The main differences between the FiiO M11 Plus LTD and the FiiO M11 Plus ESS is the DAC’s. The M11 Plus LTD uses the dual AK4497 chipset and the ESS uses the dual Sabre DAC’s ES9068AS. They also replaced the low-pass filter from the OPA1662*2 to OPA927*2. M11 Plus ESS also has improved output power ratings, providing up to 660mW of clean output at 32O of load. The battery life of the new M11 Plus ESS is also improved from 11.5H on the AKM variant to 14H on ESS Variant. The volume IC has been removed in M11 Plus. And the volume adjustment method has been replaced by adjusting the built-in volume of the DAC;The side panel has been updated to carbon fibre panel.
Hi Dave, You have done a very detailed review and you have said everything we wanted to know, because I have not yet had the opportunity to fully test my Fiio LTD, it was great to hear that you liked it and the sound that was most important to your satisfaction and I'm glad I chose the LTD version because I love sweeter sounds and I play lot of jazz music, the ESS version is also fantastic dap but according to some reviews it is more revealing and straight forward in both high and mids but the LTD is more hifidelity and as I have understood from your review, the LTD version is pure joy. Thanks for a very nice and pleasant review that I really enjoyed watching.🙏 Be safe brother !!🙏
It’s definitely a step up from the previous M11’s and a great DAP all around with all outputs. I don’t think you can go wrong with either this DAP or the ESS version 👍
@@CarAudioHorizons Hi Dave you are right in both and yes according to Fiio engineers who are in contact with our Swedish Fiio distributor claim that both daps are equal in sound quality, it's just a matter of taste Beef or chicken I love a biffy sound that goes deep just like you. I really love your review, you are brilliant and very fluid in your videos.🙏
By far and away the best review of this unit. I am waiting for the new M11 "S" to be released which is supposedly going to be in June. It has been touted as costing less than the rest of the M11 line, is why I am waiting to see the actual price and features once it is released.
Thanks, yes the M11s should be really interesting to see what they do with that. I’ll be doing a review on that as well as the M15s when they come out.
Hey brother, if you don't mind me asking for Fiio M11 LTd, do i still need to use the UAPP app for Tidal or ican directly use Tidal without any resampling 🎉❤🎉?
I was curious on your Helix Director when you turn your headlights on does the screen dim. I bought me one but I'm curious where to hook the blue wire that's listed for light.
No my screen doesn’t dim when I turn my headlights on but I have the option to dim the director screen in the menu. Mine I keep it at 100% all the time. I had mine professionally installed. I know in the instructions it says this “Optional: The illumination wire (Light) can be connected to an illumination wire of the car (e.g. dashboard illumination). When the illumination wire is connected it is possible to use the automatic dimming function of the DIRECTOR”.
@@randyscustomaudio I was going to a video but the app only works with stored files without drm and most people these days just use the Music Streaming app’s like Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon HD, and Qobuz. Also the app is mainly used if you have an android phone to get bit perfect audio. I don’t use an Android phone as I have had iPhones since the start and I have also just used FiiO DAP’s for years now and they’re bit perfect so the app doesn’t benefit anyone unless you have an android phone. I’m not a fan of it’s user interface as well after trying it out with my FiiO DAP’s. All that being said, I didn’t see a point in doing a video on the app after testing it out for a week.
How are you getting audio *from* the Fiio unit? Is it on a memory card or are you streaming from your phone to the M11 and then into your car?? Thanks!
I have the Fiio M17 now which works the same. I use a micro used card that goes into the DAP which can hold up to 2 Terabytes of storage. I talk about all the ways you can use this in the video
@@funcionyforma A lot as the M17 is there best DAP in every aspect. Fiio will bring out another flagship DAP later this year but the M17 will be tough to beat.
Been following your channel for a while... ended up with the 3 way AF's and I'm pleased with the SQ. This is the next step for me. I would appreciate more content on the android auto / usb auto pro setup. Is it worth getting this dap and connecting it via. USB? I've been holding off going to the DSP because of the cabling side of things. This would be so much cleaner for my current setup. Also, from my understanding USB Audio Pro will NOT let you play locally saved TIDAL tracks offline. It's stream only. At least this is how it works on my OnePlus. Are you seeing the same?
Not sure how your system is set up but with mine I have the PAC Amp Pro that has a toslink optical cable into my Helix DSP Ultra so it’s just one cable to the back for the best signal possible for things like Apple CarPlay/Radio/Android Auto etc… That being said a good DAP FiiO M11 Plus LTD or ESS Hiby R62020, Ibasso DX240, etc.. any dap that is current connected to a DSP will give you the best sound possible. That being said all the DAP’s sound different and will sound different depending on what DSP you have amps, speakers etc.. My system sounds great with anything I play on it, but the DAP sounds the best. I have something coming or will have something coming pretty soon and I’ll make some videos comparing the sound from the different ways to connect the DAP and then let everyone know which way sounds the best. I’ll include Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well with that. I’ll also let you know that you won’t get 100% out of your Audio Frogs without a DSP or should I say a properly set up and tuned DSP. It’s a night and day difference there but can also sound worse if you get someone that doesn’t know what they’re doing unfortunately
@@CarAudioHorizons Thank you for the detailed response! I'm running a fix/86 to the a couple VXI amps that have DSP and digital-in S/PDIF connections. Sounds like I just need a optilink cable and tune? I'm looking forward to future videos! Notifications are turned on. Thx again!
