FiiO has announced the M27, its newest flagship digital audio player (DAP), set to arrive worldwide in autumn 2025. The company hasn’t shared the price yet—that’ll come in September—but the specs suggest this device is aiming to compete with some of the biggest names in the high-end audio market. With smartphone-level processing, high-powered DACs, and a build designed for durability, the M27 looks like a serious option for anyone who wants the kind of performance usually reserved for desktop gear, but in a portable format.

The M27 marks the first time FiiO has used titanium alloy for one of its players. Paired with a glass fiber rear panel, the material makes the device lighter and stronger, similar to what you’d find in premium smartphones. It’s designed to feel rugged enough for travel, yet sleek enough to sit comfortably in a home hi-fi setup.

Powering the M27 is Qualcomm’s QCS6490 platform, built on Snapdragon 770G architecture. In plain terms, that means it’s running hardware you’d normally expect in an upper-tier smartphone: eight CPU cores, a capable GPU, fast LPDDR5 RAM, and speedy UFS 3.1 storage. The device runs on Android 13 with 8GB of RAM, which should make navigation, streaming, and multitasking feel just as smooth as on a modern phone.

Storage won’t be an issue either. You get 256GB onboard, and if that’s not enough, there are two microSD slots, each supporting up to 2TB. That’s more than enough space to carry entire music libraries, including hi-res and DSD files, without worrying about cloud services.

At the heart of the M27’s audio chain are dual ESS ES9039SPRO DACs, supported by a dedicated FPGA and dual femtosecond crystal oscillators. These components are designed to keep timing accurate, reduce jitter, and maintain a clean signal path. FiiO has also added its Digital Audio Purification System (DAPS), which further refines timing and helps ensure stable playback across different formats.

The real talking point, though, is power. The M27 delivers 5,000mW per channel in balanced Ultra Gain mode, adding up to 10,000mW. For context, that’s power normally associated with desktop amplifiers, not pocket-sized players. It means the M27 should have no problem driving even very demanding full-size headphones.

The player includes 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and 6.35mm headphone outputs, plus line-level and digital connections. That flexibility means you can use it as a standalone portable player or integrate it into a larger hi-fi system.

On the wireless side, FiiO has equipped the device with Qualcomm’s QCC5181 chipset, which supports aptX Lossless, LE Audio, and Auracast. In practice, that makes it possible to enjoy higher-quality wireless playback with compatible headphones and speakers—something that has often been a weak point for Bluetooth audio.

Inside is a 9,200mAh battery, which should provide long playback times. For home use, the player offers a Desktop Mode that manages power differently when it’s docked. This makes the M27 adaptable—portable when you need it, but equally capable of functioning as part of a home setup.

There’s a lot to like here, but not everything is confirmed yet. We still don’t know the exact size, weight, or how much power it delivers from the single-ended output. Also, if you're using electrostatic headphones, you'll still need a separate energizer, as the M27 isn’t built for that.

FiiO also announced the FT13 headphones alongside the M27, which are closed-back and expected to sell for around $300. They’ll debut at CanJam SoCal later this year and seem intended as a natural match for the M27.

FiiO says it’ll reveal pricing in September, and based on the feature set, it’s probably going to land in the same tier as Astell&Kern’s A&ultima SP3000, or iBasso’s DX340. Whether it comes in above or below those brands could be the deciding factor for a lot of potential buyers.

Either way, the M27 is shaping up to be an interesting option for people who want the power and fidelity of a desktop system in a portable device. We'll update you once that all-important price is announced.