Aside from the Apple Lightning or USB-C dongle, which is able to value you $9, this is without doubt one of the most cheap DACs in the marketplace and in addition probably the most highly effective at this value level.
Fiio KA11: Construct and match
(Picture credit score: Tshaka Armstrong)
Fiio’s KA11 weighs in at solely 8.5 grams and is constructed with prime quality parts for its $29 value level. The physique of the DAC consists of an aluminum-magnesium alloy, so that you gained’t must child it if you’re headed out the door and tossing your EDC objects into your favourite bag.
The cable carrying your sound is equally well-appointed and sturdy. Wrapped in a layer of silicone with braided material on the skin, it consists of high-purity, oxygen-free palladium-plated copper wires that go between your connector of selection and the DAC.
The cable options rubber or silicone connector caps, including to the general feeling of sturdiness and the connectors themselves don’t really feel unfastened when plugging and unplugging. Connections on each ends are tight, and three.5mm headphone connectors have that satisfying click on when plugging in.
Fiio KA11: Options
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Essentially the most highly effective characteristic (pun supposed) of the KA11 is the facility supply which drove even probably the most delicate pair of planar magnetic headphones I personal. The one-ended 3.5mm port delivers as much as 245mW of energy per channel at 16ohms, and 200mW at 32ohms. The Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chip decodes DSD256, and as much as 384kHz/32-bit recordsdata over PCM. The SG-Micro SGM8262 amp is what’s inside, driving thirsty IEMs.
An LED on the three.5mm port finish of the dongle physique tells you the sampling fee. DSD decoding will get a inexperienced gentle, and tracks above or beneath 48kHz get a yellow or blue gentle, respectively.
The excellent news is which you could management these LEDs and digital filters by way of the FIIO Management app. The dangerous information is that it’s solely on Android.
Fiio KA11: Sound high quality
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Now we’ll discuss crucial facet of the KA11, the sound. I listened to the KA11 utilizing a number of over-ear headphones and IEMs, and for $29, its means to drive my HiFiMan HE4XX planar magnetic headphones was spectacular. My iPhone 15 Professional Max solely wanted to be turned as much as 75% of their max for a snug listening expertise. My Campfire Audio Mammoth IEMs are fairly delicate, and the KA11, with its best-in-class energy output, dealt with them expertly. The facility output of the KA11s meant that the comfy listening stage was round 15% of the max. Sennheiser’s $1500 IE900 IEMs have been a delight to expertise by way of the KA11, solely needing to be turned as much as 33% of the max quantity of the iPhone 15 Professional Max.
Okay, technically, these notes weren’t about sound however energy. The KA11 is well-balanced in its sound profile. You’ll get a bit of heat by way of the mids, however vocals shine by way of, and bass and sub-bass are an pleasant aspect of the sonic feast with out overpowering the opposite “taste notes.” The soundstage isn’t probably the most expansive I’ve skilled from a DAC , however it’s nonetheless giant sufficient that your ethereal tracks shouldn’t really feel constricted.
Fiio KA11: Competitors
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Some DACs on Amazon compete on value with the KA11, however nothing at $30 competes on energy output or efficiency. This DAC’s output rivals merchandise that may value a whole bunch of {dollars} extra.
So, does the Fiio KA11 have competitors? The quick reply is, no.
Fiio KA11: Do you have to purchase it?
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You should purchase the Fiio KA11 if…
Price is your main buying consideration
You might have power-hungry headphones or IEMs
You need an EDC DAC you possibly can simply throw in a bag and go
You’re new to Hello-Res or Lossless cellular audio
You should not purchase the Fiio KA11 if…
You might have the finances to spend $100-$300
Look no additional if you’d like a robust DAC that gained’t overpower your checking account steadiness. That is it, full cease. Fiio’s KA11 is a USB-C or Lightning-connected DAC able to driving many of the headphones or IEMs in your secure, that includes a sound profile balanced sufficient to not add important pointless coloration to your listening expertise.
Whenever you enter audiophile land, there are a lot of areas the place you’ll spend your discretionary revenue, however this needn’t be one on the outset. Concentrate on headphone or IEM prices first, then sit again and revel in them with the KA11.
Prime quality, straightforward on the pockets
Fiio’s KA11 is an unexpectedly highly effective, tiny dongle DAC. It ought to drive nearly any IEM or thirsty pair of headphones you connect with it. An ideal starter for many who need Apple Lossless entry.
