For my two pennies this R2R from Fiio supersedes the Topping E30 mk2 and Lite version , SMSL SU1 and probably all other dacs around £100-250 for music. I compared to the E30 and found the R2R preferable by far for music. I still have the E30 Lite on my desk and it’s great for what I use it for and it has good synergy with the JBL 104bt reference monitor although the low end could do with a little more definition from the E30 Lite but still, for the money it does a decent job. The R2R is in my main system for music only, no TV or gaming, just music. Gaming, imo, is best suited to Delta Sigma chips, they have a sharper and speedier response time. I hardwired the R2R to my Denon PMA900hne and it delivered a very clean, dynamic and engaging sound and not an boring, flat over scrutinizing digital boast that seems too busy analyzing everything that it sounds like its leaving the music behind forgetting what it is supposed to be doing...lol...which is not always the best choice for music, gaming maybe but in my experience so far, not always music. The Fiio sounds nice, more natural, more organic than most and great via the Denon. Very good value for money. Thank you for sharing your thoughts iWii.
Purchased the Fio K11 R2R based on one review right when released. Got it nearly the same time as a Wiim Ultra streamer. The best way for me after testing, it sounds the best to use usb output of the Wiim ultra - usb input on the Fio, the Fio is powered with Brzhifi linear power suppky (solves rhe detail in high issue, i keep it in OS mode), then I go out with RCA through a pair of Nordost silver copy to a Cayin mt35 mk2 tube amp that plays over Nordost valhalla 1 copy to Dali Zensor3 speakers. The combi never sounded better...the power suplly upgrade is worth the 100 Euro...bass is deeper, mids and soundstage more open, more mellow but better details in highs then with original power supply. sound projecte more forward and deeper soundstage. Wiim ultra sounds further away, singers more hiden away, places music more to the background, less lively, less musical, howevwr sometimes i need that sound... K can only say the Fio K11 R2R is an amazing device for the price and is an upgrade to the analog output of the Wiim ultra
When I first got mine, it was good via the headphone out and great via the line outs. You really need to pair with a good pre-amp or headphone amp to get the most out of it. I paired mine with a xDuoo TA-22 and it's been stellar. I think it sounds best with older and more acoustic music, think: Jazz, especially older recordings, Rock, etc. With video games it seems to be excellent at breaking apart the sounds they layer to build the sound effects. While Playing Mass Effect Legendary edition (a game I have 100s of hours into) I hear little tiny things I'm not hearing via my Topping E70/L70 stack, it's odd actually
Just recently purchased a mojo 2 to use for desktop with goldenear aon 3's and while they sound good im left wondering what a decent r2r would sound. Wanted to ask how this tiny dac sounded in your set up.
@@Cobaltickle Only been using this K11 R2R about a week, but first impressions when using this in NOS mode with the chain i already told, that the realism is better vs example Denon X3500H AVR internal DAC, but of course if one has too many unnesessary signal molesting things in between, all best are off to hear any difference 🤔
I dig your style. For the money, I'm thinking of putting a Genesis Digital lens in front of my Tradutto, which is on fire, just to see for myself. Cool runnings
Great little dac! Hooked mine up with the Fiio SR11 and powered both with the iFi Power X and it sounds great! The iFi does improve the already good sound quality by quite a fair bit, again with a darker background punchier bass, more focused vocals and cleaner highs. I would say you have a fair and valid observation of Fiio’s R2R here Serb, great! I listen to a lot of Gospel Reggae and the R2R is excellent for the full, punchier bass and slower rhythms. I never really use Headphones but I do own a pair of Senhiesser 560s which I test things with and the R2R imo was better than the Delta Sigma version of the K11, which I later sold on.
@ Yep, one neat little box! I personally don’t use Roon but know it boosts Airplay sound quality. I tested the SR11 against the WiiM Mini and the while both are great budget options the SR11 sounds better, cleaner all round and especially in the low frequencies. For the extra £10 here in the UK over the WiiM we do get a lot more, it’s a snatch!
Gospel reggae sounds interesting! Can you share some favourite artists and tracks? thanks. Been on the hunt for some more worship music in different genres
Solomon Jabby, Christafari….either one of those should lead to plenty of brothers and sisters in Christ within this genre via AI suggestions on current streaming platforms. Cheers!
Thanks for the great review. One aspect that seems to come across and you mentioned it a few times was the tonal quality and texture. This would be what I am always looking for with a DAC so may well try the Fiio K11 RSR. Did you compare the Fiio with any other R2R DAC?
