BETTER AND BETTER!! FIIO KA15!!

[@flourishingfog]

The fact that it displays current and voltage output in real time is really cool. Big differentiating feature in my opinion.

[@hunteer963]

Man the cassette like look of the KA15 is all that gets me excited. Good review dave.

[@Gizaudio]

Thanks for watching!

[@milanbazelides]

FIIO KA15 look nice, but your house... OMG your house is fantastic!

[@DJSeanE]

I have a black one. For the price, it's pretty impressive. It sounds really good with my HIFIMAN Arya Organic cans. Last but not least, the battery drain isn't too bad even in desktop mode.

[@land_walker]

PEQ on the KA15 is great! It has shelves and peak filters. Fiio also now has a website interface, so you can update the KA15's firmware and change it's PEQ on any PC. Also, you can change between the three custom EQ presents on the dongle itself.

[@ZeroHourEs]

yeah, the custom EQ presets on the device itself feels like a great feature that just got glossed over in this review. Especially in today's audio scene where almost all audio gear will have pro-level measurements done and kinks in the tonality can be fixed with a built-in preset on the dongle that you can transfer to different sources.

[@aaronwong6355]

Do you know if it can save more than 3 custom EQ presets?

[@land_walker]

@@aaronwong6355 It's currently limited to three customs EQs. Hopefully they change that in future firmware updates.

[@Gizaudio]

thanks for watching!

[@3ildcard]

As a complete newbie especially when it comes to DAC's, how much of a difference do they make? I want something that offers more power than my motherboard (old motherboards, lots of white noise and just bad in general) but would also just presents the IEM's as how they're supposed to sound, analog without coloring/"masking" flaws. Are the descriptions of "warm, neutral, clinical" just exaggerations to make a point for a minimal difference or is the difference substantial?

[@unruler]

I wonder how does it compare with Fiio Ka17?

[@eisjshaieonw]

me too

[@nymnicholas]

I need to sell my KA17 to get KA15. I am from the 80s. You know WHY now. Great vid as always.

[@Emi-rd1lk]

same here, it's such a weird thought that new generation often doesn't even know what we are talking about..was it the same with us and our grandparents? makes you think and provoke certain nostalgia feeling

[@aeipee13]

When your music collection was limited by your physical storage size. I think my case had 12 tapes, not to mention keeping it out of the heat. The children will never know. 😊

[@jawadtaheri4989]

I remember opening the dashboard of the car was a art to hold the cassette flow I'm 81 born

[@rudiger86]

How did you get here? can you take me back to the 80's please????

[@Gizaudio]

Thank you for watching!

[@J-Reyez]

Big fan of fiio's new products!! Thanks for the review!!

[@Gizaudio]

Thank you for watching!

[@ElijahSilverlight]

And I just got the ONIX XI1 not a while back then I saw this. Welp, looks like I'll put it on my Wishlist. Really like the design of this one.

[@ManweruEmanuilov]

Nice review but the device is not available for set-up in the fiio app and white it connects using the web app, it wont let you save EQ settings. Not sure what you did to make it work for the video.

[@gadgetgenerationspulkit]

Fantastic review Dave, I was just checking Axel's review on the KA15 as well. I think I will end up buying one just for these crazy good looks.

[@vagabond2797]

awesome video! i wanted to ask what speakers are on your desk? also, what is that machine on top of the headphone amp that says streaming?

[@sunnypilotgad]

The same dap and amplifiers are in the fiio jm21. So their sound will be very similar

[@Nigjutsu]

Hey Dave, do you have a tier list?

[@connorwilke1340]

Can you explain or show how you save custom eq setting through the app. Cause I can’t get my ka15 to save any of my custom EQ at all

[@vijayinvites]

KA15 has 10 band PEQ and Onix doesn't have any such. Does this tilt your recommendation a little bit may be?

