FiiO M17

For me FiiO has the best software among Android DAPs. So I am excited. Plus, the volume dial and output ports are on the top. That thing got my attention - while still waiting for the W1.

Looks like. But besides it has an analog volume knob, 4 (?) output ports on the top (which is a great design decision, I hate having the volume and output ports on different sides), and hold function. FiiO knows how to design.

Translated from what I can find:

2019 project start, scheduled to be released at the end of 2020 It seems that
it was postponed after August 2021 due to AKM factory fire

The highest grade model M15, M11, M11 Pro of FiiO portable player is abolished instead of the successor of M15 Since it became a version, there is a plan of the player to fill it, and the DAC is a dual ESS9038Pro


The base amplifier is THX788PRO for desktop (32Ω 1200mW + 1200mW or more, 300Ω 350mW + 350mW or more) Weight
with a switch to switch between DC power supply and battery drive
Can be put in a pocket and operated with one hand (it seems to be 600g)

The RGB LED light of the heat dissipation hole can be changed to various colors! (no tubes, should be able turn the silly transformer toy light off)

The finish of the appearance is not a final draft. The exact release date and price have not been decided because the design has not been completed. The price is likely to be 10,000 yuan or more after July (10,000 yuan is about $1,550 usd)

Following further disclosure from James, we can provide a bit of insight into the FiiO M17.

1. The M17 project began in 2019, originally scheduled to be announced at the end of 2020. The plan was adjusted owning to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current plan is to release it before August 2021.

2. The M17 is not a replacement model for the M15. However, it is a new model that brings to offering from FiiO to another level. M17, M15, M11 PRO and M11 will form the four pillars of FiiO Portable Player offerings in the future. Due to the unfortunate AKM fire, the lifetime of M11, M11 PRO and M15 has been cut short, they will be replaced by new models that will be introduced in due time.

3. The product concept of the M17 is that of a portable computer. Featuring dual ESS9038Pro flagship DAC chips, an amplifier circuit comprising THX788PRO module which is expected to output at least 1200 mW + 1200 mW @ 32 ohms.

4. FiiO was the first manufacturer to equip the 2.5 mm, 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm headphone jacks with the M11, With the M17, FiiO intends to up its games in terms of Input and output interfaces with 2.5 mm, 3.5 mm, 4.4 mm, 6.3 mm headphone jacks, 3.5 mm / 4.4 LO output, standard RCA coaxial output, DC power input interface, dual TC interface and DC/BATT switch allowing one to use AC power for a long time while still gaining relatively better control of weight and volume of the device; alternatively one could still place the player in the pocket for portable usage with a single-hand control.

5. At the point of this reveal, M17 is probably the first digital audio player to feature RGB lighting, giving it a bit of LED flair. Located at the ventilation vents on both sides of the player, the M17 is designed with two sets of RGV blacklight panels.

6. The M17 will feature a 1080P 18:9 high-definition display.

7. Expected release will be after July 2021 with the SRP to be confirmed and is expected to exceed RMB 10,000.
It is perhaps important to note that the product design submission to the iF Design Award Award is not the final design as adjustments might be made to the design as the project moves through the development phase.

Hope this will provide some answers to the questions you guys have about the FiiO M17. We will provide more insights when we have more to share.

It is pretty bonkers, interested in this one though

Interesting , but running 15V ? Isn’t that somewhere 7V rails ? So the batteries are basically using the typical 3.7V then boosted to 6.6 - 7 V for amplifier. To get this power out of such little juice, the THX amp is a monster