FiiO KA2
FiiO’s KA2 brings clean, neutral sound to a pocket-size balanced DAC/amp, pairing controlled deep bass with crisp treble and an impressively quiet background for sensitive IEMs. PortaFi highlights its useful 4.4mm output, solid metal build and above-average spatial separation—an exceptionally capable, great-value route to portable hi-fi.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
88/100
Build Quality
85/100
Features Usability
90/100
Value for Money
94/100
Pros
Balanced, uncoloured presentation with deep, controlled bass and well-extended, realistically detailed treble.
Very quiet low-gain background, with no noticeable noise reported using sensitive earphones.
Useful balanced power and gain flexibility: 4.4mm output, low/high gain, and enough drive for many conventional full-size headphones.
Strong value proposition, combining dual CS43131 DACs, metal construction and balanced connectivity at an affordable price.
Cons
Not intended for power-hungry planar headphones or the most demanding high-impedance loads.
Spatial scale and layering are competent rather than exceptional; listeners seeking a huge soundstage may want a larger DAC/amp.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 88/100
The KA2 is described as clean, balanced and uncoloured, with controlled bass, extended treble and an above-average sense of space for a compact dongle. Its quiet low-gain operation and sensible gain options make it particularly well suited to sensitive earphones, while its output is also useful with a range of conventional full-size headphones.
Transparency Resolution
88/100
PortaFi calls the presentation detailed and technical without becoming analytical, saying the KA2 largely gives the listener back what is fed into it. Treble is praised for extension, attack, decay and realistic detail, although room portrayal and layering are not presented as exceptional.
Tonal Balance Musicality
89/100
The sound is described as balanced and uncoloured, with only a very slight added sense of weight. Bass reaches deeply and stays controlled, bringing out nuances and overtones without sounding artificially thick or overemphasised.
Dynamics
86/100
The reviewer finds the KA2 dynamic while noting that it does not deliberately exaggerate emotional impact. Its treble attacks and decays are said to be well handled, supporting a lively but measured presentation.
Noise Floor
91/100
PortaFi reports a very good black background in low gain, with no noticeable background noise even when using sensitive earphones. This is a meaningful advantage for IEM listeners who need a compact source with quiet operation.
Headphone Compatibility
86/100
The balanced 4.4mm output is specified at roughly 150mW into 32 ohms and 50mW into 300 ohms, giving this small dongle useful reach beyond easy IEMs. Low and high gain settings, quiet low-gain performance and demonstrated output into both low- and high-impedance loads add flexibility, though the available evidence does not establish it as a solution for demanding planar headphones.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
85/100
PortaFi describes the KA2's metal construction as good and compares its build favourably with FiiO's KA3. The available reviews say little about long-term durability, connector wear or day-to-day physical reliability.
Features Usability
90/100
For a tiny USB dongle, the KA2 offers a dual-CS43131 DAC implementation, a 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced output and low/high gain selection. Its settings also include device volume, channel balance and selectable low-pass filters with clear indicators, giving it more control than a typical plug-and-play dongle.
Value for Money
94/100
PortaFi lists pricing at about $60 for USB-C and $70 for Lightning, then calls it a killer digital tonal converter at that money. The combination of balanced output, quiet operation, useful power and a neutral presentation is presented as especially compelling in this affordable portable segment.
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Specifications
Manufacturer's Description — FiiO
Compact DAC and Amplifier
Dual CS43131 DACs | 4.4mm balanced out | Supports up to DSD256 and 32bit/384kHz PCM Hi-Res audio Supports FiiO Control APP | 5 digital filters to choose | Compatible with Android/iOS/Windows/MacOS Ring-shaped RGB indicator | Industrial design | Metal construction | Classic black and gold color | Hi-Res Audio certified
* The product is subject to the actual product. The drawings are for reference only.
Unleash double the performance
CS43131*2
The KA2 is equipped with two CS43131 DACs, each capable of high performance and accurately reproducing high-resolution audio.
4 sounds awesome, 4.4mm balanced out
Get the KA2’s full potential by utilizing the 4.4mm balanced output – with max output power of 153mW@32Ω, a high signal-to-noise ratio of 131dB, and a THD+N of only 0.0005%*, with a pitch black background. All of this ensures clean, excellent sound.
*Above test results from FiiO Labs
Listen to every last detail Supports DSD256 and 32bit/384kHz PCM high-res audio
Fully unleash the energy in your music with support up to DSD256 and 32bit/384kHz PCM high-resolution audio.
Extremely convenient Supports FiiO Control APP
Easily link the KA2 to the FiiO Control app, which allows you to easily adjust settings from the comfort of your smartphone.
Choose as you like,
5 selectable digital filters
The KA2 offers 5 different digital filters to select from – another way of allowing you to select how you want your music to sound.
The KA2 is compatible with Android/iOS/Windows/MacOS, covering most of the platforms commonly used. Get high-quality natural sound anytime, anywhere.
The ring-shaped RGB status indicator as featured in the KA lineup lets you instantly know what kind of audio format you’re playing with a single glance.
Blue: 48kHz or below sample rate Yellow: Above 48kHz sample rate Green: DSD
Industrial design All-metal construction
The KA2 follows the industrial design language as with the other members of the KA family – featuring a luxurious feeling, all-metal construction in a striking black and gold color scheme.
Hi-Res Audio certified
The KA2 has been certified to be Hi-Res Audio capable, as according to the standards developed by the Japan Audio Association (JAS) and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). With the KA2, you are sure to get accurate, high-fidelity audio that is completely faithful to the original performance.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for FiiO KA2
- 110Hz — online and in-store — Kielce, Województwo świętokrzyskie, Poland (website)
- Acoustic Technologies — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Advanced MP3 Players — online and in-store — Musselburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (website)
- All Elite Audio — online and in-store — Perry Hall, Maryland, United States (website)
- Alpha Audio Pte — online and in-store — Singapore, Singapore (website)
- Apos Audio — online and in-store — Oakland, California, United States (website)
- Audeos — online and in-store — Żywiec, Województwo śląskie (website)
- Audio 46 — online and in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Audio Affair — online and in-store — Deritend, England, United Kingdom (website)
and 59 more verified dealers