FiiO vs RME:Which is more popular?
In October 2026, FiiO had more branded searches than RME among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide. FiiO had about 128,000 branded searches, while RME had 2,900. FiiO made up 61.2% of all headphone amp and DAC brand searches we track, and RME accounted for 1.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about headphone amp and DAC brands, FiiO appeared in all five answers and RME in one. FiiO was mentioned before RME in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
FiiO, about 44 searches for every 1 for RME
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Top headphone amp and DAC brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, FiiO appeared in all five answers. RME was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. FiiO was listed before RME in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- FiiO5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
iFi3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Topping3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Schiit2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Chord1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
JDS Labs1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
RME1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
SMSL0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Questyle0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
xDuoo0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about headphone amp and DAC brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best headphone amp and DAC for the money?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which DAC should I buy for my headphones?”
- 1FiiO
- 1
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best headphone amp brands?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“headphone amp”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“dac amp”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 27, 2026.
Is FiiO or RME more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for FiiO and RME by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 headphone amp and DAC brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for FiiO, RME. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | FiiO | SMSL | Schiit | iFi | Topping | Chord | Questyle | xDuoo | Gustard | JDS Labs | RME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 57.8% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 7.2% | 3.5% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 1.8% |
| Dec 2025 | 58% | 9% | 9% | 7.5% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 55.9% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 8.6% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 56.9% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 8.1% | 3.4% | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2% | 1.7% | 2% | 2% |
| Mar 2026 | 57.3% | 10.1% | 8.2% | 8% | 3.3% | 3% | 2.5% | 2% | 1.6% | 2% | 2% |
| Apr 2026 | 59.2% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 7.9% | 2.9% | 2.7% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 2.1% |
| May 2026 | 59.8% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 7.8% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| Jun 2026 | 58.4% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 8.1% | 3.1% | 2.4% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 1.5% |
| Jul 2026 | 62.3% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 6.4% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 2.1% | 1.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 61.1% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 7.5% | 2.9% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1.4% | 1.7% | 1.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 56.9% | 11% | 8.9% | 9.1% | 3% | 1.9% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 1.2% |
| Oct 2026 | 61.2% | 10.6% | 8.7% | 6.5% | 2.9% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% |
How has branded search for FiiO and RME changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- FiiO was ahead of RME in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, FiiO’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide moved from 57.8% to 61.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 141K to 128K.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, RME’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide moved from 1.8% to 1.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.4K to 2.9K.
How did search popularity change for headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide in October 2026?
2 changes
In October 2026, FiiO gained share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide, from 56.9% to 61.2%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for RME worldwide fell 34.1% over 12 measured months, from 4.4K to 2.9K in October 2026.
How are FiiO’s and RME’s branded searches counted?
10 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using FiiO’s and RME’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among headphone amp and DAC brands
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