FiiO K9 AKM Review - Better than the ESS?

[@GurgenPB2]

Thanks!

[@Soundnews]

Appreciate your support, Thank You!

[@GurgenPB2]

@@Soundnews anytime. Love your reviews!

[@bconn6110]

Excellent review. I have this unit here in the US hooked up to Sennheiser 600s2 headphones and wow what a combo! The unit is big and very hefty weight wise. Under $1k all in for an amazing listening experience. It does get warm, but not hot when running it for extended periods. I mostly listen to deep house and edm (above and beyond group therapy radio shows are a favorite) and it sounds unbelievable. For a PC speaker setup I have them hooked into Klipsch The Fives and its a seamless experience with the switch on the front moving to different output sources. I haven't heard the ESS version but I'm very happy with the warm AKM sound and newer build with the USB-C on the side. Excellent dac/amp with big flexibility for home computer users.

[@ThisIsNotJP]

We are running opposites ... I'm running the FiiO K9 ESS & HD660S2's!

[@iScorpio1971]

Great review! I got it at lunch for a discount and love it. Now, looking between the TOTL fiio's K19 ;) Vs TOPPING's DX9. A comparison between these two should be interesting...

[@MrHara1984]

Waiting for this too. Than i will buy

[@MrHara1984]

Still waiting for k19 Review its 31. 🙏🙏🙏

[@scrollop]

Amazing review - so much knowledge you're giving us! Thank you!

[@Soundnews]

The pleasure is all mine, thank you for watching! ☺

[@mktekno1772]

Hi wonderful video review, I just got my K9 AKM which I wanted to upgrade from the K7, I didn't actually get the upgrade in sound I was expecting, the K7 being a bit more sharper in the highs with a bit less bass. Now the K9 sounds more full with a bit more bass and not being so harsh on the highs but the upgrade in sound was not that significant. By the way I am using a Beyerdynamic DT 990 pro soon upgrading to a DT 1990 Pro, hoping to get a more immersive sound and detail. I did notice the K7 got a bit hot after a while and K9 a little warm, is this normal?

[@gfsanches1]

Did you test Singxer Sda6 Pro 2? Thank you

[@Soundnews]

Hi and thank you for your support. I didn't try it (yet), but thanks for pointing it out to me. I'll try to get a review sample in the coming months. The first version was considerably clearer sounding versus a VMV D2, so there's hope I can try the Pro 2 as well.

[@MrHara1984]

Great Review! Fiio k19 review soon?!

[@Soundnews]

Come again on 28th - its release date.

[@MrHara1984]

@@Soundnews tyty

[@dragonfire61]

I can't seem to find this unit online. Keep seeing the ESS. Does anyone have a link to purchase this particular unit in the U.S.?? Thanks.

[@Soundnews]

You are right, there's zero stock in the West for this unit. However, you can snatch a unit from FiiO's AliExpress store at this point. If you are willing to wait, Apos Audio should have it in the following weeks.

[@dragonfire61]

@@Soundnews thanks for the reply! 💯

[@silviuenache7080]

Nice to see more all in one units. Going with the trend here is there an R2R solution that peaked your interest ? I'm eyeing the HiFiMAN Serenade or similar units.

[@Soundnews]

Didn't try that one yet, but the EF600 was fantastic (wrote a review for it, but didn't shot a video. You can find it on my website). Serenade review might happen in the future.

[@markhaneklaus282]

I returned the K9 Saber because it took me to sound hospital with a strong smell of sterile cleaning liquids while listening to music. If this is "transparent" i do not like it. How much different is the AKM Versions "Tonality" ?

[@Soundnews]

I totally understand you, I also dislike THX-AAA tech (at this point) that on paper does some good things, but in reality these modules are also removing the fullness and richness of the music. The AKM version isn't bothering anymore, but it's still, not what I would call as life-like or rich sounding. This thing is still, quite natural when coming from a K9 PRO, Q7 or M17, but if you need more of that, then please check Aune's S9C if you want more sweetness and emotion out of your tunes.

