FiiO Revives Portable CD Playing with Cutting-Edge Tech

For anyone born in the late 1980s or the decades before, the compact disc (CD) was once the most popular mode of playing music and for a time, sharing digital files. Though the format has all but become obsolete, replaced by downloadable mp3s and eventual audio streaming, many music lovers still prefer the physical touch – tactility – of the thin, glistening metallic wheel and the art-covered cases that contain them, not to mention the curated nature of only having 20 or so tracks on one disc. Today, it can feel as though there are too many immediately available options and less emphasis on unexpected discovery; finding a new favorite song among those that are further down the list of an album’s anthology. Many still maintain carefully classified collections displayed extensively like books on a shelf within their living rooms. While the cassette tape-enabled Walkman marked a paradigm shift in how people listen to music – allowing them to do so on the move and on their own – it was the CD-equipped Discman that made this advancement stick. Looking to recapture the awe of that moment, all while integrating the latest technological innovations, boutique British audio brand FiiO has just released the new DM15 R2R portable CD player. Sturdier and more cubical than its sleekly contoured and streamlined Sony predecessor, the device resembles the configuration of a record player, adding to its nostalgic appearance. It remains lightweight and easy to carry in a bag or even a large pocket. The tempered-glass lid – displaying the CD’s mesmerizing spin – is enclosed by a meticulously sewn-together leather case, available in a generous range of trend-conscious, moodier tones. This more substantial form hints at its enhanced performance; a degree of sound quality that isn’t necessarily derived from the CD per se. DM15 R2R’s playback is accentuated by a high-fidelity R2R digital-to-analog conversion. Enhanced amplification – even through its especially robust Bluetooth transmission – delivers a noticeable boost: 310 mW + 310 mW. Its outputs rise to 1150 mW + 1150 mW. The player’s custom R2R DAC four-channel 24-bit resistor-array converter is built from 192 precision thin-film resistors (48 per channel). Each was selected for 0.1% tolerance and ultra-low temperature drift. DM15 R2R recaptures the quality of the CD but with the added bonus of a present-day hi-fi system. As the retro-tech trend continues to sweep the industry, this device was developed with an eye toward the past and one toward the future. To learn more about the DM15 R2R portable CD player by FiiO, visit fiio.com. Photography courtesy of FiiO.