FiiO DP11 – a compact CD player with a DAC and built-in ripping

Just as some had written the silver disc off, it is finding its feet again in the HiFi system. Guangzhou FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. has spent the past few years working on portable CD players; the new FiiO DP11 is its first proper stationary take on the format. It is no bare-bones drive with a line output, though. In a metal case just 213 mm wide, FiiO has combined a CD player and CD transport, digital-to-analogue conversion, a USB DAC and a ripping function. That lets it serve as a stand-alone player, as a source for an external DAC, or as the digital hub of a small desktop setup. It also belongs to the FiiO Retro Desktop Line.

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Key Facts FiiO DP11 CD Player

• Stationary CD player or CD transport
• Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC
• USB DAC for linear PCM up to 32 bit 384 kHz and DSD256
• Stereo RCA line output for analogue connection
• AES/EBU via XLR, plus coaxial and optical S/PDIF
• CD ripping straight to a USB drive in WAV format
• MQA-CD bitstream passthrough for external decoders
• Two femtosecond clocks
• Separate power supplies and PCB sections for the drive, digital and analogue circuitry
• 3.71-inch LCD
• Infrared remote control included
• Very compact: 213 × 230 × 67 mm, 1.802 kg

A small case and a deliberately modest look

The DP11 is a plain, restrained machine. Its all-metal case measures only 213 × 230 × 67 mm, so it fits on a desk or into a compact rack without fuss. A 3.71-inch LCD sits on the front, and the player can be operated either on the unit itself or with the supplied infrared remote. The disc goes in via a classic tray, which suits the low-key styling well.

The drive: tuned servo, quiet mounting

FiiO uses a custom-tuned tray-loading mechanism for disc playback. According to the manufacturer, an optimised servo firmware and a particularly low-noise mechanical mounting are meant to deliver dependable disc reading and quiet running in equal measure.

Three sections, three power supplies

The layout inside is worth a closer look. FiiO keeps the CD servo, the digital signal processing and the analogue audio stage in separate areas of the board, and gives each its own power supply as well. The idea, says FiiO, is to cut down on interference between the functional blocks. Two femtosecond crystal oscillators with very low phase noise handle the clocking. Such measures make sense in a product that squeezes moving mechanical parts, digital processing and an analogue output into a very small enclosure.

Connecting it: analogue first, digital if you prefer

As the connections show, FiiO did not conceive the DP11 merely as the cheapest possible CD player. Used conventionally, the stereo RCA output goes to an integrated amplifier, a preamplifier or a suitably equipped active speaker system, and a Cirrus Logic CS43198 does the conversion.

Anyone who already owns a good external DAC can treat the DP11 purely as a transport. The rear panel offers three digital outputs for that job: AES/EBU via XLR, coaxial S/PDIF via RCA and optical S/PDIF. The AES/EBU and coaxial outputs carry signals up to 24 bit 192 kHz; the optical output supports up to 24 bit 96 kHz.

Ripping without a computer

For owners of big CD collections, the built-in ripping function may be the most interesting feature. The DP11 can copy tracks from an audio CD directly to a connected USB drive and store them losslessly as WAV files, with no computer or ripping software needed.

FiiO does set clear conditions. Only standard CDDA audio discs are supported, and the USB drive must be formatted as FAT32. For ripping and firmware updates, the manufacturer recommends drives of no more than 32 GB.

A USB DAC as well

The player need not be limited to discs. Over USB, its D/A converter can also serve external digital sources. In USB DAC mode the DP11 handles linear PCM up to 32-bit/384 kHz and native DSD playback up to DSD256, so it can be paired with a notebook, a desktop PC or suitable mobile devices.

There is no headphone amplifier on board. For personal audio, FiiO points to separate products such as the FiiO K17 R2R or FiiO K13 R2R.

MQA-CD: passthrough, not decoding

The DP11 supports MQA-CD bitstream passthrough, but the feature needs to be put in context. The player does not decode MQA itself. It simply forwards the data stream unchanged from its digital outputs to an external DAC that is MQA-capable.

Power: internal supply, or bring your own

Mains power comes from an integrated switch-mode supply designed for 100 to 240 V at 50 or 60 Hz. There is also an input for an external 12 V supply rated at 2 A or more, so FiiO expressly allows a suitable external linear power supply to be used. That gives anyone building the DP11 into a carefully assembled compact system, whether as a CD transport or as a DAC, one more way to tailor it.

All benefits at a glance

• Two roles in one box: use it as a complete CD player through the internal DAC, or as a transport feeding an external DAC.
• Analogue output on board: the Cirrus Logic CS43198 sends its signal to a pair of stereo Cinch sockets.
• Digital choice: AES/EBU, coaxial S/PDIF and optical S/PDIF cover most DAC inputs.
• USB DAC mode: takes in PCM up to 32 bit 384 kHz and DSD256 from computers and suitable mobile devices.
• PC-free CD ripping: discs are copied as WAV files straight to a FAT32 USB drive.
• Interference-conscious design: the drive, digital and analogue sections are separated, each with its own supply.
• Small footprint: 213 mm across, which suits a desk or a compact HiFi system.
• Power supply flexibility: the built-in supply can be swapped for an external 12 V source.

Price and availability

According to FiiO, the DP11 will reach the European market in October 2026, priced at € 184,99. In the box are the CD player itself, an infrared remote, a USB-C to USB-C data cable, a mains lead, a quick-start guide and the warranty and service documents.

At the same time, FiiO is putting the FiiO Modular HiFi Device Storage Rack back in the spotlight. It allows the DP11 to be combined with other compact FiiO components into a single desktop system.

Getting to the point

FiiO has taken a notably pragmatic route with the DP11. Rather than declaring CD playback a luxury, the company pairs a conventional drive with the features that make such a source useful today: an analogue output, three digital interfaces, a USB DAC and computer-free ripping. Compact dimensions, wide connectivity and a price of just under €185 make it an interesting option for people who still want to use their CD collection actively, but do not want a machine that plays nothing but discs. Whether Guangzhou FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. has got the balance right in everyday use remains for a proper listening test to show, but on paper the FiiO DP11 is a well-considered package.

Technical Specifications

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