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Greetings mate and Welcome aboard! Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions, so…
Let’s take a look at FiiO’s K7 BT (Bluetooth Version) and see how it stacks up against the others in the lineup.
We’ll discuss build, features, functionality, and more. By the time you’re finished reading this, you’ll know if it’s worth a purchase, and if it isn’t, I’ll steer you in the direction of something that is.
Deal?
Cool.
Let’s dive in.
Specs, box contents, and pricing towards the end!
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of FiiO gear, specifically the family of K series DACs.
The K5 Pro was a mainstay recommendation on this blog for many years, and while it’s still a good purchase, there are better options now.
FiiO typically does an excellent job of updating its lineup while also keeping products very affordable, but is the K7 BT an exception at around $250?
As with most products in this assortment, the K7 Bluetooth homie version is another Swiss Army knife-type DAC, and its versatility is undeniable.
Back Panel
Armed with RCA inputs, RCA outputs, a coaxial input, an optical input, a USB Type-B port, a balanced 4.4mm headphone output, and a 1/4″ single-ended output, the K7 is ready to serve like Andre Agassi in peak condition.
Coming in at 610g, it feels robust and durable, akin to a muscular meat head with low body fat. It’s compact enough to fit almost anywhere, and it also looks pretty neat on your desktop, in your entertainment center, etc. Like the K5 Pro and K7 that came before it, this combo Amplifier + DAC rolled into one allows you to connect to many different sources, acting as the intermediary between you and your music.
For the cherry on top, it lights up in a rainbow of colours upon initial startup, but most importantly comes with a bevy of options. Let’s take a look.
Front Panel
Along with the 1/4″ and 4.4mm headphone outputs we just discussed, the K7 has 5 modes: USB, OPTICAL, COAX, LINE, and BT. Just use the input button (seen below) to cycle through: The input button is a new feature that the K5 Pro didn’t have, and it’s a bit more convenient and intuitive.
Not only can you use it with a console (I’m on PS4), TV, and anything that outputs COAX, but you now have the option to use it wirelessly with your phone via lightning-fast Bluetooth connection. No dropouts, No bullsh**, instantly recognized. 5 seconds up and running.
I currently have it connected to some FiiO SP3 speakers and it makes for a fantastic 1-2 punch like Mike Tysthon in his prime. Just run some RCA to RCA cables or RCA to 3.5mm into the SP3 and have yourself an afternoon delight.
Whether optical with your console or wirelessly with your phone, it doesn’t matter. The K7’s got you covered like an ice cream sundae.
If all that wasn’t enough, you can also use it wired with a PC and connect your headphones, speakers, etc.
Moreover, it acts as just a DAC if you want to use it with a separate headphone amplifier, or just an Amplifier if you want to use it with a separate DAC. Next to the input button is your High/Low Gain switch, and beside that, the output switch.
LO – This will be used with your balanced 4.4mm headphones/wiring.
PRE – This is the preamp section and will be used to connect to separate active speakers like the Presonus Eris e3.5s or FiiO SP3 just mentioned.
PO – This will be used with your unbalanced (single-ended) headphones/wiring.
Power Output
To further sweeten the deal, FiiO packs this puppy with plenty of power: 2000mW into 32Ω (balanced) to be exact, or 1220mW into 32Ω (single-ended).
It decodes up to PCM 384kHz-32bit/DSD256 but does not unfold MQA. Still, it will play MQA files inside of Tidal via Exclusive Mode.
Here’s how:
Click on the 3 bars in the upper left corner inside Tidal.
Go to File > Settings > Streaming.
Scroll down to where it says “Sound” and “Sound Output”.
Click (More settings) to the right.
Now just tick the button to exclusive mode and the formats will change according to the file.
Now the Halo light will turn yellow for any master files inside the program. DSD is a bit of a different story, and I will put the entire process of playing DSD files with the K7 at the end if you’re interested!
Sound
Now, can I hear a difference between the K9 paired with the SP3 vs. the K7 paired with the SP3?
Nah. The same goes for headphones. As long as DACs adhere to the SINAD standard of <90dB; meaning the signal is significantly stronger than the noise and distortion present in the system, there are no audible differences between 2 different DACs at identical signal levels.
I still think Output Impedance can have an effect, but typically not in most of the solid-state DACs you’ll encounter on the market as they all have pretty low numbers.
THX
FiiO once again includes the THX stamp of approval, optioning for 788+ variant seen in a lot of higher-end DACs over the years.
