Sound.

In terms of sound quality. I feel the M11 Pro is a clear step up from the M11. The M11 Pro has a more natural sound, although in my opinion it still hints a little towards a brighter, more analytical signature, but it is clearly more natural and a little bit warmer than the M11. The M11 Pro presents a larger stage that is more airy, more stable and has a blacker background. This was especially noticeable with classical music where the layering and the image as a whole felt more mature. Instruments separated better and contrasted more clearly against the black background, the tonality was more distinct and the dynamics of the music were improved. This gives a more immersive feeling to the music and makes the Pro more musical (engaging) than the M11.

End-to-end extension of the M11 Pro is better than the M11. The M11 seemed to have quite a rolled off bass and that has to some extent been improved with the M11 Pro. I still think it is not the most extended bass response. Treble extension is pretty good and this gives airiness to the stage, but here I think there is still a hint too much brightness. The treble is not the most natural and can give a slightly tinny result with some of my IEMs, like the Empire Ears Phantom. This is no doubt in part a tuning decision by FiiO and here I will put up a big bold disclaimer that I like a warmish natural tonality and a bit less emphasis on detail retrieval. For someone who prefers a natural tonality and likes to have details pushed forward a little more clearly, the M11 Pro might well offer a really good option. The mids are quite natural and I find that for instance with my Phantom the woodwinds come across a little less lush and thick than with my usual DAP, the Cowon Plenue 2. Notes are a little thinner, although far from anemic and you still get a good sense of the instruments.

Speaking of the Phantom. With the M11 I did get a little bit of noise when using them on high gain, but with the M11 Pro I am not noticing it. The M11 Pro therefore appears to be cleaner, although I do not have hyper-sensitive IEMs like the Campfire Andromeda to test if the M11 Pro is noiseless with those as well.

Comparisons.

Cowon Plenue 2

Because I already compared to the M11 above, I only really have one comparison to make here and that is with the Cowon Plenue 2. One of the reasons I was really interested in the M11 Pro is that it uses the same DAC as the Plenue 2, the AK4497, although the M11 Pro has two of them instead of a single one. I think this is also why several people have asked me about this comparison as well. It is interesting to see how well a new, but more affordable DAP stacks up against the senior with a premium price tag.

In terms of tonality there is actually a difference, even though they use the same DAC. The Plenue 2 is slightly warmer and more realistic in its naturalness, whereas the M11 Pro pushes the details a bit more forward through a brighter, although still natural tonality. The Plenue 2 extends better at both ends and achieves a higher dynamic range, making music come more alive. I also find that the imaging is better and the overall feel of the image is more refined. Are there aspects where the M11 Pro pulls ahead? Yes, the M11 Pro presents a larger and more airy stage, which I really liked and appreciated especially with classical symphonies. The sound is also more clearly detailed, which although it is not my own personal priority, will no doubt be appreciated by many who enjoy being tickled by lots of details coming through. In all, the M11 Pro goes a long way compared to the Plenue 2 and brings its own strengths that for some people could give it an edge.

Page 4 – Pair up, and Conclusion.