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A FiiO S15 overview "review"

Any indication if this is able to play video files like the HIFI Rose products? I have a bunch of music dvds ripped to a hard drive and would get this unit if it was able to play them. I can't find any reference that it can or can't from the information provided
 
The S15 display is running a custom horizontal overlay, I believe. It's really just a regular Android 12 instance at its core (which shows up in the normal vertical orientation when you connect an external display to the HDMI out port).

Given that it's just regular Android 12 behind the scenes, you could technically install any app from the Play Store. Although some might look funky/off on the main display in horizontal orientation.

So far, I've tried Apple Music, Spotify, and Emby. They're passable on the horizontal screen as long as you set the display size to "small".
1736160790843.jpeg
 
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That's really interesting. Thanks for the post. So you could download youtube app to it and stream videos from it to your tv? And would the stream be in the vertical view like you have shown?
 
You could do that by launching YouTube on the S15 from the Fiio Control app on your phone. It doesn't look good though since it's stuck in the vertical orientation. The video will be tiny. You'd be better off connecting an Android TV box to the HDMI input of the S15 if your main aim is to watch videos. I have a Shield TV Pro connected, which passes on bit-perfect audio streams via HDMI. I let the S15 do the DA conversion. Works great.

1736170201849.jpeg




Or you could watch on the S15's main display. It's still small but better than the in the vertical orientation.
1736170339458.jpeg
 
I messaged Fiio exactly about this but have only gotten a vague non-committal response so far. A FW update came out just a few hours ago that may change the display output behavior but I'll wait a few days to see how it goes for other people first before I update my unit.
artishard116 said:
So no hopes of a horizontal 'now playing' screen on external displays?
Click to expand...
 
Also really curious if this can handle HDMI video as well. I have an all analog system (exceptional audio components) and the only way I can get digital into my system (Android box / Apple TV / etc) is via the HDMI IN on my Oppo 205. But that 2017 implementation is getting a little bit dicey today with compatibility. Hopefully this incorporates a true HDMI in that can be used for that purpose.
 
darth said:
How does volume control work? With the shield remote or do you have to use Fiio's? Guessing you have it connected via USB or hdmi?
Click to expand...
The Fiio's on Line Out mode. All volume is controlled on my Emotiva preamp.

Shield TV HDMI out --> Fiio S15 HDMI in --> Fiio S15 HDMI out to screen + RCA out to Emotiva preamp

The Shield TV doesn't do bit-perfect audio output via USB; only via HDMI. So the Fiio S15 was actually perfect for this use-case.
 
So I guess I'm confused on the purpose of the hdmi out if it only displays in the layout of a phone. What purpose can that really serve. Thank you for sharing the pics by the way. I want to get this player. I have a couple TBs of music and videos on a hard drive. I'm looking for a player that can play the video files and stream it to a TV
 
Syracuse27 said:
So I guess I'm confused on the purpose of the hdmi out if it only displays in the layout of a phone. What purpose can that really serve. Thank you for sharing the pics by the way. I want to get this player. I have a couple TBs of music and videos on a hard drive. I'm looking for a player that can play the video files and stream it to a TV
Click to expand...

It's a normal HDMI output that passes on the video feed from the playback device that you connect to the HDMI input. I think my last 2 posts on the Shield TV use-case illustrates that pretty clearly.
 
35for9percent said:
It's a normal HDMI output that passes on the video feed from the playback device that you connect to the HDMI input. I think my last 2 posts on the Shield TV use-case illustrates that pretty clearly.
Click to expand...
On same HDMI out issue, I 'am puzzled as well. I have seen pics showing steaming infos on external screen connected to this HDMI out. For example, streaming from Qobuz, could you get some stream datas on unit screen and jacket pic on external screen? I'm expecting my unit delivery by month end.
 
PatriceA said:
On same HDMI out issue, I 'am puzzled as well. I have seen pics showing steaming infos on external screen connected to this HDMI out. For example, streaming from Qobuz, could you get some stream datas on unit screen and jacket pic on external screen? I'm expecting my unit delivery by month end.
Click to expand...
There may be a way to do it but I haven't figured out how to set it up.

The default screensaver of the S15 is sort of a "Now Playing" page, but it doesn't consistently show up on the external display when it's triggered on the main screen. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. There are definitely still some bugs that Fiio will need to work out.
 
Have you tried apple music on it, does it work natively? Does it allow hi-res lossless? Since it's Android 12, I don't remember when Apple music started allowing higher quality on Android. Fiio has also been using Android for their R9, and I do see reports of issues with apps like Apple music due to it being an older Android + modified.
 
Yes, Apple Music Hi-Res works. It works even on my Fiio M23 DAP, which is on Android 10. Fiio have got that well figured out.

20250108_184007.jpg


But as I mentioned in post #22, it doesn't look perfect on the horizontal screen.

20250108_184023.jpg
 
35for9percent said:
It's a normal HDMI output that passes on the video feed from the playback device that you connect to the HDMI input. I think my last 2 posts on the Shield TV use-case illustrates that pretty clearly.
Click to expand...
Yes but that's hdmi IN to the FIIO S15. I'm talking about hdmi OUT of the S15. So that what's playing on the S15 can be broadcasted to a tv with a normal viewing ratio. It appears the HDMI OUT is really only for ARC, to connect to a TV so that a TV stream's audio can be passed IN to the S15
 
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