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Fiio KA11
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Fiio KA11
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>>I am brazilian and I speak portuguese, so forgive my english, I’ll use translation tools to help<<
INTRO:
If you’re looking for a solution to connect your earphone to your smatphone, the answer is here! Yes, forget about Apple’s dongle, because the FiiO KA11 has burst onto the market!
It’s no secret that FiiO has several DACs & Amplifiers that are synonymous with excellent cost-effectiveness. Today, let’s analyze the recently released entry-level dongle from the company.
Attention: The KA11 is selling like water in the desert, and it’s possible that the product may be sold out in the official store. A little patience might be needed until the stocks are replenished.
Price: $29,99 USD
Color: Midnight Black / Sunrise Silver
FiiO reviews: FH3, KA1, HS18 (in portuguese), JD7, KA5, FD11, Q11, M11S (in english)
FIIO LINKS:
https://www.jadeaudio.com/XC2?product_id=71&_l=en
SPECIFICATIONS:
– Brand: Dual brand- FIIO/JadeAudio
– Product name: Portable DAC/Amp (USB dongle)
– Product model: KA11
– USB chip: SAVITECH SA9312L
– DAC chip: CIRRUS LOGIC CS43131
– Op-amp chip: SGMICRO SGM8262
– System support: Android/IOS/Windows/Mac
– Decoding support: Supports up to PCM384kHz/32bit, DSD256
– Input: Type-C or Lightning
– Output: 3.5mm single-ended
– Output power:
L+R≥200mW+200mW (32Ω, THD+N<1%, USB IN)
L+R≥245mW+245mW (16Ω, THD+N<1%, USB IN)
– SNR: ≥125dB (32Ω, A-weighted)
– THD+N: <0.0006% (0dB, 32Ω), <0.0003% (0dB, 300Ω)
– Noise floor: About 1.7uV A-weighted
– Other functions: RGB light indicates corresponding sampling rate
– UAC 2.0 e UAC 1.0
– Material: Aluminum-magnesium alloy
– Dongle dimension: 11.3cm (edge to edge)
– Dongle weight: 8.5g
– Total weight (packaging, dongle, etc): 47.6g
– Packaging size: 16cm [L] x 6.5cm [W] x 2cm [D]
DEVICES USED:
– Kiwi Ears Quintet
– Shozy Form 1.1
– Tin HiFi P1
– FiiO M11S
– AUNE Yuki
– MotoZ3Play
– Samsung S22U
– Dell Inspiron (W10)
UNBOXING:
PHYSICAL ASPECTS:
It’s no secret that FiiO has several DACs & Amplifiers that are synonymous with excellent cost-effectiveness. Today, let’s analyze the recently released entry-level dongle from the company.
Attention: The KA11 is selling like water in the desert, and it’s possible that the product may be sold out in the official store. A little patience might be needed until the stocks are replenished.
Price: $29,99 USD
Color: Midnight Black / Sunrise Silver
FiiO reviews: FH3, KA1, HS18 (in portuguese), JD7, KA5, FD11, Q11, M11S (in english)
FIIO LINKS:
https://www.jadeaudio.com/XC2?product_id=71&_l=en
SPECIFICATIONS:
– Brand: Dual brand- FIIO/JadeAudio
– Product name: Portable DAC/Amp (USB dongle)
– Product model: KA11
– USB chip: SAVITECH SA9312L
– DAC chip: CIRRUS LOGIC CS43131
– Op-amp chip: SGMICRO SGM8262
– System support: Android/IOS/Windows/Mac
– Decoding support: Supports up to PCM384kHz/32bit, DSD256
– Input: Type-C or Lightning
– Output: 3.5mm single-ended
– Output power:
L+R≥200mW+200mW (32Ω, THD+N<1%, USB IN)
L+R≥245mW+245mW (16Ω, THD+N<1%, USB IN)
– SNR: ≥125dB (32Ω, A-weighted)
– THD+N: <0.0006% (0dB, 32Ω), <0.0003% (0dB, 300Ω)
– Noise floor: About 1.7uV A-weighted
– Other functions: RGB light indicates corresponding sampling rate
– UAC 2.0 e UAC 1.0
– Material: Aluminum-magnesium alloy
– Dongle dimension: 11.3cm (edge to edge)
– Dongle weight: 8.5g
– Total weight (packaging, dongle, etc): 47.6g
– Packaging size: 16cm [L] x 6.5cm [W] x 2cm [D]
DEVICES USED:
– Kiwi Ears Quintet
– Shozy Form 1.1
– Tin HiFi P1
– FiiO M11S
– AUNE Yuki
– MotoZ3Play
– Samsung S22U
– Dell Inspiron (W10)
UNBOXING:
PHYSICAL ASPECTS:
Construction: Here we have the classic type of dongle with both ends connected by a non-detachable cable. The product is entirely coated with an aluminum & magnesium alloy, while the cable is made of a nylon-like material (paracord). It’s a simple dongle, designed for portability, featuring only a single 3.5mm output. This style is most common for those who simply want to plug in their earphones to the smartphones and go. In this regard, the KA11 is excellent because it’s lightweight and compact.
