BUDGET, BALANCED, BETTER! - FiiO k7 Review

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[Enigmaad]

Recently upgraded from the K5 and the balanced audio is a significant improvement. I can crank up the volume to almost unlistenable levels and there is no noise or distortion whereas the K5 unbalanced does start to develop a little noise the higher the volume. My FLAC tracks are sounding cleaner on the K7.

[milosCivejovidar]

As someone who tried the DX3 Pro + and had given up on it, and then bought the K7, I can say that K7 is levels above the DX3 Pro +. I don't know if I got the bad batch, but for me the Topping was the sound equivalent to staring at the sun - so much glare and fatigue from the overall sound signature, impossible to listen to more than 45 min. Fiio has better build quality, design, Topping volume control button is trash compared to the Fiio button (altough not perfect as mentioned in this video), Fiio has 6.35mm and 4.4mm connectors, compared to the fragile 3.5mm one. And for the 6xx headphones, I tested the 4.4mm balanced and there is zero need to buy the cable, just went back to the 6.35 mm unbalanced.

[sudipchatterjee]

Thanks for the comparison with Topping DX3 Pro plus. I was looking for it. This K7 arrived here in India and was sold out within days, just like the Topping one. I think that both of these are fantastic value propositions! It is a good time to live for an audiophile!

[coopscooper]

Went and purchased the K7 based on this. Upgrading from a gen 1 Modi/Magni stack. Pairing it with the DT1990s. I can say this is a great little unit. I do have the Dekoni Leather pads on and the bass it just right. Very nice set up now. Thank you for the review.

[oAcunAo]

Thanks for the preview, Joshua! I just replaced the K5 with the K7 and I am blown away by the sound performance. I always thought that the amplifier has little or no influence on the sound. The sound is now much more spacious and also more detailed than before. Thanks to your report I have changed and I do not regret it. By the way, I use the Hifiman Edition XS as headphones. A perfect combination. Greetings from Austria!

[Yxzjvc]

They just released a bluetooth version of the K7, so thats cool

[cowboyflipflopped]

Amazon has Youkamoo braided, balanced cables for less than $30. They're soft, look decent, and sound fantastic. The Y-connector barrel is unobtrusive, which puts it way ahead of Periapt in my opinion. Also, zero microphonics on either of my Youkamoo cables, but I have had problems with microphonics on Periapt cables in the past.

[abhinandande]

Just Bought It Today. Following You From 2021. Bought Sundara On Dec 2021 Based On Your Recommandation. Now The K7 This Year. Now Planning An Upgrade To Meze 109 Pro!!

[__Pathfinder__]

I had the K5pro with AKM Chip and have now the DX3Pro+ with ESS Chip. Yes the K5/K7 with it's AKM chip has a warmer sounding and may be preferred if you listen alot to vocal music. The ESS chip sounds more sterile/neutral, but therefore gives a tiny bit more details. Much more important: K5/K7 are still in the stone age in terms of usabilty... DX3Pro+ has remote, memory function for every channel, the auto turn on/off standby function. Topping is just so much more in the 21st century. Therefore i would go for the DX3pro+. You can get it for ca 170 Bucks!

[Larkinzzz]

I currently use the FiiO K5 along with my Hifiman Sundara, DT 770 PRO (80 Ohm) and Edifier R1280T speakers. Something different with the FiiO K7 aside from the balanced output that you didn't talk about is the output selection, with the FiiO K5 I need to turn off my speakers when I'm using my headphones because they output simultaneously.

[Nordraw]

For 199? It’s a no brainer between the K 5 and the K 7. But if you have the money just get the K9 and be done with Dac/amps for a long time

[IanMak]

Thanks for the informative review. I heard the new BT version came out for the K7 and some people have found the volume knob became more linear for adjustment.
Have you had a chance to try out the K7 BT?
I wonder what are your thoughts between the FiiO K7 BT vs Topping DX3 Pro+ now?

[electricant]

I literally ordered the k7 an hour ago, what a trip

[Andrew-pjkb]

So, I just bought both the topping DX3 Pro+ and the FiiO k7, I A/B tested them both raw and equalized on my Focal Radiances.
The result for me after a couple days of listening on both, the FiiO K7 added some needed warmth, but took away a bit of clarity.
The K7's are also extremely lacking on features (like different memory on volume from multiple sources!!!!)
The potentiometer wasn't a huge issue for me.

In general, other than the added warmth, the DX3 pro+ was just better in almost every way, and supports linux/mac/windows machines (yes I have them all and tested on all).

I would only recommend the K7 for someone that has a single audio source, no need for extended features, and who favours warmth over clarity.

[MrJabinho]

What headphones you used in the test ? Just asking to understand your bass comments.

[ArianTashakkor]

How would you rank the ZEN DAC V2 compared to the FiiO K7? I had initially compared the original k5 to the Zen Dac V2 and in terms of performance and sound, I only noticed minor differences. But how would you compare the K7 to the ZEN DAC V2? Is it worth upgrading from the V2 to the K7?

[izumi]

the volume is probably tuned digitally, and digital volume works in a logarithmic way afaik, so it makes sense it'll jump like that

[andycrook]

I have the K7. It’s excellent.

For the price it’s out of this world.

[HammadIqbalPhoto]

I'm replacing my Dx3pro+ with the K7 because I like the way Fiio sound on the M11plus compared to the DX3pro+.

[devilevil]

Topping and smsl dac/amps sounds all sterile, cold, analytic and neutral. Fiio gave some character to the K7 and for that price it's a steal.