A FiiO S15 overview "review"

[indi]

Just got the silver S15 that match with my Luxman, first impress me is the bass thats much better then ESS. Running android is very convenience for me to install youtube music and lot of local radio apps thats outputing 44-48k but you also can upscale all source to DSD. I have installed a 1T M2 SSD for storing my source files and that Sound is much better then my ifi zen stream before. The SSD also can used for android storage that saving youtube music locally. I also pluged TV hdmi to ARC port for my Netflex / Disney playing movies. So far so good. But one thing i want to complain is the remote is using BT..... as I'm using hey google to switch on/off all things by infraRED.... even the trigger cable is included but my amp dont have it ;( and also missing Wake on LAN.

 

[Redwine]

Confused - is it Roon ready or not?

According to product info yes, but it’s not listed at Roons homepage as “Roon ready device).

Anyone with hands on experience?

 

[PatriceA]

Yes, I have an S15 and run Roon with Qobuz. It is indeed Roon ready but I guess it uses R7 or R 9 certification. Small picto appearing on Roon interface looks like R7 or R9. FiiO interface is rather clumsy and confusing. However, no complain on sound quality driving Genelec 8361 through AES/EBU output.

 

[2K5DLUX]

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.

Users state that the display timer limit up to 30 minutes cannot be defeated...
Since this is an Android platform, has anyone tried to enable the developer options under settings and enable "Stay Awake" (screen will never sleep while charging) option?
That might override the 30 minute limit of the display and allow screen to remain on all the time to see the V/U meters...???

 

[35for9percent]

Users state that the display timer limit up to 30 minutes cannot be defeated...
Since this is an Android platform, has anyone tried to enable the developer options under settings and enable "Stay Awake" (screen will never sleep while charging) option?
That might override the 30 minute limit of the display and allow screen to remain on all the time to see the V/U meters...???

The screen stays on until you actually turn it off with the left knob. I've let mine run for hours playing music in the background and the screen stayed on the whole time.

The 30 minute max timer they're referring to is when the screensaver kicks in. No matter what you do, the longest time the current app can be displayed is 30 minutes before the screensaver takes over. It's not that big of a deal for me though since the screensaver still shows the details of whatever track is currently playing.

 

[fatoldgit]

What audio designer (especially with a large form factor device) places the USB DAC input on the FRONT of the device?

I know it appears a small thing but to me it's a deal breaker (unless I use a DDC and go spdif into their connectors on the BACK...where the USB one should also be)

Bluck

PS.My only guess is they view this as a streamer and not a USB DAC so didnt care/give a crap about it's location.

 

[CrystalGipsy]

Confused - is it Roon ready or not?

According to product info yes, but it’s not listed at Roons homepage as “Roon ready device).

Anyone with hands on experience?

Not officially it’s cheating by advertising itself as a device that has passed in their range. I found it too buggy and sent mine back and bought the Eversolo DMP A8, which works. FiiO initially lied about the device having DSP for all inputs, it doesn’t and they removed it from their site after I pressed them on it. I loved my M11 Plus as it’s reliable and properly certified but these newer full-size units don’t work as well and full of software issues.

 

[AndreaT]

I have about 86thousand FLAC music files in external SSDs. If I connect via USB from the external SSDs to the S15, will it play the music files? Does the UI allow easy search by composer, artist? In my main system I have a MAN-301, and its iPad UI is perfect to search large music libraries. An S-15 could allow me to have my entire music library in other home systems.

 

[fatoldgit]

Does anyone have a link to (or can somehow directly embed in this thread) the complete/full user guide for the S15.

I have the quick guide which is useless for getting an idea as to what is available in the various menus.

Thanks,

Peter

 

[PatriceA]

Does anyone have a link to (or can somehow directly embed in this thread) the complete/full user guide for the S15.

I have the quick guide which is useless for getting an idea as to what is available in the various menus.

Thanks,

Peter

Long awaited user manual is not yet available (on their web site / support)
Patrice

 

[fatoldgit]

Long awaited user manual is not yet available (on their web site / support)
Patrice

Thanks...and disappointing.

It's a relatively complex product so one would expect it would be available at product launch...software to a reasonable degree makes or breaks a purchase so I cant pull the trigger without knowing what it can do.

Peter