FiiO (FiiO Electronics Technology Company), a Chinese manufacturer from Guangzhou established in 2007 by a team of engineers from OPPO – and one of the rare examples of a decent brand name – announces the launch of its new K15 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier. This new model, described as a “trickledown” version of the FiiO K17, was carefully engineered to hit a price point which is half the price of any rival, and leverages the latest AK4497S Velvet Sound DAC from Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation (AKM) in a dual configuration.
FiiO is a company known for its extensive range of Android-based portable digital players, a product category that is quickly fading into oblivion as music services started to offer lossless hi-res streaming, and smartphones now support high-quality streaming over USB-C. Therefore, the company is quickly expanding its range of desktop audio products, offering great combinations of the latest available technologies with great design and features.
The new FiiO K15 DAC and headphone amplifier surprises for its excellent classic design and for featuring the recent AK4497S premium DAC to elevate reproduction to new heights of high fidelity. Using AKM’s advanced switched capacitor filter voltage output Velvet Sound technology, the new AK4497S – the “S” stands for “superior” – offers flexible sound tuning options and accepts input formats up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512, making it possible to accurately reproduce the information-rich, unaltered data of high-resolution audio sources.
Leveraging all this power, the FiiO engineering team managed to create a full-system desktop DAC/amp that is equally at ease to power demanding headphones or active speakers (which FiiO also offers). At the heart of the K15 circuit are dual AKM AK4497S DAC chips, maintaining ultra-low distortion and wide dynamic range. In fact, the K15 is one of the first audio products in the world to implement these flagship AKM chips in a dual configuration, achieving a unique, exquisite sound signature.
The design offers all the desirable media options via Gigabit Ethernet for lossless network streaming, 2.4G/5G dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Users will be able to use the K15 as a USB DAC powered by the renowned XMOS XU316, supporting 768kHz/32bit, DSD512, and MQA, via Bluetooth decoding LDAC, AptX HD, and AAC, or streaming via Wi-Fi as a Roon Ready and AirPlay device. Local playback is also possible via USB storage, as well as optical and coaxial decoding. And users will be able to use the single-ended and balanced analog inputs for any legacy source, including turntables.
The K15’s discrete Class-AB amplifier circuit offers up to 3000mW per channel via balanced output to power sensitive IEMs or high-impedance over-ear headphones with low-noise, high-current performance.
From the DACs to the amplifier stage, the K15’s audio path is fully balanced and differential. This layout enhances channel separation, minimizes distortion and noise, and maximizes fidelity, ensuring that music remains uncolored and lifelike. To further protect signal integrity, like in its K17, FiiO has employed a triple-board design, separating digital, analog, and power supply sections across different PCBs, reducing crosstalk and electrical interference, resulting in an audibly cleaner sound.
Not bad at all, plus the fact that the K15 integrates a high-efficiency 30W internal AC power supply while also supporting 12V DC input for external linear power upgrades. It features independent digital and analog power rails with a multi-stage analog supply using multiple dropout regulators to ensure a constant supply of ultra-clean current to each audio stage.
The 3.93″ color LCD touchscreen offers intuitive visual control, while tactile knobs provide quick access to key functions. For hands-free operation, an infrared remote and the FiiO Control App (Android, iOS) ensure flexibility from any listening position. The FiiO Control app even includes a 10-band parametric EQ for further tweaking the sound if you really need to.
Those interested in this product will be able to test it already during CanJam London (July 19), with first availability scheduled for August 1. The price is a surprising $549 USD or €599 EUR, and FiiO even offers Black and Silver options. Really interesting.
www.fiio.com
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