This is one of those things where once you hear it you can’t hear it. My current app was pretty bright and splashy, and I was contemplating the warmer sound of the k11. Once I got it, I wasn’t really happy with it but mostly because it didn’t seem to sparkle much. I played with the filters a little bit and then settled back in at number three. Then I watch your video and listen to the song you recommended and I’m like holy shit now I can’t unhear this sizzle. Turn the filter off and it definitely smooth things out. I’m surprised other reviewers don’t chat about the filters because I could hear the subtleties between them and I am by far no golden ear
Just bought this DAC today as a display stock because it was the only one they had in silver. I tested it out with a pair of Hifiman Sundara’s and it sounded pretty damn good to me. I didn’t notice any sibilance or issues with the gain settings on high, still sounded clean with no distortion, unlike my SMSL C200, which is absolutely useless on high gain. I bought the K11 because the SMSL C200’s USB input stopped working for some reason, and was just useless with my phone as a music source, and Bluetooth sounded less clean than USB when it did work. Really annoyed though because now I have to go back to the shop that I got it from, because they forgot to put the crucial part back in the box, which is the cord that goes from the transformer brick to the power point. I know it was a simple mistake, but if you’re gonna sell display stock, then make sure that you check to make sure everything that was supposed to be in the box is in there!
I didn't notice any issues with gain settings either. Filter #3 - Rebecca Pidgeon's "Spanish Harlem" was where I heard sibilance. Removing the filter (using #7) removed the sibilance (probably 99% of it).
@@syncwork just went into a HiFi shop again the other day and had another listen to the Sundara’s, but this time on a $950.00 Ifi DAC, and wow! This pairing sounded amazing!
This is one of the best ratings yet, if I'm not wrong? Very good review. I like how you incorporate other reviewers judgement and ask if you or they are wrong!
I hate when unsupervised parents get ahold of handbrake or audacity on computer systems. Sometimes I miss the great DAC wars. It really allowed us to buy products based on what matters, subjective placebo.
Now that is a review I was writing about previously... Keep it up and remember about alcoholics + abstinents that completely don't understand the wine scoring scheme! 🤗!
Okay so, im really glad i stumbled upon your review, I was liking the K11 and i didnt even know it has filters, imma try to see if the store demo have which filter turned on thank you very much
Love your reviewing style. Instant sub. The filter thing is just FiiO being FiiO. I'm on my third device from this company as the value for money is definitely there, as is the sound quality. BUT, and it's a BIG BUT, their firmware QC is amongst the worst. I've had issues with KA3 (gave it away), BTR7(returned) and now K7(having fun with customer support). K7 exhibits sound fading for split second randomly, which triggers me a lot, especially when gaming. Not a single reviewer mentioned this flaw. Bunch of collab shills in this hobby. Hope you're not one.
We’ll find out, as I’ve got the K9 (not a K7) in a box. Reviewing a couple other products first, but I’ll listen to my Bish and we’ll see if she goes down randomly on me.
K11 has the K7 flaw from what I understand (though Fiio are working on it). Normally has to do with some mixture of using the optical in and higher sampling rates (so people stuck to something like 48khz shouldn't have issues, but at 300+ it will be triggered).
I just got the Fiio K11 R2R. Haven't listened much yet. It's been less than 24 hours. I did manage to find the gain adjustment. It defaulted to medium. Switched it to high for my full-size Sennheiser HD600. Even on high gain, there didn't seem to be any headroom, or not much. On medium gain it was definitely lacking. Thus far I think my Modi/Magni sounds better. I'll keep listening. I think the K11 R2R is the cheapest entry into a ladder DAC (don't quote me on that) and I wanted to try it. I'm unimpressed thus far, but I'll keep trying. I'll also play with the filters, which I hadn't found yet, though I think my biggest issue will be the power output. It's still early. Thanks for the review.
One additional comment on the power output...I understand that the balanced output has more power, but I only have IEMs in 4.4 plugs, no headphones. I'm not likely to use IEMs at the desk, so I'll never get that benefit. I prefer headphones and only use IEMs when I'm out. I'll try some other headphones to see if they are easier to drive from the K11. Maybe after I try all of my options, if I still feel unimpressed, then maybe I'll add a dedicated headphone amp. We'll see. I don't want to give up on the K11 yet.
@@Cons2911I was probably at 75%, but it felt like there was no headroom at all. I need to check the filter. Maybe that will help some. Also, make sure I was using it in high gain.
A newer review by GadgetryTech also confirms sibilance issue at default Filter 3. I just got this DAC/Amp and agree that Filter 3 is the sharpest ssssstttttt sounding filter.
I like the different colors for the engaged filter. It gives me reference other than going through a menu as I use different filters for different music. Or, maybe I want to go back to 17 years-old and 1987.
I tried this device with all the filter settings. Also used the Rebecca Pidgeon’s Spanish Harlem- great tip btw. As I could not find in Qobuz, I used the Spotify version. I did not hear any siblance. Words like "special", "rose" or "stars" sound natural to me. Currently testing the K11 and the Toppings DX3Pro+. In general I prefer the sound of the DX3. The only lowlight is its case & display.
instant sub here -- great review. considering a dac around this price range -- I was also considering the topping dx3 pro+ but it is a lot more in price.
thank you for your golden ears and thoroughness, bought this as a first DAC/amp as I have a set of focal clears coming in the mail that came with a custom 4.4mm cable so i just needed a stopgap with a balanced output as i decide which step further to take later. Could only imagine how crushed I'd be by the filter 3 default coloring the experience
For clarificatuon- the audiophile mindset is an entry requirement; but WOW this guy raises the bar on dry ( or should I say wet) humour: buy this channel✌️
Like a shoe shine guy wearing dirty sneakers, it's a little hard to take you seriously when the audio of your unboxing portion sounds like this. A couple minutes later you're bashing the sibilance... while your mic has been picking up a buzzing noise the whole time. "It was obvious, and annoying."
