Disclaimer:
Finally, the Fiio brand noticed me and I couldn’t be happier with this new collaboration. The Fiio KA11 was kindly sent to me for review purposes.
Though I’m still not as skilled as the most knowledgeable person you can find online, I’m starting to acquire an intriguing amount of Dac.
The review, as always, will be completely unbiased and uninfluenced.
I would like to remind you that I am just a person who enjoys trying out new items and listening to a lot of music; I am not an expert.
My opinions are obviously subjective.
Tech Specs:
- Colors: Midnight black, Sunrise silver
- DAC: CS43131
- Op-amp: SGM8262
- Max supported formats: 384kHz/32bit, DSD256
- Input: Type-C or Lightning
- Output: 3.5mm headphone jack
- Dimensions: About 44.5*9.7*10.5mm
- Cable length: About 65.5mm
- Weight: about 8.5g
- Output power 1: L+R>245mW+245mW(16N/THD+N<1%)
- Output power 2: L+R>200mW+200mW (320/THD+N<1%)
- Output power 3: L+R≥22mW+22mW (3000/THD+N<1%)
- Signal-to-noise ratio: ≥125dB (320, A-weighted)
- Noise floor: PO < 1.7μV (320, A-weighted)
- Output impedance: <0.70 (320)
- THD+N: <0.0006% (32Q)/ <0.00038% (3003)
Packaging:
The Fiio KA11 box is presented in a very simple way; a more luxurious box would have unnecessarily raised the price. The opening of the box is sliding and we immediately find the KA11 nestled in the packaging inside a protective plastic bag.
By removing the packaging, you will find the manual and warranty policies. I would have thought of also finding a type C to USB adapter for connecting to a PC. Unfortunately, it is missing but for a few dollars, you can find it on AliExpress.
Build quality/First impressions:
At first glance, it immediately seems to be of excellent construction and workmanship. The main body is made of some metal alloy to better dissipate heat (it heats up slightly), the design is simple, and a LED indicates the sampling being played.
The cable is nice and thick and covered in fabric; I think it’s one of the most robust I’ve seen so far. The type C is slightly different in color from the DAC’s black; it is more of a midnight blue.
Power:
We are faced with the most powerful entry-level dongle on the market. I don’t think there are other dongles so cheap that reach these powers. The Fiio KA11 is certainly revolutionary compared to all the dongles in the price range. Despite its only 3.5mm SE output, its 200 mW at 32 ohm is exceptional.
If I take, for example, the Jcally JM10, which has the same chip but isn’t as powerful, it has a cable that you can replace, the construction is good, but it costs more than the Fiio, which also has an app included. I’ll compare them later in the review.
You must take into account that the power varies if you connect the phone to the PC; probably the phone model also influences performance. It all depends on how much current the smartphone’s type C can output.
I therefore decided to compare the different power sources.
TEST on POCO M4 PRO with Tidal
In the test, I took IEMs and headphones that were a little more difficult to drive. IEMs like the Plutus Beast with 8 ohm impedance are a joke for this dongle.
- Epz x Tipsy Star One (64 OHM): The KA11 is not affected in the slightest. It seems to have connected to an IEM that is very easy to drive. Nice full-bodied bass. It is impossible to go beyond half the volume.
- KZ PR2 V2 (energy hungry): Hard to believe but going above 80% volume will cause immediate deafness (thanks to the fantastic treble of the PR2)
- Hifiman He400se (dongle eater): Here is the limit, at least on my smartphone. You can easily listen to them but you don’t reach scary levels.
TEST on iMac with Amazon Music
- Epz x Tipsy Star One (64 OHM): With a third of the volume available, you are already at the finish line.
- KZ PR2 V2 (energy hungry): Practically like the Star Ones on smartphones. Super easy. Unfortunately, the volume doesn’t go up much due to the very spicy treble.
- Hifiman He400se: You immediately notice the presence of a greater low range. It’s not just a question of volume but also of power reserve. They can drive them without effort but it reaches at least 80% of the volume.
He therefore demonstrates the ability to even drive full-size planars from a smartphone while maintaining excellent levels. However, I managed to obtain his maximum potential via computer.
