FiiO S15 Touchscreen Streaming DAC Teaser

We were thrilled to award FiiO’s R9 as the Product of the Year 2024 for its innovative design as a vertically oriented streaming DAC with an impressive THX headphone amplifier and a native Android OS featuring Google Play Store apps. Today, FiiO has unveiled the S15, a sleek full-width streaming DAC without a headphone amplifier, boasting a custom Android OS with a curated list of installable apps, similar to competitors like Eversolo and Hifi Rose.

The standout feature of the S15 is its 7.8″ horizontally oriented touchscreen, communicating with a tailored version of Android 12 powered by a Snapdragon 660 chip, 4GB RAM, and 64GB ROM. While the specific streaming apps available at launch have not been disclosed in the press release, we do know that the S15 will be Roon Ready, support Spotify Connect, and feature Apple AirPlay 2 compatibility right out of the box. Update: FiiO’s website hints at apps like Qobuz, Deezer, Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon HD being available at launch.

Under the hood, the S15 houses AKM’s flagship decoder, distributing filtering and delta-sigma modulation to an AK4191 chip to dedicate the analog conversion to a separate AK4499EX chip. This separation is likely to enhance high-frequency noise isolation. The DAC is powered by a ’35W low noise linear’ power supply. Analog output options include two sets of single-ended RCA sockets and one set of balanced XLR.

For users seeking flexibility in connectivity, the S15 offers multiple inputs like XMOS-based USB-C, coaxial, TOSLINK, and HDMI ARC. This versatile device can also act as a digital pre-amplifier, catering to various audio setups. Digital outputs include coaxial, TOSLINK, and HDMI-based I2S for audiophiles. Two-way Bluetooth communication supporting AAC, aptX HD, and LDAC is powered by Qualcomm’s QCC5181 chip.

Similar to Eversolo products, the S15 allows for an M.2 SSD to be housed internally for self-contained file streaming, eliminating the need for a network connection. Additionally, it features SD card and USB-A slots on the back panel for convenient local file access. The FiiO S15 is expected to be priced at US$999, €999, or £999 upon its release at the end of January.

For more details, you can check out FiiO’s website and stay tuned for updates. Let’s get excited about this new offering in the world of streaming DACs!