To be clear, THX isn’t an audio/video or encoding format; it’s simply a standard that ensures the audio/video presentation is reproduced exactly as the original creator intended.
In other words, it has nothing to do with how the media was created but deals extensively with the equipment and environment used to present the media.
This is why, at the end of the day, you shouldn’t buy a DAC solely based on THX. Just think of it as the cherry on top of the main ingredients: SINAD, Output Impedance, source file, the headphones/speakers, etc.
To simplify things, FiiO basically added Bluetooth and tacked on $50 to the price. The original K7 is a great deal at $200, but is the K7 BT a great deal at $250?
For sheer convenience, I’d say yeah. The K7 is even more versatile now, and that’s most certainly a good thing. You can connect it to pretty much anything you want, and for me, that’s always been the main draw with DACs.
In addition to that, I like FiiO and I like their products; a lot. I recommend them because they are fucntional, practical, affordable, and built incredibly well. The K7 Bluetooth is no different.
Output Power 2: ≥1220mW (32Ω, single-ended/THD+N < 1%)
Signal-to-noise ratio: ≥120dB (A-weighted, UAC)
Noise floor: PO < 4.4μV (A-weighted, UAC); BAL < 7.7μV (A-weighted, UAC)
Output Impedance: <1Ω(32Ω load)
Weight: Around 610g
In The Box
FiiO K7 BT Amp/DAC
Power Cable
Power Adapter
USB Cable
Headphone Jack Adapter
Quick Start Guide
Warranty Card
Bluetooth Antenna
How To Listen To DSD With The K7
Most DSD files you’ll have to pay for, but there are some free downloads that I used for testing and comparing. You get the following formats for Jenna Mammina (pictured below):
24/192kHz – FLAC
24/192 – WAV
16/44 – WAV
24/48 – WAV
24/96 – FLAC
24/96 – WAV
DSD128
DSD256
DSD64
For John R Burr’s “Quarter Tones”:
16/44 – WAV
24/96 – FLAC
DSD128
DSD256
The website is BlueCoastMusic. You can see in the above image the files I used in 2019 for FiiO’s K5 Pro. You will have to make an account, but the process is fairly painless.
Complete the checkout process (you won’t be charged anything, but you will get a link in your account).
While you’re logged in, go to your “Downloads” tab and you’ll find the link to download.
Download the folder to a location you can find on your computer. It will be a ZIP file.
Unzip the file and the files should be inside. Extract the files.
Use your software player to play and figure out what plays and what doesn’t play in your system.
You’re not quite out of the woods yet. Now that you have some DSD files, you’ll need a special player to play them. I’ve found that the best option is Audirvana. You can set up a free trial here.
After it’s downloaded, follow these steps:
Extract the zipped files you downloaded from BlueCoast to your desktop.
Open the Audirvana app.
Click Settings in the upper right-hand corner.
Click Library, then click “Add Folders.” Select the appropriate one.
Click the Audio Tab. IMPORTANT: Do not use WASAPI or you won’t see the correct halo colors on the K7. You must use the ASIO driver. If you can’t click it, just press the unlock button at the bottom right corner to release exclusive mode. Audirvana, like Tidal, locks exclusive access to the audio output for optimum quality. Other applications are silent as long as this access is locked. This can be a bit of a pain, but once you get used to how it functions it’s not too bad.
Play a file and enjoy!
If you don’t use FiiO’s ASIO driver, you’ll notice the DSD64, 256, and 512 options (above) will be greyed out and the color will only change to Yellow (indicating anything above 48kHz). It’s also important to note that the K7, unlike the K5 Pro, actually does NOT support DSD512 (The image above is the settings for the K5 Pro). Below you can see the K7’s settings that do not include 512: I spoke with Sunny over at FiiO about it and she gave me this explanation: So they didn’t include 512. Big deal. The majority of people aren’t going to give 2 craps about this, but as always, your mileage may vary. People hardly ever buy FLAC CDs in the store anymore, why would they pay for some $99 downloads? Yes, that’s right, you read that correctly. I was curious to see what they’re charging for some other DSDs on BlueCoast and it’s quite ridiculous. I’m sure there are other cheaper downloads, and if you have any suggestions, please leave a comment down below.
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this FiiO K7 BT Review and came away with some valuable insight.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
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Stu is determined to help you make sound decisions, and strives to deliver the best and most in depth content on the internet! In his spare time, he likes to fish, paint, play guitar, pray, rap, make beats, take photos, record videos, graphic design, and more. His sense of humour, coupled with a knack for excellence and strict attention to detail are what allow him to stand out in an crowded industry.