In terms of durability, I found the KA11 to be very well-made, and I wouldn’t worry about the fixed cable. I still see many people in communities who are concerned when a dongle has a fixed cable, and in the past, I shared that concern. However, since I review the iFi GO link, my opinion has changed. Nowadays, the quality of the products are much better than in the past, and of course, we’re also talking about companies with more elaborate Quality Control.
Today, I think the only benefit of a detachable cable is if you need a longer cable to connect to a computer or if you genuinely dislike the color or material the product offers. But other than that, for use solely with mobile phones, I believe having a fixed cable is even better because it reduces the number of contact points, which we know can lead to complications if not done very well.
Some people also worry a lot about this type of dongle because it directly connects to the USB-C port on the smartphone, and they fear damaging the device. Throughout my audio journey, I’ve evaluated various dongles, and I can confidently say that I still have the same smartphone I had before starting this journey. The smartphone still here, and I’ve never had any issues with the USB-C port. The current dongles I’ve tested all fit securely, without any slack, just like the KA11, the scope of this review.
Something I noticed when disconnecting the IEMs from the 3.5mm output is that I needed to apply some force to perform that action. That said, you need to hold the dongle to prevent it from detaching from the USB-C port on the smartphone. In summary, the 3.5mm output of the KA11 is quite tight.
The dongle features an RGB LED right next to the “FiiO” name. The LED colors represent the sampling rates: Blue – PCM below 48kHz; Yellow – PCM above 48kHz; Green – DSD. The device supports PCM 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256. I use FLAC files at 16-bit/44.1/48kHz and common music streaming services like Spotify and YouTube.
FiiO Control App:
As you can see from the screenshots, the App has limited functions for the KA11. It allows you to adjust the LED configuration, switch between UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0 modes, and modify digital filters. According to the company, the App only works on Android devices. If you choose the Lightning version, will be compatible with Apple devices, you only won’t have access to the FiiO Control App.
PS: It seems that an earlier version of the App (v3.18) had a volume control feature, but the current version (v3.19) has removed this functionality.
USB Audio Class: The KA11 supports both UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0 compatibility. UAC is the protocol used by USB ports to handle high-resolution audio files. UAC 1.0 can handle PCM files up to 24 bits/96 kHz, while UAC 2.0 can handle larger files, such as PCM 32 bits/384 kHz (superior) or DSD256 files. This can be useful for devices that require specific compatibility, such as the Nintendo Switch.
As for battery consumption through the 3.5mm output, using the Kiwi Ear Quintet, the battery usage was 15%. The smartphone I used had a 3.000mAh battery. The test involved 1 hour of playback with the screen off and Wi-Fi disabled (airplane mode). The volume was set to level 8 out of 15 available on Android.
I also made a test with the Tin P1. In this case, I used a balanced 4.4mm cable in my P1, but I have an adapter from DD HiFi, the DJ44C MK2 model, which converts from 4.4mm to 3.5mm (losing the balanced connection but enabling the use of IEM with the 3.5mm output). The battery consumption with the Tin P1 was 13%. I followed the same procedure as the test with the Quintet, The only difference was adjusting the volume to 13 and playing another album. Interestingly, the consumption remained lower than in the initial test, even with the volume set higher. However, as always, these numbers aren’t 100% precise, they serve as a rough estimate.