I wonder if you would prefer the R2R version to bypass the filters? I've actually run HQP w/ the R2R version in both PCM & DSD as it performs quite well. However, I was having some issues w/ popping for track changes in DSD mode. After some brief research the popping might be due to the USB buffer being overloaded. A potential remedy that I have not had a chance to try is to increase the buffer in HQP. Imo the R2R version of this dac is a great starting place for $160 for entry into HiFi.
Well, given the findings...and the fact I just can't ware IEM's they bother me...they sound great fantastic even...however stuff in my ears is just too annoying. And so, that I won't have to do the cable dance works well for me. Now I just have to decide on is it the K11 or Geshelli Labs... J2 with minor mod option or. Yes, one is way more expensive that's a given its the overall offering and the potential for the illusive quality of Air. And excellent review...
So I have a question. I can get the K5 Pro ESS for 80-90 dollars. Would you recommend I spend a little extra and go for the K11 or will the K5 Pro ESS be fine?
Oof, you really shouldn't judge the planar category based on the Verum 1, it's an outlier with a veiled detail-hating signature and the high-resistance single-ground-wire (high crosstalk!) stock cable coupled with the very low-impedance drivers scrunch up the soundstage like you're listening to music in a hallway. At the very least these should be tested with a proper 4-wire cable with separate returns for the L and R at least up to the amp plug, or with a "balanced" cable if you have the setup for it.
You scared the shit out of me at the beginning 😂 But seems like it‘s not a bad dac/amp for the price, so I ordered it. Really excited to test this with my sundara
@@scientificaudiophile Can definitely confirm that. Had my Audient iD4 before that and I nearly had to turn up all the way to get the sundara sounding loud enough. With the K11 at mid gain, I'm at 29 and it's loud enough. Also the sundara sounds definitely better with the K11, I feel like it's more natural and softer. So very satisfied for now and for the price.
@@scientificaudiophile Btw. did you face the same problem as me? I found out that after you stopped a video or spotify and waited for some longer time and pressing play again, then it has around 2 seconds delay. If you faced the problem, did you find a solution for it? Otherwise I would send it back because like this it's not very enjoyable. Well, one or two hours later, it would be smart to upgrade the firmware... Could fix some issues...
do we need to spend more than $10 on a apple dongle dac if we only use iems that requires very little power ? if not what is your dac recommendation for iems exclusively under $150 ? thanks
@@scientificaudiophile Me neither I also have Fiio BTR7. The filter does nothing I thought filters was just snake oil Maybe if the samples are dense, there’s less space to hear it. Have no ideia
¡Muchas gracias por este review! Esa información de los filtros es importante conocerla 🤔 estoy pensando en adquirir este DAC/AMP 🤔 Tengo el FiiO Q3 MQA y quiero usar al 100% mis ARTTI 10
Yes I can. I like the FIIO K11 at $129. Right now I just started testing the $199 FX-Audio DX07. I should have that review done by mid-April, but it looks promising. A bit of an issue on hi-gain with low impedance headphones, but otherwise good. It hasn’t been released yet.
Great review! Thanks. Question: I need a DAC that can do the following: Accept an optical s/pdif input - coming from my desktop computer. Simultaneously drive my headphones via the balanced output - and drive my desktop powered speakers via the RCA line-outs. Can the FiiO K11 drive both at the same time? And if so, would running the balanced output and RCAs at the same time cause any sound degradation? My main goal is get away from using the analog audio output from my computer - and instead, use a quality DAC, and the optical s/pdif output from my computer. And then use the DAC to drive headhones and my powered speakers - and to be able to run them at the same time. If not the FiiO K11 - do you have another recommendation that would solve this problem? Thanks again!
I just got this K11 DAC/Amp after watching many reviews including this one. You need to double press the volume knob to switch between LO and PO (or via the menu using long press), and each output remembers the last volume setting. If you need simultaneous Line Out and Headphone Out perhaps you can look at Fiio K3S, but that model does not have individual volume setting and Fiio recommends disconnecting Headphone for safety reason.
I bought a D40 Pro and there somtimes were short pauses, for about a second, in varying places. My Cambridge Audio has no issues with the same music. Sigh.
I just bought this, thankyou for showing me what the filters are. Im going to be using edifier mr4's and the sennheiser hd560s. I think i have to use a 1/4" because a 4.4 adapter will damage it? Does anyone know what gain level i should use for the headset/mr4's?
Hey! I'm new to the audiophile universe and I recently ordered a Beyerdynamic DT 990 250 Ohm for me and my father in law. I've seen/read all kind of reviews, but they're all so different. I've checked out FiiO k5, K11. Creative Sound blaster G6 GC7, X5. Topping DX3 Pro+, but I'm clueless. Which Desktop DAC/AMP would you recommend for under $200+/-?
I get that I’m late to the party, but have you reviewed the FIIO K11 R2R DAC? I keep hearing that it’s “warm”, so diametrically opposed to the K11 chip DAC. Thoughts?
