Marcelo reviews the FiiO SNOWSKY DISC, a very affordable compact wireless-capable non-Android DAP with a cute retro DISCMAN-style design. It is currently priced from $80 to $99, depending on your region.
Disclaimer: I received this sample in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or services. I want to thank FiiO for their support.
You can click here to learn more about the FiiO audio products previously reviewed on Headfonics.
This post follows our current scoring guidelines, which you can read in more detail here.
Ever since I first heard the SNOWSKY ECHO MINI DAP, I was amazed by the sound clarity and the musical engagement I got from a very affordable DAP.
Since then, I’ve been excited every time I’m about to hear a new SNOWSKY product, whether from a friend’s review unit or from units sent to me for review.
Luckily, this time I get to review the SNOWSKY DISC, a very affordable, attractive-looking DAP priced at around $80-$99 depending on the region you order from.
Is the FiiO SNOWSKY DISC all about the retro-looks, with its sleek, slim aluminum-alloy body? Or is attention also paid to the sound quality? And how does it compare to other DAPs, including the SNOWSKY ECHO MINI and the TempoTec V1? Let’s find out.
Features
For its main processor, the DISC uses a dual-core Ingenic X2000 chip running Linux for pure audio operation. Released around 2020, it features Dual XBurst 2 (Main Cores): 32-bit MIPS32 ISA R5 cores running at up to 1.5 GHz.
These features include Simultaneous Multi-Threading (SMT), which improves performance for Linux-based applications.
For audio conversion, DISC employs dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chips, delivering 125 mW into 32 Ω at its 3.5mm output jack and 280 mW into 32 Ω at its 4.4mm jacks.
The CS43131 is a highly regarded, low-power 32-bit stereo DAC with an integrated headphone amplifier, commonly used in entry-level DAPs and dongle DACs.
The DISC supports up to 2TB of MicroSD card capacity, allowing for direct music playback from local files. The large storage capacity allows most people to store their entire music collection on a single device.
DISC features bidirectional USB audio; it can serve as a DAC for an external source such as a laptop, PC, or phone, or as a source for an external DAC. Additionally, it has a coaxial digital output for use with most desktop DACs or audio systems, and Bluetooth 5.4 audio functionality.
Other features include screen rotation, OTA update, gain control, and battery protection.
Design
I find it somewhat unusual for a DAP to resemble a retro device that mimics a portable CD player, albeit in a much smaller form factor.
The DISC weighs 77.2 grams and measures 68 x 68 x 12.9 mm. It is very easy to carry and fits in a pocket for outdoor or everyday use.
With all the buttons located on the right side and the output connectors on the bottom, I like that they seem to be in the right places, so I never had any difficulty using it, as it feels very intuitive. DISC has good ergonomics and handling despite its square shape.
Under the DISC, there are four tiny protrusions near each corner, serving as built-in feet to avoid scratching the back when lying on flat surfaces.
It cannot be seen in the photos, but the glass screen’s edge is rounded rather than sharp, making it feel nice to navigate the touchscreen.
There is also a provision for a lanyard with the holes at the bottom right side. My review sample came in sky blue. DISC is also available in black and pink colors.
The small 1.8-inch fully laminated LCD with 360 x 360 resolution touchscreen can be rotated for added convenience. It has a lively color, good brightness and contrast, and a wide viewing angle. The screen looks crisp, and the touch control is responsive.
The DISC is a mini-sized DAP. 68 x 68 x 12.9mm and weighs only 77.2 grams. It is palm-sized and very pocketable, suitable for daily use.
I/O
All the inputs and outputs are located at the bottom of the DISC and consist of a USB-C port, a 3.5mm output jack, and a 4.4mm output jack. The microSD card slot is also located alongside the I/O ports.
The 3.5mm output jack can switch between a headphone output and an SPDIF coaxial digital output, mostly used for desktop systems, while the 4.4mm output serves as the balanced output.
The USB-C port serves as both an input and output data port, as well as a charging port. There is no support for UAC 1.0; only UAC 2.0 is supported. Therefore, the DISC may not be compatible with gaming consoles and older devices.
Controls
The control buttons are located at the top and on the right side. The top is where the power/ screen on/off button is located. The play/pause and the volume buttons are on the right side. I like the layout’s simplicity, which makes the DISC very easy and intuitive to use.
The volume buttons normally control volume when the screen is on, but when the screen is off, a long press skips tracks forward/backward in addition to controlling the volume with short presses.
Battery Life
The DISC is equipped with a 1450mAh battery rated for up to 12 hours of continuous playback. It can charge with all my USB-C chargers, including phone and laptop chargers with PD, SuperVOOC, and Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0.
I don’t fully deplete and fully charge the batteries to prolong their life, so I don’t have a full battery charge-discharge test.
However, I did a partial battery test using the 4.4 mm connection with an IEM set to 45% volume and the gain set to high. It took 1 hour and 10 minutes for the battery to go from 73 to 60 percent.
