FiiO JM21 Review: 60 Volume Levels and Portable Powerhouse Sound

Explore the FiiO JM21, a compact digital audio player offering rich sound and versatile features with 60 volume levels to fine-tune your listening experience.

A Nostalgic Comeback for Digital Audio Players

Remember when digital audio players were the exclusive playground of serious audiophiles? Well, those days might be making a stylish comeback. There’s something charming about devices that don’t look like an iPod and a sense of satisfaction that comes with using wired headphones. This nostalgia, combined with a sharp drop in prices, has pushed digital audio players back into mainstream appeal.

Enter the FiiO JM21 — a compact, wallet-friendly player that doesn’t skimp on quality. Priced under $300, this gem costs less than a third of FiiO’s flagship M23 and undercuts brands like Sony and Astell&Kern. Some markets even know it as the Jade Audio, tailored for newcomers, but after several weeks of jamming to my favorite tunes, I can say there’s zero compromise in sound or build quality.

FiiO JM21: Design and Build Quality

At first glance, the FiiO JM21 feels far from a beginner’s toy. Holding it reveals a clever combo of materials: an aluminum front that adds a pleasing robustness, paired with a plastic back that keeps weight in check. This mix instantly sets it apart from fully plastic competitors like those from Hidizs.

Now, I’m not entirely sold on the gentle blue and silver color combo, but kudos to FiiO — the finish stayed pristine after weeks on the road. No scratches, no smudges, no fading; it’s a resilient little player. The physical buttons on both sides are a delight. One controls power and volume, the other manages playback and track skipping. They’re perfectly placed for thumb and forefinger, making single-handed operation a breeze — no need to poke at a touchscreen constantly.

The only gripe? It lacks a dedicated lock button. Instead, you need to dive into the settings menu to disable buttons when the screen’s off. At least you can customize which buttons remain active with the display off versus on.

The 4.7-inch (11.9 cm) LCD display, protected by glass sitting atop the body, looks sharp with a 1334×750 resolution and a smooth 60Hz refresh rate. Album art looks vibrant with the brightness dialed up beyond 75%, but anything less makes it look a bit drab. No auto-brightness here, so manual adjustment is your friend.

Thickness-wise, at 13 mm, the JM21 is chunkier than today’s smartphones but still fits comfortably in your pocket, evoking that classic iPod vibe for fans of retro design.

FiiO JM21: Features and Battery Life

FiiO loaded the JM21 with a comprehensive set of ports to suit any portable audiophile’s needs:

• 3.5mm jack, doubling as a SPDIF digital output.
• Balanced 4.4mm output delivering a potent 700 mW per channel.
• USB-C port, enabling use as an external DAC for other audio gear.
• Bidirectional Bluetooth for streaming to or from devices, supporting LDAC, aptX HD, AAC, and even Apple’s AirPlay for wireless Apple audio fans.

It comes with 32GB of internal storage — not huge, especially if your library is packed with high-res FLAC or DSD files. Luckily, a microSD card slot expands your vault without requiring any special tool or pin to open. One downside? The USB-C port transfers data at a moderate pace, so shifting a hefty 80GB batch from an external SSD took over an hour.

Power-wise, the JM21 relies fully on its built-in 2400mAh battery. While FiiO boasts 12.5 hours via the 3.5mm output, my real-world use via the balanced 4.4mm port fell short at around nine hours. Streaming and navigating through Android apps trimmed runtime further. Standby drain is minimal, so I usually powered off when not listening.

FiiO JM21: Interface

Breaking new ground, the JM21 is FiiO’s first player running Android 13 (previous models stuck with Android 10). While Google was prepping Android 16, this step up feels fresh and capable. The UI is familiar with minimal bloatware, easing navigation.

Powered by a Snapdragon 680 chipset paired with 3GB RAM, the JM21 isn’t a speed demon but handles apps like Spotify, YouTube Music, SoundCloud, and BBC Sounds fairly well — albeit with slightly sluggish animations. FiiO suggests sticking to streaming apps, and their native FiiO Music app kept my album covers perfectly updated.

If you cherish your local files, the FiiO Music app is your playground. You can tweak themes and layouts and stream tracks from networked PCs or DLNA servers. The 10-band equalizer is precise for FiiO standards, though it only applies within the app — a bit frustrating if you toggle between different music services.

Adjusting gain, low-pass filters, or playback mode requires diving into Android settings or quick notifications. The “Pure Music” mode, aiming for flawless sound by disabling most Android functions, didn’t make a noticeable difference for me. Interestingly, FiiO has dropped Android’s forced resampling feature here.

FiiO JM21: Sound Quality

Unlike many players tied to specific DAC brands, the JM21 rocks two Cirrus Logic CS43198 chips instead of AKM or ESS Sabre found in pricier models. These are powerhouse chips, supporting up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256 playback. Segmented power supplies separate digital and analog circuits, reducing interference to keep your music pure.

The JM21’s sound is impressively clean and balanced without a hint of distortion. No matter the track or headphones — even picky models like Sennheiser HD 505 headphones or FiiO’s FA19 earbuds — there was zero background noise or equipment hiss.

If your headphones demand more power than the JM21 can deliver, chances are you’re not the target user. For that crowd, FiiO’s M23 is the obvious step-up. But for most, the 60-step volume control lets you fine-tune playback with precision. I typically settle around the middle volume — loud and clear without distortion.

Compared to higher-end players, you might notice subtle differences in clarity, texture, or presentation. Yet, these gaps are smaller than expected given the price difference. It’s a stellar bang-for-buck in portable audio.

FiiO JM21: Final Verdict

With solid sound, a straightforward interface, and a full suite of connection options, the FiiO JM21 is a fantastic portable audio player suitable for both newcomers and seasoned fans of high-quality music on the go.

Its few minor flaws — lack of a system-wide equalizer and a modest Snapdragon chipset geared mainly for streaming apps — don’t detract much from its overall appeal. Battery life could be longer but considering the price, it’s a worthy trade-off.

Other budget digital audio player makers should take note; FiiO is raising the bar.

Technical Specifications of FiiO JM21

“FiiO JM21 performs nearly noiselessly, delivering clean, balanced sound without distortion regardless of track or headphones.” – Reviewer

FAQ

• What type of DAC chips does the FiiO JM21 use?
  It uses two Cirrus Logic CS43198 chips, known for powerful and high-resolution audio support.
• How many volume levels are available on the JM21?
  The player offers 60 distinct volume levels for precise sound control.
• Can I expand the storage on the JM21?
  Yes, it supports microSD cards for expanding beyond its 32GB built-in memory.
• Does the FiiO JM21 support wireless audio?
  Absolutely, it supports Bluetooth with LDAC, aptX HD, AAC, and AirPlay for wireless streaming.
• Is the JM21 suitable for streaming apps?
  Yes, it runs Android 13 and handles streaming apps like Spotify and YouTube Music smoothly, though animations may be a bit slow.

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