HIFI Diary: FiiO JM21 Portable Player Review

I. Introduction

The Fiio review comes in two parts, mainly because the ECHO MINI feels quite decent, but it has some shortcomings in terms of hardware quality. So, the blogger wanted to step up a notch and see how this newly released JM21 performs. The first impression the JM21 gave the blogger upon arrival was that the system is very smooth. Although the blogger hasn't used many Android-based players, there's no doubt that this JM21 at least won't give users negative feedback in terms of operation. As for the sound quality, it still needs further testing.

II. Preparation for the Evaluation

This review is about the FiiO JM21 portable player. The headphones tested are the blogger's personal flagship in-ear headphones, the Nestsound ZERO (4.4), and the newly released Yuandao EBX25Ti flagship flat-head headphones (4.4). The audio tested is 100% ripped from original CDs or purchased legitimate audio. For comparison, the FiiO ECHO MINI, QLS MUB1, LBZ-02, Moondrop Dawn Pro, FOSI AUDIO DS1, and other small dongles are used as reference points. During testing, the system version was updated to 1.0.5, with all EQ turned off, high gain enabled, and pure sound mode activated.

III. Evaluation Pieces/Scoring Method

The track selection is based on the blogger's usual listening preferences, which are about 70% Japanese music and 30% large-scale orchestral works. Therefore, the selection leans heavily towards Japanese music. The scoring criteria are derived from a simplified version of Liu Hansheng's "Twenty Essentials for Audio," with a maximum score of 10, though generally, the highest score given is 9. A score of 8 indicates a clear advantage in the scoring category, 7 signifies excellence, 6 means it can be normally appreciated, 5 means it can be normally listened to, and scores below 5 are not commented on. For a more detailed evaluation plan, please refer to here.

IV. Test begins

	PAW GOLD TOUCH	JM21	ECHO MINI	MUB1	DS1	LBZ-02	DAWN PRO
Integrity	8.5/10	7/10	6.5/10	7/10	6.5/10	7/10	6.5/10
High frequency	8/10	6.5/10	6/10	7/10	5.5/10	6/10	5/10
Medium frequency	8/10	6/10	6/10	6.5/10	6/10	6/10	5.5/10
Low frequency	7.5/10	6.5/10	6.5/10	6.5/10	6.5/10	6.5/10	6/10
Analysis, separation	8/10	7/10	6.5/10	7/10	7/10	6.5/10	5.5/10
Sound field, density	8/10	7/10	6.5/10	7/10	6/10	6/10	5/10
Drive, dynamic	8/10	7/10	6/10	7/10	7/10	6.5/10	5.5/10
Total score	8/10	6.7/10	6.3/10	6.9/10	6.4/10	6.4/10	5.6/10

1、Song：Unfinished，Singers：秦勇（QinYong）/Game Science/8082Audio，Album：Black Myth: Wukong OST

Since it was tested right after the ECHO MINI, the first impression of the JM21 was "slow," feeling as if the rhythm of the entire music had slowed down. Veterans should know that this kind of slowness is a very valuable quality for HIFI equipment. The sensation of slowness is a sign of comprehensive improvement in the equipment, making it more listenable, with more accurate timbre, stronger control, and so on. Returning to the song, the JM21 provides a smaller vocal image that was hard to achieve with previous small dongles, with male vocals slightly closer, rich mid-frequency details, and particularly impressive sound density. Overall, the JM21 has quite good resolution, with excellent high-frequency extension and brightness. Although the control of low frequencies is slightly weaker, the sense of power is still quite good.

2、Song：大火（Blazing Fire），Singers：Jess Lee，Album：感谢爱人（Thank you my love）

The song "Da Huo" is also very suitable as a test for female vocals. The climax requires both penetrating power and attention to detail to support the emotional changes. JM21's performance is still commendable, with the female vocals showing a remarkably high level of penetrating power, strong and forceful. However, it is more robust than delicate, only expressing the "anger" in sorrow and anger, while overlooking the soft "sorrow" in human nature. But considering the price of JM21, it seems unreasonable to demand more. Another issue is that when the musical elements are complex, the background music might become slightly chaotic. However, this problem is expected to truly affect the overall expression of the piece only in more extreme cases, and at least in this song "Blazing Fire" it is not severe.

3、Song：天空の悲恋歌（Sky's Lament），Singers：TAMUSIC，Album：東方バイオリン1

Next is the instruments. Since the JM21 has parsing issues in complex musical environments, we won't push it with large orchestral arrangements; a piano and violin concerto will suffice. It's worth noting that the JM21 performs both piano and violin at a passable level, unlike some players that are either weak in violin or piano. Although the JM21 isn't outstanding in either, it maintains a good, balanced listening experience. Now, for the drawbacks: first, the violin's extreme high frequencies are lacking, and the overall tone is slightly dry, while the piano tone is a bit thin and metallic. But as mentioned earlier, the JM21's performance isn't bad. You can always find faults if you look for them, but the key is whether the JM21 offers enough value for its price, and the answer is yes, which is sufficient.

V. Summary

Overall, the JM21 is a player with heavy parsing, dynamic sufficiency, and a strong sense of power, making it quite compatible with genres like pop and rock. However, it lacks some refinement when it comes to softer female vocals and instrument performances. But its flaws do not overshadow its strengths; the JM21 is still a high-value model that can sufficiently support HIFI enthusiasts' entry into the field, and its sound can undoubtedly be considered quite healthy. Additionally, with the multifunctionality of the Android system and the rich customizable EQ features, to put it in a phrase that the blog owner doesn't particularly like but is indeed appropriate: the JM21 is a good product suitable as the first HIFI device for young people.