FiiO DM13 Portable CD Player: Retro or CD comeback?
The perfect blend of tradition and innovation
4,7 / 5,0 | 
Following on from the CP13 (portable cassette player) and the recently announced TT13 record player, the DM13 portable CD player is yet another tech gadget from FiiO, who are clearly looking to expand their already large retro fan base. This CD player features aptX HD Bluetooth, balanced headphone output and USB audio. The slogan ‘Back for the Future’ is apt here. Is this the DiscMan 2.0?
FiiO DM13 Portable CD Player: Perfect sound quality on the move
With 3.5mm unbalanced and 4.4mm balanced headphone outputs, FiiO’s DM13 portable CD player is ideal for a wide range of headphones, including the company’s own FT5 Planar Magnetic headphones, FT3 and new FA19 in-ear monitors. Of course, the hardware is also compatible with all other headphones on the market.
With aptX HD Bluetooth connectivity, the DM13 can even play high quality music through wireless headphones or speakers. The dedicated analogue line-out also allows use with other devices such as a hi-fi system (if you can still remember what that is), active speakers or a radio, as well as portable speakers with an auxiliary input.
Modern design meets premium audio quality
The DM13 also offers up to eight hours of playback time on a single charge and a dedicated desktop mode that bypasses the internal battery and uses mains power, making it perfect for mobile and stationary use. This is a use of the battery that I would like to see in many other devices.
But what’s next for FiiO? Is there a miniDisc or even a DAT player in the pipeline? This retro hype is kind of crazy, but also kind of funny. What would you like to see revived that you couldn’t live without when you were growing up?
FiiO DM13 Portable CD Player prices and specifications
The DM13 Portable CD player will be available in silver from September 2024, with other colours including red, blue, titanium and black to follow later in the year. The price will be £179 or $179.
- 3.5mm Single-ended & 4.4mm Balanced Headphone Outputs
- Bluetooth Transmission (SBC/aptX/aptX HD/aptX Low Latency)
- Analogue Line-Out
- SPDIF Digital Output
- USB Audio Output
- Playback: CD/FLAC/WAV/WMA/AAC/MP3
- ESP Switch (Electronic Shock Protection)
- Desktop Mode
- 8 Hours Battery Life
More information about FiiO and their products
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3 responses to “FiiO DM13 Portable CD Player: Retro or CD comeback?”
At $179, it got the Western treatment. If I refer to the pricing of the CP13 Tape Player, it will be half the price in China.
Can we have a portable cylinder player, or a portable piano-roll complete with ticker tape? How about a portable wind-up gramophone with a dog on the front? How about an LED wristwatch, a pocket calculator (solar powered). All these items are still in everyday use in Barnsley.
Remembering what my first Discman once cost, this price isnt that high. That was half the price of what it costs in Europe at the time… as such, it’s not weird.