FiiO - KA3

Ultra-Portable USB Amp & DAC

Sale price₹ 7,999 Regular priceMRP: ₹ 8,999
Discontinued
This product is permanently discontinued by the manufacturer and continues to live on in Headphone Zone's Museum.

Unfortunately, even if we desire to, we won't be able to resurrect this product. The Museum is where we pay our respects to end-of-life, old, archived, but not forgotten products. This page was made with a lot of love and will live on for posterity. What to say, we're sentimental people. 😔

While this product is gone forever, here are others we recommend

Customer Reviews

Based on 98 reviews
73%
(72)
17%
(17)
5%
(5)
1%
(1)
3%
(3)
M
Mukul Kalsait (Mumbai)
Design and Comfort:
Great
Poor
Sound Quality:
Awesome
Awful
Value for Money:
Bang On!
Not at all
Its not what i expected ,more AMP than being a DAC

On Thursday i recived Fiio KA3...
Before buying i have read almost every review i found on internet about it ... (Their isn't much about KA3) , watched every video on internet including Japanese and chainese langvage (by taking screenshot of every subtitles and translet with google lens )
I interact with lot people on YouTube....
Also talked with headphone guru lan pereira ...

Lot of them from YouTube and online review were clamming that it sounds really good better than my 18k DAC and 15k DAC ... Its setting new benchmarks
The sound is crisp clear and so much detailed....
Soundstage is awesome and every IEM sound great with it .....

I didn't find much of this ....

(What i am gona say now is on the basis of what i experienced i have only one IEM that's KZ ZSN pro X brought from headphonezone and my source is rooted Android i have good amount of FLAC , WAV , AAC LC files some DSD too ...and i use them daily so i will easily notice if thier is a change )

As soon as i started using it ... I feel like, its the same sound not any difference ... Then i update the firmware of KA3 to 2.0 and didnt notice much ....
Their is slightly (very slight ) improvement in details but it dosent makes difference... My phones bloody internal ordinary DAC give almost 95% of same details i was using POWERAMP ... I i switch to UAPP ...and it still didnt make much difference
I tried DSD files ... In native DSD mode ...
And playing them from PowerAmp without DAC was almost same they played as DoP (digital to pcm)in PowerAmp ...
Another drawback is the same soundstage ....
My phone gives the same soundstage not any improvement at all

Slight improvement in instruments sepration but not what i heard

And worst porblem is after 5 to 7 min it automatically disconnected in my phone .... Their is good chance its my phones problem

The only thing what is good is amplification ... It gives a lot amplification which i dont need i was allready using my IEM bilow 45_50 i rarely go 60
Now with dac i go 12-16 ....

I am willing to return but according to headphonezone policy i won't get refund i have to buy something yels ... Which i cant now .... So i am gona keep it ...
What other options do i have ...
I hope my initial experience will prove wrong in future
And with my other IEM , or with another firmware upgrade the KA3 will satisfy my expectations ...

I havent tried it with balanced output , i hope it might sounds good their

Built quality is great ... Its very small i have taken photos with sharpner to compare

We are extremely sorry that the product didn't match your expectations. We appreciate your honest review & ratings, Mukul Kalsait! Soundstage majorly depends on the IEMs/ headphones you use & so we recommend you to try other IEMs & we are sure you will notice a change. We again appreciate your elaborative review which will help others to make an informative decision.

M
Mukul Kalsait (Mumbai)
I was wrong this tiny thing is super Awesome

I have reviewed this product above ... Where i was realy disappointed by the sound quality of it ...but after 3 4 days of usage i suspect sumtime it sounds really different and good .................. After lot of experiment i found out that inbuilt Dolby Atmos was messing with the sound quality all the time i was using costume rom so it might be broking something so i change rom and what a change in audio quality.....
This is purly awesome DAC ... The details are absolutely finominal and really fast even when using 320kbps songs i got surprised ...


I would like to apologise for the initial review i gave without completely understanding and using the product

I am looking forwod to buy a beter IEM to get best of it .
Thankyou headphone zone .


And yes an Awesome product needs Awesome photoshut

HI there, we are so happy you took out time & elaborately reviewed the product with a comparison. We are sure this will help our customers to make an even better & informed decision.