[@kNGXXX]

​@@SoundnewsI am looking for that lifelike sound too, almost went for the K9 AKM, but Aune S9C it is then! Thank you, you are one of the best when it comes to describing gear, please don't ever stop! :)

[@Soundnews]

@@kNGXXX Sometimes I want to change my style as not a lot of people truly understand me. I'm (very) technical, this part is my strongest point and probably my weakest, as not everybody understands electronics and the inner workings of equipment - a clear reason, why people are hesitant to press the "subscribe" button. An entertainer I cannot be, a shill - not my style, asking money from my viewers - will never happen, and yet I'm still trying to find my place among "audio press".

[@kNGXXX]

@@Soundnews I think you have already found it, newbie audiophiles need to "join the dark side", and actually try different gear, so that they can experience that not all solid state/well measuring DACs and AMPs sound the same. Once people will understand, that there is more to gear than measurements, they will seek a description of how the gear sound. That will be the time, when you'll really come into the picture! Your description is spot on! Keep going!

[@iScorpio1971]

I was eyeing the Aune too and decided to go with Fiio's based on AKM, versatility and USB C. Don't mind THX that much, probably as I'm not exposed to all sorts of sound equipment @soundnews

[@mw12387]

Hi...i like to softer little my system, that will be no so bright..Have bowers speakers, and musical fidelity m5si amp..Would this Dac helps, your recomandation? Ty...great review

[@Soundnews]

@@mw12387 I know exactly what you need, it's slightly more expensive but well worth the upgrade: HiFiMan Serenade. You can check my video about it of you want

[@tessie4204]

Topping E70 Velvet or SMSL SU-10

[@AbalMarius]

Really waited your review and thinking about k9akm but still think k9pro is better technically? And k9pro is not dry also. Not warm or full but sometimes it is also not nice when bass is boomy or uncontrolled. And k9 pro i heard was amazing in controling. This is the strenght

[@Soundnews]

Hi, K9 PRO has a better control over the sub-bass and that improves the resolution of the bass in the long run, so yes, it is a bit more technical. If you need a K9 PRO on steroids, then the upcoming K19 will be exactly that. K9 AKM on the other hand is a tad warmer and velvety sounding compared to both.

[@AbalMarius]

Thanks a lot. Your experience is very important. I would like to get mids from k9 akm and other from k9pro :) but this is impossible. Wonder what k19 will be. Will wait your review

[@Flavius7]

Always enjoyed this design and I trust the quality and price/quality Fiio offers. But I really think it's time for some truly high end new design from the successful chinese brand. AKM or ESS, it doesn't really matter, Fiio's engineers "know how" can easily change the sound with a smart architecture, a chip is not the only parameter to take in consideration.

[@ultrasone8450]

is k9 akm wort 3x the price of k7? currently i have fatfreq scarlet mini IEM with k7 and pl50 power supply.

[@RedFightingMood]

A very informative & helpfull analysis, so I wonder if You could & want to do a similar test of the iFi Audio NEO iDSD 2... It's a curious contraption and it would be nice to have it positioned in the AMP/DAC grand scheme of things thanks to this signature review style of Yours 🧐YES = THX in advance Soundwave Man! 🤗! NO = AAAAAAAAA!!! We will never know what that Burr-Brown slick box is worth! 🥴!

[@MoonshineBeforeSunshine]

I would really like to know how this compares to SMSL DO400. They are selling for the same price, as well.

[@Soundnews]

Hi. If you'll be using one of these in your stereo setup, then go with the DO400 as I find it more technical and cleaner sounding overall. If you listen primarily via headphones, then I would go with the K9 AKM, mostly due to it's better headphone amplifier section and due to a slightly warmer/organic presentation.

[@MoonshineBeforeSunshine]

​​@@Soundnews Hi! Thank you for the valuable points. I'd be using them in the both mentioned scenarios almost equally with slightly more usage out of the headphones. How does DO400 specifically sound compared to K9 AKM for the headphones' outs? Does DO400 sound more analytical? Which one is more neutral and reference-like and provides the lowest distortion over the headphones' outs? Finally, since I'm talking with you directly, I'd like to take time and thank you for all the years of reviewing hi-fi products. I always listen to your reviews, even if I'm not interested in a particular product or a given product is out of my price range because I feel that I learn a good deal from you, my good sir. Your work is appreciated. Edit: I just noticed I'm not subcsribed to the channel on my new account. I've been already subscribed to the channel on my old account. Subscribed with this account, too. :)

[@MoonshineBeforeSunshine]

I'm also interested in connecting them to PS5. Is any of them has an advantage in that regard, especially over the headphones?

