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USB-C / LIGHTNING DONGLE · ES9281AC PRO

FiiO KA1

A USB-C / Lightning dongle with an ES9281AC PRO DAC chip, a 3.5 mm output and a built-in mic. About 10 g.

Manufacturer page

POWER AT 32 Ω≥45mW3.5 mm
OUTPUT IMPEDANCENot statedNo data from the manufacturer
SNR≥114dBas FiiO states it
PRICE$59.99Lowest price at Amazon US
OUTPUTS3.5 mm
DAC CHIPES9281AC PRO
PARAMETRIC EQNot statedFiiO lists none
CONTOURNot supported

Numbers are the manufacturer's stated figures unless marked as measured; sources linked below.

Outputs and power

3.5 mm
45mWat 32 Ω per channel
KA series comparison: ≥45 mW, THD+N <1%
Output impedance -
SNR≥114 dB

Not stated: gain, supply voltage, distortion, crosstalk.

Is it enough for your headphones?

FiiO rates the KA1 at ≥45 mW into 32 Ω. Below is how much of that is left to spare for each kind of headphones when you listen loud, with peaks at 110 dB. A figure marked est. is worked out from that rating.

Sensitive IEMsMulti-driver sets that hiss on strong sources
needs 0.6 mWest. 23 mW at 16 Ω+16 dB
Most IEMsTypical in-ears, 16 to 50 Ω
needs 3.2 mW≥45 mW at 32 Ω+12 dB
Easy-to-drive headphonesClosed and portable, 32 Ω
needs 16 mW≥45 mW at 32 Ω+5 dB
Hard-to-drive headphones300 Ω, HD 600 class, hungry for voltage
needs 20 mWest. 4.8 mW at 300 Ω6 dB short
Most planarsPlanar magnetic, low impedance, need current
needs 50 mW≥45 mW at 32 Ωunder 1 dB short
Demanding planarsThe hardest loads, desktop territory
needs 251 mWest. 24 mW at 60 Ω10 dB short

Where to buy

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Amazon US · retail price, checked 16 Oct 2026$59.99

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The device

From FiiO's spec sheet unless marked
InputUSB-C cable, Lightning cable
FormatsPCM up to 32-bit / 384 kHz, DSD64; DSD128; DSD256
DAC chipES9281AC PRO
AppFiiO Control Android, Not iOSKA1 V1.2 firmware
MicYesKA1 Android app
Parametric EQNo data from the manufacturer. Not supported in Contour.
SizeAbout 40 × 15 × 8 mm
WeightAbout 10 g

FiiO's KA1 parameters page lists FiiO Control as "is not supported." FiiO's KA1 firmware V1.2 news lists "Added support for FiiO Control App" (not for the iOS version). The parameters page does not say it predates V1.2.

