FiiO

FiiO M23

Ranked #5 in Digital Audio Players

792 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

Rugged, well-supported in current roundups, and backed by FiiO's best-in-class firmware longevity record.

Consolidated from 8 independent outlets

Where the cited sources landed, as we read them

6 positive sources
1 mixed source
1 unconvinced source

See the sources

Flagged as a product to avoid

1 of 9 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.

Clinical sound compared to the R2R model, with reported higher noise floor, distortion and shorter battery life, making it a poorer value than the M33 R2R.
Flagged 23 September 2026

Why the boards include products to avoid

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Pros & cons

✓ Rugged chassis suitable for daily use
✓ Dual-battery design extends playback time
✓ FiiO provides long-term firmware updates
✓ PopSci’s overall best DAP
✓ Powerful amp and great DAC

✗ Slightly older platform
✗ Clinical sound compared with R2R model
✗ Higher noise floor and distortion
✗ Shorter battery life than expected

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.

Evidence 3 articles and 5 video reviews

6 positive sources

AUDIO ADDICTED Electro Mod · reviewer · May 2026

The M23 was my primary commute device for the first month. The AKM AK4191EQ + dual AK4499EX architecture produces a midrange that I’d describe as genuinely beautiful — not warm in a colored way, but present and textured. I played Norah Jones’ Come Away With Me through my Campfire Solaris SE and spent the next 45 minutes not thinking about anything except how good it sounded. Female vocals specifically gain something from the M23’s tuning that other DAPs in this range don’t fully match.

Read R RomaDVD RomaDVD · 42.5K subscribers · Apr 2024

Although it's still the best device for the money, it doesn't compare to the M23, and I definitely recommend upgrading from older versions to the M23. So, friends, that's the text I prepared for you, because I didn't write it in a single day.

Watch T

TechRadar Article · Nov 2025

In our FiiO M23 review we were almost moved to poetry: it's "delicate yet muscular, assertive yet subtle, lavishly detailed and vaultingly dynamic," we said. It's a large, lavishly specified and beautifully made digital audio player that can power wired headphones, stream to wireless ones, upgrade your computer's audio or be the DAC in a desktop audio system. It's a player of many talents.

Read H Holysai Holysai · 16.1K subscribers · May 2024

Overall, I feel that the FIO M23 is another interesting new music player from FIO, with its powerful output... More than enough, plus the capabilities of Chip and the team.

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Architeg Prints Architeg Prints · reviewer · Jan 2026

If you’ve followed the specs and features, you’ll see the FiiO M23 digital audio player offers great “bang for your buck” in sound quality. It’s not the smallest player out there, but in terms of audiophile value, it’s a genius choice.

Read P Product Overview World Product Overview World · 307 subscribers · Jan 2026

The FiiO M23 high-res music player delivers a very clean resolving sound with a relaxed character that works well for long listening sessions. Its dual AKM digital-to-analog converter implementation and powerful balanced output drive demanding over-ear headphones with impressive control.

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1 mixed source

H HowToMastery HowToMastery · 3.5K subscribers · Aug 2026

For demanding headphones, the M23 has the edge. Its balanced output can deliver up to 1000mW per channel at 32 ohms in super high gain mode. The M21 is no slouch either, delivering up to 950 mW per channel via a balanced output. The M21 is also more convenient to carry . It weighs around 193g compared to around 299g for the blue version of the M23. Battery life is another interesting difference. FiiO claims up to 15 hours of operation for the M21 via the 3.5 mm output, while for the M23 it is about 10.5 hours.

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1 unconvinced source

Z Z Reviews Z Reviews · 287K subscribers · Sept 2025

And then the real problem with the M23 is that one right there.

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Frequently asked questions

It ranks #5 of 21 on our digital audio players tier list, in A tier. That placement draws on 8 independent outlets.

1 of the 8 sources with a clear view is critical of it: Z Reviews. Slightly older platform. Clinical sound compared with R2R model. Higher noise floor and distortion. Shorter battery life than expected.