FiiO R9 Portable High-Resolution Lossless Music Player User Manual

Foreword

Thank you for purchasing FiiO's portable high resolution lossless music player R9. This complete user manual has been prepared to help you get acquainted with the R9 and unleash its full potential.

An Introduction to the R9

Building a desktop HiFi system traditionally involved compromises, with stacking various brands of equipment making an elegant and compact setup difficult. For streaming media, such setups often provided an unacceptable experience. The R9 offers a new solution. With the R9 as the centerpiece, supported by SP3 speakers and FT3 headphones, users can expect a consistent and highly enjoyable audio and visual experience, ushering in a new era of slick desktop HiFi.

Buttons and Ports

1. Pictorial Guide to Buttons and Ports

(Note: Pictures are for reference only. The real product may vary.)

The FiiO R9 is a silver-colored portable audio player featuring a large touchscreen display on the left and physical controls and audio ports on the right. The display shows the time "5:15" and date "10月9日周一" (October 9th, Monday) with a background image of integrated circuits. The right side features a volume knob, several buttons, and a variety of audio output and input ports, including 4-pin XLR, 4.4mm balanced, 6.35mm, RCA line out, coaxial, optical, USB Type-C, and HDMI ports.

2. Instructions for Buttons and Ports

• ① 4-pin XLR4 output: Supports XLR4 balanced headphones.
• ② 4.4mm balanced headphone output: Supports 4.4mm balanced headphones.
• ③ 6.35mm headphone output: Supports 6.35mm headphones.
• ④ RCA line out*2: Supports RCA line out.
• ⑤ 3-pin XLR balanced line out: Supports XLR3 balanced line out.
• ⑥ Coaxial output: Supports coaxial output. This can be enabled via System Settings > Audio > OPT/COAX output.
• ⑦ Coaxial input: Supports coaxial input. To use, hold the power button and switch to COAX mode.
• ⑧ Optical output: Supports optical output. This can be enabled via System Settings > Audio > OPT/COAX output.
• ⑨ Optical input: Supports optical input. To use, hold the power button and switch to OPT mode.
• ⑩ RJ45 Ethernet port: Connect Ethernet for networking.
• ⑪ USB Host: Supports USB HOST and USB OTG.
• ⑫ Type-C (USB 3.0): Supports data transfer, USB HOST, USB OTG, and more.
• ⑬ HDMI IN: Connects to computers, game consoles, Blu-ray machines, and other devices.
• ⑭ HDMI OUT/ARC: HDMI OUT can transmit the R9's display to larger screens like TVs/monitors. HDMI ARC connects to devices like TVs/Blu-ray players and can interface with devices like FiiO SP3 via RCA or XLR.
• ⑮ Micro-SD card slot: Supports one TF card (micro SD card), expandable up to 2TB.
• ⑯ GND Switch: Selects connection status between motherboard ground and case ground. Setting to GND connects them; setting to LIFT suspends the motherboard ground from the casing. This helps optimize common ground loop interference.
• ⑰ AC/DC power switch: Switch between AC and DC power modes.
• ⑱ DC power input: Port for DC power input.
• ⑲ AC power input: Port for AC power input.
• ⑳ AC power switch: When using AC power mode, enable this switch first ("O" is off, "-" is on).
• ㉑ WiFi/Bluetooth antenna: For WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Status Bar and Display Page

1. Status Bar

The status bar at the top of the screen displays the R9's working states. Key icons include:

• Volume icon: Current volume
• FiiO Music icon: FiiO Music is running
• Download icon: Downloading
• Headphone icon (6.35mm): 6.35 PO
• WiFi icon: WiFi connected
• Bluetooth icon: Bluetooth disconnected
• LDAC icon: LDAC Bluetooth transmitting
• Screenshot icon: Screenshot
• Keyboard icon: Configure physical keyboard
• Roon Ready icon: Roon Ready
• MicroSD Card icon: MicroSD Card
• Download finished icon
• 4.4mm balanced out icon
• Bluetooth connected icon
• aptX HD icon: aptX HD Bluetooth transmitting
• aptX icon: aptX Bluetooth transmitting
• Time icon: Current time
• New firmware detected icon
• MQA icon
• Storage icon
• Ethernet icon

2. Icons in Drop-down Menu

Icons represent various states and functions:

• Gain: Low, Medium, High
• Headphone Type: Enhanced over-ear headphone, Over-ear headphone
• Other: Night light, Bluetooth, WLAN, Mode choose, All to DSD, Dark theme, FiiO Roon

3. Icons of Working Modes

Icons represent different operating modes: Pure music mode, Android mode, Bluetooth receiving mode, AirPlay, USB DAC, COAX IN MODE, OPT IN MODE, HDMI ARC, HDMI.