Hey, I don't really know if you will have the time to awnser this question. But I am french, and I am using the Edition XS from Hifiman. Here the Atom 2 stack is too expensive, do you think that the K11 will be a good buy, or will I miss something in my audio experience with it combined to the XS?
Fiio K7 have different vs K11 if i have Dt770Pro 80 Ohm and they can connect only to unbalanced output? Or maybe something else good fit for this headphones? (It is desirable that the high frequencies are not too high)
i'M Looking for DAC AMP (using more on DAC) with neutral to warm sound (not analiticall, dry) for streamer RPi4. Anyone tested on Linux/Volumio/piCorePlayer. K11 vs DX3 Pro+ on sound , build quality?
did you know you change the audio quality? from 48k to 192k hz? this makes the quality better... however I bought this and couldnt hook it up to my goxlr. I bought a 4-way headphone amplifier and it had the same quality as this at 150$ but the amplifier was 40$ and I have 4 channels and also can be hooked up to my goxlr. you could have cheap studio headphones, and/or didnt change the hz quality in the audio settings to 192k hz. your ego makes me feel you don't really know much.
nice review was thinking of getting a apm\dac here and im new in that world i just got the Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X 48ohms and everyone told me it will sound 10 times better with an amp but no can direct me to something decent and if they do there's no where to get them from in my country.. what would u suggest for a begginer thats actualy good and dont wanna spend over 300$ for something
Nice review. Consensus is that these filters, ubiquitous in budget Chinese DACS, make little or no difference to the sound. The Scientific Audiophile has taken that consensus, ripped it up, fed the fragments into a shredder, taken the shredder to a steelworks, dropped it into the molten metal and irradiated the remains. Good job. PS I hate sssssssibilance with a passssssssion. PS PS Brave fellow, taking on the Verum One. Its a great headphone and its production, effectively by one man, is remarkable. Unfortunately it's maker has proven himself to have deeply problematic views and attitudes, often towards his customers. That's a real shame and I look forward to hearing your take. I just sold my pair a couple of months ago to fund PX8s for holiday purposes, and miss them. already.
Long live that Bisch. Talking about filters what filter do you recommend for the rne'adi-2 fs? I'm currently using SD Sharp but would like your opinion
I recently got myself the Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX Headphones but dont have a DAC/AMP to run them, so i have just been using them directly from my desktop PC. I have noticed that it is a bit soft and cant get the volume just right. Would these be a good choice for them or is there other DAC/AMP that is around the same budget? Most people i have talked to who have this headset recommended Massdrop O2 + SDAC DAC/AMP but that is out of stock (For months).
Scientific Audiophile, please forgive my previous comment. The devil made me write it. I'm using HD660s with this dac/amp, and just learned that it was set on Filter 3 by default. Although I couldn't hear any sibilance before, it sounds more accurate now. Please find it in your heart to forgive me. It's a nice video.
@@scientificaudiophile number 6 no filter? Good to know!! Does gain level indicate what ohm headset you use? I currently have it on medium. Though 130ohm isnt that much. So maybe I can set low gain? If that makes sounds better. Though I have to up the volume then
10 minutes reddit is enough to find out about those filters that is not so difficult dont tell me nobody talked about the filters cause on reddit it is evrrywhere
I don't know whats wrong with fiio. They suddenly started to make highly sibilant and bright as f*** source devices only. We definitely know whats wrong with orher reviewers though 😂😂
are you sure you made everything right? (updating software, use another preset other than default) because the thing youre saiyng is more of a like headphones problem, because I never meet problem like that even on a basic built in motherboard amp.
@@teeser8599I have 5 headphones here to test and I even reinstalled Windows, yet the issue still persists. I'm not the only person having this issue. The audio cutoff happens between 20-250hz at -3.3dB to -3.5dB at high sample rates. You can trigger this easily with Equalizer APO with the preamp setting. Anyways, I sent it back and now got the K5 Pro ESS and everything works perfectly fine now. I'm sick of the latest technology which works like the games in their alpha states.
well I don't disagree with your opinion I find it a little odd that someone is doing and audio equipment review with a constant hiss in the background of the video
Bro, are you quite literally deaf to those high frequency beeps you put in this video? I have my headphone volume at 8% and they blew out my ears, and no I'm not a teenager.
other reviewers more boring thsn you? Wow. Tried using this as a DAC only into a capable amp? However while I see zero point NOT using NOS with this or any R2R, it's good to know it bizarrely does not ship in NOS mode.
Are you comparing a dac with hundreds of hours of use and a dac just out of its box? because I would like to have a useful opinion on the K11 but as long as this one is out of its box and a test after your opinion is useless, and also you have to understand that all the opinions on the internet, at least a hundred, suspicious and zoom on the dac although it is only half of the DAC since it remains a big black block which often ends up annoying us under the desk with its parasitic wires which touch others etc. while a larger box with the integrated power supply is so cool, despite everything the reviews only say Oh it's small, blah blah blah, NO it's huge and its price also determines the level of compactness possible, But you have to understand why the reviews don't talk about the power supply when in fact this is the most important, even on the Amazon product sheet, there is no photo on the page, I had to go to Google to find at the bottom of the image page a photo of the power supply, the product would already have to be broken in for dozens of hours , it's useless like the million reviews on the internet to give an opinion after taking it out of the box, it's incomprehensible and useless, sorry
@@scientificaudiophile better off with the cayin ru6 dongle, they are at least aware that the resistors have a massive 0.1% variance, and they designed the output stage accordingly
I just received mine and I noticed that I can hear a hissing noise( electrical noise) whenever I’m on filter 6 which is louder than the sound being played .I don’t know if I should just return it or if there is a way to fix it someone please tell me if they have had the issue and how to resolve it/ what to do with it
"Set my Dad back $1,200.00" Classic;......
