@@jasminahmetovic140 I don't know about the PS5. I use it for my PC. I bought the 80 ohm variant, because the higher one requires more power to drive than the K11 can give.
I agree on everything you said in the video, but iFi Zen Can Signature (Standard) + iFi Zen One Signature stack is still just KING! for gaming, the 3D/XSpace function on the (iFi Can) is just AMAZING! when it’s about gaming, you keep your stereo sound output but it just makes that little difference that makes the sound so much BETTER! it’s like night and day in difference. F*** virtual surround sound like Atmos, Stereo and Xspace beats it BIG! time and the burr Brown chip from iFi helps a lot with big treble spikes from many headphones and this is without mentioning Xbass also 🙌🏻 The FiiO K11 is hands down the best dac/amp combo in that price range. All that said, great review like always, you are hands down the best reviewer on RU-vid when it comes to products like this 💯
Perhaps my ears are not very sensitive and I cannot hear the effect of 3D/XSpace. May I ask what your specific feeling is when you hear this? For example, how does it feel to use it in games, and what specific improvements have it made? What does it feel like to use it in music?
Been using a standard soundcard for years but recently has started popping. Finally moved to a USB DAC and chose the k11. I have the some 7hz timeless and some old, but still going ATH-MSR7. Puts me more into the audiophile lite/beginner category and now wish i had moved to a dac/amp combo sooner.
There is an issue with Optical IN regarding the FiiO k11 - V122 firmware will not fix the problem either. Essentially, audio will dip randomly - then rises to the adjusted level of dB. Great video. Rocking a 384k Hz format! Thank you for clarifying the differences in filters! :)
There is now a new firmware version v114 and contains the following updates: 1. Optimize the problem that USB DAC playback has a probability of automatically recovering after 1 ~ 2 seconds of discontinuous sound; 2. Optimize the problem that the sound output may be delayed by 2 seconds during the first playback; 3. Optimizing the playback of certain tracks will cause noise problems.
@@GenoMusicafter much testing I’ve found that filters 1, 3 and no filter 6 are my preferred options. But I slightly prefer filter 1 so have stuck with that.
Got these a while ago (before the R2R release) for about 94 USD to use with my laptop (USB) and game console (optical). No issues so far. Although I haven't used the high gain yet. Only driving the more efficient headphones right now. FYI I just leave the filter off (6). My Tanchjim Origin gets a bit bright with the filters. And filter off just sounds best to my ears.
@GadgetryTech Is there any chance you will review the newly released K11 R2R from FiiO? I'm considering buying it to play Apex with the Simgot SuperMix 4, but I only trust your reviews.
I tried the k11 and had horrible clipping issues. Sent it back for a replacement and it too had horrible clipping issues so sent it back and got the topping d3x pro+ and love it. I have seen so many praising the k11 and when i was having the clipping issues and searched on it i see some others with the same issue so i have no clue.
Thank you for providing another insightful review, as always. Your content consistently delivers exceptional value through very thorough comparisons and insightful recommendations. Personally, I began my journey with the DX3 Pro+ and later transitioned to the D70 Sabre DAC paired with the A70 Pro amp, a setup I truly appreciate. Once again, I sincerely appreciate your efforts and contributions to the audio hobby we've come to love.
I had the modi/magni and then the modious/magnius stack. I got the SMSL 8s stack and have not felt the need to switch. I always preferred separates, not that there is anything wrong with all-in-ones. My Home Theater is also Marantz separates.
Hey. Great list and very informative! Thank you! I've just gotten into iem ps5 gaming and it look like I'll be picking up the k11 for its usbc input. Question: did I understand you correctly that if you use the k11 with a ps5 and say I use iems with an antlion or kimura mic, then I won't be able to pass-through the mic? If so, then I'd need to use the blutooth mic that you mentioned, correct? Lastly, I'll be gaming on my couch. Which headphone extension cable do you recommend and should everything still work correctly if I use it? Thank you so much in advance for your response.
Thank you as always for your time, efforts, and sharing this equipment with us all. I know you probably get many comparisons questions, but I would be interested in your opinion on this unit versus the Sound Blaster X5. Thank you in advance for your reply. Take care, Sir.
Thanks Simon! This has a noticeable amount of extra power, and has a slightly more bright/punchy sound profile. The X5 is just loaded with features this does not have of course. Both units have a low noise floor, so SNR isn't an issue on either.
