It’s been quite a while since I last actively participated in this forum or added any new audio gear to my collection over last two years. Life kept me occupied with various commitments, but my love for music and Hifi audio never waned. I continued enjoying my trusted setup: the ever impressive Sansui AU-519 amplifier, the Cambridge Audio CXN V2 network streamer, and my beloved Technics SL-1200 MK II turntable. That trio gave me more than enough musical bliss, often making me feel like I’d reached audio nirvana,especially with the Sansui’s rich, soulful sound signature.
Despite having a Sony Blu-ray player and a PlayStation, which I occasionally use, to play CDs, I always felt the absence of a dedicated audio CD player in my setup. Ever since the launch of CDs and portable players like the Discman back in the '90s, I had always wanted to own one. Unfortunately, during my college days, it was beyond my pocket money budget. And by the time I could finally afford one, the Discman had already become obsolete and disappeared from the market.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, while casually browsing Headphone Zone for an IEM, I found the FiiO DM13 Portable CD Player. It immediately caught my attention. Without hesitation, I ordered the silver edition (as the white transparent variant was out of stock) and received it on July 23rd, 2025. Unfortunately, I couldn’t test it until August 1st as I was out of town. Once I did, my excitement turned into disappointment. The unit started skipping tracks and producing distorted audio during extended playback. I confirmed it wasn’t a disc issue, as the same CDs played flawlessly on my Sony Blu-ray player and PS3.
Since the return window had expired, I was disappointed but reluctant to send the CD player to a service center, knowing there is a chance they’d open up my brand new FiiO.
Not giving up, I started looking for an alternative and that’s when I discovered the Moondrop Discdream 2 which I ordered from Concept Kart during a promotional offer. It was delivered today, and the moment I unboxed it, my first reaction was “Wow.”
It’s definitely a looker, and you just can’t take your eyes off it. After admiring its looks, I ran a side-by-side comparison between the FiiO DM13 and the Moondrop Discdream 2.
Earphone used during the comparison test, Bose Quiet Comfort 25, 7Hz Salnote Zero 2 IEM and Moondrop CHU 2 IEM.
FiiO DM13
Pros:
1. Full metal body.
2. Better display.
3. Position of Power button
4. Dedicated Eject button to open the top cover or lid.
5. Bluetooth support
6. Desktop mode, i.e. directly consuming power through USB interface without consuming battery power
7. Dedicated ESP switch to maintain stable audio playback in on-the-go scenarios.
Cons
1. There’s no visual indicator while charging.
2. Charging adapter not included in the box.
3. No earphone included in the box.
4. No dedicated Stop button available.
5. Ergonomically, the playback and volume buttons are not ideally positioned.
6. Does not come with a remote control.
7. Absence of a tone control or DSP.
Sound quality: The sound signature is flat to bright, offering excellent detail but falling short in bass. Hence long listening may lead to fatigue.
Moondrop Discdream 2
Pros:
1. Killer looks
2. Dedicated Stop button.
3. Comes with a charging indicator, making it easy to monitor charging status.
4. Playback and volume buttons are well placed, making them easy and convenient to use.
5. Large buttons with excellent tactile feedback make them easy to use.
6. Sound quality
Cons
1. Charging adapter not included in the box.
2. Full plastic body, with a delicate top lid that requires extra care when opening.
3. No earphone included in the box.
4. Ergonomically, the Power-On button is not well placed. It is at rear side. Additionally, the durability of the power switch is questionable as it is a plastic toggle switch.
5. Display looks outdated.
6. No Bluetooth support.
7. Does not come with a remote control.
8. Absence of a tone control or DSP.
Sound Quality : The main USP of this CD player is its sound quality. It has a very well balanced sound signature. It produces extra bass over FiiO DM13 with a strong Mid range. Where as low end is decent without sounding harsh.
With all this being said, this is purely my personal observations based on my experience with these 2 devices.
Attaching few photos of both the players
Despite having a Sony Blu-ray player and a PlayStation, which I occasionally use, to play CDs, I always felt the absence of a dedicated audio CD player in my setup. Ever since the launch of CDs and portable players like the Discman back in the '90s, I had always wanted to own one. Unfortunately, during my college days, it was beyond my pocket money budget. And by the time I could finally afford one, the Discman had already become obsolete and disappeared from the market.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, while casually browsing Headphone Zone for an IEM, I found the FiiO DM13 Portable CD Player. It immediately caught my attention. Without hesitation, I ordered the silver edition (as the white transparent variant was out of stock) and received it on July 23rd, 2025. Unfortunately, I couldn’t test it until August 1st as I was out of town. Once I did, my excitement turned into disappointment. The unit started skipping tracks and producing distorted audio during extended playback. I confirmed it wasn’t a disc issue, as the same CDs played flawlessly on my Sony Blu-ray player and PS3.
Since the return window had expired, I was disappointed but reluctant to send the CD player to a service center, knowing there is a chance they’d open up my brand new FiiO.
Not giving up, I started looking for an alternative and that’s when I discovered the Moondrop Discdream 2 which I ordered from Concept Kart during a promotional offer. It was delivered today, and the moment I unboxed it, my first reaction was “Wow.”
It’s definitely a looker, and you just can’t take your eyes off it. After admiring its looks, I ran a side-by-side comparison between the FiiO DM13 and the Moondrop Discdream 2.
Earphone used during the comparison test, Bose Quiet Comfort 25, 7Hz Salnote Zero 2 IEM and Moondrop CHU 2 IEM.
FiiO DM13
Pros:
1. Full metal body.
2. Better display.
3. Position of Power button
4. Dedicated Eject button to open the top cover or lid.
5. Bluetooth support
6. Desktop mode, i.e. directly consuming power through USB interface without consuming battery power
7. Dedicated ESP switch to maintain stable audio playback in on-the-go scenarios.
Cons
1. There’s no visual indicator while charging.
2. Charging adapter not included in the box.
3. No earphone included in the box.
4. No dedicated Stop button available.
5. Ergonomically, the playback and volume buttons are not ideally positioned.
6. Does not come with a remote control.
7. Absence of a tone control or DSP.
Sound quality: The sound signature is flat to bright, offering excellent detail but falling short in bass. Hence long listening may lead to fatigue.
Moondrop Discdream 2
Pros:
1. Killer looks
2. Dedicated Stop button.
3. Comes with a charging indicator, making it easy to monitor charging status.
4. Playback and volume buttons are well placed, making them easy and convenient to use.
5. Large buttons with excellent tactile feedback make them easy to use.
6. Sound quality
Cons
1. Charging adapter not included in the box.
2. Full plastic body, with a delicate top lid that requires extra care when opening.
3. No earphone included in the box.
4. Ergonomically, the Power-On button is not well placed. It is at rear side. Additionally, the durability of the power switch is questionable as it is a plastic toggle switch.
5. Display looks outdated.
6. No Bluetooth support.
7. Does not come with a remote control.
8. Absence of a tone control or DSP.
Sound Quality : The main USP of this CD player is its sound quality. It has a very well balanced sound signature. It produces extra bass over FiiO DM13 with a strong Mid range. Where as low end is decent without sounding harsh.
With all this being said, this is purely my personal observations based on my experience with these 2 devices.
Attaching few photos of both the players