This is one of those things where once you hear it you can’t hear it. My current app was pretty bright and splashy, and I was contemplating the warmer sound of the k11. Once I got it, I wasn’t really happy with it but mostly because it didn’t seem to sparkle much. I played with the filters a little bit and then settled back in at number three. Then I watch your video and listen to the song you recommended and I’m like holy shit now I can’t unhear this sizzle. Turn the filter off and it definitely smooth things out.
I’m surprised other reviewers don’t chat about the filters because I could hear the subtleties between them and I am by far no golden ear
So the filters work well? I’m looking at this or the r2r and other brands and model in the similar price range. (K7, dx3 pro+ etc)
Just bought this DAC today as a display stock because it was the only one they had in silver. I tested it out with a pair of Hifiman Sundara’s and it sounded pretty damn good to me. I didn’t notice any sibilance or issues with the gain settings on high, still sounded clean with no distortion, unlike my SMSL C200, which is absolutely useless on high gain. I bought the K11 because the SMSL C200’s USB input stopped working for some reason, and was just useless with my phone as a music source, and Bluetooth sounded less clean than USB when it did work. Really annoyed though because now I have to go back to the shop that I got it from, because they forgot to put the crucial part back in the box, which is the cord that goes from the transformer brick to the power point. I know it was a simple mistake, but if you’re gonna sell display stock, then make sure that you check to make sure everything that was supposed to be in the box is in there!
I didn't notice any issues with gain settings either. Filter #3 - Rebecca Pidgeon's "Spanish Harlem" was where I heard sibilance. Removing the filter (using #7) removed the sibilance (probably 99% of it).
@@scientificaudiophileI am ordering a K7 today.
hehe me also planing to get one for hifiman sundara
@@syncwork just went into a HiFi shop again the other day and had another listen to the Sundara’s, but this time on a $950.00 Ifi DAC, and wow! This pairing sounded amazing!
@@benkrake3678 but it's $950 💀
This is one of the best ratings yet, if I'm not wrong? Very good review. I like how you incorporate other reviewers judgement and ask if you or they are wrong!
Other reviewers confuse me. Not all of them. I like a few.
I hate when unsupervised parents get ahold of handbrake or audacity on computer systems.
Sometimes I miss the great DAC wars. It really allowed us to buy products based on what matters, subjective placebo.
Parents are the worst!
You scared me when I saw the word "Garbage". I had just ordered a K11 twenty minutes prior to power my Senn HD6xxs'. Nice review... thanks!
It’s a very nice DAC/amp. Enjoy it.
Now that is a review I was writing about previously... Keep it up and remember about alcoholics + abstinents that completely don't understand the wine scoring scheme! 🤗!
Okay so, im really glad i stumbled upon your review, I was liking the K11 and i didnt even know it has filters, imma try to see if the store demo have which filter turned on
thank you very much
"I was liking it until someone told me not to" lol
Love your reviewing style. Instant sub.
The filter thing is just FiiO being FiiO.
I'm on my third device from this company as the value for money is definitely there, as is the sound quality. BUT, and it's a BIG BUT, their firmware QC is amongst the worst. I've had issues with KA3 (gave it away), BTR7(returned) and now K7(having fun with customer support). K7 exhibits sound fading for split second randomly, which triggers me a lot, especially when gaming.
Not a single reviewer mentioned this flaw. Bunch of collab shills in this hobby. Hope you're not one.
We’ll find out, as I’ve got the K9 (not a K7) in a box. Reviewing a couple other products first, but I’ll listen to my Bish and we’ll see if she goes down randomly on me.
FiiO’s software department is an absolute nightmare. From firmware to apps, the only company worse at it is Moondrop.
K11 has the K7 flaw from what I understand (though Fiio are working on it). Normally has to do with some mixture of using the optical in and higher sampling rates (so people stuck to something like 48khz shouldn't have issues, but at 300+ it will be triggered).
Just tested this, no siblance in any filter. You got a bad unit?
Possibly. Did you test with Rebecca Pidgeon’s Spanish Harlem?
I just got the Fiio K11 R2R. Haven't listened much yet. It's been less than 24 hours. I did manage to find the gain adjustment. It defaulted to medium. Switched it to high for my full-size Sennheiser HD600. Even on high gain, there didn't seem to be any headroom, or not much. On medium gain it was definitely lacking. Thus far I think my Modi/Magni sounds better. I'll keep listening. I think the K11 R2R is the cheapest entry into a ladder DAC (don't quote me on that) and I wanted to try it. I'm unimpressed thus far, but I'll keep trying. I'll also play with the filters, which I hadn't found yet, though I think my biggest issue will be the power output. It's still early. Thanks for the review.
One additional comment on the power output...I understand that the balanced output has more power, but I only have IEMs in 4.4 plugs, no headphones. I'm not likely to use IEMs at the desk, so I'll never get that benefit. I prefer headphones and only use IEMs when I'm out. I'll try some other headphones to see if they are easier to drive from the K11. Maybe after I try all of my options, if I still feel unimpressed, then maybe I'll add a dedicated headphone amp. We'll see. I don't want to give up on the K11 yet.
