FiiO DM11: Portable CD Player With Replaceable Batteries

The FiiO DM11 was announced yesterday (September 12) at the 8th Beijing International Headphone Exhibition 2026. During its product launch conference for this year’s fall season, FiiO introduced the most affordable portable CD player in the DM series. Its key features include a circular design, replaceable batteries, Bluetooth connectivity, protection against playback skipping, and an aluminum-and-glass body. Further details are provided below.

The DM11 departs from the DM series’ square design with a circular form factor

Rather than cutting costs, FiiO chose to introduce an entirely different design with the DM11. The new portable CD player is the most affordable option in the DM lineup and features a design distinct from those of the DM13 and DM15.

With its circular form factor, the FiiO DM11 departs entirely from the design adopted by most portable CD players released in China over the past two years. Brands such as Moondrop, Cayin, Dunu, and Shanling offer only square models.

The challenges of achieving a circular design

To bring back the circular design of portable CD players from the 2000s, FiiO completely reworked the DM11’s internal structure. The manufacturer stated:

“To come as close as possible to the circular form factor we envisioned, we redesigned the internal structure, component stacking arrangement, and vibration damping system.

After dozens of design iterations, we succeeded, through a patented structural design, in accommodating a professional Hi-Fi audio architecture, a comprehensive range of connections, and extensive functionality within a body only slightly larger than a standard CD.”

Lighter and more compact

Compared with the DM15 and DM13, the FiiO DM11 weighs nearly half as much. At just 263.5 g, FiiO’s new portable CD player offers significantly improved portability. The weights of each model are listed below for comparison.

• FiiO DM11: 263.5 g
• FiiO DM13: 450 g
• FiiO DM15 AKM: 471.5 g
• FiiO DM15 R2R: 471.5 g

The DM11’s reduced thickness is another welcome improvement in portability. Measuring just 25 mm thick, its body is thinner than those of the DM13 and DM15. The thickness of each portable CD player is listed below.

• FiiO DM11: 25 mm
• FiiO DM13: 27.5 mm
• FiiO DM15: 25.5 mm

Aluminum and glass are used in the DM11’s construction

Despite being the most affordable option in the DM series, the FiiO DM11 features an aluminum-alloy chassis with tempered glass. The glass is used for the lid, allowing users to see the disc spinning.

A disc retention mechanism also used in high-end CD players

Despite its entry-level positioning, FiiO equipped the DM11 with a disc retention mechanism found in more expensive portable CD players. Springs and steel balls facilitate disc insertion and provide greater stability as the disc rotates.

An electronic system to prevent skipping during playback

To provide uninterrupted CD playback, the DM11 features ESP (Electronic Skip Protection). A button on the underside of the CD player allows users to enable or disable this feature.

Removable batteries

To extend the DM11’s service life, FiiO incorporated rechargeable, replaceable lithium-ion batteries. Users simply open a cover on the underside of the CD player to replace them. Each battery uses the 14500 form factor, and the selected model has a voltage of 3.7 V and a capacity of 1,000 mAh (3,700 mWh).

A range of analog and digital connections for greater flexibility

The FiiO DM11 supports several connection options. It provides two headphone outputs: a 3.5 mm single-ended (SE) output and a 4.4 mm balanced output. In addition, it includes a USB-C port for use as a USB DAC and a 3.5 mm output for optical and coaxial connections.

Bluetooth headphones and speakers can also be connected, as the DM11 supports Bluetooth transmission. The diagram below illustrates the available connection options.

DAC chips and amplification circuitry used in the DM11

FiiO selected a pair of Cirrus Logic CS43198 chips and SG Micro SGM8262 operational amplifiers (op-amps). The amplification circuitry delivers up to 500 mW into 32 Ω through the 4.4 mm balanced output.

CD ripping functionality

For users who wish to extract tracks from a CD for playback on another device, the DM11 can rip CDs to a USB flash drive. Simply connect a USB flash drive to the CD player’s USB-C port to perform the process.

Equalization options

Although it does not allow users to create custom equalization profiles, the DM11 includes several presets:

• Pop
• Jazz
• Rock
• Hip-hop
• Dance
• Classical
• Retro

The FiiO DM11 can also be used with equalization disabled.

FiiO DM11: Partial specifications

• Amplification: SG Micro SGM8262
• Analog outputs: 3.5 mm single-ended (SE) and 4.4 mm balanced
• Bluetooth 5.4
• CD ripping functionality
• Chassis materials: aluminum alloy and tempered glass
• DAC chip: Cirrus Logic CS43198
• Equalization (EQ) presets
• ESP (Electronic Skip Protection) system
• Output power: 500 mW into 32 Ω through the 4.4 mm balanced output
• Removable rechargeable batteries: two 14500 batteries, each with a voltage of 3.7 V and a capacity of 1,000 mAh (3,700 mWh)
• Thickness: 25 mm
• USB DAC mode
• Weight: 263.5 g

An accessory available separately

A synthetic leather case will be available for the FiiO DM11. A photograph of the accessory, which will be sold separately, is shown below.

Release, pricing, and availability

The FiiO DM11 is scheduled for release on November 11 in sky blue, black, and orange, with a price not exceeding 800 yuan (approximately US$119.26). This article will be updated as additional information becomes available.