FiiO KA11 Portable DAC/Amp Review

[IsaacOscar]

In a nutshell, shouldn't external DAC/amps sound the same connected to any source?

Hmm, I've not observed a difference myself between different DAC sources other than volume (my phone had a bug with the volume not being loud enough, but it's since fixed that).

Perhaps your OS has set the sampling rate to a ridiculously low level? (Just google how to change it). Some DACs also provide some options to add "effects", so go to into your OS settings for the DAC and play around with stuff?

Also I assume your actually playing the same file on both, and not different recordings of the same music....

 

[Pkok_808]

Hmm, I've not observed a difference myself between different DAC sources other than volume (my phone had a bug with the volume not being loud enough, but it's since fixed that).

Perhaps your OS has set the sampling rate to a ridiculously low level? (Just google how to change it). Some DACs also provide some options to add "effects", so go to into your OS settings for the DAC and play around with stuff?

Also I assume your actually playing the same file on both, and not different recordings of the same music....

It's at 24-bit 48kHz. Also yeah, same files be it my local or Spotify lossless, no volume normalization so on...

The sound on the PC is really weird and I don't get why. As I understand, plugging the FiiO KA11 should bypass the PC's dac/amp?

I did connect it with an USB-A adapter, but that shouldn't matter because the PC recognizes the dongle...

On my phone it sounds "right" if that makes sense.

 

[IsaacOscar]

The sound on the PC is really weird and I don't get why. As I understand, plugging the FiiO KA11 should bypass the PC's dac/amp?

Well if you're plugging your headphones/speakers into the Fiio KA11 yes it would bypass it...

I did connect it with an USB-A adapter, but that shouldn't matter because the PC recognizes the dongle...

Unless you're using a USB 1.0/1.1 port I can't imagine this making a difference. But if you have another port/adapter I'd give that a try.

The only other things I can think of is you having installed some software that intefers with audio processing (e.g. Equalizer APO, or Razer surround...).

I guess electrical interference is a theoretical possibility, you could try physically moving the DAC to somewhere else... (e.g. with an extension cable). I really doubt it though.

Sorry I'm not helpful, I've never had such problems (except from a bad audio cable or speakers/headphones, but I'm assuming your using the same ones for both your PC and phone)

 

[Pkok_808]

Well if you're plugging your headphones/speakers into the Fiio KA11 yes it would bypass it...


Unless you're using a USB 1.0/1.1 port I can't imagine this making a difference. But if you have another port/adapter I'd give that a try.

The only other things I can think of is you having installed some software that intefers with audio processing (e.g. Equalizer APO, or Razer surround...).

I guess electrical interference is a theoretical possibility, you could try physically moving the DAC to somewhere else... (e.g. with an extension cable). I really doubt it though.

Sorry I'm not helpful, I've never had such problems (except from a bad audio cable or speakers/headphones, but I'm assuming your using the same ones for both your PC and phone)

Nah I appreciate your help.

I must try a PC with a USB-C input one time.

Can anyone confirm that every DAC/amp should sound the same on every source (of course, considering you feed them with the same digital volume).

 

[Pkok_808]

Maybe Realtek is doing some processing?

 

[IsaacOscar]

Maybe Realtek is doing some processing?

If it's running, maybe, I'd certainly give removing it a try.

 

[IsaacOscar]

Nah I appreciate your help.

I must try a PC with a USB-C input one time.

Can anyone confirm that every DAC/amp should sound the same on every source (of course, considering you feed them with the same digital volume).

If you are indead feading them the same bits. Unfortunately there is a lot of audio processing your OS, music player, and other drivers/software could be doing to interfere.

Perhaps using a music player that supports directly playing to the DAC (if your on Windows, try Foobar in WASAPI exclusive mode:

https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/comments/1mbtugn/how_to_setup_wasapi_exclusive_mode_overwrite

)

 

[MaxwellsEq]

However whatever I do on my PC it just sounds like shit. Kinda hissy, mushy in the higher frequencies, quite thin and not articulate.

Sounds like you have not disabled all the useless sound adjustments built into the OS.

 

[JanL]

I almost had a heart attack. PEQ on a device with this price and performance would go beyond "game changing", almost more like game breaking.

