The front panel switches turn on/off the Bass Boost feature of the FiiO K3 and set the Gain (Low/High), while the rear one works a switch between USB audio modes (UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0). Review of FiiO K3 DSD USB-C DAC/amp. With a reputation of cost-killer-yet-audiophile constructor, the Shenzhen company steadily rose from a small team to a full-fledged company, producing thousands of products each month. Founded in 2007, FiiO now is a major brand in hi-fi circles, offering a wide range of audiophile products. It comes in a white box that keeps the DAC/Amp securely in place and added are only the bare essentials such as the data cable, 2 sets of anti-slip pads (only one set pictured, as I had the other set already installed on the K3… "FiiO Q series" Check whether the ‘FiiO Q series’ in the "playback device" is the default device Check whether the headset is plugged in totally. I can connect my phone in bluetooth or USB and connect it to almost anything thanks to its clean line out. In fact, it is quite impressive how the brand was able to fit such an advanced and powerful amp inside the tiny housing. Would plugging the speakers into this unit and then the K3 into my macbook pro be an effective solution for improving audio quality? – Headfonia Lieven. Picture Sunday: iFi Audio Gemini & Mercury, 1x 2.5mm TRRS headphone output for all your balanced headphones / IEM,  1x 3.5mm TRS headphone output for the rest, 1x 3.5mm TRS line out, to plug an amplifier, 1x USB Type-C port, this is slowly but surely becoming the universal port, 1x Cinch coaxial output, to connect the DAC of your choice, 1x Toslink output, to connect the DAC of your choice in SPDIF. The FiiO USB Driver for the FiiO K3 can be downloaded on this link from FiiO’s repositories. Author: Sandu; From: Soundnews. A nerdy guy with a passion for audio and gadgets, he likes to combine his DAC and his swiss knife. 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Tough job as the FiiO E10 and E10K have been recommended since… 2011. Author: Soundnews; From: YouTube. On the top of the unit you will see the Hi-Res Audio certification and the FiiO logo. What would be better the Fiio K3 or the Schitt Fulla2 if I was to use Beyerdynamics T990 headphones? FiiO informs that the FiiO K3 can safely drive headphones having an impedance 16Ω to 150Ω. FiiO is rocking the amplifier, Music Player, DAC and Bluetooth transmitter market with their latest releases (FiiO M9, FiiO M3K, FiiO BTR3) and their budget-friendly prices. All the earphones reviews, earbuds reviews, headsets reviews, in-ear monitors reviews (iem), in-ear headphones reviews are made as objective and thorough as possible to provide our readers a way to choose the best earphones, earbuds, iem, in-ear monitors, headsets and in-ear headphones. Very interesting. With such a nice setup you’re planning to have, listening to music from YT is a sound quality killer. By continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Nonetheless, FiiO has not exaggerated here, introducing the right amount as to add energy and fun to any headphones sound signature without killing off the baseline high-performing personality of the FiiO K3. We highly discourage anyone from trying to apply our testings to your own earphones, the risk of damaging or permanently breaking your iems is absolutely probable to happen. I’m looking for a DAC/AMP for my pc to drive my new Hifiman HE4XX headphones. K3 USB Type-C USB Audio Class UAC1.0 + UAC2.0 Volume Knob ADC Gain L/H Bass Boost 0/+6dB Line Out 3.5mm Headphone Out 1 3.5mm single-ended output Headphone Out 2 2.5mm TRRS balanced output Coaxial Out RCA for 192kHz, support DSD64 DOP Optical Out Up to 96kHz USB Chip XMOS XUF208 USB Driver ASIO/KS/DS/WASAPI/DSD DOP(Native) Audio DAC AKM AK4452 LPF OP AMP TI OPA1612 Driver OP AMP OPA926×2 Output Power 1 (3.5mm headphone output) 220mW(16Ω) 120mW(32Ω) Output Power 2 (2.5mm TRRS balanced headphone output) 320mW(16Ω) 200mW(32Ω) Line Level 1.9Vrms DAC 384kHz/32bit DSD DSD256 SNR ≥113dB THD+N ≤0.004% Frequency Response 