Disclaimer
Hello everyone, I want to let you all know that the KA15 was sent to me by FiiO for this review. However, I must make it clear and say that all opinions and thoughts shared here are entirely my own, and are based only on my personal experience with the product, and free from any external influence. FiiO has never dictated what I should write or when to publish this review, and they allow me full freedom to express my honest thoughts.
I’d like to thank FiiO for yet another amazing opportunity, and to you, the reader, thank you for your trust and for taking the time to read my review.
Introduction
When I first got my hands on the FiiO KA15, I immediately loved its design. It looks like a tiny cassette player, and what’s more cool is that when the music plays, the little wheels on the screen start spinning. That little touch made it even more fun to use. Despite its compact size, this DAC/AMP promises high quality sound, a lot of customization, and practical features. I’m excited to share my experience with it, from how it sounds to how it performs day to day, and if it can compete with its bigger brother, the KA17. Let’s see what this little device is all about and if it’s worth the asking price of 109$ USD.
Unboxing
When I unboxed the FiiO KA15, the packaging was pretty straightforward, nothing too fancy, especially compared to its bigger brother, the KA17. The box itself had a clean design, with a picture of the KA15 right on the front, so I knew exactly what to expect inside. Once I opened it, I saw that the layout is pretty simple and practical. Even though it wasn’t super premium, it still felt nice and well presented. It included the dongle, a USB C to C cable, a leather case (which was a very pleasant surprise), and the usual manual. Overall, while the packaging didn’t scream luxury, it was still very solid.
Technical Specifications and Features
Specs
- USB chip: SPV5048Pro
- DAC: CS43198*2
- Op amp: SGM8262*2
- Display: 0.96 inch color LCD
- Decoding support: Up to PCM768kHz/32bit, DSD256
- Input: Type-C
- Output: 3.5mm single-ended/4.4mm balanced
- Single ended output power, NON-Desktop mode: L+R≥50mW+50mW (32Ω, THD+N<1%, USB IN)
- Balanced Output power, NON-Desktop mode: L+R≥170mW+170mW (32Ω, THD+N<1%, USB IN)
- Single ended output power, Desktop mode: L+R≥180mW+180mW (32Ω, THD+N<1%, USB IN)
- Balanced Output power, Desktop mode: L+R≥560mW+560mW (32Ω, THD+N<1%, USB IN)
- SNR: ≥123dB (32Ω, A-weighted)
- THD+N: <0.0004% (-4dB, 32Ω）
- Noise floor: Single ended: About 1.7uV@A-weighted; Balanced: About 3.2uV@A-weighted
- Dimensions: About 522511mm
- Weight: Bare device, about 21g
- Color: Midnight black/Dawn silver.
USB Chip
The KA15 uses a special USB chip that handles all the data smoothly. It also has extra power from built in processors (MCU and DSP) to keep everything running fast and stable. This chip was custom made, and should help make the KA15 work better with all types of devices.
DAC Chips
At the heart of the KA15 are two Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips. These chips are great for giving clean, detailed sound, and they are well known and widely used. They support high res audio, handling up to PCM 768kHz/32bit and DSD256, so you can enjoy your music at its best quality.
OP AMP Chips
For amplifying the sound, the KA15 uses two SGM8262 op amps. This combo brings plenty of power, giving up to 560mW per channel when using the balanced output. This makes sure your music sounds powerful and clear, whether its with a sensitive IEM or pretty power hungry headphones.
Power Usage Display
One cool feature is the real time power usage display. You can actually see how much voltage and current the device is using right on the screen. It’s pretty handy, especially if you’re concerned about power drain on your phone or laptop.
10-Band EQ
The KA15 also comes with a 10-band EQ that you can tweak to customize your sound. Whether you want to boost the bass or adjust the mids, it gives you plenty of control to shape the sound the way you like it. You can even save your settings or share them with others.
Desktop Mode
When using the KA15 in desktop mode, it outputs even more power (up to 560mW per channel). It draws power directly from your device, so you don’t have to worry about running out of battery during long listening sessions.
