FiiO DP11 combines CD playback, Hi-res DAC and direct USB ripping
The FiiO DP11 packs a Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC, analogue and three digital outputs, a USB DAC input and computer-free CD ripping into a metal case only 213 mm wide. Two femtosecond clocks and separate power supplies and circuit sections for drive, digital and analogue stages are meant to keep the electronics out of each other's way. We look at how the player fits into a modern setup, what it can and cannot do, and what the manufacturer asks for it.
- The FiiO DP11 is a compact CD player, CD transport and USB DAC that rips audio CDs to WAV files on a USB stick without a computer, and it offers stereo cinch, AES/EBU, coaxial and optical S/PDIF outputs, a Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC and a 3.71-inch LCD display. FiiO plans to launch it in Europe in October 2026 at € 184,99, with an infrared remote control, a USB-C to USB-C data cable and a mains cable included.
The compact disc is edging back into the HiFi system, and Guangzhou FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. is making the most of it. After several years spent on portable CD players, the company now turns to the shelf and the desk with the DP11. It is a CD player, a CD transport, a D/A converter, a USB DAC and a standalone ripper in a single metal case just 213 mm wide. The DP11 can work as a self-contained player, feed an external DAC or act as the digital gateway of a compact desktop system, and it forms part of the FiiO Retro Desktop Line.
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 as analogue line output
- AES/EBU via XLR, 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 drive, digital and analogue circuitry
- 3.71-inch LCD display
- Infrared remote control included
- Very compact: 213 × 230 × 67 mm, 1,802 kg
Ripping without a computer
For anyone with a sizeable CD collection, the most useful trick of the DP11 may well be its ripping function. The player copies tracks from an audio CD directly to a connected USB drive and stores them losslessly as WAV files. Neither a computer nor ripping software is involved at any point.
FiiO is clear about the conditions. The DP11 handles standard CDDA audio discs, and the USB drive must be formatted as FAT32. For ripping, and also for firmware updates, the manufacturer recommends drives of no more than 32 GB.
A drive of FiiO’s own
For disc playback FiiO uses a specially tuned tray-loading mechanism. An optimised servo firmware and, according to the manufacturer, a particularly low-noise mechanical mounting are intended to deliver dependable disc reading and quiet running.
The traditional drawer suits the understated appearance of the player. The all-metal case measures only 213 × 230 × 67 mm, so the DP11 slots into a small system or onto a desk without fuss. A 3.71-inch LCD display sits on the front, and the player can be operated either on the unit itself or with the supplied infrared remote control.
Three zones inside
The internal layout deserves a closer look. FiiO keeps the CD servo, the digital signal processing and the analogue audio circuitry apart, not only in separate areas of the circuit board but also with separate power supplies. The aim, says the manufacturer, is to reduce interference between the individual function groups.
Two femtosecond crystal oscillators with very low phase noise add to this. Such measures make particular sense in a device that has to accommodate a mechanical drive, digital processing and an analogue output in a very small housing.
Analogue output or pure transport
The connection panel makes plain that FiiO did not conceive the DP11 merely as the cheapest possible CD player. Anyone using it in the conventional way connects the stereo RCA output to an integrated amplifier, a preamplifier or a suitably equipped active speaker system. Conversion is handled by a Cirrus Logic CS43198.
Owners of a good external DAC can instead use the DP11 purely as a transport. The rear panel offers three digital outputs for that purpose: AES/EBU via XLR, coaxial S/PDIF via RCA and optical S/PDIF. The AES/EBU and coaxial outputs deliver signals up to 24 Bit 192 kHz, while the optical interface supports up to 24 Bit 96 kHz.
A USB DAC as well
The DP11 need not be confined to discs. Its converter can also serve external digital sources over USB. In USB DAC mode the player supports linear PCM up to 32 Bit 384 kHz and native DSD playback up to DSD256.