20Hz-80kHz RGB indicator Sample rate ≤ 48kHz – Blue Sample rate >48kHz – Yellow DSD format – Green Dimensions 70×58×22mm Weight 82g, Coaxial Out RCA for 192kHz, support DSD64 DOP Optical Out Up to 96kHz Drive Ability 16-150 Ω Power Input Recommend DC5V 500mA Output Impedance ＜1.04 Ω Crosstalk ≥70 dB (1 kHz) MAX Output Voltage 7.39 Vp-p MAX Output Current 81.6 mA, meze 99classics, meze 99neo, 1more quad-driver, FiiO K3, We hope you enjoyed this article. The aluminium feels and looks premium, there is no gap anywhere to be found, the plugs are perfectly aligned and the volume knob is so well made I mistook it for a plastic one… although it’s full-aluminium made. BLOG: The Fav Album Of…. But most of all, he loves music: electro, classical, dubstep, Debussy : the daily playlist. FiiO K3 is a fully metallic device, with a rounded housing, and with a large volume wheel on the front. The new ADC digital volume control of the FiiO K3 revealed a very accurate and precise sensitivity to the knob regulation. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Both are solid performers, take the Schitt if the Beyer is you main headphone, the FiiO for everything else. 2019-04-16. The overall results of our tests revealed a little beast of an amp for a few bucks, a remarkable upgrade from the FiiO E10K and FiiO E10 with improved specs such as: decoding capability of up to 384kHz/32-bit, DSD256, 320mW of output power, ADC volume control, additional 2.5mm balanced output, +6dB of bass boost, etc. We are reviewing the FiiO K3, a freshly released headphone amplifier and USB DAC with a tiny size, impressive specs but super affordable price. K3 has a very solid build quality, with a CNC black aluminum case, the volume wheel is also metal that has a very pleasant curly … The K3 is tiny, well-built, inexpensive, extremely versatile and it sounds fantastic. The 3 switches of the FiiO K3 are placed separately, 2 of them are on the front panel and the third one can be found on the back panel. The review continues on Page Two, after the click HERE or by using the jump below. The headphone output was now recessed, the USB port changed from mini to micro, the high/low gain moved from the bottom of the device to the rear-end. To confirm that the unit is On, an RGB light placed behind and around the volume knob will turn on. MORE: Earphones Amplification Power Comparison, SEE ALSO: Best Fun Sounding Earphones Chart. A small, affordable, DAC/Amplifier for head- and earphones intended to be plugged in to a USB-port of a computer. Learn how your comment data is processed. The price didn’t change and you can still grab one for less than 100€/$ depending of where you live. While the Mojo plays at least 9 dB louder, the K3 … Sadly, for the past years FiiO … The FiiO K3 is the latest Amplifier/USB … Apple®, iPod®, iPhone® and iPad® are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Android™ is a trademark of Google Inc. Use of these marks and any other third-party trademarks are for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation. Nonetheless, FiiO recommends to keep the power input rate on DC 5V and 500mA. The output connectors of the FiiO K3, have the following technical specifications: Balanced Headphone out specifications（2.5mm TRRS port）, RELATED TO THIS: Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Reviews. Fiio K3 vs Fiio E10k: Design and Outlook: As you have seen that the weight of the Fiio K3 is slightly more than E10k so you might be thinking it will be tough to carry around. RECOMMENDED FOR YOU: Headphones Frequency Response Curves, SEE ALSO: KZ Headphones Frequency Response Curves, YOU WILL ALSO LIKE: Amazon Coupons & Deals, MORE:  Gearbest Coupons – Discounts – Deals – Promo Codes – Sales Deals, SEE ALSO: Banggood Coupons – Discounts – Deals – Promo Codes – Sales Deals, SEE ALSO: Aliexpress Coupons – Discounts – Deals – Promo Codes – Sales Deals, MORE: Single Dynamic Driver Earphones Reviews, Model No. It’s USB-powered, supports USB1.0 and USB2.0 mode for versatility, and gets FiiO… The FiiO K3 vs FiiO E10K volume control