Heating test: Before measuring battery consumption, I plugged the KA11 into my computer and listened to “The Smiths – Singles (1995)“. I didn’t even need to finish the album and the dongle was already quite warm. I used it at only 16% volume with the Shozy Form 1.1 (an easy-to-drive IEM). What I think about this product heating: It heats up a lot, that’s a fact, but it’s nothing absurd. The small contact area means you can hold the dongle without discomfort, it doesn’t get hot enough to cause any harm.
One drawback of the KA11 is that it doesn’t come with a USB-C to USB-A adapter for computers. This limitation affects older computers or devices that still use the USB-A port, which is still quite common. While you can purchase this adapter separately, it would have been more convenient if the company had included it with the product. Fortunately, I had an adapter that came with my AUNE Yuki, allowing me to test the KA11 on my computer as well.
On the computer, the KA11 was immediately recognized, and I didn’t need to install any drivers. The volume scale on the computer adjusts in 2% increments when scrolling with the mouse wheel, but you can also fine-tune it by using the mouse arrow. Till the moment, the dongle has not received any firmware updates. You can find a Q&A, driver downloads (if needed), the app download, and the equipment manual in the following link: https://www.jadeaudio.com/details?article_id=173&_l=en
EDIT: A new firmware is available here: https://forum.fiio.com/note/showNoteContent.do?id=202403061706174125325&tid=77
Another point of criticism for the product is that, according to the company, the KA11 doesn’t support microphones. Therefore, you won’t be able to answer calls using the dongle. Additionally, it doesn’t support SPDIF line-out
SOUND ASPECTS:
In terms of durability, I found the KA11 to be very well-made, and I wouldn’t worry about the fixed cable. I still see many people in communities who are concerned when a dongle has a fixed cable, and in the past, I shared that concern. However, since I review the iFi GO link, my opinion has changed. Nowadays, the quality of the products are much better than in the past, and of course, we’re also talking about companies with more elaborate Quality Control.
Today, I think the only benefit of a detachable cable is if you need a longer cable to connect to a computer or if you genuinely dislike the color or material the product offers. But other than that, for use solely with mobile phones, I believe having a fixed cable is even better because it reduces the number of contact points, which we know can lead to complications if not done very well.
Some people also worry a lot about this type of dongle because it directly connects to the USB-C port on the smartphone, and they fear damaging the device. Throughout my audio journey, I’ve evaluated various dongles, and I can confidently say that I still have the same smartphone I had before starting this journey. The smartphone still here, and I’ve never had any issues with the USB-C port. The current dongles I’ve tested all fit securely, without any slack, just like the KA11, the scope of this review.
Something I noticed when disconnecting the IEMs from the 3.5mm output is that I needed to apply some force to perform that action. That said, you need to hold the dongle to prevent it from detaching from the USB-C port on the smartphone. In summary, the 3.5mm output of the KA11 is quite tight.
The dongle features an RGB LED right next to the “FiiO” name. The LED colors represent the sampling rates: Blue – PCM below 48kHz; Yellow – PCM above 48kHz; Green – DSD. The device supports PCM 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256. I use FLAC files at 16-bit/44.1/48kHz and common music streaming services like Spotify and YouTube.
FiiO Control App:
As you can see from the screenshots, the App has limited functions for the KA11. It allows you to adjust the LED configuration, switch between UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0 modes, and modify digital filters. According to the company, the App only works on Android devices. If you choose the Lightning version, will be compatible with Apple devices, you only won’t have access to the FiiO Control App.
PS: It seems that an earlier version of the App (v3.18) had a volume control feature, but the current version (v3.19) has removed this functionality.
USB Audio Class: The KA11 supports both UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0 compatibility. UAC is the protocol used by USB ports to handle high-resolution audio files. UAC 1.0 can handle PCM files up to 24 bits/96 kHz, while UAC 2.0 can handle larger files, such as PCM 32 bits/384 kHz (superior) or DSD256 files. This can be useful for devices that require specific compatibility, such as the Nintendo Switch.