Big hello from Kerala, India. Big fan here, in fact your reviews are the talking point with a few of my head-fi pals; keep the reviews coming! Now moving on to my query; I currently already have the RAW-MDA1, and am looking to purchase the Mojo 2 in the near future. I also have the SPL Phonitor One amp, and mainly use my Beyerdynamic Amiron Home when at home/ office. For portable I use the RU6 with Sennheiser IE600. So, do you think the K11 r2r is a better dac than the MDA1 when connected to a superior amp like my Phonitor One which is a very clean neutral-ish amp (that can output the k11 r2r sound cleanly to my Amiron Home)? Or do you think the Mojo 2 upgrade might be the better option as a dual purpose desktop & portable unit, and the K11 r2r might be unnecessary? Thanks in advance, cheers.
Some reviews find this dac can sound "congested" with more complex music, do any of you that tried fiio dac noticed that? I am considering this peace of electronics for my next dac, so i want to hear more opinions on that.And thanks Srboljub for another great an useful review.
Almost nobody tells you this: when used in USB mode, the coaxial input can be used also as an OUTPUT. I have this K11 R2R and I use the coaxial input as an output conected to an all in one Cambridge Audio EVO150 deLorean SE. Anyway, for the price, this is a "little wonder"! Just buy it, you won't regret it. P.S. Works great with an iFi power supply. Cheers!
@@valentinobv …also I highly recommend the Belden 1694F coaxial…suits the R2R…can be found on eBay with Audioquest compression RCA no solder! 0.75m for £25.
@trekkis I think you misunderstand something. It's not used as a DDC, but as a DAC that by-passes the one in the CA Evo (in my case) which is crappier.
Hi Serb, I've seen your review and general positive feedback on the D6S, but I've only ever used its RCA output, I did not get why this DAC was recommended as the best DAC for this price point, however after you mentioned the improved performance using XLR output, I've given it another chance, and yes, what difference does it make, I just want to say Thank you!! Your reviews and especially comparisons help us make sense of products relative to each other, now I'm very curious what the K11 R2R sounds like at this price!! And your insights regarding the differences between it and the D6S will be helpful in my decision, again, Thank you!!
I bought it just yesterday and today I see that my favorite reviewer has just made a video about it :) I haven't watched it yet, but I hope he's not criticizing it too much, because otherwise I'll have to return it ;)
That's like saying: "I'm not going to buy Apples because Michelin Star Chefs say Oranges taste better"...No one is more "right" in this hobby..Only YOU know what you are hearing...Your opinion is not worth less than the OP's.
Yes you're right, I was joking a bit because I know that everyone has a different taste and expects something different. Anyway, after the first listens I have to agree 100% with what was said in the review.
Likely the reason it is so cheap is the resistors used in the R2R ladder at 0.1% the ENOB (effective number of bits ) is only 10 bits meaning the fact that it is “24 bit” is quite irrelevant most R2R dacs use 0.01% resistors which are much more expensive but lead to about 10x the performance. I wish manufacturers would actually state the ENOB
Yes, but 10 times better precision doesn't translate to 10 times better sound. So when value proposition is important there's place for less precise ones.
purple? deep purple! I watched till the end. Headphone amplifier is much more important for sound signature than a decent dac as such. Personally I use many 'pro' headphones with high impedance (250, 300, 600 Ohm) so even an OTL is fine for 'old skool' vinylish sound.....
More expensive R2Rs like Denafrips have same tonal qualities but with bigger soundstage and more dynamic grunt. Like a car model of the same manufacturer but bigger with more space and bigger engine.
Might be a nice one for my desktop setup. Now there is a smsl Sanskrit 10th mkII. I could use headphones as well. FIIO 's FT1 would likely be a good candidate.
great video as always. By the way, what dac and amp stack would you recommend for someone who prefers neutral or reference? I've been struggling to find a good pair even after watching most of your reviews :D Budget is 1.5k USD
There have been comparisons made with Hiby Fc6. The Fc6 offers a considerable improvement in sound quality. Yes it is more expensive, but you can find it on sale for $180-200, and it is portable.
Hm, there's a bunch of test equipment in the description, but no mention on speaker or amp matching for this DAC. It would really help to judge if this one is for me.
I own the smsl D6s and did like that I was able to use my expensive power cord that i Had laying around unused. VHAudio Flavor 4 fyi. Yes, I believe in snake oil, and have heard that oil work in my own ears....lol. The dac sounds fantastic and never tried it with the stock cord.
Actually purchased the smsl D6s off of your recommendation and your link... btw. Was using an older ifi nano which sounded great but the smsl was a slight upgrade and happy with the purchase for sure. Definitely wider. People always say they can't hear any changes with these filters. I definitely hear them. Some of them are subtle but others not so much with my system.
I bought and it's only a tiny bit better than my Macbook headphone jack out. On the other hand my Denafrips Ares 12-1 and Pontus 15 DACs are a major leap in performance. I just don't get the hype of this thing. Save your money and get a real DAC/amp.
Sir you provide excellent information. Could you suggest me VFM Streamer and DAC. Also suggest I should take them separately or single piece which includes streamer as well as DAC. Because now a days we depend upon streaming source for music and movies also. Movies are ok. But songs are not upto the mark even I have listened to APPLE and SPOTIFY by using APPLE TV and NVIDIA ANDROID. All sounds same from same source. Using YAMAHA AVR. Request you to please guide me in this regard.
