Fiio
FiiO is a Chinese consumer-electronics manufacturer headquartered in Guangzhou, founded in 2007. The company designs and markets portable and desktop audio equipment, including digital audio players, headphone amplifiers and DACs, Bluetooth DAC/amps, and in-ear monitors.
FiiO first gained notice for low-cost portable amplifiers and USB DAC/amps in its "E-series", notably the E17 "Alpen". From 2013 it expanded into DAPs with the X-series, helping to popularise affordable hi-resolution players; later Android M-series players such as the M11 broadened codec support and introduced dual balanced outputs.
Alongside players, FiiO diversified into earphones and portable Bluetooth DAC/amps; the BTR5 and BTR7 received widespread coverage as compact devices for driving wired headphones over wireless links. The company also operates the sub-brands Jade Audio and Snowsky.
History
FiiO Electronics Technology Company, Ltd. was founded in Guangzhou, China, in 2007 to develop affordable portable hi-fi products under the FiiO brand. The company's first widely recognised products were compact portable headphone amplifiers and USB DAC/amps in the "E-series". Among these, the E17 "Alpen" received broad coverage in head-fi publications as a do-it-all portable DAC/amp and dockable partner for FiiO's desktop units.FiiO entered the digital audio player market in 2013 with the X3, followed by higher-tier models such as the X5 and the Android-based, modular-amp X7. The X-series helped re-popularise dedicated hi-res players in the sub-US$500 segment and established FiiO’s international profile.
As streaming became central to portable listening, FiiO pivoted to Android-based DAPs with the M-series. The M11, announced at the company's Spring 2019 launch, introduced a more powerful SoC and dual balanced outputs, and later spawned Pro/Plus variants.
In parallel, FiiO diversified beyond players and amps into earphones and into Bluetooth DAC/amps. The BTR5 became a prominent portable Bluetooth DAC/amp, followed by later models such as the BTR7.