Spinning Music and Weaving Sound – FiiO DM13 Portable CD Player
FiiO DM13 is a 150 USD Portable CD Player / CD Ripper with a Dual CS43198 DAC, 660mW x2 power output, and a Desktop Mode that allows you to use it without draining the internal battery. Even Bluetooth is included with aptX HD support, so today we will review what is likely the most complete Portable CD Player and see how it stacks against the competition.
Introduction
FiiO has been on a roll with the release of their new products, including the JM21 which was released under the Jade Audio sub brand, but also with their UTWS5 2025 which are now my daily Gym Bluetooth adapters, and no one could ever forget the BTR17 that has just been launched. To complete the rather wide selection of products FiiO has, today we review the first CD player made by FiiO, and it is likely more powerful than what 10 times the price buys you typically when it comes to CD Players.
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 us with the sample for this review.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3EetxU0
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oCixx9l
Build Quality/Aesthetics
FiiO DM13 is a Portable CD Player with a battery at the core, and a specially designed audio architecture. Two flagship Cirrus Logic CS43198 chips are the heart of the DM13, powering two low-noise HiFi SGM8262 headphone AMPs. There are two versions available on the market, one that supports bluetooth and one that cannot support it, with the bluetooth being used for transmitting the audio signal to a pair of headphones.
Total maximum output power is as high as 180mW per channel, for a 32 OHM impedance, for the single ended headphone output. This is almost 4 times as high for the balanced output, which can achieve a maximum output power of 660mW per channel for a 32 OHM impedance. FiiO DM13 is also one of the smallest CD players on the market, barely being larger than the CDs it is playing, with a size of 144x137x27mm. It has an ESP or electronic skip protection switch, which helps it play CDs safely even while you’re on the go.
As with CDs, you always run the risk of damaging the discs, FiiO made sure that the room inside of the DM13 is enough so that scratches are greatly reduced even if you’re using DM13 while on-the-go. To read what’s going inside of DM13, we have a custom LCD display, and at the back we have a balanced line out, a single ended line out, a USB RED type-c port, used to rip CDs, and a power input in the Type-C format as well.
FiiO DM13 has the main role of reading CDs so one of the things it does best is output the signal that it reads in multiple formats, so we have custom low-jitter crystal oscillators, to ensure accurate synchronization of the digital clock. We have both Optical and Coaxial outputs for an external DAC, if you don’t want to use the internal Cirrus Logic DACs. You can even rip CDs so you have a safekeep of your internal CD library, but this comes with a couple of drawbacks. It only supports CD ripping of the CDDA format, and only supports FAT32 formatted storage devices. It also seems to read the song and write it, so the process takes as long as the CD content.
If you fancy using some wireless headphones, FiiO DM 13 has Bluetooth support with aptX, aptX Low Latency, aptX HD, SBC and AAC codecs. As there is a battery inside, you can use DM13 in both portable mode or Direct Mode, which allows it to stop using the battery and start using power only from the type-C power input. This comes with one little drawback though, as if the battery is completely empty, DM13 charges the battery regardless of the direct mode setting, to protect the battery. Ideally, if you are not using the battery, you should leave it at half charge for long-term storage. Speaking of the battery, FiiO DM13 has a large 3750 mAh battery inside, with a Pure Cobalt Lithium tech, offering up to 10 hours of playback at half volume using the balanced output and 32 OHM impedance headphones. You can expect the battery life to be between 7 and 9 hours for higher volumes, higher or lower impedances. Gapless playback is supported.
Subjective Usage
Using the new DM13 is a slightly more complex matter than with most CD Players, as the menus and functions are not immediately evident. FiiO did upload written and video manuals. On a practical level, it reads all the CDs I have thrown at it, and does not have any issues, although I feel it is considerably more complete and less prone to skipping or issues than any CD player I have used regardless of the price point.
Although FiiO DM13 does not work with the FiiO Control app, it works just fine as long as you learn what each button and combination of buttons do. There’s the useful 1.5″ LCD display that allows you to learn what is happening, and sometimes pressing a button twice is necessary for the command to register. While I have not experienced any freezes, some readers reported that sometimes it freezes and it requires a power cycle for that to clear, although there is no clear pattern. A firmware update will most likely fix this.
We get around 8 hours of battery life if you’re using the balanced headphone output and a medium volume. Admittedly, I usually test the battery life with a higher volume, but the classical albums that I have in the compact disc format do not require such loud volumes to be enjoyable.