[@ReverendDr.Thomas]

David, thank you for another wonderful dongle DAC-amp review! 👌 Reverend Dr. Thomas, ✝️ The Vegan Vicar 🌱

[@Gizaudio]

Always great to see you here! Thanks for the encouraging words as usual and thanks for watching!

[@syanhc]

thank goodness. i saw the FH19 there. And the Aful P5÷2. Two iems I am going to get. yeah Dave. well done❤

[@Gizaudio]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@ramamurua]

I love the music introduction, what are the name of the song, I assume it's jazz but i don't know how looking the song.

[@fernandagunsanchannel]

Nice review as always dave

[@youmayu]

The KA15 has PEQ while the Alpha Xi1 does not, other than that they are very similar it seems.

[@michaelsegel8758]

There are some teething problems w the Alpha, but I can't complain other than the fact that you need to run windows to update the firmware. I run macs no window machines. I think its cute, but I'll stick w the Alpha. Now if I had to get a new device... iBasso DC Elite while more expensive... seems to be the new dac to beat.

[@Gizaudio]

The DC elite is awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@Life_Is_Gotong]

I'm using ka17. But the ka15 design is so attractive. Would it be stupid to resell ka17 and buy ka15?

[@gisburnroad]

Great video as always... what a cool device - do I need one if I have the Moonriver 2? I STILL want the KA15 though!!!

[@Gizaudio]

Thanks for watching!

[@GauravDhiman-h9y]

Does all of these sound better than Fiio KA17 ?

[@or1on89]

I love mine! It was a great purchase! :D

[@joshuaedwards3522]

If I have an iPhone 13 (so not a usb c port, but instead a lightning) What would be the best way to connect my phone to the DAC so I can play Apple Music with the highest resolution, through my IEMS? Like is there a good cable to use?

[@audie-cashstack-uk4881]

The adapter it’s called a photo adaptor I think Apple you can get third party ones much cheaper online it’s a white lighting lead to a sq box the box allows a usb in and a power cord so you get a conversion from lightning to usb the usb goes to your dac amp.. Amazon have loads of them the cheaper ones are perfectly fine.. I use them for iPhone 14 to a Fiio k11 or a soundblaster g6 it works perfectly..

[@audie-cashstack-uk4881]

Camera adaptor

[@joshuaedwards3522]

Thanks for the reply, I will have to check out the power chord. Do you know if it will lower the resolution of the music though?

[@tonediary83]

This or FOSI AUDIO DS2?

[@almighal]

I have the qudelix 5k, is it worth taking this one? which one is better?

[@lechiffre5078]

I was just wondering the same thing.

[@gtaseed]

@@lechiffre5078 the 5k is one of the best (if not the best) bluetooth dac/amps, this one lacks the bluetooth but has more power in desktop mode. I was considering this as my main PC amp, as I already own the 5K and a BTR13 for portable use, but sometimes I want to drive my LCD2Cs with more authority than either of those can provide. And the retro casette look is amazing :) Plus I understood that this leans towards the R2R analog-ish kind of sound while the 5K is more analytical, the btr13 is somewhere in between to my ears. It's a personal choice to be honest. Need bluetooth? Keep the 5K or try the btr13 or btr15 (they're cheap so why not), if planning to use wired mostly, get this, and get rid of the worry of battery degradation

[@marcelbuncio1020]

Also curious

[@Vladimir_M_V]

Hey Gizaudio, I had a question. I have the hifiman edition xs and I want to buy a budget DAC amp. And I am wondering which one will give me the best detailed audio and good base. The fiio ka15, moondrop dawn of if uno?

[@trevorluff8449]

ibasso dc07 pro?

[@AronAddams7]

Thinking about getting a ka15 just for my portapros.

[@angelOcrisu]

Only on the BTR15 they put an outdated black & white screen 😮‍💨 but it sounds great.