As you all know " As Long as DACs are tuned to be linear and free of distortion - SIND(Signal-to -noise and Distortion is >90db), there is no audible difference between AKM/ESS/Cirrus/TI chips at identical single levels. RME must hold the same stance, as they freely swap chips without bothering to rename their products. "Then there's cognitive bias. And the human brain has an auditory buffer length of about 0.2 seconds: good luck turning a DAC on in this timeframe, and never mind having the mental capacity to accurately compare sonic differences between 2 similar DAC's" - Audio Engineer. JDS Labs. Have a good day.
it would be intersting to test it with various alternative piwer supplies. My experience so far it changes the sound signature of tbe Fio K11 R2R big time. I use a Brzhifi 25w 12vdc linear power supply (other reaction explained the sound difference),. The included FIo switching power brings the mid actually more forward out of the speakers, for me sounds harsher, lacks detail in the highs. However the bass is more punchy, faster sharper edged. a good quality switching power supply may be in the middle....the bass is better with switching power supply, larger 3 d soundstage in the mids....but not a tomality that i wanted to hear in the mid ... the fact you can change power aupply makes intersting, really major effect
I have the HIFIMAN HE400SE and Letshuoer S12 Pro, both running on my FIIO BTR5. Would this DAC deliver more power than the BTR5, and will it drive these effectively? Any feedback on performance differences would be great!"
I would only use Topping DAC's because they are the only ones that use 12V triggers and that is important in separated system setup (streamer - DAC - pre amp - power amplifier - subwoofer most use 12v triggers)
There is auto on function, but not needed. Dac can be simply never turn off without problem. Subs also have auto on function - trigger not needed. Besides, they are class D. Also can be always powered on. Amps and pre the same - auto on / off function.
@@trekkis It is only for PC connection and usage a problem, for TV or streamers it is ok. Like when you read on PC and then start a youtube video then the first seconds you miss what they say because after 10min the amp and subwoofer goes in standby.
This is exactly bad implementation. As above, there is no such problem in proper one. Time to standby is a lot longer, and even in standby react time is almost real time. There is no technical difference comparing to trigger. Incoming port itself is trigger. Simply the same. And there is no difference between tv and pc. I'm using TV mainly for yt, with a lot of often long pauses. Also, I have pc connected do tv, where tv is monitor. And, as above - there is no any reason to turn off simple dacs, preamps, or class D subs and amps. And I know how bad implementation looks, svs subs are in overall perfect, but their auto is terrible and not useful. Klipsch for example uncomparably better. Fiio implementation is also not good, so I simply never turn it off. There is no reason for that. I have even some old class D amp which was never turned off - it's working about 10 years without any off.
@iiWiReviews yes, but question would be how difference in sound quality is in relation to price - is for you difference in price adequate or not, in both ways? :)
There is a strong diminishing return law in action. You pay a lot more to hear relatively small differences. But hardcore audiophiles live for those small differences and gush over them much more than a casual listener.
@@iiWiReviews Sometimes those small differences add up to a big difference. I loved my old turntable and old cartridge (with a new stylus) until I got an SMSL SU1 and Wiim Mini. Then this year I went crazy and spent money on a new turntable and cart (Reloop RP7000 mk2 with AT 540ML cart. Also upgraded the receiver to one with a better phono amp) and now the SU1 sounds cheap and limited.
@@nonsolorasatura9093 …good question, the ifi sounds nice too, I would guess-say similar, both giving that deeper more rich sound than most modern entry level dacs give.
It's output is literally perfect, can not be improved. Ifi has active suppressing systems. Standard oscilloscope scale is not enough to detect anything. Lps not always are perfect, also depends on device. Can be simply worse, despite price and dimensions. Standard fiio ps from box is for comparison terrible - absolute trash. The worst I have ever measured.
No, that's not how it works. Amps can't be daisy chained like that. You go from line level out on Fiio (acting as a DAC) to line level input on Sparkos that acts as an amp.
I am currently using the topping L30II & E30II stack. would this be an upgrade, sidegrade, or downgrade? Headphones I have include, Sennheiser hd560s, hd490pro, Drop x Hifiman he-x4. Looking into picking up the Hifiman edition XS in a couple of months. Whould I pass on this and move up to the SMSL Raw-MDA1?
when you say the headphone amp in k11r2R is not that great, is it for hard to drive high impedance headphone or also for easy to drive low impedance iems ?
