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Fiio made its identify with value-focused wired earbuds that undercut its rivals and cellular DACs that ship a very good worth. The Chinese language model rolled out its first full-fledged desktop DAC and amplifier again in 2019, calling it the K5 Professional. That individual variant debuted at $150 and got here with an AK4493 DAC and went on to develop into one of many best-selling DAC/amp combos within the sub-$200 class.
On the finish of 2021, Fiio launched a brand new model of the K5 Professional with an ESS9038Q2M DAC that has higher distortion management, extra dynamic vary, and a vibrant soundstage. The swap to ESS signifies that the K5 Professional now begins at $199, so let’s check out what you are getting with this all-in-one DAC/amp, and whether or not it’s nonetheless the very best all-round selection.
Fiio K5 Professional: Pricing and availability
Fiio launched the ESS model of the K5 Professional on the finish of 2021, and it’s now accessible in all markets the place the model has an official presence.
The DAC/amp is offered for $199 within the U.S., and you’ll choose it up at Amazon or any of Fiio’s official retailers.
Fiio K5 Professional: What you will love
The K5 Professional is a DAC and a headphone amplifier in a unified bundle, so when you’re trying to enhance the sound high quality of your headphones and have been considering of getting a DAC/amp mixture, this works effectively as an all-in-one answer. You can too use the K5 Professional as a preamplifier for connecting lively audio system by way of RCA.
The unit has an understated design that nonetheless seems to be elegant. The chassis is made out of aluminum and has a sandblasted end, and at 480g, it has a pleasant heft to it — it is a DAC that is designed for desktop use.
It has a clear format on the entrance, with a big quantity knob that has LEDs, and switches for achieve and enter. You’ll be able to toggle between three achieve ranges — low (0dB), medium (+6dB), and excessive (+10dB) — and you’ll drive delicate IEMs in addition to headphones that want extra energy with ease.
The construct high quality is among the many greatest you will discover, and within the six months I used the K5 Professional, I did not see any points in anyway on this space. Fiio clearly is aware of tips on how to construct a sturdy product, and that is evident once you begin utilizing the K5 Professional.
There is a 6.35mm headphone connector on the entrance, and Fiio bundles a 6.35mm to three.5mm jack within the field. The most effective issues in regards to the design of the K5 Professional is the LED ring gentle across the quantity knob; the LED adjustments colour primarily based on the supply, so when you join a supply system that is beneath 48KHz, you will see a blue gentle. Something above 48KHz is yellow, and when you’re utilizing DSD, it switches to inexperienced.
Given the shortage of a display screen, it is a nice visible indicator for determining what supply is lively. On that entrance, there isn’t any scarcity of connectivity right here. You’ll be able to select between USB-B, RCA, coaxial or optical, so there’s loads of versatility. I plugged within the K5 Professional to a gaming rig by way of USB for testing.
The ability threshold is considerably greater with this ESS mannequin, with the K5 Professional capable of constantly ship 1.5W over 32 Ohms, which means it could possibly drive nearly any headphones. I used it with Sennheiser’s HD598 and HD6XX, and some IEMs together with Fiio’s glorious FA7S, FD3, and the Campfire Audio Satsuma. The very best half is that you just will not discover any hiss even with the bottom achieve setting, making the K5 Professional a stellar selection for delicate IEMs.
Whereas the K5 Professional has a fantastic design and versatile connectivity, the explanation it has offered so effectively is all the way down to its efficiency. It produces a full sound that is balanced and never too heat, with a large soundstage that permits headphones and IEMs to shine.
The low-end specifically is tight and well-controlled, and also you get a easy mid-range and vibrant highs. Vocals additionally shone by with loads of decision and timber.
There’s somewhat exaggeration across the mid-bass and treble, nevertheless it is not too harsh, and general the K5 Professional holds its personal throughout a wide range of genres. For what it prices, this is among the best-sounding DAC/amp combos accessible right now.
Fiio K5 Professional: What wants work
The K5 Professional nails the fundamentals and is a good general possibility to think about when you’re considering of getting a desktop DAC, nevertheless it misses out on Bluetooth connectivity — so you will not have the ability to use it with the very best wi-fi earbuds. This is not a giant deal given the K5 Professional’s supposed use case, however its inclusion would have made it an much more engaging possibility.
In the same vein, the K5 Professional would not work with the MQA format. When you want the function, you will want to select up Fiio’s K9 Professional or go along with another like iFi’s Zen.
Fiio K5 Professional: The competitors
The Topping DX3 Professional+ prices the identical because the K5 Professional, and it comes with a number of extra options. You get the ES9038Q2M DAC, and it additionally has a built-in headphone amp. It has USB-B, coaxial, and optical connectivity, a display screen that exhibits supply bitrate, and also you get Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity as effectively.
In order for you a standalone DAC/amp, SMSL’s SU-6 and SH-6 needs to be a very good possibility to think about. The bundle comes out to $299, so you might be paying much more than the K5 Professional, however when you want the power to improve down the road, that is the way in which to go.
Fiio K5 Professional: Must you purchase it?
You can purchase this if:
- You need an all-in-one DAC/amp mixture with glorious efficiency
- You want versatile connectivity choices
- You want a robust amplifier that may drive any headphones
- You are searching for a DAC with an open soundstage
You should not purchase this if:
- You want Bluetooth connectivity
- You need MQA decoding
The K5 Professional has a minimalist design that appears nice on a desk, and the unit is constructed to final. It additionally comes with all of the wired connectivity choices you are searching for, making it a flexible selection. The ability on provide right here makes it appropriate for all kinds of audio gear, and the achieve selector turns out to be useful when switching between IEMs and headphones.
It’s the efficiency that makes the K5 Professional stand out towards its instant rivals. It sounds vigorous and interesting, and the vast soundstage makes it enjoyable to hearken to numerous genres. And the truth that you are getting all of this in an all-in-one product that prices simply $200 makes the K5 Professional a straightforward advice.
Fiio K5 Professional
The K5 Professional ticks all the fitting packing containers: it has versatile connectivity, delivers a large soundstage that lets IEMs and headphones stand out, and also you get an intensive feature-set. This is among the best-sounding DAC/amp combos for $200.
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