[@matthewhilty4209]

I saw the red button and thought oh cool it records. Nope it's a menu button . Bummer. Looks awesome though. :)

[@bigbean7273]

I got a question, new-ish to this audiophile thing, wondering since this thing has a screen, does it draw like more power away from the iems/headphones? idk if a phone is or would be strong enough to power both the display on this dac and the headphones/iems. or how much power does it draw to power the display

[@laniemon]

Dang guess it's time to upgrade from my ka13 to the ka15 😅

[@pocak89]

I was thinking about to buy this but I chose the Ibasso DC07 pro instead.

[@paxywayy]

how does it sound

[@prithvi9727]

T'was a good, useful review. Thanks 👍

[@Gizaudio]

I'm glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@mrayars]

a bit more focus on tonality differences would be great in your videos

[@dani170d]

I own Questyle M15, Cayin RU7 and xDuoo Link 2 Bal. Would Fiio Ka17 be a good side-grade or is it pointless to buy ?

[@Gizaudio]

Thanks for watching! Only if you need a little more power. I think the RU7 has 400 mw out of the balanced? Which is plenty. And although I don't have the original M15 if it sounds anything like the M15i (many say it does) then I cant se any reason to buy the KA17. Again, its powerful but I doubt its going to sound any better than the M15 or the RU7 for that matter. I don't want to say it would be a downgrade but......

[@andreassjoholm2860]

Moondrop dawn pro vs KA15?

[@syanhc]

love FiiO❤

[@benmacdhui]

Great review 👍🏻

[@Gizaudio]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@Daniel-lq5qq]

It eats the alpha??? Analog?

[@Gizaudio]

Thanks so much for checking out the review! Equal performance to the Alpha imo. I probably should have clarified: I don't think it has an analogue presentation, but it leans more that direction. Warm would have been a better term. Sorry for the lack of clarity.

[@CATHOLIC_KNIGHT73]

​@@Gizaudio have you updated your Alpha to the latest firmware?

[@bourjuva]

better than ka17?

[@AleDJacobo]

Fiio BT11 ASAP please! 😁🙏

[@Gizaudio]

Hopefully I can get my hands on it! Thanks for watching!

[@gamingnator0164]

How they work's on gaming?

[@audie-cashstack-uk4881]

Like all fiio fantastic but I’d get the k11 over this… k11 Fiio ft3 jt1s epos h3 all sound amazing. Balanced output is super powerful and clean

[@gamingnator0164]

@@audie-cashstack-uk4881 thanks 🔥

[@tanachip]

One has PEQ one doesn’t. That is the deciding factor.

[@harshaxvarthan]

take a look at TANGZU YU XUAN JI

[@audie-cashstack-uk4881]

K11 plug in gets one Dac this gets 2 I find that weird

[@S3brandon]

this vs btr15

[@Rsalmond83]

I beat you

[@Gizaudio]

Thanks for watching!

[@luigismilazzo]

No, the real question is not how it sounds. They all sound the same

[@marchervais1269]

🤬🤬🤬 i watcvhed 5 minutes of this cr*p and i still was not able to understand what main functions this tool is made for. and i have a technical background. Woul it really hurt you to say in one short sentence at the beginning what your video is about so that we can decide quickly if we are discovering something that helps us, of if we ought to pass to the next topic ! 🤬🤬🤬

[@radicalturkey]

It has identical hardware to the ka13. I think it's the same with a screen and an extra button.

[@gabech2789]

Man so hard to just choose one 🥲

[@CastingCelebrity]

Allow me to ask... What is your opinion if compared with fiio btr7?

[@Gizaudio]

Thanks for watching! Unfortunately, I haven't had the BTR7 for a while so I cant do a side by side comparison. But from I remember it had a little more of a dynamic presentation compared with this. The KA15 is a little more laid back to me. Actually I think my brother still has it but unfortunately he lives a couple of thousand miles away! I think I will be seeing him for Thanksgiving though. Anyway, I hope that helps thanks again for watching!