looks like they identified the hot spots and left those open and then covered everything else with that plastic. in theory it s/b okay i mean certain components on a board require passive cooling others don’t , just like a typical computer motherboard but it is weird that they would choose plastic (out of all materials) for rigidity... like that piece doesnt make sense to me.
Because it's lighter than metal?
At this price point... Why not design a chassis that doesn't need these shenanigans being it plastic or metal to begin with??Because it's lighter than metal?
The whole weight would have been different with all that cover in anything other than metal imho (already heavy enough).
BTW I just bought a perfect condition slightly used, £459 one, K9 Pro (AKM).
I suppose will even be cooler than my previous (short period) Asgard 3 (with or without the inner plastic casing).
whatever their reasons are, it is an odd choice. i dont think its weight its likely a cost savings issue and using something that wont cause any grounding issues given that it sits on the pcb. either way they could have done something more elegant for $850 US price but it is what it is. Ive had mine for over 6months without any issues and really like the unit so hopefully it remains functional for a long while lol
Well will see how they'll perform long term wise and if the internal temperature is not an issue no worries then.
Note that installing the driver should be optional, up-to-date Windows, Mac or Linux OS will all have a general purpose driver to interface with it.
I've a gaming rig with 12900KS and a RTX 4080 gpu, obviously on the latest update of Windows 11
I've had my K9 (AKM) for over a year now, no issues so far. The device gets warm, but it hasn't gotten so hot that i'd be worried about internal damage.
I fear they haven't, no.
www.techpowerup.com
there is no way my ESS model hits more than 30C its basically lukewarm to the touch. this is after a couple hours of gaming and using the balanced output with a hifiman edition XS. I realize the ambient temp is colder now but I would imagine another few degree max in the summerI just won myself an ebay auction of a £500 +15 brand new (yet no invoice, tbd warranty) K9 Pro ESS
I will keep only one of course but atm I'm not convinced about it.
Also wanted to ask about their temperature, I thought the AKM / first versions were worse yet my unit measured only 36C max (numerous readings after hours).
And I can see here the newer K9 ESS is getting way warmer even with all it's side vents:
FiiO K9 Pro ESS Desktop DAC & Amplifier
FiiO updated its flagship desktop DAC/amplifier with dual ESS Sabre ES9038PRO DACs, and the new K9 Pro ESS has some more quality-of-life improvements sweetening the deal. This is an excellent set with features including powerful, clean wired performance, extensive I/O support, and a mobile app...
Great, I'm a happy man now since I've just received the parcel today (with the new K9 ESS) and can't wait to get back from Italy the 12th.
I bought them a few months ago in October and i love them. I play a decent amount of competitive fps games and these do a very good job with positional sound in games. They have a tall soundstage and very focused imaging.
That's nice to hear about positional and soundstage, they really look even more appealing now.
It's painful reading how utterly pathetic the reading comprehension skills some have here...at this point a grade schooler would understand what he's saying to you yet you still don't get it. He said he played the Topping at a higher volume and it still wasn't as clear as the K9 Pro ESS...said it multiple times no less. Audio clarity and volume level are exclusive of one another. The sound doesn't magically become more clear because it's playing at a higher level. Your simply listening to the same level of clarity/distortion at a higher level...and he's absolutely right. The K9 Pro ESS is far more detailed and clearer than the Topping. I have the Focal Celestee, HD800s and Focal Clear. I tested all three on both the K9 Pro ESS and Topping DX5. Both units set to exactly 50% volume, it's a night and day difference between these two. I can't speak for other headphones but on my units I can clearly hear more detail. Less on the HD800s but there's no question on the Focal (especially Celestee). The DX5 isn't a bad DAC/AMP but I think the K9 Pro ESS is far more suited to a wider range of headphones.But that is the problem. You didn't level test it so the K9 is at a higher level. There really can't be any difference between the 2 devices went set up correctly for a test. There is a very long thread here for you.
Message to golden-eared audiophiles posting at ASR for the first time...
Hello friend. Hey, listen...we know how it is. Believe me, most of us have been there too. You've spent years toiling in the muck of audiophilia. You read ALL the reviews. You watched ALL the youtube videos. You visited ALL the other forums where everything always makes a difference. You...
I have both of these DAC/AMPS and three high end headphones...I don't know how people can say there's no difference. There absolutely is. People can argue on why there's differences and what may be causing it but I have listened to literally 200+ hours on both with Focal Celestee, Clear and the HD800s and there's a night and day difference in audio signature between these units. I have made my wife listen to both with all my headphones and we both agree that the K9 Pro ESS sounds considerably more detailed. The volume level doesn't even matter, it's that obvious. Now it could be the headphones are playing a part and different hardware matches different with a variety of headphones...but that's part of the point. If all DACS were doing the same thing, we wouldn't have 10 thousand of them competing. The K9 Pro ESS, IMO matches very well to a more wider range of headphones. I've heard this exact sentiment across a ton of different audiophile forums...yeah but some just think they possess some science backed drivel and everyone else is just wrong.
