#donglemadness
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มิ.ย. 2024
- Behold the most powerful ultra compact dongle from FiiO
Sections:
00:00 Intro, Price & Where To Buy
01:28 Overview and observations
05:15 Sound & Performance
12:16 Rated & Compared
13:34 Timbre Signature
14:16 Verdict
Get FiiO KA11 from Red Ape Audio Malaysia: (Non-Affiliated)
shopee.com.my/FiiO-KA11-DAC-a...
Shot On:
- Sony Alpha A6700 (Native 4K50P XAVC HS 4.2.2)
- Sony FE 24mm F1.4 GM (Primary)
- Viltrox FE F1.8 85mm (Secondary)
- Sony Xperia 1 iV (Close Up)
- RØDE Wireless Pro
#donglemadness Dongle Ranking List:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Link to IEMs Ranking Spreadsheet:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
My Tidal Version Playlist:
tidal.com/browse/playlist/ba3...
My Metal Playlist:
tidal.com/browse/playlist/59c...
My Gaming Channel:
/ @feveredpitchdelirium
My Twitch Channel:
/ fpdelirium - เพลง
Paired with the amazingly cheap FIIO JD1 IEM this little dongle has been my entry into quality sound through my phone. I was absolutely blown away with the sound of a $75 (Aus) rig and a tidal subscription. So rich and detailed, music bought to life and a joy to listen to. This little dongle will now stay in my car ( which has never sounded so engaging ) connected to AUX as I and am patiently waiting for my new FIIO Q11 dac to arrive. I am pretty sure the FIIO FH 3 will be IEMS that I will purchase soon so that I can emerse myself in sub bass.
Love your channel Andy !!
Hey thanks Mate. Cheers! and enjoy the music! 🍻
Good to see another review of this item from you.
You are probably the most consistent reviewer I know for dac dongles.
I was looking into buying this but you're precious review made me take a step back. Hopefully it's better now.
My pleasure
FiiO JA 11 more budget dongle coming soon cant wait for your review
JA11 is geared for more options with MIC and also a bit more, but it may be not as powerful as KA11
@@donglemadnessit isn't, Mr Andy.
@@donglemadnessIt has also peq integrated, a very interesting feature
KA11 drives the KZ PR2 v1 with a bit of headroom to spare, (Sonata HP Pro with extra power "cheat" couldn't). It drives the DC Drop X Aeon Closed just enough, would like more volume but it's listenable.
I love the size and power of the KA11! I am adding it to my wishlist. Fantastic review, Andy!
Thanks!
Hello Andy,
I recently updated the KA11 to newest firmware, and it works perfectly!
No issues at all...! When I put it in my phone with headphones the volume goes up and down perfectly not having to go to app too loud volume. I was afraid to update firmware but I just did the update. When update in program you have to follow instructions EXACTLY, incl changing the item codes when updating, and don't forget to take out usb and put it in again, then it starts updating..)
Now on 0.08 version
I love the fiio ka11! I really like your reviews, being now your subscriber!❤
(Ps: it doesn't get so hot anymore when just idle)
Glad to hear that and thanks so much for the support!
As usual detailed commanding review
Thanks again!
Muy buena reseña mi estimado Andy, siempre examinando a fondo los equipos, iría bien con KZ ZS 10 Pro, abrazos.
Gracias, sí, de hecho, KA11 irá bien con KZ ZS10
⭐Hey Mr. Andy, I own the Fiio Ka11 and luving it. Lots of power to run magnetic planar IEM's and headphones, brilliant sound quality. I am getting loud music volume using a Motorola phone volume at 4. I have had zero issues with the amp/dac, running perfectly smooth. Its power output is equal to the Fiio E10K Olympus 2. 😎👍💕
Impressive right? 😁😁
Thanks for the review.
I just got one myself.
Mine arrived by with the 0.8 FW already installed.
Honestly, I don't really have any headphones with the impedance to require it, so for me it's overkill for my Truthear Hola's, Phillips SHP900's and my Audiotechnica M40x's, and honestly I'd probably have been better off getting something a bit weaker, with maybe mic support, which was a bit of an oversight in the KA11 I think - or maybe I should just buy higher end headphones. :)
As you say, it gets pretty hot, which indicates maybe some inefficiency, so I'm hoping a newer FW is released to address that, maybe by throttling the output power a bit, or at least giving us the option of doing so when required.
That said, honestly, it sounds so good and is so compact, being basically the same size as my Baseus USB C to 3.5 mm adapter that doesn't even have any chips in it at all, that it is hard to complain. Having all that power has a quality all its own in the presentation of the music. It's not just the power, but how it delivers it.
