The headphone amp/DAC/preamplifier market has exploded in the last 10 to 15 years. The choices that the consumer have at all price points are incredible. I, myself, encountered my first piece of gear of this type well over a decade ago with the Oppo HA1. At the time ,it was a terrific way for someone with just an amplifier and a pair of headphones to complete both a room listening and personal listening experience. On top of that the display at the time offered both a screen version VU meters and spectrum analyzer. Personally, I found the spectrum analyzer to be a whole lot of fun. Well, a few years later after experiencing an HA-1, I bought one for myself, and I used it primarily as a preamplifier for several years powering a couple of different amplifiers.
A few months back, Rosemary at Apos Audio asked me if I was interested in reviewing the FiiO K 17, knowing the advances have been made, I willingly jumped at the opportunity. And frankly, I have not been disappointed.
The K17 honesty reminds me in some ways of the Yamaha receivers of the early 80s, especially in its silver finish. The knobs are of the same style and it feels the same. Ergonomically speaking, they all feel very precise with a definitive click between each setting. The rotation of the knobs are very smooth and looking on the website the silver version look is also nod to Niagara and their equipment. The K17 also is built to last. This is an incredibly solid piece of gear for its size.
Upon first glance, you may not realize it, but the LCD screen is actually color. This really isn't apparent until you hook it up to a streaming service. Until then, everything is a monochrome based upon your color choices. The screen has enough detail to show quality album graphics, albeit quite small, but it is there. This was very much apparent when running Roon and using the K17 as an end point.
Setting up the K17 I wish was a bit more straightforward. I don't think it's unfair to say that software team needs to do a complete overhaul of the app, as the current one is definitely long in the tooth, and just isn't intuitive or easy to work with. To start, upon powering on, is to get the network set up you will need to enter in your Wi-Fi password on the small display screen. It's a very slow, conscious effort as the keys are quite small. This is even more difficult for myself as I suffer from tremors, but in the end, I did get that done in one try. The next step is to plug in your inputs and outputs, followed by making sure to select them in the display menu.
With that all done let's take a look at the front panel. On top you have a 3 inch by approximately 1 inch screen and if you swipe to the right, you get Play Settings, Equalizer filters, Max Volume Balance, Network, Brightness, Screen Time, RGB Lights, Theme Trigger in Idle Time, USB, Audio Language, Others and then finally the About Category. If you swipe to the left, it gives you your input choices: on the top row of USB, Optical, Coax Line In, Balanced In, Bluetooth, Streaming, Local Play. On the lower level: Browser, Files, Favorites, All Songs, Album, Artist, Genre, and Update Song which is part of the file software.
The first knob to the right of the screen works with the menu and there's a LED color ring that can be adjusted. Farther to the right is the volume knob with the same ring. Down below on the left is your on off power switch, followed by your selector for your output choices. First one being headphone/preamp combination followed by headphone only, then just preamplifier and then finally strictly line out to be used as a DAC. Next, is the output levels, a Low, Medium, High, Super High, and Ultra High output. Then a USBC input followed by three headphone output jack choices: quarter inch, 4.4 mm, and balanced.
The back panel is impressive as well. Matter of fact it's loaded. From left to right since everything stacked let's go vertical. The first row is your Optical in, Coaxial in, and then you're grounding terminal. The next vertical row which is Optical out on top, Coax out ,and then the 4.4 mm In, and then you have your Ground Switch. Next is the 12 V trigger in, followed by your RS-232, USB-C port, and then your standard USB-C port. Below that you will have your left and right Line In and vertically stacked Line Out, balanced outputs with the USB-C or USB B output, your Ethernet LAN, and then finally your toggle switch above the power socket.
The App
I'll be honest. I became rather frustrated with the FiiO app so I just followed through on using my Roon app or the WiiM Ultra streamer app. I believe it would be fair to say that FiiO should at least contract out their app to group that specializes in such, and bring it up to 2026. Because as it stands now, it is the only weak link in the chain. And it is for those app dependent individuals, a definitely frustrating one.
Just as I began this review my master and dynamic MD 400 headphone wire lost the ability to connect properly. Thankfully, Rosemary at Apos Audio was kind enough to send me a pair of their Moondrop Horizon open air headphones. Normally, I do not like the double band style, but I've got to admit these were incredibly comfortable running through my demo songs.