This DAC/Amp sounds amazing, but there's one issue with it that's kind of annoying. For some songs, particularly those with hard bass drops, this amp cuts out momentarily. They've yet to fix this, to my knowledge, with firmware. I still use it daily, and this doesn't happen often, but if you can find a track that triggers it you can reproduce it consistently. The most obvious example is Retronik by The Swing Bot. See if you can get FiiO's attention on this Joe!
I’ll check that out but it never triggered for me! I drove it really hard with the HE100SE on some bass heavy tracks and never had clipping issues. What volume do you have to be at? I’ll try that song tonight and report back.
@@GadgetryTech Definitely check it out. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with power. It's some kind of... almost clipping sort of effect with the tracks themselves. The effect is identical on my HD650 as it is to the Kiwi Quintet, just for example. At any volume. It's the only DAC/Amp I own that does this, but it's also the best sounding DAC/Amp I own so I've just been living with it since it's fairly rare.
Couple of other notes. I had my unit replaced, and the replacement does the exact same thing. Also, if you change the UAC to 1 it'll solve the issue, but of course that's not ideal using it with Windows.
@@GadgetryTech I just went to test it again myself, to pick out a good timestamp in the song where this starts occurring, and oddly enough it's no longer doing it at all. I tested this extensively a couple of months back, and now I wonder if it was related to something else I've since changed without realizing. Still, worth checking for yourself. Regardless of the cause, if this is either "fixed" or something that was uniquely happening to me, this is a very near perfect dac/amp at this price point. That strange bass clipping issue was my one and only complaint. EDIT: Never mind. When I switched from medium to low gain, just to see if was happening in low gain, it started doing it again. Switched back to medium gain, continued to do it. High gain, still does it. Not sure how, but switching between gain levels caused it to start happening again.
I can't balance my sound on the K11, I use the 6.35mm port. When I try to balance left and right it only affects volume. Does anyone have the same problem?
Compared to the k7 - ignoring the price difference, what are the biggest differences (apart from max power). I have the k11, but switching between lineout and phoneout is starting to get tedious without a dedicated switch
Hi Tech, I was wondering if the Fiio K11 Amp Dac would sound even better with the Ksc75s on the Ps5? They sound really good stock but is it worth getting a Dac/ Amp for them or do you have other recommendations? Awesome video by the way!!
Hey, I don't really know if you will have the time to awnser this question. But I am french, and I am using the Edition XS from Hifiman. Here the Atom 2 stack is too expensive, do you think that the K11 will be a good buy, or will I miss something in my audio experience with it combined to the XS?
I currently use a Soundblaster X4 with a pair if Audio-Technica ATH R70X (470ohm) with my PS5, would the K11 offer a noticeable upgrade over the X4 or should I stick with the X4? The R70X are single ended, not using them with a balanced cable Thanks and keep up the great content
Would you recommend this over the EPOS/Sennheiser GSX 1000 in terms of which has the better sound-staging effect and overall effect to sound quality? I'm not much into audio stuff, but I clearly recall the GSX 1000 being highly recommended in the past for the clarity and excellent sound-staging effect it can give.
Hey man. Been loving your videos. I just picked up the h6pro for 49.99 on Amazon. I could not pass up on that. I was curious do you think I should a get Dac/amp for them even though they are easy to drive. I'm trying to find the schiit hel 2 plus to talked about but they vanished or something. Would you still recommend this over the schiit if I'm able to find one. Thanks man. You're awesome
Yes off course and that fact amp is soundblaster g6 stereo 5.1 7.1 and passthru of dolby atmos dts it covers your phone your pc your game console your TV set I game with openback h6pro and g6 it's wonderful
Hey Joe, just wondering if you will be reviewing the FiiO K19 as well? On the fence of going from K5 Pro up to it, would love to hear your review of it
Would you recommend using a dac or amp for wireless headphones such as the turtle beach stealth pros for games such as call of duty? Not entirely sure hope this isn’t a dumb question :)
Great vid, Just a quick one hopefully you can answer this for me; I was looking at using this as a PC Dac and then connecting the RCA outputs to my amplifier and using all my audio through that. Does the DAC default to outputting to the headphone if i plug in and then if i unplug it goes through the RCAs? if not how does that function work? Hopefully i didn't miss it within the video
Excellent Review! I just bought a set of the Audeze MM-100's and I'm trying to figure what amp/dac to get for them...any recommendations? I am trying to decide between the FiiO K11, DX3 Pro+, Schiit Stack or the iFi Hip Dac 3. I will mostly be using them for gaming.