My pleasure. Enjoy your music!
Wow very nice improvement from fa1 to fa11
Thanks for your thoughtful review. I enjoy the KA11 and bought a second one because I enjoyed it so much. It’s not very expensive. I feel it sounds similar to the JCally JM10 (not sure you reviewed this dongle). They sound similar but not exactly the same. To me the JM10 is a little darker sounding. I also feel it sounds similar to the Moondrop Dawn (which I feel is a little brighter than both the KA11 and JM10). I find the Dawn too bright for my taste. All excellent dongles. It’s wonderful to have so many options! It’s all about finding the sound you like. As always, thank you for your time and reviews!
My pleasure. And you are absolutely right, JM10 does appear warmer sounding with overall timbre, and the DAWN a bit more edgy bright (crisper) than KA11. Which makes KA11 something of a dongle to bridge the gap between those two. And of course, the only thing that matters is what you hear, what pleases you the most and having options to switch depending on the moods. 🤘🙏
Day 40 of asking for Fiio ka11 review video.......... Wait what?, it finally happened ♥️♥️♥️ Nice video Andy!!!!
hi Andy, great review.....as always. just a question how does the KA11 with your beloved VE Odo? i didn't saw it in the comparisson
Thanks, ODO actually a bit more resolving with micro details but also brighter and less analog. KA11 of course seemingly double the power of what ODO capable of
@@donglemadness then the two are going to the wish list. Thanks Andy
Nice review, this dongle seems really nice. I wonder if I should get one but I have a VE ODO on the way. I'm only using LetShuoer S12 and Takstar 82 at the moment.
Do you know anything about Reiyin DACs, especially the DA-Super? Apparently it uses Cirrus Logic CS8416, has a knob and 3 to 5V power. I'm interested but I can't detailed reviews anywhere.
Thanks. Just to give you a bit of perspective, aside from absolute supremacy with power versus ODO, KA11 would also appear less bright than ODO. ODO has a bit of that brightness due to being analytical with the upper frequency (so you may need to EQ down witt Treble on ODO). KA11 on the other hand would probably not need to EQ
Letsssss go!!!!
leeeegs goooo
I think the VE Odo has enough driving power for me as a small profile solution ;) I do need to pair it with darker buds though or equalize it a bit.
Hi Andy, not sure if you've mentioned it before, but I'm wondering what IEM/headphone is used for the Power Drain test throughout your review series?
I did mention a few times, normally I use my Tanchjim ZERO 32 Ohm on 4.4mm BAL cable (a recabled Tanchjim ZERO). But I have also used any other IEMs that offers 32 Ohm of impedance or sensitivity lower than 98 dB (something like Etymotic ER2XR on 4.4mm BAL). When there is no 4.4mm BAL, I will of course use the same IEMs with 3.5mm cable or adapter
wait wait, let me bring some coffee first 😁☕
😂😂😂☕
and pop corn :D
Good afternoon Dongle Madness, will a review of the Ibasso DC07 PRO be published in the near future?? 😁. Thank youu
Yes already working on it. Thanks
Thank you for adding mic support info for dongles. I have put an order for VE ODO based on your review and mic support.
How can we compare power of a dongle given in mW to Vrms?
No worries. I don't have the means to measure power numbers, so I only depend on what the manufacturer publishes on the spec sheets. On my own end, the most practical way to test power is to spend time listening to them with different headphones and IEMs and observe how the published numbers pit against the actual results, that's the essence of #donglemadness
@@donglemadness i see, thank you!
seems alot better after the last firmware update
Hello Andy, in a few days im going to buy kiwi ears cadenza, and i have small budget (around 20 dollars) for a dongle, what would u recommend, and is there any better iems than cadenza in its budget(40-50 dollars) ?
VE ODO at just $5
that is some insane power output. the ibasso dc03 pro is around 98mW and I only need to put my Artti R1 at 8-10 windows volume, so using a low impedance device with the KA11 would destroy your ears XD
lol, you get the idea
Hi Andy, I've watched both your reviews on KA13 and Ibasso Dc04 pro and I have to say, your videos were excellent. However there's no topic that compares their sound quality side by side, you said the Fiio KA13 is neutral whereas the Ibasso Dc04 pro is a little more analog sounding. My question is: What would be a better choice for the Beyerdynamic DT 880 250 Ohm (It has a 3.5mm non-detachable cable) the KA13 or Dc04 pro?
From Aliexpress, I can find the DC04 pro for 10$ more than KA13.
