{"id":47649,"date":"2025-12-19T12:35:03","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T12:35:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/?p=47649"},"modified":"2026-04-07T10:45:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T10:45:40","slug":"fiio-dm13-portable-cd-player-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/fiio-dm13-portable-cd-player-review\/","title":{"rendered":"FiiO DM13 Portable CD Player Review"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/fiio-dm13-portable-cd-player-review\/#%E2%80%8BIn_a_hurry_Heres_our_verdict\" >\u200bIn a hurry? Here\u2019s our verdict<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/fiio-dm13-portable-cd-player-review\/#How_I_tested_the_DM13\" >How I tested the DM13<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/fiio-dm13-portable-cd-player-review\/#FiiO_DM13_Portable_CD_Player_review\" >FiiO DM13 Portable CD Player review<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/fiio-dm13-portable-cd-player-review\/#First_impressions\" >First impressions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/fiio-dm13-portable-cd-player-review\/#Performance\" >Performance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/fiio-dm13-portable-cd-player-review\/#Connectivity\" >Connectivity<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/fiio-dm13-portable-cd-player-review\/#Who_is_the_FiiO_DM13_suited_to\" >Who is the FiiO DM13 suited to?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/fiio-dm13-portable-cd-player-review\/#FiiO_DM13_BT_specifications\" >FiiO DM13 BT specifications<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/fiio-dm13-portable-cd-player-review\/#FAQs\" >FAQs<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/fiio-dm13-portable-cd-player-review\/#How_long_does_it_take_to_charge_the_FiiO_DM13\" >How long does it take to charge the FiiO DM13?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/fiio-dm13-portable-cd-player-review\/#What_is_the_%E2%80%9CD_mode%E2%80%9D_on_the_FiiO_DM13\" >What is the &#8220;D mode&#8221; on the FiiO DM13?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/fiio-dm13-portable-cd-player-review\/#Does_the_FiiO_DM13_have_Bluetooth\" >Does the FiiO DM13 have Bluetooth?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/fiio-dm13-portable-cd-player-review\/#Final_thoughts\" >Final thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Intro&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>Remember the &#8217;90s? Me neither, but I sure do remember the &#8217;00s and growing up with a portable CD player. I remember getting one for Christmas one year and being too shy or awkward to open it or use it for months. To this day, I couldn\u2019t tell you why. Still, I do remember when I finally got around to using it, it was such a gateway to new, exciting things.<\/p>\n<p>I would often ask to borrow from my brother&#8217;s extensive CD collection, before scurrying off back to my room, listening to whatever treasures I&#8217;d dug out.<\/p>\n<p>Simpler times.<\/p>\n<p>Well, for the past week, I\u2019ve had the chance to relive the glory days of 2004-09 by actually sitting down to listen to CDs for the first time in forever. I used the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.av.com\/Hi-Fi\/FiiO-DM13-Portable-CD-Player-with-Bluetooth-Black\/6P49\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FiiO DM13 portable CD player with Bluetooth<\/a><\/strong>, and I even made the effort to visit my brother and borrow his CDs again to complete the nostalgia trip, and let me tell you, I\u2019ve had a great time.<\/p>\n<p>In this <strong>FiiO DM13 review<\/strong>, I&#8217;ll take you through my impressions of the player, its sound and overall performance, and any areas where the device falls short.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AV-Trade-in-Blog-Banner.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;AV Trade-In In-Page Banner&#8221; title_text=&#8221;AV-Trade-in-Blog-Banner&#8221; url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.av.com\/trade-in?utm_source=blog&#038;utm_medium=banner&#038;utm_campaign=blog+av+trade+in&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;AV Trade-In In-Page Banner&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; global_module=&#8221;46457&#8243; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f%22:%91%22border_color_top%22%93}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;\u200bIn a hurry? Here\u2019s our verdict&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%8BIn_a_hurry_Heres_our_verdict\"><\/span>\u200bIn a hurry? Here\u2019s our verdict<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In one word\u2026 Nostalgia.<\/p>\n<p>This is a really cool portable CD player, the kind that CD players of the past wanted to be.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"112\" data-end=\"367\">The sound quality from something this compact, operating on mechanical principles, is awesome. The built-in DAC and headphone amp perform excellently, driving all of my headphones perfectly well &#8211; from my most demanding over-ears to the easiest IEMs.