Adapter DAC is the easiest way to connect IEMs and audiophile headphones to your phone. Today, there are dozens of great options that don’t cost a fortune, and Fiio itself has a ton of enticing products in this area. Although the Chinese audio manufacturer has sold a lot of high-end products over the past 12 months and branched out into many new categories, it’s still at its best when it comes to making budget DACs, and the KA13 is one of the best.
The KA13 shares a lot of similarities with the KA5 adapter DAC I reviewed last year, and although there’s no TFT panel this time around, you get 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports, a great DAC and plenty of power – this little adapter delivers up to 550mW of power and capable of driving any IEM or headphones.
Note: This review was completed through the review unit provided by Fiio. The brand had not seen the comments before publishing.
The KA13 is only $79 on Amazon, and like Fiio’s other adapter DAC products, it’s an excellent value. Like its sibling, this DAC carries the Jade Audio label. This means the product is aimed at a younger audience and is budget-conscious, but other than that, there’s no difference in build quality or features.
FiiO usually doesn’t change the design of its products, and the KA13 is roughly the same size as its siblings, the KA3 and KA5. It uses the same metal casing but has a cleaner design, with a small window next to the USB-C port that lights up when the DAC is in use.
Weighing only 18.5 grams, the KA13 is about as portable as a dongle DAC can be, while still delivering high-quality DAC hardware. If you want a design that stands out a bit, the white version will definitely look striking. The underside looks stylish with a glass back panel, Jade Audio branding and intricate graphics, and overall, the KA13 looks like it should be a product worth well over $79.
A new feature on the KA13 is a toggle switch that enables desktop mode. You also get a volume rocker that lets you adjust the volume easily, and connectors are on both ends – one side has USB-C and the other has a single-ended 3.5mm jack and balanced 4.4mm output.
Fiio bundles a short USB-C to USB-C cable in the box, and you also get a dongle for use with the USB-A port if you don’t have an iPhone 15 and are using a USB-C to Lightning cable cable, you can also use a USB-C to Lightning cable. Older models. I used the USB-C connector on my iPhone 15 Pro Max without any issues. But most of the testing was done using a DAC paired with the Magic 6 Pro, Pixel 8 Pro, and Mi 14.
The biggest advantage of using the KA13 is its versatility; you can connect the DAC to phones, tablets, Windows computers, and any other device with a USB-C port and get great audio output, no drivers required. I used the DAC with Fiio’s entry-level FH11 IEMs, and its performance was (predictably) excellent. I also used it with the demanding FX15, FT5 headphones, and a whole host of other products over the course of three months, given the features on offer.
My main takeaway is that the KA13 is one of the most powerful adapter DACs you can buy today. It has enough power to drive any IEM and can also handle demanding headphones with ease. The DAC is capable of delivering 290mW at 16Ω and 170mW at 32Ω via a 3.5mm port, and up to 500mW at 16Ω and 550mW at 32Ω via a balanced 4.4mm port. These numbers are with desktop mode enabled, and honestly, if you’re using anything other than a sensitive IEM, it makes sense to switch modes.
The KA13 uses dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chips combined with SG Micro SGM8262 amplifiers, and if this sounds familiar, that’s because Fiio uses the same configuration inside the KB3 keyboard, which also houses the DAC. The KA13 is capable of 384kHz/32-bit via PCM and DSD128, while the KA5 is capable of 768kHz, but it doesn’t deliver the same level of power.
In terms of sound, the sound field of KA13 is slightly narrower than that of KA5, but what is better is the tone. It delivers clean bass, good clarity, natural midrange, clear sound, and good treble extension. The FX15 is an absolute pleasure to work with, and the DAC clearly has a lot of potential.
But it’s the power it can provide that makes it unique. If you want an adapter DAC capable of driving demanding headphones, this is the one for you. Obviously, the KA13 has a higher power consumption than other DACs in this field, but the fact that you can get this level of power out of such a small chassis is an achievement in itself.
The KA13 has solid build quality and delivers incredible power. If you need a DAC to work with your phone, this is an excellent choice.