FiiO DM15

A Avforums Article

Viewed as a Discman, the DM15 R2R is a curio... but a surprisingly capable one that has some useful extra tricks up its sleeve. Viewed as a compact standalone player with the option of being portable though, the FiiO's reasoning suddenly looks rather cleverer. This is a niche product for sure but some care and an attention on the part of its maker means its less niche than you might at first assume...

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.

G Gadgetguy Article

Not bad in one compact, fairly lightweight unit. Note, as far as portable CD players go, it’s not the smallest and most light in weight. Some are barely bigger than a CD. This one adopts the form, looking from the top, of a near square, 144.2mm deep (150.6mm including the rotary volume control) by 137mm wide, and it’s 25.4mm thick. The top is a door which is held closed by magnets near the front.

So overall, the DM15 is a cool device if you still have a collection of these records with your favorite music

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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

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.

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

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

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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

This is the Fio DM15 and this has an R2R deck in it. And besides being a wonderfully made um you know CD player, it also has a ton of different features to it and we'll get into those features in just a minute.

H Headfonics Article · Apr 2026

Marcus reviews the FiiO DM15 R2R, a new portable stereo CD player featuring a 24BIT R2R DAC and up to 1.15W of balanced output power. It is currently priced at $269.99.

But, if you want the best sound, more power, better design, and extras like a remote and an EQ modes, the DM15 is absolutely worth the extra 100 bucks. It's a proper upgrade in every way.

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.

The DM15 uses FIO's in-house R2R resistor ladder deck. The R2R allows this to function as a desktop deck, not just a CD transport. And the result is clean, detailed, natural sounding audio that feels purpose-built for CDs. And we think it sounds outstanding

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.

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.

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.

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

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 Truth Verify The Truth Verify · 2.6K subscribers · Jan 2026

So, is the FIO DM15 R2R just a retro gimmick? Not really. It's clearly made for a niche audience that values physical media and a specific sound signature. It's not perfect, but for people who want a portable R2Rbased player with real flexibility, it offers something genuinely different in 2026.