FiiOK7 Desktop DAC and Amplifier

l'm an audiophile who knows there is A LOT of snake oil in this business. A LOT. Now, having said that, the k7 deserves the $200 asking price.If you have a good sound-card, the k7 will be a mild improvement, but sure enough an audible improvement. Don't expect night and day differences, but you'll find some. Whether you like the new sound signature more than your sound-card, that's another story. The k7 will offer slightly more refined sound, but similar 'technicalities.'Where the k7 is a real upgrade is in having a dedicated volume control knob. The volume is digital so the knob has no end to it (you can keep on spinning it once it has reached its max). My unit didn't have a very noticeable delay (as some reviewers stated). Perhaps that has to do with how powerful/fast your computer is (?). Some people also find the volume odd because for the first (almost) 1/4 of it, you don't hear anything (on less sensible HPs). Fiio engineers did this on purpose: this way, users of very sensitive IEMs will not have a problem adjusting the volume to their preferred level.The k7 (unlike any sound-card that l'm aware of) offers balanced connections so you can give that a try. Personally, l did hear the difference. My HPs did open up with the balanced inputs (4.4mm and 4pin XLR). If you've been into this hobby for a while (if your brained has been trained to notice these sound nuances), you'll notice that right away. Then there's the extra power in case you need it.Some people may prefer to keep their sound-card over the k7 in favor of having more 'desktop free space.' l get that. Personally, l have a volume ring on my keyboard, but l much prefer having a knob. Besides, it's easier to plug/switch HPs from the k7 (likely placed on your desk near your mouse) than from the back of the PC, under the desk.Does the k7 get hot? Not at all (room temperature 80ºF).*Now, let's address the elephant in the room: the Fiio k9 ESS*I guess the AKM version is equally good too, but l haven't tested that one so my words will refer to the k9 ESS (non-pro). If you wonder, I didn't want a slower pace sounding device, that's why I was only interested in the ESS version.k7 VS k9 ESS:The difference between the k7 and the k9 ESS aren't mild or subtle, but very significant. We're talking about a product (k7) that has its own sound signature (warmer, slower, more bass where there shouldn't be, small soundstage), but that plays on the budget league VS a product (k9 ESS) that plays in the HI-FI realm.The k9 will be a noticeably improvement in the soundstage, dynamics, clarity and rest of the audio attributes. Example: on the k7 the HD800s treble is harsh; plug them to the k9 and the treble becomes oh so beautiful.Mind you, k9 ESS is 'fast.' The music will play faster than on the AKM which has the 'normal pace' tunning. You may like a faster pace more or less, but you'll certainly notice the difference in speed. This is supposed to be an attribute of the ESS chips (regardless of the system implementation).Have you ever heard people saying something like, "buy the best HP you can then spend the rest on a DAC-amp?" Nonsense. Once you have a good pair of HPs ($300-$500), trust me, they will sound noticeably different when paired to the k7 VS the k9.Example: You'd think my old, yet great sounding Hifiman HE-400 (non s, etc. just plain 'HE-400') sound great when connected to the k7 and also my sound-card. Now, plug them to the k9 ESS and let me read your mind: "Holly guacamole! Now we're talking business." Yes, those are your own words ;-)If my budget was $1000, l'd rather get a k9 ESS and a $300-500 HPs than spending $200 on the k7 then $800 on a HP. Even better, l'd buy the k9 ESS new (to test it for yourself in case you want to return it, and to have the always SO important WARRANTY just in case) then spend the rest of the budget on a 'second hand' headphone (in good condition with replaceable earpads). Amplifiers come defective even when new (l've already sent 2 back, the very k9 ESS l'm talking about which had a defective 'optical in' and a k9 ESS Pro), however headphones rarely fail (although they also do it seems; it never happened to me).l know l digressed quite a bit, but l hope you enjoyed my 'on the fly, all over the place' review of the Fiio k7. Remember: "Buying cheap is expensive" or the German version "We're too poor to buy cheap." Save for the k9 ESS, buy it new (return, warranty), enjoy it for years to come. Hope this helps!

I love this little thing. I bought it for the office, just needed something small, cheap, sounds good, and works well for the office and this ticks all the boxes. I love that you can save money by not getting BT which for my use case is unnecessary. I like the smooth knob, LED around it, build quality, and most importantly the sound and power it produces. I use it with my Focal Elegia at the office and things sound clear, dynamic, fun, and detailed in a way that I think most people would be impressed with. For a compact, all-in-one, starter amp/dac combo I don't think there is anything better. Honestly I don't think most people would ever need anything more than this unless you need certain ports or power this may not be able to provide. At home I have both a SMSL SU-10 hooked up to a Aune S17Pro, and previously came form a Schiit Asgard/Modius stack. Before that I came from a JDS Labs amp/dac combo unit. The headphones I have include Meze Empyreans, HE1000V2, ZMF Auters, HD660s, and Focal Elegia headphones. Is it possible to get better or a different sound signature than this with spending more? Probably, but not by much and that that point you are really just searching for that specific sound signature or to get those last couple % to reach perfection. This thing is great and would highly recommend to anyone looking to get into dedicated amp dacs.

I recently bought the Fiio K7, as an alternative to the Topping DX3 Pro + which I already had. Both of these DAC/AMP combo units have similar prices, and have great-sounding DACs built-in. The power they provide was more than enough to work well with my Sundara and T60RP Headphones. Although the differences are small; in the end, I like the K7 better for its bass response.Fiio K7Compared the the Topping DX3 Pro+, the Fiio K7 has a slightly punchier bass, and an overall warmer sound. And it never sounds muddy either. The treble and mids still remain very clear and crisp, making for a “fun” sound that I prefer. Additionally, the K7 has a balanced output which the DX3 Pro + does not have. This is great for my Sundara Headphones which I use with a balanced cable. On the downside, the K7 has an uneven volume control. For example, as I turn the volume knob to increase how loud it is, the ramp-up becomes exponentially much higher than what most people would expect. This sudden increase can catch new users off guard, but honestly it’s not a deal-breaker.DX3 Pro+The DX3 Pro+ has more definition especially in the upper-mids and treble. Bass presence is well-defined, but not quite as punchy compared to the K7. The sound is accurate, very clear, but without any embellishments. To me, the DX3 Pro+ sounds more “neutral” compared to the K7. Other features of the DX3 Pro+ include wireless connectivity via Bluetooth. You can pair this with your smartphone or laptop and play music wirelessly. It supports most of the expected wireless standards such as Apt-X, AAC, LDAC, etc. Another selling point is the fact that a remote control is included.ConclusionWhile I would choose the K7 over the DX3 Pro+ because of its better bass, the difference is very small. Choose the K7 for its slightly richer sound, or go with the DX3 Pro+ if you want a more neutral sound.