Fiio's Big Dongle Goes DEEP | Fiio KA13 DAC/Amp USB Dongle | VS Topping Stack, Moondrop Dawn & More!

[@QRR-]

Very thorough and informative review, Real! For latest dongles, output power nowadays seems to be no issue but tuning for synergy. I guess it should be mildy warm if not using desktop mode. Hopefully we could see more your dongle reviews in the future!

[@rnarexperience]

Thank you! I hope I'll be able to do more in the future as well

[@jamiemorgan8728]

Just ordered! Thanks for the good video!

[@princeofexane]

I can't live without a DAC now. It makes the sound fuller and better. Also it improves the soundstage. Makes the sound a bit warmer but to my liking. KA13 is great.

[@taidee]

I've got the FiiO Q11, amazing how it can push 300 Ohm over-ear headphones to more volume than I can take (IEMs are a breeze to drive for this thing), for what it costs that is. Thanks for the review man.

[@rnarexperience]

Thanks for watching - yeah i thought the dongle wont be able to handle the 300 ohm gear and while it doesn't push it to its fullest extent it still does a great job

[@S1RBR4N]

Which is better between Q11 and ka13? (In terms of audio quality) And which one is more convenient to use with planar iem and maybe he400se?

[@S1RBR4N]

​@@rnarexperiencebro

[@Ricer-b4n]

​@@S1RBR4N Ka13 hands down!!!

[@Torigum]

Compare with moondrop dawn pro and IBasso DC04 Pro please.

[@adrianomoreira1341]

Excellent review and comparison! How does it stack up compared to the Fosi K5 PRO desktop mini amp/dac? Is it the same thing? Technically the Fosi has the same output power, but only reproduces a maximum of 24bit/96khz. However, the Fosi has bass and treble equalization buttons.

[@rnarexperience]

Thank you! Unfortunately I don't have that gear to test so i can't comment unfortunately

[@ropeburn6684]

24/96 is plenty good, way better than anyone's ears. Anything more is overkill for listening.

[@melbournechi-fiaudio4641]

If I knew you were brewing up a dongle review, I'd send over the Shanling dongle line ups for a battle

[@minimumapature3361]

Ngl would love to see that

[@rnarexperience]

Next video perhaps? 😏

[@rinazusa2282]

I juuuuust bought the dawn and after just 2 hours of listening to it, google told me the existence of this product. And there's no return policy on my country if the shit ain't broken. Still sound great for r70x though.

[@ernest4483]

another great content and review I just bought via Amazon and will use some iems like KZ PR1 Pro and my just newly purchase Hidizs MP145

[@rnarexperience]

Hope you enjoy the KA13! It's really been enjoyable for my experience

[@WWeiss-nv5vz]

How does it compare with the KA5?

[@Ricer-b4n]

Ka13 is much better. Ka5 is more expensive and vocal is less recessed due to lack of power giving the elusion of being slightly more spacious, but its not. I have both, if you play them back to back, Ka13 trounces Ka5 in every category. Ka13 has warmer and fuller vocal, deeper punchier bass and treble stays the same as Ka5. It's also every bit as clean. Ka5 sounds exactly like the more powerful and expensive desktop K7 that everybody loves. So this means the Ka5 is an awesome unit, but the Ka13 is evern better than both eventhough the K7 overpowers it.

[@QQQ80804]

Experiment: if you plug your HD650s directly into your phone, what suggests they are underpowered to you? Only the volume? By comparison, what’s the change when you power them via 4.4 normal and then 4.4 desktop? Again, only volume or do you notice any other differences? I ask because I can power my HD650s from an iPhone with proprietary lightning to 3.5 adapter and it’s plenty loud enough. So, I’m curious if the KA13 might make any other differences. (Great video!)

[@MoontariReacts]

How does it compare to the new Moondrop DAWN Pro?

[@rnarexperience]

Unfortunately I do not have the Dawn Pro in hand to compare

[@user-PEPEPICKLEBOCCHIDIOSA89]

​@@rnarexperienceand now?

[@matthewpunk2012]

​@@rnarexperienceand now?

[@biswarupdey4129]

Can you please tell how does it compare with moondrop dawn pro, which would be better? Which one should I buy, using with ios or android and mac ? Overall nice review, very informative and interesting!

[@sacramentos60]

Play a hifiman he400se v1 on the balanced output?

[@anuragpranav]

great video thanks. buying one

[@jedsantos1822]

I am about to get a fiio ka1 and will be used with moondrop chu 2. Should i get that ka13 or just stick with ka1?

