Question Desktop DAC/Amp Fiio K-series - any thoughts?

[PieterG]

With more listening comes (hopefully) progressive insight.

• The K11 R2R really is a really good HP amp and capable DAC.
• Different gain and oversampling settings have noticeably different effects, so it's worth getting to know them.
• Unfortunately i can't test the balanced out at the moment because i have no 4.4 plug, so impossible for me to say if that makes a difference.
• Headphone pairing does matter a lot - unsurprisingly. My closed HD620s are not ideal for sound signature. A brighter, more open pair will very likely sound better.

Music that stands out one way or another:

• Van Halen - not the best source on Tidal - sounds very congested
• Tool, Opeth, Aerosmith (not too different from Van Halen) have much more depth and air
• London Grammar: wonderful Hannah Reid vocals on this setup
• Genesis, Foreigner lack punch, feel quite lean
• Daft Punk: undecided... actually sounds better on speakers than on headphones (unexpected)
• Tom McRae (big fan!): very open and uncomplicated recording, which works really well for me
• Springsteen: all hi-res on Tidal, but not marked as remastered... very balanced, excellent

K11 + 620s generally works well for most of my music, with a few exceptions. It could be a better setup with some custom EQ profiles maybe.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

I have the K11 R2R it's a more rounded sounding DAC than an analytical one, those are it's qualities. I suspect an K13 will be better resolving without departing from the family signature.

When I upgraded to FiiO PL50 power supply, I did get a noticeable improvement in the sound. The PSU are inexpensive and worth the investment, even if you decide to trade it up to K13.

The baby R2R Denafrips the Enyo is selling for £525, if you were thinking about upping your budget. The only downside, it doesn't have a headphone socket.

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I’ve never used Aliexpress, how does customs and import charges get applied or dealt with ?
And are their delivery dates realistic ?

 

[Jasonovich]

I’ve never used Aliexpress, how does customs and import charges get applied or dealt with ?
And are their delivery dates realistic ?

Really depends on the vendor selling on the AliExpress portal. 10 days delivery to UK is about average, some deliveries sooner, some can take as long as three weeks.



If you're new to AliExpress, always check the sellers performance profile. If I see any negative reviews, I usually abort and go to another vendor, even if it means paying a little extra.

AliExpress refund policy is fairly robust, I think I've had maybe three refunds due to non-deliveries. I've used AE for several years.

Obviously if the product has a UK distributer, go with them. The appeal for me, the prices tend to be a lot cheaper.

In terms of, customs and import charges get applied or dealt with? In some situations, the vendor will make it clear to the buyer, will incur these charges at the shopping cart checkout.
This is rare, what you see is what you normally pay. If I come across this, I'll just go to an alternative vendor where the pricing is more transparent. You can always delete your cart before committing.

Much of what you're familiar with on eBay (apart from the auctioning) is featured on AliExpress, such as the option to pay by Bank Debit Card, PayPal or Klarna.

You'll still get better customer service from eBay, Amazon etc. but this has improved, with promise to deliver within ......... or refund. Much of the goods have free returns.

I hope this helps? 🙂

 

[PieterG]

I’ve never used Aliexpress, how does customs and import charges get applied or dealt with ?
And are their delivery dates realistic ?

You might be better off in the UK (for once 😛).
In the EU there is a good chance now that your shipments from known Chinese online retailers receive an add-on customs charge. Things are supposed to be much tighter as of 2026. There might be a maximum amount/value exempt from additional charges, i don't remember the details.