All Aboard the FiiO K9 Pro Hype Train

[pjw]

Why would this be necessary?

FiiO K9 Pro Hi-Fi DeskDop DAC&Bluetooth&Amplifier，XLR/RCA/4.4/Optical/Coaxial interface

If the LDAC color display is normal, the settings should be normal, you can enter the FiiO Control APP to see if the settings are correct? yes fiio control app looks everything fine. It also looks fine in music app under bluetooth connections or so. everything looks fine except that the k9pro...

www.head-fi.org

Fiio responded:
Dear friend,
1. This plastic shield could keep the structure more stable. The K9Pro would not be damaged by the plastic shield under normal usage.
2. Though the radiating will be affected slightly, the K9Pro has temperature detecting and protection which could keep the K9Pro work in safe range. So please don't worry.

FiiO K9 Pro Hi-Fi DeskDop DAC&Bluetooth&Amplifier，XLR/RCA/4.4/Optical/Coaxial interface

@Vitaliy Belz I've been thinking about it for a long time myself. Especially if you put it on its side. In a good way, you need to measure the temperature of individual nodes and see their technical characteristics. I wouldn't be surprised if everything is within operating temperatures. It's...

www.head-fi.org

 

[odyo]

Why an RME model like ADI-2-DAC FS wouldn't do the job for you?

The retail price of the K9 Pro is a no-go for me( when I found it new for 300£, I was tempted though). In the UK at least, for another 100£, you can get the RME ADI-2-DAC and have a state-of-the-art AIO DAC/amp combo with parametric EQ. It is missing BT/MQA, but is it really that important?

Veeeery expensive for me. I would buy headphones instead. I'd buy LCD X and run it from my smartphone instead.

 

[Vitali]

Why would this be necessary?

As far as I understand, the front and rear panels are attached to this plastic. A very controversial decision! Moreover, this leads to overheating of electronic components. I think it's called planned device obsolescence.

 

[Lupin]

Perhaps they cheaped out on the tooling of the case and/or their "rigorous" testing didn't show that the case was too weak until production. They slapped on a plastic cover as a bandaid.

Well at least for the money you get an audiophile approved "customized audio transformer"

The more I read and see about the K9Pro the more it's obvious FiiO is banking heavily on audiophile snake oil believes and is able to jackup the price of this unit as those audiophiles believe anything as they defend the outrageous price of this unit with all the usual audiophile claims.

 

[Veri]

Well at least for the money you get an audiophile approved "customized audio transformer"

Yeah I bet "audiophiles" love this kind of thing. Fiio going above and beyond

 

[pjw]

As far as I understand, the front and rear panels are attached to this plastic. A very controversial decision! Moreover, this leads to overheating of electronic components. I think it's called planned device obsolescence.

I wonder if it can be removed without ill effect. And without the front panel falling off.

The new ESS K9 Pro (ES9038Pro*2) has the one side of the case vented, so heat must be a consideration. Hopefully they've discontinued use of the plastic 'shield'.
Apparently there also is a K9 (non-Pro) version with dual ES9068AS.

https://forum.fiio.com/note/showNoteContent.do?id=202201201101505920052

 

[Vitali]

The new ESS K9 Pro (ES9038Pro*2) has the one side of the case vented

Two sides:

 

[Vitali]

I wonder if it can be removed without ill effect.

In the near future, I plan to do this and later share photos.

 

[coolajami]

I wonder if it can be removed without ill effect. And without the front panel falling off.

The new ESS K9 Pro (ES9038Pro*2) has the one side of the case vented, so heat must be a consideration. Hopefully they've discontinued use of the plastic 'shield'.
Apparently there also is a K9 (non-Pro) version with dual ES9068AS.

https://forum.fiio.com/note/showNoteContent.do?id=202201201101505920052

Now it make sense why the European vendors were clearing their stock hacking 50% off the price.
Just by comparing the two models you can see the problem with the original model: No heat dissipation.


On the other hand:
Golden knob?!

 

[LaL]

In the near future, I plan to do this and later share photos.

Does it get hot ?
Is the K9 a Class-A amp ?

 

[Vitali]

Does it get hot ?
Is it the K9 a Class-A amp ?

I understand what you want to say. This is not a power amplifier. But! Long-term operation of electronic components, without proper cooling, for example, capacitors, leads to the drying of the electrolyte.
And of course, I am not advocating anyone to disassemble and modify this device.
But the manufacturer still made a ventilated case for the ESS version.

 

[Disconnect]

Why would this be necessary?
View attachment 181353
Fiio responded:
Dear friend,
1. This plastic shield could keep the structure more stable. The K9Pro would not be damaged by the plastic shield under normal usage.
2. Though the radiating will be affected slightly, the K9Pro has temperature detecting and protection which could keep the K9Pro work in safe range. So please don't worry.

Is this plastic shield for real o just a joke?
I was planning to buy the K9 Pro AKM to move my Sundara but this nonsense is a deal breaker for me
My other options are the Topping DX7 Pro or the new K9 Pro ESS dual
Not in a hurry, I will wait

 

[Vitali]

Is this plastic shield for real o just a joke?

joke? Of course not:

 

[Disconnect]

joke? Of course not:

Awesome, never seen that plastic stuff in my life, I don't like it

Thanks for the pics

 

[Veri]

joke? Of course not:

@amirm what would your thoughts be if you saw such a thing in a hardware teardown?

 

[pjw]

Is this plastic shield for real o just a joke?
I was planning to buy the K9 Pro AKM to move my Sundara but this nonsense is a deal breaker for me
My other options are the Topping DX7 Pro or the new K9 Pro ESS dual

It hasn't yet been confirmed the ESS K9 Pro does away with the plastic shield, it may still be required for 'structural stability' / panel attachment.

 

[Vitali]

In the near future, I plan to do this and later share photos.

This is sufficient for "structural stability" / panel fixing.

 

[Jukebox]

It hasn't yet been confirmed the ESS K9 Pro does away with the plastic shield, it may still be required for 'structural stability' / panel attachment.

I really hope they will ditch the plastic for the ESS version.

 

[pouni]

I have the Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire and I have to choose between the K9 Pro, the Matrix Audio Mini-I Pro 3 or a Topping stack of D30 Pro and A90. Which would you prefer for the Noire?

 

[coolajami]

I have the Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire and I have to choose between the K9 Pro, the Matrix Audio Mini-I Pro 3 or a Topping stack of D30 Pro and A90. Which would you prefer for the Noire?

If I have to choose between the three, I would have definately go for the Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro 3, spec-wise it just blows the rest out of the water. I wish it had a parametric EQ like the RME ADI-2, it would have been the perfect AIO dac/amp.

The second option is the topping stack. I find the K9 Pro overpriced and I wouldn’t buy it on this price.

I would be interested to see what the experienced members would suggest on this.