[@Soundnews]

@@MoonshineBeforeSunshine Thanks for the sub and for watching my content for so many years now, it's much appreciated from my part as well 🙏. Back to our discussion, for a more reference tuning and for the lowest distortion possible via both outputs, DO400 would be my weapon of choice. For a slight coloration (that some people enjoy) K9 AKM would bring forward some of that midrange.

[@MoonshineBeforeSunshine]

@@Soundnews I want to get as close as possible to a reference dac/amp within the 500USD price range, and even after many days of research, choosing between these two models had become a real predicament for me. Now that DO400 has your stamp of approval for my use case, I can choose it with peace of mind. Thank you, brother.

[@konstantinkrigorov7228]

And what coclusion - AKM or ESS Pro????

[@gokhanayvazoglu6295]

Hi, I love big soundstage and I have max $600 to spend for dac/amp do you prefere anything for my hifiman edition xs?

[@phs1208]

what are those feet that you have in some shots on the unit?

[@sameh9310]

Ordered the K9 Pro ESS for 799€ and now found the K9 AKM for about 500€ (after a lot more shop searching for sellers sending regulary to Germany without paying a lot extra for shipping and tax) and ordered this unit aswell. The "warmer" more musical sounding and better imaging for 300€ less but with all the same internals (except of the AKM chips ofc) sounds like i a no brainer.... Guess I cancel the K9Pro ESS and send it back when it arrives and keep the K9 AKM. Or would you rank/recommend the K9Pro ESS higher/more than the K9 AKM? Coming from a Fostex HPa4BL btw which i got "cheap" a feeew years ago, hope the Fiio amazes me in comparison with it's all modern tech :)

[@YoZasuke]

Konntest du den K9 AKM und K9 Pro ESS mittlerweile gegenüberstellen? Stehe gerade vor der gleichen Entscheidung :D

[@sameh9310]

@@YoZasuke EDIT: vom ersten Eindruck her würde ich definitiv den K9 AKM empfehlen, der K9 Pro ESS kann abseits von seinem schönen goldenen Knopf nicht mehr und meiner Meinung nach, ist der neuere AKM DAC besser. Was die restlichen innereien angeht sind die beiden glaube ich 1:1 die selben. Die 300€ also lieber sparen :D

[@clarice1001nights]

How do you think this unit stacks up against the Gustard Audalytics AH90?

[@baycchief3785]

How would you compare to the SMSL DO400? Thanks

[@Justin-bm7zn]

Anyone know why the pro ess version is 320 dollars more money? Is the knob and thx label actually gold or something?

[@ThisIsNotJP]

Just different DACs, that's it essentially - I own the ESS I wouldn't spend the extra $320 you aren't gaining much at all

[@qwertyrewtywyterty]

@@ThisIsNotJP that's not true, the amp is also 2 times more powerful on the pro version

[@satriany31]

Hello, Perhaps this one will be better with he1000 v2 stealth than ess version? Thanks

[@mktekno1772]

Is it worth the upgrade coming from a K7? Do you get more bass with his one?

[@tonilanger1460]

Not knowing your extended setup or situation, but I think changing your headphones will give you a much more drastic change in tonality then changing your dac/amp.

[@mjk3161]

Kindly suggest amp dac combo for audeze lcd2 classic. If k9 or something affordable

[@user-ng4nn9vu7q]

how does this compare to the k9 pro, is the k9 pro worth the price difference?

[@yos3n]

посоветуйте пожалуйста аудиофильские каналы в вк или тг ? без понятия у кого советов спрашивать

[@albertoghizzardi6939]

Thank you for your beautiful and exhausting review. Right now I own an Xduoo XA02 and it matches well with Ananda Nano, but I’d like something brighter and more transparent for my Kennerton Rognir DD, so I thought to Fiio K9 or Aune S9c, but looks like Fiio is the brighter one… could I considered another DAC amp?

