FiiO - K11 R2R

I recently purchased the FiiO FT1 headphones along with the K11 R2R DAC/Amp combo from Headphone Zone, and I couldn’t be happier with this decision. The experience so far has been nothing short of fantastic.

The FT1 headphones impressed me right out of the box with their comfort and premium feel. They are lightweight for long listening sessions yet solidly built, and the tuning strikes a perfect balance between clarity, detail, and an engaging musical character.

When paired with the K11 R2R, the sound takes a big leap forward. The R2R architecture gives music a natural, organic timbre with excellent layering and depth. Vocals sound fuller, instruments are more lifelike, and the sonic presentation feels effortless and enjoyable. The synergy between FT1 and K11 R2R is remarkable, delivering smooth, rich, and dynamic sound that works beautifully across genres.

My purchase experience with Headphone Zone was seamless as always—fast delivery, great support, and genuine products. This combo has left me very excited and satisfied, making it one of the best audio purchases I’ve made in a long time.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for an audiophile-grade upgrade without breaking the bank!

R2R DACs have typically been priced near or above 1 lakh rupees, which has kept them out of range for people like me. The Cayin RU6 was a notable exception which gave me a first taste of R2R and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However the RU6 was a usb only device and I was not able to route my cd player output through it. The FiiO K11 R2R addressed that gap. Got it at an attractive price during the sale and I'm thoroughly enjoying my purchase. There is definitely a heft to the sound, the bass sounds authoritative and there is a sense of space and instrument separation. I tested the device both with my Eversolo DMP A6 usb output as well as cd output via coaxial and on a wide variety of music genres like Mr. Robot soundtrack, western classical (instrumental) and some guitar music. The formats ranged from cd quality to DSD 256. The K11 R2R has a nice front display and the logo on the top glows with a different colour for different bitrates - which I found to be a nice touch.

To be honest I'd never heard of R2R DAC's until I came across a review of this one on YT. My experience with DAC's in general is pretty limited. I have one of the new Fosi ZD3's at the moment that I bought a few months ago and I also had an older Fosi unit (forgot what it's called). While they're both nice and get the job done they fall into the 'digital' -sounding camp while this Fiio R2R definitely has a pretty unique analog-ish sound to it. The hype is real folks. In fact it's so analog-ish that it actually makes my CD's sound so much like my vinyl records to the point that I can barely tell them apart, It has that same thick, warm, slightly rounded, less brash, bigger, wider, more "musical" sound one gets with vinyl generally, but with more detail, although it never goes overboard & sounds sterile or clinical like some CD players & DAC's often tend to. I like the sound so much that I just bought another piece as a backup in case something should happen to this one. I'm not using it with headphones but have it incorporated in my Stereo setup (Vinyl & CD players as sources, 2 Crown Drivecore 2500 XLS amp's set up in 'dual mono' configuration, large 30+ year old Mordaunt-Short Declaration 908 floorstanding speakers + 2x12" passive Monoprice subs) Yes HUGE sound :D and this little Fiio R2R DAC, switchable using a switcher box with the the Fosi ZD3 which I use for it's balanced output & a bit of variety, makes things even better! It's really that good! Thanks to Headphone Zone for an easy, pleasant buying experience with very decent prices & fast/safe/reliable shipping!

Hello Fellow Audiophiles,

I Bought This FIIO “K11 R2R” after a long confusion to choose between this and “Shanling EH2” and ended up with FIIO. Both Companies Made their “Maiden” R2R DAC/AMPS. There are lot of Reviews and impressions are available for FIIO but non for EH2. I never heard “R2R” DAC before in my 11 years of Audiophile journey. Generally R2R DACS are pricier but FIIO broke the “Jinx”. This is the most affordable desktop “R2R” DAC/AMP till date. Okay let’s get in to the details.

Disclaimer: Sound impressions are according to my EARS, audio Sources.

Design: This Sleek “R2R” (Resistor Ladder) DAC got its own kind of resistor array to give output voltage unlike Delta Sigma DACs.according to FIIO, Each channel has 48 resistors, totalling 192 high-precision ultra-thin film resistors. More You can learn from YouTube.

