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 items, and community streamers. While these merchandise had been aimed on the high-end section, they nonetheless delivered an important feature-set, and undercut their rivals by a substantial margin.Nothing illustrates this as a lot because the K9 Pro DAC; Fiio did all the appropriate issues with the product, and having used it for over a yr and a half, I’m satisfied that there is not something higher at this worth level. The solely draw back is that the K9 Pro nonetheless prices $849, making it inaccessible to a mainstream viewers.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)That’s 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 Pro; each use comparable ESS DACs, THX amps, Bluetooth connectivity with the identical set of codecs, and an similar design. The distinction is that the K9 is out there for $499, simply over half the asking worth of the K9 Pro.Obviously, Fiio designed the K9 to fit into the mid-range section, filling the void between the $200 K7 and $849 K9 Pro. But by retaining the identical design and quite a lot of the identical options as the more expensive K9 Pro, Fiio is operating the danger 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 getting the K9 Pro.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Starting with the design, the K9 makes use of the identical chassis because the K9 Pro, and that is one thing Fiio is vulnerable to doing. It did the identical with the K7, which retained the chassis of the K5 Pro, and on the time, the model famous it was to save lots of manufacturing prices and make it simpler to get the product out the door.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Clearly, the model is utilizing the identical technique right here, and the K9 is sort of similar to the K9 Pro. The solely distinction is the shortage of the Pro branding on the entrance of the unit, and the quantity dial that dominates the entrance fascia does not have gold accents. That stated, the labels beneath all of the connectors and button are actually in white and have higher distinction, they usually’re considerably simpler to learn. This continues to be a problem on the K9 Pro, with the gray labels merging with the black chassis, making it laborious to make out any of the markings.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)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. At the underside, you get the facility button, achieve 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 performing as a preamp.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Given that the K9 makes use of the identical black chassis because the Pro mannequin, it does not actually draw a lot consideration to itself. Both sides of the unit have a vented design to ship passive airflow, and that is wanted as a result of there is not any lively cooling. You get the identical THX branding on the high, however it is not embossed, and the brand new Fiio brand is etched above.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)It’s on the again the place issues get fascinating, with the K9 providing the identical set of connectivity choices because the K9 Pro. 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.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The solely factor lacking on the K9 is USB-C connectivity, and MQA rendering. While I’d have favored to see USB-C, it is not an enormous deal, and actually, 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 truly imply something.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)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 package deal that permits you to mount it vertically. Coming in at 5.7lb (2.6kg), it’s simply as heavy because the K9 Pro, and it is not designed with portability. The package deal accommodates a USB cable, 3.5mm to 6.35mm connector, and an extra fuse.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The FiiO Control app continues to be nice, and it provides you exhaustive management over nearly each space of the K9. You can see the lively mode, choose Bluetooth audio codecs, regulate the lighting across the quantity knob, set EQ, and regulate the channel steadiness.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Coming to the audio aspect of issues, the K9 makes use of two 32-bit ESS Sabre ES9068AS DACs. The 2-channel DAC sits one tier beneath the ES9038 Pro that is featured within the K9 Pro, however you do not actually discover a lot in the way in which 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.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Talking about Bluetooth, you get all of the audio codecs you will ever want: AptX, AptX LL, AptX HD, AptX Adaptive, and LDAC. The LED mild on the quantity knob modifications primarily based 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 right down to 192kHz/24-bit over coaxial, and 96kHz/24-bit by way of optical. The K9 is an all-in-one system, and it has loads of energy to drive nearly any audio system, together with probably the most demanding planar headsets. Conversely, it is ready to energy delicate IEMs with none points in any way — all you will have to do is about the achieve to low.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)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 system, and as I stated initially, I do not see the necessity to justify paying a premium for the K9 Pro 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 way in which, and permits audio units to shine; utilizing the MM-500 with the K9 was simply as satisfying as with the K9 Pro. Yes, the K9 Pro delivers a greater low-end when testing with the identical headsets, and it has cleaner mid-range and elevated highs. That stated, the variations are barely noticeable, and in all honesty, the K9 does simply nearly as good a job in day by day use.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Where the K9 stands out is by pitting it towards the K7; on this scenario, the variations are simply noticeable. The K9 delivers a significantly better soundstage and dynamics, and you may instantly discover the distinction in tonality between the 2 DACs — the K9 is simply capable of ship a vibrant sound that you do not get with the K7.Ultimately, the K9 affords one of the best worth in Fiio’s in depth DAC catalog. It has a lot of the options that made the K9 Pro an impressive selection, and one of the best half is that it prices simply $499. That’s fairly the discount contemplating simply what you are getting with this DAC.
The K9 has an identical feature-set as the more expensive K9 Pro, however you need not pay as a lot, making it an important selection in Fiio’s DAC catalog.