Fiio K3 problems

[Ciclismo]

Hi - I’m hoping someone here can help:

I just got a Fiio K3 and when I connect it to my Mac Mini 2018 running Big Sur 11.1 it gets recognised, but the volume is quite low.

So even with gain set to 2, max volume is loud but not “holy crap my ears are bleeding” loud with my TR40RP Mkiii. Also, the optical out only puts out a signal when on USB 1.0, BUT the signal isn’t recognised.

I could find someone else on another forum with the same problem, but there was no resolution posted.

TAI,

Ciclsmo

 

[Ciclismo]

Update: So I am using a USB-C to USB-C cable directly from the Mac and that seems to be the problem - I plugged it into a Hub and at least the optical out now works. The audio for the headphones still isn't quite as loud as I would want, but I'm going to keep looking into combos with different hubs / wires to see if that makes a difference.

 

[lowendlinux]

Update: So I am using a USB-C to USB-C cable directly from the Mac and that seems to be the problem - I plugged it into a Hub and at least the optical out now works. The audio for the headphones still isn't quite as loud as I would want, but I'm going to keep looking into combos with different hubs / wires to see if that makes a difference.

Mines not particularly loud with the line out but it'll make your ears bleed with headphones.

 

[satcomer]

Update: So I am using a USB-C to USB-C cable directly from the Mac and that seems to be the problem - I plugged it into a Hub and at least the optical out now works. The audio for the headphones still isn't quite as loud as I would want, but I'm going to keep looking into combos with different hubs / wires to see if that makes a difference.

Get the shareware Audio HyJack if you want larger sounds out of your Mac!

 

[Ciclismo]

Wouldn’t make a difference as the Fiio K3 is also a DAC.

 

[coolajami]

Hi - I’m hoping someone here can help:

I just got a Fiio K3 and when I connect it to my Mac Mini 2018 running Big Sur 11.1 it gets recognised, but the volume is quite low.

So even with gain set to 2, max volume is loud but not “holy crap my ears are bleeding” loud with my TR40RP Mkiii. Also, the optical out only puts out a signal when on USB 1.0, BUT the signal isn’t recognised.

I could find someone else on another forum with the same problem, but there was no resolution posted.

TAI,

Ciclsmo

I believe that the more likely explanation here is that your headphones does not match well with your DAC.

As far as I can see from their specs the Fiio can export up to around 1.9Vrms meaning it will struggle to push the loudness over 90dB for the TR40RP, meaning again your headphones can get loud, that would be enough for most people, but not crazy loud level that would make your ears bleed.

Actually the internal DAC of a Macbook Pro slightly outperforms the Fiio when matched with your TR40RP on loudness, based on specs only. If you like to improve loudness you may have to replace your DAC or your headphones.

Hope that helps.

 

[Ciclismo]

I'm modifying the headphones into a set based on the Open Alpha's, so I'll see what it's like after modification. The Fiio is only an interim solution anyway, intended to be used primarily for my work laptop as the Dell ones we're issued are quite...anemic on the output (something all my colleagues complain about, which is why most of them use their iPhones for telcos).

I'm currently debating an O2 + ODAC Rev. B or a Schiit-Stack as my permanent set-up for the Mac.

 

[coolajami]

I'm modifying the headphones into a set based on the Open Alpha's, so I'll see what it's like after modification. The Fiio is only an interim solution anyway, intended to be used primarily for my work laptop as the Dell ones we're issued are quite...anemic on the output (something all my colleagues complain about, which is why most of them use their iPhones for telcos).

I'm currently debating an O2 + ODAC Rev. B or a Schiit-Stack as my permanent set-up for the Mac.

I'm not into headphones so no real opinion on this, though my understanding is that mods will improve spacial isolation but nothing else.

I'm not sure what you've tried to achieve with the K3: Did you want to improve headphone performance for a desktop or a mobile setup?

If you were trying to improve performance while on the road, K3 is a pretty decent portable DAC, but it designed with consideration in power consumption as it is powered from the source, and its power drive is in the low-end, so it des not drain quickly the battery of the laptop/mobile. I would personally consider a DAC/Amp compo with a build-in battery like the Fiio Q1 or one of the battery-powered iFi models.

For a desktop setup, my 5 cents is that the O2+ODAC will only make limited improvement of the overall performance when compared with the K3, despite the higher price tag. I haven't tried the Schiit products,so no real opinion here, but not sure why you need such a complicated stack to drive a set of headphones. I would suggest looking in something more compact like the amazing Chord Mojo (highly recommended).

 

[Ciclismo]

Apparently the bigger cups and additional damping mean that after the mods more power is required to drive the Fostex.

The K3 was just an interim solution and at 99€ I can live with the limitations for now - I needed the optical out it provides for my powered desktop speakers, but they’re getting upgraded soon to a more flexible set when it comes to inputs (Edifier R1280DBs, once back in stock in Germany, but pretty much everything audio related is currently hard to get). I had just hoped they would put out more power.

I won’t be relying on a DAC / amp when mobile though, it’s just for desktop use, and at 499€ the Chord Mojo is twice my budget. My work laptop is also always connected to mains, the Dell burns through batteries and can’t be relied on for more than a couple of hours - Dell really is a four-letter word.

The O2 is shortlisted because I can get a DIY set from HeadnHifi with the ODAC, RCA connections, and rear power for 180€ or so, and then I get to spend an afternoon soldering But I was of the impression it had much more power than the K3

A Schiit stack is an interesting alternative because I’m a fan of discrete solutions (I’m former military so I like redundancies, and if I had my way, everything would have a “Battle Short” button) so if the amp fails I’ve still got the DAC or vice versa. And they’re pretty to look at.

 

[coolajami]

I had no clue about headphones mods thanks for the info. I would have never considered DIY in audio equipment, but you made me interested and I will be checking the Head&Hifi when they're back online!

I think the K3 matches well with active speakers as its connectivity options are pretty rare in this price tag!

Similar to your case, I got a K3 as an emergency purchase, while I was looking for a cheap DAC with digital output, for connecting a set of active speakers (Ruark MR1 Mk2) to my home office setup. TBH I'm pretty happy about it, has very good performance with the speakers without adding an extra power brick in the stack. The headphone Amp came as an extra for me, and I've used it only scarcely. Possible with some more search I could have found a better DAC for this price range, but it is unlikely I could get better options regarding output for speakers so I'm keeping it for the time being. I've checked other brands, including JDSLabs, iFi, Topping etc and their low-end models were annoyingly restrictive.

For the future, I'm eyeing the Audiolab M-DAC mini for gaining some benefit in quality and portability, but its too bloody expensive.