I never tested the original Mojo with my car audio system, but I heard it had decent sound quality. I have seen reviews on the new Chord Mojo 2 and they have been good but I have also seen a few people comment that they prefer the sound of the FiiO M11 Plus ESS over Mojo 2. If you have a DSP with coaxial digital input then more than likely the Fiio’s will sound better as the Mojo’s only have 3.5 analog outputs especially if it’s a Helix DSP Ultra like I have or the Hi end Zapco with the ES9038PRO DAC’s. I’ll add that when using a DAP’s digital out your using it as a transport but it still has a different sound signature and it’s excellent on the FiiO DAP’s There’s a lot of factors that take place on what’s going to sound better. My system is tuned properly so anything I ad to it sounds good but some things sound better than others. That’s why I always recommend people to test everything in their budget and see what they prefer as sound quality is subjective
@@toorop111 Thats just the coaxial digital adapter that you get with the FiiO M11 Plus LTD. You didn’t see it when I did the unboxing because I was already using it.
The main differences between the FiiO M11 Plus LTD and the FiiO M11 Plus ESS is the DAC’s. The M11 Plus LTD uses the dual AK4497 chipset and the ESS uses the dual Sabre DAC’s ES9068AS. They also replaced the low-pass filter from the OPA1662*2 to OPA927*2. M11 Plus ESS also has improved output power ratings, providing up to 660mW of clean output at 32O of load. The battery life of the new M11 Plus ESS is also improved from 11.5H on the AKM variant to 14H on ESS Variant. The volume IC has been removed in M11 Plus. And the volume adjustment method has been replaced by adjusting the built-in volume of the DAC;The side panel has been updated to carbon fibre panel.
which one better for audio quality..LTD or ESS?
@@vincentsusilo7893 LTD
Is the sound quality much different when using this?
Compare to std car head unit.
Hi Dave, You have done a very detailed review and you have said everything we wanted to know, because I have not yet had the opportunity to fully test my Fiio LTD, it was great to hear that you liked it and the sound that was most important to your satisfaction and I'm glad I chose the LTD version because I love sweeter sounds and I play lot of jazz music, the ESS version is also fantastic dap but according to some reviews it is more revealing and straight forward in both high and mids but the LTD is more hifidelity and as I have understood from your review, the LTD version is pure joy. Thanks for a very nice and pleasant review that I really enjoyed watching.🙏 Be safe brother !!🙏
It’s definitely a step up from the previous M11’s and a great DAP all around with all outputs. I don’t think you can go wrong with either this DAP or the ESS version 👍
@@CarAudioHorizons Hi Dave you are right in both and yes according to Fiio engineers who are in contact with our Swedish Fiio distributor claim that both daps are equal in sound quality, it's just a matter of taste Beef or chicken I love a biffy sound that goes deep just like you. I really love your review, you are brilliant and very fluid in your videos.🙏
By far and away the best review of this unit. I am waiting for the new M11 "S" to be released which is supposedly going to be in June. It has been touted as costing less than the rest of the M11 line, is why I am waiting to see the actual price and features once it is released.
Thanks, yes the M11s should be really interesting to see what they do with that. I’ll be doing a review on that as well as the M15s when they come out.
@@CarAudioHorizons That’s really good news and I’ll look forward to your review.
Hey brother, if you don't mind me asking for Fiio M11 LTd, do i still need to use the UAPP app for Tidal or ican directly use Tidal without any resampling 🎉❤🎉?
You can use any of the music apps, no need for AAPP
@@CarAudioHorizons Thank you
I was curious on your Helix Director when you turn your headlights on does the screen dim. I bought me one but I'm curious where to hook the blue wire that's listed for light.
No my screen doesn’t dim when I turn my headlights on but I have the option to dim the director screen in the menu. Mine I keep it at 100% all the time.
I had mine professionally installed.
I know in the instructions it says this “Optional: The illumination wire (Light) can be connected to an illumination wire of the car (e.g. dashboard illumination). When the illumination wire is connected it is possible to use the automatic dimming function of the DIRECTOR”.
@@CarAudioHorizons Thank you You mentioned that you was going to do another video on the USB audio pro but I can't find it.
@@randyscustomaudio I was going to a video but the app only works with stored files without drm and most people these days just use the Music Streaming app’s like Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon HD, and Qobuz.
Also the app is mainly used if you have an android phone to get bit perfect audio. I don’t use an Android phone as I have had iPhones since the start and I have also just used FiiO DAP’s for years now and they’re bit perfect so the app doesn’t benefit anyone unless you have an android phone.
I’m not a fan of it’s user interface as well after trying it out with my FiiO DAP’s.
All that being said, I didn’t see a point in doing a video on the app after testing it out for a week.
Great video! Thanks!
