The FiiO Snowsky Melody was kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t receive monetary or any other kind of compensation and I don’t use affiliate links.
The price of the FiiO Snowsky Melody is $39.99 and you can buy it from here.
FiiO Snowsky
Snowsky, just like Jade Audio, is a FiiO owned sub-brand that was launched in 2024 aimed at younger users who value style and fun design but don’t want to spend much money in order to enjoy good sound. It seems that the main difference from Jade Audio is that Snowsky focuses on retro aesthetics and playfulness while offering the same or even more affordable prices.
Unlike Jade Audio, Snowsky doesn’t have its own dedicated website, however the brand is very active with several audio products released under its name.
Products released thus far are the Retro Nano (portable USB DAC/amp), the Echo Mini (pure music DAP without WiFi connectivity), the Anywhere (portable Bluetooth speaker), the Anytime (on-ear Bluetooth ANC headphones), the Wind (retro wired on-ear headphones) and the Melody (wooden USB DAC/amp).
FiiO Snowsky Melody
The FiiO Snowsky Melody is an affordable USB DAC dongle that tries to differentiate from the competition by adopting a retro-inspired wooden outer exterior. Before we get into the design details let’s focus on some technical parameters.
The device uses dual CS43131 DAC chips that handle both audio decoding and headphone amplification duties. A built-in microprocessor runs a high performance DSP engine.
The USB inputs can handle up to 384kHz/32bit PCM and DSD256 audio decoding while it is compatible with Android/iOS/Windows/Mac as well as other platforms, also supporting switching between USB UAC1.0 and UAC2.0 classes. The 3.5mm jack supports earphones with in-line controls and microphone while it can be set as a SPDIF digital output.
The DSP enables a high quality 10-band PEQ that allows the user to customize the frequency response curves through the FiiO Control App/webpage and save them into three empty slots. The user can also select one of the preset PEQ styles while saving and sharing curves on the cloud is also supported.
Design and build quality
FiiO (or Snowsky if you prefer) has chosen to furnish the Melody with a wooden outer exterior. The aged wood is specially selected from North America resources and undergoes various processes to develop its natural patina textures. There are two types of wood to choose from, maple and walnut, the one more beautiful looking than the other.
The one side of the unit has a curved surface with the “SNOWSKY” logo engraved in pyrography while the other one has an ergonomic thump grip indentation. The top and bottom edges are accented with a stylish metallic gold-colored trim.
The Melody is equipped with two side buttons with a curved surface and a small RGB indicator embedded to one of them. The indicator turns light blue for PCM ≤48kHz, yellow for >48kHz and green for DSD decoding.
The device weighs only 9g and measures about 40x20x15mm so it is ultra compact and lightweight thus not adding much clutter and weight under your phone.
Long story short, the FiiO Snowsky Melody is exceptionally well made and one of the most unique and beautiful looking USB DAC dongles on the market. The build quality and the appearance point to a device much more expensive than it actually is.
Connectivity and operation
Except for the two side buttons, the Melody is equipped with two headphone outputs (4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single ended) and a USB type-C port. A high quality USB cable is included in the package.
You can use the FiiO Control application/webpage to make various adjustments. The most important one is that you can select between twobutton operation modes. In mode A you have to short press each button for volume +/- adjustment and long press for previous/next track. In Mode B these actions are reversed, long press for fast volume adjustment and short press to change track.
Additionally you can switch between two volume adjustment modes (60-step quick or 120-step fine adjustment), set the amplifier’s working mode as Class AB or Class H, select low pass filter, adjust balance, enable the SPDIF coaxial output, switch off the indicator light etc.The adjustments get permanently stored in the internal memory of the device.
Power output and efficiency
The rated power output of the FiiO Snowsky Melody is 100mW*2/32Ω from its single ended output and 250mW*2/32Ω from the balanced one. Pretty decent and even higher than similar competitive devices, like the ddHiFi TC44Pro M3 that offers 120mW*2/32Ω from its balanced output.
Still the power is not that much for driving full sized headphones, the Melody feels at home with more sensitive earphones like the FiiO FD15. It should be noted that the device is very silent and immune to phone EMI.
The Snowsky Melody might not be that powerful but it is ultra efficient. Its power consumption was measured as low as 70mA while playing music from the balanced output, thus ranking as one of the most efficient USB dongles on the market. Additionally it has an auto standby mode that activates immediately after you stop or pause playback and drops power draw to zero.
Listening impressions
The sonic performance of the Melody is stellar and not that different from what is expected from the typical behavior of the CS43131 DAC chip as we know it from a lot of other similar devices.
The sound is neutral and transparent enough with accurate tonality and very good technical performance. The timbre is not too warm or organic but not bright or sterile either. It is natural and realistic enough with very low digital glare in the higher frequencies.
The Snowsky Melody can offer plenty of “melody” and sound exceptionally musical with the right earphone combination. It is achromatic enough to pair well with all kinds of earphones and music styles but it also has some temperament to avoid sounding clinical or boring.
The bass is fast enough, tight and controlled with good definition and strong dynamic impact. The textures are full bodied enough and not overly dry or thin. The mid-range has balanced tonality and is reproduced with good clarity and articulation. It has decent harmonic richness and resolution but not the most refined or polished textures.
More listening impressions
The treble is crisp, extended and energetic without sounding bright or edgy. The Melody holds its own regarding clarity and definition but it doesn’t resolve the same amount of details as higher-end dongles with more sophisticated circuitry. However, it is not lacking in technical performance and transparency when compared with similar dongles like the ddHiFi TC44Pro M3.
The soundstage offers a good sense of space and width with commendable imaging but it is not that layered. Still nothing too much to complain considering its price, the Melody is a decent performer that will not handicap your earphones.
Switching amplifier classes produces some marginal sonic differences, the H option is a little more technical and transparent sounding than the AB one, as well as a little firmer on its textures but also less natural and convincing as Class AB.
In the end
The FiiO Snowsky Melody doesn’t break new ground when it comes to its overall sonic performance which is stellar but not that different from competing USB dongles with the same audio architecture.
Where it really stands out is in its unique, retro-inspired appearance with the loveable wooden exterior and its extended functionality.
The Melody pulls ahead over the competition thanks to its advanced software implementation that allows the user to enjoy the fully customizable 10-band PEQ and make various other adjustments.
Honestly speaking, it is impossible not to recommend the FiiO Snowsky Melody as I can’t think of another USB DAC dongle at this price point to combine such excellent sound quality with impressive design and so many sonic and functional customization options.
Copyright – Petros Laskis 2025.
+ Stellar sonic performance
+ Competitive technicalities and transparency
+ Not that bright or digital sounding
+ Wide and spacious soundstage
+ Decent power output
+ Very low power consumption and auto standby mode
+ Silent operation without EMI noise
+ Unique appearance with wooden exterior
+ Hardware buttons with two operation modes
+ Fully customizable 10-band PEQ
+ Various user selectable functions
+ Well made with premium materials
+ Super affordable with exceptional value
- The leather case is sold separately
- Not that different sounding from the competition
- Not powerful enough for driving headphones
- Not the best choice for critical listening
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