How it stacks up against the competition

Power at 32 Ω · price in US dollars
10 mW20 mW50 mW100 mW200 mW$30$50$70$100scale breaks hereMost IEMs need 3.2 mW+12 dB to spareFiiO KA11: 200 mW at 32 Ω, $29.99Questyle M12i: 21 mW at 32 Ω, $49TANCHJIM SPACE LITE: 98 mW at 32 Ω, $39.99FiiO KA2: 153 mW at 32 Ω, $34.59iBasso DC03PRO: 98 mW at 32 Ω, $69iBasso DC05: 93 mW at 32 Ω, $69Hidizs S3 PRO: 55 mW at 32 Ω, $39.99Hidizs S9: 125 mW at 32 Ω, $49.99Hidizs S9 PRO: 200 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha: 180 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99Hidizs S8 Pro Robin: 160 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99Hidizs SD2: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $35.99Hidizs XO: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $40.99MOONDROP DAWN PRO 2: 62 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99TempoTec Sonata HD III: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $45.90Shanling UA2: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $85HiBy FC3: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $39iFi GO link: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $59JCALLY AP7: 70 mW at 32 Ω, ~$45.73AP7JCALLY JM20: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$31.64JCALLY JM20 PRO: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$35.46JCALLY JM20MAX: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $29.99JCALLY JM30PRO: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$46.49JM30PROJCALLY JM45L: 20 mW at 32 Ω, ~$28.45JCALLY JM80E: 45 mW at 32 Ω, $39JM80EJCALLY JM98MAX: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $34.99JCALLY SP30: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$54.61NiceHCK NK1 Ultra: 122 mW at 32 Ω, $29.99FiiO KA110 mW20 mW50 mW100 mW200 mW5 mW$30$50$70$100scale breaks hereMost IEMs need 3.2 mW+12 dB to spareFiiO KA11: 200 mW at 32 Ω, $29.99Questyle M12i: 21 mW at 32 Ω, $49TANCHJIM SPACE LITE: 98 mW at 32 Ω, $39.99FiiO KA2: 153 mW at 32 Ω, $34.59iBasso DC03PRO: 98 mW at 32 Ω, $69iBasso DC05: 93 mW at 32 Ω, $69Hidizs S3 PRO: 55 mW at 32 Ω, $39.99S3 PROHidizs S9: 125 mW at 32 Ω, $49.99Hidizs S9 PRO: 200 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha: 180 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99Hidizs S8 Pro Robin: 160 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99Hidizs SD2: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $35.99Hidizs XO: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $40.99MOONDROP DAWN PRO 2: 62 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99TempoTec Sonata HD III: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $45.90Sonata HD IIIShanling UA2: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $85HiBy FC3: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $39FC3iFi GO link: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $59GO linkJCALLY AP7: 70 mW at 32 Ω, ~$45.73AP7JCALLY JM20: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$31.64JCALLY JM20 PRO: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$35.46JM20 PROJCALLY JM20MAX: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $29.99JCALLY JM30PRO: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$46.49JM30PROJCALLY JM45L: 20 mW at 32 Ω, ~$28.45JCALLY JM80E: 45 mW at 32 Ω, $39JM80EJCALLY JM98MAX: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $34.99JCALLY SP30: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$54.61SP30NiceHCK NK1 Ultra: 122 mW at 32 Ω, $29.99FiiO KA1
  • Nearby
  • Same DAC chip
  • Most IEMs, 3.2 mW

Devices with the same DAC chip

ES9281AC · 3 devices use it
QuestyleM12i21 mW$4921 mW · $49
QuestyleM15i2.4 mWEstimated$169est. 2.4 mW · $169

All 3 in the finder

Compared with

Manufacturers' stated figures; the price is today's lowest

FiiO KA1 vs FiiO KA11

At 32 Ω FiiO KA1 is listed at ≥45 mW and FiiO KA11 at 200 mW; the lowest prices are $59.99 and $29.99, $30 apart.

FiiO KA1 vs FiiO KA11: the manufacturers' stated figures and today's lowest price, side by side
FiiO KA1FiiO KA11
Power at 32 Ω≥45 mW3.5 mm200 mW3.5 mm, channel basis not specified in artwork
Power at 16 ΩNot stated245 mW3.5 mm
Price today$59.99Amazon US, 16 Oct$29.99HiFiGo, 16 Oct
DAC chipES9281AC PROCS43131
InputsUSB-C cable, Lightning cableUSB-C, Lightning
Outputs3.5 mm3.5 mm
SizeAbout 40 × 15 × 8 mmNot stated
WeightAbout 10 g8.5 g

FiiO KA11 price history

More like this

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Sources

Checked 14 Oct 2026
KA1 specifications
fiio.com · the spec sheet
Used for output impedance, noise and distortion, formats, the DAC chip, input, outputs, size and weight
KA series comparison
fiio.com
Used for power
KA1 Android app
fiio.com
Used for the app, microphone and uac modes
KA1 V1.2 firmware
fiio.com
Used for the app and uac modes