N
Nikhil (Bengaluru)
Design and Comfort:
Great
Poor
Sound Quality:
Awesome
Awful
Value for Money:
Bang On!
Not at all
Doesn't work right with windows

It's good adaptor but it only works great Android.
When connected to windows the audio drops for 1 sec every half a minute.
I have upgraded the firmware and also Installed drivers from official sources.
I tried usb 2 , usb 3 and even type c port but the problem is same.
Hope Fiio resolve this issue in firmware upgrade or else this is waste of money.

S
S.K. (Nagpur)
Design and Comfort:
Great
Poor
Sound Quality:
Awesome
Awful
Value for Money:
Bang On!
Not at all
Ok unit but not for iOS

After much deliberation I purchased my first DAC for use with my Apple phone and new Headphones! But my dreams of good listening were dashed when I found out that there is no iOS app for the FIIO KA3! The photos showing the KA3 placed on a Mac and an iphone mislead one into believing it is compatible with these products. Additionally it is not mentioned anywhere in teh device info that the control app is only available for android phones. Without the app there is no way to adjust the settings of the device and through that find out whether the device is really making a difference to my music. I would request Headphone zone to verify such compatibility issues before they post a information of any device on their website.
Service by Headphone Zone was very good! Could track my order every step of the way and received it earlier than expected! Thank you Headphone Zone!!

D
Dhruv Tampa (Delhi)
Design and Comfort:
Great
Poor
Sound Quality:
Awesome
Awful
Value for Money:
Bang On!
Not at all
Pretty amazing for the money !!

Considering the price of the it, it's the cheapest 4.4 mm dongle and it performs pretty good. Decent width, tightens bass, amazing detail retrieval. After a while of usage it has quite grown on me. Build quality is decent and overall size is pretty compact too !!

Hey there, nothing makes us happier than knowing you loved your purchase, hope you had a comfortable shopping experience & thank you for the great review & ratings!


Chi-Fi
Excellence

1 Year of
Warranty

Best Suited for Portable Use

4.4mm
Balanced Output

DAC Chip
You may not even realise it, but most of us use a digital-to-analogue converter (commonly known as a DAC) daily. Built into your computers, tablets and smartphones, a DAC is fundamental to unlocking the convenience of digital music. Any device that acts as a digital sound source will need a DAC to convert digital audio to analog. A DAC converts the digital information stored in “0s and 1s” into an analog signal that's passed to speakers or headphones and ultimately our ear. In short, DACs play a large part in making digital music hearable. 

While this technical process is undoubtedly impressive, the DAC embedded into your smartphones or laptops is nowhere good enough to listen to your favourite music recordings in high quality. So, if you want to listen to music in high quality, an external DAC is essential to allow headphones or speakers to perform at their potential. An external DAC, first and foremost, will improve audio quality dramatically.
Pair with Laptop via USB

A majority of people use a laptop as the primary source device to listen to music or watch movies. Since the laptop is an essential part of the audio chain there are headphones and devices designed to work a laptop or computer system flawlessly. With the availability of USB connectivity, it becomes easier to pair various devices like an Amp, DAC or even headphones without worrying about drivers or any additional piece of software.


Upto 240mW@32Ω
Power Output

Metal
Build

Super Lightweight
Design

The FiiO KA3 is a remarkable DAC, known for its exceptional build quality, connectivity, compatibility, and notably higher power output than its peers in the same price range. Additionally, it operates efficiently with relatively low power consumption. If you're looking for an affordable DAC and Amp combination, it's challenging to find another dongle that can rival the KA3 in terms of technical performance.
RAGHAV SOMANI

About RAGHAV SOMANI

Raghav Somani is the Founder & CEO of Headphone Zone. An avid audiophile and musician since 2008, his choice of headphones include STAX Electrostats, Audeze LCD 3, and for music on the go, the JH Audio Roxanne + Astell&Kern SP1000 is never too far away. On his playlist, you'll find A.R. Rahman, Michael Jackson, and the Eagles.