As for battery consumption through the 3.5mm output, using the Kiwi Ear Quintet, the battery usage was 15%. The smartphone I used had a 3.000mAh battery. The test involved 1 hour of playback with the screen off and Wi-Fi disabled (airplane mode). The volume was set to level 8 out of 15 available on Android.
I also made a test with the Tin P1. In this case, I used a balanced 4.4mm cable in my P1, but I have an adapter from DD HiFi, the DJ44C MK2 model, which converts from 4.4mm to 3.5mm (losing the balanced connection but enabling the use of IEM with the 3.5mm output). The battery consumption with the Tin P1 was 13%. I followed the same procedure as the test with the Quintet, The only difference was adjusting the volume to 13 and playing another album. Interestingly, the consumption remained lower than in the initial test, even with the volume set higher. However, as always, these numbers aren’t 100% precise, they serve as a rough estimate.
Heating test: Before measuring battery consumption, I plugged the KA11 into my computer and listened to “The Smiths – Singles (1995)“. I didn’t even need to finish the album and the dongle was already quite warm. I used it at only 16% volume with the Shozy Form 1.1 (an easy-to-drive IEM). What I think about this product heating: It heats up a lot, that’s a fact, but it’s nothing absurd. The small contact area means you can hold the dongle without discomfort, it doesn’t get hot enough to cause any harm.
One drawback of the KA11 is that it doesn’t come with a USB-C to USB-A adapter for computers. This limitation affects older computers or devices that still use the USB-A port, which is still quite common. While you can purchase this adapter separately, it would have been more convenient if the company had included it with the product. Fortunately, I had an adapter that came with my AUNE Yuki, allowing me to test the KA11 on my computer as well.
On the computer, the KA11 was immediately recognized, and I didn’t need to install any drivers. The volume scale on the computer adjusts in 2% increments when scrolling with the mouse wheel, but you can also fine-tune it by using the mouse arrow. Till the moment, the dongle has not received any firmware updates. You can find a Q&A, driver downloads (if needed), the app download, and the equipment manual in the following link: https://www.jadeaudio.com/details?article_id=173&_l=en
EDIT: A new firmware is available here: https://forum.fiio.com/note/showNoteContent.do?id=202403061706174125325&tid=77
Another point of criticism for the product is that, according to the company, the KA11 doesn’t support microphones. Therefore, you won’t be able to answer calls using the dongle. Additionally, it doesn’t support SPDIF line-out
SOUND ASPECTS:
It’s important to remember that this analysis is subjective, based on my experience with the product and its synergy with other equipment I’ve used. I’ll also mention that the more objectivist part of this hobby aren’t quite my beach, so some information might be limited, I’m not an expert in the technical side of this type of product.
About the audio quality of the FiiO KA11 dongle, I think it’s at an excellent level. The KA11 comes equipped with the Cirrus Logic DAC chip, specifically the CS43131 model. Throughout the time I tested the product, the KA11 consistently demonstrated its competence, providing a sound that is 100% transparent, clean, and well-defined. I didn’t notice any distortion, coloration, background noise, or strange sounds. As it’s solely a 3.5mm DAC/AMP, it doesn’t have a balanced system.
Amplification: Here, the KA11 truly impressed me, both when connected to my smartphone and my notebook. Using the Kiwi Ears Quintet and the Shozy Form 1.1 (both easy-to-drive headphones) the KA11 proved to be a robust dongle. I compared it to the AUNE Yuki and the M11S. Among the three, the KA11 emerged as the clear winner. Of course, this is a subjective analysis, and it’s hard to precisely quantify how each one can be “better” than the other. When directly comparing the KA11 to the AUNE Yuki through the 3.5mm output at the same volume level, the KA11 exhibited a stronger and more dynamic sound. However, comparing it to the M11S was trickier due to the DAP’s 120-step volume configuration, which scales significantly toward the upper end. To achieve a balance in terms of sound and power, I set the KA11 to volume 9 on Android, while the M11S was at volume 95 (out of 120). I usually use the M11S at 80 for volume.
