[PhonoPhi]

As the pace of life accelerates, we will need a handy audio companion. Here it comes. The HiFi USB audio adapter jointly released by FiiO and Jade Audio that kept us waiting for such a long time has finally come to us. "Jade Audio", whose Chinese name is "翡声", is a subsidiary brand of FiiO Electronics Technology Co., LTD. It is a stylish, technological and youth-oriented brand aiming to provide high-quality yet cost-effective audio products with an excellent listening experience for the younger generation all around the world.



Now, let's see how this new member KA3 will hold an audio feast for us.

In terms of the process of audio signals, the tiny body of the KA3 features an independent high-performance flagship ES9038Q2M DAC chip, which supports a sampling rate of up to 32bit/768kHz and DSD512 with dual headphone outputs. The circuit structure designed by senior engineers has distinctly high SNR, low distortion and almost 0 noise floor under super power mode. All come for high-fidelity sounds.



The KA3 also performs outstandingly in configurations- supports 3.5mm single-ended/4.4mm balanced outputs, is compatible with Android/iOS/Windows/Mac systems. The cool and visible RGB indicator lights are not only attractive but also can indicate the sampling rate of the currently playing songs, helping to tell audio formats conveniently. In addition, it can be controlled by the FiiO Control app where you can enable more functions, such as 7 filters, low and high gains and channel balance. Oh, just can't wait to take it home right now.

Keep features of the FiiO KA3 include:

--Portable and slim body

--Optimized HiFi audio architecture

--Independent flagship DAC

--Dual headphone outputs

--Refined for lower noise floor

--Dual SE and balanced outputs

--Desktop and portable use cases

--Practical RGB indicator lights

--APP controls


Best regards,

Guangzhou FiiO Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.

"Lower noise floor" sounds a bit ambigous.
Is it as low (or better) as in BTR5 and BTR3K or as "low" as in Q1-II with the same (right?) amp?

I really like BTR5 (and BTR3K for its cuteness and capabilities).

Do you plan to make BTR7 based on KA3 technology?
Possibly a dual 9038 chip, a larger battery for a longer playing time (crucial for me) and a better BT range.

 

[ClieOS]

"Lower noise floor" sounds a bit ambigous.
Is it as low (or better) as in BTR5 and BTR3K or as "low" as in Q1-II with the same (right?) amp?

I really like BTR5 (and BTR3K for its cuteness and capabilities).

Do you plan to make BTR7 based on KA3 technology?
Possibly a dual 9038 chip, a larger battery for a longer playing time (crucial for me) and a better BT range.

Don't forget FiiO is one of very few companies that actually publish Audio Precision audio analyzer measurement of all their products.

KA3: https://fiio.com/ka3_parameters
BTR5: https://fiio.com/btr52021_parameters
BTR3K: https://fiio.com/btr3k_parameters
Q1 MK2: https://fiio.com/q1mkii_parameters


Also, I don't see a point of making a BTR7 based on KA3 topology, since KA3 topology is already technically simpler than that of BTR5. A dual 9038 setup will be closer to BTR5 top[ology than KA3.

 

[Atek2019]

Don't forget FiiO is one of very few companies that actually publish Audio Precision audio analyzer measurement of all their products.

KA3: https://fiio.com/ka3_parameters
BTR5: https://fiio.com/btr52021_parameters
BTR3K: https://fiio.com/btr3k_parameters
Q1 MK2: https://fiio.com/q1mkii_parameters


Also, I don't see a point of making a BTR7 based on KA3 topology, since KA3 topology is already technically simpler than that of BTR5. A dual 9038 setup will be closer to BTR5 top[ology than KA3.

Fiio KA3's parameter is wrong.. It is K9 Pro parameters

 

[ClieOS]

Fiio KA3's parameter is wrong.. It is K9 Pro parameters

Oh? K9 Pro parameters look quite different. Regardless, KA3 noise floor was posted on the first page (<1.7uV) so you can still compare it to other devices.

 

[FiiO]

"Lower noise floor" sounds a bit ambigous.
Is it as low (or better) as in BTR5 and BTR3K or as "low" as in Q1-II with the same (right?) amp?

I really like BTR5 (and BTR3K for its cuteness and capabilities).

Do you plan to make BTR7 based on KA3 technology?
Possibly a dual 9038 chip, a larger battery for a longer playing time (crucial for me) and a better BT range.

Here is the related parameters of the KA3:
THD+N：-0.0008%
Noise：<1.7uV
SNR：122dB

Best regards

 

[PlantsmanTX]

Dear friend,

No, it does not support line out. It has the 3.5mm headphone out and 4.4mm balanced headphone out.

Best regards

I assumed that with the use of a 3.5mm to dual RCA cable, the KA3 could serve as a dac for an external amplifier. Can it be used that way?

 

[ClieOS]

I assumed that with the use of a 3.5mm to dual RCA cable, the KA3 could serve as a dac for an external amplifier. Can it be used that way?

While it is double amping, it will work.

 

[PlantsmanTX]

While it is double amping, it will work.

What effect does double amping have? I'm currently using a dongle as a dac, but it uses the power output by the dac chip.

 

[ClieOS]

What effect does double amping have? I'm currently using a dongle as a dac, but it uses the power output by the dac chip.

General rule of thumb is that double amping could degrade SQ by worsening SNR. But if the output of the DAC/amp is clean and loud enough, then any negative side effect should be minimum.

 

[Zeka]

It is interesting that FiiO says that such a connection is not possible.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/fii...3-is-officially-released.960238/post-16620389

 

[ClieOS]

It is interesting that FiiO says that such a connection is not possible.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/fii...3-is-officially-released.960238/post-16620389

You have misunderstood the difference between a line-out (*what FiiO was pointing out) and double-amping (*what I was pointing out).

If KA3 had line-out then it won't be double amping - as line-out in itself shouldn't have an internal amp stage in the first place, thus you will only have an external amp and thus won't be double amping. FiiO only pointed out that KA3 doesn't has line-out, he doesn't say that you can't physically connect a 3.5mm-to-RCA cable from KA3 to an external amp to double amp the setup, potentially at the expense of SQ. You can almost always double amp any setup as long as it has a headphone-out, but we prefer line-out because double amping often result in degraded SQ.

 

[Isaac Rebolledo]

De acuerdo con la ganancia baja y alta, solo puede tener la ganancia alta en la aplicación fiio. Puede aprovechar al máximo otros reproductores de audio como el reproductor USB pro

 

[PlantsmanTX]

General rule of thumb is that double amping could degrade SQ by worsening SNR. But if the output of the DAC/amp is clean and loud enough, then any negative side effect should be minimum.

Understood (finally). Thanks.

 

[JackLuvMusic]

looks awesome. would defintely give this a try

 

[Jade Audio]

looks awesome. would defintely give this a try

Hope it could meet your need!

Best regards