FIIO KA17

FiiO KA17

Equipped with an innovative Desktop Mode, the KA17 features a separate Type-C power port. When sufficient USB power is available, or when the external power port is connected to a power adapter, Desktop Mode is enabled. This automatically adjusts the DAC, amplifier power and headphone amplifier to a high-performance state, allowing the full potential and output power of the device to be utilized.

As a flagship model, the KA17 is FIIO's first USB dongle to use THX headphone amplifier circuitry. It uses a brand new THX AAA 78+ headphone amplifier architecture with a configuration of 4 channels of fully balanced + 8 channels of parallel op-amps. This architecture significantly increases output power. In Desktop Mode, the balanced output power of the KA17 can reach 650mW + 650mW, which is comparable to a desktop amplifier, with stronger dynamics, better control and fuller sound reproduction.

The KA17 uses two new ESS dual-channel flagship DACs, the ES9069Q, based on the fourth-generation 32-bit HyperStream architecture. This delivers higher performance and lower power consumption, while further reducing digital noise inside the DAC. The result is a remarkable dynamic range of 130 dB and a THD+N of -120 dB. Performance is excellent and the sound background is purer.

The KA17 also features the professional XMOS 16-core chip, XU316, which is rarely used in USB dongles. This chip offers lower latency, more stable transmission, better compatibility and supports resolutions up to 768kHz/32bit, native DSD512 decoding and full MQA decoding. Combined with dual audio crystal oscillators, the chip can accurately adapt to different sources and sampling rates.

The KA17 uses a 0.91-inch dot matrix display that intuitively indicates various functions. Combined with physical buttons, you can easily adjust various settings, such as screen orientation, filters and the display's sleep timer.

In addition, the KA17 is one of the few USB dongles that supports PEQ adjustment. It offers ten customizable frequency bands, allowing users to fine-tune the EQ bands, gain level and bandwidth using FIIO's independently developed customization algorithm and interface. This significantly increases the playability of the device.

The KA17's compact size houses a multilayer HiFi audio architecture similar to that of an audio player. It includes separate digital and analog boards to prevent crosstalk, a 3-stage 10-rail power supply design and comes with a matching leather case. It also features built-in temperature detection and output DC detection, with support for volume adjustment in 60 and 120 levels, and supports SPDIF output.