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"369\" data-end=\"692\">Another major advantage is that the anti-skip feature actually works, unlike the players from the &#8217;00s. You can even use it as a dedicated compact desktop CD solution by taking a digital output for use with other gear. So if, like me, you&#8217;re very limited on space, it can be integrated into a setup with minimal footprint.<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-134\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-134\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Pros<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Cons<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Rechargeable battery, with eight hours of life (no more AAs)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">It's still a little too big to carry around in a pocket<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Anti-skip is very effective at its job<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">The hinge doesn\u2019t feel the nicest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">The built-in DAC sounds great<\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">The built-in headphone amp keeps up with some reasonably demanding headphones<\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">There's a digital output, should you wish to use it in a CD transport-type setup<\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-134 from cache -->\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP FIIO DM13 BT PORTABLE CD PLAYER&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px|10px|30px|false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; button_url=&#8221;www.av.com\/Hi-Fi\/FiiO-DM13-Portable-CD-Player-with-Bluetooth-Black\/6P49&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f%22:%91%22border_color_top%22%93}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;How I tested the DM13&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_I_tested_the_DM13\"><\/span>How I tested the DM13<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"136\" data-end=\"603\">To test the DM13, I borrowed a dozen or so CDs from my brother and used it in both portable and desktop modes. In portable mode, I did what I always used to do: sit reading at night with it playing through headphones, alternating between my Beyerdynamic and Ollo headphones, depending on what I was in the mood for.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"136\" data-end=\"603\">When I was out and about, I used the player with the Shure SE215s &#8211; thankfully, I have one coat with a pocket big enough to carry it around comfortably.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"605\" data-end=\"874\">In desktop mode, I took the digital output and ran it into my Naim\/Focal setup, using it purely as a transport. I had access to the Bluetooth version of the player, so I also tried pairing it with my AirPods as well as an old pair of Bose headphones I had lying around.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"876\" data-end=\"1028\">CD-wise, I went through some nostalgic picks &#8211; MJ, Linkin Park, Slayer, Sade &#8211; to give it a fair run across genres and sounds, just to see how it fared.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"876\" data-end=\"1028\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-47666\" src=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FiiO-DM13-with-headphones.jpg\" alt=\"FiiO DM13 with headphones\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FiiO-DM13-with-headphones.jpg 1330w, https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FiiO-DM13-with-headphones-1280x640.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FiiO-DM13-with-headphones-980x490.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FiiO-DM13-with-headphones-480x240.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1330px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f%22:%91%22border_color_top%22%93}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;FiiO DM13 Portable CD Player review&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FiiO_DM13_Portable_CD_Player_review\"><\/span>FiiO DM13 Portable CD Player review<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"First_impressions\"><\/span>First impressions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-47663\" src=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FiiO-DM13-portable-CD-player-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"FiiO DM13 portable CD player\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/>First impressions are important, and the little FiiO delivers. It has a nice weight to it, the buttons have a satisfying feel considering they&#8217;re relatively flat, and the overall build quality is nice and sturdy.<\/p>\n<p>Upon opening the CD tray lid, the only downside I noticed was that the hinges that support the top aren\u2019t the most reassuring. But this is a very thin piece of kit, so I&#8217;m not sure how FiiO would solve this problem. It&#8217;s not the best aspect, but I also have no real qualm with it.