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Christmas Day, 2003. Until this moment, I had been using a cassette player along with the headphones packaged with it, entertaining myself with audio renditions of the Redwall series. The notion of a CD was known to me, thanks to my father’s vast collection, but I had yet to experience the shiny discs firsthand — that was until the moment I received The Billy The Kid Suite alongside a CD player, wrapped in glittering crimson paper.
All of a sudden, music became available not only through the radio but also whenever I felt like it — all I required were those treasured, silver-toned discs. Since that time, I’ve gathered… a collection of CDs, and I constantly seek new ways to enjoy them.
This is my newest CD-playing gadget — and it pays homage to one of my all-time favorites. The Fiio DM13 reintroduces portable CD players in the year 2024, and although it features some functionalities not found in players from my childhood, the essence of the experience remains delightful.
A more manual listening experience
While vinyl might be seen as the pinnacle of manual music playback with its tone arms, needles, and rotating platters proudly displayed, there’s an unmistakably tactile pleasure in playing a CD. Opening the CD tray with a click, placing the disc carefully, closing the lid, and then relaxing to enjoy the full album without resorting to the skip button feels intentional.
The DM13 revives that delightful tactility in several notable ways. Firstly, the entire unit is crafted from metal, giving it a reassuring weight. It weighs only around 15 ounces, yet it feels substantial in hand. The lid opens with a satisfying click and swings into position seamlessly. Closing the lid feels robust and confidence-boosting, without any wobbliness or looseness. It reminds me of that Walkman you had as a child, but constructed from metal, and there’s no need to change AA batteries every three hours.
Playing a CD is as manual and tactile as you prefer. The CD securely fits in place, you close the lid, it whirs to life, and your music begins to play.
CDs in 2024
There are indeed some enhancements to modernize the device for the year 2024. The OLED display on the front is not only clear but also bright and easy to read under various lighting conditions. Inside, there’s a USB-C rechargeable battery that provides 10 hours of power without needing to change any components or snap off a panel. A switch on the back lets you turn the onboard DAC on and off if you wish to use your own, plus there are various outputs for balanced headphones and more.
However, one feature truly elevates the overall package to feel contemporary — a Bluetooth connection for optimal wireless headphones. It isn’t the most straightforward system to navigate, as it requires pressing and holding multiple buttons before finding the right option, and pairing headphones can be somewhat bothersome, but once connected, it operates effectively. It transforms a device that might have merely been a nostalgic trip into a more relevant and practical tool.
Is it effective at playing CDs?
Although the sound primarily emanates from the headphones you connect, yes, the DM13 excels at playing CDs. The motor does produce some noise, but it’s hardly noticeable when you’re plugged in and enveloped in your music. However, the internal DAC can render the sound a bit more analytical. Therefore, it would be advisable to use warmer headphones to mitigate this effect and enhance the lower frequencies.
In contrast to vinyl, a CD houses digital files, meaning you won’t encounter variations in the CDs themselves. The DM13’s role shines during post-processing, and it performs admirably. You even have the option to record your CDs onto a computer using the USB-C port at the back, which is a useful functionality.
Is there anything lacking?
There’s not a lot that’s absent per se, but a few additional features would have been nice. I would appreciate it if the player recognized file names during playback of written CDs, yet its absence is not a significant issue in the grand scheme. An optical port at the back for external DACs would also be beneficial; however, as most utilize USB-C nowadays, you likely won’t be tearing your hair out over what might be considered the most frustrating connector ever designed.
Ultimately, it’s not about what’s lacking — it’s about what is present. The DM13 is a remarkable piece of technology steeped in nostalgia, transporting me back to road trips heading to family vacations, with the Billy the Kid suite blaring at full volume. If the Billy the Kid suite can indeed be blared. I doubt it.
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