Fiio KA5 Portable USB DAC and Headphone Amp

The FiiO KA5 is a classic dual DAC dongle with an unusually elegant touch: an OLED display set beneath a glass top plate that keeps you informed of volume, format and gain at a glance. Dual CS43198 chips and a true balanced 4.4mm output make it a complete portable front end for wired listening.

Type and Technology

The KA5 is a portable USB DAC and headphone amplifier using dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips in a genuinely balanced architecture, not a mirrored single ended signal. It decodes PCM up to 768kHz/32bit and DSD256, and offers hardware buttons for volume plus settings for gain and filter behavior via the FiiO Control app.

Sound Character

Like its CS43198 siblings, the KA5 sounds natural and composed with a hint of warmth, favoring long listening sessions over analytical edge. Its 265mW per channel balanced output at 32 ohms covers IEMs and most portable headphones comfortably, with 56mW on tap even into 300 ohms.

Build and Features

The aluminum body with its glass topped OLED display measures just 56.3 x 22 x 12 mm and weighs 19g. Both 3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced outputs are included, and physical volume buttons mean no fumbling with phone sliders mid commute.

Best For

Listeners who want balanced dual DAC sound with real hardware controls in the smallest practical package. Note that FiiO appears to be phasing the KA5 out of its current lineup, so availability may be limited. See current alternatives like the KA15 in our portable DAC/Amps collection or the wider FiiO collection.

What's in the Box

• FiiO KA5
• USB-C to USB-C cable
• Quick start guide
• Warranty card

Specifications