FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier
The FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier is the latest desktop audio device from FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. to offer everything that even the most demanding music lovers and HiFi enthusiasts can expect from a headphone amplifier with an integrated D/A converter.
- According to FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd, the new FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier is an outstanding headphone amplifier with integrated D/A converter in the desktop audio sector.
The Chinese company FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. has been pushing the segment of so-called desktop audio solutions for months and has recently presented another very exciting solution in this very interesting field, namely a new headphone amplifier with integrated D/A converter, the new FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier.
Well, a headphone amplifier with D/A converter is of course nothing new in principle, FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. alone can point to a good half dozen such solutions, but the FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier should still stand out as a very special product.
A blend of elegance based on a design with a retro touch and state-of-the-art technology
FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. talks about the new FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier as the latest generation of a headphone amplifier with D/A converter, which is characterised by the fact that it provides a solution in the desktop audio sector that should leave nothing to be desired, even for demanding music lovers and HiFi enthusiasts.
The manufacturer promises to deliver a solution that combines elegance based on a certain retro touch with state-of-the-art technology and extensive functionality.
Even if it may not immediately come to mind, the new FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier is intended to be the successor to the FiiO K9 Pro, as FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. states, while at the same time exploring all the possibilities offered by a high-quality headphone amplifier with High-end DAC.
Streaming media receiver as the basis
At the heart of the new FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier is an Ingenic X2000 multi-core processor SoC platform in combination with an XMOS 16-core processor XU316 and a Qualcomm QCC5125, with Google Android 12 being used as the operating system.
Based on this platform, the new FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier has sufficient performance to function as a flexible streaming media receiver, with integration into the network either via WiFi or its RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet interface.
Whether UPnP as a dlna-certified streaming client, Apple AirPlay or Roon-ready, the new FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier can flexibly access a wide range of content via the network.
Playback from USB storage media, connection to a PC or Mac
As if that wasn’t enough, playback of Hi-res audio directly from USB is of course also possible, with a USB-C port directly on the front and a USB-A and another USB-C port on the rear.
Connected directly to a PC or Mac, the FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier acts as an outstanding audio interface and, of course, optical and coaxial S/PDIF interfaces are available for other digital sources.
Bluetooth for smartphones
If you want to use smartphones or tablets as a source, you can rely on Bluetooth, whereby the aptX, aptX HD, aptX LL, aptX Adaptive and LDAC codecs are supported in addition to SBC and AAC.
The D/A converter of the new FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier comes from AKM, whereby it is a combination of an AK4191EX and two AK4499EQ. The precise clock is provided by three Accusilicon Low Phase Noise Femtosecond Audio Crystal Oscillators, which deliver either 45,1584 MHz and 49,1520 MHz, or 24,576 MHz as a reference.
The FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier is thus capable of processing signals in Linear PCM with up to 32 bit and 768 kHz as well as DSD including DSD512 and content encoded in lossy MQA (MQA Full Decoding).
A/D converter and DSP-based signal processing
The new FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier also has analogue inputs, both unbalanced and balanced, where incoming signals are processed using a high-quality A/D converter in the form of an ES9821Q ADC from ESS Technology Inc.
This is important because the FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier has a sophisticated DSP-based signal processing system that is intended to be available to all sources.
The manufacturer even speaks of a Mixing Console for Desktop HiFi and refers to an M21586Q DSP chip, which allows 64-bit floating point calculation at 360 MHz for a wide range of signal processing, above all a 31-band high-precision lossless parametric equaliser.
Balanced output stage
The fully balanced output stage is based on a circuit centred around ON Semiconductur MJE243G/ 253G transistors, which can deliver an enormous output of no less than twice 4.000 mW into 32 ohms in Class A/B in ultra high gain mode via the balanced outputs.
Of course, the particularly powerful power supply also contributes significantly to this; the manufacturer refers to a 35 W low-noise linear power supply with five 4.700 µF electrolytic capacitors for sufficient reserves. Naturally, separate power supplies are used for the digital and analogue sections.
A 4-pin XLR, a 4.4 mm Pentaconn and a 3,5 mm stereo mini jack are provided on the front for connecting headphones. The rear of the FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier features a pair of RCA sockets and a pair of XLRs as analogue outputs, and there are also digital outputs – coaxial and optical S/PDIF.
Simple operating concept
The central interface for the user is the 3,93 inch LCD, which offers a resolution of 240 x 1.020 pixels. The front also has selector switches and rotary encoders for all relevant functions.
With dimensions of 244,6 x 213 x 66,8 mm, the device weighs in at 2,75 kg, for the sake of completeness. A suitable remote control is included in the scope of delivery.
Prices and availability
The new FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier will soon be available from specialist retailers in either black or silver. The manufacturer’s recommended retail price is € 999,-.
Getting to the point
With the new FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier, FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. aims to set new standards in the field of desktop audio, although at first glance this solution appears to be ‘just’ another headphone amplifier with an integrated D/A converter. First of all, it should be said that this is not only an outstanding D/A converter with DSP-based signal processing and an immensely powerful output stage, the FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier is also a solution that can also access analogue sources and even functions as an extremely flexible streaming media receiver.
| PRODUCT | FiiO K17 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier |
|---|---|
| Price | € 999,- |
| Brand | Guangzhou FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | FiiO |
| Distribution | NT Global Distribution GmbH |
| More about this manufacturer at HiFi BLOG |
