FiiO KA1 Review - Beast Headphone Amp for Lossless Music - USB DAC

[@tbrown6559]

I can confirm this little DAC is excellent. My Grados sound amazing with it.

[@robcylo]

Hi, which grado? Do you think improve sound of sr80e? Tks

[@kennethlourisombrog2149]

Thanks. I ordered one today. I will use it on my Samsung phone.

[@Undersnow243]

Got it at the same time as my denon D5200 and with this dongle alone it sounds 10 times better than my pc on tidal! Will definitely by one in usb c for my rig!

[@dougedwardsyachts]

I have one and love it. Mine is the USB C one and I do think it sounds better on my MacBook than on my iphones with an adapter. Great all the same though for the money.

[@devilscore2350]

how would this work with Life q30 in wired mode?I just feel like motherboard just dont do the headphones justice since itsa520m hdv...

[@aloganj]

of course it would, but driving a $80 set of headphones with a $50 amp is a little overkill. just use their bluetooth and soundID and they should sound decent:)

[@noecker97]

Whenever I Have To Listen My Tidal Music Service On Anything But My LG V40 (Which Has a Built-In D.A.C.) I Use My KA1 and/or KA3. The Sound Quality Is Amazing With These Portable Dongle D.A.C.s!!! My Motorola Stylus 5G and Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (Which Doesn't Even Have a 3.5mm Headphone Jack) Sound Fantastic Which These Dongle D.A.C.s From Fiio

[@ahmetrefikeryilmaz4432]

anything that plays digital audio has to have a DAC.

[@Josephine-r7b]

This seems like a great dac but despite the listing saying it was compatible with android I couldn't get the LED indicator to change even after enableing max audio settings on spotify & youtube music

[@BrandonAdams1010]

Have you seen the KA11? Is that just a smaller version of this?

[@MrPazuzu]

Good video 👍 Does it work with headphones with a microphone? Thanks.

[@ChristosTsitselis]

Hey thanks for your review! I got a pair of senheizer hd660 s2. I drive them with a K7. Got kind of spoiled with the sound quality I am getting from this set-up and now I am searching for a portable solution. I am using an iphone 14 pro. I am thinking to get this USB -c and usena USB c to lightning adapter to be future proof as lighting is facing it's end. Will this drive my 660 s2? Thanks in advance! Kudos from Athens Greece

[@MakeLifeClick]

Yes it will. For a small unit it can handle 300ohms which the 660 are.

[@Shhzhxjsjznxn]

Can you tell me your experience so far? I am looking forward to buy this amp/dac for my IE400 Pro, but it would be amazing if they were able to drive my HD650 decently

[@greatmind3823]

Will this work for wired carplay

[@Shhzhxjsjznxn]

Looking to get this amp/dac to drive IE400 Pro via the iPhone. Anyone with a similar setup?

[@raymika2804]

I have never ever owned a dac in my life would this make a big difference versus just using headphones only? I have a 2010 macbook pro could i use this dac on it or would you need special type cable adaptor? Tia ray

[@D22_T]

If I’m only listening to Apple Music should I get an audio interface or dac ?

[@ChicagoRob2]

I’ve read several reviews that said that every song starts with a 2-second fade-in. Is this true? If so, that would be a no-go for me.

[@noudockeloen]

I havea fiio fd3 and a sony headphone do i need this ore k3 ore k5 foremy pixel 6 phone fore mqa and flac?

[@ikilledkenny1011]

Can I use it with an iPhone to pair to momentum4s

[@latinochico]

Can I use this with my android phone and my car stereo which has a 3.5mm input would it work? If yes would it make a difference? Thanks.

[@MakeLifeClick]

Yes you can. I used to use an AK Jr in my car and loved it. No reason you can’t use this inline if your android is USB-C.

[@DjManeyecool]

My Samsung Galaxy A12 has horrid 3.5mm jack output with earphones the bass drops near high volume & it isn't all that loud will this help that on my Phone ? i remember back in the day my ipod had incredible sound coming out of if. This phone sucks for listening to my playlist. im a bass head love the bass but i need more volume as well. Cool vid. Thanks in advance.

[@MakeLifeClick]

Yes, this will help. It will improve your overall experience.

[@frejpm]

Mine works on tidal but not for yt and it's driving me crazy . Is there a fix?

[@MakeLifeClick]

Worth reaching out to them on that one. YT issue?

[@user-gf9bk2xs8y]

Thanks this is very helpful, though i too an interested to hear your thoughts on how this compared to the ka11 that i see is at pbtech so can but in NZ

[@drewsinclair8414]

Hi would this work from a Iphone 13 streaming Tidal master quality. using Sony Xm5 Headphones? thanks

[@MakeLifeClick]

Xm5 wireless? No. Has to be wired. Hope I understood your question correctly.

[@drewsinclair8414]

@@MakeLifeClick Sorry I was ment to say the Sennheiser 660s

[@guyvincent4211]

I contacted Fiio for some help without success. I'm looking for an adaptor lightning to USB C male so that I can connect my KA1 with a USB C input to mu iPhone lightning. I tried some from Amazon without success. This is a bottle at sea !!!!!!!!! Thanks

[@tanachip]

I thought that the M1 Macbook Air has the high impedance headphone port?

[@MakeLifeClick]

Yes, since 2021 they’ve been including high impedance outputs that should automatically detect the impedance of the headphones connected but I don’t know what to tell you, this is still better, especially tone control.

