FiiO unveils new budget XLR and USB-C cables in Trust series

The FiiO Trust XLR, USB-C to 3.5 mm, and USB-B to USB-C cables were released today (22). Originally introduced in November of last year, FiiO’s Trust cable lineup has continued to expand. The objective of these interconnect cables is to provide an affordable alternative while maintaining solid build quality.

Nothing beyond the essentials: XLR, USB-C to 3.5 mm, and USB-B to USB-C cables promise quality at low prices

Priced from 25 yuan (approximately US$3.66) to 60 yuan (about US$8.80), the XLR, USB-C to 3.5 mm, and USB-B to USB-C cables in the FiiO Trust series feature the following key characteristics:

• Connectors with a one-piece injection-molded plastic housing
• Curved connector design
• Dual-layer jacket with flexible PVC and a braided polyester sleeve
• Flame-retardant PVC coating
• High flexibility
• Integrated DAC with support for up to 32-bit/384 kHz in the FiiO Trust USB-C to 3.5 mm cables
• Shielding composed of graphene and braided copper
• Silver-plated OFC (oxygen-free copper) conductors
• Soft-touch finish

It should be noted that prices in the international market are generally higher than those in China. Therefore, slightly higher prices than those listed above should be expected.

With the exception of the DAC chip, all cables in the Trust series share the same characteristics described above. The currently available models are as follows:

• FiiO Trust USB-C to USB-C (10 cm, 80 cm, and 150 cm)
• FiiO Trust USB-C to 3.5 mm TRS (8 cm and 100 cm)
• FiiO Trust 3.5 mm TRRS to 3.5 mm TRRS (50 cm, 100 cm, and 150 cm)
• FiiO Trust RCA to RCA (50 cm, 100 cm, and 150 cm)
• FiiO Trust USB-C to Lightning (10 cm, 80 cm, and 150 cm)
• FiiO Trust USB-A to USB-C (100 cm)
• FiiO Trust USB-B to USB-C (50 cm)
• FiiO Trust 3.5 mm TRS to RCA (120 cm)
• FiiO Trust USB-C to RCA (120 cm)
• FiiO Trust RCA to RCA (20 cm, 80 cm, and 150 cm)
• FiiO Trust XLR female to XLR male (100 cm)
• FiiO Trust 4.4 mm to dual 3-pin XLR male (25 cm and 70 cm)

Why is there a DAC embedded in the cable?

When both digital and analog connections are present within the same cable, it is necessary to convert the digital signal into an analog signal using a DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter). This is the case for USB-C to 3.5 mm and USB-C to RCA cables, which feature a digital connector (USB) and analog outputs (3.5 mm and RCA).

Shielding in FiiO Trust cables

All cables in the FiiO Trust series employ shielding composed of graphene tape and braided copper. This design helps prevent electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio-frequency interference (RFI). For further discussion of interference-related noise, this topic has been addressed in a dedicated article.

Build quality of the Trust series

To ensure robustness without significantly increasing cost, the Trust series uses injection-molded plastic connectors, enabling fast and cost-efficient production. In addition, FiiO has adopted a curved design for the connectors, providing a more secure grip when connecting and disconnecting devices.

Resistance to torsion is achieved not only through the injection-molded connector construction but also through the cable jacket materials. FiiO employs “highly elastic PVC” combined with a braided FDY (Fully Drawn Yarn) polyester sleeve. According to the manufacturer, each conductor core incorporates “500D nylon fibers,” which provide a “significant increase in resistance to torsion and tensile stress.”

Testing to ensure quality

According to FiiO, all cables in the Trust series have undergone rigorous testing to ensure product quality. Each cable has been subjected to:

• 5,000 insertion/removal cycle test
• Bending resistance test
• Compression test
• High-temperature test
• Oxidation resistance test
• Salt spray test
• Suspension (load) test
• Vibration test

Release, pricing, and availability

The FiiO Trust XLR, USB-C to 3.5 mm, and USB-B to USB-C cables are not yet available in the international market. At present, they can only be found in online stores that ship exclusively within mainland China. However, they are likely to become available in the official FiiO store on AliExpress within the next few days.