With the Tin P1, I think everyone will ask: can it drive the P1? Well, honestly, I found that it could, but I admit I’ve had better experiences with the P1. For instance, with the FiiO KA5 or the Questyle M15, although in both cases, I connected the P1 to the balanced 4.4mm output, which is not the case with the KA11. With the P1, I needed to set the volume between 13 and 15 out of the 15 available on Android.
I even increased the volume up to the maximum with the P1, and the KA11 didn’t clipping (distort). I consider this a positive point for the dongle, especially since other products distorted at maximum volume (even products more expensive than the KA11). As for the Kiwi Ears Quintet, I didn’t test it at maximum volume, the IEM would have been too loud, and I didn’t want to risk my hearing. The KA11 has plenty of power, I believe it can drive 99% of the IEMs on the market.
Digital filters: These filters are commonly found in DACs, but I confess I’ve never noticed any difference between them. I think it’s a feature provided by the chip, and companies often include it as an extra feature. When I discuss this with other friends in the hobby, none of them claim to perceive any difference either.
Comparing the KA11, the M11S, and the Yuki, I believe the KA11 leans more toward to a warm sound signature, while the M11S sounds more neutral, and the Yuki is cold. Of course, these differences are subtle, and it’s entirely possible that I fell victim to a placebo effect at some point. These are distinct products, each with specific components for signal amplification. Naturally, my conclusion is based solely on comparing one device to another, it doesn’t mean one is “cold,” another is “warm,” or “neutral,” especially when tested individually.
Today, I can confidently say that among the 3.5mm output dongles I’ve tested, the KA11 provides the best sense of performance. Considering other factors like build quality, design, and more, it ranks at the top in terms of cost-effectiveness. It’s certainly not perfect, but honestly, starting the hobby and being able to enjoy equipment like this, there’s nothing to complain about, it’s going to be the definitive dongle for a lot of people. Not long ago, I recommended the iFi GO link as an entry-level choice, but now I believe the FiiO KA11 has taken its place.
Thank you so much for being here! \o/
Consider follow us on Instagram to get all the news!
Also our YouTube Channel.
About the audio quality of the FiiO KA11 dongle, I think it’s at an excellent level. The KA11 comes equipped with the Cirrus Logic DAC chip, specifically the CS43131 model. Throughout the time I tested the product, the KA11 consistently demonstrated its competence, providing a sound that is 100% transparent, clean, and well-defined. I didn’t notice any distortion, coloration, background noise, or strange sounds. As it’s solely a 3.5mm DAC/AMP, it doesn’t have a balanced system.
Amplification: Here, the KA11 truly impressed me, both when connected to my smartphone and my notebook. Using the Kiwi Ears Quintet and the Shozy Form 1.1 (both easy-to-drive headphones) the KA11 proved to be a robust dongle. I compared it to the AUNE Yuki and the M11S. Among the three, the KA11 emerged as the clear winner. Of course, this is a subjective analysis, and it’s hard to precisely quantify how each one can be “better” than the other. When directly comparing the KA11 to the AUNE Yuki through the 3.5mm output at the same volume level, the KA11 exhibited a stronger and more dynamic sound. However, comparing it to the M11S was trickier due to the DAP’s 120-step volume configuration, which scales significantly toward the upper end. To achieve a balance in terms of sound and power, I set the KA11 to volume 9 on Android, while the M11S was at volume 95 (out of 120). I usually use the M11S at 80 for volume.
With the Tin P1, I think everyone will ask: can it drive the P1? Well, honestly, I found that it could, but I admit I’ve had better experiences with the P1. For instance, with the FiiO KA5 or the Questyle M15, although in both cases, I connected the P1 to the balanced 4.4mm output, which is not the case with the KA11. With the P1, I needed to set the volume between 13 and 15 out of the 15 available on Android.
