Fiio M3K Vs. iPhone 5S Vs. iPod 5th Gen

The good things about technology is they become cheaper each year. And if we are talking about digital audio player (DAP), today DSD player can cost about US$70 only. But do they compromise the sound quality? I will figure it out with this new Fiio M3K along with the others DAP sound quality which price higher at the time they released.

My previous and the first DAP is the iPod 5th gen. I bought it brand new on 2004 and the price is US$250. The next DAP is the iPhone 5S also can be used for a phone call. I bought it on 2014 about US$700 and that is the most expensive phone I have, until now:) By today price for those second hand unit is just about US$100 and almost the same price with this new contender from Fiio.

I bought the Fiio M3K DAP DSD player which only cost about US$70! The interesting question is, do this cheap Fiio is a good replacement for those old DAP?

You can read and watch this Fiio M3K review online and I would not talking again about the design, user interface, or whatsoever, I am focusing only the sound quality.

The first things is the iPod 5th gen. It has accompany me so long and I admit the sound quality for this DAP is become my reference for a long time. This iPod DAC chip is from Wolfson and well known for their high quality audio application.

Next DAP is iPhone 5S. I loved dynamic sound characteristic from this iPhone. Thanks to the DAC is from Cirrus Logic that become famous since Apple product using their chip few years ago replacing the Wolfson.

The Fiio M3K is more advance in term of supporting files format, so the limitation for the iPod and iPhone is quite clear now. In this review I will put Apple Lossless files and AAC to all DAP. This is would become a fair comparison since those files can be read to all the device I reviewed here.

I should also mention that the test method is using direct headphone output from those DAP to the Audiotechnica Headphone ATH-M40X and also with the CMOY amp.

By nature, the CMOY amp give the same benefit to all the device. It give more power to crank the headphone up and gives more headroom. The only advantages between those DAP is on the iPod 5 gen which using the true audio line out adapter from the proprietary 30 pin connector. The sound taken directly out from the inside iPod DAC without pass through the internal amp just like the others two. The result is of course significantly better on sound clarity.

Compare to the Fiio and the iPhone, I have to max out the volume to get the same level as the line out from the iPod CMOY combo. The sound also less dynamic compare to the iPod CMOY line out combo. To make this review fair enough, then I should only stick to the direct headphones output from each DAP instead.

The songs in this review is Diana Krall - Live In Paris and Inger Marie Gundersen - By Myself. The iPod is king for the vocal. The breath, live and presentation is more focus on mid-range. The iPhone and Fiio vocal almost at the same category, they are quite dry, but the Fiio vocal less pronounce than the iPhone. The high frequency in which the iPod is muffled and the iPhone sound crystal clear. The Fiio? it is great, but somehow the high frequency kinda harsh and edgy at the same time.

For the overall result, the vocal presentation is better on the iPod. The iPhone and Fiio almost at the same level in the vocal quality but I get to changing between them many times to make sure the difference between those two are noticeable. Especially on the Fiio, the more you listen the more you notice that high frequency is harsh and cannot compete the iPhone sound quality.

The next step is playing DSD files which those all Apple product cannot play it. This is become the true winner of the Fiio. This Fiio play DSD music very well, the dynamic and detail are among the best. Thanks to the large files of DSD that contain all the detail and makes the sound richer.

Another things to consider is this Fiio M3K also has good battery life. I can using it for almost 2 weeks then recharge it, compare to the iPod battery life is about a week and the in contrast for the iPhone is only for 2 days. After all, the old iPod and iPhone still capable to brings good music through your headphones in this year 2019. The newer Fiio of course give more formats option, but sound quality that something I still prefer the Apple product after all.

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