<\/p>\n<p>Powering it up, the screen is minimal, but again, it tells you everything you need to know. It treads the line between function and form very nicely.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Performance\"><\/span>Performance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The performance of the DM13 is pretty great. I won&#8217;t keep comparing it to old-school versions, but as I&#8217;ve said, this is pretty much the CD player that its &#8217;90s and &#8217;00s counterparts wished they could be. Admittedly, it is more expensive &#8211; but it appears that is the cost of idealism, and to be honest, it\u2019s a pretty reasonable price for what it is.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;d liken its audio performance to that of something much larger and more stationary. The dual Cirrus Logic DACs do an excellent job decoding CD information, and the laser tracking of the CD is spot on &#8211; so if you&#8217;re using it as a transport, you know that whatever other gear you use will be supplied with some excellent source information.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Connectivity\"><\/span>Connectivity<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-47665\" src=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FiiO-DM13-portable-CD-player-in-use-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"A man using the FiiO DM13 portable CD player\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/>The DM13 has more connectivity than you would expect for a little thing like this. Of course, there&#8217;s the usual 3.5mm jack (we all expected this one), but you then get a balanced 4.4mm jack and a single-ended 4.4mm jack, allowing you to connect some niche headphones or use the balanced out for external gear that accepts a balanced input.<\/p>\n<p>A big thing for me personally is the desktop mode, where you leave the device powered and use it either as a CD transport or a CD ripper. The fact that it\u2019s powered via a USB-C connection rather than an obscure PSU is a major win, as it adds a lot of convenience.<\/p>\n<p>With everything increasingly standardised around USB-C where possible, this feels like a solid step in the right direction. The only potential drawback is that not everyone has fully transitioned to a USB-C ecosystem yet, which might be inconvenient if you&#8217;re still using the more common USB-A connections.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"406\" data-end=\"627\">As for the optical output, it uses a 3.5mm barrel-pin type connector rather than the usual trapezoid-shaped TOSLINK style. It\u2019s a bit of a rogue choice, but given the slim form factor, I can\u2019t really hold it against them.<\/p>\n<p>Bluetooth is a welcome addition, too. By the nature of the format, you don\u2019t get the full bandwidth of CD quality due to how compression works, but the connectivity option is nice to have included. But if you aren&#8217;t fussed about the Bluetooth function, there is a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/Hi-Fi\/FiiO-DM13-Portable-CD-Player-Black\/6P4E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8220;regular&#8221; non-Bluetooth version<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f%22:%91%22border_color_top%22%93}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Who is the FiiO DM13 suited to?&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_is_the_FiiO_DM13_suited_to\"><\/span>Who is the FiiO DM13 suited to?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever caught yourself missing the ritual of picking an album, opening a case, and committing to listening to the whole thing rather than skipping through songs, the FiiO DM13 is very much for you. It\u2019s aimed at people who want to step away from streaming for a bit and reconnect with music as a physical thing, whether that\u2019s revisiting a CD collection you already own or starting to build one again.<\/p>\n<p>It also makes a lot of sense if you listen with headphones most of the time. If you commute, read, or just like sitting with music in the evening, the DM13 gives you a distraction-free experience that feels deliberate in a way phones rarely do. No notifications, no buffering, no algorithm nudging you elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, this is for anyone who wants their listening to feel intentional again, without sacrificing modern sound quality or convenience.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-47667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FiiO-DM13-used-with-a-laptop.jpg\" alt=\"FiiO DM13 used with a laptop\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FiiO-DM13-used-with-a-laptop.jpg 1330w, https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FiiO-DM13-used-with-a-laptop-1280x640.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FiiO-DM13-used-with-a-laptop-980x490.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FiiO-DM13-used-with-a-laptop-480x240.