A FiiO S15 overview "review"

[mingming]

Hello all S15 owners, just curious can I use S15 to send HDMI ARC to USB out?

So that I can use the fancy Apple Music app from AppleTV big screen and output to my DAC through USB

 

[darth]

Hello all S15 owners, just curious can I use S15 to send HDMI ARC to USB out?

So that I can use the fancy Apple Music app from AppleTV big screen and output to my DAC through USB

Why not use the DAC of the S15 itself? But in any case don't think S15 has USB out functionality. If you want that, something like a Wiim Ultra or Node Icon would work.

 

[windexxx33]

Yup, this is correct. You just have to select the HDMI In "Work Mode" option on the S15 (kind of like an AVR).

Hi 35th,

I am trying to configure my S15 in much the same way you have with your shield. I am running into a volume control issue where the s15 is passing audio to its line out with the knob turned to 0.

Latest Google Tv Streamer 4k -HDMI> S15 HDMI IN -HDMI> Television.
-XLR> Sound System

I have tried tv remotes, both hdmi workmodes, arc and non paths.

Does the volume knob not control the volume of the line outs?

 

[Stephemst4470]

Hi 35th,

I am trying to configure my S15 in much the same way you have with your shield. I am running into a volume control issue where the s15 is passing audio to its line out with the knob turned to 0.

Latest Google Tv Streamer 4k -HDMI> S15 HDMI IN -HDMI> Television.
-XLR> Sound System

I have tried tv remotes, both hdmi workmodes, arc and non paths.

Does the volume knob not control the volume of the line outs?

You have to set it to preamp mode in the settings. It is labeled LO I believe in the audio menu

 

[windexxx33]

Ahhh you are amazing thank you!

 

[CrystalGipsy]

Thank you for the reply. I had tried your suggestion and more. Today I attempted your suggestion again. This time the S15 wanted me to update the AM app. On doing so I was able to sign in to AM and all is good. Thank you.

No issues here logged in without any issues. Not that I use it much.

 

[CrystalGipsy]

So I purchased it and it arrived today. So far I love it. I have been using it with Amazon Music HD. One oddity that I have noticed, regardless of the sample rate of the Amazon track, the now playing screen (Screensaver) shows the sampling rate as 192khz. Odd.

Amazon music upsamples as far as I know on Android never got it to work properly.

I have a question for anyone that owns this that I haven't seen answered yet. I've been looking at dacs, and had pretty much narrowed it down to either the SU-10 or the Musician Pegasus II, but this came onto my radar and it looks like the dac section is pretty good, with a pretty robust power supply. The streaming features would really be useful for my work listening setup. How would the dac section compare to the two that I mentioned above? There are very few reputable reviews so far.

Subjectively I prefer the sound of it over my DAC and SR11 I was using for Roon. Think it just has a better match gain and impedance wise to my power amp that it’s driving. Dac is RME ADI 2 DAC fs gen 2.

Also having it all in one box that I can control the volume in apps makes a huge difference usage wise.

 

[CrystalGipsy]

So I purchased it and it arrived today. So far I love it. I have been using it with Amazon Music HD. One oddity that I have noticed, regardless of the sample rate of the Amazon track, the now playing screen (Screensaver) shows the sampling rate as 192khz. Odd.

From my experience with Amazon their app upsamples on Android regardless. Never got it to work properly on my DAP. This was a while ago as I don’t sub as it’s a terrible app and I don’t want them to have my money.

 

[trigovina]

Hi everyone, My S15 has just received today. I could not find any adjustment about stand by mode? Do you know if there is available or not? Also i could'nt see auto input selection when the signal is received. Do you have any idea? When i use optical input, my Phone can not find airplay. I have to Change the input to airplay to see the device

 

[CrystalGipsy]

Hi everyone, My S15 has just received today. I could not find any adjustment about stand by mode? Do you know if there is available or not? Also i could'nt see auto input selection when the signal is received. Do you have any idea? When i use optical input, my Phone can not find airplay. I have to Change the input to airplay to see the device

There is no standby as such its an Android device its on/off they use little juice when not in use. A single click on the left dial knob turns off the display off. Long press gives you option to reboot or powerdown. You can set the colour of the knobs to be in sync with the display in Display settings so when you turn them off they go off too. It will automatically go into screen saver mode after a set time, whihc can be changed to be up to 30 mins but it cannot be defeated in Android mode at all so it will always go into this after the time set annoyingly. I have mentioned this needs fixing as it should stay on if in use.