Build Quality
The build quality of the KA15 is impressive with its all metal CNC machined body, giving it a solid and premium feel. However, the buttons are a bit rattly, which slightly takes away from the otherwise high quality construction.
Other Key Features
- Input: USB C, which makes it easy to connect to most devices.
- Outputs: There’s a 3.5mm single ended jack and a 4.4mm balanced jack for headphones.
- In Line Control and Calls: You can control your music and even take phone calls using CTIA headphones.
- Firmware Updates: You can update the firmware easily through the app or on your computer.
- Compatibility: It works with Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Switch, PS5 and even supports the latest Apple iPhone16 series, and the latest iOS18.
control options:
- SPDIF Output: ON,OFF
- Filters: NON-OS, FAST-LL, FAST-PC, SLOW-LL, SLOW-PC.
- EQ: OFF, JAZZ, POP, ROCK, DANCE, R&B, CLASSICAL, HIP-HOP, FD15, FF5, FH3 (Yes, it even has presets for 3 IEMs).
- Volume: 60 steps, 120 steps.
- Key mode: A, B.
- DAC: Class H, Class AB.
- Channel balance.
- MIC: Enable, Disable.
- UAC mode: 2.0, 1.0.
- Brightness: 1-10, and it can become really bright.
- Rotate the screen 180 degrees.
- DISP-OFF: 15s, 30s, 1m, 2m, 5m, 10m, 30m.
- 4 display colors (Blue, Yellow, Green, Black).
- Language: English, Chinese.
- Firmware version display.
Sound performance
The sound performance of the FiiO KA15 is what I’d describe as mostly neutral but with a slight warmth to it. It’s definitely got that signature FiiO sound, where nothing really feels overdone or out of place, and everything just works together smoothly. However, the slight warmth adds a touch of richness to the sound, especially in the midrange and bass, making it feel more engaging. This warmth doesn’t overshadow any part of the spectrum, which I like because it still feels balanced overall. Vocals come through nicely, and instruments sound natural without any harshness, so I can listen for long sessions without feeling any fatigue.
The KA15 is its incredibly silent background. Whether I’m listening to sensitive IEMs or full-sized headphones, there’s no noticeable hiss or background noise, allowing the music to come through with maximum clarity.
In terms of technicalities, the KA15 performs greatly, with solid imaging and soundstage. Instruments are placed with precision, and there’s a nice sense of depth to the music. I can very easily pinpoint the position of different elements and tiny details in a track.
The use of SG Micro’s headphone amplifier, with its ability to switch between class AB and class H modes, adds another layer of flexibility. In class AB mode, which I personally prefer, the sound feels a bit smoother and fuller. I felt like it filled the gap of the warmer sound signature and brought a bit of life to the higher frequencies.
Using the EQ
But here’s where the fun really kicks in with the 10-band EQ. It gives me so much flexibility to tweak the sound to my liking. If I want to add more bass or bring out the treble, I can easily do that through the EQ. The EQ makes noticeable differences and I found myself experimenting with different settings depending on the gear I was listening with. If you prefer a different sound signature, you’re not stuck with just the default tuning, which is a big plus for me. And what’s even nicer are the already existing presets for the FiiO FD15, FF5, and FH3.
I’ve tried it with different IEMs and headphones, and the KA15 handles all of them really well. I would say that the slight warmth works nicely with more analytical gear that can sometimes sound too sharp, and with warmer headphones, I sometimes reduced the low end a bit. All in all, the sound performance is versatile and adaptable, making the KA15 able to work with almost all headphones and IEMs.
Comparing the FiiO KA15 and KA17:
The first thing you’ll notice between the KA15 and KA17 is the size. The KA17 is significantly bigger and bulkier compared to the KA15, which makes sense given its higher power output and the inclusion of an external power supply… While the KA15 is compact and very portable, the KA17 definitely feels bigger and heavier, with the option for being a desktop device, despite still being a dongle. The KA15, on the other hand, is much easier to carry around with you, which makes it more convenient to carry around.
