FiiO KA15 not only maintains FiiO’s consistent high standard in sound quality, but also shows surprising innovative design in functional design – intelligent power management, professional-grade PEQ tuning, interesting UI interface, etc.
- $105 – Check latest price on AliExpress, Amazon US or other Amazon countries
Design: Innovative, Exquisite and Mini
KA15 continues FiiO’s consistent simple and exquisite design style. The metal body not only provides an excellent feel, but also enhances the durability of the product. The size is 52*25*11mm and the weight is only 21g, which is easy to carry. It is worth mentioning that FiiO KA15 is available in black and sky blue to further meet the aesthetic needs of different users.
KA15 is equipped with a display screen that supports multiple UI theme styles, including the default blue, black, yellow and green. In particular, the dynamic UI design of the tape drive shows the animation of the tape turning during playback – I really like this little design. In addition to the playback information, the screen also displays the operating voltage and current in real time.
The screen brightness and rotation angle are adjustable, providing 10 levels of brightness and 180° flip function, so you can adjust according to the environment and usage habits. Plus, the screen off time can also be customized from 15 seconds to 30 minutes.
KA15 provides flexible button and volume mode settings to adapt to the operating habits of different users. Users can switch between A mode and B mode: in A mode, single-tap the button to adjust the volume, and long-pressing to switch song; in B mode, single-tap to switch song, and long-pressing to adjust the volume.
Also, FiiO KA15 provides two volume modes: 60A and 120B, the latter is suitable for users who like to fine-tune the volume, providing more detailed volume control. These settings make KA15 more flexible in operation and can meet the usage preferences of different users.
Hardware Configuration & Working Mode & Functions
The most eye-catching innovation of FiiO KA15 is the new high-performance USB chip it uses. This chip not only supports data bridging function, but also integrates high-performance MCU and DSP. FiiO has conducted in-depth cooperation with chip suppliers and customized it from the bottom up, giving KA15 greater freedom in functional design while ensuring excellent compatibility and stability.
Additionally, KA15 is equipped with an instrument-level detection chip that can accurately display the current power consumption in real time. Combined with a powerful MCU, the KA15 can intelligently detect the playback status. For example, after the music stops playing for a period of time, KA15 will automatically enter low power consumption mode, effectively extending the use time of the device.
FiiO KA15 supports two DAC chip working modes: ClassH and ClassAB. These two modes differ in static current consumption, and ClassH is more energy-efficient.
KA15 also has a coaxial output function – it can be turned on or off through the menu, and connected to other devices using a 3.5mm to RCA cable for signal transmission. Plus, KA15 supports Android, iOS, Windows and Mac systems, and is even compatible with the latest iPhone16 and iOS18 systems.
KA15 supports wire control and call functions, which are not common in Hi-Fi mini headphone amplifiers. At the same time, it also supports OTA firmware upgrades, and users can get the latest function updates through APP or PC.
Preset EQ and PEQ
FiiO KA15 has seven built-in preset EQs, including jazz, pop, rock, dance, R&B, classical and HIP-HOP, allowing us to easily choose the sound effect that best suits the current music.
KA15 supports 10-band high-precision lossless PEQ tuning and custom EQ. PEQ can be adjusted and renamed through FiiO Control App or web version. This feature allows you to create unique sound effects according to different headphones and music styles. More importantly, these custom tunings can be saved in the device and even shared with others.
Also, KA15 has three preset modes for adapting to FiiO FD15, FiiO FF5, and FiiO FH3. It is estimated that more PEQ solutions specifically adapted to FiiO headphones will be added through firmware updates in the future.
Acoustic Configuration & Sound Description
FiiO KA15 uses dual CS43198DAC and dual SGM8262 op-amps configuration, supporting up to PCM768kHz/32bit and DSD256 decoding. Such hardware configuration ensures that KA15 can process high-resolution audio files, providing your headphones with clearer and more transparent sound performance.
Open the settings of KA15, and there are many sound settings in the list. To test its sounding, I turned off D.MODE and PEQ, set the filter to NON-OS, and set the decoding mode to ClassAB.
The sound is delicate and full, and the imaging size is moderate. The sound is full of energy and is relatively stable. Its timbre has a little unobvious sound coloration, and the overall style is still more reductive.
In terms of tri-frequency, the mid-frequency is the most prominent part. It has quite good thickness, the vocal position is slightly forward, and the details are clear. The performance of the instrument is relatively full. The low-frequency quantity is moderate, the texture is solid, and the extension depth is also good.
Considering the sound characteristics of FiiO KA15, the most suitable music style is vocal pop. Its expressiveness for male voices is slightly better than that for female voices, and it can express the thick voice of male singers very contagiously. Plus, KA15 can drive the flagship headphones quite well even when the D.MODE mode is turned off.
Conclusion & Specs
FiiO KA15 not only maintains FiiO’s consistent high standard in sound quality, but also shows surprising gameplay in functional design – intelligent power consumption management, professional-level PEQ tuning, interesting UI interface, etc. Overall, FiiO KA15 is a product worth recommending. As its slogan says, KA15 does bring users a “fun listening” experience, making music appreciation more interesting and personalized.
FiiO KA15 specs and features:
- Real-time current and voltage monitoring
- Powerful 560mW+560mW desktop mode
- Intelligent dynamic power consumption
- 10-band high-precision lossless PEQ
- Comes with leatherette case, Tpye-C cable, user manual
- $105 – Check latest price on AliExpress, Amazon US or other Amazon countries