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Balance Between Tech and Music – FiiO S15 Music Streamer 

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Balance Between Tech and Music – FiiO S15 Music Streamer 

FiiO S15 is a $999 USD High-End Streamer with a Preamplifier output, digital output, and a Flagship AKM DAC combo at the core, running an AK 4191 and an AK 4499EX dac combo. With a Snapdragon 660, Android 12, 35W Low-Noise Power Supply and a large 7.84″ Display, this is the fanciest, most complete and most practical streamer that we’ve reviewed to date, but we will compare S15 with other streamers including Keces Audio Ebravo (599 USD), Cocktail Audio N25 Streamer (1400 USD), and Matrix Mini-i Pro 4 (959 USD). 

 

Introduction

FiiO is the diamond of the audio world, they create everything, and with a really good price / performance ratio, but this year they really started creating everything, not just Earphones and portable music players, but speakers, CD Players, Tape Players, Vinyl players, and everything in between. With so much going on for FiiO, it is good to see and listen to a flagship product from them, and S15 is basically the most interesting streamer I had the honor of reviewing so far, having a display, Android, USB DAC functions, and more. 

As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases, and using the purchase links in my reviews helps me maintain this website and Youtube Channel. Huge thanks to FiiO for providing the sample for this review, in exchange for my honest opinion. 

 

Product Link

Amazon – https://amzn.to/4jvl3q6

Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oBAKDHw

 

Build Quality / Design

FiiO designed the hands-down most complex and most complete streamer I have reviewed to date, so it is hard to decide where to start for sure, but if we look at it physically, FiiO S15 is a really large device made of metal, with a large display at the front, two wheels on each side of the display, and two USB ports also at the front. That display is more like a smartphone embedded in the S15, as it runs a Snapdragon 660 CPU, along with having a full touch screen, touch buttons on the left and right side of that display, and LED rings around the volume and menu wheels. 

Both USB ports on the right side, beneath the volume wheel, are for inputs, one is a USB DAC Type-C input, and one is a large Type-A USB input. You can use the menu to browse the multiple menus and apps that S15 supports, but the best way to describe it is a supercharged smartphone, it has app support, Chrome installed, you can install most apps on the Playstore, S15 supports both Ethernet and Wifi connections, and basically it redefines what a streamer is. 

To list just a few of the features S15 has, it includes Media Streaming, Network Streaming, LAN Playback, Local Playback, Preamplifier functions, Digital Jukebox, and thanks to its versatility, you can connect it to basically any setup. Although I call it big, wide and thick, the width is standard at 430mm, allowing you to seamlessly integrate it with other equipment. It is also rather heavy, at 5 KG, but it does not generate any heat, so you can place other things on top or beneath it without issue. S15 has zero vibration, and has non-slip feet with rubber rings, to avoid vibrations that could damage the sonic quality. That display I keep talking about is a 7.84″ Automotive-Grade color screen, which is IPS, by my estimates, but has a very colorful and natural presentation of image. As it is a touch screen, it feels like you have a huge smartphone or mini laptop docked together with professional audio streaming gear. 

At the back we have a large 35W Low-Noise Linear Power Supply with 4700uF ELNA audio capacitors for the best sound possible. As S15 is based on Android 12, and a customized landscape display, you can install most apps you can imagine, and it is integrated with Roon, being Roon Ready, has Airplay and DLNA support, and Bluetooth reception. You can play music from your LAN network, via NAS / LAN / Cloud servers, through multiple protocols including SMB / UPNP / WebDAV. Locally, S15 can read microSD cards, USB Flash Drivers, Portable Hard Drives and even SSDs. 

To create the best sound possible, S15 also uses Dual Accusilicon ultra-low noise femtosecond crystal oscillators. The AKM DAC combo found inside of the S15 is flagship-level, as it runs an AK4191 + AK4499EX combo, designed to fully separate the digital and analog portions of the S15, incorporating DWA Routing Technology, which enhances SNR and reduces noise. S15 is fully balanced, and has IV, LPF and other sections count on the OPA1612 OP-AMPs for creating sound. 