I even increased the volume up to the maximum with the P1, and the KA11 didn’t clipping (distort). I consider this a positive point for the dongle, especially since other products distorted at maximum volume (even products more expensive than the KA11). As for the Kiwi Ears Quintet, I didn’t test it at maximum volume, the IEM would have been too loud, and I didn’t want to risk my hearing. The KA11 has plenty of power, I believe it can drive 99% of the IEMs on the market.
Digital filters: These filters are commonly found in DACs, but I confess I’ve never noticed any difference between them. I think it’s a feature provided by the chip, and companies often include it as an extra feature. When I discuss this with other friends in the hobby, none of them claim to perceive any difference either.
Comparing the KA11, the M11S, and the Yuki, I believe the KA11 leans more toward to a warm sound signature, while the M11S sounds more neutral, and the Yuki is cold. Of course, these differences are subtle, and it’s entirely possible that I fell victim to a placebo effect at some point. These are distinct products, each with specific components for signal amplification. Naturally, my conclusion is based solely on comparing one device to another, it doesn’t mean one is “cold,” another is “warm,” or “neutral,” especially when tested individually.
Today, I can confidently say that among the 3.5mm output dongles I’ve tested, the KA11 provides the best sense of performance. Considering other factors like build quality, design, and more, it ranks at the top in terms of cost-effectiveness. It’s certainly not perfect, but honestly, starting the hobby and being able to enjoy equipment like this, there’s nothing to complain about, it’s going to be the definitive dongle for a lot of people. Not long ago, I recommended the iFi GO link as an entry-level choice, but now I believe the FiiO KA11 has taken its place.
Thank you so much for being here! \o/
Consider follow us on Instagram to get all the news!
Also our YouTube Channel.
Last edited:
marcelzxc
Well, I updated the App to v3.21 on two smartphones and the volume control doesn't appear for KA11. Unfortunately is impossible update the review for every firmware update.
Introduction:-
Hey guys, today I will be reviewing the Fiio KA11. Its a new budget dongle from fiio.
I have also shared a video version of the review at YouTube any support there in form of a view, A like or A subscribe is greatly appreciated. But if you so wish to read the written version you can read this.
This was a review unit sent in by fiio, but all the thoughts and opinions you are about to hear are my own.
Buy it here (Unaffiliated Link) :-
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806284660223.html
I will be as usual following my bullet style format for better readability for those who are dyslexic and in general find it hard to read long paragraphs. I follow this guide in general from the British Dyslexia Association.
Lets start!
Review:-
1. So consider this an upgrade from the apple dongle.
2. Before I start the review I want to say that I did have a minor issue with the dongle where in the volume as suddenly maxed out and it almost blew my eardrums. But it seems to have been fixed by itself for some reason as I don’t see it happening now and I have spoken to others who has this they too didn’t face this issue. I guess I was the only one, although I have let fiio know about it.
3. If you are using UAPP I highly suggest enabling the option force volume sync under volume and then disconnect the dac and plug it again.
4. Lets talk about the dac in detail now
5. The price of Fiio KA11 is $30 and as of reviewing you can get it for $23-25 for sale
5. These have a CS43131 dac chip along with the Op-Amp SGM8262. It has an output impedance of less than 0.7ohms.
6. It supports upto 32bit 384khz and upto DSD256
7. It can supplies upto 200mw of power at 32ohms from its single 3.5mm jack, now this is the main selling point of this dac
8. Sadly no ADC control and that means no mic is supported here. This would have been an awesome feature to add to this dac as mostly it will be used by mobile users.
9. The cable of the KA11 is braided and is very nice.
10. Now it has an app, called the Fiio control app. Inside the app you can select the UAC modes, selecting turning on and off the indicator lights, selecting the filter modes and also controlling the inner volume of the dac.
(Screenshots shown are from the version 3.18, the latest version of the app as of this review is version 3.19. The version 3.19 doesn't have the internal volume slider)
11. Now as of making this review the latest version of the app has removed the internal volume slider of the dac. But I am using an older version of the dac which lets me control the internal volume of the dac.
12. I am using the v3.18 of the app because this has the volume control, if you want this version of the app please do comment below I can share it there.