@@divacroft1034 you would think but they are very quiet on everything accept my MBP and even that I would prefer about 10% more volume....Audeze recommends minimum power of 100mW, with a recommended power of 250mW....with 18Ω impedance I need something with an output impedance of 2Ω or lower
Good evening, I have the creative G6 and I want to upgrade. I want it to play clearer and louder, but also for MW3 foosteps. Which of the 3 should I get in your opinion or other dac. I use PC38X and Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite. Will I have problem with mic ? Thanks
Don’t how you can say that DX3Pro+ has great bass impact. To me it has almost no bass on any openback I’ve tried, even old Fiio K5 Pro sounds much better to my ears. And yes, I’ve tried switching filters and gain, it had pretty much no effect. Didn’t try it, but I’ve heard that smsl c200 is a much better option
I mean I suppose it depends on what you have. Compared to the Zen Air and K11, the DX3 had the strongest bass. This is partly due to a less bright top end which tilts towards bass more
@@GadgetryTech I guess so, I was AB comparing it to Fiio K5 Pro and Topping DX5 Lite. Don't even want to know how K11 and Zen Air sound if DX3Pro+ is better. Since to me it lacked bass, and was a bit too bright. Fiio K7 and SMSL C200 seem like a much better option for the same price.
Thank you, btw do you know the audient id4? its what i use at the moment for gaming but i feel like i cant hear above or below me in fps games especially Fortnite. Would this be an upgrade for that?
I’m not sure whether to get 4.4mm balanced or 3.5 mm unbalanced cables with my Ziigaat Doscincos IEMs to go with the K11. The impedance of these iems is 11 ohms at 1khz and 16 ohms resistance.
Hi joe I play on ps5 only I been using the arctic nova pro wireless over the astro a50x I think I like those better they probably even sound better on pc because of sonar software but they also sound amazing for ps5 you have that dac you can tune in the sound what's your opinion astro a50x or the nova pro wireless thank you
i have a Goxlr and as of late headsets are giving me discomfort so i planned to swap into IEMs made my purchase thanks to one of your previous videos do you think that IEMs work well with Goxlr or should i try something else
Great review on the FiiO K11, I bought it a couple of months ago mainly for the balanced out, but I have a couple of questions, for warzone do you recommend filter one or six?, and for IEMs (Orchestra Lite) low gain? Thanks
How are they sounding paired with a computer and not a ps5? And to drive say beyerdynamics 990x or 560 headphones is the amp enough? Used the zendac before and u said that it has less power so the fiilo should be able to drive the headphones
What would be a good DAC for the Antlion Kimura DUO? I need two ports for 3.5mm mic and audio out. I know I could use the Schiit products but are there any others?
just wondering, what options do i have for a DAC/amp that has the ability to listen to optical input from console and pc audio from USB simultaneously?
Trying to upgrade my PC audio setup from my 10+ year old logitech 2.1 system. New to more advanced audio stuff. Looking at a set of small powered studio monitors and maybe eventually a sub. Something like Audioengine A2+ or PreSonus Eris 3.5. Can I run those through the fii0 K11 in addition IEMs and/or my gaming headset (steelseries nova7)? Looks like has L/R RCA out so those would be for speakers. But where would sub go? Wondering how this compares to Soundblaster x4...
Barely getting into audio setups i was wondering if i can combine this with a goxlr mini? idk how it would be setup i already have the goxlr so need to make a use out it
I just bought the sennheiser hd660s2 and FiiO k11 but can’t figure the best setting for gaming. I’m currently using the Corsair virtuoso xt and I use ur tuning from ur video and they currently sound better then sennheiser. Should I just stick to the Corsair?
Thinking about building a new pc, just curious as i want better sound to a speaker set, would FiiO K11 benefit speaks the same way it would headset? Also would FiiO K11 be better than ALC1220.
wondering this same thing too. planning on buying a set of small powered studio monitors and eventually a sub for music listening, but also using headset or IEMs for gaming. Can run everything through this? New to the more advanced audio stuff. Trying to get away from my 10+ year old logitech 2.1 system and also make improvements to gaming audio performance...
