Fiio, one of the most important Chinese audio brands, is currently expanding its portfolio. A huge area of focus is budget portable DACs, and Fiio has a lot to offer here — the BTR5 continues to be the standout choice for wired and Bluetooth connectivity, and the new BTR7 builds on it with balanced connectors.
If you are looking for a portable USB DAC that is USB-C compatible and don’t require Bluetooth connectivity, Fiio offers three fantastic options: $50 KA1(opens new tab)The 3.5mm outer diameter will allow you to see the $60 KA2(Opens in a new tabThe connector is balanced at 4.4mm and can be used with the $90 KA3(Opens in new tabBoth a 3.5mm and 4.44mm connector and a USB-C removable cable. These DACs were developed in collaboration and with Fiio’s Jade Audio subsidiary. This is why you will find the Fiio branding on all three DACs.
The design of the KA3 is understated, and the all-metal chassis is coated with a matte texture, making it easy to hold and resistant to finger smudges — this is an issue on the glossy BTR5. It is well built and has gold accents at both ends. This adds some vibrancy to its design. The USB-C port can be found on one side, and the 3.5mm or 4.4mm connectors on the other. If you want to connect the DAC with a Windows computer, the dongle will be included in the box.
The KA3 measures 56.3 x 20.2 x 12.mm and weighs just 17.5g. A single ring LED at the front serves as a bitrate indication. It is blue for music playing under 48kHz; yellow for music played over 48kHz; and green for DSD content. The Fiio app can be used to adjust some settings such as a low pass filter or the ability to turn off LEDs, but it is mostly plug-and-play.
The ESS ES9038Q2M chips are the KE3’s highlight. This chip is commonly found in DACs four times more expensive than the KA3, so Fiio being able to use it in a dongle that costs less than $100 is a huge win. Given the hardware, it is not surprising to see that the KA3 supports 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512 decoding. You won’t find MQA here, but that isn’t a big omission — if you use Tidal and need the feature, you should look at the $99 Helm portable DAC instead.
The KA3 produces a power output at 32ohms over 3.5mm and 240mW over 3.5mm. There is no background hiss, even with sensitive IEMs.
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Fiio’s sound signatures are evident in the KA3, which has a warm and balanced presentation. It produces a tight low end with lots of excitement and it is fun to listen to bass-heavy songs, especially when paired with Fiio’s 3D IEMs. The vocals are richly sung and have great clarity in the mids. The treble is very well controlled, and there is no sibilance.
Overall, you get a dynamic sound that works well when paired with a good set of IEMs, and having used a lot of portable DACs in recent months, I can confidently say that the KA3 is among the best — particularly for under $100. It works great with the KA3. best Android phonesor any other source that is free of hassle, including Windows or macOS machines.
The KA1 & KA2 are good choices if your goal is to have an entry-level DAC for your phone. But the KA3 is my favourite, as it offers both 3.5mm & 4.4mm respectively and can be removed from the USB-C Cable.
It has a great build quality for a device of this class. It can also be used with multiple sources.
I would recommend the Fiio KA3 if you’re looking for a budget DAC that costs less than $100.
Fiio KA3 is a budget DAC with all the essentials: it comes with a USB-C cable that can be removed, connectors for balanced 4.4mm and 3.5mm, as well as a high-quality ESS DAC capable of producing amazing sound from any source. This is a great deal for less than $100