Yes, IEMs are generally speaking more sensitive and easier to drive, so it should work very well with most of them. I would still try to pair it with models that sound more dynamic and bassy.
neah thanks , it doesn't have a bass boost or power match , i'll stick with my Zen Dac V2 , that power match is more like a Normalizer , that gives you extra gain , but doesn't go overboard just this small amp , paired with Edifier R2750B , which have subwoofers in both speakers , plus some VST Host with extra gain plugin and other effects i can turn on , tried to look for a better one , but none of them have descent bass boost , it's just night and day , when turning bass boost off and on , i also have Dolby Access , which gives another extra boost to the volume and punch in the music ... my father complains at the front of the house , while i play music way at the back of the house , he can feel the bass in his big chair from these double subwoofers ... didn't pay much for it , but the power this small amp has , is unbelievable really
The Chinese continue to lead with innovation...I wonder if people could CONSISTENTLY 10/10 times hear the difference between this and the Denefripps?..Their ears may get confused.
I was really disappointed with this dac. It has nothing in common with the real r2r architecture. Poor, sterile and sharp sounding dac. It sounds like the cheap delta sigma dac.
For my two pennies this R2R from Fiio supersedes the Topping E30 mk2 and Lite version , SMSL SU1 and probably all other dacs around £100-250 for music. I compared to the E30 and found the R2R preferable by far for music. I still have the E30 Lite on my desk and it’s great for what I use it for and it has good synergy with the JBL 104bt reference monitor although the low end could do with a little more definition from the E30 Lite but still, for the money it does a decent job. The R2R is in my main system for music only, no TV or gaming, just music. Gaming, imo, is best suited to Delta Sigma chips, they have a sharper and speedier response time. I hardwired the R2R to my Denon PMA900hne and it delivered a very clean, dynamic and engaging sound and not an boring, flat over scrutinizing digital boast that seems too busy analyzing everything that it sounds like its leaving the music behind forgetting what it is supposed to be doing...lol...which is not always the best choice for music, gaming maybe but in my experience so far, not always music. The Fiio sounds nice, more natural, more organic than most and great via the Denon. Very good value for money. Thank you for sharing your thoughts iWii.
2:26 “Purple sounds the best.” 💜
Purple always sounds best
Prince agreed.
I found that the white green setting sounded best in my reviews. Great video. Thx.
Good morning Ed. Did you prefer nos vs os mode ?
@@adsph Green lights and NOS mode. However after midnight I liked blue mode and non-undersampling mode. Lol.
iiWi Reviews you are a class unit! Another brilliant review, Thank You
Thanks for the ultra clear review.
Great descriptive review. Thanks.
Purchased the Fio K11 R2R based on one review right when released. Got it nearly the same time as a Wiim Ultra streamer. The best way for me after testing, it sounds the best to use usb output of the Wiim ultra - usb input on the Fio, the Fio is powered with Brzhifi linear power suppky (solves rhe detail in high issue, i keep it in OS mode), then I go out with RCA through a pair of Nordost silver copy to a Cayin mt35 mk2 tube amp that plays over Nordost valhalla 1 copy to Dali Zensor3 speakers. The combi never sounded better...the power suplly upgrade is worth the 100 Euro...bass is deeper, mids and soundstage more open, more mellow but better details in highs then with original power supply. sound projecte more forward and deeper soundstage. Wiim ultra sounds further away, singers more hiden away, places music more to the background, less lively, less musical, howevwr sometimes i need that sound... K can only say the Fio K11 R2R is an amazing device for the price and is an upgrade to the analog output of the Wiim ultra
Do you think that Brzhifi linear power supply is better than popular iFi Power X ?
When I first got mine, it was good via the headphone out and great via the line outs. You really need to pair with a good pre-amp or headphone amp to get the most out of it. I paired mine with a xDuoo TA-22 and it's been stellar. I think it sounds best with older and more acoustic music, think: Jazz, especially older recordings, Rock, etc. With video games it seems to be excellent at breaking apart the sounds they layer to build the sound effects. While Playing Mass Effect Legendary edition (a game I have 100s of hours into) I hear little tiny things I'm not hearing via my Topping E70/L70 stack, it's odd actually
Tidal -> (bit perfect / exclusive mode on MacOS) -> USB -> FiiO K11 R2R DAC / no oversampling mode, Line out mode -> Class-A single ended amp -> Klipsch Heresy ! 👍
Just recently purchased a mojo 2 to use for desktop with goldenear aon 3's and while they sound good im left wondering what a decent r2r would sound. Wanted to ask how this tiny dac sounded in your set up.
@@Cobaltickle Only been using this K11 R2R about a week, but first impressions when using this in NOS mode with the chain i already told, that the realism is better vs example Denon X3500H AVR internal DAC, but of course if one has too many unnesessary signal molesting things in between, all best are off to hear any difference 🤔
Great and exceptionally understandably expressed review as always!
How does it compare to Hifiman EF400 or EF500 r2rs?
I have the EF400 and I am curious as well.
This is what I am trying to decide between too. The EF400/499 and K11.
