FiiO KA17 Portable USB DAC Audio Decoder

Gets quite hot, dont know why they give you a carrying case to suffcate it. In terms of sound, it is a slightly dark, slightly laid back presentation. In turn that gives it quite a holographic imaging and detail retreival. You can tell it uses a dual ESS flagship mobile chipset with its naunced sound. Driving power is quite high, even without desktop mode. Desktop mode sounds yet even more laid back beacause it operates the op-amps in even more parralel channnels.

Yet another awesome product from FIOO. My usual desktop headphone system is comprised of a Schiit Asgaard II and a JDS Labs El Dac, connected with some fancy Audioquest Cinammon cables. Yes, I know this sounds ridiculous and I haven’t directly A/B’d them yet, but I think I like the KA17 better. That’s driving a wide range of headphones. For IEM’s, it’s Shure 535’s, JH Audio JH 13 v2’s, Westone UM50SE’s. For full size cans, HD650’s, B&WP7 and Fidelity X3’s (balanced). It just seems to defy the laws of physics that this tiny thing about the size of a pack of gum can drive full size cans as well as the mighty Asgard. But it does. Brilliant idea to use a 2nd USB-C input to draw power from any external USB-C source, like a power bank or wall charger rather than just your phone as other dongles do. I also have a KA-1 dongle and although I loved it, it is definitely not in the same league at all as this. The DAC chips are incredible- rich detail well beyond what I’m used to with my desktop setup. Like the Asgard it runs quite hot, but for this level of sound I’ll take it. As for power, using the 2nd USB C input it seems unlimited. I could t use the KA-1 with anything but IEM’s (full size cans turned into mush) but not so with the KA17. It authoritatively drives everything I have – especially the Fidelity X3’s balanced. That combination has to be the best deal in high end audio. $300 for both and you have fantastic sound! Ill follow up after I’ve A/B against my desktop setup, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to think the same thing – this is better. Even if I’m wrong it’s still an incredible deal. I love finding good cheap audio gear and this is the best example I found so far.

In order to get the most out of this dac amp, make sure to put it in desktop mode and use an external charger like the one from Anker so you can carry it around. With this, you phone will not drained of battery and instead use the portable charger. It drives my dynamic over ear headphones and iems really easily. I do not own any planars but it should drive also easily as long as they are above 100 sensitivity as they provide 600 mw of power. Even then just turn up the volume as this dongle provides 120 volume steps and high/low gain. I do not hear significant differences in sound quality in the various filters this dongle provides. Keep in mind though that the dongle does get hot when in desktop mode with the external power source.
The KA17 also provides equalizer presets to your liking. The FIIO control app provides nothing other than to provide your personal 10 band eq which is great if it works. I cannot get the preset to work and to save on the app. My app version is the most recent 2.00 update and still the problem persists. Others have said it works for them. Personally, I use USB audio player pro on android and use the eq on that app which is great.
As for sound, I would describe it as dynamic and neutral. If your headphones/iems are already bright, it will make it a bit brighter if not more, which of course depends on your hearing. Your more balanced headphones will have a touch of more treble and upper mids. I will not get into soundstage, imaging, resolution, etc. as I am not an audiophile. This is a great dongle for the buy as it provides a lot of power for this size.

The Fiio Ka17 is another example of an excellent product from the company. As it uses the latest ESS Sabre DAC chips (ESS 9069) which sound excellent, you are guaranteed fantastic sound quality. The unit can also be powered from an external USB C charger or power bank which allows it to deliver more power to the headphones when used in desktop mode. it also has a choice of different digital filters which allow subtle and very fine tuning of the sound to taste. Overall I would say that for around £120 you are getting a digital sound that would have cost a small fortune to obtain just a few years ago.