Like the iBasso DC03Pro / DC04Pro, and the HiBy FC4, and unlike every other USB-DAC – there are now volume controls on the KA5 allowing you to handle that aspect, directly from the device. The unit also lets you modify lots of settings straight from the device. What’s more, the app also allows fine-tuning such as balance, volume, or digital filters. (not for iOS) Contrasting the KA1 which has a single 3.5mm output the KA2 is equipped with a single 4.4mm balanced output. So , pull out those balanced equipped IEMs folks. So nothing new under the sun… or so I thought. If you dig deeper, you’ll see that FiiO is introducing a whole new architecture for its first “Jade Audio” DAC, with “uncompromised audio quality with a carefully engineered multi-chip audio circuit”. In fact, FiiO gave the KA5 a few more chips to output the best possible sound, like a next-generation USB Port Processor, or low-noise, high power capacitor. The other features that this app has that I thought were most useful were the 2-step gain control and the volume control which can climb up to 120% on volume level. It’s very useful to set the maximum volume level.

The design and dongle itself are so small you could miss it. What I mean is that it has the same appearance and size as a conventional USB-C to 3.5mm output dongle wire that just converts the plug. The device visually and almost becomes part of the headphone cable assembly when connected. This particular multicolor format indicator design has an LED which sits behind a circle that allows the glow of the LED to shine through. However, it remains below an intensity level and is never glaring or too intense even in a dark environment.Add to that a weight of 10 grams and the numbers alone should be a good indicator of how portable this dongle is. Yes indeed, the KA2 works with the FiiO control app, but the app seems to limit you far as what it lets you do within it. For example, the equalizer is disabled within the app but on a positive note, you do get to play around with five so-called low pass filters to choose from.

SPDIF : une fois le mode SPDIF activé, vous obtiendrez le Signal SPDIF via le port 3,5 mm avec un câble adaptateur (acheté séparément). Veuillez garder cette option désactivée lors de l’utilisation de la sortie analogique, comme lors de la sortie vers écouteurs. FiiO actually posted various measurements obtained off the KA1 and if you look at the frequency response graph it seems to have a straight line across the graph.Damage due to user negligence, accidents, disassembly, waterlog, misuse, abuse, alterations or vandalism.