This was my extreme final test: Star One 64 Ohm + 75 Ohm Jcally adapter
Obviously, I have tried several planar, hybrid, and single DD IEMs, and I must say that in most of them, this DAC is suitable. I didn’t notice any accentuated background noise, even on low impedances. This is not to say that the Hifiman He400Se reaches its maximum potential. Obviously, they are planar headphones, and the more power you give them, the more their dynamism increases. The test just understands the limitations of this dongle.
Sound Signature & Fiio App:
The Cirrus Logic has recently lost a bit of warmth; in any case, it sounds less hot and slightly more refined. It is probably thanks to the amplification stage that uses SGmicro OP-Amps but I also believe in the improvements implemented by Fiio.
On the treble range, it remains very composed; in fact, some ESS is more suitable for trebleheads; the midrange is enriched with warmth; the voices are pleasant; and the bass remains the flagship of the Cirrus Logic.
Thanks to the proprietary app, you can change the filters but in any case, the KA11 is slightly warm and the mids are slightly recessed. Compared to an EPZ TP20, where the heat turned off the voices a little, this one is definitely better. Bass is always emphasized on cirrus chips or at least has a heavier or fuller impact.
DAC apps are always a bit approximate, but the necessary functions are there. We can choose between UAC 1.0 or 2.0 in case of compatibility or playback problems and between 5 digital filters. The volume control is absent, although it appears to be present on the product page. I must say that compared to the filters tested on the Hidizs S9 Pro Plus, I can feel the differences here, even if they are minimal. For a dongle of this price, it is definitely surprising.
Fast Comparison:
vs Jcally Jm10 (old version)
One of my first DACs, the JM10, was a nightmare for me. Mine was part of a faulty batch that ran on almost nothing. I had to flash the Sonata BHD firmware and now it works. The volume has undergone a notable increase, as if it were always on high gain. It doesn’t excel at anything in terms of audio quality. Considering the higher purchase price, I would struggle to recommend it nowadays. Yet in terms of volume, my modified JM10 is impressive but loses out in detail compared to the KA11. The bass is also weaker.
The sound of the Ka11 is noticeably better for my ears since it manages to keep the sound open and very dynamic.
vs Hidizs S3 Pro
The small Hidizs feature an ESS chip and the power is not very high. It is certainly not as versatile as the Fiio KA11, which has a more interesting output. However, if the connected headphones are not difficult to drive, I notice a certain emphasis in the vocal area, which makes the Hidizs DACs very musical.
vs F.Audio KS01
I also added this model as it is extremely economical and feature-rich. It has very good power and a slightly brighter tone than the others. I don’t think the declared power is real. There is lots of firmware to try and key operation options. I would call it a DAC for nerds. The build quality and QC are not great.
Another excellent entry-level dongle; here we also have balanced output, the versatility is superior and we have a little more power. In terms of sound, they are quite similar; the Dawn Pro is slightly brighter (but that could just be my impression).
Who do I recommend this DAC to?
In my opinion, this is the right dongle for anyone approaching this hobby. I say this because it costs exactly the same as a pair of DACs with an ALC5686, which, after a maximum of one month, could already be unsuitable for you. This guarantees you a few months of peace (with your wallet) and several hours of satisfactory listening both from your smartphone and PC (buy a small adapter if you don’t have Type C). It is not a dongle for analytical listening, as there are more neutral ones but for beginners, these problems do not exist (in reality, I don’t have any problems either, as I simply love listening to music).
In terms of durability, I don’t think you will have any particular problems. The construction is very solid and the cable is quite robust. On the site, they also declare that various resistance tests have been carried out.
I conclude by saying that this DAC will certainly sell a lot. I would not recommend it if you need to drive a He400se or full-size planars because there are more suitable dongles (obviously not at the same price).
If instead you need a more versatile dongle for a few dollars more, you can find the Moondrop Dawn Pro. In terms of sound, the latter seems slightly brighter, but it is a very minimal difference.
I thank Fiio for this opportunity. The only real lack of the Fiio KA11 is the lack of the USB adapter; for the moment, it is an unrivaled entry level.
9/10
Pros:
- Sleek Build Quality
- Metal body and braided cable
- Slightly Warm – Great body to bass
- Open up dynamics
- Led is showing the sample
- Power king for SE DAC
- Fiio Control App for Mode, filter and led options
Cons:
- No Type C to USB adapter (for PC use)
- No Buttons
- Fiio newest app doesn’t control the dongle volume
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