M25

The FiiO M25 is FiiO’s sub-flagship digital audio player and the successor to the much-loved M15S. It’s built around a pair of AKM’s flagship AK4499EX DACs, and it’s aimed at listeners who want detail and a sense of space from a dedicated music player that can also anchor a desk setup.

There are two versions of the M25. This one takes the AKM route. The M25 R2R uses FiiO’s own resistor-ladder DAC and is voiced warmer. Same family, different personalities, and choosing between them is exactly the kind of conversation I enjoy having.

Dual AK4499EX: what it means for your music

FiiO splits the work between an AK4191 digital processor and two AK4499EX converters, so digital filtering and conversion happen in separate stages and each can be optimised on its own. FiiO describes the result as detailed, spacious and highly resolving, with the natural presentation AKM’s flagship chips are known for.

That’s the technical story. Whether it suits you depends on your earphones or headphones and on what you listen to. If you want more insight into your recordings, the M25 is the one to start with.

Android, streaming and plenty of room

A Qualcomm QCS6490 platform with 8GB of RAM keeps things responsive, whether you’re browsing a big local library or using your streaming apps. With 128GB built in, there’s room for apps and a sizeable collection.

Tune it to your headphones

The 31-band parametric EQ goes far beyond simple bass and treble controls, and FiiO’s Auto EQ gives you a sensible starting profile for your headphones. If you own more than one pair, separate profiles make switching between them painless.

At home as much as on the move

Desktop Mode lets the M25 run from external power when it’s sitting on your desk, sparing the battery unnecessary charge cycles. With an XMOS XU316 USB interface, it works as the heart of a desktop headphone system as well as a portable player. The aluminium chassis carries FiiO’s angular styling, with a large touchscreen and physical controls for the things you use most.

FiiO M25 at a glance

• Type: Android digital audio player (DAP)
• DAC: dual AKM AK4499EX with AK4191 digital processor
• Platform: Qualcomm QCS6490 with 8GB RAM
• Storage: 128GB
• EQ: 31-band PEQ with Auto EQ
• USB interface: XMOS XU316
• Desktop Mode for powered use at home
• Chassis: aluminium
• Colours: Silver, Black

Talk to Audio Concierge

If you’re weighing up the FiiO M25 against what you already own, or you’d like to know how it will fit with the rest of your system, get in touch. Tell me what you listen to and what you listen with. No jargon. Just good advice.