shows a huge improvement. Even with basic headphones, the “wow effect” was immediate : vast sound stage, good resolution and great vocals. The unit comes inside a clean looking rectangular packaging with a design and style inline with the FiiO M3K, FiiO BTR3 and FiiO M9. The Q1, on the other hand, is ideally designed for on the go use with your mobile device. Sure, if you see it from far it looks like the same monobloc DAC you were already used to. For on-the-go use and situations with compatibility issues, the USB Audio Class 1.0 driverless option grants easy connections and high quality audio up to 96kHz, 24-bit PCM audio. The idea remains the same, a small desktop USB DAC with a good chip and various ports so you can plug it (in) to almost anything. Get the latest reviews on your favorite social network, ✅ ADC volume control with no channel imbalance, ✅ High output power, up to 320mW (16ohm) – doubling the power output of the FiiO E10K. im planning to get them both , does the K3 do the “Pooping” sound when plugging an iem to it? Nanotechnos still collects all gear he gets, even his first MPMAN MP3 player. Green= Bass Boost On; Yellow= Bass Boost Off; Red= Reference without FiiO K3. The unit doesn’t need to be returned and Fiio is a site advertiser. I have a macbook pro into which I’m plugging JBL LSR305 studio monitors. Review of FiiO K3 USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier IN the BOX DESIGN What separates the K3 from other FiiO models of this size is its added applications. Testing the FiiO K3 with harder to drive headphones such as the AKG K701 and AKG K612 Pro, the K3 managed to driver them without major issues once set to high gain. Our resources offer: All photographs published in this review/article are protected by copyright laws; the use, reuse, publication, modification and/or copy of them is strictly prohibited and legally penalized unless a written permission has been emitted by ThePhonograph.net. The K3 adopts the modern USB Type-C input interface for a more reliable and stable connection, including that of power. The unit doesn’t need to be returned and Fiio is a site advertiser. The FiiO K3 vs FiiO E10K have different USB connections, the K3 introduces a USB Type-C connection and RGB LED light with sample rate indicators while the E10K had a micro USB connection and a blue-only LED for power confirmation. Largely plug-and-play, once plugged into … These modes have a main difference, the 1.0 mode is a driverless mode with a plug and play functionality while the 2.0 mode requires the installation of the FiiO USB Driver and Control Panel. That means more features and still a competitive price at $109.99 Disclaimer: The FiiO K3 … ✅ Can be used with or without installing a driver (UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0), ❌ An included L-shaped USB Type-C could had been handy for users with desktops that have a limited space, ❌ Anti-sliding pads might not be very efficient on some surfaces. Any user will get the FiiO K3 working right out-of-the-box without issues. Full review here. The K3 is designed for desktop use. MORE: Best Headphones for Libraries Chart. Third Parties Disclosure   All product names, company names and logos are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. On my MacBook I did need to go into the System Preferences and indicate in the Sound menu that I wanted my sound through the K3, but that was nothing more than a button click, and my Mac instantly recognised the K3. Download only in CD-quality, like .flac, .aac, an so on. The FiiO K3 offers 2 USB modes: UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0. After the FiiO Q5, we’re now reviewing the new K3. Subscribe to our newsletter. Lately I’ve been on the fence to replace my trusty Fiio E10 (which I use with my android phone) with either the K3 or Q1 MkII (only power output and sound quality are my criteria). The flush design was already at work on the E10K, but with the K3 it really looks like FiiO is moving away from the bulky DAC they made. FiiO K3 is a fully metallic device, with