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This is my fourth portable DAC/Amp. I previously owned/used Audioquest Dragonfly Black ($100) and Red ($200) and the THX Onyx ($200). The Dragonfly Black did not have enough amplification. The Red died after a couple of years. That scared me off from buying the Dragonfly Cobalt ($300). Decided to try the THX Onyx. It used a very good ESS chip and the word on the THX AAA amplifier was excellent. It was a great highly portable DAC/amp for about eight months before it died (simply stopped working). Still under warranty but no response from THX after at least half a dozen attempts - no exaggeration - really surprised by that.
Which brings me to the KA3. I decided that I was not going to spend $200 or $300 on another DAC/amp if they are going to stop working after a short while. At under $100, and with outstanding specs, I decided to try the KA3. My daily IEMs are the Fiio FH7 (with custom ear tips). These are outstanding IEMs and a great value. I was happy with the build and sound quality of the FH7 so felt pretty good about going with another Fiio product.
I will compare the KA3 to the Onyx. Both use high-end ESS DAC chips. The KA3 implementation results in overall greater flexibility, accommodating up to 32bit/784khz and DSD 512. The difference probably doesn't matter to most users but I have a lot of DSD files and I like that the KA3 can accommodate DSD 512 natively. On PCM files, I will go higher bit rate if it was originally mixed/mastered (or remastered) there. Both support MQA natively, which I do not use.
The Onyx amplifier produces noticeably higher output. I imagine it will drive a greater range of power-hungry IEMs and headphones. It easily drove my FH7s. The KA3 produces adequate clean power for my IEMs but I notice that I have to set the volume a few clicks higher to achieve the same output. Both sound very clean and distortion-free to my ears. The primary benefit of the greater output is that the Onyx will drive a wider variety of devices compared to the KA3. With my FH7s, there is no material benefit to the higher output.
I prefer the looks of the Onyx but I prefer the KA3 form factor. The Onyx is lighter than the KA3 but it is much longer with its USB-C cable that cannot be removed. I was slightly concerned about the USC-C cable becoming damaged and then having to replace the entire unit, even though the DAC/amp was still fine. Of course, the DAC/amp died first and my concern was misplaced. The USB-C cable for the KA3 is detachable. Yes, I can lose it, but its easily replaceable.
I would have preferred that the KA3 did not come with the unbalanced port and that the balanced port was centered. The two uncentered ports violates my need for symmetry. I'm dealing with it.
If I were to choose between the two now, knowing what I know now, I would choose the KA3. I like that the KA3 can handle more file formats and I like the detachable USB-C cable. Amplification is more than adequate for my FH7s and the sound is just as clean to my ears as the sound of the Onyx. All of this doesn't even take into account that the KA3 is less than half the price. Finally, as my experience suggests, THX (shockingly) provides very poor customer service. The fact that my Onyx failed after less than a year of use is not necessarily indicative of a problem - it could be the only one out of thousands. However, THX's response is indicative of a problem. I can't say how Fiio would respond. I don't know if they have any sort of domestic operations. So, obviously, there is some risk in dealing with a foreign company.
With respect to amplifier power, if I did not know how efficient or inefficient my headphones/IEMs were or if I knew they were inefficient, I might lean toward the Onyx. Amplification is why I started using DAC/amps in the first place. I had several tracks that were mixed very low and I had to turn the volume way up to hear them properly. My phone (from years ago) lacked the power. That's why I switched from the Dragonfly Black to the Red because the Black amplification wasn't enough and the Red was. The point is, amplifier output is a valid concern and could cause some to lean toward DAC/amps with more power. I don't know if there are other DAC/amps that match the Onyx's AAA. For me, and probably for the vast majority of headphone/IEM users, the power provided by the KA3 is more than adequate.
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Product Description
Mini Portable USB DAC and Amplifier ------- FiiO JadeAudio KA3 is here
Wonderfully versatile
Due to the large output power of the KA3 and limited external power supply of iPhones, stutter and muteness may happen to the maximum volume.
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High-performance flagship DAC chipEquipped with the powerful and proven ESS ES9038Q2M, supporting 32bit/768kHz and DSD512. |
Low noise floor for a great soundFeaturing abundant power with high signal-to-noise ratio, low distortion, and almost 0 noise – this is true high-fidelity sound. S/N: 119dB THD+N: 0.0008% Noise: <4uV |
More specifications(1) Recommended headphone impedance: 16~300Ω(PO); 16~300Ω(BAL) (2) Audio input interface: USB Type C (3) Firmware upgrade: System firmware and Bluetooth version can be upgraded via USB (4) DSD: DSD64/128/256/512 (5) Color: Black |
Easy and convenient
With your smartphone
With your PC
Anywhere, anytime
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All-metal constructionThe all-metal body sports a handsomely rugged design with distinct edges and a luxurious gold and black finish. This size and this weight(17.5g) , you could take it anywhere at ease. |
Headphone outputs and USB Type C connectorComes equipped with 2 headphone outputs, both powerful to easily drive a variety of headphones. Satisfy multiple use cases with both a 3.5mm single-ended and a 4.4mm balanced output. |
Accessories included1. KA3 tiny DAC*1 2. USB Type C to Type C cable*1 3. USB Type C to USB A cable*1 4. Manual*1 |
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Reviews with images
Volume hiccup with iPhone
On PC and Android, this little amp pushes IEM's to the max and sounds great. Very happy in that regard. For iphone use, when turning the volume to max, it stutters and pauses playback on the last increment. Because iphone is already so loud by itself, you only get about a 15% increase in volume output from this amp, so the fact that I can't turn it up to max without it pausing what I'm playing is a dealbreaker. It could be the cable I got, but I doubt that since it worked fine on the other devices. It isn't the one from Fiio, and the fact that Fiio wants $20 for a 6 inch adapter for iphone in the first place and doesn't include it in the package is ridiculous. All things considered, price to performance ratio for iphone use, which is why I wanted it, doesn't make sense for me to keep it so it's going back. The minor increase in clarity from a standard 3.5 iphone adapter isn't worth the cost and extra bulk to carry around. PC and Android users enjoy, iphone users beware
Top reviews from other countries
Darren X
Great upgrade for laptop or phone audio!
Reviewed in Canada on February 16, 2024Ivan Castan Ricano
El mejor DAC portable y de algunos de escritorio
Reviewed in Mexico on February 15, 2023
Ruben Torrejon Usan
Estupendo dongle DAC a un gran precio.
Reviewed in Spain on December 3, 2023
Ruben Torrejon Usan
Reviewed in Spain on December 3, 2023
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