Desktop mode has been continuously refined with the release of various products such as the portable yet desktop-capable M17, Q7, M15S, Q15 and KA13. And now the perfected desktop mode has found its way to the FiiO KA17. The FiiO KA17 has a special desktop mode that is activated via a special D.Mode switch. When you activate Desktop Mode, the FiiO KA17 automatically adjusts the DAC, the amplifier's power supply and the amplifier's output power to maximise its potential with a higher output power.
With sufficient USB power supply input and desktop mode enabled, the FiiO KA17's four THX headphone amplifiers work together in parallel to achieve higher current and total output power. The result is an output power of up to 270 mW+270 mW for the single-ended output and up to 650 mW+650 mW for the balanced output.
The FiiO KA17 utilises two of the new ESS ES9069Q flagship DACs based on fourth generation 32-bit HyperStream technology. These chips offer even higher performance, lower power consumption and less digital noise than previous generations. For absolutely unadulterated and pure audio reproduction.
The 16-core XMOS XU316 chip, which is rarely found in audio dongles, handles the USB tasks in the FiiO KA17. This chip is characterised by lower latency, more stable signal transmission and better compatibility than the commonly used USB control chip. In combination with two crystal oscillators, the KA17 is more than capable of processing various digital audio sources with different sampling rates.
The THX AAA 78 headphone amplifier has proven itself in the mid- to high-end M11 Pro and M11 Plus players. Now the even newer and improved THX AA 78+ is used in the FiiO KA17.
Inside the KA17 are THX AAA 78+ headphone amplifiers with 8 operational amplifiers working in parallel in a fully balanced 4-channel configuration, which not only provide a higher output power but also a more detailed and realistic sound.