FiiO, the giants of the chinese market for the portable audio world needs no more introduction for the value they bring along with their know-how in inventing high performance audio products. They have been around since 2007 and they have evolved to a legendary status with their products ranging from in-ear monitors, earbuds, digital audio converters, amplifiers and their highly praised music players. They have recently released their latest iteration of the highly praised M11 line of android music player, the M11Plus LTD that is limited in a sense that it houses a pair of highly regarded Asahi Kasei Microdevices’s AK4497eq DAC chips that has been discontinued due a blaze in AKM’s factory in japan, thus, making their chips a rarity and their prices have been jacked up considerably by 3rd party vendors. The M11Plus LTD will be replaced with other Sabre DAC chips once it is sold out, thus making this version of M11Plus LTD to be highly sought after. Today, I am honoured to be given a chance by the Red Ape Headphones Store to review the FiiO M11Plus LTD and see how they differ from my previously owned M11Pro.
Functions & Specifications
Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the FiiO M11Plus LTD;
- 5″ Bezel-Less Touchscreen Display
- 720p Resolution with 18:9 Aspect Ratio
- Customized Android 10
- Snapdragon 660 Octa-Core Chipset
- Dual AK4497EQ DACs & THX AAA-78 Amps
- Hi-Res Audio & Hi-Res Audio Wireless
- 8x MQA Decoding
- Up to 11.5 Hours of Playback
- Intelligent & Precise Volume Management
- 64GB of Storage – Expandable up to 2TB
- 3 Headphone Jacks – 2.5mm, 4.4mm & 3.5mm
- Bluetooth 5.0 receiver and transmitter
- Stainless steel version available
Retail Price & Where To Get
The FiiO M11Plus LTD can be purchased at Red Ape – Headphone Store
Purchase Link : https://invol.co/cl62zen | https://invol.co/cl62zf7
Packaging & Accessories
FiiO has already been known for their immaculate packaging practice and this M11Plus LTD is very well packaged. Though not as fancy as their bigger siblings the M15, they are very well executed. They came in a rather small sized box that is quite attractive looking. Inside we will find the M11Plus LTD encased in a leather casing that is just premium looking and it is very generous of FiiO to include a premium casing to protect the M11Plus LTD. Inside we will also find the regular accessories like the USB type C cable, manuals, warranty card, a SD card slot pin and a 3.5mm to RCA SPDIF converter for connecting to a HiFi or desktop based DACs. Overall, it is packed simple but very well thought and complete.
Design
The main upgrade that I felt is a big improvement over the M11Pro is the design. It is way better in terms of the user friendliness with their new and improved volume with touch slider or clickable volume control which I feel is better for portable use than the wheel based volume control of the older M11 series players. The control buttons has also been changed to a better ones as i do find the older button of the M11 are too prone to accidental clicks and FiiO has also added a multifunctional button under the volume buttons that can be used but only on the FiiO’s music app with functions such as filter settings, shuffle play and other interesting useful functions. The power button has been moved to the left top side and it has a LED embedded in it giving information on the charging status. FiiO has implemented their 6th-gen Honeycomb design for the casing with hexagonal buttons and diamond-cut texture to the back cover giving the M11 Plus LTD a rather high-end design.
Inside the M11Plus LTD, the CPU is now driven by the venerable 8 core Snapdragon SD660 that will improve the processing speed of the device. It is more reliable and snappier than the M11Pro by a margin. The M11Plus LTD battery has been upgraded with a massive 6000mah battery and improved the battery life from 9 to 10 hours in the M11Pro to 11.5 hours, 10 hours on balance which is a big plus. Charging is now at 27 watts versus the 18 watts on the M11pro which is another big plus. The M11Plus LTD is programmed with a new Digital Audio Purification System containing 4th-gen FPGA with two NDK femtosecond crystal oscillators providing a high-precision and low jitter unified clock source for the entire audio architecture. Also, the M11Plus LTD is an internally shielded anti-interference circuit to completely isolate the analog and digital sections along with an enhanced power supply with separate power supplies for each process. The M11Plus LTD is quite heavy and thick for a portable music player by weighing at 307 grams in the normal version and 407 grams in the stainless steel version.
The screen has also been enhanced with a 5.5 inch bezel less screen versus the 5.1 inch screen of the older M11 version. The display is brighter and clearer than the older version by a mile
Other features include bluetooth 5.0, AirPlay support, all to DSD decoding,10 band graphic equalizer, 6 digital filter settings, balance control, USB DAC mode, Pure Music Mode, MQA 8X decoding, and three gain settings. It is truly a swiss army knife of a digital audio player being done masterfully right.
