[FiiO K5Pro/K5Pro ESS]Desktop DAC and Amplifier+768K/32Bit and DSD512 decoding+3 gain levels (K5 Pro ESS (Red Version) Is Available Now)

[HesamSb]

some guy's can tell me about this ?!!!!!! https://overseas.weibo.com/user/3446862224/4452599774156787

this is very different numbers compare with official site and this measure review https://www.audiosciencereview.com/.../review-and-measurements-of-fiio-k5-pro.9118/
i think something is wrong !

 

[sensenonno]

some guy's can tell me about this ?!!!!!! https://overseas.weibo.com/user/3446862224/4452599774156787

this is very different numbers compare with official site and this measure review https://www.audiosciencereview.com/.../review-and-measurements-of-fiio-k5-pro.9118/
i think something is wrong !

Basically , HE is saying audiosciencereview's measurement is a joke.. result of 81db snr is wrong and was measured using wrong methods.. , and k5pro is better than NX4 DSD..

and I agreed with him on this. ASR got paid from Topping, and all Topping products got super good measurement. I think that AMIRM guy gave wrong crap results for other products deliberately ..., all those graphs on that site could have been photoshopped too..

 

[mobbaddict]

I think most DAC/amp reviews should be taken with a grain of salt anyway. I like the objectivist approach of ASR but the faith they put into measurements is as much debatable as the ridiculous prose used by most audiophile bloggers, and not necessarily something that can be related to real life experience. I'm not even sure I could identify the Fiio in a blind test against an iPhone...

What I love about the Fiio is all the connections available that make my life much more simple.

 

[llysender]

Basically , HE is saying audiosciencereview's measurement is a joke.. result of 81db snr is wrong and was measured using wrong methods.. , and k5pro is better than NX4 DSD..

and I agreed with him on this. ASR got paid from Topping, and all Topping products got super good measurement. I think that AMIRM guy gave wrong crap results for other products deliberately ..., all those graphs on that site could have been photoshopped too..

While I dont doubt that the k5 pro is much better than the NX4 having heard both, I wonder if there is a reason why fiio isnt measuring at 2vrms line out as stated in the specsheet.

 

[Ayax]

Basically , HE is saying audiosciencereview's measurement is a joke.. result of 81db snr is wrong and was measured using wrong methods.. , and k5pro is better than NX4 DSD..

and I agreed with him on this. ASR got paid from Topping, and all Topping products got super good measurement. I think that AMIRM guy gave wrong crap results for other products deliberately ..., all those graphs on that site could have been photoshopped too..

No, they are not saying Amirm measurements are a joke. Just that the procedure doesn't take in account the adjustable volume of LO of K5 Pro. Because of that, the results are worse than expected.
But there is no joke in Amirm's method. He has a standardized way to measure DAC's and AMPs of any shape and form and have results that can be compared directly.
Fiio 98dB measurement cannot be compared to 81dB from Amirm as both don't share the same setup. Neither is better or worse, both check different things. Fiio way seeks best performance of their product, Amirm seeks performance at a standardized procedure that can be used to compare products.

Amirm even confirmed that SINAD goes into +90dB when voltage output is lowered to 1V or so, so Amirm is not lying, he is confirming Fiio method to pursuit best result possible.

Regarding Topping, it's nothing but a conspiracy theory. Some Topping products perform excellent like DX3 Pro or DX7 Pro, but others have major flaws like MX3 or NX1s, and others while good, are edged by competitors. It could also be that Topping is tuning their products to excel in Amirm methodology, but it doesn't mean the products are better overall, or that Amirm is getting paid by Topping...

And then, of course, the recommendation and choice of one product over another depends on a lot more factors, like price, features, availability, support, durability, build quality.... Just because DX3 Pro performs better than K5 Pro, doesn't mean it's a better product.

Amirm conclusion about K5 Pro is basically that K5 Pro is a champion low budget and well built dac/amp solution, providing plenty of headphone power with excellent dynamics and without audible distortion.

If some nonsense internet drama blurs your view of the whole picture, it's you who has the problem.

 

[Aibo]

I got this one 10 days ago. It was out of stock at most shops but I managed to grab one from AliExpress eventually.

It's great as a DAC/AMP combo and it drives my Hifiman HE4xx and Takstar Pro 82 with ease. Deep bass and plenty of details but in a relaxed fashion. I think that the amp section is a tad better than Schiit Magni 3 (without a +). It could've been a little bit better as a DAC only over RCA out. It would have been nice if there is a fixed line-out, bypassing volume control thus making a signal a bit more direct/pure. It's steel decent as it is just nothing to write home about. But for use with headphones, I can't really think of anything sounding better at this price currently.