How are you getting audio *from* the Fiio unit? Is it on a memory card or are you streaming from your phone to the M11 and then into your car?? Thanks!
I have the Fiio M17 now which works the same. I use a micro used card that goes into the DAP which can hold up to 2 Terabytes of storage. I talk about all the ways you can use this in the video
@@CarAudioHorizonshi, how much of a difference on sound quality do you get between the m17 and the m11 plus?
@@funcionyforma A lot as the M17 is there best DAP in every aspect. Fiio will bring out another flagship DAP later this year but the M17 will be tough to beat.
@@CarAudioHorizons thanks!
@@funcionyforma They have the successor to the M11 Plus is the M23 is supposed to come out in March so will see how that goes.
How would you set the gains on it using the 3.5 coaxial out?
Gains on what?
Been following your channel for a while... ended up with the 3 way AF's and I'm pleased with the SQ. This is the next step for me. I would appreciate more content on the android auto / usb auto pro setup. Is it worth getting this dap and connecting it via. USB? I've been holding off going to the DSP because of the cabling side of things. This would be so much cleaner for my current setup.
Also, from my understanding USB Audio Pro will NOT let you play locally saved TIDAL tracks offline. It's stream only. At least this is how it works on my OnePlus. Are you seeing the same?
Not sure how your system is set up but with mine I have the PAC Amp Pro that has a toslink optical cable into my Helix DSP Ultra so it’s just one cable to the back for the best signal possible for things like Apple CarPlay/Radio/Android Auto etc… That being said a good DAP FiiO M11 Plus LTD or ESS Hiby R62020, Ibasso DX240, etc.. any dap that is current connected to a DSP will give you the best sound possible. That being said all the DAP’s sound different and will sound different depending on what DSP you have amps, speakers etc.. My system sounds great with anything I play on it, but the DAP sounds the best.
I have something coming or will have something coming pretty soon and I’ll make some videos comparing the sound from the different ways to connect the DAP and then let everyone know which way sounds the best. I’ll include Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well with that.
I’ll also let you know that you won’t get 100% out of your Audio Frogs without a DSP or should I say a properly set up and tuned DSP. It’s a night and day difference there but can also sound worse if you get someone that doesn’t know what they’re doing unfortunately
@@CarAudioHorizons Thank you for the detailed response! I'm running a fix/86 to the a couple VXI amps that have DSP and digital-in S/PDIF connections. Sounds like I just need a optilink cable and tune? I'm looking forward to future videos! Notifications are turned on. Thx again!
@@touring189 What vehicle do you have?
@@CarAudioHorizons 2018 Honda Accord
@@touring189 Oh ok, so no Amp Pro available, I think Metra made something for that.
Do you have images of you audio build on instagram? I’m a die hard Focal fan now you got me thinking about Audio Frog.
No I don’t I always put everything on TH-cam. Focal is an excellent brand and I have had their KRX2’s and original Utopia’s both excellent drivers
Hi brother now I’m using mojo original version if I take FiiO m11p ess.isn’t to downgrade or upgrade?thx
I never tested the original Mojo with my car audio system, but I heard it had decent sound quality. I have seen reviews on the new Chord Mojo 2 and they have been good but I have also seen a few people comment that they prefer the sound of the FiiO M11 Plus ESS over Mojo 2.
If you have a DSP with coaxial digital input then more than likely the Fiio’s will sound better as the Mojo’s only have 3.5 analog outputs especially if it’s a Helix DSP Ultra like I have or the Hi end Zapco with the ES9038PRO DAC’s.
I’ll add that when using a DAP’s digital out your using it as a transport but it still has a different sound signature and it’s excellent on the FiiO DAP’s
There’s a lot of factors that take place on what’s going to sound better. My system is tuned properly so anything I ad to it sounds good but some things sound better than others. That’s why I always recommend people to test everything in their budget and see what they prefer as sound quality is subjective
M1plus + D10S TEST! By optical
Advice. For d10s use a cable Y usb to 2 usb 2.0 and 3.0. One for the power and another for the music.
I’m not a big fan of usb Y splitters as they can cause issues and or damage to devices
Can i use this to go direct into a helix dsp.3? It has a optical input on it.
Please review audison bconn bt streamer
HELIX BT HD STREAMER: High-Definition Bluetooth® Audio Receiver. Coming soon.
I’m using type c to digital coaxial into the DSP ! Am I missing something??
Are you missing something for what? I have multiple connections to my DSP
Hii I bought a fiio m11 plus ess .But android auto is not working in my car headunit .
Did you hook it up the exact same way as I do on the video? If not it won’t work
I tried the way you did and it worked .
Thank you
@@siyadhsalam Yes, once you hook it up that way once it should automatically connect every time after
Which connection do you use when your using your digital coax input?
Are you talking about the director or?
Not the drc. I’m using the type c to digital coax to my helix.
I noticed that you had a short black adapter, was that a 3.5mm to digital coax?
@@toorop111 Thats just the coaxial digital adapter that you get with the FiiO M11 Plus LTD. You didn’t see it when I did the unboxing because I was already using it.
@@CarAudioHorizons coax digital adapter to 3.5mm? Where can I purchase one?
Thanks