4. Icons of Settings Menus

Icons represent various settings categories: Mode choose, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, More, Audio, Display, Global, Apps & notifications, Storage, Security, System, About device, Google Services & preferences, Accounts.

5. Homepage and Drop-down Menu

The homepage displays the time, date, and app icons. The drop-down menu provides quick access to functions like Fiio_Sale_5G, Bluetooth, Mode Choose, High gain, FiiO Roon, All To DSD, Dark theme, Night Light, and Rotate Screen.

Instructions for Entry-Level Functions

1. Seven Working Modes

The R9 offers 9 independent working modes: Android Mode, Pure Music Mode, USB DAC Mode, Bluetooth Receiving Mode, Airplay, COAX mode, OPT mode, HDMI IN mode, and HDMI ARC mode. By default, it enters Android mode upon first power-on. Users can switch modes by holding the power button for approximately 2 seconds or by accessing the drop-down menu from the status bar. If the player is not in Android mode, it can be switched via the display selection or by navigating to Settings > Exit to return to Android mode.

• Android Mode: Allows use of third-party applications and can be switched to other modes via the drop-down or settings menu.
• Pure Music Mode: Disables third-party applications and auto-enables the FiiO Music app. Can be switched to other modes via the drop-down or settings menu.
• USB DAC Mode: Connects the R9 to other devices (like computers) to function as a USB DAC/Amp. Requires FiiO's USB DAC driver for Windows computers on first use. For iOS devices, enable the 'iOS devices decoding' option in the settings menu.
• Bluetooth Receiving Mode: On first use, the R9 enters pairing state. Subsequent uses automatically reconnect to the last paired device. To connect, go to the mobile phone's Bluetooth transmitting list and tap the R9. Control options include:
  • Force pairing mode: Hold Play/Pause for ~3 seconds.
  • Manual reconnecting mode: Short press Play/Pause when not in pairing mode.
  • Clear current pairing: Hold Previous and Next track buttons simultaneously for ~3 seconds.
  • Play/Pause: Short press Play/Pause.
  • Previous/Next track: Short press Previous/Next track.
• AirPlay: Requires a valid WiFi connection. Ensure the R9 and iOS devices are on the same WiFi network, switch the R9 to AirPlay mode, and select the R9 as the playing device on the iOS device's drop-down menu.
• COAX mode/OPT mode: Connect an Optical/Coaxial output device to the R9, then to Headphones/Speakers.
  • Input Setting: After powering on, hold the power button or use the status bar menu to select optical/coaxial decoding mode. Connect the cable to the [OPTICAL IN] or [COAXIAL IN] port.
  • Output Setting: Switch to the desired output port: [PO] for front panel headphone out, [PRELO] or [LO] for rear panel line-out, or [PO+PRELO] for both.
  • Play music from the connected device. If no sound, try different tracks to rule out format/file issues.
• HDMI IN mode: Connects to computers, game consoles, Blu-ray players, and other devices via HDMI IN.
• HDMI ARC mode: Connects to TVs/Blu-ray players and devices like FiiO SP3 via RCA or XLR for high-quality audio.

Accessing Storage/SD Card

For Windows computers: The R9 is driver-free. After connecting via USB, the driver installs automatically, and the FiiO R9 disk appears.

For Mac computers: A driver is needed. Connect the R9, click the "NO NAME" folder on the desktop, double-click Mac > Mac/MAC OS MTP Client > Android File Transfer.dmg. Drag "Android File Transfer.dmg" to the desktop. Then, drag the "Android File Transfer" file to the "Applications" folder. After installation, navigate to "Applications" and double-click "Android File Transfer" to manage files on the R9 or Micro SD card. The R9 folder will pop up automatically on subsequent connections.

Firmware Upgrade

The R9 supports online and local firmware upgrades.

