[FiiO]

  I was considering the K1 to use as an improvement over my built-in Dell laptop soundcard, but I would like to use it both at work where I use a collection of IEM's and headphone's as well as at home where I'm using a pair of active M-Audio AV40. From what I read it would be a bad idea to drive those speakers from an amp like the K1? I could move up to a E10 or something, but that's a lot less portable to drag around back and forth to work plus a bit more expensive.

Hi Robust2,
 
Without LINE OUT for the K1,  it's not suggested to connect the K1 to a speaker, as you said , you may move up to a E10K to try it. 

 

[yacobx]

What about connecting to another amp? I turn the volume completely up on the k1 and control the volume on the amp
 
I was considering the K1 to use as an improvement over my built-in Dell laptop soundcard, but I would like to use it both at work where I use a collection of IEM's and headphone's as well as at home where I'm using a pair of active M-Audio AV40. From what I read it would be a bad idea to drive those speakers from an amp like the K1? I could move up to a E10 or something, but that's a lot less portable to drag around back and forth to work plus a bit more expensive.

Hi Robust2,

Without LINE OUT for the K1,  it's not suggested to connect the K1 to a speaker, as you said , you may move up to a E10K to try it. 

 

[Vidal]

Getting the K1 to work with the 5S needs a cable that hides the power requirement from the phone. The L19 cable might do this but I'm not sure. I think the 5S (and IPad Mini) has less power available to connected USB devices.

The L19 isn't a Fiio product, although the people who sell it are trying to pass it off as one.

The only company I know that has managed to bypass this power issue is Cozoy, I have their Astrapi when I connect it to my iPhone 6 with the one of the cables I make it gives the too much power error. Yet with their cable there's no error message. Penon Audio who sell the L19 cable are dealers for Cozoy.

I no longer have a 5S to test the L19, but for anyone who is thinking of purchasing one of CCK cables they won't work with a 5S and a K1. They are fine with a 5S and other self powered dac/amps, or 6 and above with the K1.

 

[JamesFiiO]

Getting the K1 to work with the 5S needs a cable that hides the power requirement from the phone. The L19 cable might do this but I'm not sure. I think the 5S (and IPad Mini) has less power available to connected USB devices.

The L19 isn't a Fiio product, although the people who sell it are trying to pass it off as one.

The only company I know that has managed to bypass this power issue is Cozoy, I have their Astrapi when I connect it to my iPhone 6 with the one of the cables I make it gives the too much power error. Yet with their cable there's no error message. Penon Audio who sell the L19 cable are dealers for Cozoy.

I no longer have a 5S to test the L19, but for anyone who is thinking of purchasing one of CCK cables they won't work with a 5S and a K1. They are fine with a 5S and other self powered dac/amps, or 6 and above with the K1.

 
We are applying the MFi from Apple again and hope we can success this time . and them we will try to make couple new products for audiophile . but for Android phone, it is another story cause none of them can promise the USB audio out is correct. 

 

[Vidal]

I would love to see a Fiio product that worked with my iPhone straight out of the box.
 
It would be even better if you could figure out a way of combining it with a Sandisk Xpand type memory boost I'd be in audiophile heaven.

 

[justex07]

Thanks - pretty sure it won't work, but if you could confirm that would be great

Sadly does not work with my iPhone 5 or 5s. Still sounds great on my iPhone 6S though! Maybe it's time to upgrade

 

[Robust2]

  Hi Robust2,
 
Without LINE OUT for the K1,  it's not suggested to connect the K1 to a speaker, as you said , you may move up to a E10K to try it. 

On thing I am wondering, is how this differs from the output jack that I currently use from my laptop? I assume this is also an amplified signal as it drives my IEM at quite low volume.
 
How well does the E10K pair with IEM's compared to the K1?

 

[Vidal]

 
On thing I am wondering, is how this differs from the output jack that I currently use from my laptop? I assume this is also an amplified signal as it drives my IEM at quite low volume.
 
How well does the E10K pair with IEM's compared to the K1?

 
Depends on the IEMs but mine copes with all mine, Flare R2A, RHA 750, Vsonic VC1000 and Eightball.

 

[leosin]

Hello guys, i am new from here and would like to study about this fiio K1.
I just bought this DAC for few weeks and try to connect to my LG G3. It's just not working at all. I tested it is working fine with my friend's blackberry priv, also for LG G4.
After reading this thread i just tested with many things, USB hubs with power supply, USB hubs without power supply. My G3 can play all music though the K1 DAC when it is connected to USB hubs with power supply. So I think its power problem, so i bought an OTG cable which can use power bank as power source for the connected devices.
Before connected the K1 with my G3, the blue light is on with power bank connected. However, it's still cannot play any sound after connected to G3. After reconnect many times it works for few second. I tested the cable is working fine so its not the cable problem. Me and my friend are confused with it. Hope fiio can find solution for it.

 

[kalston]

Not sure why you guys even bother trying to connect a USB DAC/AMP to a smartphone when a great many of them have excellent audio performance to start with (the iPhone is one of them, also the LG G3 mentioned above) and the K1 doesn't really have a much more powerful amp than them. I use this site http://www.gsmarena.com/ when I need a new phone (subjective measurements for tons of phones) and the 300€ phone I bought a few weeks ago is absolutely perfect audio wise.

 

[Brooko]

  Not sure why you guys even bother trying to connect a USB DAC/AMP to a smartphone when a great many of them have excellent audio performance to start with (the iPhone is one of them, also the LG G3 mentioned above) and the K1 doesn't really have a much more powerful amp than them. I use this site http://www.gsmarena.com/ when I need a new phone (subjective measurements for tons of phones) and the 300€ phone I bought a few weeks ago is absolutely perfect audio wise.

 
I thought that for a long time too - until I started using the $70 Fiio Q1 with my iPhone 5S and CCK.  Volume matched there is a difference.  The iPhone 5S is a great sounding device.  But I prefer it with the Q1 now.

 

[yacobx]

If anyone was curious, I have been directly comparing the Fiio K1 to the hifime 9018 Sabre. The K1 is more mathematical(very spacious and separated) and the 9018 is more musical(feels more realistic and I feel does a great job with the full freq range and especially the timbre. I will have a full write up one of these days. 

 

[Hachiken]

I have a Note 4 and used K1 directly via OTG cable not through micro otg hub. it works perfectly. i never root or download any custom ROM for my Note 4, i only downloaded the official Android upgrade 5.1.1 from Samsung. i thought i still needed a micro otg hub but no.. it works like a charm

 

[yoyorast10]

How does it work when pairing it up with an android phone? It uses the phone's volume?

 

[yacobx]

How does it work when pairing it up with an android phone? It uses the phone's volume?

Phones volume