NEW Colorfly M1P Air for $82 — AKM4493SEQ Chip, Balanced Output and 16 Grams

Colorfly is the audio division of Colorful, a company most people know for their iGame graphics cards. But Colorfly has a serious audio history going back to 2010 — their C4 Pro was the first portable player to support 24-bit/192 kHz. The M1P Air is a lighter version of their USB DAC M1P at the same $82. The difference is weight: 46 grams for the M1P versus 16 for the Air.

• AKM4493SEQ — the same chip found in the original M1P and in players costing $500
• Two independent XR2001 op-amps (one per channel) — dedicated amplification
• 3.5mm single-ended + 4.4mm balanced output
• 16 grams — three times lighter than the original M1P (46g)
• Femtosecond clock JitterKill 2nd generation
• High/Low gain + Game mode

The Chip. AKM4493SEQ with Velvet Sound architecture — warm, musical presentation. The same chip used in the original M1P. In an $82 dongle, that’s impressive, but a chip alone doesn’t guarantee great sound — implementation, USB power delivery, and the analog stage matter just as much. Testing will tell.

Weight. The main difference from the M1P. The original weighs 46 grams in a full zinc alloy body — the Air brings that down to 16. For reference: the Shanling UA4 weighs slightly more, the Moondrop Dawn Pro is roughly the same. 16 grams won’t drag your phone down.

Amplification. Two separate XR2001 chips (one per channel) — dedicated amplification for each side. The M1P puts out 125 mW on 3.5mm and 240 mW on 4.4mm — the Air doesn’t list these specs. If they’re similar, it’ll handle IEMs and lighter over-ears fine, but planars like the HiFiMAN Sundara — probably not.

Competitors at $82. The Shanling UA4 comes with an OLED display. The Moondrop Dawn Pro is cheaper ($50) but simpler. The M1P Air makes sense if you specifically want the AKM sound signature (warm, musical) at minimum weight.

Game Mode. For Switch and PS5 — reduces latency. Activated by long-pressing volume+.

For $82, Colorfly gives you the same chip and amp as the M1P, but in a body three times lighter. The trade-off — most likely lower power output and a simpler enclosure. If weight and AKM sound matter to you, the M1P Air is worth a look. If you need more power, check out the Shanling UA4 with its OLED display at the same price. Do you use a portable DAC? Which one and what for — let me know in the comments.

Source: IT之家