@@mkcraghead I wish to read your updated review after warmup and having connected linear power supply, and with planar headphones
Were you maxing it out already? 80% dial?
Thanks in advance, I don’t listen too loud but I’d like to have some headroom
@@Cons2911I was probably at 75%, but it felt like there was no headroom at all. I need to check the filter. Maybe that will help some. Also, make sure I was using it in high gain.
The review starts at 5:10 min in.
"Stars, panthers, or thumbs ups"
Damn shots fired 😂
A newer review by GadgetryTech also confirms sibilance issue at default Filter 3.
I just got this DAC/Amp and agree that Filter 3 is the sharpest ssssstttttt sounding filter.
SA delivers everytime, another gem here...always leave with sore cheeks from laughing the entire time
I like the different colors for the engaged filter. It gives me reference other than going through a menu as I use different filters for different music. Or, maybe I want to go back to 17 years-old and 1987.
I tried this device with all the filter settings. Also used the Rebecca Pidgeon’s Spanish Harlem- great tip btw.
As I could not find in Qobuz, I used the Spotify version. I did not hear any siblance. Words like "special", "rose" or "stars" sound natural to me.
Currently testing the K11 and the Toppings DX3Pro+. In general I prefer the sound of the DX3. The only lowlight is its case & display.
Thanks for sharing!
how much different is it ? like moon and sun? or moon and starlink satelite ?
Hey man. I'm currently testing the k7 bluetooth version and the dx3pro+. Not sure if you have the k7 too but did you end up picking a winner?
Man wich cam you used for recording? The details are so great
I use the Sony - Alpha ZV-E10
@@scientificaudiophile came to make the same comment, video quality is insane! Bravo to Sony then
instant sub here -- great review. considering a dac around this price range -- I was also considering the topping dx3 pro+ but it is a lot more in price.
Thanks for the sub!
You are the best audiophile reviewer. Period.
You and I are men of action. Lies do not become us.
thank you for your golden ears and thoroughness, bought this as a first DAC/amp as I have a set of focal clears coming in the mail that came with a custom 4.4mm cable so i just needed a stopgap with a balanced output as i decide which step further to take later. Could only imagine how crushed I'd be by the filter 3 default coloring the experience
Glad to help!
By the way, great review! Keep up the good work👍
Thanks, will do!
Pure adult entertainment. This is meant as a compliment. Sibillance is it’s default! Golden ears & decent Merlot rule!
For clarificatuon- the audiophile mindset is an entry requirement; but WOW this guy raises the bar on dry ( or should I say wet) humour: buy this channel✌️
There is nothing humorous about my channel. I don't know what you would consider humor in any of my videos. But as they say, everyone's different.
@@scientificaudiophileTrue- t’s all about the sound. But we also have laughter & that’s very palatable to my ears.
Laughter lacks enough sibilance.
Like a shoe shine guy wearing dirty sneakers, it's a little hard to take you seriously when the audio of your unboxing portion sounds like this. A couple minutes later you're bashing the sibilance... while your mic has been picking up a buzzing noise the whole time. "It was obvious, and annoying."
So you heard it too!
Your head has rounded curves. My vocabulary is fine. Keep up the magnanimous work.
I wonder if you would prefer the R2R version to bypass the filters? I've actually run HQP w/ the R2R version in both PCM & DSD as it performs quite well. However, I was having some issues w/ popping for track changes in DSD mode. After some brief research the popping might be due to the USB buffer being overloaded. A potential remedy that I have not had a chance to try is to increase the buffer in HQP. Imo the R2R version of this dac is a great starting place for $160 for entry into HiFi.
Haven’t heard the R2R version, but I’ve heard good about it.
Well, given the findings...and the fact I just can't ware IEM's they bother me...they sound great fantastic even...however stuff in my ears is just too annoying. And so, that I won't have to do the cable dance works well for me. Now I just have to decide on is it the K11 or Geshelli Labs... J2 with minor mod option or. Yes, one is way more expensive that's a given its the overall offering and the potential for the illusive quality of Air. And excellent review...
It's all about the cable dance and how much you want to spend. 😉
So I have a question. I can get the K5 Pro ESS for 80-90 dollars. Would you recommend I spend a little extra and go for the K11 or will the K5 Pro ESS be fine?
K11. Couple of them on eBay for $99
RME can now be controlled by an app on computer. Super simple now!!
your opinion about r2r k11?
I have a verum-1. It did a lot of good things, especially for the money. At the end of the day, planar just weren't my bag.
It hasn’t arrived yet, but I’m very curious about it.
@@scientificaudiophile they do outperform many of the lower cost hifi man.
Oof, you really shouldn't judge the planar category based on the Verum 1, it's an outlier with a veiled detail-hating signature and the high-resistance single-ground-wire (high crosstalk!) stock cable coupled with the very low-impedance drivers scrunch up the soundstage like you're listening to music in a hallway. At the very least these should be tested with a proper 4-wire cable with separate returns for the L and R at least up to the amp plug, or with a "balanced" cable if you have the setup for it.
You scared the shit out of me at the beginning 😂
But seems like it‘s not a bad dac/amp for the price, so I ordered it. Really excited to test this with my sundara
It’s really a great DAC/amp for the price.
@@scientificaudiophile Can definitely confirm that. Had my Audient iD4 before that and I nearly had to turn up all the way to get the sundara sounding loud enough. With the K11 at mid gain, I'm at 29 and it's loud enough. Also the sundara sounds definitely better with the K11, I feel like it's more natural and softer. So very satisfied for now and for the price.
