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FiiO’s New K13 R2R DAC Is Bigger, Stronger, and Smarter — But Worth the Extra Cash?

Fresh off the success of its wallet-friendly K11 R2R, FiiO has unveiled the K13 R2R — a more powerful, feature-packed DAC/amp that doubles down on performance and design. But at nearly twice the price, does it deliver enough to justify the leap?



Silver audio device with blue-lit knobs, display showing numbers, transparent top revealing circuits, on reflective black surface.


From K11 to K13: A Serious Upgrade


The K11 R2R turned heads just a month ago with its affordable resistor-ladder decoding — a rarity in the budget DAC space. Now, FiiO is upping the ante with the K13 R2R, priced at €319 / £279 / $319.


Instead of leaning on delta-sigma chips from ESS, AKM, or Cirrus Logic, the K13 sticks to native PCM decoding via a resistor ladder (R2R). Each channel features 48 precision thin-film resistors, totaling 192 resistors across four fully differential channels — each rated at 0.1% accuracy with ultra-low temperature drift. Translation: purer, more natural sound.



Design & Build: More Than a Box


The K13 isn’t just an internal refresh — the chassis itself has grown. A top porthole window gives it a more premium aesthetic, and the move to a proper IEC mains input finally ditches the chunky outboard power brick.


On the rear, you now get:


  • Balanced XLR outputs

  • Dual RCA outputs (two separate sets)

On the front, it’s business as usual:

  • 1/4-inch headphone out

  • 4.4mm balanced headphone out

  • Knurled volume wheel with three-stage gain


Audio equipment rear panel with various ports: XLR, RCA, coaxial, USB, and optical inputs. Black antenna and power switch visible.


Power & Features: Twice the Muscle


The headline upgrade? Nearly double the headphone output power, topping out at 2.4W — enough to comfortably drive even demanding cans.

Other new tricks include:


  • LDAC Bluetooth input for high-res wireless streaming

  • Onboard parametric EQ, controlled via the FiiO Control app

  • Continued USB-C, coaxial, and TOSLINK digital inputs

  • FPGA-based clocking & decoding for tighter precision


Price & Availability


At €319 ($319 / £279), the K13 R2R nearly doubles the asking price of the K11 R2R (€179). But with balanced outputs, higher power, Bluetooth LDAC, and EQ flexibility, FiiO is clearly pitching it as a step-up model for enthusiasts who want more than the basics.

Shipping begins later this September 2025.


👉 Bottom line: The FiiO K13 R2R looks like the K11’s bigger, bolder sibling — with stronger output, better connectivity, and smarter controls. The real question? Whether listeners think those upgrades are worth the extra €140 jump.



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