[@edgoreec]

Yo tengo el Ka1, el Ka3 y este Ka13, y si te conviene este, pues precio y prestaciones

[@rnarexperience]

The KA1 should be sufficient to do the job, however if you're looking to expand your collection in the future then the KA13 would be a little more "futureproof" with its functions and features

[@faultest]

Will u experience difference with Sennheiser hd 599 with fiio ka13. Now I am using without a dac

[@audie-cashstack-uk4881]

Yes always will with a dac amp

[@amanieux]

the difference you heard between ka13 and dawn 4.4 on monarch mk3 is also happening with other iems you own or was it one happy synergy beween ka13 and monarchmk3 ? thanks

[@rnarexperience]

I've tried it with a couple of IEMs but somehow just stuck with the MMk3 with the KA13, i think it's a combination of the KA13, with MMK3, with Cadmus 8W and it all just gelled, at least for me personally

[@gamacog895]

I am thinking of purchasing KA 13. I have recently bought Simgot EW 300 and I use I phone 13. I have checked many comments and forums just to understand whether the DAC would be compatible with my I phone. Still, little bit confused. May I expect a reply on this from anyone who knows about it? Thank you

[@rnarexperience]

Hi there, KA13 is a solid choice but if you can save up, the KA15 is also another great option for a dongle The dongle should be able to just be plugged and play however i use Android so hopefully Apple users would be able to provide you with that feedback soon All the best!

[@gamacog895]

@@rnarexperienceThanks for the reply

[@shahkhan110]

very nice...... please also review and compare others dongles like, ka5, dc04pro, ru6,7, m15 etc....

[@rnarexperience]

That's a lot of dongles to compare 😅

[@takosan699]

It should also be compared with e1da 9038sg3. But i think e1da 9038sg3 beats this one in sound quality. Who knows..

[@afraza5946]

Hi @reallynotareview. Great video. I bought the Hifiman HE400SE today (it's on the way) and have a tight budget for a DAC/Amp. Would the KA13 sufficiently power my HE400SE? I wont need it blasting at full volume, but can go to 70/80 % at normal volume levels when I am in the mood. Please let me know if you think these will be fine for the HE400SE. Thanks!

[@rnarexperience]

Hi there, I have the HE400SE and it seems to power it fine. I mean the KA13 was powering a 300 ohm headphone (HD650) so the HE400SE would be no problem

[@afraza5946]

@@rnarexperience Thank you for responding! Will probably get this after a few days of running the HE400se (will burn in for about 80 hrs).

[@shaunbrady15]

Does the desktop switch only work when using the 4.4 output?

[@rnarexperience]

I didnt try on the 3.5mm jack but from their description it would seem that it'll only work on the 4.4 since that's the balanced output

[@minimumapature3361]

Awsome video man

[@rnarexperience]

Thanks!

[@samolshah]

Is mic supported in this?

[@dragnar4743]

Which is better, Fiio KA13 or moondrop dawn pro ?

[@samratpaul7977]

I'm bit confused, is this FiiO KA13 can give enough power to my Aful Magicone witch is ( 38ohms and Sensitivity of 103dB/mW ). Please can you help, I am going to order this one today.

[@ropeburn6684]

Perhaps the only thing I don't like about it is that the firmware update software is Windows only. Quite annoying, considering it supports so many platforms. Many people (like me) may not even have a Windows PC, so you need to visit friends or family for updates. It's a new device, so this is important. Other than that, it's very nice. Neutral, transparent sound and plenty of power. And at least on the unbalanced output, the battery drain on my phone is noticeable, but not bad either on 48 Ohm headphones.

[@FMCREPAIRARMAGH22]

BTR7 wired fior me

[@datdudeinred]

Imagine what will ru7 & m15 will sound like. 😂

[@CervezasObsonMex]

Vs Moondrop DAWN PRO

[@STAYCBias]

I'm worried because my non detach without type c to c for dongle doesn't exist on most dongles and it will spoil after months of use, signal problem always turn off and turn on when I touch it either phone problem or both I don't know, I am scared please advise! 😢

[@arndchrostowski7875]

be careful with this device when you are planning to run it with your Apple devices. the volume rocker is not working with latest versions of MacOS and iOS. further more the FIIO Control App is also not working with this device. think twice ;-) in addition to that the entire firmware update process can only be done with a windows system. the entire update process is just a bad joke because of the user interface and the really poor instructions. all in all: nice hardware, pretty bad software. as such not completly managable. i will not buy any more FIIO Products.

[@wavytoad9983]

Blame apple for making 3rd party companies jump through hoops just to support their hardware. Look around, this is a big problem for 3rd party companies when making anything, not just audio products.

[@MeronOppa]

I got my KA13 this week and being testing it one my iPhones and iPad, no problems with the volume rocker whatsoever. The KA13 it’s not included on the Apple version of Fiio app, which is a bad thing, but I checked it one my Samsung phone and it doesn’t do much either, it just lets you turn on and off the led. About the dac itself, I’m loving it! Very happy with my purchase, and all the accessories included, added value for me. The D mode adds mixes volume to my Truthear Zero Red, which was really good. After some months enjoying the KA13 and it it’s necessary, I’d upgrade to the Fiio KA15.