Fiio K11 Review
The FiiO K11 is a no-nonsense desktop DAC/amp designed to deliver high-quality sound without unnecessary complexity. At first glance, it may look like just another budget-friendly audio device, but don’t let its simplicity fool you inside, it packs a CS43198 DAC, a powerful amplification circuit, and support for high-resolution audio up to 32-bit/384kHz and native DSD256.
What makes the K11 stand out is its balance of clean, detailed sound, versatile connectivity, and solid build quality, all at an affordable price point. Whether you are upgrading your desktop setup or looking for an entry-level DAC/amp that don’t compromise on performance, the K11 aims to impress. In this review, let’s break down its features, sound quality, and real-world usability to see if it lives up to FiiO’s reputation for high-value audio gear.
FiiO K11: Technical Specifications
General Information
Colors: Obsidian Black, Midnight Silver
Main Control Chip: GD32F303RET6 (Single-chip microcomputer)
DAC Chip: CS43198
Supported Audio Formats: 384kHz/32-bit PCM, DSD256
USB Connector: Type-C
Display: Custom LCD
Dimensions: 147 x 133 x 32.3mm (including feet)
Weight: Approximately 407g
Power & Outputs
Power Supply: DC 12V 2A external adapter
Single-Ended (SE) Output:
32 ohm Load (High Gain): 520mW + 520mW
300 ohm Load (High Gain): 60mW + 60mW
Balanced (BAL) Output:
32 ohm Load (High Gain): 1400mW + 1400mW
300 ohm Load (High Gain): 250mW + 250mW
Audio Performance
Frequency Response: 20Hz “ 50kHz (Attenuation < 0.2dB)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): 123dB (A-weighted)
Noise Floor:
PO Output: <2.8uV (A-weighted)
BAL Output: <4.9uV (A-weighted)
Output Impedance:
PO: <1.2 (32 ohms Load)
BAL: <2.4 (32 ohms Load)
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (THD+N):
LO: <0.00035 (1kHz/10)
This compact yet powerful DAC/amp offers high-resolution audio playback, strong amplification power, and a sleek design, making it an excellent choice for desktop audio setups.
Real world usages
HiBy R1
Connected to the pocket-sized HiBy R1, the Fiio K11 immediately takes over the sound processing, ensuring that the R1’s internal DAC remains uninvolved. Starting with Toto’s classic “Africa,” the playback feels robust, with a solid foundation and slightly warm tonal color. The background is impressively dark, and every instrument has a sense of clarity and separation. Synths, often a tricky element, come through effortlessly with no harshness. Overall, the sound feels natural and unstrained—a hallmark of well-tuned gear.
Moving to Truckfighters – Chameleon, the Fiio K11 surprises me again. This track, a blend of drone and post-metal, reveals how controlled yet dynamic the sound can be. While the soundstage doesn’t feel particularly expansive, the seamless transitions and effortless handling of the song’s complexities make up for it. Even during the most intense moments, there’s no sign of muddiness.
With Hans Zimmer’s “Driving,” I notice how the K11 allows the R1’s limited power to shine brighter than expected. The presentation is spacious, though dynamic range is somewhat constrained, showing that the K11 stays true to the source without adding its own color.
HiBy R4
Pairing the Fiio K11 with the HiBy R4 felt like stepping up a level. Tracks like 6xlove are filled with energy, dynamics, and a high-end feel that’s unexpected at this price point. Digital effects sound lifelike, and the overall control is excellent. Toto – Africa plays with a lovely balance that makes the K11 feel right at home with the R4.
Truckfighters – Chameleon highlights how important the source is for amplification. Compared to the R1, the R4 brings more refinement and emotional depth to the track. The sound remains laid-back but with a surprising amount of slam and organic instrument timbre. With Driving, the dynamic range is even more evident, cymbals sound metallic but never harsh, and bass guitar rhythms are textured and full-bodied. Even at higher gain, the K11 maintains control and avoids listener fatigue.
Cayin N8ii
Finally, pairing the Fiio K11 with the mighty Cayin N8ii was an eye-opener. Toto – Africa reaches an entirely new level of precision and clarity. Despite using such a high-end source, the K11 shows no signs of bottlenecking. The imaging feels three-dimensional, the notes hit with speed and accuracy, and the background remains pitch black.
With Truckfighters – Chameleon, the phrase “controlled chaos” comes to mind. The layers and tempo changes within the track are handled effortlessly, and the highs maintain control even at the track’s most intense moments. Driving closes the test session beautifully, offering a wide, immersive soundstage that feels like listening through semi-open headphones. Instrument separation is stellar, dynamics are memorable, and details pop with remarkable clarity.
Pros and Cons
Pros
• Clean, detailed sound with excellent tonal balance.
• Supports both single-ended and balanced outputs (6.3mm and 4.4mm).
• Compact and sturdy design with premium build quality.
• Effortless performance across various sources and genres.
• Retains the original character of the source without unwanted coloration.
• Budget-friendly price for its performance level.
Cons
• Limited features (no Bluetooth or simple EQ options, just unnamed filters and hard to access options).
• Soundstage isn’t the most expansive.
• Dynamics could feel slightly constrained with smaller sources.
• Requires careful pairing to maximize its potential.
• Fingerpaint magnet
Conclusion for Fiio K11 Review
The Fiio K11 is an excellent choice for anyone seeking high-quality sound in a simple and compact package. It excels in delivering clean, natural playback with just enough warmth to keep things enjoyable across a range of genres. While it doesn’t offer all the bells and whistles of more expensive DAC/amps, it stays true to its mission: to provide great sound at an affordable price. Pair it with a capable source, and the K11 will reward you with an engaging and effortless listening experience. It’s not just good for the price—it’s a little giant that punches above its weight.
The FiiO website says it has a CS43198 DAC, not ES9038Q2M. It’s possible the design got changed somewhere along the way, but I had a look on the Wayback Machine and even the oldest version of the page (October 2023) listed the Cirrus DAC.
I’m also disappointed that you didn’t test it with a computer, which would seem to me to be one of the main use cases for this device. Perhaps somebody else will tackle that.
Thank you for the criticism. I have to admit that that naming was a leftover from the early batch of this write-up. It was just based on hearsay. But I had confirmed the DAC used on the FiiO webpage too.
I didn’t intentionally use a PC or something, as MBA was built on the mobile devices. Investigating its performance on a stationary device would contradict the ethos of our website.
Could you explain how you got the same digital files sent from different devices to change the sound coming from this dac amp for you? Do the portable daps pre process it or something. My understanding is that bit perfect is just that from any source, with the only variable being jitter.
But I agree its a good dac amp for the price, even at double the price.
Thanks for the appreciation
Even tough I am not a professional at electronics, I always saw that many factors matter. And many of them aren’t visible to a customer, starting from output impedance.