It became quickly apparent that the K17 is extremely well engineered, the sound as far as the DAC chips, which are the AKM dual set 4191 and 4499EX2 live up to the velvet sound moniker. The engineering excellence at this price point continues, with separate boards for the different functions of the K17. Another plus, is the linear power supply, followed by separating digital from analog sections. I honestly recommend visiting FiiO’s K17 web page for all the engineering details.
On top of that the FiiO K17 provides plenty of juice to power most headphones, and depending upon how you like to use the volume control matched up with the output level switch. You get a really pleasant sound with power dynamics when needed, and most impressively there's no harshness with this headphone amplifier section. One afternoon I spent about two hours reading and listening acoustical guitar music and I was lost in the novel and the music combination.
As a headphone amplifier, the K17 provides plenty of power for the more difficult to drive head gear, while still retaining the ability to blend well instead of overwhelmed efficient headphones simply put this means no matter what you have on hand you're going to find happiness with the K 17.
Listen to the music
Right out of the box and before burning, the K17 lets the listener know it is a serious piece of kit. The sonics are expansive and smooth. The AKM dual chip set for the DAC pairs seamlessly with the rest of the componentry. While it may not have the absolute last sharpness of the SMSL RAW Pro DAC1, especially in the upper frequencies, it is richer and has more depth and nuanced detail. There is an all day listening quality to it. That doesn't mean it isn't aggressive. It can actually bring out the energy quite well in a way that celebrates the dynamic swings of music while not punching the listener in the face. In other words, it's got that smooth, consistent power that never brings attention to itself yet the listener knows what they're hearing.
In the background at various points during jazz group Foreplay’s Bali Run, there is a bongo playing in the background in just one channel. It's very light and almost flutters. The K17 has pulled out more of that sonic artifact than any other combo Headphone/DAC that I've ever had in my system. This is in no doubt due to the overall design, including the AKM2 chip set combination with their “velvet sound” technology.
With all the chaos in the world right now, I've found solace in pieces of music that kind of surprise me. The soundtracks to the Netflix series "Bridgerton", blending in some cases popular songs in a sheer traditional orchestra arrangement, or in others, taking that classical peace and adding a bit of modern electronic instruments to the mix. In any case, the combination is much like the show itself, a sweeping, colorful, detailed experience. At the same time the flow that only orchestral performances can give I found healing in a way. The K17 illuminated those subtleties while providing that soul touching magic that I consider absolutely essential with any piece of audio equipment.
Swinging in the opposite direction, the brilliance of Led Zeppelin's fourth album via the Moondrop Horizon headphones, transported me back to my high school days. Listening to the magic that this group found through their driving melodies can be exhausting with some gear. The K17 however never push me away instead with hard rock and it's cousin heavy metal. They played with intensity and drama and development. While I was always more of a Who fan, the K17 reminded me of how good Led Zeppelin can sound with properly paired gear.
Delving into vocal performance, the K17 is not only smooth, but open as well, with more depth than SMSL or Topping. It goes back, IMHO, to quality of circuity design and not focusing on absolute measurement purity. The engineers at FiiO understand this quite well.
Final Thoughts
I could go on for another five minutes on how good the FiiO K17 is at $989. This is a Head Amp/DAC/Preamp that truly is a much higher quality unit then it's price tag from the physical build to the absolute musicality. The K17 is a monster in the Sub thousand dollar arena I would love to say there's trade-offs at this point, but they are so small that it really isn't worth mentioning. Yes, a few people will complain about the small screen. The fact is that the important information when you have that displayed is visible from a decent sitting distance away. The one gripe right I have is not with the K17, it's with the software app that honestly is not a worthy experience. The listener is much better off using their master music server software whether it would be Roon, iTunes, etc. or from a physical streamer.
But even with the apps, the definite app shortcomings, the K17 is an absolute winner as I experienced due to how many times I got lost in the music because it sounds so very very good. Consider the FiiO K17 truly excellent and a must audition.
Link to specifications:
https://www.fiio.com/k17_parameters
Non-affiliated link to dealer:
https://apos.audio/products/fiio-k17-desktop-dac-amp
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