One thing that’s beyond debate: the new FiiO KA15 DAC is quite retro-designed, resembling an old-school cassette player.
The FiiO KA15 is a portable DAC, equipped with two Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips. It supports a maximum PCM quality of 32-bit / 768 kHz and DSD up to DSD256. Additionally, a dual op-amp arranges the headphone amplification, delivering a maximum output of 560 mW, or 170 mW when connected to a smartphone. The latter is one of the device’s “smart” energy-saving features. Another is that by continuously monitoring voltage and current, the dongle detects whether music is being played. If not, it switches into a power-saving mode.
The FiiO KA15 comes with a 1-inch LCD screen, which can display a rotating cassette during music playback for a nostalgic touch. In terms of outputs, you have the choice between a 3.5 mm or a 4.4 mm balanced connection. Lastly, the price is quite reasonable: €129.