The KA11 would provide more power than both of these as it is only 3.5mm but I am concerned about the sound quality when I will push it to max.
For this specific headphone, the max volume from these dongles would be:
Dt880 (250) & Fiio KA13: 108.9dB
Dt880 (250) & Ibasso Dc04 pro:108dB
Dt880 (250) & Fiio KA11:110.77dB
I know you get alot of these suggestion questions but I couldn't find an answer to this online. Thankyou!
Thanks. My only experience with DT880 was the 600 Ohm version which I used to tests dongles. The biggest issue with these DT series they come only in SE termination of 6.3mm and 3.5mm, so if you run them on any dongles that have 4.4mm BAL, and use only the 3.5mm side, you are getting only 50% of the power they are capable of (please watch my video on this 4.4mm BAL topic). So, if you want to use DT series with dongles, you would fare better with either HIBY FC6, Questyle M12i or FiiO KA11 or Ovidius B1 all of which are dedicated 3.5mm SE dongles with amazing driving capabilities tested with headphones more demanding than 250 Ohm DT250. Dongles like DC04Pro or KA13 will only be most applicable for headphones which can run 4.4mm BAL
@@donglemadness Thanks, but the Ibasso Dc04 pro can produce 108 dB on these headphones. I will check that video to see the difference in power but even with the SE output, these dongles that I listed can produce close to 110dB. The KA11 is only a bit higher in max decibel output capacity acc to my calculations.
My question is that
1. Is 108-110dB loud enough?
2. Does 1dB or more difference make a huge difference in this loudness range?
3. Do I need more power or loudness capacity for EQ purposes?
If enough what you looking for yes, but I don't recommend these dongles for what they offer on 3.5mm SE, I recommend them for what they can do on the 4.4mm BAL side. Their 3.5mm SE is suited best for highly efficient IEMs. It is like buying a car that can do 4 wheel drive but you choose to use only 2WD for situations what fare better with 4WD
@@donglemadness Yes I agree. Unfortunately the DT 880 does not come with a detachable cable so that is why I am in this dilemma.
Is there a significant difference in overall sound quality of dc04 pro and KA13 or just a subtle difference. I saw that dc04 pro was higher up in your Dongle tier list.
Also the KA11 is not in your list so it can be updated. Thanks once again.
Yes, DC04Pro to me is a better tuned dongle, wide open airy sound and a little better with dynamic articulation
i have a side question since you live in KL, is it more or less expensive to live in Johr Baru or Penang ? which city/district would you prefer besides KL city. since i am planning to move to Malayasia soon. Also any recommendations for good place to demo and buy headphones and iems in KLCC ?
P.S. any plans on Dunu Davinci, new Dusk or Meze Alba for review ?
The cost of living in KL is more or less the same to Penang or JB, the three of them considered as major cities. Not sure about KLCC, but you can easily demo IEMs and headphones at Stars Picker and Red Ape in Selangor (same region as KL)
@@donglemadness thanks for the input, i will keep it in mind 😌
Right now my planar iem ARTTI T10 I'm using audiocular d07 50% volume is good enough for most of my FLAC flies do you think ka11 would add anything more Andy?
You are happy and that's what matters the most
@@donglemadness hahahaha 😂
Have you ever reviewed those OEM USB Dongle without brand which usually comes with CX31993/CS43131..?
Or.. do you have any opinion on them..?
Yes I did, #donglemadness practically with the first CX31993 when it first appeared unbranded 3 years ago, I was the one that made that dongle so popular to a point that all budget dongles after that were build on CX31993 until today
How come you never got to review Artti T10 planar iems ?
Also Meze Alba Iem is out now
I ma in the process of getting T10
Meze would be a funny review because it comes with a little dongle dac,and knowing this,we got another Messenger type of dongle dac.
i bought this because of its size/power ratio. tho it sounds good, it's too bright for my liking. also it gets very warm. good thing is i can carry around my planar headphones attached to my smartphone like regular person wearing easy-to-drive 32ohm dynamic driver. no need for desktop dac or bulky dongle.
Have you tried playing with filters? I found the default one to be terrible, but the non oversampling one is perfect for me.
@@krzysztofobodzinski2529 i'm not sure. i've tried all the filters they seem doesn't do much. last i was on min phase slow roll off. it's the combination of fiio's tuning and cs43131, the sound signature was expected.
