FiiO KA11 Portable DAC/Amp Review

[Vince3]

I bought a KA11 yesterday, and it's the best-performing piece of hi-fi gear I own. Paired with my Audio Technica MSR7 headphones, the clarity and details are astounding.

I've been thinking about whether I want my upgrade path to lean towards traditional components (Marantz, Yamaha, etc.) or the modern market of compact offerings (FiiO, Topping, etc.). The KA11 has dropped a sizable stone on the latter side of the scale.

 

[JohsonChou]

Can someone check me. Since this is so cheap and the amp output is so clean.
it seems to be more cost effective to buy this then just use the amp output to drive my speaker amp.
Line in should have higher input impedance than a headphone, allowing this to output full power, and be a $33 117 SINR DAC? Assuming it doesn't my AMP's input.
(compare to spending double or triple the money to buy a DAC with lineout).

 

[pioterd]

compare to spending double or triple the money to buy a DAC with lineout).

If 2.5V output is enough for your speaker amp, there is no need to spend more. KA11, UA mini, JM20Max - choose whatever you prefer. All of them give clean 2.5V output.

 

[lighthunt]

Does it work with Linux please? Have anyone tried and can confirm? Thank you

Edit: according to this, it should work, if anyone cares (I do)

• https://www.fiio.com/newsinfo/934276.html
• https://linux-hardware.org/?id=usb:2972-0081

 

[Somafunk]

Another thumbs up for KA11 from DMS with practical headphone application shown,

 

[mc.god]

Does it work with Linux please? Have anyone tried and can confirm? Thank you

Edit: according to this, it should work, if anyone cares (I do)

• https://www.fiio.com/newsinfo/934276.html
• https://linux-hardware.org/?id=usb:2972-0081

I own several dongles with same chipset of KA11 and all work great under Linux Mint out of the box.