It’s not just vinyl and cassette players that are getting revived for the modern context – CD players are also seeing a resurgence. TINYL’s multifunctional Cover music player that doubles as a Bluetooth speaker and CoolGeek’s Art Frame-cum-CD player are the two latest examples that performed well on Kickstarter, demonstrating the market potential of the CD players. Now, the Chi-Fi brand Fiio, known for its affordable range of high-fidelity audio gear, has come up with an upgraded version of its DM-13 portable CD player, launched last year. The all-new FiiO DM15 features an R2R (Resistor-to-Resistor) DAC architecture, a more powerful amplifier, a transparent lid, and an enhanced user interface.
The DM15 R2R is equipped with a proprietary four-channel, fully differential 24-bit R2R resistor arrays DAC to mimic the classic audio character of vintage portable CD players. It is built using a total of 192 thin-film resistors and low temperature drift (30ppm), which results in a warm analog sound quality. The player also delivers low noise and distortion for clear audio.
Just like the predecessor, this portable CD player features a boxy design, but all the controls have been moved to the front panel, and it now has a larger display. It comes with 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm headphone jacks, along with built-in Bluetooth with support for high-res Bluetooth transmission protocols, including aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, and SBC. The onboard HiFi-grade USB sound card that supports high sampling rates up to 384kHz/32bit and DSD256 is another plus. This connectivity suite will appeal to most finiky audiophiles.
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The FiiO DM15 portable CD player offers single-ended output power of 310mW+310mW, and a balanced output power of 1150mW+1150mW. The CD player offers three bass modes and eight built-in EQ presets, and even a specially tuned RETRO sound preset that delivers a classic sound. A 4700mAh, 3.85V lithium battery powers the player for roughly seven hours and takes about two hours with PD3.0 fast charging.
The FiiO DM15 R2R portable CD player features a compact aluminum chassis with a transparent top panel to view the spinning CD. A rich palette of colors, like electrophoretic white, silver, black, and red, give the player a minimalist yet stylish look. Its retro design incorporates mechanical buttons, keys, and knobs. It comes with an infrared remote for even more convenient control.
Owning a minidisc player is such a nice feeling, as you have something physical to put into a machine. If you think on the same lines, the FiiO DM15 portable CD player is a great match for you. DM15 R2R can be pre-ordered for $270 right now.