Gears Used for Comparisons
- WM1Z Walkman® Signature Series
- RHA L1 Dacamp
- Hidizs S9 Pro
- FiiO Q5 with AM3D THX amp module
- Audio GD 28.38
- Beyerdynamics Xelento
- Moondrop A8
- Sony N3AP
- Blon A8 Prometheus
- Smabat M2S Pro
- Blur daBass custom earbud
- Monk SM earbud
- Beyerdynamics T1
- Sennheiser HD800s
- Hifiman HE560
Songs list
Tone and Presentation
The tone of the M11Plus LTD is a neutral warm sound signature with plenty of details and clarity. The AK4497eq DAC chip possesses a silky smooth-warm signature that is prevalent in the presentation of the M11Plus LTD. it sounded truly sweet and very inviting with micro details being expressed with finesse. Being amped with the great neutral performance of the THX AAA-78 amplifier module brings a thicker and a more dynamic sound signature while staying true to the music played without any added colouration. This combination of AKM DAC chips with the THX amplifier is my preferred sound signature as they are very easy to listen to and music is presented in a silky smooth tone. They sounded very lively and organic without any hint of dryness.
Soundstage
The soundstage of the M11Plus LTD is deep and wide. It certainly improves the head-room of my gears giving a more enjoyable holographic experience especially on live performances. Placements of instruments are very well placed and they are accurate without any fuzziness. The soundstage improvements are more prevalent in earbuds as they sounded more out of the ear than ever. Background noise of the M11Plus LTD is certainly very black and sounded dead silent making the soundstage sounds very deep and clear.
Separation and Timbre
One word, excellent. Separation on this device is truly awe inspiring as I can very clearly pin-point music instruments and vocal in their placement. Layering in the music is sublime with music sounding very well presented with every detail expressed without any veiling. Timbre is simply perfect with instruments notes sounded natural and vocals sounded pitch perfect. Vocals sounded sweet and full of emotions without any harshness.
Drivability
The driving power of the M11Plus LTD is decent at best. It is slightly more powerful than its predecessor, the M11Pro by a little but it still struggles to drive high impedance headphones such as my 600ohms Beyerdynamic T1 with some restraints on their sound and volume even on high gain mode. They are sufficient for all my portable gears ranging from 32ohms to 300ohms and I believe they can drive high sensitivity portable headphones with ease. They are meant for portability and if you require more power, I would recommend FiiO’s M15 as they are more powerful than the M11Plus LTD and capable of driving power hungry headphones.
The Bass (Low)
Bass performance on the M11Plus LTD is simply phenomenal in quality as well as in quantity. The low region gives my gears a very tight and good impact in their performance rather than sounding boomy or congested. The bass the M11pro produces is a pure bass presentation with a great texture and precision that is simply great. It has a slight mid-bass focus making the bass sound a little more thicker. Details on the bass are extensive giving a clear and accurate tone without any bleed or congestion in their presentation. Sub-bass in the M11Plus LTD is deep with added extension and they sounded decent with EDM tracks.
The Mids
The midrange of the M11Plus LTD has a neutral-warm take to it. It sounded very detailed and thick, complementing the bass region. It has a great transparency in their presentation, giving a clear and detailed performance in the music played. Vocals sounded accurate and they sounded sweet with great emotions without any congestion inheriting the velvety sound of the AK4497eq chips which AKM are known for. The mids produced are not analytical or cold sounding but it has a warm, laidback kind of feel to it and retains a high degree of resolution in their performance. The midrange performance definitely sounded meatier and more linear than its predecessor, the M11Pro.
The Highs
The highs region on the M11Plus LTD goes hand in hand with the midrange and bass region by giving a smooth, non-peaky experience. It has a non intrusive high performance without sacrificing any details in their presentation. Treble has a slight aggressiveness to it and it gives a crisp decay with some sparkling edge in music played. Hissing and sibilance is not present even with my brighter sounding gears and the treble is very well controlled without any major roll-offs. With its smooth profile, fatigue is the least of my concerns as I can listen to this type of tuning all day.
Comparisons
VS Sony WM1Z with custom Mr. Walkman ROM
The signature series flagship Walkman from Japan that will set you back for USD2000 and it cost 3 times as much as the M11Plus LTD. Both are quite different as the WM1Z is a pure music player without any wi-fi while the M11Plus LTD a full android experience with music streaming available on all platforms. The battery life on the WM1Z is twice as much as the M11Pro LTD. Both Units excels in their background noise but the WM1Z sounded blacker and their noise floor is practically non-existent.
The High region on the WM1Z is more laid-back than the linear high region of the M111Plus LTD. Details on the WM1Z high region have a slightly more resolution while the M11Plus LTD has a more crisp presentation. Both high performance has a smooth signature that won’t incur any fatigue in the long run
Midrange on the M11Plus LTD is thicker and meatier than the WM1Z. Resolution and details on the M11Plus ltd is slightly better while the WM1Z has a slightly recessed mids but still retaining a great resolution. Midrange on the WM1Z has a more deep emotional feel to it making them a better vocal performer than the M11Plus Ltd
Bass on the WM1z is slightly deeper and clearer than the M11Plus LTD. Bass impact on the M11Plus LTD is slightly more prevalent and it sounded sharper with a better decay than the WM1Z. Details on both units in the bass department are very similar by providing a clear bass performance without any bleed or congestion.
Soundstage on the WM1Z sounded deeper with a better depth in the music played versus the M11Plus LTD but the height they provide is rather similar.