Power Output: 460mW+460mW single end from quarter inch and a massive 1300mW+1300mW from 4.4mm balanced. This Power is More than sufficient to drive most of your headphones and iems.

Output Source: RCA and Coaxial outputs for your Speakers (power output varies)
Input Source: Coaxial and Optical inputs other than USB “C” input.

Sound Impressions 🎧

Iems used: Thieaudio Monarch Mark III, HiSenior Mega 5EST BASS+, Penon 10th Anniversary, AFUL Perormer 5+2, Pula Anvil 114, Fatfreque HBB Deuce.
Headphones: Hifiman Arya Stealth 🧲, Dan Clark Audio Aeon Noir.

Lower End(Bass): Decent amount of Bass with Punch and Depth.
Middle and Upper Middle: Sounds awesome.
Upper End(Treble): Treble sounds nice with decent amount of air and non fatigue.
Sound stage and Image: Very good imaging with holographic sound stage wide and deep enough. good instrument separation, able to hear nuances and chalos 🪘🎻🎷🎸🥁
Resolution: Very good resolution(depends upon source)dynamics are good too.
Vocals: Both Male and Female voice sounds excellent.
Note: Try impedance adapters from 15ohms to 75ohms with your iems to get more Bass and darker treble.
Overall My Sound Experience with “FIIO R2R” amazing, it’s way worthier than its price.

Making it Mobile: The Power supplier Chord comes with this is 12V 2A and This is a Desktop DAC/AMP according to FIIO. Because of its sleek design and light weight I did explored few possibilities to make it mobile “on the go”. Since I travel frequently (in car) 🚘 I bought “Cuzor” Mini UPS PRO 12V 3A from Amazon cost around Rs.2,000/- it got 8700mah batteries which gives you 7-8 hours of power supply to “K11 R2R”. There are cheaper options available “Lapcare” 12V 2.5A mini UPS 6600mah batteries which give 6hrs of play time costs Rs.1,500/- and Quantron 12V 2A mini UPS 4000mah batteries gives 4hrs of play time. Try them if you are interested.
The Same Can be Done to Shanling EH1 and Shanling EH2, Just check the Voltage and Ampere Required and Enjoy Music on the go 🤷🏻‍♂️
Recommendation: I absolutely shamelessly recommend FIIO K11 R2R. Nothing can beat this which is available at a Dongle DAC Price.

My FIIO K11 R2R has been connected to my Unison Research Unico Primo stereo Amplifier which are connected to my custom made Bryjj Celestial stand mounts. The result is mesmerising . I love the sound where , I feel the music is well balanced with a clear mids . The bass is punchy and tight , though the treble is a bit high on some recordings but not really a deal breaker . Very happy with my purchase.

This device is evidence of the progress which tiny DACs have made. I pulled the trigger to buy since this has a preamp + display and best of all it’s an R2R DAC.
The music sounds sweet and the DAC takes away the digital harshness that comes with most delta sigma DACs. The preamp function is great and the display helps to know the resolution. Hi-res music sounds even better and overall the DAC allows for long listening sessions. It’s not the most analytical of DACs but if you want to listen for long hours without fatigue then go for this.

The DAC/amp is really small when compared with other R2R dac/amps , but it's big on sound. I am using the R2R + tube amp combination. Truly magical. Don't hesitate to buy. Fiio K11 R2r is a Surprise package altogether. Never expected such performance. Low end is great, mids are beautiful, highs are smooth without being harsh. Soundstage and imaging both are top notch. Much.. much better than my Cayin RU6. Sharing some pictures.Thanks headphone zone for quick delivery and their amazing support as always.👍 Smooth, soothing sound quality. Vocals and instruments sound so amazing. Just brilliant 👌💯

The Fiio K11 R2R is a well-crafted DAC/amp that stands out with its smart, compact design, making it an appealing choice for audiophiles on the go. Its powerful amp section ensures that even demanding headphones are driven with ease, delivering a robust and detailed sound.

However, the device tends to lean towards a treble-heavy presentation, which, while adding clarity, can sometimes result in a slightly harsh listening experience, especially at higher volumes. For those who prefer a brighter sound signature, the Fiio K11 R2R offers a compelling option, though it may not suit listeners sensitive to sharper treble frequencies.

