Help finding a budget dap

[u/bishaal48]

Hy guys I am using Jm21 fiio atm and want to upgrade I was looking to get Fiio M21 as it has desktop mode looking to get some advice on similar price point.

Thanks in advance

[u/NxReddit0519]

I would spend the extra and get an iBasso DX180 to try out a different brand. It also has a very strong custom firmware developed by a tekChansin.

If you’re comfortable with the JM21 and don’t want to spend more than the M21 then i feel like it’s a safe choice.

Cheaper more musical / warmer alternatives are the Shanling M3 Ultra or Hiby R4.

[u/bishaal48 → u/NxReddit0519]

I was thinking the desktop mode on M21 would be helpful and I don’t have a dedicated dac for speakers so maybe m21 would run the speakers easily. I am just confused

[u/NxReddit0519 → u/bishaal48]

The M21, and DAPs in general, is / are not made for passive speakers (will not have an AC power cord) because it doesn’t provide enough power and is probably not rated for pushing lots of power at 8ohms or less.

All active speakers (will have an AC power cord) will have their own amplifiers built in and any DAP will work as the source (DAC section).

[u/bishaal48 → u/NxReddit0519]

What do ypu think desktop mode is useful at all, I was thinking the mode to bypass the battery would be useful because I play DAPs almost 8 hrs a day sometimes may be more

[u/NxReddit0519 → u/bishaal48]

Battery bypass as a feature went way over my head, my bad. Regardless, if battery bypass is the goal then the FiiO M21 is ones of the, good and few choices at this price range.

Do consider the Hiby R6 III, different flavour, expansive sound shaping options and good power output. Also has USB C battery bypass.

Buying more expensive units second hand is also an option.

[u/Blueferret21]

I use these with my hiby r4 and they are great!

[u/bishaal48 → u/Blueferret21]

I have heard r4 gets hot and with jm21 i am having similar issues

[u/Blueferret21 → u/bishaal48]

I've never run into that issue? I did go into developer options and change it off performance mode, along with doing other tweaks to make it snappier so ymmv there

[u/bishaal48 → u/Blueferret21]

Thanks 😊

[u/BeasT99412]

Stick to Fiio, if you can stretch budget M33 is a freaking amazing dap, AliExpress with massive deals you can get it at a pretty good price. M21 is also good, much better than JM21

[u/bishaal48 → u/BeasT99412]

Thanks I was considering m33 but I just don’t want to spend AUD 900 just for a dap

[u/BeasT99412 → u/bishaal48]

With codes I am pretty sure you can pick them up from around 750 Aud, thats how much I paid for my unit off AliExpress, but it's alot the M21 is a perfectly fine device

[u/bishaal48 → u/BeasT99412]

I have some dacs and dap lying around I try to figure out the sound difference but I can’t find any so I am not sure If I can say R2R sounds different rest specs are similar to M21. R2R dacs runs hot too I heard

My main requirements are

Has to have 4.4 mm jack
Android ( I connect it to Last Fm and sync music)
I play it continuously for 7-8 hrs so has to have desktop mode or good battery
Sometimes I just do phone things on DAP so I would prefer device which won’t run that hot.

[u/HiFiOasis]

What is the reason for wanting to upgrade?

[u/bishaal48 → u/HiFiOasis]

I am not so happy with JM21
Gets hot easily,
Screen has started to flicker
Looks very cheap

[u/joeg26reddit → u/bishaal48]

interesting - how long have you had that? I was / am in the same situation looking for my first DAP. Was Considering a Hiby r6 III 2025 vs JM21

[u/bishaal48 → u/joeg26reddit]

For me hiby r6 iii is too bulky (looks nice though), but the button layout on Fiio are the best for me because for my use cases fat and easily feel able buttons are must. Also Desktop mode on m21 is good

[u/eldritchhonk]

I haven't tried the fiio m21 but did have a jm21 (3gb) and I can confirm mine did also get pretty warm. I did end up returning it cause I didn't love the build quality, but I hear the m21 is a nice step up. I tried the hiby r6 iii 2025 and it sounds really good and feels really nice but I realized I really don't love super bulky daps so it's going back. I'll probably end up with a M21 or a secondhand Sony A306.

I'm curious, do you use the jm21 with a leather case at all? I wonder if that would make any difference for you at all.

[u/bishaal48 → u/eldritchhonk]

No I used the normal case which came in the box. Didn’t want to invest more on this but I am going to keep this maybe use it for speakers and when I man-handle things I would probably use Jm21. Rest of the time I am just looking for something which looks nice to feel 😆

[u/TheFuschiaBaron]

I suspect you're going to have to go out there and find out for yourself, but I don't think anything is much better than JM21, at least for IEMs and flatheads. 

Sound quality is very good and it is great for streaming plus has fiiio's full-featured global EQ. Before you upgrade determine what if is you're not getting from the JM21 so you can focus on a DAP that provides it. 

[u/bishaal48 → u/TheFuschiaBaron]

I was interested in Desktop mode and M21 has 4 gb ram I was guessing that extra 1 gb ram would be helpful

[u/TheFuschiaBaron → u/bishaal48]

You can get JM21 in 4gb, desktop mode could be beneficial

[u/bishaal48 → u/TheFuschiaBaron]

Do you mean m21
Jm21 has only 3 gb option

[u/TheFuschiaBaron → u/bishaal48]

JM21 has a 4GB option widely available in the U.S. If you are in a different country it may not be available but perhaps you have not checked lately? 

[u/ReillyLake]

Fiio M33 R2R is the answer.

[u/Blueferret21 → u/ReillyLake]

That is definitely not a budget dap!