FiiO DM15

E ecoustics.com Ian White · reviewer

The DM15 R2R takes that energy and pushes it forward. It runs on a high-voltage lithium battery so you’re never tied to a wall outlet. It offers single-ended and fully balanced outputs, USB DAC mode, Bluetooth transmit mode, and both optical and coaxial outputs for speaker systems and amplifiers. You can use it as a portable CD player, a desktop source, a DAC, or a wireless bridge.

R Record-ology Record-ology · 69.5K subscribers · Dec 2025

The FiiO DM15 is one of the most surprising CD players I’ve tested in a long time… because inside this sleek, modern top-loading design is an R2R ladder DAC! In this review, we explore build quality, features, user experience, and — most importantly — how it sounds with real compact discs.

Spending time with the FiiO DM15 R2R has been a genuinely nostalgic experience for me. It reminded me of the days when listening to music through CDs felt intentional, almost like a small ritual. Sliding a disc into the player, waiting for the first track to begin, and simply enjoying the music without distractions — that feeling is something streaming rarely recreates.

D David Susilo Unscripted David Susilo Unscripted · 62.6K subscribers · Jan 2026

The player does not feel cheap at all. The manual hinges are nice. They don't feel flimsy at all. No squeak, no play, no give. Absolutely no complaint here. And not only the hinge, the entire body, the entire chassis feels serious. Reminiscent of the higher end Sony Discman in the early '90s. The only part I don't like is that the corners are sharp.

In practice, the wireless connection was stable and clean, with none of the dropouts or weird artifacts that sometimes plague portable setups. Sound-wise, it still carried that smooth, slightly organic R2R character the DM15 is known for. You lose a bit of ultimate resolution compared to wired, as expected, but the overall presentation remains musical and easy to enjoy.

P Porta.Fi Porta.Fi · 40.9K subscribers · Jan 2026

FiiO gathered user feedback on the DM13 and released an updated version of the CD player, improving both sound quality and functionality. As a result, it’s no longer just a portable device, but also a capable CD transport for a hi-fi system — and a surprisingly competent DAC as well.

In practice, the wireless connection was stable and clean, with none of the dropouts or weird artifacts that sometimes plague portable setups. Sound-wise, it still carried that smooth, slightly organic R2R character the DM15 is known for. You lose a bit of ultimate resolution compared to wired, as expected, but the overall presentation remains musical and easy to enjoy.

A Amplify Audio Reviews Amplify Audio Reviews · 28.1K subscribers · May 2026

So, it sounds pretty good. It sounds pretty good. There's nothing to complain about, write home about. I mean, it sounds very decent. Uh I would say it's warm. It's natural. It's musical. Exactly the way R2R architecture is supposed to sound like. Midrange is its strong suit. Vocals specially are noticeably uh uh organic.

In practice, the wireless connection was stable and clean, with none of the dropouts or weird artifacts that sometimes plague portable setups. Sound-wise, it still carried that smooth, slightly organic R2R character the DM15 is known for. You lose a bit of ultimate resolution compared to wired, as expected, but the overall presentation remains musical and easy to enjoy.

A AndyAudioVault AndyAudioVault · 27.7K subscribers · Jan 2026

And this thing is an amazing stuff. So, let's talk about this DM15. Why is it so very special? First and foremost, this is a CD player and a portable CD player.

F Falmouth Packet Paul Armstrong · reviewer

The DM15 feels premium straight out of the box: a metal housing, well‑engineered buttons and the kind of sturdiness consistent with FIIO’s audio pedigree. Its standout feature is the R2R ladder DAC, which delivers a warm, analogue‑like character. It has a rechargeable battery for away from home or a direct cable input for power.

P Prime Audio Reviews Prime Audio Reviews · 22.7K subscribers · Jun 2026

It completely bypasses the usual sterile precision of standard delta‑sigma chips for a lovely, smooth analogue warmth and natural timbre that makes it incredibly easy to listen to for hours without fatigue

There’s really no better way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon than digging through a stack of CDs with the FiiO DM15 R2R paired with my ultra portable JT7 planar headphones, and it turned into one of those sessions where you stop thinking and analyzing about gear and just enjoy the flow.

H HMD Tech HMD Tech · 8.6K subscribers · Feb 2026

In summary, the FODM15R2R isn't just a retro novelty.

A audioreviews.org Article

Looking at the stats and after testing all of these contenders except the regular DISCDREAM 2, the FiiO DM15 RDR offers the best combination of sound quality, amplification, and features and is my favourite CD player for use “as is” without any external DAC/amp.

H HIFI Daydreaming HIFI Daydreaming · 7K subscribers · Mar 2026

Fiio tries to capture that warm vintage sound with their new portable CD player. And they really are investing a lot of money into improving and adapting their R2R technology. And it is becoming an important staple into Fiio arsenal, on the box itself there is no Fiio logo, there is only R2R that is what they want to preserve to future buyers and listeners.

