lows. With most headphones, the driving power is plenty to give them a good rumble, and thanks to the even volume dispersion, the bass will not distort even up the maximum volume. This being said, JM21 is relaxed in the bass, has a gentle kick and impact, and not a lot of bass when it comes to the quantity. The speed of the is also natural, with a long and thick decay after each bass note.
Midrange – In the mid we have a laid-back and relaxed presentation, with a focus on the lower midrange, male voices, and a slight damping effect on the higher midrange and female voices. This creates a sound that is flat, and which can make even technical death metal sound relaxing and like a walk in the park.
Treble – With a good extension, but low energy, Jade Audio JM 21 presents music in a way that reveals air and extension, but is always easy to enjoy and never fatiguing. JM21 should be named the anti-fatigue DAP, it simply has only good things to say about any song it is playing, although this can feel a bit unengaging for rock and metal, it is also great for old and poorly recorded tracks.
Dynamics – Dynamics are good on JM21, it does not compress sound in any way, although the sound becomes more vivid and more contrasty at very loud volumes, being rather flat and presented as if you’re listening from a distant row at low and medium volumes.
PRaT / Textures – With a laid-back sound you’ll have smooth and relaxed textures, the details and resolution are present, but never shoved into your face, so JM21 is great if you want the sound to stay relaxed and easy to enjoy even when the bands went crazy with the instruments used.
Loudness Saturation Gradient – JM21 has excellent control up to the maximum volume, although for me, most of the volume is not really useful at any gain level, and I feel like it sounds too quiet even with IEMs until you reach 50%, but this is an indicator I listen loudly, I would say the same about the low-gain modes on a DX320 MAX Ti. For JM21, I can be happy that it stays clean and crisp up to the maximum volume, it is never distorted or coarse. The Saturation Gradient is thus great for those who like low volumes and quiet listening. The sound does change with volume, becoming more vivid, more natural and more contrasty at very loud volumes, and being really smooth and laid back at lower volumes.
Soundstage – I feel like JM21 has a really different soundstage, unique to itself, having a wide, spacious sound, but also making most music a bit distant, like you’re listening from the back of the theater most of the time. This works very well for orchestral, classical, pop and echoey kind of tracks, like Stoner rock, but takes away the aggression and edge from rock and metal.
Value and Conclusion
Having a rather entry-level price for a DAP or Digital Audio Player, FiiO JM21 is an excellent example of how a company can deliver a product that is leaps ahead of their previous offerings despite having exactly the same price. JM21 is excellent in the very sense of the word when it comes to delivering the smoothest and most laid-back sound there is to be had in the entry-level range. JM21 excels with Jazz, Classical, Orchestral, Pop, Stoner Rock and is an atmospheric and full sounding DAP.
At the end of the day, there’s plenty to love, including the sharp, bright, and large display, beautiful sound, fast CPU, and strong support for Streaming, beautiful UI, making FiiO JM21 the Jade Audio Diamond that we’ve been waiting for in the entry-level range, and the easiest to recommend DAP for someone who wants an experience as close as possible to a smartphone.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4aE0KnC
Technical Specifications
Processor – 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 680
DAC – Dual Cirrus Logic CS43198
Amplification – 700 mW + 700 mW output power
Display – 4.7-inch high-resolution display
Battery life – Up to 12 hours playback time
Operating system – Android 13
Audio outputs – 4.4 mm balanced + 3.5 mm unbalanced
Connectivity – Supports SPDIF and USB audio output
USB DAC computer sound card
Bluetooth chip 5.0
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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