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USB-C DONGLE · CS43198 × 2

FiiO KA5

A USB-C dongle with two CS43198 DAC chips, a 3.5 mm and a 4.4 mm balanced output. About 19 g.

Manufacturer page · Price history

POWER AT 32 Ω≥265mW4.4 mm balanced
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE<0.3Ω3.5 mm; 4.4 mm <0.35 Ω
SNRNot statedNo data from the manufacturer
PRICE$119.99Lowest price at Amazon US
OUTPUTS3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced
DAC CHIPCS43198 × 2
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
265mWat 32 Ω per channel
Spec sheet: ≥265 mW, THD+N <1%, USB input
Output impedance <0.35 Ω
3.5 mm
122mWat 32 Ω per channel
Spec sheet: ≥122 mW, THD+N <1%, USB input
Output impedance <0.3 Ω

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

Is it enough for your headphones?

FiiO rates the KA5 at ≥265 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. 133 mW at 16 Ω+23 dB
Most IEMsTypical in-ears, 16 to 50 Ω
needs 3.2 mW≥265 mW at 32 Ω+19 dB
Easy-to-drive headphonesClosed and portable, 32 Ω
needs 16 mW≥265 mW at 32 Ω+12 dB
Hard-to-drive headphones300 Ω, HD 600 class, hungry for voltage
needs 20 mWest. 28 mW at 300 Ω+2 dB
Most planarsPlanar magnetic, low impedance, need current
needs 50 mW≥265 mW at 32 Ω+7 dB
Demanding planarsThe hardest loads, desktop territory
needs 251 mWest. 141 mW at 60 Ω2 dB short

Where to buy

Some shop links are affiliate links: if you buy through one, I may earn a commission. Your price and the order stay the same.

Amazon US · retail price, checked 16 Oct 2026$119.99The HiFi Cat · sold out, read 10 Nov 2026$108.21

Price historyCompare prices on Soundblooms Deals

The device

From FiiO's spec sheet unless marked
InputUSB-C
FormatsPCM up to 32-bit / 768 kHz, DSD256
DAC chipCS43198 × 2
VolumeButtons
AppFiiO Control App, Android onlyproduct page
Parametric EQNo adjustable EQ. Not supported in Contour.product page
SizeAbout 56.3 × 22 × 12 mm
WeightAbout 19 g

How it stacks up against the competition

Power at 32 Ω · price in US dollars
100 mW200 mW500 mW$70$100$200scale 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 KA15: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $99.99iBasso DC04PRO: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $119iBasso DC07PRO: 430 mW at 32 Ω, $199Questyle M15i: 2.41 mW at 32 Ω, $169MOONDROP MOONRIVER 2:TI: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $219.99MOONDROP DAWN 4.4: 230 mW at 32 Ω, $69.99FiiO KA3: 235 mW at 32 Ω, $95.94KA3FiiO QX11: 800 mW at 32 Ω, $159.99FiiO QX13: 900 mW at 32 Ω, $219.99iBasso 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, $65.99MOONDROP MOONRIVER3: 250 mW at 32 Ω, $219.99Shanling UA2: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $85Shanling UA3: 210 mW at 32 Ω, $109UA3Shanling UA4: 227 mW at 32 Ω, $99UA4iFi 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, ~$91.88AP20JCALLY Galaxy SONATA: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $79.99NiceHCK Octave: 550 mW at 32 Ω, $89Muse HiFi M3 Ultra: 480 mW at 32 Ω, $109.99FiiO KA5100 mW200 mW500 mW50 mW$70$100$200scale 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 KA15: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $99.99iBasso DC04PRO: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $119iBasso DC07PRO: 430 mW at 32 Ω, $199Questyle M15i: 2.41 mW at 32 Ω, $169MOONDROP MOONRIVER 2:TI: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $219.99MOONDROP DAWN 4.4: 230 mW at 32 Ω, $69.99FiiO KA3: 235 mW at 32 Ω, $95.94KA3FiiO QX11: 800 mW at 32 Ω, $159.99FiiO QX13: 900 mW at 32 Ω, $219.99iBasso 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, $65.99MOONDROP MOONRIVER3: 250 mW at 32 Ω, $219.99Shanling UA2: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $85UA2Shanling UA3: 210 mW at 32 Ω, $109UA3Shanling UA4: 227 mW at 32 Ω, $99UA4iFi 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, $79.99NiceHCK Octave: 550 mW at 32 Ω, $89Muse HiFi M3 Ultra: 480 mW at 32 Ω, $109.99FiiO KA5
  • Nearby
  • Same DAC chip
  • Most IEMs, 3.2 mW

Devices with the same DAC chip

CS43198 · 16 devices use it
JCALLYJM98MAX≈195 mW0.65 ΩYes8 bandsSGM8262$34.99≈195 mW · 0.65 Ω · $34.99PEQ Yes, 8 bands · Amp SGM8262
MOONDROPWorks with ContourDAWN PRO 262 mWEstimated0.219 ΩMeasuredWorks with Contour8 bands$59.99est. 62 mW · 0.219 Ω · $59.99PEQ Yes, 8 bands
NiceHCKPureAural210 mWYes10 bandsSGM8262$59.99210 mW · $59.99PEQ Yes, 10 bands · Amp SGM8262
TRUTHEARSHIO$69.99$69.99
CrinEarWorks with ContourProtocol Max300 mWEstimated<0.3 ΩWorks with Contour10 bandsDual SG Micro SGM8262-2$76.49est. 300 mW · <0.3 Ω · $76.49PEQ Yes, 10 bands · Amp Dual SG Micro SGM8262-2
JCALLYGalaxy SONATA≈560 mW0.65 ΩDual SGM8262$79.99≈560 mW · 0.65 Ω · $79.99Amp Dual SGM8262
FiiOWorks with ContourKA15≥560 mW0.65 ΩMeasuredWorks with Contour10 bands$99.99≥560 mW · 0.65 Ω · $99.99PEQ Yes, 10 bands
iBassoDC04 Ultra980 mWYes10 bands$119980 mW · $119PEQ Yes, 10 bands
MOONDROPMOONRIVER 2:TI280 mW$219.99280 mW · $219.99
MOONDROPMOONRIVER3250 mWEstimatedYes$219.99est. 250 mW · $219.99PEQ Yes
FiiOJM21≥700 mW<1 ΩSGM8262 x2$259.99≥700 mW · <1 Ω · $259.99Amp SGM8262 x2
iBassoNunchaku525 mW$299525 mW · $299

All 16 in the finder

Compared with

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

FiiO KA5 vs FiiO KA3

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

FiiO KA5 vs FiiO KA3: the manufacturers' stated figures and today's lowest price, side by side
FiiO KA5FiiO KA3
Power at 32 Ω≥265 mW4.4 mm balanced≥235 mW4.4 mm balanced, Claim variant: comparison table
Price today$119.99Amazon US, 16 Oct$95.94eBay, 16 Oct
DAC chipCS43198 × 2ES9038Q2M
InputsUSB-CUSB-C
Outputs3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced
SizeAbout 56.3 × 22 × 12 mm56.3 × 20.2 × 12 mm
WeightAbout 19 gAbout 17.5 g

FiiO KA5 price history

More like this

More portable DAC amps

Sources

Checked 14 Oct 2026
KA5 specification
fiio.com · the spec sheet
Used for power, output impedance, formats, the DAC chip, input, outputs, controls, size and weight
KA5 product page
fiio.com · the product page
Used for the app