Fiio began specializing in the high-end section two years in the past, and that led to a deluge of premium merchandise, together with DACs, IEMs that used a mixture of three completely different driver models, and community streamers. Whereas these merchandise had been aimed on the high-end section, they nonetheless delivered an amazing feature-set, and undercut their rivals by a substantial margin.
Nothing illustrates this as a lot because the K9 Professional DAC; Fiio did all the precise issues with the product, and having used it for over a yr and a half, I am satisfied that there is not something higher at this worth level. The one draw back is that the K9 Professional nonetheless prices $849, making it inaccessible to a mainstream viewers.
That is the place the K9 comes into the equation. Fiio rolled out the K9 final yr, and on the outset, there actually is not a lot of a distinction between the usual mannequin and the K9 Professional; each use comparable ESS DACs, THX amps, Bluetooth connectivity with the identical set of codecs, and an equivalent design. The distinction is that the K9 is accessible for $499, simply over half the asking worth of the K9 Professional.
Clearly, Fiio designed the K9 to fit into the mid-range section, filling the void between the $200 K7 and $849 K9 Professional. However by retaining the identical design and plenty of the identical options as the more expensive K9 Professional, Fiio is working the chance of cannibalizing its high-end product, as a result of after utilizing the K9 for six months, I do not actually see the necessity for purchasing the K9 Professional.
Beginning with the design, the K9 makes use of the identical chassis because the K9 Professional, and that is one thing Fiio is vulnerable to doing. It did the identical with the K7, which retained the chassis of the K5 Professional, and on the time, the model famous it was to avoid wasting manufacturing prices and make it simpler to get the product out the door.
Clearly, the model is utilizing the identical technique right here, and the K9 is almost equivalent to the K9 Professional. The one distinction is the dearth of the Professional branding on the entrance of the unit, and the amount dial that dominates the entrance fascia does not have gold accents. That mentioned, the labels beneath all of the connectors and button at the moment are in white and have higher distinction, and so they’re considerably simpler to learn. This continues to be a problem on the K9 Professional, with the gray labels merging with the black chassis, making it laborious to make out any of the markings.
The K9 has the identical connectors up entrance, so that you get a balanced 4.4mm port, 4-pin XLR that has a mud cowl, and a single-ended 6.35mm connector. The standing LED highlights the mode in use, and you should use USB, optical, coaxial, line in, and Bluetooth. On the backside, you get the facility button, acquire toggle — excessive, medium, and low — together with an enter selector, and output toggle that permits you to use the K9 as a devoted DAC, headphone out, or in a configuration that sees it appearing as a preamp.
On condition that the K9 makes use of the identical black chassis because the Professional mannequin, it does not actually draw a lot consideration to itself. Either side of the unit have a vented design to ship passive airflow, and that is wanted as a result of there isn’t any lively cooling. You get the identical THX branding on the high, but it surely is not embossed, and the brand new Fiio emblem is etched above.
It is on the again the place issues get fascinating, with the K9 providing the identical set of connectivity choices because the K9 Professional. You get an antenna to ship a steady Bluetooth sign, and there are USB-B, coaxial, and optical inputs together with a 4.4mm balanced and the normal RCA. You additionally get RCA and 3-pin XLR out.
The one factor lacking on the K9 is USB-C connectivity, and MQA rendering. Whereas I might have favored to see USB-C, it is not an enormous deal, and truthfully, you get a ton of different ports on the DAC. MQA is used largely by Tidal, and as the usual itself is out of favor, its omission does not really imply something.
What I like in regards to the K9 retaining the identical design is that it may be mounted in a horizontal or vertical orientation, and also you get a stand within the bundle that permits you to mount it vertically. Coming in at 5.7lb (2.6kg), it’s simply as heavy because the K9 Professional, and it is not designed with portability. The bundle incorporates a USB cable, 3.5mm to six.35mm connector, and a further fuse.
The FiiO Management app continues to be nice, and it provides you exhaustive management over nearly each space of the K9. You’ll be able to see the lively mode, choose Bluetooth audio codecs, regulate the lighting across the quantity knob, set EQ, and regulate the channel steadiness.
Coming to the audio facet of issues, the K9 makes use of two 32-bit ESS Sabre ES9068AS DACs. The two-channel DAC sits one tier beneath the ES9038 Professional that is featured within the K9 Professional, however you do not actually discover a lot in the best way of distinction between the 2 in day by day use. You as soon as once more get two THX AAA 788+ amps, and the K9 makes use of the identical Qualcomm QCC5124 Bluetooth modem as its costlier sibling to ship Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity.
Speaking about Bluetooth, you get all of the audio codecs you may ever want: AptX, AptX LL, AptX HD, AptX Adaptive, and LDAC. The LED gentle on the amount knob adjustments based mostly on the codec in use, and it’s a good visible indicator.
When utilized in USB mode, the K9 is ready to go as much as 768kHz/32-bit over PCM and DSD512. That goes all the way down to 192kHz/24-bit over coaxial, and 96kHz/24-bit by way of optical. The K9 is an all-in-one gadget, and it has loads of energy to drive nearly any audio gadget, together with probably the most demanding planar headsets. Conversely, it is ready to energy delicate IEMs with none points in any respect — all you may must do is about the acquire to low.
The K9 is ready to ship as much as 1W of energy at 16Ω, 1.5W at 32Ω, and 200mW at 300Ω over the 6.35mm port. Switching to the balanced 4.4mm and XLR ports, you get 1W of energy at 16Ω, 2W at 32Ω, and 780mW at 300Ω. I examined the K9 with loads of headsets, together with the excellent Audeze MM-500, Audeze LCD-GX, and Fiio’s FT3, FT5, FX15, and Dan Clark Audio’s Aeon X. The DAC did an impressive job with each gadget, and as I mentioned at the beginning, I do not see the necessity to justify paying a premium for the K9 Professional any longer.
Fiio DACs normally ship a clear sound with none coloration, and the K9 is not any completely different. Like all nice DACs, it simply will get out of the best way, and permits audio gadgets to shine; utilizing the MM-500 with the K9 was simply as pleasing as with the K9 Professional. Sure, the K9 Professional delivers a greater low-end when testing with the identical headsets, and it has cleaner mid-range and elevated highs. That mentioned, the variations are barely noticeable, and in all honesty, the K9 does simply nearly as good a job in day by day use.
The place the K9 stands out is by pitting it in opposition to the K7; on this scenario, the variations are simply noticeable. The K9 delivers a a lot better soundstage and dynamics, and you’ll instantly discover the distinction in tonality between the 2 DACs — the K9 is simply in a position to ship a vibrant sound that you do not get with the K7.
Finally, the K9 presents the perfect worth in Fiio’s in depth DAC catalog. It has a lot of the options that made the K9 Professional an impressive alternative, and the perfect half is that it prices simply $499. That is fairly the discount contemplating simply what you are getting with this DAC.
The K9 has the same feature-set as the more expensive K9 Professional, however you needn’t pay as a lot, making it an amazing alternative in Fiio’s DAC catalog.