I'd buy one for each set of headphones I own so they could have dialed in EQ regardless of device.

I essentially "standardized" on my Bose QC headphones, which to me sound good-but-not-great, because they sound good out of the box and I don't want to mess around with EQ adjustments on every device.

There is a very good CS43131 based USB dongle with 8 bands of EQ for similar money. It's called Tanchjim Stargate 2. It has no mic input though.
For the same price you can get a dual CS43131 dongle with 8 band EQ and mic support in form of the TRN Black Pearl. But heads up if you look at the TRN, you should make sure to get the original one from old stock, as they removed the EQ and mic support in the latest revision without renaming it to something else.

 

[IsaacOscar]

For the same price you can get a dual CS43131 dongle with 8 band EQ and mic support in form of the TRN Black Pearl.

It actually has 10-bands now due to a firmware update.

Also there were apparently bugs in the shelf filter implementation but I'm not sure if they're fixed now, and it's easily worked around.

 

[CedarX]

There is a very good CS43131 based USB dongle with 8 bands of EQ for similar money. It's called Tanchjim Stargate 2. It has no mic input though.

Stargate-II does have mic. support.

 

[JanL]

Stargate-II does have mic. support.

You are correct. I mixed it up with another CS43131 dongle. It's a perfect little portable dongle for IEMs and many headphones.

 

[JohnBooty]

There is a very good CS43131 based USB dongle with 8 bands of EQ for similar money. It's called Tanchjim Stargate 2. It has no mic input though.
For the same price you can get a dual CS43131 dongle with 8 band EQ and mic support in form of the TRN Black Pearl. But heads up if you look at the TRN, you should make sure to get the original one from old stock, as they removed the EQ and mic support in the latest revision without renaming it to something else.

Thanks so much! I just ordered one the Stargate. I will look into the TRN one as well, keeping in mind what you mentioned about the "stealth" hardware downgrade. Very helpful; I appreciate your time.

 

[Dk33145]

It actually has 10-bands now due to a firmware update.

Also there were apparently bugs in the shelf filter implementation but I'm not sure if they're fixed now, and it's easily worked around.

And it works very very well. I have both the TRN Black Pearl and Moondrop Dawn Pro 2. Very similar topology but the TRN is just that much better. The SINAD is super impressive but sadly not included in Amir's chart. It will beat this Fiio by quite a bit, whether audible or not is another issue...

 

[pioterd]

Hmm. Any reason to buy bigger-more expensive-desktop DAC for a bigger amplifier if the source is USB? I mean - can "beefier" analogoue stage and I/V conversion circuit provide audibly better sound?

 

[IsaacOscar]

Hmm. Any reason to buy bigger-more expensive-desktop DAC for a bigger amplifier if the source is USB? I mean - can "beefier" analogoue stage and I/V conversion circuit provide audibly better sound?

It certainly can if it has a PEQ or other DSP.
Otherwise, you're not going to notice the difference unless you like placebos.

 

[pioterd]

placebos

The only placebo I like is the band with that name but our neuronal pathways are sometimes strange and altered - and we hear what we want to hear ;-) and that's science as well, though not technical.

 

[Phobian347]

This KA11 is very good but in no way competes with my desktop setup. The KA11 sounds in comparison slightly brittle and thin with music sounding very close to the ears (I dread using that word 'soundstage').

 

[Lambo1985]

This KA11 is very good but in no way competes with my desktop setup. The KA11 sounds in comparison slightly brittle and thin with music sounding very close to the ears (I dread using that word 'soundstage').

Well, I'd love to know what your desktop set-up is. Because, I have a small armada of desktop dacs, amps, and combos (some considered at or near SOTA), and the KA11 is on par with all of them in terms of SQ. The last thing I would call the KA11 in comparison with those other units, is "slightly brittle & thin". If anything, it's the opposite.

 

[Phobian347]

Well, I'd love to know what your desktop set-up is. Because, I have a small armada of desktop dacs, amps, and combos (some considered at or near SOTA), and the KA11 is on par with all of them in terms of SQ. The last thing I would call the KA11 in comparison with those other units, is "slightly brittle & thin". If anything, it's the opposite.

Music stack is SMSL D400 Pro/H400 and gaming stack is SU-9/SH-9.