@@scientificaudiophile Btw. did you face the same problem as me? I found out that after you stopped a video or spotify and waited for some longer time and pressing play again, then it has around 2 seconds delay. If you faced the problem, did you find a solution for it? Otherwise I would send it back because like this it's not very enjoyable. Well, one or two hours later, it would be smart to upgrade the firmware... Could fix some issues...
@@lorenz7550 That was not an issue with the K11 I had - started up instantly (on Windows 10 Pro)
@@scientificaudiophile Then it could be something on Windows 11, but seems like I fixed it now (just with a firmware upgrade xD)
How cloud NOS filter outperform Fast/Sharp roll-off Linear Phase filter?
Incorrect implementation
do we need to spend more than $10 on a apple dongle dac if we only use iems that requires very little power ? if not what is your dac recommendation for iems exclusively under $150 ? thanks
absolutely not. Dongle is all you need with efficient iems.
Fiio KA11, 29 dolars of pure gold
The DX3+ Pro has filters settings also
True, but I couldn't hear a difference in Toppings filters.
@@scientificaudiophile Me neither
I also have Fiio BTR7. The filter does nothing
I thought filters was just snake oil
Maybe if the samples are dense, there’s less space to hear it. Have no ideia
@@fabianoberlim9636 True - the filters shouldn't make a difference, that's why I thinking the implementation of the filters in the K11 is a problem.
@@scientificaudiophile That’s a good point. At least it has 1 good option
¡Muchas gracias por este review! Esa información de los filtros es importante conocerla 🤔 estoy pensando en adquirir este DAC/AMP 🤔 Tengo el FiiO Q3 MQA y quiero usar al 100% mis ARTTI 10
Can you suggest DAC/amp under 200$ or 300$? Thanks in advance👍
Yes I can. I like the FIIO K11 at $129. Right now I just started testing the $199 FX-Audio DX07. I should have that review done by mid-April, but it looks promising. A bit of an issue on hi-gain with low impedance headphones, but otherwise good. It hasn’t been released yet.
Great review! Thanks. Question: I need a DAC that can do the following: Accept an optical s/pdif input - coming from my desktop computer. Simultaneously drive my headphones via the balanced output - and drive my desktop powered speakers via the RCA line-outs. Can the FiiO K11 drive both at the same time? And if so, would running the balanced output and RCAs at the same time cause any sound degradation? My main goal is get away from using the analog audio output from my computer - and instead, use a quality DAC, and the optical s/pdif output from my computer. And then use the DAC to drive headhones and my powered speakers - and to be able to run them at the same time. If not the FiiO K11 - do you have another recommendation that would solve this problem? Thanks again!
Fiio can't do line out while driving headphones .
I just got this K11 DAC/Amp after watching many reviews including this one. You need to double press the volume knob to switch between LO and PO (or via the menu using long press), and each output remembers the last volume setting.
If you need simultaneous Line Out and Headphone Out perhaps you can look at Fiio K3S, but that model does not have individual volume setting and Fiio recommends disconnecting Headphone for safety reason.
@@Laladoinks every time you have to double click to switch? Uhg that might be a deal breaker for me. Plus might break down quickly. But a bummer.
You are defeating sibilance (4.000 - 8.000 Hz) with a filter in a range of ~ 20.000 Hz?
Btw: it's not 6.5mm. It's 6.3mm.
Right you are about 6.3, not 6.5. But not defeating sibilance with a filter, defeating it by not using a filter.
@@scientificaudiophile All these six filters work in this frequency range.
I just ordered the FiiO for a personal check :-)
I bought a D40 Pro and there somtimes were short pauses, for about a second, in varying places. My Cambridge Audio has no issues with the same music. Sigh.
I just bought this, thankyou for showing me what the filters are. Im going to be using edifier mr4's and the sennheiser hd560s. I think i have to use a 1/4" because a 4.4 adapter will damage it? Does anyone know what gain level i should use for the headset/mr4's?
can you use mr4s with fiiok11?
@@GgG-71494 yes in "out LO" mode. PO is headphones in the front. it's easy to switch between them.
I watched a few reviews on it and was always recommended to use filter 6
Hey! I'm new to the audiophile universe and I recently ordered a Beyerdynamic DT 990 250 Ohm for me and my father in law. I've seen/read all kind of reviews, but they're all so different. I've checked out FiiO k5, K11. Creative Sound blaster G6 GC7, X5. Topping DX3 Pro+, but I'm clueless. Which Desktop DAC/AMP would you recommend for under $200+/-?
K11
@@scientificaudiophile Thanks, just bought it. Sounds pretty good!
I get that I’m late to the party, but have you reviewed the FIIO K11 R2R DAC? I keep hearing that it’s “warm”, so diametrically opposed to the K11 chip DAC. Thoughts?
No, I haven’t. It’s gotten good reviews from others.
Hans Beekhuyzen has a reference System....😂 🥰
is k11 okay for an long time use with dt900 pro x(48ohm)?, or what would you recommend in about under 200$?
K11 is fine, but if you can spend a little more, I highly recommend the JDS Labs Atom 2 bundle for $272
would this be okay for DT990 Pro 250OHM
Absolutely, especially if you have 4.4 mm cable.
@@scientificaudiophile i don’t but will it be fine without a 4.4?
You'll be fine unless you want more power. Try it out and if you want more power just go to the 4.4 .