I dig your style. For the money, I'm thinking of putting a Genesis Digital lens in front of my Tradutto, which is on fire, just to see for myself. Cool runnings
Mine should be arriving today from Amazon. I'm looking at it as a replacement for my JDSLabs El Dac II+.
Thanks for the video! I’ve got a D6-s and was wondering if the Fiio would be a step up-your answer nailed it!
This DAC is really amazing when you have SE coverter to XLR + Linear PSU. Sure it will rock your world.
please could you recommend some converter and a linear PSU working well with this DAC?
@@darekk7459 Mke sure the PSU is at least 50 watts
Great little dac! Hooked mine up with the Fiio SR11 and powered both with the iFi Power X and it sounds great! The iFi does improve the already good sound quality by quite a fair bit, again with a darker background punchier bass, more focused vocals and cleaner highs. I would say you have a fair and valid observation of Fiio’s R2R here Serb, great!
I listen to a lot of Gospel Reggae and the R2R is excellent for the full, punchier bass and slower rhythms. I never really use Headphones but I do own a pair of Senhiesser 560s which I test things with and the R2R imo was better than the Delta Sigma version of the K11, which I later sold on.
I just got the SR11 and what a fantastic streamer transport for $100
Generally use AirPlay but Roon is what makes it so great
@ Yep, one neat little box! I personally don’t use Roon but know it boosts Airplay sound quality. I tested the SR11 against the WiiM Mini and the while both are great budget options the SR11 sounds better, cleaner all round and especially in the low frequencies. For the extra £10 here in the UK over the WiiM we do get a lot more, it’s a snatch!
Gospel reggae sounds interesting! Can you share some favourite artists and tracks? thanks. Been on the hunt for some more worship music in different genres
Solomon Jabby, Christafari….either one of those should lead to plenty of brothers and sisters in Christ within this genre via AI suggestions on current streaming platforms. Cheers!
@ That would be a beautiful thing
Thanks for the great review. One aspect that seems to come across and you mentioned it a few times was the tonal quality and texture. This would be what I am always looking for with a DAC so may well try the Fiio K11 RSR. Did you compare the Fiio with any other R2R DAC?
Let me know how you like it, if you like it a lot i might pull the trigger !
Big hello from Kerala, India. Big fan here, in fact your reviews are the talking point with a few of my head-fi pals; keep the reviews coming!
Now moving on to my query; I currently already have the RAW-MDA1, and am looking to purchase the Mojo 2 in the near future. I also have the SPL
Phonitor One amp, and mainly use my Beyerdynamic Amiron Home when at home/ office. For portable I use the RU6 with Sennheiser IE600.
So, do you think the K11 r2r is a better dac than the MDA1 when connected to a superior amp like my Phonitor One which is a very clean neutral-ish amp (that can output the k11 r2r sound cleanly to my Amiron Home)? Or do you think the Mojo 2 upgrade might be the better option as a dual purpose desktop & portable unit, and the K11 r2r might be unnecessary?
Thanks in advance, cheers.
Some reviews find this dac can sound "congested" with more complex music, do any of you that tried fiio dac noticed that? I am considering this peace of electronics for my next dac, so i want to hear more opinions on that.And thanks Srboljub for another great an useful review.
Thank you for this review , I've been waiting!
I've been enjoying mine since it was released. I fully recommend it. I'll give "OS" another try.
Almost nobody tells you this: when used in USB mode, the coaxial input can be used also as an OUTPUT. I have this K11 R2R and I use the coaxial input as an output conected to an all in one Cambridge Audio EVO150 deLorean SE. Anyway, for the price, this is a "little wonder"! Just buy it, you won't regret it. P.S. Works great with an iFi power supply. Cheers!
@@valentinobv It’s how I use mine too.
@@valentinobv …also I highly recommend the Belden 1694F coaxial…suits the R2R…can be found on eBay with Audioquest compression RCA no solder! 0.75m for £25.
Because it's hard to find sense of such configuration. Using something like r2r dac like simply DDC is huuuge waste :/
@trekkis I think you misunderstand something. It's not used as a DDC, but as a DAC that by-passes the one in the CA Evo (in my case) which is crappier.
Will the toslink serve as an output also. Or just the coax?
Appreciate your featuring TakéDaké and Owl Song. Nice first cuts, I’ll be listening more. (Xduoo TA-22 w Apos Ray tubes -> Focal Clear Mg )
Glad to see that you keep faithful to your purple beliefs 😂
Yikes! Amazing price for what it is! Thanks for the review. This may wind up in my bedroom, in the intermediate future. 🎉
Purple ALWAYS sounds the best!
Hi Serb, I've seen your review and general positive feedback on the D6S, but I've only ever used its RCA output, I did not get why this DAC was recommended as the best DAC for this price point, however after you mentioned the improved performance using XLR output, I've given it another chance, and yes, what difference does it make, I just want to say Thank you!! Your reviews and especially comparisons help us make sense of products relative to each other, now I'm very curious what the K11 R2R sounds like at this price!! And your insights regarding the differences between it and the D6S will be helpful in my decision, again, Thank you!!
