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USB-C DONGLE · ES9038Q2M

FiiO KA3

A USB-C dongle with an ES9038Q2M DAC chip, a 3.5 mm and a 4.4 mm balanced output. About 17.5 g.

Manufacturer page

POWER AT 32 Ω≥235mW4.4 mm balanced
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE<0.5Ω3.5 mm; 4.4 mm <0.7 Ω
SNRNot statedNo data from the manufacturer
PRICE$95.94Lowest price at eBay
OUTPUTS3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced
DAC CHIPES9038Q2M
PARAMETRIC EQNoFiiO offers no adjustable EQ
CONTOURNot supported

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

Outputs and power

4.4 mm balanced
235mWat 32 Ω per channel
KA series comparison: ≥235 mW, THD+N <1%
Output impedance <0.7 Ω
3.5 mm
130mWat 32 Ω per channel
KA series comparison: ≥130 mW, THD+N <1%
Output impedance <0.5 Ω

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

FiiO’s comparison lists at least 235 mW per channel balanced into 32 Ω at THD+N <1%; the parameter table gives 240 mW at that load and threshold without a channel qualifier. The figures are not merged.

Is it enough for your headphones?

FiiO rates the KA3 at ≥235 mW into 32 Ω from the 4.4 mm balanced output. 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. 118 mW at 16 Ω+23 dB
Most IEMsTypical in-ears, 16 to 50 Ω
needs 3.2 mW≥235 mW at 32 Ω+19 dB
Easy-to-drive headphonesClosed and portable, 32 Ω
needs 16 mW≥235 mW at 32 Ω+12 dB
Hard-to-drive headphones300 Ω, HD 600 class, hungry for voltage
needs 20 mWest. 25 mW at 300 Ω+1.0 dB
Most planarsPlanar magnetic, low impedance, need current
needs 50 mW≥235 mW at 32 Ω+7 dB
Demanding planarsThe hardest loads, desktop territory
needs 251 mWest. 125 mW at 60 Ω3 dB short

Where to buy

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eBay · retail price, checked 16 Oct 2026$95.94

Compare prices on Soundblooms Deals

The device

From FiiO's spec sheet unless marked
InputUSB-C
FormatsPCM up to 32-bit / 768 kHz, DSD64; DSD128; DSD256; DSD512
DAC chipES9038Q2M
AppFiiO Control, Android onlyproduct page
Parametric EQNo adjustable EQ. Not supported in Contour.product page
Size56.3 × 20.2 × 12 mm
WeightAbout 17.5 gKA series comparison

How it stacks up against the competition

Power at 32 Ω · price in US dollars
100 mW200 mW500 mW$70$100scale breaks hereMost IEMs need 3.2 mW+19 dB to spareFiiO KA13: 550 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99FiiO KA17: 650 mW at 32 Ω, $144.99FiiO KA5: 265 mW at 32 Ω, $119.99KA5FiiO KA15: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $99.99iBasso DC04PRO: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $119Questyle M15i: 2.41 mW at 32 Ω, $169MOONDROP DAWN 4.4: 230 mW at 32 Ω, $69.99FiiO KA1: 45 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99FiiO QX11: 800 mW at 32 Ω, $159.99iBasso DC03PRO: 98 mW at 32 Ω, $69iBasso DC05: 93 mW at 32 Ω, $69iBasso DC06: 320 mW at 32 Ω, $119iBasso DC06PRO: 320 mW at 32 Ω, $119Hidizs 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, $59.99MOONDROP DAWN PRO 2: 62 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99TempoTec Sonata BHD Pro: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $59.90Shanling UA2: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $85UA2Shanling UA3: 210 mW at 32 Ω, $109UA3Shanling UA4: 227 mW at 32 Ω, $99iFi GO link: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $59iFi GO link Max: 241 mW at 32 Ω, $79CrinEar Protocol Max: 300 mW at 32 Ω, $76.49 (lowest offer on /deals today)JCALLY AP20: 330 mW at 32 Ω, ~$91.88JCALLY Galaxy SONATA: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $79.99JCALLY SP30: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$54.61NiceHCK Octave: 550 mW at 32 Ω, $89NiceHCK PureAural: 210 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99Muse HiFi M3 Ultra: 480 mW at 32 Ω, $109.99FiiO KA3100 mW200 mW500 mW50 mW$70$100scale breaks hereMost IEMs need 3.2 mW+19 dB to spareFiiO KA13: 550 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99FiiO KA17: 650 mW at 32 Ω, $144.99FiiO KA5: 265 mW at 32 Ω, $119.99KA5FiiO KA15: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $99.99iBasso DC04PRO: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $119DC04PROQuestyle M15i: 2.41 mW at 32 Ω, $169MOONDROP DAWN 4.4: 230 mW at 32 Ω, $69.99DAWN 4.4FiiO KA1: 45 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99FiiO QX11: 800 mW at 32 Ω, $159.99iBasso DC03PRO: 98 mW at 32 Ω, $69iBasso DC05: 93 mW at 32 Ω, $69iBasso DC06: 320 mW at 32 Ω, $119DC06iBasso DC06PRO: 320 mW at 32 Ω, $119Hidizs 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, $59.99MOONDROP DAWN PRO 2: 62 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99TempoTec Sonata BHD Pro: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $59.90Shanling UA2: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $85UA2Shanling UA3: 210 mW at 32 Ω, $109UA3Shanling UA4: 227 mW at 32 Ω, $99UA4iFi GO link: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $59iFi GO link Max: 241 mW at 32 Ω, $79GO link MaxCrinEar Protocol Max: 300 mW at 32 Ω, $76.49 (lowest offer on /deals today)Protocol MaxJCALLY AP20: 330 mW at 32 Ω, ~$91.88AP20JCALLY Galaxy SONATA: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $79.99JCALLY SP30: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$54.61NiceHCK Octave: 550 mW at 32 Ω, $89NiceHCK PureAural: 210 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99Muse HiFi M3 Ultra: 480 mW at 32 Ω, $109.99FiiO KA3
  • Nearby
  • Same DAC chip
  • Most IEMs, 3.2 mW

