K11 Desktop 1400W Power Balanced Headphone DAC & Amplifier 384kHz/24Bit DSD256 for Home Audio/PC 6.35mm/4.4mm/RCA/Coaxial/Optical (Black)

I wanted to get into higher end audio, namely by finding a desktop DAC with balanced audio output. For under $150, this was an incredibly sensible purchase for my needs. Unit itself is made of solid material, sleek black finish that isn't a total fingerprint magnet, with full size audio out as well as the aforementioned 4.4mm balanced out. My headphones ROAR out of that balanced out, even on low amplification! Love the aesthetics from the LED lighting on top, which I didn't even realize was a feature when I plugged it in! Pairs great with a room and setup full of RGB. If you want to get into upper mid to higher end audio, this is a fantastic starting point that'll run out of any desktop or laptop, or even game console with no drivers needed! Drivers are necessary for ASIO out on desktops though, which can be tricky to install. Overall though, great value and sound, these make your headphones even better.

The FiiO K11 is a compact, feature-rich desktop DAC/amp that aims to deliver high-quality audio without breaking the bank. Positioned as an entry-level unit in FiiO’s lineup, it offers a sleek design, versatile connectivity, and enough power to drive most headphones—all for around $159. The sound is clean, detailed, and largely neutral—though not without quirks. While many users report a pleasant listening experience with no coloration, others have noted issues with the digital filters, describing the sound as “compressed” or “plastic” depending on the preset. Filter 4 is often cited as the most natural The FiiO K11 (non-R2R) is a solid entry-level DAC/amp that balances aesthetics, usability, and performance. It’s not a technical powerhouse, and audiophiles seeking absolute neutrality may find its sound signature lacking. However, for casual listeners and budding enthusiasts, it’s a fantastic starting point—especially if you value convenience and versatility. If you're looking for a clean desktop solution with balanced output and modern design, the K11 delivers. Just be aware of its quirks before diving in.

The FIIO K11 DAC & Amplifier is worth every penny. I use it paired with Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO (250 Ohm) headphones and the TIDAL music streaming service. I have the K11's gain set to "high" to accommodate the impedance of the headphones and almost never need the volume above 40/100. The unit has six different digital filters. I use filter #4: Slow Roll-Off, Phase-Compensated which is indicated as appropriate for classical music. My feeling is, if it's good for classical music, it's good for any genre. The FIIO K11 sounds fantastic and works seamlessly with the Wavelet EQ app (Android). Highly recommended!

I bought this unit to replace the audio section on my PC's motherboard due to an instability problem with the hardware that could only be rectified through a cold reboot of the system. I did not buy this unit to improve sound quality. I only wanted to stop using the motherboard's onboard audio section. As an electrical engineer who has designed and built Class A amplifiers, I'm generally skeptical of the snake oil that is sold in the DAC market so I was honestly not expecting any improvement in audio quality here, but after I wired it up it took only a few seconds of listening to notice a significant increase in stereo separation / imaging, a much cleaner high end reminiscent of my class A amps, and a much lower noise floor. In short, this thing sounds fantastic and it's breathed new life into my audio collection. The volume control and display as well as the headphone jack on the front panel were not a requirement for me but they are certainly perks that are worth the slightly higher cost of this unit relative to the SMSL or other "faceless" units. One issue: I initially connected the USB-C port on the rear of the DAC to a USB-A port on my PC using a known-good cable. In this configuration my OS (Linux) refused to instantiate the USB interface and reported a power-related error. I found this strange because the unit is powered independently from an external AC/DC power brick and not the USB-C interface itself, but when I switched to a USB-C port on the PC (and hence a USB-C to USB-C cable) the interface came up and the device was recognized.

Le FIIO K11 est une vraie réussite ! Ce DAC/ampli offre un son clair, puissant et précis, avec une excellente dynamique. La prise en charge du DSD256 et du 384 kHz/24 bits permet de redécouvrir ses morceaux préférés avec un niveau de détail impressionnant. Les multiples sorties (6,35 mm, 4,4 mm, RCA, coaxial, optique) rendent ce petit boîtier ultra polyvalent, parfait pour un usage sur PC, Mac ou système audio domestique. La puissance de sortie est largement suffisante pour driver des casques exigeants. La finition noire est sobre et élégante, et la prise en main est simple, même pour les non-initiés. Rapport qualité-prix imbattable dans cette gamme ! Je recommande chaudement aux audiophiles comme aux utilisateurs en quête de meilleur son au bureau

Ich hab den FiiO K11 ursprünglich nur als Upgrade für meinen SteelSeries GameDAC 2 geholt – und was soll ich sagen: Mission erfüllt, Overkill aktiviert. 😎 Nutze ihn an meiner PS5 Pro, und er wurde direkt erkannt, sofern man den UAC 1.0 Modus aktiviert (kleiner Tipp für alle, die sich wundern, warum nix passiert). Klanglich? Top! Endlich genug Headroom für meine anspruchsvolleren Kopfhörer wie den Arya Organic oder den Meze 109 Pro – der GameDAC 2 kam da einfach nicht mehr mit. Was gefällt besonders? Klang: Klar, kraftvoll, detailliert – perfekt für Gaming UND Musik. Anschlüsse: 3.5 mm & 4.4 mm – flexibel wie ein Yoga-Meister. Menü: Super simpel, kein unnötiger Schnickschnack. Filter 2: Mein persönlicher Favorit fürs Gaming – schön ausgewogen. RGB: Wenn man's mag, ein nettes Gimmick. Wenn nicht, einfach ignorieren. Fazit: Der K11 hat meinen alten DAC in Rente geschickt und liefert richtig ab – besonders für den Preis. Wer auf der PS5 (oder generell) mehr Power für seine Kopfhörer braucht, bekommt hier ein echtes Kraftpaket mit Stil zu einem vernünftigen Preis.

I am running as a DAC/headphone amplifier for a Bluesound streamer via the optical connector. I have a pair of Audeze LCD-2 headphones which are tough to drive and for which I have upgraded to a 4.4mm balanced cable. The FIIO K11 drives the big Audezes with ease and the combination sounds great - detailed with clear, deep bass, clear midrange and nice high frequency definition without sounding shrill or sibilant. The menus are very easy to navigate - I migrated from a Chord Mojo2 which was a nightmare with all its coloured LEDs (it eventually died and I have not got round to getting it fixed yet). I am very happy with the FIIO K11 and would recommend it strongly. For the price it is an absolute steal!

Good, high quality. Sound it more powerful and punchy. Doesn't take up too much room, good settings for the onboard RGB as well! Good weight, suitable for a desk. Good value for money and very easy to setup, albeit poor instructions.

Before forming your opinion, change the default digital filter from 3 to 6. Where 6 is no oversampling and has less harshness compared to 3 which made sibilance more noticeable. Some have stated filters 1 or 2 are also better sounding but 3 is the worst for me. Power, resolution and features are great for the price. I had been using Chord Mojo (1st iteration) fed by HiBy R5 and Sennheiser HD560s, but the Mojo is bettered by this. Not yet tried the balanced output. Small, stylish and easy to operate. Must run off mains power with supplied adapter but I prefer this.