There is no auto switching on FiiO devices you have to use them like old fashioned pre amps and switch to the input required. Airplay only runs only in Airplay mode. Android mode for all the apps and the others are just those inputs.

 

[trigovina]

There is no standby as such its an Android device its on/off they use little juice when not in use. A single click on the left dial knob turns off the display off. Long press gives you option to reboot or powerdown. You can set the colour of the knobs to be in sync with the display in Display settings so when you turn them off they go off too. It will automatically go into screen saver mode after a set time, whihc can be changed to be up to 30 mins but it cannot be defeated in Android mode at all so it will always go into this after the time set annoyingly. I have mentioned this needs fixing as it should stay on if in use.

There is no auto switching on FiiO devices you have to use them like old fashioned pre amps and switch to the input required. Airplay only runs only in Airplay mode. Android mode for all the apps and the others are just those inputs.

Thank you for your explenation my friend. I like the clear and detailed sound of the device but the software side should be improved just like dmp a8. I beleive this can be happen with future updates, Hardware side is almost perfect.

 

[CrystalGipsy]

Thank you for your explenation my friend. I like the clear and detailed sound of the device but the software side should be improved just like dmp a8. I beleive this can be happen with future updates, Hardware side is almost perfect.

The software is dreadful at moment . I’ve given up and I am returning it. FiiO also falsely advertised PEQ as being available in all modes it’s not, only local player. As I flagged this to them they have no updated their website and removed mention of this.

I’ve had to factory reset it after every update which isn’t ideal as it bugs out. Started only reading out sample rates up to 192/24. The spectrum analyser works intermittently for some apps or not at all.

Could not get apps like UAPP to work properly and would not decode DSD. The dev kindly made me a build to test with it added but still iffy.

I did another reset on Thursday as it was really getting messed up and when it came back there where some additional apps on the device that didn’t show up previously. All in Chinese language some where testing apps.

For me they have release this device before it’s ready. The remote control is poor and doesn’t work after reboots well. FiiO control app constantly kicks you off the machine when using its cast function and it locks up lots using it. Some apps when installed I can’t see using the main screen only via the remote casting!!

It’s a real shame as it does sound very good, looks well built. But user experience for me is everything and I am left exasperated with it and now enough is enough. I am not paying to be a beta tester. Have that forced on my enough with Roon.

 

[Serge P]

Is there a digital transformer on SPDIF Coax input?

 

[PatriceA]

Hi,
I received my S15 and hooked to one pair of Genelec 8361 through AES/EBU digital out. I like sound quality but it's just a feeling as I cannot do direct comparison (I have a pair of legacy ATC SCM 100 on another location).
Interface is clumsy and learning curve is steep. Notions of "modes" (Android / Pure music / ...) is strange. Control on phone or tablet is slow and disorganized. Qobuz interface is different from what I am used to.
More important, I cannot pait the remote. I fail to switch S15 on "research mode" , where is this command (menus are strangely organized!) ? Is there somewhere a comprehensive user manual?
Thanks for comments and advices.

 

[Pbnmjk]

I have a question for S15 owners: is possible to play SACD through HDMI in DSD format without conversion?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Selubi]

I have a question regarding the ARC mode.

Its mentioned in the FAQ entry below that when we use the HDMI IN/ARC mode, we don’t have any digital outputs. Is this true?

17. Introduction of the eleven working modes of S15-FIIO---BORN FOR MUSIC

www.fiio.com

I am specifically eyeing on the potential to use this to route HDMI ARC to AES/EBU out for GENELEC SAM speakers.

 

[Stephemst4470]

New firmware update 1.0.3 is available now https://www.fiio.com/newsinfo/1015963.html