At the back of the S15 is where things get crazy, as it includes… So much. I will try to list the inputs and outputs, and if you see the one you need, you’ll know youre covered. Let’s start with the inputs 

  • SSD Reader, with a SSD Slot, with a Type-C input that can read the SSD 
  • USB Host input (For external HDDs)
  • Ethernet Port 
  • AES / EBU Input 
  • SD Card Reader 
  • HDMI Input 
  • S/PDIF Input 
  • Coaxial Input 
  • Ground Switch 
  • Extra USB Host port (thumb drives and External Hard Disks) at the front 
  • Extra Type-C input for the USB DAC function for PC usage at the front
  • Cattle Plug for Power input + Fuse 

And at the back we also have a large number of outputs 

  • Neutrik XLR Balanced Line Out Ports 
  • AES / EBU Outputs 
  • IIS Output (HDMI)
  • HDMI ARC Output 
  • RCA Line Out / Pre Out 
  • RCA Line Out / Pre Out (second, there are two of them)

 

USB DAC / Subjective Usage

I was quite surprised to see just how optimized and nice S15 is running, as it has a customized landscape version for most apps, or it forces apps to run landscape in such a way that they actually make sense. Even FiiO’s own FiiO Music is different on S15, optimized for this aspect ratio and orientation, and while music is playing you have the option to showcase a VU Meter, and other visualizations, including album art to keep yourself entertained. You can even customize what appears on the desktop, what shortcuts are visible at first, their order, and many other things about it, S15 being a flagship unit when it comes to software. 

If you are wondering where the IR sensor is, well there is none as S15 comes with a Bluetooth remote that allows you to control it even from other corners of the room. S15 has HDMI 2.0 Decoding, HDMI output, including HDMI ARC, supporting up to 192 kHz / 24 Bit for the HDMI ARC output. What’s even more interesting is how well the 10-Band high-precision PEQ, Parametric EQ works, having a very low noise and very good sonic reproduction. 

Overall, I have tested S15 for every input and output it has, but in general I found that it simply works very well. FiiO is updating the firmware continuously, and right now it is by far the fastest, most reliable, most complete streamer on the market. The only output it does not have is a USB output, for example if you want to connect a different USB DAC to it and to use S15 as a full digital USB transport. But it has Coaxial, Optical and HDMI, all of which tend to have a slight coloration, but all of which are excellent, with no audible sonic degradation or noise. 

All in all, S15 is simply brilliant, one of the best streamers you can hope for with an outstanding build quality and design. As S15 uses the Snapdragon 660 CPU, you can expect excellent performance, outstanding versatility, and in general it has a high-end design with a very precise manufacturing. 

 

Sound Quality

Pairings and Match-up – FiiO S15 is a really complete streamer, it can do many things that you will need in your setup, including drive an amplifier, as it has a Preamplifier output, but also power DACs with a digital signal. In fact, S15 can decode but also send HDMi signals, it has I2S output, AES / EBU input, AES / Ebu output, SPDIF input and output, and Balanced One out, plus two single ended RCA line outs. I cannot explain just how many scenarios you can set the S15 for, so the idea is that I tested it both digitally, to power DACs that have AES Ebu inputs, or HDMI inputs, but also via the balanced and the RCA line outs. 

To this end, I have paired the S15 with Headphone Amplifiers including Singxer SA-1 V2, to drive a set of headphones including FiiO FT1 PRO, Crosszone CZ-10 Enhanced, Palma DHS-1, and also IEMS including NF Audio NE4, Rose Technics QT-X, Soundz Flame, Raptgo Leaf D01, iBasso Klee, Moritz Dragon, and Tanchjim Origin. For speakers, I have paired the S15 with a set of Topping B100 Monoblock amplifiers, and also with Keces S300+ to drive either Pylon Audio Diamond 30 mkii, or Elipson Heritage XLS 7. Best part is that there is zero noise from either the balanced XLR output, but also from the single ended RCA output, and you can safely use pure amplifiers and use the S15 as a PRE without any audible noise floor. Taking into account that S15 has a strong antenna , it is good to see that it is pretty silent and free of noise. The list of headphones and IEMs is so long because S15 has been with me for almost 6 months now, and I had the chance to use it as the DAC / PRE in many reviews. I wanted to give it time, as it arrived with a beta firmware, and FiiO asked me to wait for a more complete and final firmware before reviewing it. To be honest, the beta was very stable and everything worked perfectly well, but either way, I am happy to see how FiiO is improving functionality with every step. 