I bought it just yesterday and today I see that my favorite reviewer has just made a video about it :)
I haven't watched it yet, but I hope he's not criticizing it too much, because otherwise I'll have to return it ;)
That's like saying: "I'm not going to buy Apples because Michelin Star Chefs say Oranges taste better"...No one is more "right" in this hobby..Only YOU know what you are hearing...Your opinion is not worth less than the OP's.
Yes you're right, I was joking a bit because I know that everyone has a different taste and expects something different. Anyway, after the first listens I have to agree 100% with what was said in the review.
Likely the reason it is so cheap is the resistors used in the R2R ladder at 0.1% the ENOB (effective number of bits ) is only 10 bits meaning the fact that it is “24 bit” is quite irrelevant most R2R dacs use 0.01% resistors which are much more expensive but lead to about 10x the performance. I wish manufacturers would actually state the ENOB
Yes, but 10 times better precision doesn't translate to 10 times better sound. So when value proposition is important there's place for less precise ones.
@@iiWiReviewsthat is definitely true it is a very impressive price point considering the specs
@@iiWiReviewsit is very well known and understood that resistor matching is very important.
Purple setting with Black Sabbath!!!
Masters of reality? 😊
Really nice, no nonsense review. Thanks.
purple? deep purple! I watched till the end. Headphone amplifier is much more important for sound signature than a decent dac as such. Personally I use many 'pro' headphones with high impedance (250, 300, 600 Ohm) so even an OTL is fine for 'old skool' vinylish sound.....
Thanks for this nice Review! Did you see if this DAC has exchangeable OP-Amps? I found it a very worthy upgrade possibility on other cheaper DAC s.
Would love to see your comparison against Denafrips.How does Fiio stack up against more expensive gear.Great review as always.
More expensive R2Rs like Denafrips have same tonal qualities but with bigger soundstage and more dynamic grunt. Like a car model of the same manufacturer but bigger with more space and bigger engine.
Might be a nice one for my desktop setup. Now there is a smsl Sanskrit 10th mkII. I could use headphones as well. FIIO 's FT1 would likely be a good candidate.
Great review every time, thanks.
Do you know if it is possible to swap the Op Amps?
great video as always.
By the way, what dac and amp stack would you recommend for someone who prefers neutral or reference? I've been struggling to find a good pair even after watching most of your reviews :D
Budget is 1.5k USD
This or the Hifiman ef499? EF499 is on sale at the same price and seems like a more premium and feature rich package
Nice, maybe adding balanced(xlr) version would even be nicer 😊
There have been comparisons made with Hiby Fc6. The Fc6 offers a considerable improvement in sound quality. Yes it is more expensive, but you can find it on sale for $180-200, and it is portable.
Interesting. I don't see any stock anywhere. How are you basing your comparison? Thanks.
@Eron55555 I've heard and owned the FC6. Others who have had both tell me the FC6 is clearly superior.
fc6 is SE with 100mw, I doubt that's gonna power headphones which K11 would
Hm, there's a bunch of test equipment in the description, but no mention on speaker or amp matching for this DAC. It would really help to judge if this one is for me.
Go PURPLE!
P.S. I use an iFi iPower Elite power supply with my FiiO K7 DAC-amp.
Purple also makes all Prince and Jimi Hendrix music sound so much better.
First! Great review, as always, and thank you!
I think this is my jam. Heck I think my WIIM hockey puck sounds great:)
Finally!? That came out over five months ago.
I own the smsl D6s and did like that I was able to use my expensive power cord that i Had laying around unused. VHAudio Flavor 4 fyi. Yes, I believe in snake oil, and have heard that oil work in my own ears....lol. The dac sounds fantastic and never tried it with the stock cord.
Actually purchased the smsl D6s off of your recommendation and your link... btw. Was using an older ifi nano which sounded great but the smsl was a slight upgrade and happy with the purchase for sure. Definitely wider. People always say they can't hear any changes with these filters. I definitely hear them. Some of them are subtle but others not so much with my system.
It's a really interesting piece. How would it compare to Fiio K7?
I use Fiio K7BT. Why FIIO doesn't offer Quality smps option I dont understand. Except IFI there is no option, they are pricey.
I'm thinking on getting these for my DT 1990, wondering what you think of the pariing
I bought and it's only a tiny bit better than my Macbook headphone jack out. On the other hand my Denafrips Ares 12-1 and Pontus 15 DACs are a major leap in performance. I just don't get the hype of this thing. Save your money and get a real DAC/amp.
Thanks for sharing.
So, in your opinion and from your experience, which one would be a good pairing for the Verum 2?
🔈🎶
I am quite happy with Verum 2 and Rose Technics RT5000. If budget is tight, lowest I would go for these headphones is SMSL RAW MDA1.