a rounded housing, and with a large volume wheel on the front. Our FiiO K3 frequency response graphs also showed a flat response with no boosting nor recessing on any audio frequency. Amazon Associates Disclosure   As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. But, it quickly became one of the hottest topics on head-fi, and for good reason. i have fiio e10k it does produce “poop”sound when i plugging my iem even in zero potensio ( idk what caused this and im afraid it will harm to my iem), Fortunately I didn’t hear any pooping (like the word) with the K3. The Q1 is very nice, but I think the K3 outperforms it, especially with its better soundstage 😉. If anyway you decide to do so, we cannot be held responsible of the damage done to your equipment. FiiO K3 Review Packaged in a low-key cardboard box, the K3 comes with a USB-C cable and some rubber feet for the bottom of the DAC. The build quality is very good (as most of FiiO… The FiiO K3 vs FiiO E10K Output Power has been doubled for the FiiO K3, reaching up to 320mW (16Ω) thanks to it’s balanced output while the FiiO E10K reached a maximum output power of 160 mW (16Ω). Do it at your own risk.  We are reviewing the FiiO K3, a freshly released headphone amplifier and USB DAC with a tiny size, impressive specs but super affordable price. thx. The FiiO K3 offers 5 connections: 3.5mm, 2.5mm balanced, optical out, coax out and line out while the FiiO 10K was limited to 3 connections lacking a 2.5mm balanced headphone output connector and an optical out. You can feel a slight bump when you slide your finger over it, I kind of like it. Forget about mp3 and YouTube, respect your ears and the gear you own that companies tried to make perfect for so long! The FiiO K3 features include advanced options such as: FiiO K3 weight in Ounces and FiiO K3 weight in grams. I’m primarily streaming Qobuz using the Audirvana app integration. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The FiiO K3 has a powerful (for the size) XMOS USB receiver chip – exactly the same as the FiiO Q5 Amp (flagship portable amplifier from FiiO). It shared the same size from the FiiO E11, a portable amplifier launched prior to the E10. … He likes spreadsheets, technical specs and all this amazing(ly boring) numbers. All the other reviews he (and everybody) does continue. The Schiit should have more power to drive your Beyerdynamic.Also, it will sound a bit more metallic, the highs are a bit too proeminent for my ears. As the FiiO K3 offers all these modes we decided to test it and measure it’s frequency response curve in every combination available. Tested with my dt770 pro 80ohm. The FiiO K3 technical specifications list a frequency response of 20Hz-80,000Hz, with a THD+N lower or equal to 0.004%, SNR of 113dB, line out reaching 1.9Vrms and output impedance of <1.04Ω. The magic happens once you hold it in you hand: the FiiO K3 is much more sleeker, more handy to carry and it looks much more modern compared to its older brother. The Wolfson WM8740 was at the core of this gem, a DAC with a warm signature and predominant vocals. To be more precise, the dimensions of the FiiO K3 are 70mm×58mm×22mm and has a total weight of only 82 grams. This will be my first DAC/AMP btw. In addition to this, the amp did not present any channel imbalance while controlling the volume nor any of the typical “scratching” noises of devices with analogue potentiometers. I am an old-school guy and I like the simplest DAC/Amp units, especially desktop ones that can be wall-powered. ОБЗОР ЦАП И УСИЛИТЕЛЯ ДЛЯ НАУШНИКОВ FIIO K3 … My video review: Disclaimer: FiiO K5 PRO was sent to us free of charge in exchange for our honest opinion. Hi, how would you chose Q5 or K3 from Fiio ? The FiiO K3 gets powered directly from the USB Type-C connector that connects to your computer, there are no additional power supply nor chargers needed for the FiiO K3. Still, even in balanced mode, the output power isn’t very high … Size wise K3 is very small, lightweight (82 g.) and very easy to carry. I’m interested in using this device to