“ Impressive!….Most impressive” Darth Vader
Hello Andy , is there a huge difference btween the QTX and the MP 145 , I mean..is it worth upgrading. I can sell my MP145 to my friend and get the QTX if it makes a huge difference, the QTX is 250 USD here
Huge difference? not really. The main differences starts with the tuning. MP145 is a traditional V sound curve with prominent emphasis on Lows and Highs, a bit more transient speed and energy, QTX is tuned to edge closer to neutral target, would appear flatter sounding than the colored MP145, QTX is also more transparent like a monitoring headphone. QTX also offers less energy to the PRAT (dynamic transients) but it is still very fast and agile. I love both equally really, when I want that immersive vibrant sound that is smooth and crispy and airy, I use MP145. When I am in the mood for something more relaxed yet resolving, something more transparent, QTX is what I use. Hope this helps
@@donglemadness Thank you so much
Andy. I ordered a Fiio KA 11 LT by mistake. If I use a lightning - USB-C adapter and connect it to a mobile phone, will it affect the sound quality?
For as long as it connects properly and you can use it, I don't think the adapter would impart any quality change to the output
Thanks.
Good day sir, i already have tansio mirai X. I want to buy elysium pilgrim. Is that wise to sell my mirai x and replace it with pilgrim? Or should i keep my mirai x if its like side grade upgrade? Thanks in advance sir 🙏
I wish I can help, unfortunately I haven't tried neither Mirai X nor Pilgrim, so I have no idea really
Did you try jcally jm30 ?
If yeah, how is it compared to this?
JM39 not yet
Hey Andy IFI AUDIO GO LINK or FIIO KA11 which one would you prefer?
If I want warm super smooth sound, iFi GO Link is what I want, if I want more resolution and details, KA11 is the one to go for, also KA11 has a LOT more power. Two different dongles for different preferences
@@donglemadness its clear now. Thanks for that. I have combo packs in front of me. which are Fiio JT1+ KA11=$98 AND Fiio JT1 + IFI Go LINK =$ 111.
How do you think about ka11 vs shanling ua1s?
KA11 has more power and better tuned and UA1s
Does it generate heat to the point of being uncomfortable if using it on your pocket for example?
Not really, unless it touches your skin directly for 1-2 hours then you will get uncomfortable. Class A amps generate more heat and is still pocketable (DACPort HD or Apogee Groove)
@@donglemadness thank you
Not as good as the Letshuoer DT03!! Lets go! :)
Apart from power, does ka11 come close to the smoothness of 7hz 71?? Or it's too analytical?
KA11 actually has smoother transient than 71 which is focused more on being crispy edged. And it is not overly analytical
@@donglemadnessno, i mean in comparison with the natural akm smoothness across all frequencies?
1st
Fiio ka13 or ka 11? Which is better in sound quality & loudness?
Outright loudness is KA13 on 4.4mm BAL and sound quality about similar
How is it compared to Penon dongle ( I'm currently using)
Sorry I don't have a Penon dongle to compare
What about the heat?,I saw the first review and you where really disappointed.
Thanks!
Pd: sorry for my English!
No worries, the warmth is still there, but it does not cause for worry too much especially if you are not driving the dongle at high volume with heavy load. But even so it will still be warmer than other ultra compact dongles, part of a trade off with getting more power inside in such a small form factor
@@donglemadness thanks for the answer.I buyed moon drop dawn pro because of the reviews talk about of the heat..I don't know if its to much worse...but the form factory really it's...
Thanks and salute!
Pd: sorry again for my terrible English!😅
FiiO KA11 vs FiiO KA13
How do they differ in terms of sound only?
KA13 offers more natural timbre
Volume management is only 6? It can be changed (60 steps) in the Fiio app. Much better option than nothing like many other dongles like this.
It is still limited by Android SRC even after you set the volume in FiiO app, so it makes no difference unless it offers true independent volume adjustment of hardcoded volume adjustment like Ovidius B1 which allows for fine steps even with Android SRC is active
is it an upgrade compared to apple dongle?
Miles ahead of Apple dongle
Fiio KA11 vs VE ODO for IEMS while gaming?
ODO is more holographic, more suited for gaming
Fiio Ka13 vs fiio ka5 best dac suggest please
May I suggest that you watch my review on KA13? the comparison section does cover on this topic and hopefully will help you to make a decision
@@donglemadness You can't tell which one will be best.
KA5 and KA13 tuned similarly with the sound, technically and quality wise. What you need to decide now, the features beside sound which KA5 has a bit more than KA13. That's why I recommend you watch the video, so that you can get the idea the strength and offerings of each dongles. It is not always about which one the best, it is all about fulfilling your needs based on your requirements and preferences
"dolphin or whale" xD
🙃😂