FiiO M11 Plus LTD Hands-on Review: Sounding Even Better

When talking about the Guangzhou audio company FiiO these days, it's hard to say what comes to mind first: their growing range of high-end IEM earphones, or their amplifiers and digital players: which is a testament to how much it has grown in the last 14 years. But it has to be said, that despite all its development in its earphone technology, for those who have known FiiO for a long time, FiiO will always remain as the maker of excellent music source, a field where they are a full-fledged veteran. So it's extra exciting when FiiO releases a new DAC (Digital Analogue Converter) or DAP (Digital Audio Player).

This is why even though it is branded as an iteration of the existing model, the M11 Plus LTD release has our ears tingling with excitement to see/hear what FiiO has to offer in their latest music player. So without further delay, let's dive into the new DAP hands-on.

New Design and Build

Starting from the hardware, there is an apparent change in the design of the M11 Plus LTD from the Pro model. The latest M11 iteration has a larger footprint than its predecessor, giving it the ability to sport a larger 5.5 inch screen - the largest in FiiO's current line up of DAP. The larger body also houses a larger battery, an increase from 4,370 mAh of the M11 Pro to an impressive 6,000 mAh.

There's also subtle changes in the design of the main body, this time featuring a 'honeycomb' theme that is applied to the buttons, the hold switch, to the chamfered edges. The aggressive angles on its body are not merely for aesthetics purposes, but the increased surface area helps with the cooling and improves the player's performance.

New Physical Controls Scheme

The M11 Plus LTD hardware controls did not only take new shape, but also increased in quantity. There is now an extra 'hold' switch, which physically locks the whole device to prevent any accidental touches. FiiO also added a customizable button - which has a range of music player centred functions. I personally find that its default function most useful: adding the current playing song to a 'favorites' playlist.

Perhaps the biggest change in the M11 Plus LTD interface however is its volume control, which is always a highlight in the flagship FiiO DAPs. Whereas the previous M11 and M11 Pro uses a tactile volume wheel, the M11 Plus LTD uses a capacitive touch bar that doubles as a tactile volume rocker. It works like the touch scrolling on Microsoft's Arc Mouse, and allows for adjustment of the volume without looking at the player.

The touch bar also features a range of settings to tweak the control to your liking, one that I found the most useful is to auto-lock the touch bar, which can be re-activated with a double-tap.

Android 10 and a Larger Screen

Not only did the physical controls get an upgrade, the virtual interface also received a revamp. The new Android 10 operating system coupled with the larger 5.5 inch screen offers a much better user experience. This is made even better with the new Snapdragon 660 CPU, the increased smoothness and responsiveness of operation is very noticeable, which makes the M11 Plus a pleasurable Android device to navigate.

As it is with other Android DAPs that I've used, I always capitalize on the fact that I'm able to install any of my purchased apps from Google Play. Initially, with the M11 Plus I encountered a problem running PowerAmp on the player, due to the app not being able to initialize the audio driver. However, a few days after, FiiO released a firmware update and I haven't had a problem since.

Same Dual DACs, Different Result

All the grounds covered so far are great improvements, but ultimately what makes a great music player comes down to its sound quality. The M11 Plus LTD features dual AK4497EQ DACs, and for those paying attention to the industry will know it has become a rare and almost extinct chip as it is no longer in production. (Thus the word 'Limited/LTD' in the M11 Plus name)

Since the M11 Pro and Plus feature the same DAC chips, you would expect them to sound pretty much the same. But after testing the latest FiiO DAP through A-B tests, (With identical filter and gain settings) using both an UE CSX 11 with a standard audio cable and a Sennheiser IE 900 with a 2.5 mm balanced output, we concluded that there is indeed a difference: an improvement in the M11 Plus sound quality.

Though both DAPs capture the same amount of details in the music, we found that the M11 Plus LTD's sound is more controlled. In places of the music where there's a more explosive sound, a good example would be a series of cymbal hits. I found the M11 Pro just beneath clipping, but the M11 Plus with a prettier presentation, capturing the 'splashing' quality of the cymbal sound.

The greater control that the M11 Plus has edges it ahead of its predecessor, and in my opinion is the better DAP. The accurate sound texture made me want to go through my music collection again to enjoy the little details, especially when it comes to the nuanced sound of real instruments like string, wind and percussion.

Upgraded Package

With the M11 Plus, FiiO decided to include the leatherette case with the player, which is great news for those who like to keep their gadgets pristine. Like new phones these days that come with cases, it's a small detail that saves the buyers from spending hours on eBay hunting down for the right case. I sincerely hope that this becomes a trend for all future FiiO DAPs.

Final Verdict

Though it's a cliched thing to say, FiiO has literally 'outdone' themselves. With the same DAC chipset as the M11 Pro, the M11 Plus LTD somehow sounds even better. If you're someone who enjoys good music when on the go, and has a nice set of earphones that you want to drive with a music player that has amazing detail and beautiful presentation, the latest DAP from FiiO is an excellent choice. We're glad to award the FiiO M11 Plus LTD with the IBTimes Editor's Choice badge.

Sam is a production engineer turned tech writer who specializes in seeking out gadgets that enhances productivity while still looking sharp. This is a contribution to an ongoing IBTimes review series on gadgets for Business Travelers.