improve the sound quality of my laptop setup. You only need to know that you never involved in any…, BLOG: The Fav Album Of…. I know its Berkhan who reviewed the Q1 MkII, however I would very much appreciate if you give a brief comparison to the K3. It was awesome and Mike and Lieven even made it one of their top products back in the days. FiiO K3. The inner components of the FiiO K3 make them capable of decoding up to 384kHz/32-bit and native DSD256 – these specs are difficult to find in an amp of this dimensions and price, even the massively famous FiiO E10K could not reach this decoding level. FIND ALL OUR: Earphones Reviews / In-Ear Headphones Reviews. If the visual improvements were minors, the sound improvements were major and that made the FiiO E10K (again) a top choice in sub 100€ DAC/Amp at the time. While using the FiiO K3 in Low Gain and with Bass Boost turned off, the amp showed a clean sound with no coloration nor degradation. Disclaimer: The Fiio K3 was sent to us for the purpose of this review. Great review, did you had the chance to compare it to the iFi nano iDSD BL? 🙂. It would be a dream to own one of this! According to FiiO, Bass Boost on the FiiO K3 should provide +6dB of boosting over most common bass audio frequencies. FiiO K3. At 1.08 lbs., the Zen does feel more substantial as a full time desktop amp, but I still love the way the K5 looks and feels sitting on … While testing the performance of the gain modes of the FiiO K3 we wanted to check if the unit was able to conserve the same flat and non-adulterated sound. In 2011, FiiO launched one of its most iconic products: the FiiO E10 Olympus. Check whether the volume is too low, increase the volume of the connected device or adjust the volume knob of K3 … Hi, nanotechnos, does K3 can drive hd800 without any problem at all? The double headphone outputs is nice and all but what’s really interesting for me is the ability to connect two types of DACs “behind” the K3. The FiiO Q5 has been my jack of all trade in portable use this year. Sometimes it looks like the brand releases a DAP every quarter – FiiO M7 in May – FiiO M9 in september, FiiO M6 in December – and the product life of their DACs seems to be much longer. Let’s put it to the test. Moreover, the dual USB Audio modes of the FiiO K3 grant full compatibility with any PC and Mac. which one do you suggest ? hi i want to buy and use it for hd58x jubilee , its good for this can ? best qualities are definitely sound stage and lower frequencies, which i’m big on a lot of bass and surround. Moreover, the tiny amp can deliver an output power up to 320mW(16Ω); 200mW(32Ω) (on TRRS 2.5mm balanced). The FiiO K3 has 2 Gain and 2 Bass Boost modes; the Gain modes available are Low Gain and High Gain while the Bass Boost can be completely turned off or turned on – Bass Boost can be used in either Gain mode. FiiO K3 Review. Compared to the previous version, the FiiO K3 is a major upgrade in term of design. FiiO K3 with 1MORE headphone. Will it also be a winner? Our resources offer: In-Depth Earphones Reviews, Earphones Scores Compared, an Earphones Size Comparison Tool, a sound frequency cheat-sheet, an Earphones Amplification Comparison Table, a brief audio glossary with the most frequent audio terms and audio definitions, and our Earphones Top Charts (covering the Top 10 Basshead Earphones, Best Bang for Buck Earphones, Top Sports Earphones, Best KZ earphones, Best bang for buck KZ earphones, Best basshead KZ earphones, Best KZ earphones for bass, Best KZ earphones for gaming, Best KZ earphones for sleeping, Best KZ earphones for working out, Best KZ earphones under $20, Best KZ earphones under $50, Best smallest KZ earphones, Top Balanced Earphones, Top Fun Sound Earphones, top smooth sounding earphones), Best Xiaomi Headphones, Best Xiaomi Earphones for Bass, Best Xiaomi Headphones under $50, Best Xiaomi Headphones under $20, The Best Xiaomi Wireless Headphones, Best Bang for Buck Xiaomi Headphones, Best 11.11 Deals and Coupons – Aliexpress – Gearbest – Banggood, Black Friday Coupons and Deals, Aliexpress