Sir you provide excellent information. Could you suggest me VFM Streamer and DAC. Also suggest I should take them separately or single piece which includes streamer as well as DAC. Because now a days we depend upon streaming source for music and movies also. Movies are ok. But songs are not upto the mark even I have listened to APPLE and SPOTIFY by using APPLE TV and NVIDIA ANDROID. All sounds same from same source. Using YAMAHA AVR. Request you to please guide me in this regard.
SMSL MDA1 is on sale and we got it for only 60 EUR more than K11 R2R. There is only one choice ^^
I am curious to how this DAC compares to the Geshelli Labs J2 AKM 4499 DAC and/or the Denafrips Aries II?
J2S is cleaner and more spacious sounding. Ares II is not cleaner or more deteiled but it is definitely bigger (both wider and deeper) sounding.
Pozdrav, koji dac je vise muzikalan topao, ovaj Fiio r2r ili Topping E70 velvet?
Hvala i Lp
Prilično slično ali u NOS modu je ovaj malo topliji. Plus je generalno bolji odnos uloženo-dobijeno.
Will you review the smsl dl200? it seems very similar to d6s and it has an headphone output
As you all know " As Long as DACs are tuned to be linear and free of distortion - SIND(Signal-to -noise and Distortion is >90db), there is no audible difference between AKM/ESS/Cirrus/TI chips at identical single levels. RME must hold the same stance, as they freely swap chips without bothering to rename their products. "Then there's cognitive bias. And the human brain has an auditory buffer length of about 0.2 seconds: good luck turning a DAC on in this timeframe, and never mind having the mental capacity to accurately compare sonic differences between 2 similar DAC's" - Audio Engineer. JDS Labs. Have a good day.
Great review, thank you so much.
it would be intersting to test it with various alternative piwer supplies. My experience so far it changes the sound signature of tbe Fio K11 R2R big time. I use a Brzhifi 25w 12vdc linear power supply (other reaction explained the sound difference),. The included FIo switching power brings the mid actually more forward out of the speakers, for me sounds harsher, lacks detail in the highs. However the bass is more punchy, faster
sharper edged. a good quality switching power supply may be in the middle....the bass is better with switching power supply, larger 3 d soundstage in the mids....but not a tomality that i wanted to hear in the mid ... the fact you can change power aupply makes intersting, really major effect
I have the HIFIMAN HE400SE and Letshuoer S12 Pro, both running on my FIIO BTR5. Would this DAC deliver more power than the BTR5, and will it drive these effectively? Any feedback on performance differences would be great!"
I would only use Topping DAC's because they are the only ones that use 12V triggers and that is important in separated system setup (streamer - DAC - pre amp - power amplifier - subwoofer most use 12v triggers)
There is auto on function, but not needed. Dac can be simply never turn off without problem.
Subs also have auto on function - trigger not needed. Besides, they are class D. Also can be always powered on. Amps and pre the same - auto on / off function.
@@trekkis They give a few seconds delay if you watch videos on a PC.
Only bad implementations, there is no such problem in good implementations. I'm using auto on in all equipment with TV.
@@trekkis It is only for PC connection and usage a problem, for TV or streamers it is ok. Like when you read on PC and then start a youtube video then the first seconds you miss what they say because after 10min the amp and subwoofer goes in standby.
This is exactly bad implementation. As above, there is no such problem in proper one. Time to standby is a lot longer, and even in standby react time is almost real time. There is no technical difference comparing to trigger. Incoming port itself is trigger. Simply the same.
And there is no difference between tv and pc. I'm using TV mainly for yt, with a lot of often long pauses. Also, I have pc connected do tv, where tv is monitor.
And, as above - there is no any reason to turn off simple dacs, preamps, or class D subs and amps.
And I know how bad implementation looks, svs subs are in overall perfect, but their auto is terrible and not useful. Klipsch for example uncomparably better.
Fiio implementation is also not good, so I simply never turn it off. There is no reason for that. I have even some old class D amp which was never turned off - it's working about 10 years without any off.
I would be very courius regarding your comparison with ares and similar r2r models :)
Those bigger and pricier R2Rs have bigger scale. So bigger soundstage and more grunt overall. Better layering too.
@iiWiReviews yes, but question would be how difference in sound quality is in relation to price - is for you difference in price adequate or not, in both ways? :)
There is a strong diminishing return law in action. You pay a lot more to hear relatively small differences. But hardcore audiophiles live for those small differences and gush over them much more than a casual listener.
@@iiWiReviews true :)
@@iiWiReviews Sometimes those small differences add up to a big difference. I loved my old turntable and old cartridge (with a new stylus) until I got an SMSL SU1 and Wiim Mini. Then this year I went crazy and spent money on a new turntable and cart (Reloop RP7000 mk2 with AT 540ML cart. Also upgraded the receiver to one with a better phono amp) and now the SU1 sounds cheap and limited.