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1330px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f%22:%91%22border_color_top%22%93}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;FiiO DM13 BT specifications&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FiiO_DM13_BT_specifications\"><\/span>FiiO DM13 BT specifications<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Warning, there are a <em>lot <\/em>of them, and honestly, you don&#8217;t need to know or understand the technical information, but it&#8217;s there if you want it. If you&#8217;re not a fellow mega nerd, feel free to skip ahead.<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-135\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-135\">\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Hardware platform<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Main Control: CS6137<br \/>\nOp-Amp: SGM82622<br \/>\nDAC: CS431982<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Output modes<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">PRE OUT \/ USB OUT \/ SPDIF OUT \/ BLUETOOTH OUT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Bluetooth Transmission<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Supports SBC, aptX, aptX Low Latency, aptX-HD<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Screen<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1.5-inch LCD display<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Playback Support<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">CD, FLAC, WAV, WMA, AAC, MP3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Power supply<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Supports DC 5V \/ \u22652A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Charging time<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Approximately 2.5 hours (using 5V 2A adapter)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Product size (W x D x H)<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Approx. 137.5 x 144.7 x 28.7mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Weight<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Approx. 450g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-10\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Load<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">32\u03a9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-11\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Controls<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Power button<br \/>\nPlay\/Pause button<br \/>\nPrevious track button<br \/>\nNext track button<br \/>\nVolume down<br \/>\nVolume up<br \/>\nFunction select button<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-12\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>USB interface<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">2 x USB Type-C (1 x Power in, 1x USB audio for charging and data transfer)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-13\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Headphone output interface<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Standard 3.5mm jack<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-14\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Single-ended line output interface<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Standard 3.5mm jack<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-15\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Balanced output interface<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Standard 4.4mm jack<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-16\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Balanced line output interface<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Standard 4.4mm jack<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-17\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Coaxial\/optical output interface<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Standard 3.5mm jack (shared with LO port)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-18\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><strong>Battery life<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">\u226510 hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-135 from cache -->\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f%22:%91%22border_color_top%22%93}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;FAQs&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span>FAQs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_it_take_to_charge_the_FiiO_DM13\"><\/span>How long does it take to charge the FiiO DM13?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The FiiO DM13 takes around two hours to charge from empty to full. It charges over USB-C and gives roughly eight hours of playback.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_%E2%80%9CD_mode%E2%80%9D_on_the_FiiO_DM13\"><\/span>What is the &#8220;D mode&#8221; on the FiiO DM13?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>&#8220;D mode&#8221; on the FiiO DM13 is Desktop Mode for fixed use. It bypasses the battery, so you can use it as a powered CD transport.