FiiO put enough driving power for the FiiO DM13 to easily handle headphones like FiiO FT1 PRO, Palma DHS-1 or even Erzetich Thalia, but it struggles with the power and control when driving HIFIMAN HE1000 Unveiled. For IEMs and sensitive headphones, I cannot hear the background noise level, and it pairs nicely with Letshuoer Cadenza 12, Soundz Flame, ThieAudio Origin, and Campfire Moon Rover.
Sound Quality
Pairings and Match-up – Although when I reviewed the TT13, it was a more complicated pairing and review, with DM13, things are simple, it is mainly a CD Player built to drive headphones, and it also has a line out. So, to review the FiiO DM13 I have paired it with Erzetich Thalia, FiiO FT1 PRO, Palma DHS-1, Audeze MM-100, Crosszone CZ-8a Enhanced, but also with IEMs including HeartField Blanc, Soundz Flame, Campfire Moon Rover, Mortiz Dragon, and ZiiGaat Arcadia. While DM13 can handle all of the headphones and the IEMs I have paired with it, it shows a very low and virtually inaudible background noise level when combined with IEMs, and a high dynamic range and a punchy, colorful sound when driving full-sized headphones.
Overall Signature – The most recent DAC / Headphone AMP I have reviewed from FiiO has been the FiiO JM21 DAP, along with the FiiO BTR17 Portable Bluetooth Headphone DAC AMP. DM13 is quite a bit warmer than BTR17, and it sounds more similar to JM21, although it is slightly warmer than JM21 as well. The sound is quite unique actually, and I am starting to feel the reason people want to keep the compact disc medium alive, there’s a certain life and vividness in the midrange, and a smoother, more relaxed and laid back treble as it is presented by DM13 that makes all music really enjoyable.
Bass – FiiO DM13 strays away from neutral having a slightly warmer than neutral, fuller and cleaner bass, with a high impact, and slightly slower speed, which quickly fills in the space and gives all instruments a large body and more presence. It seems to create the feeling of presence nicely for all music styles, including classical, but also EDM and Rock.
Midrange – Every single time I review a CD player I am captivated by the midrange as it is presented by this medium – it has a unique vividness and refinement, clarity and precision that captivates me. It feels like the voices are slightly more intimate, but the background seems well separated from the vocal layer. It all blends nicely thanks to a smoother, more cohesive midrange than with most other mediums. There’s a certain lushness and smoothness that you hear in all music as DM13 presents it.
Treble – I would call DM13 smooth, clean, airy, and well-extended but never fatiguing. It seems that I’ve been reviewing a series of products that all look similar on paper, all sounding non-fatiguing and smooth, which is fun for a change. I wonder if you’re reading my reviews in the order that I wrote them, to learn of multiple products with this kind of treble presentation or if you’re actually reading them in a different order and if DM13 stands out from the crowd as a smooth player.
Loudness Saturation Gradient – Generally, this is one of the things I appreciate the most when using CD Players, they seem to start having a nice performance right from the lowest and quietest levels. FiiO DM13 is enjoyable even if music is barely audible, it is already highly dynamic, impressive, punchy and colorful, and things get slightly better at higher volumes, but the sound is always rather enjoyable and fun.
Value and Conclusion
The most direct competitor that I’ve reviewed has been the Shanling EC Smart CD Player, and while the value is fairly close, FiiO has a battery inside of the DM 13, a balanced headphone output, and a secure format that makes it portable, but it puts far less of a spectacle when compared to the EC Smart that plays the discs vertically in an open fashion. All in all, FiiO D M 1 3 has an incredible value when compared to the market, and it is easily one of the best, most interesting products developed in the entry-level range, with exceptional resolution and clarity, and plays all my discs perfectly.
At the end of the day, if you’re looking for a CD Player that should play all your music compact discs, which is portable, has around 8 hours of battery life, and is incredibly clean, detailed, yet has a relaxed treble and a vivid sounding midrange, with a high driving power for headphones, and a low noise for IEMS, FiiO DM13 is a fully recommended product with a low price and a high performance.
PROs
- Outstanding price / performance ratio
- High driving power with a very low noise
- Transparent – warm sound that pairs well with most earphones and headphones
- Enough driving power for FiiO FT1 PRO
- Beautiful design
- Practical and portable
Cons
- Learning the combination of buttons and settings can take quite a while
- Some users reported freezes, although I have not experienced it
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3EetxU0
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oCixx9l
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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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