Please review Fiio ft1
I have the non R2R version which I rarely use because it is not possible to choose the output destination without going into the menus.
There is no need to use menu, there is quick and handy two click.
Do you know if you can use the fiio with remote?
How compare with the iFi Zen?
@@nonsolorasatura9093 …good question, the ifi sounds nice too, I would guess-say similar, both giving that deeper more rich sound than most modern entry level dacs give.
I have both… yes both have that warmer sound but the Fiio has a wider stage. I find ifi to have a small stage, IMHO
Ifi zen v2 btw
Thanks..
I have the Zen 1.
..... And was hoping I would be able to hear some difference
Ahhhhhhhhhh.... my audio vampire! Love to listen....
Does this Fiio r2r drive / power the beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250 Ohm? Thanks for sharing!
Without any problem even on medium setting - have both.
I prefrer the NOS mode cause my audio chain is already so revealing, and main speakers are Klipch Heresy
Any particular reason to go w/ the iFi switching psu over a LPS?
It's output is literally perfect, can not be improved. Ifi has active suppressing systems. Standard oscilloscope scale is not enough to detect anything. Lps not always are perfect, also depends on device. Can be simply worse, despite price and dimensions.
Standard fiio ps from box is for comparison terrible - absolute trash. The worst I have ever measured.
What is a decent headphone amp to pair this with?
JDS Atom amp+
FiiO FT-1 is very good with this unit.
If you use the headphone out into the front panel headphone in, on the Sparkos Gemini, will you then be double amping? Is that the term?
No, that's not how it works. Amps can't be daisy chained like that. You go from line level out on Fiio (acting as a DAC) to line level input on Sparkos that acts as an amp.
I am currently using the topping L30II & E30II stack. would this be an upgrade, sidegrade, or downgrade? Headphones I have include, Sennheiser hd560s, hd490pro, Drop x Hifiman he-x4. Looking into picking up the Hifiman edition XS in a couple of months. Whould I pass on this and move up to the SMSL Raw-MDA1?
Sidegrade for the DAC and downgrade for headphone amp. That stack is still very strong, I suggest enjoying it a bit longer and resisting the fomo.
The full.... "PURPLE"!! 😂👍😂
when you say the headphone amp in k11r2R is not that great, is it for hard to drive high impedance headphone or also for easy to drive low impedance iems ?
Yes, IEMs are generally speaking more sensitive and easier to drive, so it should work very well with most of them. I would still try to pair it with models that sound more dynamic and bassy.
@@iiWiReviews do you have a dac/amp under $200 to recommend for iems exclusively ? thanks
good to know
As great as always. I am not really interested in this price category but I have the feeling that I can learn a lot though. 👍
neah thanks , it doesn't have a bass boost or power match ,
i'll stick with my Zen Dac V2 , that power match is more like a Normalizer , that gives you extra gain , but doesn't go overboard
just this small amp , paired with Edifier R2750B , which have subwoofers in both speakers , plus some VST Host with extra gain plugin and other effects i can turn on ,
tried to look for a better one , but none of them have descent bass boost , it's just night and day , when turning bass boost off and on ,
i also have Dolby Access , which gives another extra boost to the volume and punch in the music ...
my father complains at the front of the house , while i play music way at the back of the house , he can feel the bass in his big chair from these double subwoofers ...
didn't pay much for it , but the power this small amp has , is unbelievable really
Purple sounds the best 😂
is it good for Sennheiser HD650 ?
@@toxotis70 …goes well with the 560s if that might give you some indication.
The Chinese continue to lead with innovation...I wonder if people could CONSISTENTLY 10/10 times hear the difference between this and the Denefripps?..Their ears may get confused.
Im stuck between K11 and K11 r2r
The real question is, why ds k11 even exist
Has anyone tried to update the firmware on the K11 R2R? When I do , I end up bricking it and need to revert.
@@Eron55555 maybe you used file for non r2r version? Lastly I check there was no version for r2r
@@trekkis I looked and looked. Cannot find a R2R labeled version. Just K11 122.
@@Eron55555 so this is the reason. There is no new firmware for r2r, you used wrong one.
@@trekkis Well another bonus to this little device then is it's ability to unbrick from a backup inside the system.
@@Eron55555 yes, this is good thing and not common
I was really disappointed with this dac. It has nothing in common with the real r2r architecture. Poor, sterile and sharp sounding dac. It sounds like the cheap delta sigma dac.
The resistors precision is too low at 0.1%, it needs to be at least 0.05%...
There is no such need. Can be, but not need to be. 0.1 is more than enough in this price range, and even not only.
Who said my dongle was small 😡
@@NosEL34 …someone whom either values truth or doesn’t deserve to see it in the first place…
@Panslapper 👍lol
You, purple colour man, give us audio demo after verbal review!