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_the_FiiO_DM13_have_Bluetooth\"><\/span>Does the FiiO DM13 have Bluetooth?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The &#8220;regular&#8221; FiiO DM13 does not support Bluetooth, but the DM13 BT &#8211; which I reviewed here &#8211; does. It lets you listen wirelessly when cables are not practical.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f%22:%91%22border_color_top%22%93}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Final thoughts&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_thoughts\"><\/span>Final thoughts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"110\" data-end=\"477\">So here we are. Having read through my ramblings in this <strong>FiiO DM13 review<\/strong>, hopefully you can see why it\u2019s not just a cool little nostalgia piece, but also a genuinely credible desktop solution, offering a surprising amount of functionality for something so compact. Beyond its main purpose as a portable player, the bottom line is that it\u2019s pretty impressive for what it is.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"479\" data-end=\"821\">If there\u2019s one thing to take away from this &#8211; aside from the fact it has an insanely detailed spec sheet &#8211; it\u2019s that this is a genuinely interesting bit of hi-fi kit that\u2019s worth paying attention to. Whether you\u2019re using it as a CD ripper or transport, taking it on the go, or integrating it into a larger system, the FiiO DM13 has its place.<\/p>\n<p>I put on a Sade Greatest Hits CD and, for a moment, I was back in Venice. Early morning. Sitting in St Mark\u2019s Square as the sun crept up over the bay. Espresso in hand. A cigarette is burning slowly between my fingers. A waiter wandered over and asked how the pastry was. I told him it was lovely. I hadn\u2019t taken a bite.<\/p>\n<p>I crossed my legs, leaned back into a chair that was worn but somehow perfect, and listened as church bells chimed in the distance, calling people to Sunday prayer. I remember thinking, <em>This is the life<\/em>. A beautiful, romantic, utterly impractical life.<\/p>\n<p>Then they asked for the DM13 back.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243;][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;1_2&#8243;][et_pb_button url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP FIIO DM13 BT PORTABLE CD PLAYER&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px|10px|30px|false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; button_url=&#8221;www.av.com\/Hi-Fi\/FiiO-DM13-Portable-CD-Player-with-Bluetooth-Black\/6P49&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;1_2&#8243;][et_pb_button url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;READ MORE HI-FI REVIEWS&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px|10px|30px|false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/category\/hifi\/hifi-reviews-\/&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Well, for the past week, I\u2019ve had the chance to relive the glory days of 2004-09 by actually sitting down to listen to CDs for the first time in forever. I used the FiiO DM13 portable CD player with Bluetooth, and I even made the effort to visit my brother and borrow his CDs again to complete the nostalgia trip, and let me tell you, I\u2019ve had a great time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":47664,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p>Remember the '90s? Me neither, but I sure do remember the '00s and growing up with a portable CD player. I remember getting one for Christmas one year and being too shy or awkward to open it or use it for months. To this day, I couldn\u2019t tell you why. Still, I do remember when I finally got around to using it, it was such a gateway to new, exciting things.<\/p><p>I would often ask to borrow from my brother's extensive CD collection, before scurrying off back to my room, listening to whatever treasures I'd dug out.<\/p><p>Simpler times.<\/p><p>Well, for the past week, I\u2019ve had the chance to relive the glory days of 2004-09 by actually sitting down to listen to CDs for the first time in forever. I used the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.av.com\/Hi-Fi\/FiiO-DM13-Portable-CD-Player-with-Bluetooth-Black\/6P49\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FiiO DM13 portable CD player with Bluetooth<\/a><\/strong>, and I even made the effort to visit my brother and borrow his CDs again to complete the nostalgia trip, and let me tell you, I\u2019ve had a great time.<\/p><p>In this <strong>FiiO DM13 review<\/strong>, I'll take you through my impressions of the player, its sound and overall performance, and any areas where the device falls short.<\/p><hr \/><h3>In a hurry? Here\u2019s our verdict<\/h3><p>In one word\u2026 Nostalgia.<\/p><p>This is a really cool portable CD player, the kind that CD players of the past wanted to be.<\/p><p data-start=\"112\" data-end=\"367\">The sound quality from something this compact, operating on mechanical principles, is awesome. The built-in DAC and headphone amp perform excellently, driving all of my headphones perfectly well - from my most demanding over-ears to the easiest IEMs.