Recommendation for DAC/AMP

[BLACKVEIL]

Hey all

I am interested in buying a DAC/AMP for gaming, music and movies
I was searching for a while and I might take the FIIO K11, But I don't know if i should take the R2R version or just the regular version?
and I don't know the difference between them.

Feel free to recommend a better DAC/AMP in the same price range

 

[Aryzon]

There is no difference between the 2 that you can hear. Normal K11 however might have a bug with optical connection where the volume will lower itself for 2 seconds periodically. I got one such unit unfortunately so make sure to test that.

 

[Ben Jenssen]

What speakers?

I'm very happy with my combination of the E30 II DAC and Mini 300 amp, both from Topping, to drive my Dynaudios. Powerful, clean sounding, and very inexpensive. And physically small.

 

[Babaich2005]

Hey all

I am interested in buying a DAC/AMP for gaming, music and movies
I was searching for a while and I might take the FIIO K11, But I don't know if i should take the R2R version or just the regular version?
and I don't know the difference between them.

Feel free to recommend a better DAC/AMP in the same price range

Already had quite a good experience with bluetooth transceiver fiio bta 30 pro, really good for the price. Recently decided to upgrade the internal dac in my receiver and bought Fiio 13 R2R for my arcam avr300 + AE radiance one. Very very disappointed. AE radiance due to high resolution perfectly show all imperfections. Sound quality is absolute garbage, poorer even compared to 20$ ddhifi, which makes realy good scene and bright highs with no listening fatigue, but lacks bass and emotion. OS mode sounds like cheap analog source with no scene, NOS mode sounds awful with no scene too and digital noises and overly bright highs, with ae radiance ears start bleeding after 5 minuts of listening. So I dont think fiio 11-13 is a good choice, i'd better look for some second-hand high-quality DAC like audioalchemy, MF MX-DAC, MS audio dac 1,0, arcam irdac and others + bluetooth transciever if not available. Ddhifi tc35m2 would be a really nice dac for 1/10 price of fiio 11/13 r2r with some limitations.

 

[BLACKVEIL]

There is no difference between the 2 that you can hear. Normal K11 however might have a bug with optical connection where the volume will lower itself for 2 seconds periodically. I got one such unit unfortunately so make sure to test that.

i might go with the standard then, I don’t use the optical cable so it all good i guess

 

[BLACKVEIL]

What speakers?

I'm very happy with my combination of the E30 II DAC and Mini 300 amp, both from Topping, to drive my Dynaudios. Powerful, clean sounding, and very inexpensive. And physically small.

I will use sennheiser HD560s.

Searched for your recommendation and it almost cost the double i have a nearly limited budget

 

[BLACKVEIL]

Already had quite a good experience with bluetooth transceiver fiio bta 30 pro, really good for the price. Recently decided to upgrade the internal dac in my receiver and bought Fiio 13 R2R for my arcam avr300 + AE radiance one. Very very disappointed. AE radiance due to high resolution perfectly show all imperfections. Sound quality is absolute garbage, poorer even compared to 20$ ddhifi, which makes realy good scene and bright highs with no listening fatigue, but lacks bass and emotion. OS mode sounds like cheap analog source with no scene, NOS mode sounds awful with no scene too and digital noises and overly bright highs, with ae radiance ears start bleeding after 5 minuts of listening. So I dont think fiio 11-13 is a good choice, i'd better look for some second-hand high-quality DAC like audioalchemy, MF MX-DAC, MS audio dac 1,0, arcam irdac and others + bluetooth transciever if not available. Ddhifi tc35m2 would be a really nice dac for 1/10 price of fiio 11/13 r2r with some limitations.

Is that a common problem or it was a bad luck?.

I was reading alot about k11 and most of the ppl recommend it, But they say there is some corrupted products and that what i am afraid from

i would really like a combo dac/amp i am really a beginner so i just want to plug and play.

 

[JSmith]

I was searching for a while and I might take the FIIO K11, But I don't know if i should take the R2R version or just the regular version?

Nah, don't get R2R, its obsolete... you will have better fidelity, audible or not.


JSmith

 

[BLACKVEIL]

Nah, don't get R2R, its obsolete... you will have better fidelity, audible or not.


JSmith

the standard is the choice then.

Thanks.

 

[Roland68]

Is that a common problem or it was a bad luck?.

I was reading alot about k11 and most of the ppl recommend it, But they say there is some corrupted products and that what i am afraid from

i would really like a combo dac/amp i am really a beginner so i just want to plug and play.

Alternatively, you could consider the Fosi K7. It received excellent reviews on ASR and is great for gaming, featuring a microphone input and many directly accessible functions.

It's a bit more expensive, but you can currently get it on AliExpress with a discount for €150.

 

[Babaich2005]

I will use sennheiser HD560s.

Searched for your recommendation and it almost cost the double i have a nearly limited budget

You may also try some loxjie products like d30 or d40, not d20. The are close to smsl, never listened to it, but should sound ok

 

[Roland68]

You may also try some loxjie products like d30 or d40, not d20. The are close to smsl, never listened to it, but should sound ok

The D30 has a far too weak headphone amplifier; there are dongles with significantly higher power output available, so it's not doing itself any favors.

The D40 isn't worth it anymore since the release of the Topping DX5 II, as its headphone amplifier is inferior and only offers a fraction of the power. The K11 and K7 are also considerably more powerful. The other measured values are also worse. Furthermore, the DX5 II has better features, including a parametric equalizer (PEQ).

The market has changed dramatically with the release of devices like the Fiio K11, Fosi Audio K7, and DX5 II, as these devices offer incredibly good value for money. Previously, at this price point, you could only get a DAC or a headphone amplifier with comparable performance.
It's difficult to find any compelling arguments for most other devices, except perhaps for aesthetics.

 

[Babaich2005]

the standard is the choice then.

Thanks.

Maybe smthg like aune X8 VIII? Nice sound, changeble OPs, bluetooth

 

[BLACKVEIL]

Alternatively, you could consider the Fosi K7. It received excellent reviews on ASR and is great for gaming, featuring a microphone input and many directly accessible functions.

It's a bit more expensive, but you can currently get it on AliExpress with a discount for €150.

I read about fosi k7
I don’t really need the mic input so not having it pay off sound quality

- in my country there is no discount i can only get it 180$

 

[BLACKVEIL]

Thank you all for the valuable information.

I probably going to get the FIIO K11.

 

[Babaich2005]

Thank you all for the valuable information.

I probably going to get the FIIO K11.

Good luck! Please feedback with listening experience

 

[BLACKVEIL]

Good luck! Please feedback with listening experience

I am going to order all the set in a week or two when I am free.
I'll share my experience immediately.

 

[Peterinvan]

Thank you all for the valuable information.

I probably going to get the FIIO K11.

I am very happy with my K11R2R ($200) feeding a Schiit Vali3 amp ($150).
I prefer OS mode, and use the Loki+ analogue tone controls (another $150) to satisfy my aging ears