While we have some reservations about the revival of portable cassette players, the new FiiO DM13 CD player seems like a genuinely useful device!
FiiO previously released the CP13 portable cassette player, catering to a niche audience. However, we believe that the era of cassette tapes is truly over—perhaps useful for digitizing some unique, personal recordings from the past, but otherwise, it remains a lo-fi medium. The new FiiO DM13 portable CD player, on the other hand, is much more appealing. Many people still have CD collections, either prominently displayed in their living rooms or stored away in the attic. If these CDs have been well-maintained and consist of factory-pressed discs, you’re good to go. The quality of such discs doesn’t degrade over time (unlike CD-Rs, most of which are no longer readable, or have errors).
CDs are durable and digital
Throwing away digital, physical optical media is wasteful since they can last a lifetime. More people are recognizing this, and the market for second-hand CDs is thriving. New CDs are still being produced, and like vinyl and cassettes, they’re experiencing a bit of a revival. CDs, in particular, offer a sustainable option, making a new portable CD player like the FiiO DM13 a welcome addition for many. The DM13 features both a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack and a balanced 4.4 mm output. There’s also a dedicated analog line-out and even an SPDIF digital output. To make the device even more versatile, there’s also a USB output. On the wireless side, Bluetooth is available. You can even create CD-ROMs (though keep in mind their limited lifespan), with support for formats such as FLAC, WAV, WMA, AAC, and MP3.
The FiiO DM13 has a built-in battery that provides up to 8 hours of playback on a full charge. It will be available starting in September this year for a reasonable price of $179. At the time of writing, there’s no information available about the player on the manufacturer’s website or their social media. However, we did find it listed in an online store abroad, which is also where the screenshot above comes from!