The extreme low output impedence in this headphone amp and the R2R architecture is really making it possible for me to hear the kind of dynamics I haven't heard before. Truly astonishing experience.

The K11 R2R delivers a smooth, organic sound that is hard to beat at this price. Its build quality is rock-solid and the volume knob feels incredibly precise.

Remember the days when we listened to vinyl records for hours, without any ear fatigue or shrill notes making us turn the volume down? Digital then came along , and we gradually became used to the digital "glare" and occassional harshness in some recordings. As did I. My two dacs are the Aune XIII magic dac and the Topping E70 velvet. Both are not that different from each other, and they both interpret digital music in a clinical, detailed manner. As chance would have it, I got the chance to hear a r2r dac - with a prohibitive price tag attached. I was stunned . Gone was the digital harshness - a warm, full - bodied analog sound had replaced it to the point I thought I was listening to a different system. I left with a sour taste in my mouth , knowing I could never afford such a pricey dac. Lo and behold, the Fiio K11 R2R does EXACTLY that - take away all the unpleasantness of clinical sterile digital audio and replaces it with the splendour of analog recordings - at a fraction of the price. The differences are none short of astounding when listening with my go - to cans, the Sennheiser HD800s. The two make a perfect pairing and truly open up a new experience for me. This is one DAC i could not recommend more. There is one thing to consider however : the headphone amp section is adequate for mid-tier cans only. Flagship headphones shine best when the dac is connected via line out to a powerful solid state amp. This is one dac that won't need upgrading for years. The Fiio K11 has already made waves in the audiophile community worldwide, and for good reason. As for boutique brands that sell overpriced R2R dacs, they need to seriously reconsider their pricing policies. The K11 R2R does EVERYTHING they can - at an affordable price. An absolute must recommendation from me and thanks as always to Raghav sir and his team for bringing the best of audio products to us. Enjoy!

Really good dac justify is price

Pro:
Nice laid back sound signature/tonal balance.
Sound stage is hollow graphic in term of width and depth.
Control for pre out and hp out.
Good looking RGB and option to configure it.
Decent options for input.
Sounds best with speakers for some reason.
Some time it's awesome to have some different sounding dac and amp for higly resolving transducers (IEMs and headphones)

Con:
Sound is not as detailed as other of my units.
The sound quality feels grainy on resolving transducers but it's a very less noticeable to me until doing AB testing.
There is no difference in NOS and OS mode(arguably most people telling they hear differences never did AB test or took measurements, there are measurements on ASR forum on this and there are no hearable difference)
The control need getting up to unit and handling knob which takes so effort and learning. A remote could have helped.

Overall sound is decent not as punchy and details as other of my units but it's enjoyable is different way. I guess the R2R magic is all about that grainy sound different soundstage.

I have been using raspberry pi based DAC , but after listening to this organic and total bodied and detailed sound I forgo any rapi gear from my listening chain.
thanks fiio
thanks headphone zone

The FiiO K11 R2R has made a huge difference in my music. In Malayalam, we say "it’s like the difference between a goat and an elephant"-big and clear. The sound is richer, clearer, and more detailed. It works perfectly with my setup and feels well built. I’m really enjoying my music now.

The DAC is good but nothing exceptional, as though the reviews talk about. It has clean sound but the soundstage is not that great (and the difference between this and Wiim Pro Plus internal DAC, the AKM 4493) is very little and subtle, nothing dramatic.
Overall, a good piece of equipment, but probably a little over-hyped.

The DAC provides warm sound and vocals are very open. It's a good DAC

Performance is great. Very much competitive with my Topping E30ii thats in similar price range and is a pure dac.

It has 2 modes, OS and NOS that sound remarkably different. OS mode is more precise, better treble quantity, while still maintaining smooth and analog character.

I enjoyed it most in Line out mode feeding a better amp in OS mode. Its hp amp is pretty detailed but is slightly thin sounding, lacks body and authority.

Line out into my other amps, sound is smooth, spacious, good amount of detail. Layering of instruments is good, and it sounds soothing and emotive.

Complements my E30ii very well and highly recommended in this budget from me.