Hello, I have a Hifiman Arya Stealth and the Fiio k11, would it be beneficial to use 4.4mm instead of 6.35mm? If you don’t mind is there any compatible cables you recommend? Thanks.
Hey bud how do these pair with the orchestra lites ? I currently have the ifi zen dac 3 pretty mid thinking about returning it and getting this it looks promising
Don't expect stronger bass if that's what you're after. Orchestra Lites are a tad bright so this will definitely sound incredibly clear. I'd consider a little EQ for fine tuning. I'm not sure how this compares directly to the Zen Dac 3 though. Sorry!
@@GadgetryTech thanks bud I ordered it not looking for bass I mainly play FPS like apex and valorant just look for very clean sound for them footsteps if that delivers i can save $100 by switching from the dac 3
I have a HD490 Pro. I mainly play valorant. Which is the best option? FiiO K11 vs ifi Zen Dac v2 vs Topping DX3 Pro+. PS: I’m currently using ARC from Mayflower Electronics. Is it worth the upgrade? Or is it an “upgrade”?
@@GadgetryTech I have some question regarding setting up the Amp/Dac with my HD490 Pro. 1. Balanced vs Unbalanced output which one I should use? 2. Gain level. Low Mid or High? I actually pulled the triggered right after you recommending it to me. Thank you very much!
@@GadgetryTech thank you, I been using the k11 since November it's great just got hd560s which also sounds great so I been experimenting with different things and wanted other people's opinions on filters since there isn't much helpful information on it especially for the k11
If the headphone jacks are 6.35 mm and 4.4 mm will I have to buy an adapter to plug my iems straight into the device? I’m new to the amp/dac scene please excuse my incompetence. Plan on using it for my ps5. 😂🙏
Was almost set to buy this, but then realized I overlooked the mic input piece. Neither this, topping dx3 pro+, or schiit magni unity have mic in. But then looking at like schiit Hel 2, soundblaster g6, or epos gsx 1000, neither of those have RCA/line out for speakers. Ugh, i feel stuck. Looking for one dac/amp combo that does it all for 200ish or less
@@ronald0122 fiio K11. No regrets. Though if I was doing it again I might go with schiit magni unity for the simple/quick toggle switches on the front to switch Po/lo and gain. Little more money tho.
@@Rustydude2030 thanks. how do you handle your mic though? i need a mic input so maybe i should just get the gsx 1000 v2. what filter setting are you using on the k11 btw?
@@ronald0122 I bought a blue yeti during prime day for $69. Plug via USB direct to PC. I use filter 1. Tired 7 too but can't tell the difference between 1 and 7 so jist go with 1 since it's what Joe recommended. 7 is supposed to be no filter.
What do you think about the topping dx3 pro plus vs k11 fiio? Im deciding between the two and im coming from creative soundblaster x4. Would these be upgrades? My headphone uses are gaming on pc for the majority and music quite often. I have sundara openback, dt770, hd599 and tygr 300r.
@@ronald0122 I went with the dx3 pro+. Coming from a lower end creative which is still good. The dx3pro has more clarity and detail in comparison and excels more at louder volumes. Terms of customization the soundvlaster x4 has more cause they have an app with eq and all that and the profiles can be saved but if you have a PC I would get the dx3 pro and if you want to eq there is a ton of PC software to do so but it's so crystal clear I don't even care to touch eq.
Depends what else is $240! It sounds great and performs closer to the $200 stuff here in the US. If the Topping DX3 Pro + is the same or less, and you don't need balanced, then just grab the Topping. Otherwise this is still a solid pick
Technically you can use optical for one of the inputs from your PC or TV, but it only plays once source at a time. It doesn’t merge. If you want one that supports both at the same time with merge, check out the Creative X5
It depends on what headphones/IEMs you have. The X4 output impedance is close to 10 ohms. For low impedance headphones and IEMs, 32 ohms or less, the K11 should sound better
@@GadgetryTech some sets I'm using are the FiiO JT1, Aful MagicOne, Raptgo Hook X and Tanchjim Origin. What I like also about the X4 is how easy it is to change outputs from headphones when gaming then with a press it changes to my bookshelf speakers. Is the K11 also like that?
It's incredibly frustrating for sure. You can at least run an optical cable from your TV to the back of the K11 if you're even using a TV. If you're on a monitor then yeah it's not worth trying to make it work unless you're desperate. At that point you would have to buy an HDMI 2.1 optical extractor
