FiiO KA11 DAC Dongle Gets New Crimson Red Color

The FiiO KA11 became available in a new color today (October 8). At launch, the dongle DAC (portable USB DAC/amp) was offered in two colors: Midnight Black and Sunrise Silver. FiiO subsequently introduced Sunlight Titanium, and the KA11 is now available in “Crimson Red.”

FiiO follows Shanling’s lead and releases the KA11 in red

The red color inspired by the Symphonium Crimson in-ear monitor (IEM) appears to have become a trend in China.

The first product I noticed using the same shade as Symphonium Audio’s IEM was Shanling’s EC Zero portable CD player.

FiiO has followed Shanling’s lead by releasing its KA11 dongle DAC (portable USB DAC/amp) in “Crimson Red.”

Release, pricing, and availability

The FiiO KA11 in “Crimson Red” is now available from FiiO’s official AliExpress store for US$30.90. Detailed information about this portable USB DAC/amp is provided below.

About the FiiO KA11

Officially released on January 19, 2024, the FiiO KA11 is a portable DAC and headphone amplifier with a fixed USB-C cable. Its internal hardware includes a Cirrus Logic CS43131 digital-to-analog converter (DAC) paired with an SG Micro SGM8262 operational amplifier (op-amp).

The KA11 has a compact enclosure measuring 44.5 × 9.7 × 10.5 mm. In addition, this FiiO USB DAC weighs just 8.5 g, reducing the likelihood of damaging the smartphone’s USB-C port.

Note that the KA11 does not have an internal battery, and its high output power may drain the smartphone’s battery quickly. The KA11 delivers 200 mW into 32 Ω through its 3.5 mm single-ended (SE) output.

Another consideration is that the KA11 has only one headphone output, which is single-ended (SE). It does not include a 4.4 mm balanced output. This design helps keep the FiiO USB DAC compact and lightweight.

FiiO KA11: Specifications

General specifications

• Amplification: SG Micro SGM8262 op-amp
• Cable length: 65.5 mm
• Colors: Midnight Black/Sunrise Silver/Sunlight Titanium/Crimson Red
• Connector: USB-C
• DAC chip: Cirrus Logic CS43131
• Dimensions: 44.5 × 9.7 × 10.5 mm
• Fixed cable
• Headphone output: 3.5 mm single-ended (SE)
• No physical buttons for music playback control
• Weight: 8.5 g

Audio specifications

• Native decoding: PCM up to 384 kHz/32-bit and DSD up to DSD256
• Total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N): < 0.0006% (32 Ω) / < 0.00038% (300 Ω)
• Output impedance: < 0.7 Ω (32 Ω load)
• Signal-to-noise ratio: ≥ 125 dB (32 Ω, A-weighted)
• Noise floor: < 1.7 µV (32 Ω, A-weighted)

Output power through the 3.5 mm single-ended (SE) output

• 245 mW into 16 Ω
• 200 mW into 32 Ω
• 22 mW into 300 Ω