Overview

The FiiO K19 is FiiO's flagship desktop DAC and headphone amplifier, built around two ESS ES9039SPRO 8-channel DAC chips and an 8-channel THX AAA 788+ headphone amp. It's for listeners with demanding headphones who also want one slim unit that can take sound from a computer, a TV over HDMI ARC, Bluetooth or a disc player, and feed powered speakers or a separate amp.

The two ES9039SPRO chips use ESS's fourth-generation 32-bit HyperStream architecture, and the whole chain from DAC through I/V conversion, low-pass filter and headphone amp is fully differential, with OPA2211 and OPA1602 op-amps. The eight THX AAA 788+ channels are paralleled in 2x2 groups to form a fully balanced 4-channel amp with up to 8000mW per channel into 32 ohms from the 4.4mm and XLR4 outputs and 2300mW from the 6.35mm output. A quad-core FPGA handles all incoming digital signals, an ADI ADSP-21565 SHARC+ DSP at 800MHz runs a 31-band lossless PEQ with Dual Engine Limiter, and two Accusilicon AS318-B oscillators handle clocking. A 40W internal supply feeds separate digital and analog rails, and a 15V DC input lets you add an external linear supply.

Inputs cover USB (up to 768kHz/32-bit and native DSD512), coaxial, optical, HDMI and HDMI ARC (the first FiiO desktop DAC/amp with HDMI), and Bluetooth 5.1 with LDAC and aptX Adaptive, with full MQA decoding. Six output modes let you use headphones and the rear XLR and RCA outputs together, either one alone with volume control, a fixed line out, or coaxial and optical digital outputs. The die-cast aluminum unibody is about 36.7mm thick and works flat or standing up on its stand, with a 1.3-inch colour display, IR remote, two-way 12V trigger and a GND/LIFT ground switch.

Simcoe Audio Video Insight

If the K19 will sit next to a TV, the HDMI ARC connection lets TV sound run through it, but FiiO lists ARC at 44.1/48kHz, so use USB, coaxial or HDMI input for higher-resolution music. PRE OUT gives you volume control on the rear outputs for powered speakers, while LO gives a fixed level for an amp with its own volume. Start on a low gain setting with sensitive headphones or IEMs, since the balanced outputs have a lot of power on tap.

More Info

Why the FiiO K19 Stands Out

Buyer's Guide

Who It's For

• The Demanding-Headphone Owner: Needs up to 8000mW balanced.
• The Desk and TV Listener: Wants HDMI ARC and USB in one unit.
• The System Builder: Wants a DAC, preamp and headphone amp in one.

How It Compares

Compared with the FiiO K17, the K19 moves to dual ESS ES9039SPRO DACs and a THX amp with up to 8000mW balanced against the K17's 4000mW, and adds HDMI and HDMI ARC in a much slimmer chassis. The K17 instead offers network streaming over Ethernet and Wi-Fi and analog line inputs, which the K19 doesn't have.