The build is fine, it works without a glitch so far, and I like how smooth the volume knob is. To cut the story short, I quite like it.

For those interested, I made a more in-depth review here, and a video too:

 

[FiiO]

I got this one 10 days ago. It was out of stock at most shops but I managed to grab one from AliExpress eventually.

It's great as a DAC/AMP combo and it drives my Hifiman HE4xx and Takstar Pro 82 with ease. Deep bass and plenty of details but in a relaxed fashion. I think that the amp section is a tad better than Schiit Magni 3 (without a +). It could've been a little bit better as a DAC only over RCA out. It would have been nice if there is a fixed line-out, bypassing volume control thus making a signal a bit more direct/pure. It's steel decent as it is just nothing to write home about. But for use with headphones, I can't really think of anything sounding better at this price currently.

The build is fine, it works without a glitch so far, and I like how smooth the volume knob is. To cut the story short, I quite like it.

For those interested, I made a more in-depth review here, and a video too:

Thanks for sharing.

Best regards

 

[HesamSb]

I got this one 10 days ago. It was out of stock at most shops but I managed to grab one from AliExpress eventually.

It's great as a DAC/AMP combo and it drives my Hifiman HE4xx and Takstar Pro 82 with ease. Deep bass and plenty of details but in a relaxed fashion. I think that the amp section is a tad better than Schiit Magni 3 (without a +). It could've been a little bit better as a DAC only over RCA out. It would have been nice if there is a fixed line-out, bypassing volume control thus making a signal a bit more direct/pure. It's steel decent as it is just nothing to write home about. But for use with headphones, I can't really think of anything sounding better at this price currently.

The build is fine, it works without a glitch so far, and I like how smooth the volume knob is. To cut the story short, I quite like it.

For those interested, I made a more in-depth review here, and a video too:

How about compared to the ifi zen dac ?

 

[llysender]

How about compared to the ifi zen dac ?

IFI zen dac is is typical IFI so warm and compressed. That being said if you arent trying to drive hard to drive headphones and you want a good pre/line out and balanced out then the IFI zen dac is good. the zen dac is also one of the cheaper mqa dacs if that is your thing.

Personally I still prefer the fiio k5 pro as it drives my r70x and he560 much better.

 

[Aibo]

How about compared to the ifi zen dac ?

I like K5 pro as a headphones DAC/AMP combo more. More power, more neutral sounding. I believe Zen has a better line-out if that's more important to you.

 

[Zachik]

Isn't the Zen DAC also smaller, and can be powered by USB (so no wall brick)?
Advantage if you want a more minimalistic setup for the office (once we actually start going there again...)

 

[Aibo]

Not really smaller, just differently shaped and it can be powered through USB only. I think K5 pro is equally office friendly if you have a power socket nearby.

 

[GeorgeA]

I second @Aibo’s opinion on that K5 pro is equally office friendly if you have a power socket nearby. I’m using Fiio K5 Pro in conjunction with a pair of Meze 99 Classics at work and I couldn’t be happier with the way music sounds.

 

[HesamSb]

I like K5 pro as a headphones DAC/AMP combo more. More power, more neutral sounding. I believe Zen has a better line-out if that's more important to you.

neutral sounding is not boring for long time ?
in future i will buy sundara, the K5 pro or zen dac which these can sho best performance of this headphone (now i have hd599)
can you tell me about noise (uv) of k5 pro ?

 

[llysender]

neutral sounding is not boring for long time ?
in future i will buy sundara, the K5 pro or zen dac which these can sho best performance of this headphone (now i have hd599)
can you tell me about noise (uv) of k5 pro ?

Well some of us prefer something around neutral for the source and for the headphones to be the main colouration. The K5 pro is very slightly bass leaning anyways but is flat enough.

If you are getting the sundara I would still recomend the K5 pro, if you get the zen dac please do get the power supply. Off the k5 pro the sundara get plenty loud and dynamic which headroom to spare while that is only the case for the zen dac with the not included power supply. Sure the sundara gets loud but it doesnt sound good. Also with the zen dac everything will be coloured with a warm bassy sound but seeing as how you like the colouring already it shouldnt be too much of a issue.

As to noise I cant tell you other then both are quiet when nothing is playing and there is no audable hum when something is playing for both. I'm sure ASR has the numbers if you are interested.