FiiO Brings Pod Mode and Cassette Mode to Older DAPs

FiiO has introduced the Tape Mode and Pod Mode apps to several of its older Digital Audio Players (DAPs), including the M11 Plus and M17, among other models. The latest firmware update also adds noteworthy features such as System EQ, Auto EQ, and community EQ profile sharing. This release demonstrates FiiO’s commitment not only to providing maintenance updates for previous-generation DAPs but also to delivering meaningful new functionality.

Five-Year-Old FiiO DAPs Receive New Features

Models such as the FiiO M11 Plus and M17, originally released in 2021, are receiving new software features five years after their debut. Until now, these functionalities were available only on the company’s newer players, including the JM21, M21, and M33 R2R.

The FiiO DAPs covered by this firmware update are based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 System-on-a-Chip (SoC) and run Android 10. By comparison, FiiO’s latest DAPs feature the Snapdragon 680 platform and Android 13.

Which FiiO DAPs Received the New Firmware Update?

The table below lists the FiiO DAPs that received the latest firmware update, along with their respective launch years.

What New Features Were Added to FiiO DAPs?

The latest firmware introduces the following features to the supported FiiO DAPs:

• Tape Mode app
• Pod Mode app
• Equalizer app featuring Auto EQ and community EQ profile sharing

All of these features are implemented as standalone apps and appear directly on the device’s home screen.

How to Use Tape Mode and Pod Mode

To ensure that Tape Mode and Pod Mode function correctly, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Start music playback using FiiO Music or any supported music streaming app.

Step 2: Open either the Tape Mode or Pod Mode app.

It is important to follow this sequence exactly. Otherwise, the cassette animation in Tape Mode will not play correctly, and the currently playing track may not be displayed properly in Pod Mode.

What Is the Equalizer App and How Does It Work?

The Equalizer app applies equalization settings system-wide across all applications installed on the DAP. For this reason, many users refer to this feature as Global EQ.

The latest version of the Equalizer app introduces both Auto EQ and community EQ profile sharing. These features require an active Wi-Fi connection to access EQ profiles stored in the cloud.

Auto EQ allows users to automatically generate equalization settings by selecting either a target frequency response curve or measured headphone frequency response data. Users may further fine-tune the generated EQ settings manually if desired.

The community EQ sharing feature functions as a social platform for publishing and downloading equalization profiles. Users can upload their own EQ presets for others to use or search and download profiles created by the community.

Firmware Changelog

Below is the official changelog for the latest firmware released for the FiiO M11 Plus, M11 Plus LTD, M17, M11S, M15S, M23, R7, and R9.

• Added the Pod Mode app.
• Added the Tape Mode app.
• Added the Equalizer app with Auto EQ and community EQ profile sharing.
• Optimized download speed in the FiiO Market app.
• Improved remote control stability and responsiveness.
• Fixed an occasional Bluetooth transmission issue.
• Implemented additional performance optimizations and bug fixes.

According to FiiO, the R7 and R9 will not have Pod Mode and Tape Mode installed by default after updating the firmware. However, users can manually install both apps through FiiO Market, the company’s app store, which serves a role similar to the Google Play Store.

How to Update the Firmware

There are two methods for updating FiiO DAPs. The recommended approach is to connect the player to a Wi-Fi network. Once connected, an update notification will appear automatically, allowing the installation process to begin with a single tap.

Alternatively, users may perform a local firmware update by downloading the appropriate firmware package for their device.

Step 1: Download the Firmware Package

• Firmware download link for FiiO M11 Plus
• Firmware download link for FiiO M11 Plus LTD
• Firmware download link for FiiO M17
• Firmware download link for FiiO M11S
• Firmware download link for FiiO M15S
• Firmware download link for FiiO M23
• Firmware download link for FiiO R7
• Firmware download link for FiiO R9

Step 2

Copy the downloaded firmware package to the DAP’s internal storage.

Step 3

Open the Technical Support app.

Step 4

Select Firmware Upgrade.

Step 5

Tap Local Upgrade and locate the downloaded firmware package.