Here is the link to the FiiO Coaxial Digital Audio Adapter -> m.aliexpress.com/item/1005004822949683.html?gatewayAdapt=Pc2Msite

Thank god for this review I was about to buy one to hook up to my helix v twelve you saved me a lot of time.

Yes, FiiO seems to be going backwards lately with the M11S and the M15s compared to it’s competitors

@CarAudioHorizons

Жыл бұрын

Yup, not sure what’s going on over there as I wasn’t impressed with the M11s and the M15s doesn’t look too exciting either. It’s like they’re stuck in 2019 still. No Android 12, same screen, etc…

Quick question, what is the audio quest cable you have attached to the DAP in this video? Is it an analog cable, so 3.5mm to RCA? I also figured out that you are right man, if you play Tidal MQA it must go out via analog to the DSP. Only within the Fiio player app you can select a setting to tell it where to decode the MQA file and subsequently what signal it sends out of the COAX / SPDIF connector. So this is only useful if you have downloaded MQA files..

@CarAudioHorizons

Жыл бұрын

I have many coaxial digital cables, but the one in the video is the Audioquest cinnamon coaxial digital audio cable here is the link -> amzn.to/3eJ4nzw Also with regards to the MQA I just tested it last night and even when you switch MQA to bitstream it won’t play via the coaxial digital output. So the only way to play MQA is out of the analog outputs of the FiiO DAP’s.

@soopamarcus1

Жыл бұрын

Ah right! So you actually found one that didn't need the Fiio converter in the end?

@CarAudioHorizons

Жыл бұрын

@@soopamarcus1 No I have the Fiio M17 and it has a regular coaxial digital output on it. So with the M17 you just need a regular coaxial digital cable like the one I mentioned. For all the other Fiio DAP’s you need the adapter which for the first time in FiiO’s history they don’t include with the Fiio M11s.

Hi Dave, yes I saw a review when the guy unboxed the Fiio m11s and there was no adapter, my reaction was maybe they forgot to include the cable but now according to your statement it proves that there is no adapter along with the fiio M11s, It is too bad but I have my contact and I will also discuss this matter if there is a possibility to supply this adapter in the near future otherwise no one will buy M11s for caraudo use. Thank you so much my friend for the update. Much appreciated 🙏🙏

@CarAudioHorizons

Жыл бұрын

Yes, doesn’t make sense to me and the ones Fiio had are all sold out on AliExpress. Who knows if they will still make them in the future. I think a DYI version will just fall apart because of constantly abuse of having to connect and disconnect the coaxial digital audio cable.

@high16200

Жыл бұрын

Dave, I have sent a request to a reliable source and I hope for an answer soon and I will let you know if I recieve any new information about the M11s, if there will be a possibility to buy the adapter separately. You are right about DYI, I have my doubts too. The future will tell.

@CarAudioHorizons

Жыл бұрын

@@high16200 Yes, keep me in the loop as I was on the forum’s and got the link to their adapter but unfortunately they’re sold out of them. On a side note Shanling had a dongle DAC that I was going to do a review on as you could go coaxial digital out on it but once again they don’t come with the adapter so I didn’t bother with it.

@high16200

Жыл бұрын

Yes! the adapter is very important if you can't afford the M17 which has the best version of coaxial no adapter needed. Well I will let you know.

@CarAudioHorizons

Жыл бұрын

@@high16200 Yes, I seen that link on the forums and they were sold out. I just find it bizarre that they wouldn’t include this adapter with the M11s. What’s the point of having a device do coaxial digital out when you don’t include the adapter for it and can’t buy it anywhere 🤦 A DYI version would work easily for your home but in a car when you’re constantly having to connect and disconnect I don’t think that’s practical. Also we already have to buy a 5 meter coaxial digital audio cable which isn’t cheap if you’re buying the Audioquest ones. Now we’re expected to buy an adapter? Not cool in my books and a BIG L for the Fiio M11s.

Hello, i have a stock sound system. Currently using AUX with a fiio Q3. It works for me but was curious is it worth getting a m11 plus or m11s and use as direct aux? Therefore eliminating the use for a dac/amp

@CarAudioHorizons

4 ай бұрын

The m11s is the worst DAP FiiO has ever made as it’s extremely bright. The M23 is coming out next month and is replacing the M11 Plus. I will be doing a review on it so that might be worth checking out.

@ab123dog

4 ай бұрын

@@CarAudioHorizons thanks for that, would you say the m11 plus is still a good purchase?

@CarAudioHorizons

4 ай бұрын

@@ab123dog I have seen it for $700 on the Canadian Amazon site and it’s worth it at that price but it’s not at $900

Hi Dave, my Helix V twelve has spdif input. And i am considering Ifi Zen One Signature which has spdif output. Can i use the DAC to connect to my Helix? And do you think that the quality of music will be decrease due to the maximum sample rate of the Helix SPDIF is only 96khz?