That makes it a possible partner for a notebook, a desktop PC or suitable mobile devices. There is no headphone amplifier, though. For personal audio, FiiO points to separate products such as the FiiO K17 R2R or the FiiO K13 R2R.
MQA-CD: passthrough only
The DP11 also supports MQA-CD bitstream passthrough, and the function needs to be put in context. The player does not decode MQA itself. It simply passes the data stream, unchanged, through its digital outputs to an external DAC capable of MQA decoding.
Power: built-in or external
Under normal circumstances the DP11 runs from its internal switch-mode power supply, which accepts mains voltages from 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.
FiiO thus explicitly allows a suitable external linear power supply. For those building an elaborate compact system around the DP11 as transport or DAC, this offers one more way of tailoring the setup.
All benefits at a glance
- Player and transport: works through its internal DAC or feeds an external converter.
- Cirrus Logic CS43198: provides direct analogue output via stereo RCA.
- USB DAC: linear PCM up to 32 Bit 384 kHz and DSD256.
- Three digital outputs: AES/EBU, coaxial S/PDIF and optical S/PDIF make integration easy.
- Direct CD ripping: audio CDs become WAV files on a USB drive, no computer required.
- Elaborate internal design: separate circuit sections and power supplies are meant to limit interference.
- Compact format: at 213 mm wide, the DP11 suits desktop and small HiFi systems.
- Flexible power: the built-in supply can be bypassed with an external 12 V unit.
Price and availability
According to FiiO, the DP11 will reach the European market in October 2026, priced at € 184,99. The box contains the CD player, an infrared remote control, a USB-C to USB-C data cable, a mains cable, a quick start guide and the warranty and service documents.
At the same time, FiiO is putting the new FiiO Modular HiFi Device Storage Rack back in the spotlight. It allows the DP11 and other compact FiiO components to be combined into one uniform desktop system.
Getting to the point
FiiO takes a refreshingly pragmatic route with the DP11. Instead of declaring CD playback a luxury, Guangzhou FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. pairs a conventional drive with the features that make such a source flexible today: an analogue output, three digital interfaces, a USB DAC and ripping without a computer. The mix of small dimensions, extensive connectivity and a price just under € 185,- makes the DP11 an appealing proposition for listeners who want to keep using their CD collection but do not want a device that can only play discs.
| Product | FiiO DP11 CD Player |
|---|---|
| Price | € 184,99 |
Technical Specifications
| Product | FiiO DP11 CD Player |
|---|---|
| CD drive | Tray-loading, optimised servo control |
| D/A converter | Cirrus Logic CS43198 |
| USB DAC | Linear PCM up to 32 Bit 384 kHz, native DSD256 |
| Analogue output | Stereo RCA line out |
| Output level | 2.2 Vrms at 1 kHz / 10 kOhm |
| Digital outputs | AES/EBU (XLR), coaxial S/PDIF (RCA), optical S/PDIF |
| AES/EBU / coaxial S/PDIF | Up to 24 Bit 192 kHz |
| Optical S/PDIF | Up to 24 Bit 96 kHz |
| CD ripping | CDDA to USB, WAV |
| USB drive for ripping | FAT32, up to 32 GB recommended |
| MQA-CD | Bitstream passthrough, external decoder required |
| Clocking | 2 × femtosecond crystal oscillator |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | ≥ 109 dB, A-weighted |
| Dynamic range | ≥ 109 dB, A-weighted |
| THD+N USB | < 0.00068 % |
| THD+N CD | < 0.0014 % |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz to 20 kHz |
| Display | 3.71-inch LCD |
| Case | All-metal |
| Power supply | AC 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz |
| External power supply | DC 12 V, at least 2 A |
| Dimensions | 213 × 230 × 67 mm, without feet |
| Weight | 1,802 kg |
| Remote control | Infrared, included |
| Brand | Guangzhou FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | FiiO |
| Distribution | NT Global Distribution GmbH |
| More about this manufacturer at HiFi BLOG |