• Online Upgrade: If new firmware is available, a notification appears in the notification center. Tap it to enter the update menu. If no notification, go to "Technical Support > Firmware Upgrade" and tap "Checking for update availability".
• Local Upgrade: Download the firmware package from the FiiO website, copy it to the R9's internal storage or an SD card. Navigate to "Technical Support > Firmware Upgrade > Local Upgrade" and select the file to start.

Notes for Upgrade:

• Do not unzip the firmware package file.
• Ensure the device has over 30% battery to avoid failure.
• If the device enters factory mode and cannot detect firmware, the file may be damaged. Reboot the device and re-download the file.

Installing Third-Party Apps

Two methods are available:

1. Online Installation: Connect to WiFi, then use FiiO market, Google Play, or other app markets to download and install apps directly.
2. Local Installation: Copy the APK file to the R9, navigate to the file management menu, find the file, and install it.

Changing the Language

Navigate to Settings > System > Languages & input > Languages. Tap "Add a language", select the desired language, then hold the "=" icon on the right and drag it to the top to set it as primary. The FiiO Music app language can be set independently via FiiO Music app > Settings > Languages.

Enabling the USB DAC Function

For Mac computers: It is driver-free.

For Windows computers:

1. Install the FiiO USB DAC driver.
2. Switch the R9's working mode to USB DAC Mode via the drop-down menu or Settings > Mode Choose.
3. Connect the R9 to the computer via USB port and select it as the audio input in both the computer and music app.

Notes:

• In USB DAC Mode, Bluetooth transmitting is not supported.
• For iOS devices, enable the "iOS devices decoding" option in the setting menu first.

Using the R9 as a Bluetooth Receiver

Choose "Bluetooth Receiving Mode" from the drop-down or Settings menu. On the mobile phone's Bluetooth transmitting list, tap the R9 to complete the connection. If connection fails, turn off Bluetooth on both devices and try again.

Using the R9 as a Bluetooth Transmitter

Similar to mobile phones:

1. Go to Settings > Bluetooth to turn on Bluetooth.
2. Ensure the receiving device (e.g., Bluetooth earphones) is in pairing state.
3. Go to the R9's Bluetooth device list > Pair new device to connect.

Troubleshooting Connection Issues: If the R9 fails to connect to Bluetooth earphones for the first time, ensure the earphones are in pairing mode (not reconnecting state). Initiate connection from the R9's Bluetooth menu.

Bluetooth Codecs: The R9 supports LHDC, LDAC, aptX-HD, aptX, AAC, and SBC. Switch codecs via Settings > Audio > Bluetooth Audio Encoder.

Low Volume with AirPods: Go to Settings > About phone, tap "Build number" 7 times to enable Developer options. Then, in Settings > System > Developer options, turn off "Disable absolute volume". Disconnect and reconnect Bluetooth. (This option may be found in Setting-Audio for firmware FW1.0.3 and above).

Enabling Coaxial and Optical Output

Enable OPT/COAX output via Settings > Audio > OPT/COAX output. When the switch is on, output follows the standard SPDIF protocol.

• Maximum Supported Sampling Rate:
• COAX OUT: 384kHz/24bit; DSD128 (D2P/DOP)
• OPT OUT: 192kHz/24bit

Tracks exceeding the maximum sampling rate will be SRC (Sample Rate Conversion) before outputting.

The coaxial/optical output port is independent. Analog and digital outputs can occur simultaneously. The XLR connector does not distinguish between analog and digital output.

Using FiiO Roon (Roon Ready)

1. Requires a PC running Roon core software. The R9 acts as an endpoint or controller. Visit https://roonlabs.com/.
2. Download Roon on your computer and log in. On the computer: Configure Roon > Storage to add local music or Tidal accounts. Configure Roon > Audio to enable the R9.
3. Connect the computer and R9 to the same Ethernet. Start FiiO Roon on the R9 to enable Roon Ready for full bit-perfect audio.

System Settings

Languages & Input

Upon first startup, choose a language. To change it later, go to Settings > System > Languages & input > Languages. Tap "Add a language", select it, then drag the "=" icon to the top to set it as primary.

Reset Options

• Reset WiFi, mobile & Bluetooth: Resets all network settings.
• Reset app preferences: Resets all app preferences.
• Erase all data (factory reset): Resets all device data and settings to default. Back up important data before performing this action.