@@scientificaudiophile okay thanks bro
Hey, I don't really know if you will have the time to awnser this question. But I am french, and I am using the Edition XS from Hifiman. Here the Atom 2 stack is too expensive, do you think that the K11 will be a good buy, or will I miss something in my audio experience with it combined to the XS?
K11 if you use the 4.4mm will be just fine.
@@scientificaudiophile OK thank you vrry much !
I feel ya. Zeo can be a bit too much sometimes.
Fiio K7 have different vs K11 if i have Dt770Pro 80 Ohm and they can connect only to unbalanced output? Or maybe something else good fit for this headphones? (It is desirable that the high frequencies are not too high)
What other Dac at this price range do you recommend? I was planning to buy this one.
This is a good DAC. My filters were flawed, but using no filter solved everything.
@@scientificaudiophileWhich one do you prefer? This one or the Ifi Zen DAC Air?
K11
Not very 'scientific'. Perhaps you should change your name.
It’s all about the science at Scientific Audiophile.
i'M Looking for DAC AMP (using more on DAC) with neutral to warm sound (not analiticall, dry) for streamer RPi4.
Anyone tested on Linux/Volumio/piCorePlayer. K11 vs DX3 Pro+ on sound , build quality?
DX3 is better than K11. Build quality actually goes to K11.
@@scientificaudiophile Thanks.
Trying so hard that it gets kinda ridiculous.
FIIO is trying hard, but its not ridiculous yet.
Now this is a classy review. I'm sold.
Can I use this as a pre amp to my NAD power amp?
Yes
I am not sure if this helped me decide to get the K11 or not to get it for my 6XXs
I’d still get it.
@@scientificaudiophile Just ordered it. Thank you so much!
I wanna buy a dac .. to 100$ what is your suggestion?
I was thinking about k3
(I have dt990 edition 32 ohm and 700 pro x)
With a $100 budget, I’d get the FOSI SK02.
did you know you change the audio quality? from 48k to 192k hz? this makes the quality better... however I bought this and couldnt hook it up to my goxlr. I bought a 4-way headphone amplifier and it had the same quality as this at 150$ but the amplifier was 40$ and I have 4 channels and also can be hooked up to my goxlr. you could have cheap studio headphones, and/or didnt change the hz quality in the audio settings to 192k hz. your ego makes me feel you don't really know much.
Is a FIIO K11 R2R review coming?
No
nice review was thinking of getting a apm\dac here and im new in that world i just got the Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X 48ohms and everyone told me it will sound 10 times better with an amp but no can direct me to something decent and if they do there's no where to get them from in my country.. what would u suggest for a begginer thats actualy good and dont wanna spend over 300$ for something
I couldn't recommend the Atom DAC/Amp combo more highly. ruclips.net/video/anaS6zcv7b4/видео.html
Thank you for the review - im looking for dac/amp for DT1770 250ohms. What would you recommend?
What price range and features?
Nice review. Consensus is that these filters, ubiquitous in budget Chinese DACS, make little or no difference to the sound. The Scientific Audiophile has taken that consensus, ripped it up, fed the fragments into a shredder, taken the shredder to a steelworks, dropped it into the molten metal and irradiated the remains.
Good job.
PS I hate sssssssibilance with a passssssssion.
PS PS Brave fellow, taking on the Verum One. Its a great headphone and its production, effectively by one man, is remarkable. Unfortunately it's maker has proven himself to have deeply problematic views and attitudes, often towards his customers. That's a real shame and I look forward to hearing your take.
I just sold my pair a couple of months ago to fund PX8s for holiday purposes, and miss them. already.
I’m definitely hoping that he qc’d these twice before sending them.
Waiting for FIIO K11 R2R review
Expect the K19 instead.
@@scientificaudiophile Seen K19 review, still waiting for your K11 R2R review. Especially since you commented the filter options so strongly!
@@hans16 Sadly I have no plans on reviewing the R2R. So many other things on my plate right now.
Did your Dad buy that jacket as well? Thanks for the review, though.
No, I got the jacket off a bum for a bottle of Mad Dog 20/20
No issues with my demo unit in store…
honestly, this was pretty annoying to listen to. Fun fact, the term annoying is interchangeable with unbearable.
Agreed. With those filters, the K11 was pretty annoying to listen to.
Long live that Bisch.
Talking about filters what filter do you recommend for the rne'adi-2 fs? I'm currently using SD Sharp but would like your opinion
I've got my Line Out set to SD Sharp as well.
Wait! This isn’t the r2r k11?
I’m sorry. Did not know there were two versions of the k11
No, it’s not that version.
Yeah, I jumped the gun. 😂
Should I really the trust the review, of a man with such shitty mic quality?
Yes
I was thinking the same, I have the k11 and I’m not hearing what he is talking about
Looks cool, tho
It's not a bad unit, especially for the price. Just remove the filters and you've got a good deal for $129.
Wow! An honest review instead of paid youtubers saying something is good, when in fact is garbage...
Can I ask what is a reasonable entry level unit for someone new to the scene :)
I recently got myself the Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX Headphones but dont have a DAC/AMP to run them, so i have just been using them directly from my desktop PC.
I have noticed that it is a bit soft and cant get the volume just right.
Would these be a good choice for them or is there other DAC/AMP that is around the same budget?
Most people i have talked to who have this headset recommended Massdrop O2 + SDAC DAC/AMP but that is out of stock (For months).
