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

[Dobrescu George]

I too don’t hear any sonic difference between the gain levels. All it does is ielevate the noise floor. So only use gain if necessary. That’s the rule of the thumb.

There are devices where I respect that rule of thumb too, not everything sounds better on high gain, but K5 Pro does. The thing here is that I mainly listened to hard to drive cans with it, for IEMs it is not perfect, so I do not use it for IEMs at all. For hard to drive cans, the noise floor does not increase noticeably, but the driving power does, so it naturally sounds better. I should mention that I take it almost to maximum on HG for a big part of my listening tho, if you listen quieter, and if it can drive what you're powering with it, lower gain modes may be ok, I just happaned to use LCD-2C a lot while testing it, and it really asked for HG to satisfy my listening volumes.

So I see you mention listening in High Gain - other reviewers have also recommended mid to high gain . Whats the general consensus ? anyone else prefer the higher settings ?

High gain seems to make the dynamics and punch much better, everything is more dynamic and more lively. At least this is what the consensus seems to be about K5 PRO, and what I heard as well. I should state that only high gain had enough power for most of the cans I really tested with them for long periods of time, so that may be a big reason why.

My experience changing gain settings is no diference soundwise.

If you don't hear a difference, then you should use low gain, it has lower noise floor. It should really depend a lot on what you're using with it, since for easy to drive stuff, it won't require high gain, and the volume control won't be granular enough anyways.

Mid and high gain are bass boosted and more pleasing to the ear i think.

I haven't noticed more bass to be honest, but more punch in the bass, I do notice.

Also, I notice more dynamics in general.

As I keep saying, it may be because I tend to pair it with hard to drive stuff a LOT becuase it has a somewhat high noise floor with IEMs and really easy to drive stuff.

 

[ahmonge]

If you don't hear a difference, then you should use low gain, it has lower noise floor. It should really depend a lot on what you're using with it, since for easy to drive stuff, it won't require high gain, and the volume control won't be granular enough anyways.

I use it with Denon AH-D7200 cans, (25 Ohms, 105 dB/mW). volume between 9 and 12 o'clock, LG. Compared to tthe headphone output of my Fiio X5 II DAP, I found a noticeable increase of dynamics and bass slam, but any change in FR, soundstage or other sound characteristics. I'm very happy with it, so far.

 

[aceedburn]

There are devices where I respect that rule of thumb too, not everything sounds better on high gain, but K5 Pro does. The thing here is that I mainly listened to hard to drive cans with it, for IEMs it is not perfect, so I do not use it for IEMs at all. For hard to drive cans, the noise floor does not increase noticeably, but the driving power does, so it naturally sounds better. I should mention that I take it almost to maximum on HG for a big part of my listening tho, if you listen quieter, and if it can drive what you're powering with it, lower gain modes may be ok, I just happaned to use LCD-2C a lot while testing it, and it really asked for HG to satisfy my listening volumes.



High gain seems to make the dynamics and punch much better, everything is more dynamic and more lively. At least this is what the consensus seems to be about K5 PRO, and what I heard as well. I should state that only high gain had enough power for most of the cans I really tested with them for long periods of time, so that may be a big reason why.



If you don't hear a difference, then you should use low gain, it has lower noise floor. It should really depend a lot on what you're using with it, since for easy to drive stuff, it won't require high gain, and the volume control won't be granular enough anyways.



I haven't noticed more bass to be honest, but more punch in the bass, I do notice.

Also, I notice more dynamics in general.

As I keep saying, it may be because I tend to pair it with hard to drive stuff a LOT becuase it has a somewhat high noise floor with IEMs and really easy to drive stuff.

Ah yes. Higher impedance cans will indeed sound better on high gain. I was just talking generally. Only use high gain is necessary or to add, if you don’t have enough power to drive the less sensitive cans. I sometimes use medium gain on the K5 pro but only for my hifiman. All other cans low gain is sweet enough for me. But anyway it’s a damn good amp/dac. Sings beautifully with my WM1A as source.

 

[Hinomotocho]

Does anyone use with the Sony MDR-Z1R and can please comment on the amp section? I intend to use my WM1A 3.5mm to RCA.

 

[FiiO]

Does anyone use with the Sony MDR-Z1R and can please comment on the amp section? I intend to use my WM1A 3.5mm to RCA.

Dear user,

Are there any local store in your city, you could have a try there first: https://www.fiio.com/wheretobuy

And some of our users prefer driving the Z1R using the FiiO M15 player, for your reference.

Best regards

 

[aceedburn]

Dear user,

Are there any local store in your city, you could have a try there first: https://www.fiio.com/wheretobuy

And some of our users prefer driving the Z1R using the FiiO M15 player, for your reference.

Best regards

With all due respect, the Sony WM1A/Z walkmans are far superior than any Fiio DAPs. I have tested and compared them side by side.

 

[ldo77]

Does someone notice a major difference in sound quality between the 3 inputs: USB, coaxial,optical ?

 

[ahmonge]

Does someone notice a major difference in sound quality between the 3 inputs: USB, coaxial,optical ?

Well, I’ve got two units, one USB-connected (PC) and the other coax (portable DAP) and optical (TV). No noticeable differences so far. sharing the same audio tracks.

 

[FiiO]

Does someone notice a major difference in sound quality between the 3 inputs: USB, coaxial,optical ?

Dear friend,

The USB mode could support higher samping rate comparing with other two input mode. But if you are playing the music with samping rate lower than 192KHz, the sound quality difference may not be quite noticeable.

Best regards

 

[Evshrug]

Does someone notice a major difference in sound quality between the 3 inputs: USB, coaxial,optical ?

Are you noticing this? There could be a couple factors at play...

 

[aceedburn]

Dear friend,

The USB mode could support higher samping rate comparing with other two input mode. But if you are playing the music with samping rate lower than 192KHz, the sound quality difference may not be quite noticeable.

Best regards

Your response speed is always very slow. I notice you always take up to 1 week to reply to comments. Speaks a lot about your priorities.

 

[ldo77]

Are you noticing this? There could be a couple factors at play...

No I just tried the USB as input, but I wonder if ...

 

[Maverick255]

Cześć!
One week ago i bought Fiio K5 Pro and it's sounds good.

Is there any chance for update firmware with support MQA?

 

[FiiO]

Cześć!
One week ago i bought Fiio K5 Pro and it's sounds good.

Is there any chance for update firmware with support MQA?

Dear friend,

Sorry, the MQA support could not be added via firmware update for the K5PRO. The developing and certification of MQA could take a long progress as well.

Best regards

 

[nuxos]

I've just ordered the K5 Pro in the same time as a Philips Fidelio X2HR. Last year I had for a few months a Dragonfly Red, and a few years ago, a Creative ZxR which was quite good actually with op amps changes. Also had multiple DAP too like Ibasso DX90 and DX80, as well as AK JR.

To come back with a "true setup" and not simply my Mac sound chip, I wanted a combo DAC/AMP and avoiding to do a stack of two different ones (yes I like simplicity haha). With a budget under 200€, the choice was quickly made with this one! Should receive it end of next week more or less in the same time as the headphone