[@ThisIsNotJP]

Ironically watching this with my FiiO K9 ESS & HD660S2's

[@qwertyrewtywyterty]

i have HD600S2 but with fiio k5 pro. Is it worth the upgrade to k9? because the dac and amp are more expensive than the headphone. it seems unnecessary

[@ThisIsNotJP]

@@qwertyrewtywyterty Not worth the upgrade unless your dac/amp is struggling? It won't change the sound much. I only did it because I was buying high end headphones before I sold them and and settled on the 660S2's

[@qwertyrewtywyterty]

@@ThisIsNotJP I pulled the trigger already, overall k9 is way better, about 50% improvement. it opened up 660s2 sub bass , it's deep and fast now. But I sometimes miss the airiness of K5 pro. The mid high is better on k5 pro.

[@ThisIsNotJP]

@@qwertyrewtywyterty I won't like my K9 ESS won't ever leave my side unless it breaks ... It's end game for me

[@qwertyrewtywyterty]

@ThisIsNotJP apparently this thing gets really hot. I wonder if it last more than 2 years lol

[@DueM]

ewww rgb? i was put off the ess version because of that and the gold trim. i hate loudly designed audio gear, it's a pity.

[@sYnDaEx]

You know you can disable it right?

[@robinenbernhard]

You do know RGB add extra power and more 😊

[@aRc11-11]

Not a THX fan. Sterility isn't musicality.

[@susokraut3169]

Musicality has to come from the music, not the gear, you know nothing about hifi.

[@aRc11-11]

@@susokraut3169 .. it's from a recording, it's not actual music. Recordings in studios are over produced. Fewer mics and larger spaces, say a live setting sounds better. You're a little, insecure gutter snipe that knows nothing. I've forgotten more about hi-fi than you'll ever know. Did you read and understand the first statement? Comprehension is another one of your problems junior.

[@kNGXXX]

​@@susokraut3169I use a JDS Labs Atom AMP, and an ATOM DAC + a FiiO e10k olympus 2 as a DAC. The little e10k as a DAC through the Atom AMP sounds really different compared to the ATOM dac...(actually it does sound a lot more musical). Same tracks can sound sterile from the ATOM DAC. I am sorry to say, but gear does matter, and does make a difference.

[@susokraut3169]

@@kNGXXX ever heard of psychoacoustics? Ever made a blind test? Do it, the results will surprise you.

[@kNGXXX]

​​@@susokraut3169Ever bought gear that aren't strictly only from Topping, SMSL, and other chinese brands that are hyped on ASR? Ever actually listened to both units after each other for a lenghtier time (maybe 30-30 minutes) sighted or blind? The results might surprise you.

[@RileytheBunny]

This is a nice review but I was disappointed with the comment about needing "several hours of playback before the device will become punchy and engaging." Please lets stop the references to "burn in" on modern equipment. This is not a thing and it miseducates the audience.

[@audie-cashstack-uk4881]

Soundblaster g6 never disapointed in games and movies its 90 bucks g6 7.1 suround at mi 30 mX 60 % will destroy this thing at gMing and movies

[@qwertyrewtywyterty]

gsx 1000 way better

[@susokraut3169]

No Competent DAC or amp has a proper sound, they are just transparent to the source.

[@kNGXXX]

DACs do sound different. A FiiO e10k Olympus 2 as a DAC measures good enough, an OG Atom Dac measures well. Still, the sound profile is remarkably different. Might have to do something with the different chips (Burr Brown vs. AKM), and their implementation. First hand experience, I have both units. I have the Atom AMP, and I like it. Sadly, I am not a fan of the Atom DAC. It literally makes my ears hurt after a while (and I listen to music at low-moderate volumes).

[@Soundnews]

It easy leaving these words out in the wild, but the truth is a very different one and no, not everything can be measured. Let's agree to disagree and move on.

[@susokraut3169]

@@Soundnews no it's not, that has been proven by both, measurements and (double) blind tests. You could not pick out any competent amp or DAC in a proper set up blind test.

[@susokraut3169]

@@kNGXXX no competent DAC with a proper reconstruction filter and a SNR of over 96 dB has any discernible sound. You still have to learn a lot.

[@kNGXXX]

@@susokraut3169 Don't you think, that there might be problems with the method of the blind tests and measurements? Maybe some people are not measuring the right thing, or do not know what to measure. :) If the ATOM DAC is transparent and of highest audio quality, I don't want to listen to music. Thank you, I believe my ears instead of graphs. Let's just move on...

[@ДмитроСухов-ь2р]

Hi, great review! k9 AKM or Xduoo XA-10 ?)))