FiiO KA15 Review- Tiny But Almighty
With the KA15, FiiO offers a portable headphone amplifier and DAC that relies on a pair of CS43198 chips for its digital/analog conversion, supporting a sampling rate of up to 32bit 768kHz PCM and DSD256. Amplification is provided by two SGM8262 OPAs with a maximum output power of 2x560mW at 32Ω. Furthermore, FiiO has emphasized user experience, developing numerous features such as real-time power consumption adaptation and different volume control modes with adjustable steps.
The KA15 is equipped with an audiophile-grade DSP, enabling it to offer a 10-band EQ, so you can customize the frequency response of headphones, as well as export, import, share, and save EQ curves. Whether you choose to use the officially recommended settings or share your settings online with other enthusiasts, it’s easy to access, either through the FiiO Control application or the online version.
The KA15 also features real-time voltage and current monitoring for dynamic adjustment of power consumption. By recognizing the device’s playback status, the KA15 can adapt its behavior, so if you set a timer to play your music when you go to sleep, it will automatically go to standby once the music has stopped, helping to conserve your phone’s battery.
The body of the KA15 is made from CNC-machined metal, which has been anodized and polished to give a pleasant texture. At the center of the body is a 0.96-inch True Color IPS screen, which displays all the important information in English or Chinese, thanks to a delightfully retro user interface with the look and feel of audio cassettes.
If you have headphones that require a lot of power to drive, you can also activate the KA15’s Desktop mode to benefit from a symmetrical output power of 560mW+560mW. This ensures that it can be used even with the most power-hungry headphones.
For its digital/analog conversion, the KA15 relies on two Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips, handling signals up to PCM 32bit 768kHz and DSD256. On the amplification side, a pair of SGM8262 OPAs are used for an output power of 290mW+290mW into 16Ω Single-ended and 510mW+510mW into 16Ω Balanced.
To give you the most precise volume control possible, the KA15 offers two control modes: a 60-step mode for quick volume up and down, and a 120-step mode for more accurate adjustment. Furthermore, there are two modes of response for the + and – buttons: mode A allows volume control on a short press and switching to the next track on a long press, and mode B allows switching to the next track on a short press and volume control on a long press.
The KA15 has two headphone outputs, a balanced 4.4mm jack, and a single-ended 3.5mm jack. Note that the 3.5mm jack output supports the CTIA standard, enabling microphone, playback, and volume control. Finally, it is also possible to use the 3.5mm output as an SPDIF coaxial output.
The KA15 is compatible with Android, iOS, iPadOS, MacOS, and Windows, so you can use it with all your devices without needing a driver. Furthermore, to offer the widest possible compatibility, you can also activate UAC 1.0 mode to ensure compatibility with devices such as the Switch or PS5, ensuring you can use the KA15 in every possible situation.
Thanks to the FiiO Control application available on Android and iOS, you can adjust numerous parameters such as equalization, channel balance, UAC mode, volume button control mode, screen brightness, and time before standby (control of the KA15 is currently only supported on the Android version of the application).
Unboxing
Specifications |
|
|---|---|
| Product Type | Portable DAC headphone amplifier |
| DAC chips | 2x CS43198 |
| OPA | 2x SGM8262 |
| Input | 1x USB-C |
| Outputs | 1x Jack 3.5mm single-ended headphone output 1x Jack 4.4mm balanced headphone output |
| Supported sampling rate | USB : PCM up to 32bit 768kHz / DSD up to DSD256 Coaxial: PCM up to 32bit 384kHz |
| Adaptive impedance | Jack 3.5mm: 16~150Ω Jack 4.4mm: 16~300Ω |
| 3.5 mm Jack single-ended output characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Output power | 290mW + 290mW @ 16Ω 180mW + 180mW @ 32Ω 19mW + 19mW @ 300Ω |
| Frequency response | 20Hz~20kHz ±0.1dB 20Hz~50kHz ±0.1dB |
| Total harmonic distortion more noise (THD+N) | < 0.00045% (0dB, 32Ω) |
| Maximum output voltage | ≥2.4V @32Ω, THD+N < 1% |
| Output impedance | < 0.8Ω |
| Crosstalk | ≥ 74dB @1kHz, 32Ω |
| Noise floor | 1.7μV |
| Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) | ≥ 122dB @ 32Ω |
| 4.4 mm Jack balanced output characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Output power | 510mW + 510mW @ 16Ω 560mW + 560mW @ 32Ω 78mW + 78mW @ 300Ω |
| Frequency response | 20Hz~20kHz ±0.1dB 20Hz~50kHz ±0.1dB |
| Total harmonic distortion more noise (THD+N) | < 0.0004% (-4dB, 32Ω) |
| Maximum output voltage | ≥ 4.2V @32Ω, THD+N < 1% |
| Output impedance | < 1.2Ω |
| Crosstalk | ≥ 113dB @1kHz, 32Ω |
| Noise floor | 3.2μV |
| Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) | ≥ 123dB @ 32Ω |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 52 x 25 x 11mm |
| Weight | 21g |
| Couleur | Black |
| Package | 1x FiiO KA15 1x Leatherette protective case 1x USB-C to USB-C cable |
- Price: $97.18
I want to thank FiiO for sending me the review sample of the KA15 dongle DAC-AMP.
Sound
FiiO KA15 Pro is fast and precise with a good level of layering. Sounds natural, with deep lows and sharp mids. The micro-detail performance is superb. FiiO KA15 will treat you with a well-balanced sound signature.
Lows are fast and powerful. The bass is impressive. Usually, this is where a dongle DAC falls short, but this wasn’t the case here, and I could push the volume way higher than I thought. It’s fast and powerful and with good headphones, you’ll be rewarded by deep and tight bass. And it never oversteps on the other frequencies. Midbass is also very well-judged and doesn’t color the midrange.
The midrange is full and lush with a rich timbre. Instruments have a full body and weight. Vocals are rendered similarly. This full-bodied core is overlaid with an open upper midrange that adds a layer of texture and brightness, making for quite a balanced and natural tonality.
This creates a sensation of an open and texture-rich tone. The vocals sound with perfect tonality and timber and the FiiO KA15 has a good level of clean sound. Mids have excellent layering and great spaciousness. They blend perfectly with the rest of the spectrum.
The treble area sounds clean and transparent. It is extended, airy, and spacious without any control issues. In my opinion, the FiiO KA15 raises the bar in the $100 segment with sharp, harsh-less trebles, and excellent layering at any given volume. With the right headphones, you’ll get a level of power and accuracy that you won’t expect from a DAC at this price. Micro-details, balanced signature, precise timbre, you get it all with the FiiO KA15.
Moving on to technicalities, it’s exceptionally well-developed for a product of this size and price. The soundstage is surprisingly good even at the highest level of volume. Compared to some budget USdongle DACs the mids don’t tend to fall behind the highs and lows, and everything sounds pretty even.
All tones have plenty of room to breathe and are arranged in front of a very black background. Pinpointing a source where the sound originated is easy, but in doing that FiiO KA15 avoids ever becoming tiring in any way imaginable. FiiO KA15 seems to have taken a step forward in imaging capabilities plus added placement accuracy.
Sum-Up
I can easily say that the FiiO KA15 is the best dongle DAC-AMP under $100 in the market right now. Why? It has a sound quality and power output comparable to many desktop DAC-AMPs. It has the best App and software support of any DAC-AMP in the market. It comes with a quality leather carrying case in the box. Oh, and it’s tiny, tiny but almighty.