[@tanachip]

@@MakeLifeClick Thanks for the reply! I guess you can chalk me up to one of the folks who don't hear any audible differences among dac/amp units. For example, I've listened to music directly from my laptop (Lenovo X1 Carbon), iPhone 6's 3.5mm jack, apple dongle, Topping DX3 Pro+, and FiiO KA3 (all of which I own), and I can't tell a difference. I primarily use the Focal Clear for headphone and Blessing 2 Dusk for IEM (I listen at moderate volume between around 60-65db, sometimes I will turn it up to 75-80db for a song or two). I just can't hear a difference for the life of me -- they all sound the same (and good) to my ears.

[@usmanmansoor1998]

Is this better then ifi go link?

[@BeeKeeper-]

would this work on my pc? (planning to buy it for my phone and wondering )

[@SkumleRafte]

Yes it will, if you have USB-C in you PC its plug and play

[@MakeLifeClick]

Yup. For sure.

[@petarpopovic3369]

I would want to get this for my car audio I have an iphone would this provide a valuable difference to the vechile audio?

[@MakeLifeClick]

I think so, personally I think car audio can really benefit but you have to have a half decent speaker system in your car for it to really make a difference.

[@edwinzuniga4601]

I am considering hifiman headphones.... I just bought the Skullcandy anc2 and am curious if the ka1 will do anything... If It improves sound and wait on the hifiman but the anc2 were bought for the gym and my hifiman are considered for home use

[@davidbradford38]

Just got mine today need to set it up was supposed to be for my iPhone but was sent the one for android instead

[@TheMagnitudo]

significant review

[@MakeLifeClick]

Thanks.

[@ArtMacabre197]

I agree, I have one with lightning connector, audio is better, more detailed

[@FacundoVilicich]

Could this DAC works well to use Tidal from an iPhone X (or iPad) wired to a Bose Soundock Series II??

[@MakeLifeClick]

For sure.

[@michas.4518]

Will this match with fiio fd1 headphones with usbc smartphone?

[@MakeLifeClick]

Yes. If you by the usb-c model.

[@Iamandthatiam]

Will it make a difference if I listen to KZbin music?

[@TheKlangSeven]

That's not how it works The difference depends on your previous source, if you was using it plugging directly in the pc or mobile, then yes it will have a difference, mainly about it sound more alive since it will have a little or much more power in the headphone As you are using KZbin music, it isn't worth it get these Fiio devices because the codec on KZbin music is AAC and these Fiios are made for LOSSLESS QUALITY so you won't be using 100% of it, so any device similar to apple dongle will work and fit better as these are cheap since you don't listen to lossless quality

[@manfrediamato5280]

which headphones can this dongle drive efficiently?

[@MakeLifeClick]

Anything up to 300ohms.

[@manfrediamato5280]

@@MakeLifeClick 👍🏻

[@edphi]

Works well with Apple Music Lossless?

[@FPSDAVE23]

@@edphi that’s what I’m wondering

[@FPSDAVE23]

@@MakeLifeClick Dunu kima classic version?

[@sangtran6146]

Can it use with active speaker or not ?

[@MakeLifeClick]

Yes. Source -> DAC -> Speaker.

[@alfred-pc4883]

Is compatible with the samsung s22 ultra?

[@MakeLifeClick]

Yes.

[@usmanmansoor1998]

Is this better than ibasso dc03 pro?

[@listenfidi]

no way worse

[@kiransrinivas4416]

It works with moondrop chu iem?

[@MakeLifeClick]

Yes.

[@kiransrinivas4416]

@@MakeLifeClick thanks 🎈

[@EBJorge-ql1ii]

It works with Sony headphone mx5?

[@MakeLifeClick]

Do you mean xm5?

[@alonsomansilla1182]

@@MakeLifeClick Hi! In this case would it work on a pair of XM5s? I bought a pair a couple of months ago and my brother gifted me a subscription for Tidal HiFi. Would they perform better if I connect them via the DAC compared to directly plugged into the 3.5 mm jack? Cheers mate

[@fabioferrini67]

Does it work with iPods? Can I use an adaptor 30 pin-lightening for that?

[@leonus_XD]

What are getting at? Use your phone

[@UrielGCoria]

Is compatible with Nintendo Switch?

[@MakeLifeClick]

Not 100% sure and don’t have one to test on.

[@yanivf8520]

can I also use it with my speakers or its only for headphone?

[@BrandonAdams1010]

if they are powered

[@controlzq]

Funcionaría y mejoraría el sonido con mis ATH M30x?

[@gabitooromano]

Si, se nota bastante

[@controlzq]

@@gabitooromano Enserio?

[@gabitooromano]

@@controlzq partamos de la base que desde donde lo amplificas por el momento y app usas.

[@gabitooromano]

Todos los componentes deberían estar nivelados para que ninguno haga cuello de botella y termine limitando a otro.

[@controlzq]

@@gabitooromano Lo compré, y me decepcionó bastante, el sonido suena sucio, es como si fuera un Dac que solo infla el sonido y lo amplifica e intentado ser de "calidad", además cuando pongo un vídeo el sonido tiene un efecto de ascender

[@jeeva1]

1). What is the impedance of Sennheiser ie 300's? 2). Can it drive that iem????

[@GURENO]

マイク使えるのが強すぎる

[@MakeLifeClick]

And inline Mic? Possible true. そしてインラインマイク？ 真の可能性があります。

[@rudysatria]

have you tried ddhifi tc35i?

[@MakeLifeClick]

No, sorry.