13. Now why is this volume control feature important, well unlike most popular dongle dacs which as independent volume and a physical volume button. The fiio ka11 lacks and that is for all the right reasons
14. So lets say you are using it on a smartphone and the volume step jump is too high, then you have higher volume jumps in your ka11 too. But with the app this could be mitigated as you could set the internal volume of the dac to lets say 25/50 or 30/50 and that way you when you use it on a smartphone or any other devices where the volume step jump is high the increase in volume is more linear.
15. Sorry if its a bit complicated. But I hope you got my point, if you still have any doubts you can comment below.
16. With the UAC 1.0 mode you can use it with your PS5, Nintendo Switch etc. But it needs to be switched one first from the fiio control app.
17. Also the app is very buggy a usual. As of this review the app has connecting issues to the KA11 I have to connect and reconnect couple of times sometimes.
18. I have used the No oversampling filter for the review, I found no difference when using the other filters.
19.Now before talking about the sound, I want to mention that its very hard to talk about it and it depends heavily on your personal preference, the iems you are using and also a-b ing it with other dacs.
20. Now talking about the sound. It is fantastic!
21. The overall sound of the fiio ka11 is warm and very luscious.
22. The bass has this slight tinge of boost here without any major colouration here. For lean sounding iems it does give a nice slight kick to it without changing the sound much at all.
23. The mids might have a tinge of boost, where in they sound a bit fuller and thicker. But the female vocals sounds a bit recessed.
24. The treble too stays controlled
25. But the sharpness of the notes is a bit blunted, and this makes it really enjoyable to listen to for longer sessions
26. The fiio KA11 pairs excellently with brighter sounding iems.
27. It paired well with all my iems very well, and it even drove my very hard to drive tanchjim kara very well.
28. Now comparing it with the apple dongle dac. I don’t have it with me as of now, but I did test it when I borrowed it from my friend
29. The fiio ka11 beats it in every aspect. Period!
30. The fiio sounds fuller, richer and pairs very well with most iems.
31. Even if you are someone who wont be noticing about the sound quality upgrade of the fiio ka11 from the apple dongle, I think so the build quality upgrade alone when compared to the frail apple dongle is worth a shot.
32. Because the apple dongle is very much prone to breakage over the time, but the braided cable of the fiio ka11 does give me a lot of confidence.
33. Now even though when my initial experience with the fiio dongle dac was very bad due to the max volume issue. But after it was fixed, I cannot gush over enough this budget dongle dac.
34. What would be nice if there were EQ options inside the app which I guess could be added via an update. And also a USB-C to USB-A adapter inside the box would have been a nice addition.
35. So yeah thats my review of the KA11. Please do comment if you have any doubts or questions. Thanks for stopping by, have a great day ahead! Bye!
If you have any questions please feel free to ask me and also if you have any issues regarding this format of review please do comment I will try to mend it. Also sorry to those who are used to reading long paragraphs of review in headfi. I hope my review was upto the mark, I appreciate any feedback.
Again a big thanks to Fiio for making this review happen.
Have a great day ahead
Bye!
FiiO KA11 USB-C/Lightning Dongle Review
I have been looking for a suitable portable upgrade over the aging Apple usb-c / lightning dongle for a while. I want something small enough to essentially just feel like an extension of my headphone cable but powerful enough to really drive some of my harder to drive planars.So, as you will hopefully see in this review, I believe the KA11 is exactly that and is a very pragmatic choice for a portable usb-c / lightning dongle for your smartphone especially at its $29.99 price.
Introduction
The FiiO / JadeAudio KA11 builds upon the success of its predecessor, the KA1, but while the KA1 had a blocky design which felt a separate “DAC”, the design of the KA11 is much sleaker as you can see in the picture above and feels much more like an ‘adapter’ than the powerful dongle DAC amplifier that it is.What is in the Box
The USB-c version:
The lightning version:
Design and Build
The FiiO / JadeAudio KA11 comes in two colors, Midnight Black and Sunrise Silver, and lightweight design of about 8.5g, the KA11 is unobtrusive and highly portable. While it is slightly bigger than the Apple USB-c dongle it doesn’t really feel bigger when connected to your headphones:
Especially when attached to your headphone cable it feels like an natural extension of the cable and is unobtrusive when I am carrying it in my pocket with my smartphone:
So compared to the typical usb-c dongle it is much more portable. Here is a comparison with the FiiO KA17 (which I will have a review of very soon), a Qudelix 5K and the apple usb-c dongle:
I thought it was amazing that the KA11 was effectively smaller than the 2.5mm to 4.4mm adapter I needed to carry with the Qudelix 5K.
