FiiO M3K

The M3K model from the Chinese manufacturer FiiO has replaced the popular but obsolete predecessor M3, delighting users with an updated look and technical capabilities.

Successful upgrade

The player is made in the form of a compact "brick" no larger than a pack of thin cigarettes (91x44x12 mm). Offered in black and silver.

The ergonomic seamless body with rounded ends is made of aluminium, and the front panel is made of glossy glass, which is durable but collects fingerprints. The colour 2-inch TFT display is easy to read, has a good margin of brightness in the sun, and in general, does not cause discomfort.

Management is implemented using a touch sub-screen panel and physical buttons on the end of the case. Everything is intuitive, you understand the settings in a couple of minutes, especially considering the support of the Russian language in the menu.

At the bottom of the case are microUSB for charging, mini Jack 3.5 mm and a microSD slot with expansion up to 512 GB. You will need to get a memory card right away, since the built-in memory of the player (64 MB) is only enough to support and update the system.

25 hours Hi-res sound

Despite the low-cost (about $ 70), the player was equipped with an Ingenic X1000E processor and an AK4376A DAC with a decoding frequency of up to 384 kHz and a 32 bit resolution. This allows not only to play all major audio formats, including FLAC and DSD, in high quality with low noise levels, but also to show excellent battery life — up to 25 hours in playback mode. In addition, the player can work in USB DAC mode, which is generally an exception for devices of this price.

Add here another 7-band equalizer with presets, a built-in voice recorder, and we get a solid multifunctional, and most importantly, inexpensive device that will become a music lover's companion for several years.