R2R DACs are on a roll- New Fiio K13 R2R Balanced DAC

[fatoldgit]

I don't like the idea that you need a remote app (via bluetooth) to configure the PEQ with the Fiio Control app (ios and android only)

They state they have a web app but it only allows PEQ on the USB input.

Looks like a recipe for an unsupported app at some point.

This seems to be the general way to setup PEQ on most Fiio devices that have PEQ.

For someone like me (admittedly in the minority) that has no windows, android or ios devices inhouse (and never will) I much prefer a device that supports a command line edited config file or a web interface or a front panel setup.

They mention "autoeq" but don't see a mic input so I assume it's a kludge via a phone mic?

I have to assume PEQ works for the analogue outs and not just the headphone jack?

Peter

 

[robbiekhan]

This is indeed a fully digital streamer, around 100€, has a coax out, a remote and a volume knob which makes it the cheapest solution (and a pretty neat one) to feed monitor speakers with a digital plug. I'm probably gonna pull the trigger for this one at some point.

That's not what that is, it's a linear power supply as someone already mentioned. Where are you seeing a folume dial on the stock images with the device under the K13 R2R? It just has a power button and shows a 12 reading, indicating 12 volts like the brand's other external linear power supplies.

My K13 R2R should be arriving tomorrow.

 

[Karmacoma]

That's not what that is, it's a linear power supply as someone already mentioned. Where are you seeing a folume dial on the stock images with the device under the K13 R2R? It just has a power button and shows a 12 reading, indicating 12 volts like the brand's other external linear power supplies.

My K13 R2R should be arriving tomorrow.

My bad I thought it was the combo Fiio K11 + Fiio SR11.
Here's the Fiio SR11 streamer 99€ without dac

And here's the combo

 

[m.jithu]

That's not what that is, it's a linear power supply as someone already mentioned. Where are you seeing a folume dial on the stock images with the device under the K13 R2R? It just has a power button and shows a 12 reading, indicating 12 volts like the brand's other external linear power supplies.

My K13 R2R should be arriving tomorrow.

Really excited to hear your thoughts!

 

[Mnyb]

just like your comments

care to explain before i press the report button ? JSmith is very knowledgeable and just made a technically correct comment about how these things works.

NOS mode often comes without a proper reconstruction filter , without it the DAC does not really funktion properly the filter is a part of what makes a DAC a DAC it cant properly reconstruct the signal from the raw data without a filter , its just how it works.

Most DAC chips today uses DS as it is more cost effective to get the performance you want and is technically superior in some aspect especially linearity ( the most important factor ? ) R2R is simply just obsolete even if can be made to work really good with some effort but why ?

 

[JSmith]

just like your comments

... what @Mnyb said.


JSmith

 

[voodooless]

View attachment 475994

... what @Mnyb said.


JSmith

I like your comments just fine

 

[mermayer]

My setup currently consists of an iPad AIR M3 connected via USB to an RME ADI-2 DAC. Apple Music runs on the iPad, which outputs bit-perfect audio. When I use cross fading and the next song has a different sample rate, there is a dropout in the audio output because the DAC has to adjust the sample rate.
Can this be avoided with a FiiO R2R in OS mode?

 

[voodooless]

Can this be avoided with a FiiO R2R in OS mode?

No. Any DAC would need to switch, no matter the technology used. Some may be a bit faster than others, but they will al have a short dropout.

 

[robbiekhan]

Delivery day is today, anyone else got one through yet?

 

[fredreadrick]

Seems like there's an extra "USB IN" type c port at the front of the left side, but no particular mentioning of this in the specs etc.
Pretty clever actually - for quickly connecting a mobile phone or computer without having to reach for the back.

Can be used both for decoding but when connected simultaneously, rear is disabled.
*from manual.

 

[robbiekhan]

Yes only one USB port can be used at once.

Thoughts are that it is very good, the sound is improved on the K11 R2R which was expected given the better amplifier and power supply. Using it as a pre-amp is a wider soundstage experience too .

You cannot apply a PEQ to individual outputs, it's global, but you can quickly cycle through the EQ stored slots with the remote and there are 10 user slots so you can create an EQ for speakers too, just remember to note down what EQ is in what slot as slots cannot be renamed.

A headphone database exists for target curves by the way and the PEQ interface is best experienced via the web browser app which works really well.

The sound both through headphones and as a pre-amp is close enough to the X9 that I could use the K13 as my only desktop unit if the X9 ever failed and not feel like I am missing a whole load of detail. The X9 has way more features and other refinements even in the sound, but it costs a whole lot more too.

There is no noise floor audible at any gain or volume on any output either, but the front headphone jacks are not isolated during jack insertion so there is some static as the pins short, and you have to manually switch over to headphones out as there is no jack detection just like on the K11.

Overall I am impressed.

 

[pieterv1]

Thanks for sharing your experience! Seems like together with the Topping DX5 II we now have two super competent offerings with balanced outputs and a headphone amplifier, right below the €300 mark and I'm all here for it

 

[robbiekhan]

I actually preferred the more open and musical sound from the K13 vs the DX5 II but that's my own sound preference, just seemed that with Hifiman planars the R2R suits better and has wider soundstage than what I experienced with the Topping.

 

[JSmith]

sound preference

This is done by EQ and tone controls... not by changing DAC's. You're worrying about the wrong component.


JSmith

 

[robbiekhan]

No, I do not have EQ or any DSP controls enabled when using my Hifimans, so has nothing to do with EQ. What I refer to is purely on hardware tuning as a whole, not just the DAC, which is just a single part of the overall picture.

The DX5 II fatigued me on long sessions, the K13 R2R does not, it's as simple as that.

 

[JSmith]

hardware tuning

Please... elaborate, if you want to continue this line.


JSmith

 

[robbiekhan]

It sounds like you are saying all amps sound the same, this is categorically not true.

Discreet/IC components, OpAmps, power supplies, manufacturer specific tuning for a "house sound" etc all factor in, the DAC is just one part of the overall sound, what part was difficult?

 

[Svend P]

It sounds like you are saying all amps sound the same, this is categorically not true.

Discreet/IC components, OpAmps, power supplies, manufacturer specific tuning for a "house sound" etc all factor in, the DAC is just one part of the overall sound, what part was difficult?

They all sound the same. People have not been able to tell the difference in blind tests

'How can DAC's have a SOUND SIGNATURE if they measure as transparent?'

Oct 4, 2019

I know there are people out there that think cables affect sound, which is much worse, but there really is no response to something like that, but just to smile and nod. But what about people who talk about DACS as if they were headphone drivers or speakers, and talk about the SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING, and MIDRANGE of a DAC? I actually don't know what to say to people to not be rude. If you try explaining that a DAC isn't something that actually changes the sound, they accuse you of having "a hard-on for measurements", as if it were the measurements themselves that tell you that DACs don't...

• Willhelm_Scream
• Replies: 10,921
• Forum: DACs, Streamers, Servers, Players, Audio Interface

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[earlevel]

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS​

• Fully-differential 24-bit R2R DAC with 192 precision resistors

Sorry, but how did they match the resistors to 0.00001% for 24-bit resolution?