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Looks like FiiO just dropped the K17 R2R.

AgarWave

AgarWave

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Audio Company
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As someone who believes that chasing DAC architectures is mostly audio snake oil once SINAD clears human hearing, I'm highly skeptical of the R2R hype.

Is there any actual engineering reason to upgrade to this unit? Does the K17 R2R offer significantly better amp power, features, or cleaner I/O to justify the price tag? Or are we just paying a marketing tax for a resistor ladder?
 
Nope. Yup.
I'm waiting for their fusion-powered DAC, featuring AI-controlled auto-delete of rubbish music, but meanwhile I'll listen to some good stuff.
 
bloomaudio.com

FiiO K17 R2R | Desktop DAC and Amp

The FiiO K17 R2R is an all-in-one DAC, headphone amplifier, and streamer, displaying a blend of retro elegence and modern technology.
bloomaudio.com bloomaudio.com

$950

apes a nagra
 
$1,140.00 Incl. VAT? - Hilarious.

We've had great products at terrific prices, but now China has realized that if you increase prices 4 or 5 fold, you can double your sales, because price=premium for many consumers.
 
TonyJZX said:
bloomaudio.com

FiiO K17 R2R | Desktop DAC and Amp

The FiiO K17 R2R is an all-in-one DAC, headphone amplifier, and streamer, displaying a blend of retro elegence and modern technology.
bloomaudio.com bloomaudio.com

$950

apes a nagra
Click to expand...
I like the wood side panels. Not for €950, but there are plenty of people who seem to like the lower end versions.

EDIT:
fiio-0-k17r2r-thumb.webp
 
Last edited:
That's a pretty cool device. Pair it with decent powered speakers and you have a nice bedroom system. Will be interested in seeing how it measure. Knowing FiiO, probably fairly well. It needs VU meters to compliment the retro aesthetic.

Martin
 
I perceive care went into creating the aesthetic of the front panel - a mix of segregation and unity. The visual difference in the sizes of headphone jacks on the Silver variant is mitigated with the use of Black around the smaller jacks.

I like FiiO's aesthetic of adding side panels in wood. I don't know, but I think it would not add much to the cost - considering similar is offered in lower-cost gear from FiiO. Perhaps wood side panels will be to FiiO what the 'orange knob' is to Fosi Audio.

The price is beyond my budget.

Otherwise, I would be looking to find a member willing to swap their panels so I could own one in Dark Wood over Silver. :)
 
Power Pop 23 said:
I perceive care went into creating the aesthetic of the front panel - a mix of segregation and unity. The visual difference in the sizes of headphone jacks on the Silver variant is mitigated with the use of Black around the smaller jacks.

I like FiiO's aesthetic of adding side panels in wood. I don't know, but I think it would not add much to the cost - considering similar is offered in lower-cost gear from FiiO. Perhaps wood side panels will be to FiiO what the 'orange knob' is to Fosi Audio.

The price is beyond my budget.

Otherwise, I would be looking to find a member willing to swap their panels so I could own one in Dark Wood over Silver. :)
Click to expand...
Wood is a nice touch indeed. Everyone into synthesizers knows that (even fake) wooden side panels add warmth and make even digital synths sound vintage and organic. I guess the same is true for a DAC.
 
My amp has swappable side panels; it came with both wood and textured metal and others are available.
I was too scared to argue with my wife when she stated the wood was right. But then she bought me the whole system so I mustn't grumble.
 
It's a very attractive looking piece of equipment tbf. I obviously won't be buying, but I can understand the appeal of it. Even if it's not SOTA, due to my 53 year old ears, I wouldn't hear any difference.
 
Rolling this topic out at ASR by denouncing right off the bat 1) R2R hype, 2) aping Nagra, 3) AB headphone amplification, and 4) the futility of SOTA sonics in light of decrepit old-people hearing (53 is old?!) all seems… a tad churlish?

:oops:

Makes me hope Amir reviews it glowingly and it passes with flying colors, but we’ll see.

I love the look of it.
 
Power Pop 23 said:
I perceive care went into creating the aesthetic of the front panel - a mix of segregation and unity. The visual difference in the sizes of headphone jacks on the Silver variant is mitigated with the use of Black around the smaller jacks.

I like FiiO's aesthetic of adding side panels in wood. I don't know, but I think it would not add much to the cost - considering similar is offered in lower-cost gear from FiiO. Perhaps wood side panels will be to FiiO what the 'orange knob' is to Fosi Audio.

The price is beyond my budget.

Otherwise, I would be looking to find a member willing to swap their panels so I could own one in Dark Wood over Silver. :)
Click to expand...
I won't lie, I do love the retro industrial look and the wood panels. FiiO nailed the aesthetics here. But for me, buying a desktop unit is about the engineering inside. If I just wanted a nice-looking piece for the bedroom, there are much cheaper ways to get a good chassis without paying the massive R2R premium. Give me this exact same shell with a standard, transparent ES9038/9039 board inside for $400, and I'd probably buy it today.
 
HalSF said:
Rolling this topic out at ASR by denouncing right off the bat 1) R2R hype, 2) aping Nagra, 3) AB headphone amplification, and 4) the futility of SOTA sonics in light of decrepit old-people hearing (53 is old?!) all seems… a tad churlish?

:oops:

Makes me hope Amir reviews it glowingly and it passes with flying colors, but we’ll see.

I love the look of it.
Click to expand...
Fair enough, but to be clear, I only kicked things off by questioning the R2R premium and asking for measurements

I don't think it's churlish to ask for objective engineering data on a $1,000 device in a science-based audio forum. If Amir measures it and it passes with flying colors, I'll be the first to applaud FiiO for engineering a clean R2R implementation. But until we see those AP graphs, questioning the "hype tax" is just standard due diligence here.

I am completely with you on the aesthetics, though. It genuinely looks fantastic. I just want the performance under the hood to match the price tag.
 
I actually have a huge soft spot for those wooden side panels, even if the 70s stuff was mostly just vinyl over particle board. There's a certain visual warmth and character to it that a lot of modern black-box gear is completely missing. I’d love to see today’s manufacturers combine that classic vintage wood aesthetic with the pristine SINAD measurements we get from modern Hi-Fi like wiim or Fosi. That would be an absolute endgame setup for my living room.
 
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Y'all can cut and finish a couple of nice hardwood boards, you know?

I will agree that the mainstream Japanese hifi makers of the 1970s were impressively adept at making faux wood look more real than their real wood. Compare the Yamahas (or Pioneers) I could afford then with the better ones (e.g., a Yamaha CA-610II and CA-2010). The real wood doesn't look as nice as the artificial stuff. :eek:

Not sure I have any handy photos that make comparison easy, though. :(
 
mhardy6647 said:
Y'all can cut and finish a couple of nice hardwood boards, you know?

I will agree that the mainstream Japanese hifi makers of the 1970s were impressively adept at making faux wood look more real than their real wood. Compare the Yamahas (or Pioneers) I could afford then with the better ones (e.g., a Yamaha CA-610II and CA-2010). The real wood doesn't look as nice as the artificial stuff. :eek:

Not sure I have any handy photos that make comparison easy, though. :(
Click to expand...
1976 Yamaha CS-80, one of the most prized flagships of all times, goes for 50-100 kilodollars in working condition. Look, what's that on the sides...
21391.jpg

At least it's one knob per function :D
 
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