@CarAudioHorizons

Жыл бұрын

All the Helix DSP are Maxed out at 96khz. You have to go into the Brax to get the full 192khz. In my experience you can usually play most 24/192 tracks but they will be converted in the Helix to 96khz. Some of the 24/192 if they can’t be played you will hear cracking sounds so you will know right away what can or can’t be played.

@TheTakimata

Жыл бұрын

@@CarAudioHorizons thanks for your advice. But the matter is that i had the Helix already and of course i am still looking for an appropriate DAC to go with my Helix. Any suggestion, pls...!?

@CarAudioHorizons

Жыл бұрын

@@TheTakimata Well if you’re using any DAC/Amp like the one you mentioned and are using it’s SPDIF out (Optical) then you are bypassing the DAC inside your iFi device. That being said the iFi device will still have it’s own sound signature. I haven’t tested any of the iFi products yet, so I can’t say on how they sound. Check my Reviews on the Topping d10s, Fiio K3 and my favourite device so far the WIIM Mini Streamer which I think sounds better than anything I have tested out of the Optical SPDIF.

@TheTakimata

Жыл бұрын

@@CarAudioHorizons you're right. I am looking for as many 'SPDIF output' DACs as possible. Hope that anyone can tell me what the suitable one is. Thank you so much, Dave!

Hi, I'm considering to buy this Fiio M11S. Planning to use it as source for my car audio, but after watching your video does it mean I shouldn't buy it for my car or what?is it unusable without the adapter in car audio? I am totally new in DAP usage, been using Head unit all this time in my car.

@CarAudioHorizons

Жыл бұрын

Do you have a DSP in your system?

@ricoxm

Жыл бұрын

@@CarAudioHorizons yes, I'm using Musway M6v3 dsp, which has high, aux/stereo(RCA) and optical inputs

@CarAudioHorizons

Жыл бұрын

@@ricoxm No coaxial digital input?

@ricoxm

Жыл бұрын

@@CarAudioHorizons does coaxial digital input = RCA input? if so then yes

@CarAudioHorizons

Жыл бұрын

@@ricoxm No those would just be standard RCA’s. I was just looking at the specs and it looks like it doesn’t have the coaxial digital input. Are you using the optical input for anything?

Question why not get a female to female coupler.you said u found a aux to male. Use the coupler and your problem should be solved

@CarAudioHorizons

Жыл бұрын

Because in car audio you’re not leaving your DAP in your vehicle every day. So You’re connecting and disconnecting the coaxial digital cable every day, and you need something that’s rugged that can handle that on a regular basis. The Fiio coaxial digital audio adapters worked perfectly. A DYI one will likely fall apart using a female coupler when connecting and disconnecting the very first time you go to use it.

Just use one you have, I did. This is one of the best player at this price

@CarAudioHorizons

Жыл бұрын

I don’t have one 😆 But I did manage to order two of them, apparently the last two in stock. So hopefully they don’t take two long to arrive as they’re coming from China. I’m looking forward to doing the review now 😃

You are correct in that it is difficult if not impossible to find the little adapter that you speak of. If there is any good news about this it is that I emailed fiio and they made arrangements to send me one. I think it was less than $10 U.S. I have since found out that you can make one superior to the fiio cable by using superior parts. Hopefully you can get this resolved and review this one as it looks promising.

@CarAudioHorizons

Жыл бұрын

Yes, they sold out of them as they had them on AliExpress. Like I said to the other guy, if you try to make a DYI version of one it’s going to fall apart as for most people they’re not leaving their DAP in the vehicle. They’re connecting and disconnecting the coaxial digital audio adapter every time they get into the car and leaving the car. A DYI version will more than likely fall apart.

@drrckhamilton

Жыл бұрын

@@CarAudioHorizons I have made one and pretty much use mine like you use yours. I will admit that it was kind of a pain to source the parts because they didn't all come from the same place. I used the best parts and it has held together. I agree with you completely that fiio should not have chosen to not include it. I too was looking forward to your review.

@CarAudioHorizons

Жыл бұрын

@@drrckhamilton So when you connect and disconnect it from your DAP it’s not falling apart? I would think the coupler would fall apart. I know I use the Audioquest cinnamon coaxial digital cable and it’s a tight fit on my Fiio M17 so you have to pull pretty hard to take it out. Same with my Bluejeans cable. So I would have thought a DYI coaxial digital cable would have issues. What parts are you using?

@drrckhamilton

Жыл бұрын

@@CarAudioHorizons Honestly I have been a concerned about the same thing so I am pretty careful about how I disconnect it. Just miscellaneous parts that "looked" to be of good quality. It is not quite as tight as the Audioquest. Another option looks like the fiio L21 but I'm not sure of the quality or if it works with all of the daps.

@CarAudioHorizons

Жыл бұрын

@@drrckhamilton Do you have a helix dsp?