<\/p><p data-start=\"369\" data-end=\"692\">Another major advantage is that the anti-skip feature actually works, unlike the players from the '00s. You can even use it as a dedicated compact desktop CD solution by taking a digital output for use with other gear. So if, like me, you're very limited on space, it can be integrated into a setup with minimal footprint.<\/p><p>[table id=134 \/]<\/p><hr \/><h3>How I tested the DM13<\/h3><p data-start=\"136\" data-end=\"603\">To test the DM13, I borrowed a dozen or so CDs from my brother and used it in both portable and desktop modes. In portable mode, I did what I always used to do: sit reading at night with it playing through headphones, alternating between my Beyerdynamic and Ollo headphones, depending on what I was in the mood for.<\/p><p data-start=\"136\" data-end=\"603\">When I was out and about, I used the player with the Shure SE215s - thankfully, I have one coat with a pocket big enough to carry it around comfortably.<\/p><p data-start=\"605\" data-end=\"874\">In desktop mode, I took the digital output and ran it into my Naim\/Focal setup, using it purely as a transport. I had access to the Bluetooth version of the player, so I also tried pairing it with my AirPods as well as an old pair of Bose headphones I had lying around.<\/p><p data-start=\"876\" data-end=\"1028\">CD-wise, I went through some nostalgic picks - MJ, Linkin Park, Slayer, Sade - to give it a fair run across genres and sounds, just to see how it fared.<\/p><p data-start=\"876\" data-end=\"1028\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-47666\" src=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FiiO-DM13-with-headphones.jpg\" alt=\"FiiO DM13 with headphones\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" \/><\/p><hr \/><h3>FiiO DM13 review<\/h3><h4>First impressions<\/h4><p><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-47663\" src=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FiiO-DM13-portable-CD-player-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"FiiO DM13 portable CD player\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/>First impressions are important, and the little FiiO delivers. It has a nice, reassuring weight to it, the buttons have a satisfying feel considering their relatively flat, and the overall build quality is nice and sturdy.<\/p><p>Upon opening the CD tray lid, the only downside I noticed was that the hinges that support the top aren\u2019t the most reassuring. But this is a very thin piece of kit, so I'm not sure how FiiO would solve this problem. It's not the best aspect, but I also have no real qualm with it.<\/p><p>Powering it up, the screen is minimal, but again, it tells you everything you need to know. It treads the line between function and form very nicely.<\/p><hr \/><h4>Performance<\/h4><p>The performance of the DM13 is pretty great. I won't keep comparing it to old-school versions, but as I've said, this is pretty much the CD player that its '90s and '00s counterparts wished they could be. Admittedly, it is more expensive - but it appears that is the cost of idealism, and to be honest, it\u2019s a pretty reasonable price for what it is.<\/p><p>I'd liken its audio performance to that of something much larger and more stationary. The dual Cirrus Logic DACs do an excellent job decoding CD information, and the laser tracking of the CD is spot on - so if you're using it as a transport, you know that whatever other gear you use will be supplied with some excellent source information.<\/p><hr \/><h4>Connectivity<\/h4><p><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-47665\" src=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FiiO-DM13-portable-CD-player-in-use-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"A man using the FiiO DM13 portable CD player\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/>The DM13 has more connectivity than you would expect for a little thing like this. Of course, there's the usual 3.5mm jack (we all expected this one), but you then get a balanced 4.4mm jack and a single-ended 4.4mm jack, allowing you to connect some niche headphones or use the balanced out for external gear that accepts a balanced input.<\/p><p>A big thing for me personally is the desktop mode, where you leave the device powered and use it either as a CD transport or a CD ripper. The fact that it\u2019s powered via a USB-C connection rather than an obscure PSU is a major win, as it adds a lot of convenience.<\/p><p>With everything increasingly standardised around USB-C where possible, this feels like a solid step in the right direction.<\/p><p data-start=\"93\" data-end=\"404\">The USB audio output being USB-C is great, as it allows for faster file transfer speeds thanks to the increased bandwidth. The only potential drawback is that not everyone has fully transitioned to a USB-C ecosystem yet, which might be inconvenient if you're still using the more common USB-A connections.