Overall Signature – FiiO S15 sounds very balanced, detailed, organic and natural. It seems to render music beautifully, with a full bass, a dynamic and punchy sound, and with a rich and organic midrange, all topped by a sparkly, but non-fatiguing treble. It is what I am willing to call sonic perfection, and especially considering how connected it is, it can very well be the ultimate media center. Sonically, it is likely the most natural, most organic sounding FiiO product designed to date, with an exceptional resolution and technical ability, but blended with musicality, creating what I can only describe an analogue dream dreamt by a very digital product. 

Bass – Starting from the bottom, S15 has an incredibly deep and powerful bass, with high control, but it is the kind of low-end punch that does not feel overpowering. Most streaming services will have access to some kind of EQ, so you won’t be forced to listen to the neutral, but even without any EQ engaged, S15 sounds a bit warm, with a bit extra life and power above what I would consider to be pure neutrality. There’s a strong sense of definition to the bass in the sound of S15, and it has a high resolution to the natural sounding bass. 

Midrange – In the midrange you can find a really beautiful signature, with an organic presentation, emphasizing both male and female voices equally. S15 tends to open up, and warm up each song that it is playing, and in a bid to make it sound less digital and more analogue, FiiO made S15 sound a bit warmer, smoother and more pleasing to the ear than what is usually considered purely neutral. There’s a strong sense of space and layering in the sound of S15, but the best part is how cohesive the signature is, S15 can totally breathe a magical analogic life into a system, never sounding bright, cold or analytical, but still having the kind of precision and technical ability that you’d expect from a modern high-end streamer. 

Treble – To complete the whole analogic sound, s15 has a natural treble with a sparkly and bright / open presentation in the top, but it has a somewhat silky treble with a slightly wet character. This means that you will always find the sound of S15 to be enjoyable, free of fatigue and enjoyable. With aggressive music like Infant Annihilator, you can explore and enjoy the guitars and drum pattern more than the cymbal crashes and fatiguing elements. With less aggressive bands and albums, S15 sounds simply warm, organic, full and musical. 

Dynamics / PRaT / Textures – FiiO S15 sounds organic and slightly smooth / slightly warm, which is reflected in the textures, where even more aggressive instruments such as trumpets will sound organic, enjoyable and full, with a strong body, instead of sounding harsh or fatiguing. This is even more true for voices, violins, pianos and everything is presented with that magical AK warmer signature that the company is usually known for (Silky Sound). S15 has the same textures across all frequencies, although it also has a strong resolution and revealing ability. 

Loudness Saturation Gradient – As FiiO S15 is the Preamplifier, I can comment more on how it has very little background noise, for all outputs, and how it has a nicely implemented Preamplifier function, as it will have the same signature, same sound across all volume levels, and even if you push it to the max, you will not notice an increase in the noise floor. 

Soundstage – FiiO S15 has a wide, natural soundstage, it expands nicely in the lateral plane, has good depth, but also a strong instrument separation. I have been using it side by side with K17, and I feel like the S15 is a bit better technically, it sounds a bit wider, bigger, but also more bombastic, more open and creates the feeling of space between instruments and definition a tiny bit better than K17. S15 also seems to have a slightly lower noise floor with a more black background, although both are excellent really and I could not complain about either.  

 

Comparisons 

FiiO S15 vs Cocktail N25 Streamer (999 USD vs 1400 USD) – N25 was revolutionary a couple of years ago when I reviewed it, and it still does something that S15 does not do, which is having a set of USB outputs, really nice for p[airing with external DACs. This being said, S15 comes with balanced XLR outputs, and with a much quicker, snapper and more open software, and where you can wait seconds, and even quarter a minute for N25 to load, S15 is almost instant, it is basically a fast midrange smartphone with a lot of audio around, while N25 feels like an old computer that you have to be patient with while it is processing. Sonically, connected using the same protocol, either RCA analog output, or HDMI ARC output, to the same DAC and same setup, S15 sounds a bit more open in the midrange, with better technical resolution and detail, more information being revealed to the listener, and with a better instrument separation and layering. N25 seems to sound a bit warmer, but also sharper in the treble, so you’d call that a bit more V-Shaped, N25 has a slightly more harsh signature that can get fatiguing more easily, while it feels like FiiO did everything in their power to make S15 as smooth, organic and natural sounding as possible. 