VS FiiO Q5 with AM3D THX amplifier module
A rather similar amp module on both but the M11Plus LTD possesses better AK4497eq chips than the AK4490 chips of the Q5. The Q5 is an all in one portable DAC/amplifier with a bluetooth 4.2 and swappable amplifier module while the M11Plus LTD is an all in one digital android music player with bluetooth 5.0.
Bass on the M11Plus LTD has a better quantity and quality versus the Q5. The details and clarity in the bass department of the M11Plus LTD is simply better than the Q5. Sub-bass on the M11Plus LTD goes deeper and has a better extension than the Q5.
Midrange on the Q5 sounded slightly more forward but lacking the details present in the M11Plus LTD. Details and resolution on the M11Plus LTD is better in terms of their transparency and clarity with a meatier signature. The Q5 mids has a slight emphasis on the midrange versus the neutral overall signature of the M11Plus LTD.
High range on the M11Plus LTD has a better extension and the high is more present than the Q5. The highs on the Q5 is slightly less aggressive than the M11Plus LTD. High on the M11Plus LTD is crispier and more exciting than the rather laidback treble in the Q5.
Soundstage on the M11Plus LTD is bigger, wider and taller than the Q5.
Side by side the M11Plus LTD is a true upgrade from the Q5 with AM3D which sounded more similar to the M11Pro.
Synergy
Beyerdynamic Xelento
Beyerdynamic flagship IEM that houses a single Tesla dynamic driver. Paired on the M11Plus LTD gives a sublime experience on the aggressive sound of the Xelento. Highs on the Xelento are smoother and sounded very well extended. Highs has a more sparkling criteria to it and making the Xelento’s high range a less fatiguing experience while retaining the excellent details in the high range. Midrange of the Xelento is thicker and sweeter on this setup. Resolution is better with the Xelento sounding clearer than ever. Vocal placements seemed to have improved and they sounded almost in front of you. Live performance sounded more realistic and holographic. Bass on the Xelento sounded less forward and they sounded more linear which is a good thing as the Xelento bass on some gears will sound slightly overpowering. Bass on the M11Plus LTD gives the Xelento a better sub-bass extension and they sounded perfect for my taste. Soundstage on the Xelento sounded wider and deeper. They sounded better on the M11Plus LTD versus the pairing of the Sony WM1Z.
Moondrop A8
The Moondrop A8 is an 8 balanced armature IEM that is excellent in its resolution and is tuned towards a Harman target response. With this pairing I really do feel that the A8 sounded at their best especially on the 4.4mm balanced out. Highs on the A8 has a crispier feel to it and the treble is extended really well. The highs also sounded smoother in their response. Midrange on the A8 sounded thicker and more forward, making the A8 more enjoyable especially on vocals and instruments. Midrange resolution remained at a high degree with an extra touch of clarity added. Bass on the A8 is tighter and has a better decay in their performance and it felt more like a dynamic type of bass. Soundstage of the A8 seems deeper and wider than before giving out a more holographic presentation.
Monk SM
Monk SM or Slim Metal is a latest budget earbud that has no compromise in their performance and looks. It has a bright neutral sound signature that might sound harsh if not properly driven. Highs on the Monk SM seemed to be smoother and less peaky, making it more enjoyable. Treble also sounded more controlled and has a better extension making it slightly airier also retaining the crispness present in the Monk SM. Mids on the Monk SM are more balanced and they sounded thicker and more emotional in their presentation. Bass on the Monk SM has a better sub-bass presence and it sounded more acceptable as they sounded a little bass shy on other pairing. Soundstage on these earbuds is definitely wider and deeper than before making these earbuds sound more towards an out of ear experience.
Who Is It For?
For those who owned or own a M11Pro but wanted a better designed and better sounding player or someone who wanted a mid-level android music player, the M11plus LTD is a worthy purchase. With a more user-friendly design, better processor, bigger battery, better sound performance and a newer android version, the M11Plus LTD addresses the downsides of the M11Pro and they truly produced a wonderful product. In my honest opinion, the M11Plus LTD is the current mid-fi king in the portable music player arena in their sound quality and their performance as a digital audio player beating out their competitors.
Final words
With such a great product like the M11plus LTD, it is hard for me to find the flaws present in this product. They sounded great with top range specifications, great battery life, very well designed and had a google store for music streaming, they simply checked all the boxes for an all in one digital audio player. As an ex-owner of a FiiO M11Pro, I really do feel that FiiO has listened to their users and addressed all the shortcomings of the M11Pro and they have produced the wonderful M11Plus LTD which I am truly enjoying right now. Though the M11Plus LTD feels kind of bulky and slightly heavy, it is due to it 6000mah battery and I can totally understand it. They are also made for portable gear such as IEMs or earbuds and are not powerful enough for high impedance headphones, so for users who wanted more power in their player, they should look into the M15 or the upcoming M17. With the inclusion of a leather casing in the box, FiiO has also been very generous to keep the M11Plus LTD price the same as the M11Pro. Overall, the M11Plus LTD is truly a gem in the collection of FiiO’s product line and will soon be discontinued once the AK4497eq chip has depleted.
I would rate this product a solid 
(4 / 5)