External Power Supply:
The KA17’s real standout feature is the independent external power supply. This is a game changer when it comes to performance because it allows the KA17 to give more power than the KA15 (although not so much more…). With the external power source, the KA17 isn’t limited by your phone or computer’s battery, which means it can deliver more juice to demanding headphones. This makes it a better choice if you’re driving high-impedance or power-hungry full-size headphones. The KA15, while powerful enough for most in-ear monitors and some full-sized headphones, just can’t compete in this area.
Power Output:
When it comes to power, the KA17 definitely got more power than the KA15. The KA17 can give up to 650mW (balanced), compared to the 560mW max of the KA15. This means the KA17 can handle slightly more power hungry headphones, while the KA15 is more suited to efficient IEMs and headphones, but still got plenty of power, without a doubt. If you regularly use full sized, high impedance headphones, the KA17 might be the way to go. But if you’re just looking for something compact that works well with IEMs and doesn’t need external power, the KA15 will more than enough.
Sound Performance:
Both the KA15 and KA17 are typical of FiiO’s sound signature, and being neutral with a slight touch of warmth. However, the KA17’s dual ES9069Q DAC chips and THX AAA-78+ amplification give it a more premium and flagship sound with better resolution and detail and maybe a touch more dynamic sound (although it can be a placebo effect, not gonna lie… lol). That said, the KA15 is no slouch and definitely has an excellent sound for its size and price. It’s just that the KA17 takes things up a notch in terms of technical performance, thanks to its higher power and flagship grade components.
Desktop Mode:
The KA15’s “desktop mode” is more of a high gain setting, while the KA17 truly feels like it was built with desktop use in mind. The KA17’s desktop mode significantly boosts its output power when using the external power supply. It’s perfect if you plan on using it at a desk with hungrier headphones. The KA15’s desktop mode is nice for its bump in power, but it doesn’t transform the device in the same way that it does for the KA17.
Final Thoughts:
In the end, it really depends on your usage… If you want something very portable, lightweight, with great sound and enough power for most headphones, the KA15 is an excellent choice. It’s compact, easy to carry around, and still packs plenty of power. But if you are after more serious performance and don’t mind a bigger device or using an external power supply, the KA17 is the clear winner in terms of raw power and sound quality. Its external power feature and higher output make it ideal for demanding headphones and more stationary setups.
Both devices offer excellent sound and build quality, but the KA17 just steps things up for audiophiles looking for that extra edge.
Conclusions
To wrap things up, I think the FiiO KA15 is a very solid little dongle that really impressed me. The design is fun and practical, especially with the cool cassette tape animation, and it feels well built with that metal body. I also really liked that it came with a leather case, which is a nice extra that some of the other dongles don’t include.
When it comes to sound, the KA15 has a slightly warm yet full sound that I found really enjoyable. It has great technical performance, and the detail and imaging are spot on. I also noticed the background is super quiet, so there’s no unwanted noise getting in the way of the music. It handled everything I threw at it, from IEMs to bigger headphones, without too much trouble. The option to switch between class AB and class H modes is nice too, even if the difference is negligible. And of course the 10 band EQ and Desktop Mode are handy features, letting me tweak the sound and boost power when I needed it.
So yeah, I really think the KA15 is a fantastic choice if you are looking for a portable dongle that does it all, and at a price of around 100$ USD. It sounds great, looks cool, and offers a lot of features for a very reasonable price. In my opinion, FiiO really hit the mark with this one!
Pros:
- Compact and portable design.
- All metal CNC machined body gives it a premium and sturdy feel.
- Neutral sound signature with a slight warmth.
- Big amount of power.
- Silent background with no noticeable noise or hiss.
- Great technical performance.
- 10 band EQ for customizable sound.
- Both 3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced outputs for more versatility.
- Supports high resolution audio formats
Cons:
- Buttons are rattling, which affects the premium feel for me.
- Can’t really think of more cons…
