FiiO K9 Pro ESS: Desktop DAC Action Reviewed

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FiiO started in 2007 and has been steadily moving up in the industry. However, they still focus on entry-level products. They now offer the K9 Pro ESS for desktop-friendly headphone amplifiers and digital-to-analogue converters. This product is considered "up-market."

The FiiO K9 Pro ESS has many features. It can do a lot of things and works with many devices. It is also built well and can survive explosions. But, we want to know if it's good or not. That's why we are doing a review of the FiiO K9 Pro ESS.

FiiO K9 Pro - Cost & Availability

The FiiO K9 Pro ESS headphone amplifier/DAC is available for purchase. In the United Kingdom, it costs £699. In America, it is $849. In Australia, it costs AU$1349.

The K9 Pro ESS is expensive for a headphone amp/DAC for desktops. Other good DACs with similar prices include Cambridge Audio, Chord, and iFi. This means that the K9 Pro ESS has tough competition.

"Discover FiiO K9 Pro ESS - Features & New Additions!"

The FiiO K9 Pro ESS is expensive, so it has a lot of specifications. It has many abbreviations.

To make your headphones work with digital audio, two DAC chips are used - one for left and one for right. Then, two powerful amplifier chips called THX AAA 738+ help headphones handle the signal. These amps can handle any kind of headphones, even tough ones!

The FiiO has a big power supply with a transformer and four big capacitors. This is to give the right amount of power to its audio parts. The PCB inside it is laid out in a balanced way. This keeps noise from affecting the audio signals. The PCB is also split up to keep the audio signals away from the power supply.

To make the FiiO work, you can use different methods to get audio info. There's a USB-B input on the back (good for big files), a digital coaxial, and a digital optical. There are also RCA inputs/outputs, balanced XLR outputs, and headphone sockets. In addition, there's a USB-C socket on one side.

There's a spot on the back of the device for a Bluetooth antenna. It comes with the antenna in the box. A Qualcomm QCC5124 chipset powers the wireless display. It's equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 and works with several codecs including SBC, AAC, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, and LDAC.

Reviewing The Performance Of FiiO K9 Pro ESS

FiiO K9 Pro ESS can be connected to a system in different ways. It can be connected through USB-B to a laptop, digital optical as a DAC for a CD player or analogue stereo outputs as a preamp. The device's performance does not change much. It is fast, detailed and provides a clear picture of what is being listened to.

The K9 Pro ESS has great sound quality when connected to good headphones and high-quality content via USB-B. It picks up even the smallest sounds in a recording and doesn't miss any information. The sound is clear and enjoyable to listen to.

The sound is really good in the middle. Singers have lots of room to show off their talent. The sound of the voices is clear and powerful. The sound is balanced and natural. You can hear all the different aspects of a performance.

The FiiO sounds good in most frequency ranges, except the very low ones. It has great detail and control, and handles bass sounds well. It has good texture and tone variation. However, it lacks weight and substance in its bass. Some listeners may want more punch. It's good for rhythm, but not great for dancing.

If you use Bluetooth on the K9 Pro ESS, it may reduce the level of detail and clarity in the soundstage a bit. However, the FiiO is still enjoyable when used wirelessly and doesn't get as annoyed about it as other options.

FiiO K9 Pro - A Review Of Design & Usability

Honestly, FiiO didn't do a lot of designing for this product. They used high-quality aluminium to make the chassis and only added subtle angles and gold accents to the box. The volume control is the main visual feature and has a ring of light around it that changes color based on the signal standard.

The FiiO is a big and heavy device. It measures 70 x 200 x 22mm (HxWxD) and weighs 2.75kg. Even though it's big, it can fit on your desk without causing any trouble. You can also use it as a preamp in a bigger system without it taking up too much space. The package comes with a stand, allowing you to put your K9 Pro ESS sideways if you like.

The K9 Pro ESS is easy to use once it's in place. The inputs and outputs are well-spaced, and connecting it is easy. There are only a few controls on the front panel. Next to the volume control, there is a three-position switch for output (DAC, preamp, or headphones) and a switch for gain (high, medium, or low). There is a button to cycle through input options, which lights up a confirmation LED. Another button controls mute/unmute and powers the unit on and off.

The FiiO Control App is a great example of this app type. It checks the audio signal and allows EQ adjustments. You can also try out different filters and update firmware. It's available for free on iOS and Android.

The FiiO K9 Pro ESS is a high-quality product. It is made of aluminium. It has a very detailed specification. It goes beyond what is expected.

The sound is not strong and doesn't have enough bass unless you use headphones that are made for bass.

The FiiO K9 Pro ESS has many good qualities. Its sound quality and functionality are excellent.

The Cambridge Audio DACMagic 200M is not as well-connected as the FiiO K9 Pro ESS. It's missing balanced inputs and headphone outputs, and Bluetooth compatibility is limited. It's cheaper, but can still handle high-quality sound up to 32bit/784kHz and DSD512. Plus, it doesn't have any gold accents.