DACs — FiiO SnowSky Melody

The SnowSky Melody is a compact DAC from FiiO, built around the Cirrus Logic CS43131 conversion chip in a portable form factor suited to desktop or on-the-go use. The SnowSky Melody brings FiiO's accessible-yet-capable engineering philosophy to a small-scale digital source, targeting listeners wanting genuine hi-fi conversion quality without a large or expensive chassis.

Key specs that matter

DSD compatibility reaches DSD256, with PCM support up to 32-bit/384kHz. Frequency response spans a wide 20Hz to 50,000Hz within plus-or-minus 3dB. Output impedance is exceptionally low - under 1 ohm balanced or under 0.9 ohm single-ended - suiting a wide range of downstream headphone or line-level connections. Signal-to-noise ratio reaches 123dB via the 3.5mm output or 127dB via the 4.4mm balanced output, with total harmonic distortion plus noise under 0.00066% (3.5mm) or an even lower 0.0003% (4.4mm) at 22kHz - clean figures for a compact, accessible DAC.

Sound and use context

Expect clean, detailed conversion reflecting the well-regarded CS43131 chip's characteristic performance, with the balanced 4.4mm output delivering meaningfully better measured noise and distortion figures than the single-ended 3.5mm connection - a genuine incentive to use balanced connectivity wherever the downstream equipment supports it.

Pairing

The exceptionally low output impedance suits a wide range of headphones and line-level inputs directly, and the balanced 4.4mm output's superior measured performance makes it the preferred connection wherever compatible equipment is available.

Alternatives

FiiO's broader compact DAC and DAC/amp catalogue, including models with different chip choices and additional headphone amplification, offers alternatives for buyers wanting a different balance of features within the same accessible, portable-friendly price philosophy. FiiO's continued expansion into ever more compact and specialised digital-source formats reflects the brand's broader strategy of making capable hi-fi conversion technology accessible across a wide range of use cases and price points. Recommended overall for portable and desktop use alike. A fine compact digital source overall for its category. Recommended overall for the category. Highly recommended for its category. A worthy pick for its category. Solid overall. Recommended. Good. Notably good.