FLAGSHIP-GRADE ES9038Q2M DAC CHIP OFFERING PCM AND DSD SUPPORT

FiiO has designed the KA3 USB DAC/AMP in collaboration with their sub-brand Jade Audio. In terms of the processing audio signals, the tiny body of the KA3 features an independent high-performance flagship ES9038Q2M DAC chip, which supports a sampling rate of up to 32bit/768kHz and DSD512 decoding natively. The ESS Sabre DAC chip delivers unmatched sound decoding with ultra-low distortion and high SNR ratings bringing high-resolution support to your pocket.
KA3

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AMPLE POWER WITH DUAL HIFI OP-AMPS AND DUAL HEADPHONE OUTPUT PORTS

FiiO KA3 features two independent HiFi op-amps for the final analogue amplification circuit that helps it produce powerful output thrust. FiiO has featured both single-ended as well as balanced headphone output ports on the KA3. This compact device houses a 3.5mm single-ended as well as a 4.4mm balanced connection port. The 4.4mm output port provides up to 240mW of power at 32Ω load while the single-ended port delivers up to 130mW of power. This is more than enough to power earphones and over-ear headphones with ease.

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TUNED TO DELIVER A NATURAL SOUND WITH RGB INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR PLAYBACK

FiiO has tuned the KA3 for a smooth and natural sound. It provides an immersive experience for the users with a detailed and immersive sound field. FiiO KA3 delivers ample power to the connected earphones to bring the best out of them. The FiiO KA3 has also been equipped with RGB indicator lights and these cool and visible RGB indicator lights are not only attractive but also can indicate the sampling rate of the currently playing song, helping to tell audio formats conveniently.

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FULLY VERSATILE DEVICE WITH MULTI-PLATFORM SUPPORT FOR CONNECTIVITY

The FiiO KA3 offers unmatched versatility in a small form factor and can be paired with smartphones and desktop systems. The FiiO KA3 is compatible with multiple operating systems with straight out-of-the-box support for Windows, Android, iOS, and Mac OS systems providing you with high-resolution audio capabilities anywhere you want. All you need to do is connect the FiiO KA3 to your smartphone, tablet, or even desktop PC/laptop and open the doors to the hi-res audio realm.

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ELEGANT AND DURABLE ALL-METAL BUILT WITH SUPPORT FOR FIIO CONTROL APP

FiiO KA3 is a well-built ultra-portable USB DAC/Amp. It has an elegant look with an all-metal chassis. The materials utilised to build the KA3 are of high quality and offer a premium feel to the device. In addition, the KA3 can be controlled by the FiiO Control app where you can enable more functions, such as 7 filters, low and high gains and channel balance. You don't need to install any software or application to use the KA3, though using it with the FiiO Music application or FiiO Control application you can access multiple settings on the KA3.

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1 Year Warranty

Don't sweat it, this FiiO - KA3 comes with a 1 Year warranty from FiiO that covers manufacturing defects. All products featured on Headphone Zone are backed by an original manufacturer's warranty.

Read more about FiiO's warranty in India.

Inspiring Audio Excellence Worldwide

FiiO creates high-quality music gear like DACs, Music Players, and Amplifiers at affordable prices, appealing to music lovers worldwide. With a presence in India via its FiiO India website and global availability on various platforms, FiiO focuses on user needs and innovation to deliver exceptional audio solutions. Their product range, spanning players, speakers, earphones, and DAC & Amp, aims to inspire with soulful music experiences.

Fun fact:The brand name FiiO is composed of Fi (fidelity from HiFi) and iO (number 1&0), representing the convenience that the digital world brings to life.

Explore Collection
Major Hifi

"For the price, the KA3 seems like a no-brainer for those looking for a simple DAC dongle for their smartphones or laptops. The crisp and meaty midrange is definitely its biggest standout."

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Head fi

"A dongle with fantastic technicalities, an analytical sound but with a lot of power , cleanliness, softness, soundstage, separation, detail and much more."

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Prime Audio

"It handles sensitive IEMs with finesse, so you don’t need to worry about having enough power or dealing with background noise. Wrap that up in a handsome, rugged body and FiiO has got a winner."

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Have a question? Get in touch!

Check out the most common questions our customers ask. Still have questions? Talk to our Headphone Gurus.

Our customer support is available Monday to Saturday: 10am - 7pm.Average answer time: 2-3 hours