I estimate that if I test it at the 3.5 mm output at a lower volume, the DISC can easily achieve its 12-hour battery life rating per charge.
Additionally, it took 30 minutes to charge the DISC from 25% to 75%, meaning it can go from 0% to 100% in about 1 hour.
Packaging & Accessories
The DISC came in a small box measuring 140 x 105 x 27 mm. The unboxing is simple; once the box is opened, you’ll find four stickers, user manuals, a USB-A-to-C cable, and the DISC DAP. I cut the tape that was holding the door.
The box doesn’t close properly after opening, as there is no magnet to keep the door shut.
My review sample didn’t come with a leather case. The PU leather case is available separately in three colors: black, red, and green.
Software Impressions
My FiiO SNOWSKY DISC review sample came with firmware version V1.43, which is the latest at the time of writing this review. The operating system is simple and easy to understand. I didn’t need to read the manual to operate the DISC.
Using the DISC to listen to music is straightforward. The initial setup only involves selecting the language; after that, you are taken to the home page. Just click the browse file icon, find the music folder in the microSD card, and click the song you want to play; it’s that simple.
It only takes about 10 seconds to turn on the DISC and reach the home page. You don’t need to click on the browse file icon again the next time you want to listen. Just click the Now Playing icon to play the music. You will find the music list shortcut in the player UI.
When you click the power button to turn on the screen after it has turned off, you will be greeted with an analog watch that needs to be set; it is not set correctly from the factory, including the date.
Audio Settings
The DISC operating system allows you to change the gain with low and high settings. There are also ten EQ presets, comprising eight standard EQ curves and two sibilance-attenuation EQ presets.
Unfortunately, there is no custom EQ setting, but there are also six digital filter settings, one of which is Non-oversampling (NOS).
Navigation
Navigating the DISC touchscreen user interface is fast and responsive. There is no delay or lag when I scroll down a long list of music in the library.
There is only a negligible delay when I scrub through the progress bar of a long 1-hour or more music mix, but overall, navigation is pretty fast.
My complaint is that due to the small screen, the player UI separates the play/pause, skip forward, skip backward buttons, and the progress bar into two separate pages. I have to swipe left to see and manipulate the progress bar.
Apps
The DISC uses a proprietary operating system, so installing a third-party music player app is unfortunately not possible. This is the main downside of non-Android DAPs.
The only streaming app included with the DISC is AirPlay, which lets the DISC act as a wireless receiver and headphone amplifier for Apple devices such as the iPhone and Mac.
Sound Impressions
I did my standard 24-hour burn-in by letting it play continuously before critically listening to the DISC.
For this, I used the DUNU Falcon Ultra, Tipsy M5, and QoA Martini IEMs, as well as the MOONDROP Horizon, FiiO’s JT3, and Sennheiser HD 6XX headphones. All audio settings are at default; no EQ was used.
Summary
My expectations were not high, considering DISC’s budget-conscious price and fun form factor. I was so relieved at my first listen to the DISC.
The sound is totally not what I expected; instead, I was greeted with a refined sound that is not anemic in the bass that plagues most entry-level DAPs.
You’d expect that a DAP this tiny, thin, light, and affordable would have compromised sound, especially in the bass.
Instead, the DISC surprised me with full-bodied bass that is well-controlled, clean, and articulate, without adding unnecessary boominess to the IEMs and Headphones I used.
The bass has a distinct quality of tightness and control, yet it’s delivered with the substance and presence I’ve come to like in much more expensive FiiO DAPs I’ve heard or owned.
Due to the bass quality mentioned above, the DISC has this slightly warm, bassy sound signature.
This translates to the midrange, which sounds lush, smooth, and detailed. yet never analytical or clinical sounding. DISC’s midrange never sounds thin, shallow, or lifeless, unlike most affordable DAPs I’ve heard.
The treble is slightly relaxed but never recessed. It has good extension, plenty of detail, and resolution, yet the timbre isn’t sharpened; it sounds natural and analog-like.
The treble can be subtly increased without using EQ by switching to the Fast LL filter; the default setting is Slow LL.
Staging & Dynamics
DISC’s soundstage is not the largest or grandest I’ve heard, but it is above average. There is roughly equal width, depth, and height, making the soundstage feel spherical and surround-sound-like.
The DISC doesn’t have a wide-open soundstage, but it isn’t intimate either; in terms of soundstage width alone, it is average or slightly above average.
Thanks to its clean, near-neutral, slightly warm sound with clean background decay, there is a good sense of depth to the soundstage.
Which brings us to DISC’s imaging performance, particularly the front-to-back layering: I hear good separation between the main vocals, backup singers, and instruments.
Despite its slightly warm, analog-type sound, DISC remains energetic, lively, and engaging. There is definitely a healthy amount of enthusiasm in the bass, and the midrange is life-like in terms of body.
The treble may be slightly relaxed, but it is extended with an energetic behavior and never sounds dull.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.