Anniversary Sale Coupons and Deals, Cyber Monday Coupons and Discounts, Black Friday Coupons Aliexpress, Gearbest, Banggood, Amazon Coupons Discounts Deals Promo Codes Sales, ALIEXPRESS Coupons and Promo Codes – Exclusive Discounts, Photographs Copyright All photographs published in this review/article are protected by copyright laws; the use, reuse, publication, modification and/or copy of them is strictly prohibited and legally penalized unless a written permission has been emitted by ThePhonograph.net. Get the guaranteed best price on Headphone Preamps & Converters like the FiiO K3 USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier at Musician's Friend. The general layout is very comprehensive for a device this small, like the FiiO Q5 it feels more like a Swiss-knife than a DAC. FiiO K3 Review - Strong essences are kept in small bottles. The K3 is (or at least WAS when I bought it) very new and has few reviews, but based on the recommendations of FiiO's other products, I decided to give it a try. I want to use a Headphone Dac/amplifier for my laptop just to improve the sound when listening to YouTube etc. The FiiO K3 is the latest Amplifier/USB DAC from FiiO, introduced as the upgraded successor of the ultra-famous FiiO E10K and FiiO E10. With our standardized equalization and amplification tests we push the limits of the earphones to the extreme. Comments required. I own a Chord Mojo and the Fiio K3. 2019-04-16. For less than 70€ you got one of the best bang for buck DAC/Amp on the market. Here, you will get the answer to How long can you keep money in Cash app to buy bitcoins. K3 has usb-c and is about 30% more powerful. Personnaly, I’d go for the K3 if it’s for a desktop use. The low/high gain switch combined with an addictive bass-boost function made it even more versatile, the cherry on top being the line- AND coaxial output. For a fraction of the cost of an audiophile M2tech interface, the FiiO E10 was able to carry a digital signal in pass-thru from a USB connection. The Q5 is better overall, but it’s also more expensive and bulkier. But the K3 looks better in … Get a low price and free shipping on thousands of items. in SE and balance? The K3 is only 82g by contrast, but still doesn’t feel cheap. Also, the coaxial out of the FiiO K3 has a higher 192kHz capability and supports DSD64 DOP (96kHz and no DSD support on the previous E10K model). The volume knob has a new RGB light that informs when the unit is powered on and also indicates the digital audio input sample rate by changing color. K3 … All product names, company names and logos are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. The FiiO K3 vs FiiO E10K output connectors is one of the most visible changes. I think they used a better filter to avoid feedback like this. The FiiO K3 has curved edges and a clean looking design that gives it a classy feel. For devices where a driver cannot be installed or where any issue might arise with the UAC 2.0 mode, a simple switch to UAC 1.0 makes it driverless and fully working as a plug and play external DAC/Amp. Beneath the tiny housing, the FiiO K3 holds a AK4452 DAC, a XMOS XUF208 USB chip, 2x OPA926 driver OP Amps and a TI OPA1612 low-pass filter OP AMP. RELATED: Best Earphones for Daily Commute. Even after more than 10 years of experience, Thanks for sharing informative and valuable content. Do you think this will be sufficient or should I shoot for something better? On the front panel from left to right you get : On the back panel, from left to right you have : Again, all the connectors feel sturdy and they should endure lots of plugging and unplugging over time. But, im curious how the k3 compared to ifi nano bl? The matte black paint is a safe choice and the FiiO / Hi-Res Audio logos have been laser engraved directly on the top panel. These are the main stuff. FiiO K5 PRO vs FiiO K3 (150 USD vs 110 USD) – K3 works from a smartphone though, especially if it is one of those smartphones that can act as a battery, but something like the Huawei P20 won’t do, and K3 would drain it way too quickly.