<\/p><p data-start=\"406\" data-end=\"627\">As for the optical output, it uses a 3.5mm barrel-pin type connector rather than the usual trapezoid-shaped TOSLINK style. It\u2019s a bit of a rogue choice, but given the slim form factor, I can\u2019t really hold it against them.<\/p><p>Bluetooth is a welcome addition, too. By the nature of the format, you don\u2019t get the full bandwidth of CD quality due to how compression works, but the connectivity option is nice to have included. But if you aren't fussed about the Bluetooth function, there is a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/Hi-Fi\/FiiO-DM13-Portable-CD-Player-Black\/6P4E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\"regular\" non-Bluetooth version<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p><hr \/><h3>Who is the FiiO DM13 suited to?<\/h3><p>If you\u2019ve ever caught yourself missing the ritual of picking an album, opening a case, and committing to listening to the whole thing rather than skipping through songs, the FiiO DM13 is very much for you. It\u2019s aimed at people who want to step away from streaming for a bit and reconnect with music as a physical thing, whether that\u2019s revisiting a CD collection you already own or starting to build one again.<\/p><p>It also makes a lot of sense if you listen with headphones most of the time. If you commute, read, or just like sitting with music in the evening, the DM13 gives you a distraction-free experience that feels deliberate in a way phones rarely do. No notifications, no buffering, no algorithm nudging you elsewhere.<\/p><p>Ultimately, this is for anyone who wants their listening to feel intentional again, without sacrificing modern sound quality or convenience.<\/p><p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-47667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.av.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FiiO-DM13-used-with-a-laptop.jpg\" alt=\"FiiO DM13 used with a laptop\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" \/><\/p><hr \/><h3>FiiO DM13 BT specifications<\/h3><p>Warning, there are a <em>lot <\/em>of them, and honestly, you don't need to know or understand the technical information, but it's there if you want it. If you're not a fellow mega nerd, feel free to skip ahead.<\/p><p>[table id=135 \/]<\/p><hr \/><h3>FAQs<\/h3><h4>How long does it take to charge the FiiO DM13?<\/h4><p>The FiiO DM13 takes around 2 hours to charge from empty to full. It charges over USB-C and gives roughly eight hours of playback.<\/p><hr \/><h4>What is the \"D mode\" on the FiiO DM13?<\/h4><p>\"D mode\" on the FiiO DM13 is Desktop Mode for fixed use. It bypasses the battery, so you can use it as a powered CD transport.<\/p><hr \/><h4>Does the FiiO DM13 have Bluetooth?<\/h4><p>The \"regular\" FiiO DM13 does not support Bluetooth, but the DM13 BT - which I reviewed here - does. It lets you listen wirelessly when cables are not practical.<\/p><hr \/><h3>Final thoughts<\/h3><p data-start=\"110\" data-end=\"477\">So here we are. Having read through my ramblings in this <strong>FiiO DM13 review<\/strong>, hopefully you can see why it\u2019s not just a cool little nostalgia piece, but also a genuinely credible desktop solution, offering a surprising amount of functionality for something so compact. Beyond its main purpose as a portable player, the bottom line is that it\u2019s pretty impressive for what it is.<\/p><p data-start=\"479\" data-end=\"821\">If there\u2019s one thing to take away from this - aside from the fact it has an insanely detailed spec sheet - it\u2019s that this is a genuinely interesting bit of hi-fi kit that\u2019s worth paying attention to. Whether you\u2019re using it as a CD ripper or transport, taking it on the go, or integrating it into a larger system, the FiiO DM13 has its place.<\/p><p>I put on a Sade Greatest Hits CD and, for a moment, I was back in Venice. Early morning. Sitting in St Mark\u2019s Square as the sun crept up over the bay. Espresso in hand. A cigarette is burning slowly between my fingers. A waiter wandered over and asked how the pastry was. I told him it was lovely. I hadn\u2019t taken a bite.<\/p><p>I crossed my legs, leaned back into a chair that was worn but somehow perfect, and listened as church bells chimed in the distance, calling people to Sunday prayer. I remember thinking, <em>This is the life<\/em>. A beautiful, romantic, utterly impractical life.<\/p><p>Then they asked for the DM13 back.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,59,140,61,141],"tags":[19,106],"class_list":["post-47649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hifi","category-hifi-new-releases","category-new-releases-2","category-hifi-reviews","category-reviews-2","tag-hi-fi","tag-reviews"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>FiiO DM13 Portable CD Player Review | AV.com Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this FiiO DM13 review, I&#039;ll take you through my impressions of the player, its performance, and any areas where the device falls short.\" \/>\n<meta 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