Fiio released a news article on their website homepage quietly announcing it for sale on AliExpress.
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Fiio K17 - DAC, headphone amp, streamer
- Thread starter Chagall
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johny_2000
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Thank you. Much better language version.
RogerSmith
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Looks very nice, if I were into buying a new DAC/Headphone amp/streamer combo, that device would be high on my list. Fiio is realeasing very many nice products recently (the closed FT1 headphone is amazing and a total bargain), the KA17 dongle apparently the best in power+functionality / price available. What the heck is "Velvet Sound Verita" https://www.fiio.com/k17 squeezed between LDAC and MQA ?
Edit: Got it, it is some fancy name for the AKM chip DAC technology.
Edit: Got it, it is some fancy name for the AKM chip DAC technology.
Does anybody know or understand what the LAN connection is intended for? I asked FiiO whether it supports Tidal, Qobuz and Spotify and the answer was that it is not an Android platform and doesn't support them. Not clear to me why they added the feature. All the streaming scenarios on their website seem to use USB and skip the direct LAN input.
OP
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Yep, they shouldn't have called it a streamer...
I guess the LAN input will be used as Roon endpoint once they certify it.
OP
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Again I'm guessing, but K17 should stream Tidal/Qubuz/Spotify through airplay on iOS devices.
The FiiO SR11 would not add any extra functionality as it also only supports streaming services through Apple AirPlay. It seems FiiO hasn't figured out how to add DLNA/uPnP support for Tidal Connect/Spotify Connect. Adding a WiiM Pro stream box would be a solution.
Thanks for your clarifications. Somewhat disappointing. I don't see the point of including such limited streaming capability. My two cents: they should have either foregone the streamer altogether or included something with more universal appeal. Had they chosen the former, then they could have either lowered cost or increased parts quality. Adding a Bluos Nano or Wiim increases the cost above Matrix Mini I Pro 4, which includes a myriad of functions in one box - no need for extra cables and electrical outlets.
avoidwork
Member
It works as an airplay target device; Roon works but identifies as an M17 . It’s very fast to connect with Roon. It’s running android 12. The VU meters suck; it’s like 12fps, very choppy.
I got my unit yesterday, same experience as well. Don't have or use Roon, but the AirPlay works pretty well and is faster than the Tidal Connect on the Matrix element i2. I thought I would be using the VU meter and liked the aesthetics, but yea the choppy low frame rate kills it for me as well. And the VU meter is not accessible when the input is USB.
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I just noticed an issue on my unit that might affect all K17. A user on Head-Fi also has the same issue on his K9 Pro which is over a year old. Switching between PRE and PO the screen still says the gain is in L but turning the knob to M and then back to L in both instances reduces the volume on my IEMs. Internally the amp seems to default to H gain the PO output is selected regardless of what the screen or setting the knob is on.
avoidwork
Member
it sounds better than the original k9 pro (akm), in my subjective opinion.
Just received mine. First impressions:
- Sounds is fab, great synergy with my ZAhl HM-1. Sound signature reminds me of the RME FS-R Black Edition, though I don't have it anymore to compare side by side. Maybe a little more organic, yet detailed.
- Works seemlessly with roon (recognized as a Fiio M17, a nice trick until the lengthy wait for roon to add it to roon ready, probably fixed later in fw update)
- Was able to start airplaying to it while roon was playing, it paused roon and worked flawlessly.
The UI is simple and just works. I much prefer it to my old eversolo A6 and A8, which were jacks of all trades and masters of none.
The pre mode is really good at balance at low volume.
- Sounds is fab, great synergy with my ZAhl HM-1. Sound signature reminds me of the RME FS-R Black Edition, though I don't have it anymore to compare side by side. Maybe a little more organic, yet detailed.
- Works seemlessly with roon (recognized as a Fiio M17, a nice trick until the lengthy wait for roon to add it to roon ready, probably fixed later in fw update)
- Was able to start airplaying to it while roon was playing, it paused roon and worked flawlessly.
The UI is simple and just works. I much prefer it to my old eversolo A6 and A8, which were jacks of all trades and masters of none.
The pre mode is really good at balance at low volume.
hey, new to the forum. looking at purchasing this to replace my Schiit Bifrost 2/64 and Lokius + as an amp to drive my more sensitive IEMs and headphones. I don't really use the EQ on the Lokius, just using it mostly for the RCA input for my turntable. The consolidate would be nice, but dont really want to sacrifice sound quality. Can anyone tell me if using the K17 as a DAC would be a step backward soundwise from the Bifrost
OP
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Welcome to ASR!
Objectively speaking there are no differences with modern DACs and amps. Audio precision can measure some differences but they are below the threshold of human hearing so the whole thing becomes an academic exercise. Measurements of electronics are still helpful if DAC or amp has a broken design - poor engineering. Fiio K17 is a new product with no measurements yet available (to my knowledge), but I highly doubt it will be anything less than totally transparent.
So, soundwise it won't be worse. It might even measure better, but again you might not be able to hear it in practice.
Buy it if you like the features, like the look, and need an all-in-one box.
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