Introduction
FiiO has spent the last few years making CD players you can put in a pocket. The DM15 R2R and its siblings are portable players built around a disc spinning behind a window. The DP11 is the other half of that idea: a proper home component, small enough for a desk, for people whose CDs never left the shelf.
What Hi-Fi summed up the pitch in one line: the DP11 "seems to be a jack of all trades". FiiO calls it a "full-interface" CD digital transport, and the rear panel backs that up. There's analogue RCA, coaxial, optical and a full-size AES/EBU XLR output, which is rare on a player at this size, never mind this price.
The design borrows from FiiO's S15 streamer. The CD servo, the digital processing and the analogue stage each get their own isolated power supply, fed by an internal mains transformer. There's also a 12 V / 2 A DC input, so tweakers can swap in an external linear supply later.
Key Features & Benefits
- A transport first: AES/EBU, coaxial and TOSLINK outputs send the bitstream to whatever DAC you already trust. The internal DAC is bypassed completely.
- A complete player when you need one: the Cirrus Logic CS43198 feeds stereo RCA outputs, so the DP11 also works on its own with an amplifier.
- Pre-amp built in: FiiO says the DP11 can drive active speakers or a power amplifier directly. On a desk that means disc player plus a pair of active monitors, and nothing in between.
- USB DAC input: connect a computer, phone or tablet and use the DP11's DAC and digital outputs, with PCM up to 32-bit/384 kHz and DSD256. MQA bitstream passes through to the digital outputs.
- CD ripping without a computer: plug a flash drive into the DP11 and it copies discs to lossless WAV. FiiO hasn't published the ripping speed yet.
- Quiet mechanism: a front-loading, desktop-grade CD mechanism with servo firmware tuned for accurate reading, mounted on a "silent mechanism" bracket to keep tray and spinning noise down.
- Readable from the sofa: a 9.4 cm (3.7 in) amber LCD and an included infrared remote.
Real-World Reactions
The DP11 has only just been announced, so there are no full reviews yet. The early coverage is mostly about how much FiiO has fitted in for the money, plus some useful caution about what's missing.
"For listeners with shelves full of CDs and an existing amplifier or DAC, the DP11 offers an unusually complete set of connections for very little money."
Ian White, ecoustics
The same article is just as clear about the limits: "The DP11 is not an everything box. There is no headphone output, SACD playback, Bluetooth or network streaming." We think that's fair, and it's the most important thing to know before you buy.
"Measuring just 6.7 x 23 x 21.3cm (hwd), and weighing 1.8kg, the DP11 is well and truly desktop-friendly."
Ioan Hazell, What Hi-Fi, 23 September 2026
Gallery
Both finishes, front and back. Click any shot to open it full size.
Who It's For
- CD collectors building a desk system. The DP11 plus a pair of active speakers makes a complete setup, with no amplifier needed.
- Owners of a good external DAC. You get a quiet transport with AES/EBU, and at this price that output is the real story.
- Anyone who wants their discs as files. Rip to WAV on a USB stick, no laptop, no drive, no software.
- Small hi-fi systems that need one source to do several jobs: CD player today, and USB DAC for the laptop when you want it.
Who should look elsewhere:
- Headphone listeners without a separate amp. There's no headphone output, so you'd need a headphone amplifier as well.
- SACD owners. It's CD only.
- Anyone who wants streaming or Bluetooth in the same box. That's a different product, such as an all-in-one streamer with a disc drive.
Quick Specs
- Type: desktop CD player and digital transport
- Mechanism: front-loading tray, desktop-grade CD mechanism with silent-mechanism bracket
- DAC: Cirrus Logic CS43198
- Analogue output: stereo RCA, with pre-amplifier function
- Digital outputs: AES/EBU (XLR), coaxial, optical (TOSLINK), MQA bitstream output
- USB DAC input: PCM up to 32-bit/384 kHz, DSD256
- CD ripping: to USB flash drive, WAV
- Display: 9.4 cm (3.7 in) amber LCD
- Control: infrared remote included
- Power: internal mains supply or external 12 V / 2 A DC
- Dimensions: 21.3 × 23 × 6.7 cm (W × D × H)
- Weight: 1.8 kg
- Finishes: silver, black
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros:
- Transport, full player and USB DAC in one compact chassis
- AES/EBU alongside coaxial and optical, rare at this size and price
- Pre-amp function drives active speakers directly
- Rips CDs to lossless WAV with no computer involved
- Separate power supplies for servo, digital and analogue stages, plus a 12 V DC input for upgrades
⚠ Cons:
- No headphone output
- No SACD, Bluetooth or network streaming
- Ripping speed not yet published
Where to Buy
The FiiO DP11 is now in the Soundium catalogue as a pre-order at €189, in silver or black. Our first units are expected in October 2026, so the product page shows the expected arrival month. The EARLY5 code takes 5% off if you order before they land.
- Free pickup shipping on orders over €149
- Free courier shipping on orders over €299
- Authorised FiiO warranty
- Support from people who actually know the gear
FiiO DP11: €189 · FiiO at Soundium · Talk to our team
Final Thoughts
Most affordable CD players make you choose. A cheap transport needs a DAC, and a cheap player gives you no way to upgrade later. The DP11 does both: it's a player on day one and a transport later, and it throws in AES/EBU and a USB ripper for good measure. It won't replace a flagship machine, and it isn't trying to. It's a sensible, well-connected way to keep playing the CDs you already own.
Still Unsure?
Tell us what you'd connect it to, whether that's active speakers, an amplifier or a DAC you already own, and we'll tell you honestly whether the DP11 fits or whether a more traditional CD player makes more sense. Reach out to our team.