KA11 USB C to 3.5mm Audio Adapter 32bit/384KHz, USB Type C Dongle HiFi DAC Amplifier for Android/iOS/Windows/Mac (Silver, TC)

Fantastic DAC for the Price – Plug-and-Play Audiophile Boost I’ve been using the FiiO KA11 with both my iPhone 15 Pro and a Google Pixel, running it through a USB-C splitter—and it works flawlessly. It was completely plug-and-play, no setup needed. I tested it across multiple apps—Tidal, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, HBO—and it delivers excellent sound consistently. The clarity and depth really shine, especially when paired with my CCZ Melody and Moondrop Chu2 IEMs. The iPhone’s EQ settings (I love the Late Night preset with the Melody) take it even further. It does warm up after about 15 minutes of use, but I didn’t notice any unusual battery drain. I have over 100 hours of use out of mine so far. Build quality is rock solid—it feels heavier and more premium than you’d expect for a $33 dongle. If you’re looking for a compact, high-quality USB-C DAC/amp that just works and sounds fantastic, this one is well worth it.

Before I start this review, I would like to say that I'm a fairly new and young audiophile getting into the hobby. I’ve only owned one other DAC before this that is similarly sized, therefore being less experienced. But I am knowledgeable to understand my preferences, and how to achieve them. The only DAC I've had before was the Apple USB-C to 3.5mm dongle. First, What I wanted to achieve with this purchase: The main goal of me getting a DAC was to match or exceed what the internal jack of my 2020 M1 Apple MacBook Air can already achieve. It’s very clean, transparent, and neutral. It doesn’t add any color whatsoever. The reason the Apple USB-C to 3.5mm Dongle didn’t meet that is because it’s too lean/sterile. It’s not full and feels more like a reference/flat(which can be boring, in my case it is). It’s not generally bad in any way, it’s just not for me. Sound is subjective, not objective. So, please take into consideration your priorities/preferences/needs. Second, Sound & How/If it achieves what I want it to: The sound signature is warm, still clean, and has an emphasis on mid-bass/an emphasis on it. Buying this, I had no idea what I was getting into. It went against what I actually wanted, and didn’t sound similar to my 2020 M1 Apple MacBook Air like I wanted it to. I personally don’t like/prefer warm sound signatures/tuning. But, it did provide me with more knowledge. It allowed me to actually finalize my preference and experience what warm sounds like, and it was also the way I learned to determine what mid-bass sounded like, what it is. Next, build: The build of the KA11 is very premium. It features a cold-to-the-touch metal housing for the USB-C and 3.5mm connector, and uses a non-detachable braided cable. It’s sturdy and durable. Finally, Design: The design of the KA11 is simplistic, and it feels nice. I personally went with the black USB-C version which features a simplistic styled housing for the 3.5mm connector, and a simplistic styled housing for the USB-C connector. The 3.5mm connector housing has the FiiO logo printed in white with an LED nearby to show what the sample/bit-rate is. Blue for CD and below, yellow for anything above CD, and green for DSD. Overall, very simplistic. Overall, it’s a well implemented portable DAC that provides a warm, full, mid-bass focused listening experience. In the end I ended up returning it. It’s good, it’s just not for me. I didn't provide images, because I returned it before I could get any (or even write this review).

I originally bought this to try out on my PC, and while it works great for it (I can play at a much higher sampling rate on top of louder playback), what stunned me was how great it works on my phone. I didn't think it would make much of a difference on my phone as it already has a headphone jack, but I was wrong. Yes, it makes it louder but there's so much more to it than that. It sounds AMAZING at higher levels, with zero distortion even when the volume becomes painfully high. This is such a superb value for what it does. There's a drawback, and that is when I use it on my headphones (but not the PC) it gets pretty hot. In fact, I had to return one because it would stop working when it got too hot. But I've put its replacement through its paces and so far it hasn't had the same issue. It's just something I'd advise people to keep an eye out for. Otherwise this is a stellar product and I highly recommend it.

I bought this and the FT1 headphones because I wanted to try them out on my ps5, which is where I find I'm spending the most time listening to music. The default UAC2.0 setting does not work with the ps5 so I went ahead and got the app to change the settings to UAC1.0 (because yes you need the app to change the settings, there's no button). Anyway changing the settings to UAC1.0 made it so my phone can no longer detect the KA11, meaning I cannot listen to music on my phone through the KA11, worse I also can't change the settings back to UAC2.0. I decided to try and use my PC to change the settings, but my PC also could not detect the Ka11 on the UAC1.0 setting. While the ps5 can detect the Ka11 once it was changed to UAC1.0, the audio is coming through mostly the left ear piece on the FT1 headphones and I'm getting maybe 1% the volume of the left ear piece on my right ear piece. Meaning the volume on my left ear piece is normal while my right ear piece volume is incredibly quiet. I spent about 4 hours searching for ways to fix these issues and have come up with nothing. Im disappointed and I'm probably just going to return everything. As I have no need for a 32 dollar paper weight or half a set of headphones.

The difference in audio quality and volume exceeded my expectations (and I was skeptical before trying it). This basically made my mid grade ear buds sound more like full sized studio headphones. It does get a little warm after use, but other than that I have no complaints.

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Sheeezzzz!!!! I am now going back to wire headphones 😁… sounds louder & better! clearer vocals! and mid-range are top caliber. Thanks to this bloody gem! This is a must to all Headphones! Gen. X’s let’s volt in! So easy to set-up, just bloody connect to any latest mobile phone devices and that’s it. I’m using my Sony’s WH-1000XM6 Headphone + connected to my iPhone16 Pro Max. Just a reminder, you can’t use or connect to Sony’s Sound Connect app when using your FiiO KA11 USB dongle. But I think you don’t need tweaks for EQ to get a better sounds. The sounds coming out are great. I am so thrilled & overjoyed having this! Best Buy indeed.

Honestly it gets hot within the first 5 minutes even on my 1st time ever using it and i dont know if its supposed to do that but it still works great so im not mad about it, good item

The difference is ridiculous. Only issue is that it runs very hot. But as long as you don't touch it, it's perfectly fine