FiiO S15 vs Matrix Mini-i PRO 4 (999 USD vs 959 USD) – Mini-i PRO 4 has a similarly rich set of inputs and outputs, although it has far more inputs than outputs, and while S15 is a processing center, Mini-i pro 4 has HDMI ARC inputs, USB inputs, but for outputs only analgesic XLR, RCA, or headphone outputs. S15 does not have a headphone output, but it does have XLR and RCA outputs, and the quality is quite different, Mini-i PRO 4 is quite technical, dry, precise and a bit cold in the sound, while S15 is much warmer, smoother, more organic and more natural, with a wider, more bombastic soundstage and a bigger space in between instruments. Out of the two, S15 sounds more analogic, while mini-i PRO 4 sounds more digital. Also, while Mini-i can do light streaming and has an ethernet input, S15 is a full-fledged streamer that can read SD cards, SSDs, can run apps, including Tidal, and it is the far better desktop streamer if you need versatility. 

FiiO S15 vs Keces Audio Ebravo (999 USD vs 599 USD) – Ebravo is a beautiful sounding unit that supports basically just one app, which is Tidal, and via Tidal Connect. S15 can do so much more, but it is pricier too. Ebravo only has AES Ebu, COAX and Optical outputs, with an Ethernet input and a storage input. This means that I had to find a DAC that can take in Optical and AES Ebu from both to compare the sound, and only use Tidal as that is what Ebravo supports best. Sonically, Ebravo is quite magical, more vivid, more lively, brighter, more open, but also a bit more punchy. FiiO s15 is warmer, smoother, more laid-back, more relaxed, while Ebravo sounds more lively and energetic, packs more punch and it is more enjoyable in general with faster music. Out of the two, Ebravo is a specific device that combines really well with Keces devices, while S15 is a very universal streamer with a warmer and more organic sound. 

 

Value and Conclusion

Considering that most streamers around 1000 USD are either without a display, or incredibly slow and sluggish, FiiO S15 feels like how an Android Samsung S23 smartphone would be compared to an old Nokia N95, S15 has so many features, usage scenarios and such a great sound that I feel it is somewhat unfair to compare it with other streamers, it simply delivers so much more as a package, both software, hardware and sonically. Price Performance ratio for S15 is likely the highest I’ve seen and heard for a streamer to date. 

Award – I have called it before, but S15 has basically the highest price / performance ratio for a streamer this year and this is something for other companies to try and overcome, FiiO gave them something to chase, but for now it deserves to rest and live among kings and queens in the Audiophile-Heaven Hall Of Fame, where it will likely rest for a long while. 

At the end of the day, FiiO S15 is simply excellent, and if you need a streamer that can do it all, but also have a Preamplifier output with a high-end DAC setup inside, no background noise, but with the ultimate connectivity, being able to even read SSDs, SD Cards, stream apps, including Tidal, and if you want the golden support of FiiO, then S15 should be just the product for you. 

PROs

  • The most complete, most competent Streamer designed to date 
  • Excellent build quality and design
  • I2s output, HDMI input and HDMI ARC output
  • SD Card reader
  • USB DAC function
  • Tidal connect, Open Android 12 Operating System, with a Snapdragon 660 CPU
  • AES Ebu input and AES Ebu output 
  • Balanced XLR  output and RCA output with zero noise 
  • Internal Low Noise Linear Power Supply 
  • Multiple strong antennas for wifi and Bluetooth 
  • Can even read SSDs 
  • USB host and LAN inputs 
  • Roon support and remote included 

Cons

  • Really Large, although the display is beautiful 
  • No headphone output 

 

Product Link

Amazon – https://amzn.to/4jvl3q6

Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oBAKDHw

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Full Playlist used for this review

We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature.  I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5

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