It’s mentioned that we “consume with our eyes.” Can we additionally pay attention with them? Other people appear to put a large number of inventory in how an audio product appears, which makes Fiio’s KA11 a scrumptious auditory dish that may satiate your Hello-Res audio starvation.
Positive, you’ll purchase Apple’s 3.5mm to Lights/USB-C dongle for round $9 however as your tastes and headphone or IEM collection grow, it might not be sufficient to pressure your new toys and that’s the place the $29 KA11 is available in.
Fiio KA11: Worth and availability
The KA11 is to be had for $29 via their website and Amazon.com. You’ll be able to get it in two colours, black and a a laugh silver and teal combo, together with your selection of both a USB-C or Lightning connector for the ones with telephones older than an iPhone 15.
Rather than the Apple Lightning or USB-C dongle, which can price you $9, this is among the maximum reasonably priced DACs available on the market and likewise essentially the most tough at this worth level.
Fiio KA11: Construct and have compatibility
Fiio’s KA11 weighs in at simplest 8.5 grams and is constructed with prime quality parts for its $29 worth level. The frame of the DAC consists of an aluminum-magnesium alloy, so that you gained’t need to child it whilst you’re headed out the door and tossing your EDC pieces into your favourite bag.
The cable sporting your sound is similarly well-appointed and sturdy. Wrapped in a layer of silicone with braided material at the outdoor, it is composed of high-purity, oxygen-free palladium-plated copper wires that move between your connector of selection and the DAC.
The cable options rubber or silicone connector caps, including to the total 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 pleasing click on when plugging in.
Fiio KA11: Options
Essentially the most tough function (pun supposed) of the KA11 is the ability supply which drove even essentially the most delicate pair of planar magnetic headphones I personal. The one-ended 3.5mm port delivers as much as 245mW of continual in keeping with channel at 16ohms, and 200mW at 32ohms. The Cirrus Common sense CS43131 DAC chip decodes DSD256, and as much as 384kHz/32-bit recordsdata over PCM. The SG-Micro SGM8262 amp is what’s inside of, using thirsty IEMs.
An LED at the 3.5mm port finish of the dongle frame tells you the sampling charge. DSD deciphering will get a inexperienced mild, and tracks above or underneath 48kHz get a yellow or blue mild, respectively.
The excellent news is that you’ll regulate the ones LEDs and virtual filters during the FIIO Keep watch over app. The dangerous information is that it’s simplest on Android.
Fiio KA11: Sound high quality
Now we’ll discuss crucial side of the KA11, the sound. I listened to the KA11 the usage of a number of over-ear headphones and IEMs, and for $29, its skill to pressure my HiFiMan HE4XX planar magnetic headphones was once spectacular. My iPhone 15 Professional Max simplest had to be became as much as 75% in their max for a relaxed listening enjoy. My Campfire Audio Mammoth IEMs are relatively delicate, and the KA11, with its best-in-class continual output, treated them expertly. The facility output of the KA11s intended that the comfy listening degree was once round 15% of the max. Sennheiser’s $1500 IE900 IEMs have been a pride to enjoy during the KA11, simplest desiring to be became as much as 33% of the max quantity of the iPhone 15 Professional Max.
K, technically, the ones notes weren’t about sound however continual. The KA11 is well-balanced in its sound profile. You’ll get somewhat of heat during the mids, however vocals shine via, and bass and sub-bass are an relaxing component of the sonic banquet with out overpowering the opposite “taste notes.” The soundstage isn’t essentially the most expansive I’ve experienced from a DAC, however it’s nonetheless sufficiently big that your ethereal tracks shouldn’t really feel constricted.
Fiio KA11: Pageant
Some DACs on Amazon compete on worth with the KA11, however not anything at $30 competes on continual output or efficiency. This DAC’s output competitors merchandise that may price masses of greenbacks extra.
So, does the Fiio KA11 have pageant? The fast solution is, no.
Fiio KA11: Must you purchase it?
You must purchase the Fiio KA11 if…
- Value is your number one buying attention
- You’ve power-hungry headphones or IEMs
- You need an EDC DAC you’ll simply throw in a bag and move
- You’re new to Hello-Res or Lossless cellular audio
You should not purchase the Fiio KA11 if…
- You’ve the funds to spend $100-$300
Glance no additional if you wish to have an impressive DAC that gained’t overpower your checking account stability. That is it, complete prevent. Fiio’s KA11 is a USB-C or Lightning-connected DAC able to using lots of the headphones or IEMs for your solid, that includes a valid profile balanced sufficient to not upload vital pointless colour on your listening enjoy.
While you input audiophile land, there are lots of spaces the place you’ll spend your discretionary source of revenue, however this needn’t be one on the outset. Center of attention on headphone or IEM prices first, then sit down again and experience them with the KA11.
Top quality, simple at the pockets
Fiio’s KA11 is an hastily tough, tiny dongle DAC. It must pressure almost about any IEM or thirsty pair of headphones you connect with it. A super starter for individuals who need Apple Lossless get right of entry to.
