Fiio KA13 Review

Sound performances

For this review, I chose to pair the FiiO KA13 with the HiFiman Svanar, the Audeze LCD-X, and the lovely Beyerdynamic’s DT 900 Pro X – the same in-ear/ headphones I used for my DC04PRO review.  If the Hifiman is a bit too higher-end for this DAC, the FiiO is more than adequate and paired quite nicely with the KA13, and regarding the Beyerdynamic, I’ve got not much to say: it’s amazing for the price.

As for the source, I kept my MacBook and iPhone and FiiO’s default cables. For the files, I mainly used Apple Music Hi-Res stream and Spotify, as I ended up using the KA13 almost exclusively on the train, or at the office.

Overall signature

So, how does FiiO’s new USB dongle compare to its bigger brother, the KA5, and more importantly the KA3 it kind of replaces? Quite nice actually, thanks to its sheer power and great tonal balance.

Power-wise, no surprise here : with the desktop mode “on”, the FiiO KA13 definitely is the most powerful DAC/Amp in the full Jade series. While the previous KA5 has some trouble powering the Hifiman Svanar – which needs a LOT of current to be correctly driven – the KA13 somehow managed to gave me authoritative bass and crisp highs, only marred by a narrower soundstage compared to higher-end devices like the new Shanling H5.

In fact, this is the first dongle from the brand that finally outperforms the DC06, which – for me –  remained the most powerful dongle I tried for quite some times already. In fact, even if you were to stick with the single-ended port, you’d be surprised by how much juice the FiiO was able to extract from the USB source.

Head to head with the KA3 though, the new models also takes the edge with better texture and cleaner lows whilst listening at high volume – think KA2 on steroids, or a dongle-sized Cowon Plenue D2/D3. In fact, on the “Candyman Theme” from Magic Sword, the synthwave ambiance, oversaturated bass, and other various effects were all perfectly rendered at a much lower volume than on the KA2 and KA3. Those are still great devices of course, but considering the price and features, this new model really takes the best of both, and blend them in one single DAC/Amp.

There are improvements here and there, without any real downsize – most of the time –  better dynamics overall, better bass control, improved transients and, with the FiiO FD7 the result was stunning more than once. To be completely fair, at low-medium volume, the KA2 and KA3 sounded a little bit wider most of the time though, especially on classic tracks like Carousel from John A. Nilson

And if the previous model already surprised me with its output power, the FiiO K13 raises the bar even higher, driving all my headphones almost effortlessly. Sure, this DAC/Amp isn’t Q7 powerful, but if stick to the 4.4mm Pentaconn output, you could even drive your Sennheiser HD800, Audeze LCD-4 or FiiO FT3 with ease. And, thanks to the volume control,  this one is simply perfect for my use: I could switch between each of my three reviews IEMs/Headphones, and check what volume level I needed to drive them correctly. 

Paired with the simpler, but amazing, FiiO FD7 though, the end result was superb and the sheer sound pressure of the combo gave me real goosebumps. For a small on-the-go combo, it’s utterly impressive. This was especially true with dynamic, bass-hitting, tracks like The Age of Love remix from Charlotte De Witte & Enrico Sangiuliano, where some drums seemed to popup right into my face.

Same with my indomitable Beyerdynamic DT900 Pro X, which was simply stunning with deep lows, crisp highs, and a wide(r) soundstage, definitely outperforming the FiiO KA2 and KA3 this time. And when it comes to high-resolution files, the FiiO KA13 doesn’t shy away, offering a very high level of detail and scaling up with ease. It may not reach the pinpoint sharpness of the KA5, but it’s impressively close.

The mids are clean and sharp, with a good level of air outlined by low distortion and a linear signature even if highs can appear slightly more present than usual, in pure Cirrus-Logic tradition. The lows are deep and fast, attaining the lowest notes and sub-rumble fitted so you can reach that good old toe-tapping Oomph and, if you haven’t listened to any of the modern FiiOs, you’d be surprised to find out that the previous mid-focused signature is now gone.

In fact, the FiiO KA13 sounds almost neutral, with a good soundstage – narrower than the KA5 and KA3 though – and very good layering: with the right headphone/earphone you can spot each instrument and each singer with ease and there is no channel imbalance to ruin the experience. Boasting a superior dynamic range and a blacker background, it maintains the same level of clarity and precision, making it an ideal choice for IEM users..

On top of that, the KA13 is perfectly silent most of the time, even with sensitive IEMs like the FiiO FA7S, even if compared to my iBasso DC04 Pro it’s a little more hissy especially with ultra-sensitive IEMs. With headphones though, it’s D-E-A-D silent!

An excellent upgrade from the KA2/KA3 and an excellent DAC/AMP in every regard sonically. Even more for the asked price!

Tonality

Highs: just on the spot, most of the time. The KA13 shows an ever so slight upper-mid boost, as all Cirrus-Logic DAC usually display. If that gives a sensation of precision, it can also lead to some sibilant on sensible headphones, but fortunately none of that was found on the DAC, and even when I pushed the volume up to unsafe levels, I never encountered any issue.

Good test track : Anthler – Polynation

Mids: Open and linear, as expected. Vocals and acoustic tracks were effortlessly handled by the KA13, a task made even easier when paired with a quality IEM. FiiO has consistently excelled in this aspect, and the DAC/AMP is no exception. The soundstage is expansive, with voices gliding seamlessly into my ears, particularly when paired with the FiiO FD7. The synergy between these two devices is remarkable.

Good test track: Between a smile and a tear

Bass: massive power, dauting lows. FiiO has truly mastered the low end in their recent models, with the KA13 outperforming all its predecessors – apart from the KA5 – in this domain. Even in single-ended mode, the FiiO KA13 maintains its composure, delivering tight, responsive bass. However, utilizing its 4.4mm Pentaconn output elevates the performance to a superior level. Absent are any hints of shallow echoes or a dragging sensation. When paired with Dolby Atmos tracks on Apple Music, the immersive 3D effect transforms the listening experience entirely, and decidedly for the better..

Good test track: Orbit – Rezz

Conclusion

The FiiO KA13 is another great addition to the ever evolving Jade Audio range, surpassing the KA2 and challenging the KA5 in terms of raw power. Sound-wise, compared to the KA2 again, it’s better on every level, polishing the previous formula with various enhancements like tougher lows, or a wider but sharper soundstage. 

And if the sound prowess were not enough already, you can top that with praise-worthy build quality, a truly competent desktop-mode, USB + Lightning cables, and a conception design that makes it the perfect companion for any of your digital sources – heck, it even works on my XBox.

Would I take if over the FiiO KA5? Probably not – can’t beat this screen and sound – but over the KA1/KA2/KA3? Obviously yes.

Pros :

• sleek design and astounding built quality
• amazing power reserve in balanced mode
• great sound with enhanced performances compared to the KA2/KA3
• excellent price/performance ratio

Cons :

• high mids can be a bit too pronounced
• high power consumption in standby mode