Here is a short video:
Note: Spoiler for the KA17 review, if you have the money get the KA17, it is more powerful, has PEQ, has balanced output and many other features, but is definitely less portable than the KA11 and will not feel like an ‘adapter’ on your cable the same way the KA11 does.
The KA11 cable length is 65.5mm:
The KA11 boasts a robust aluminum-magnesium alloy body that not only gives it a premium feel but also provides excellent interference resistance. This, combined with its oblique cuts and curved outlines, offers a visually appealing device that’s both sturdy and stylish.
Features
Internally the KA11 includes a high-spec SA9312L USB interface, an independent CS43131 DAC, and an independent headphone amplifier with SGM8262 op-amps for professional HiFi circuit architecture. Furthermore, for its price class it delivers an extremely powerful output of up to 245mW at 16Ω, making it stand out.The dongle features a light which indicates the sampling rate of the audio source, with blue indicating “normal” < 48khz
quality audio and yellow indicating hi-res > 48khz while green indicates DSD audio. This can be controlled within the FiiO Control Application.
FiiO Control App
So as mentioned the FiiO control app can control various features of the KA11, including the light. With the light can be turned off, either permanently or until next time dongle is restarted, but only using the Android version of the FiiO Control app. I would imagine this capability will be added to the IOS version once Apple lift their restrictions.
Sound Profile
The KA11 is highly transparent to the source of the music, supporting up to 32bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256 audio decoding.For those who like to tweak with the audio profile, there is the ability to change the filters within the FiiO control app (again Android only for now):
I was very impressed with the power I was getting when listening to my planar’s, maybe 70% volume compared to needing to max out the volume when using the US version of the Apple USB-c dongle. If you like the Apple usb-c dongle but just wanted more power and features I think the KA11 is for you.
Note: The KA11 does not support a microphone interface so does not have a ADC unlike the apple usb-c/lightning dongles so you won’t be able to use a microphone on your IEM cable.
Specification and Measurements
| Technical Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight black |
| Sunrise silver | |
| Connectors | Type-C |
| Lightning | |
| DAC | C543131 |
| Op-amp | SGM8262 |
| Supported formats | 384kHz/32bit, DSD256 |
| Output | 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Dimensions | 44.5 * 9.7 * 10.5mm |
| Cable length | 65.5mm |
| Weight | 8.5g |
| SNR | ≥ 125dB 32 Ohms |
| Output impedance | < 0.70 (32 Ohms) |
| L+R Power | Ohms | THD+N | SINAD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 245mW | 16 | THD+N < 1% | |
| 200mW | 32 | 0.0006% | 104 |
| 22mW | 300 | 0.00038% | 108 |
This level of power in such a small package and reaonable priced dongle is particularly impressive and a significant advantage for those who want to bring a more demanding headphones with them.
Rating
Given its features, build quality, and performance, the KA11 receives a pragmatic rating of 4.5 out of 5. It offers exceptional value for its price, making it an excellent choice for audiophiles seeking quality audio without breaking the bank. Other than the missing inline microphone input it is an excellent choice over the aging Apple usb-c dongle and can even be used as a high quality alternative to much more expensive usb-c / lightning dongles.Conclusion
In conclusion, the Fiio KA11 is a remarkable bargain, with a combination of elegant design, powerful output, low noise floor, and high signal-to-noise ratio makes it a top contender in the market of audio dongles. The KA11 is more than capable of satisfying the audio needs of both casual listeners and audiophiles alike. Whether you’re streaming high-resolution audio on the move or looking for a compact yet powerful solution for your portable setup, the Fiio KA11 stands out as an excellent pragmatic choice.
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