It is said that we ‘eat with our eyes.’ Do we listen along with them? People seem to care a lot about how their audio products look, which makes Fiio’s KA11 a delicious aural dish that will satisfy your craving for Hi-Res audio.
Sure, you can get Apple’s 3.5mm-to-light/USB-C dongle for around $9, but as your tastes and headphone or IEM collection grows, it may not be enough to power your new toy, so you’ll need the $29 KA11.
Fiio KA11: Pricing and Availability
The KA11 is available for $29 through that site and Amazon.com. It comes in two colors – black and a fun silver and teal combo – and if you have a phone older than the iPhone 15, you can choose between a USB-C or Lightning connector.
Excluding the Apple Lightning or USB-C dongle, which sells for $9, this is one of the cheapest DACs on the market and the most powerful DAC in this price range.
Fiio KA11: fabrication and installation
Fiio’s KA11 weighs just 8.5 grams and is built with high-quality components for a $29 price point. The DAC’s body is constructed of aluminum-magnesium alloy, so you don’t have to worry about stuffing your EDC items into your favorite bag on the way out the door.
The cables that carry the sound are similarly well-maintained and durable. The exterior is wrapped in a layer of silicone with braided fabric and consists of high-purity oxygen-free palladium-plated copper wire that runs between the selected connector and the DAC.
The cables feature rubber or silicone connector caps for overall durability, and the connectors themselves don’t feel loose when connected or disconnected. The connection at both ends is tight, and the 3.5mm headphone connector makes a satisfying click when connected.
Fiio KA11: Features
The KA11’s most powerful feature (pun intended) is its power supply, which powers some of the most sensitive planar magnetic headphones I own. The single-ended 3.5 mm port delivers up to 245 mW per channel into 16 Ω and 200 mW into 32 Ω. The Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chip decodes DSD256 and up to 384kHz/32-bit files via PCM. The SG-Micro SGM8262 amplifier features internally to drive thirsty IEMs.
The LED on the end of the 3.5mm port on the dongle body indicates the sampling rate. DSD decoding gets a green light, while tracks above or below 48kHz get a yellow or blue light respectively.
The good news is that you can control the LEDs and digital filters through the FIIO Control app. The bad news is that it’s only on Android.
Fiio KA11: Sound quality
Now let’s talk about the most important aspect of the KA11: the sound. I’ve listened to the KA11 with several over-ear headphones and IEMs, and was impressed with its ability to drive a pair of $29 HiFiMan HE4XX planar magnetic headphones. My iPhone 15 Pro Max only needs to be turned up to 75% of maximum for a comfortable listening experience. My Campfire Audio Mammoth IEMs are very sensitive, and the KA11, with its best-in-class output, handled them expertly. The output of the KA11 means that a comfortable listening level is about 15% of maximum. Sennheiser’s $1,500 IE900 IEMs were a joy to experience with the KA11, and only require you to turn them up to 33% of the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s maximum volume.
Okay, technically those notes were about power, not sound. The KA11 has a well-balanced sound profile. There’s a bit of warmth through the mids, but vocals shine and bass and sub-bass are enjoyable elements of the sonic feast without overpowering the other “flavor notes.” The soundstage isn’t the widest of any DAC I’ve experienced, but it’s big enough that airy tracks don’t feel constricted.
Fiio KA11: Competition
Some DACs on Amazon compete on price with the KA11, but the $30 unit doesn’t compete on power output or performance. The output of this DAC rivals products that can cost hundreds of dollars more.
So does Fiio KA11 have any competitors? The short answer is no.
Fiio KA11: Should I Buy?
If you need to buy Fiio KA11…
- Cost is a major purchasing consideration.
- You have headphones or IEMs that consume a lot of power.
- Do you want an EDC DAC that you can carry in your bag?
- If you’re new to high-resolution or lossless mobile audio
You should not purchase Fiio KA11 if:
- I have a budget to spend $100-$300.
If you want a powerful DAC that won’t overwhelm your bank account balance, look no further. That’s it for now. It’s a complete stop. Fiio’s KA11 is a USB-C or Lightning connected DAC that can drive most headphones or IEMs in the stable, while providing a sound profile that’s balanced enough to not add unnecessary color to the listening experience.
Once you enter the audiophile realm, there are many areas to spend your discretionary income on, but it’s not necessarily necessary to begin with. Focus on the cost of your headphones or IEMs first, then sit back and enjoy the KA11.
High quality, easy on the wallet
Fiio’s KA11 is an unexpectedly powerful and small round DAC. It should power any connected IEMs or thirsty headphones. This is a great starter program for those who want access to Apple Lossless.
