I'm only using dongles for IEMs. Wouldn't the Fiio be too powerful for these? Should I use some kind of resistors for IEM such as an iFi adapter?

He’s driving IEM’s that’s 10 ohm without any noise so you should be good with just the K7. I plan on driving mainly IEM’s and I’m not worried from specs and what I read here. Should be an awesome all rounder dac/amp.
Great comprehensive review. Got me sold.

@helloh3adfi some of these big DAC/AMP and DAP can reach deeper into lower volume than dongles. If I use Andromeda with my dongles, it would be too loud that I can use only 1 or 2% volume. Meanwhile, Fiio M11+ drives Andromeda at around 30-40 at mid gain, so there is a lot of volume range left to go up and down. My G5 has the same volume range. I have little doubt that it is the same case with K7. Subjectively, these powerful sources also make my sensitive IEMs sound better.

Alright let's try the Fiio because why not? But why did Dsnuts use high gain? Does it improve the dynamics?

@Dsnuts I didn't know you have sons in colleges. In my imagination, you are a lad in the final year at uni Great review, mate!

Even in high gain. Noise floor is crazy low. Barely any noise. Some of my IEMs are harder to drive than others. Testing out both low and high gain. With the K7 it sounds stupendous with good volumes. Its dynamism is just remarkable.

Excellent review for yet another FiiO home run

Is the K7 better than the K5Pro ESS when used for competitive gaming paired with a HD560s for positional accuracy?

Dont have the K5 pro to compare. Though I can tell you the K7 is just fantastic for gaming. I think gaming wise the K5pro should provide just a good of audio as the K7 but Fiio prices these things the way they do for a reason. I think when listening to music is where the K7 will be an upgrade. For gaming they should provide identical precision. I can see how the K7 with its THX amps will provide a more dimensional stage and better explosion effects but I doubt it will be a big upgrade on the K5 pro for positioning.

Here a happy owner of a K5 Pro Ess, and looking for a new DAC for my other desktop, I just ordered a K7 that will go along with the Wiim Mini as a streamer, maybe a negative point for my new configuration is that the optical input only reaches 24/96 while the wiim can deliver 24/192, although this difference I don't think is really audible.

I bet the sound quality will make up for that.

A very good and comprehensive review. It must have taken quite. while to get all of this done. testing, analysis and then the write-up plus photos.

Would you say the sound quality is different from the K5 Pro ESS , so big a difference it is worth the upgrade?

Several folks have asked that on the K7 thread. Fiio rep came in and stated he feels its an upgrade on the sound as a few folks that have both I believe. Fiio will be releasing their new K9 dac/amp soon. Something in between the K7 and the K9 pro. But I have a feeling the K9 will be much more expensive. possibly double the price of the K7. I would hold off till you see the announcement of the K9 and see what that is about.

Just as an update to my review here. YES I have purchased the K9 pro during Black Friday Sales. I blaime it on Fiio.

The only annoying thing about the K7 is there's no balanced line output.

I think they had to hold back on some features for their eventual K9 dac/amp. Reason why these are $200 and not $400.

looking forward to a comparison between the K7 and K9 Pro. How does the K7 stack up against the iDSD black label?

You can see my recent post here. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/fii...alance-dual-thx-aaa-xmos.927171/post-17279882 As compared to the black label, I would actually put the SQ level with the Signature more than the black label. It sounds more dynamic to my ears vs the Black label. I love my old black label and have been using that for a lot of my reviews but K7 is a bang for buck like you wouldn't believe. Fiio did a crazy good job with the K7.