FiiO DM13 BT

Design & Build

The FiiO DM13 BT features an aluminium chassis with high-quality finishing, available in black, white with a transparent lid, or silver. Measuring 143 × 137 × 27 mm (without rubber feet) and weighing around 450 g, it’s compact enough for a backpack or handbag. The lid opens mechanically via a lever on the right – a satisfyingly traditional touch.

On the front is a small LCD display flanked by 3.5 mm unbalanced and 4.4 mm balanced headphone outputs. Playback controls sit on the lid, while all connections and two special-function switches are at the rear. The build is solid, and the unit also works well as a desktop component.

Connections & Features

Connectivity is generous for such a small player: 3.5 mm & 4.4 mm headphone outs, line outs, a combined optical/coaxial digital output, USB-C charging port, separate USB-C REC port for ripping, and a Bluetooth transmitter (aptX, aptX HD, aptX LL, SBC). The REC USB-C port is for ripping only – there’s no USB DAC functionality. Bluetooth mode must be activated separately via a button, with pairing initiated by holding the previous-track button.

Usability

Core functions like play, skip, and pause are straightforward, but secondary features – repeat mode, playlist setup, Bluetooth activation – are tied to button combinations that aren’t always intuitive. For example, a short press of the power button displays battery status, output, or ESP mode, during which no other inputs are accepted. Fast-forwarding within tracks is inconsistent and produces audible artefacts – one of the device’s weakest points.

Features: ESP, Gapless & More

Electronic Skip Protection (ESP) buffers up to 60 seconds of audio to prevent interruptions while in motion. FiiO advises using it only on the go, as buffered playback may cause slight quality loss. Gapless playback now works reliably thanks to a firmware update, which also fixed other bugs. The player remembers playback position on shutdown.

CD Ripping – Direct & via PC

Ripping can be done directly to a FAT32-formatted USB stick. Holding the play button saves tracks as WAV files, but they’re always stored in the same folder with identical filenames – meaning only one album can be stored per stick without confusion. Alternatively, the DM13 BT can connect to a PC via the REC port for real-time recording using audio capture software. No metadata or CD-Text is preserved in either method.

Bluetooth

The FiiO DM13 BT acts as a Bluetooth transmitter, streaming to headphones or speakers. Supported codecs: aptX, aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, SBC. LDAC isn’t supported at present but could be added later. In testing, the connection was stable and reliable.

FiiO DM13 BT’s Sound Quality

Inside of the FiiO DM13 BT are two Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs and two SGM8262 headphone amps, delivering up to 660 mW (balanced) – enough to drive demanding headphones. Volume is adjustable in 99 steps. The sound is neutral, clear, and detailed without becoming overly analytical – though of course this depends heavily on the headphones used.

Formats & Compatibility

Supported media: Audio CDs, CD-R, and CD-ROM containing FLAC, WAV, WMA, AAC, and MP3, as well as the CD layer of SACDs.

Battery Life & Desktop Mode

The 3,750 mAh cobalt-lithium battery provides up to 10 hours of playback. Charging is via USB-C, though there’s no dedicated charge indicator – you must power on and press the power button to check status. In desktop mode, the battery is bypassed entirely and the player runs from mains power.

Verdict – Who is it for?

The FiiO DM13 BT is a niche product – but one that serves its audience well. For anyone still listening to or archiving CDs in 2025, it offers premium build, strong sound, and surprising flexibility. It’s not perfect – menu logic can frustrate, fast-forwarding feels dated, and there’s no proper charging display – but for intentional, distraction-free music listening, it’s one of the most stylish portable CD players with desktop-grade capabilities.

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