In all honesty, the K11 is a very good product. Highly recommended. Just play around with the filters. I recommend #6 - no filters.
lol I hit return as soon as I saw ur summary 😭
i though I was hearing sibilance.........it was your audio in your video LOL
I`m hearing sibilance right now lol, and hiss, and humming, and just nasty sound in general, oh wait, it`s this video 😂
I’m always teaching on my channel.
NOS will lead to a obviously dark sound (-3db or more roll over at 20k)
Scientific Audiophile, please forgive my previous comment. The devil made me write it. I'm using HD660s with this dac/amp, and just learned that it was set on Filter 3 by default. Although I couldn't hear any sibilance before, it sounds more accurate now. Please find it in your heart to forgive me. It's a nice video.
Either my equipment isn't HiFi enough, or you truly do you have golden ears. You beautiful angel champion.
Or I could have gotten a flawed unit
Which filter do you recommend? Have it paired with HD 490 Pro 130 Ohm headset, need to get the perfect settings
@@RobViguurs#6 (which is no filter)
@@scientificaudiophile number 6 no filter? Good to know!!
Does gain level indicate what ohm headset you use? I currently have it on medium. Though 130ohm isnt that much. So maybe I can set low gain? If that makes sounds better. Though I have to up the volume then
Best reviewer I have seen on youtube. wow.
Now I do not know if it is just me but I could swear this video had sibilance.
Clearly this comment was paid by the Scientific Audiophile.
10 minutes reddit is enough to find out about those filters that is not so difficult dont tell me nobody talked about the filters cause on reddit it is evrrywhere
Yes, after my review came out on January 4, reddit users really took notice.
Honestly? In so many words, I didn't understand whether I liked it or not!
the R2R version is fkn amazing for $165.
Odd, pretty much al DAC reviews I've seen find any available filters don't make any difference to the sound.
They should not - but this one, well this one does.
Dude talking about annoying hissing sound. Entire video got bad audio with intense hissing sound.
True. Fixed on more recent videos.
I don't know whats wrong with fiio. They suddenly started to make highly sibilant and bright as f*** source devices only. We definitely know whats wrong with orher reviewers though 😂😂
The Dx3 Pro+ has 7 Filters you can change them with the remote
I have the r2r and no filter options :O
Are you saying that the rest of these maniacs ARE NOT listening to the products they review? I don't know how to feel about that...
Ummmm...
This DAC/AMP actually is garbage. It hates bass heavy music. Every time the bass hits, the audio cuts out for 1 second. This is pretty much useless.
are you sure you made everything right? (updating software, use another preset other than default) because the thing youre saiyng is more of a like headphones problem, because I never meet problem like that even on a basic built in motherboard amp.
@@teeser8599I have 5 headphones here to test and I even reinstalled Windows, yet the issue still persists. I'm not the only person having this issue. The audio cutoff happens between 20-250hz at -3.3dB to -3.5dB at high sample rates. You can trigger this easily with Equalizer APO with the preamp setting. Anyways, I sent it back and now got the K5 Pro ESS and everything works perfectly fine now. I'm sick of the latest technology which works like the games in their alpha states.
well I don't disagree with your opinion I find it a little odd that someone is doing and audio equipment review with a constant hiss in the background of the video
camera is the issue. Recent videos are now capturing sound via computer, but mic isn’t the best.
Bro, are you quite literally deaf to those high frequency beeps you put in this video? I have my headphone volume at 8% and they blew out my ears, and no I'm not a teenager.
other reviewers more boring thsn you? Wow.
Tried using this as a DAC only into a capable amp?
However while I see zero point NOT using NOS with this or any R2R, it's good to know it bizarrely does not ship in NOS mode.
Shame on You! For messing with my ears on the first seconds... ....
Are you comparing a dac with hundreds of hours of use and a dac just out of its box? because I would like to have a useful opinion on the K11 but as long as this one is out of its box and a test after your opinion is useless, and also you have to understand that all the opinions on the internet, at least a hundred, suspicious and zoom on the dac although it is only half of the DAC since it remains a big black block which often ends up annoying us under the desk with its parasitic wires which touch others etc. while a larger box with the integrated power supply is so cool, despite everything the reviews only say Oh it's small, blah blah blah, NO it's huge and its price also determines the level of compactness possible, But you have to understand why the reviews don't talk about the power supply when in fact this is the most important, even on the Amazon product sheet, there is no photo on the page, I had to go to Google to find at the bottom of the image page a photo of the power supply, the product would already have to be broken in for dozens of hours , it's useless like the million reviews on the internet to give an opinion after taking it out of the box, it's incomprehensible and useless, sorry
The Alcoholic Audiophile
Aren’t all audiophiles alcoholics? I thought that was common knowledge.
There is an R2R version of K11. Any chance you do a review of that as well?
No plans yet. I’m hoping they did a good implementation of it, though more power would be to my liking as well.
@@scientificaudiophile better off with the cayin ru6 dongle, they are at least aware that the resistors have a massive 0.1% variance, and they designed the output stage accordingly
I just received mine and I noticed that I can hear a hissing noise( electrical noise) whenever I’m on filter 6 which is louder than the sound being played .I don’t know if I should just return it or if there is a way to fix it someone please tell me if they have had the issue and how to resolve it/ what to do with it
This guy is hilariois 😂
actually screw you for that "piii" at the start of the video, you damaged my ears
fiio entering smsl and topping territory.. too bad it lacks bluetooth.(LDAC)