Devices with the same DAC chip

ES9038Q2M · 6 devices use it
HidizsS9 Pro Plus Martha180 mW$65.99180 mW · $65.99
ShanlingUA2195 mW0.8 ΩRicore RT6863$85195 mW · 0.8 Ω · $85Amp Ricore RT6863
AudioQuestDragonFly Cobalt$199.95$199.95
JCALLYJM60ESS ES9603QAmp ESS ES9603Q
JCALLYJM60LESS ES9603QAmp ESS ES9603Q

All 6 in the finder

Compared with

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

FiiO KA3 vs FiiO KA2

At 32 Ω FiiO KA3 is listed at ≥235 mW and FiiO KA2 at ≥153 mW; the lowest prices are $95.94 and $34.59, $61.35 apart.

FiiO KA3 vs FiiO KA2: the manufacturers' stated figures and today's lowest price, side by side
FiiO KA3FiiO KA2
Power at 32 Ω≥235 mW4.4 mm balanced, Claim variant: comparison table≥153 mW4.4 mm balanced
Price today$95.94eBay, 16 Oct$34.59eBay, 16 Oct
DAC chipES9038Q2MCS43131 × 2
InputsUSB-CUSB-C cable, Lightning cable
Outputs3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced4.4 mm balanced
Size56.3 × 20.2 × 12 mmAbout 40 × 15 × 12 mm
WeightAbout 17.5 gAbout 12.3 g

FiiO KA3 vs FiiO KA5

At 32 Ω FiiO KA3 is listed at ≥235 mW and FiiO KA5 at ≥265 mW; the lowest prices are $95.94 and $119.99, $24.05 apart.

FiiO KA3 vs FiiO KA5: the manufacturers' stated figures and today's lowest price, side by side
FiiO KA3FiiO KA5
Power at 32 Ω≥235 mW4.4 mm balanced, Claim variant: comparison table≥265 mW4.4 mm balanced
Price today$95.94eBay, 16 Oct$119.99Amazon US, 16 Oct
DAC chipES9038Q2MCS43198 × 2
InputsUSB-CUSB-C
Outputs3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced
Size56.3 × 20.2 × 12 mmAbout 56.3 × 22 × 12 mm
WeightAbout 17.5 gAbout 19 g

FiiO KA5 price history

More like this

More portable DAC amps

Sources

Checked 14 Oct 2026
KA3 specification
fiio.com · the spec sheet
Used for output impedance, formats, the DAC chip, input, outputs, the app and size
KA series comparison
fiio.com
Used for power and weight
KA3 product page
fiio.com · the product page
Used for the app