A Alpha Audio Ronald Smit · reviewer

According to the company , this device redefines what a portable CD player can be, combining CD playback, high-fidelity R2R digital-to-analog conversion, hi-res Bluetooth, and the ability to act as a DAC and headphone amplifier for your phone or laptop.

M Mafia Reviews Mafia Reviews · 5.4K subscribers · Feb 2026

It feels premium, and reviewers consistently say it outperforms budget competitors from brands like Hot, Clim, and Jensen. But it doesn't stop at CDs. Plug it into your computer and it becomes a USB DAC supporting 384 kHz and DST 256.

F Forbes Mark Sparrow · reviewer

Designed to redefine what a portable CD player can do, this new player offers CD playback, high-fidelity R2R digital-to-analog conversion, high-res Bluetooth streaming and it can be used as a DAC and headphone amplifier for a phone or laptop.

J Jubilant Ear Reviews Jubilant Ear Reviews · 3.6K subscribers · Jan 2026

Today we're going to be looking at this and this is something that I absolutely love. We just recently did the cassette which is right here from Fio and very very nostalgic to me with the cassette. Um, I love it. You know, it sounds good. It's extremely simple.

V VICE Matt Jancer · reviewer

And if you’re younger and never grew up with CDs, then I’m a bit jealous of (and happy for) you, because the FiiO DM15 R2R is leagues better than the comparative junk we had to use back in the CD player’s heyday.

L Lanae Marie Lanae Marie · 747 subscribers · Feb 2026

But so far after a year, I am satisfied with this particular player. Yes, it does have pros and cons, but overall I've enjoyed it. One of my reasons for purchasing this player, however, is for one, the R2R DACK, of course, and I wanted something to use in my car that provides a higher resolution of audio quality.

B Basic Tutorials Article

FiiO is thus targeting users who want to use their CD collection on the move and on their desktop in high quality – far removed from the nostalgic Discman, but rather as a fully-fledged hi-fi source.

B Best Buys Reviewed Best Buys Reviewed · channel · Dec 2025

FIO DM15 review. R2R DAC finally makes portable CD players sound real again. Remember when you found that old Radio Head CD in a box, popped it into your laptop, and it just sounded flat, like the soul got sucked out somewhere between 2003 and now. I've been there, staring at dusty jewel cases, wishing they still hit like they used to. The FIO DM15 just handed that magic back.

H Headfonics Article

The compact and well-built FiiO DM15 R2R is a relatively smooth, analog-sounding portable CD player with a powerful, dense low end and full-sounding vocal performances.

The FiiO DM15 R2R CD player is incredibly versatile. It played everything apart from one track on one CD. It is comfortable in both its portable and in-system modes.

A AVForums Ed Selley · reviewer

FiiO has a fascinating history of identifying successful niches to put products in but, even by their standards, the DM15 R2R looks quite. interesting.

L LinkedIn Porta-Fi · reviewer

That makes it a more ambitious product than the average portable CD player.

H HIFI Daydreaming ducurguz · reviewer

I definitely recommend this one.

A Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum NTTY · reviewer

What I did not like are the very small buttons and the associated symbols that are nearly impossible to read to me, unless I benefit from bright light. This is a clear step down from the DM13.

F Forever Analog Forever Analog · 60.7K subscribers · Feb 2026

These buttons are considerably smaller than the DM13, and I found them hard to read at times and a little hard to use. There really are very small buttons. I'm sure after months of use, I would learn which button does what and not even have to think about it, but the initial use made me feel a little clumsy.

A Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum NTTY · reviewer

What I did not like are the very small buttons and the associated symbols that are nearly impossible to read to me, unless I benefit from bright light. This is a clear step down from the DM13.

I I’m here to help you! I’m here to help you! · 11.9K subscribers · Feb 2026

Some people have run into firmware quirks or little playback glitches and stuff. And while that's not uncommon with modern gear, it's still annoying at this price point. Also, if you've got beat up CDs, don't expect miracles. It's good, but it's not invincible or anything. Battery life is fine. Not amazing, not terrible. You'll get a solid few hours out of it. But the build feels premium and that

A Avforums Article

Pros Sounds excellent Some useful extra features Well made and attractive Cons Not quite a portable as Discmans of old Tiny display Relatively short battery life

P Pro Guide Pro Guide · 6.1K subscribers · Feb 2026

In this detailed fiio dm15 review, we take a close look at whether this modern portable CD player is truly worth your money or just another trend. This fiio dm15 r2r review breaks down the sound performance, build quality, and daily usability, while also offering a balanced review fiio dm15 r2r analysis based on real-world listening.

T The Most Feature-Rich CD Player Out There? Article

It’s not the end of the world, but I wouldn’t call it convenient.

S SlashGear Andy Zahn · reviewer

The FiiO DM15 R2R absolutely delivers the quality you would expect at its price point, and if you can afford one you won't be disappointed.