[FiiO KA17] Mini desktop-class amp, flagship dongle is officially released!

[ducnsh]

Hi there, I am going to buy KA17, I have some questions about it:

1. Can I use PEQ via the web on any OSs even with MacOS and iOS?
2. Does KA17 save the EQ to the device itself? So even if I plug into another device, the PEQ is still kept?

By the way, I cannot access Fiio forum to download the KA17's firmware, are there any other ways to do that?

 

[570315]

Hi there, I am going to buy KA17, I have some questions about it:

1. Can I use PEQ via the web on any OSs even with MacOS and iOS?

I can't try this, as I'm on Windows and Android, but what you need in theory is just a browser that supports the Web HID API. Chromium-based browsers should be fine; it works with Edge, at least.

2. Does KA17 save the EQ to the device itself? So even if I plug into another device, the PEQ is still kept?

Yes.

By the way, I cannot access Fiio forum to download the KA17's firmware, are there any other ways to do that?

It works for me now. Does the page load at least for you?

 

[ducnsh]

I can't try this, as I'm on Windows and Android, but what you need in theory is just a browser that supports the Web HID API. Chromium-based browsers should be fine; it works with Edge, at least.


Yes.


It works for me now. Does the page load at least for you?

Thanks for your response, that forum page kept loading the whole day without any response

 

[FiiO-Yellow]

Hi there, I am going to buy KA17, I have some questions about it:

1. Can I use PEQ via the web on any OSs even with MacOS and iOS?
2. Does KA17 save the EQ to the device itself? So even if I plug into another device, the PEQ is still kept?

By the way, I cannot access Fiio forum to download the KA17's firmware, are there any other ways to do that?

Hi,
1. web PEQ, only work in Windows and Mac OS, can not work in iOS. Need to use Chrome、Edge、Opera etc browsers which can support Web HID API.
2. Yes, it saves in KA17 itself. You can use the PEQ in other smartphone after you save it.

 

[ducnsh]

Hi,
1. web PEQ, only work in Windows and Mac OS, can not work in iOS. Need to use Chrome、Edge、Opera etc browsers which can support Web HID API.
2. Yes, it saves in KA17 itself. You can use the PEQ in other smartphone after you save it.

Thanks for your response, I just bought it, could you give me another link to the 2.02 firmware instead of the forum link? I cannot access that site, it kept loading without any response for the whole day

 

[amanieux]

is there any advantage in installing the windows usb driver over keeping the default win10 usb driver ? is the fiio usb driver require to do the firmware update when dac is plugged in on a pc ?
is there a difference in setting eq paramaeters on android app vs the web page on a pc (other than having a bigger screen on pc ) ?
when using iem that require low power is there any sound improvement when activating desktop mode and/or high gain ?
thanks

 

[jorgeju115]

is there any advantage in installing the windows usb driver over keeping the default win10 usb driver ? is the fiio usb driver require to do the firmware update when dac is plugged in on a pc ?
is there a difference in setting eq paramaeters on android app vs the web page on a pc (other than having a bigger screen on pc ) ?
when using iem that require low power is there any sound improvement when activating desktop mode and/or high gain ?
thanks

Hello friend, I have two PCs and in both of them I have the drivers installed, when they are there it is for a reason. As for whether the sound improves with the desktop mode in IEM, I have the IE200 and when I activate the desktop mode the sound improves a lot, greater amplitude, greater definition and much more dynamics and details.

 

[amanieux]

Hello friend, I have two PCs and in both of them I have the drivers installed, when they are there it is for a reason. As for whether the sound improves with the desktop mode in IEM, I have the IE200 and when I activate the desktop mode the sound improves a lot, greater amplitude, greater definition and much more dynamics and details.

ok got it about desktop mode sounding better ( i assume you did the test volume matched because of course sound is better when volume is raised even by only 1 db, sound gets cleaner, more dynamic, with more bass) , and what about high/low gain in desktop mode, do you hear a difference when volume is matched ? about the windows driver i had a bad experience with ifi usb windows drivers on my ifi dac, they had a bug where volume would go suddenly to100% killing my ears and my iems, i'd rather trust microsoft usb drivers so unless fiio drivers do bring features that are not available in the default usb driver i'd rather not take the risk, thanks

 

[amanieux]

in ka17 manual i read "The KA17 runs driver-free on Windows 10 and above systems, as well as Mac OS. You can install the USB driver on your PC, so it can support the ASIO mode for a better user experience" , how different is the user experience with the fiio asio driver vs default windows driver ?

 

[xxxstarmanxxx]

in ka17 manual i read "The KA17 runs driver-free on Windows 10 and above systems, as well as Mac OS. You can install the USB driver on your PC, so it can support the ASIO mode for a better user experience" , how different is the user experience with the fiio asio driver vs default windows driver ?

 

[xxxstarmanxxx]

My understanding is that giving ASIO mode availability to the fiio through the drivers allows for music software like DAW's to discover it as an audio device.

In playback terms I don't think the driver is needed but in some aging music creation software like alberton etc it may assist in better integration as software like DAW's have a habit of requiring the user to specify audio output in their chains - ASIO in this case certainly helps with the head scratching when you get yourself in a bit of a mess using filters and effects in software like this.

But for playback I don't think you'll see any great advantages if windows 10 and above already auto discover the fiio as an output device.

Hope that shines a bit of light on it

 

[jorgeju115]

Good friends I have been a couple of days trying the Sennheiser IE200 next to the FIIO KA17 and make a spectacular dance partner. In the KA17 I have tested the HIFIMAN XS, the HD560s and the HD600 and the IE200 are the ones that have been most used for me for the KA17 the sound is soft but super clear and crisp and revealing, I can hear everything in the song is as if I was next to the artist and musicians and to listen to vocal music it’s a wonder how well it plays so many female voices as the male ones I recommend this set if you do not want to spend much money and have a sublime sound

 

[kaushama]

I just bought an excellent-looking KA15 as well. From the initial impressions, its sound signature suits more IE600. The biggest issue with KA17 in a mobile setup is the battery drain. KA15 seems to be having better energy efficiency, at least on paper.
@FiiO, when will we see the battery stick designed for KA17? It would allow us to use it in situations where one needs more power and in situations where one does not need more portable variables.
What is the pricing of the power stick? Any idea?

 

[FiiO-Yellow]

Thanks for your response, I just bought it, could you give me another link to the 2.02 firmware instead of the forum link? I cannot access that site, it kept loading without any response for the whole day

how about this link?

Thanks for your response, I just bought it, could you give me another link to the 2.02 firmware instead of the forum link? I cannot access that site, it kept loading without any response for the whole day

Hi, you mean the special firmware 2.02 version, not 2.0 version?

 

[anli]

Coming soon!

Hi,

I haven't got Windows or macOS computer, Linux one is the only available for now. So, how to update KA17 firmware under Linux? I was able to update other FiiO devices with Linux dfu-util package. But I have not found the way to turn KA17 into DFU-mode. How to?