Going in a new direction (but still staying with discrete R2R Ladder D/A conversion) as to me it's a long way ahead subjectively of Delta Sigma in listening A/B's 

I ordered one of these (under $500, and it's getting some rave reviews already)

I believe @AddictedToAudio to Audio will also have stock soon.

I will have a subjective review for you after a good listen to it in a week or two.

But I love the things it does (below), and for a discrete R2R ladder dac it's THD is very impressive, if that's what you like to see.

 

A link to the US in depth page of what it can do and US cost, quite impressive)

 

Here https://shorturl.at/bnJ7j

 

Or FiiO's page https://www.fiio.com/k13r2r

 

Cheers George

 

Edited November 2, 2025Nov 2 by georgehifi

Nice one George.   With the 10 band PEQ and plenty of power on tap, it should give my RME ADI-2 Dac FS a run. 

 

Look forward to hearing your thoughts.    It looks a very nice bit of kit and an amazing price.   I have a Fiio M23 DAP that I love.   I wonder what price AtA will land on?

 

Regards Cazzesman  

 

 

Edited November 1, 2025Nov 1 by cazzesman

I look forward to your review mate. I have the K11 R2R and it is a lovely sounding dac, so interested to see how this higher end model performs.

Hey George,

any early thoughts ? 🙏

12 minutes ago, Mr 57 said:

Hey George,

any early thoughts ? 🙏

 

Very good so far, typical of good R2R sound, rich/dynamic and full bodied, in a week I'll know more.

Cheers George

Edited November 4, 2025Nov 4 by georgehifi

5 minutes ago, georgehifi said:

 

Very good so far, typical of good R2R sound, rich/dynamic and full bodied, in a week I'll know more.

Cheers George

Thanks for that,

I love what the k11 does, so I’ve pulled the trigger on the k13 🙏

cheers

Jeff

I'm tossing up whether to upgrade my K11 R2R to the K13, or go a different route and get a Fosi ZH3.

Reviews I've read so far on the K13 suggest that although the dac is the same as in K11, the overall implementation and higher specs of the k13 result in better sound - both as dac/pre-amp and hp amp. I'm just not sure it will be enough of an improvement to warrant the extra cost - especially as I don't need bluetooth or peq (as my wiim mini already takes care of wifi streaming and eq).

The Fosi on the other hand is very cheap, has a  good AKM sigma/delta dac, no superfluous features (for me), and a remote (which I do miss with the k11). It also seems to measure and review very well.

The one other annoying thing about the K11 is its light weight and ineffective rubber base, which leads it to slide around too easily when using the knob or inserting headphones. Hopefully the K13 doesn't have this problem given it's a fair bit bigger.

Decisions, decisions!

 

Edited November 5, 2025Nov 5 by DazzS

22 hours ago, georgehifi said:

 

Very good so far, typical of good R2R sound, rich/dynamic and full bodied, in a week I'll know more.

Cheers George

 

Out of interest are there any other discrete R2R DAC's you find the sound reminiscent of? I'm not an enormous fan of the Gustard R26 for example finding it altogether to similar to sigma delta types for my liking, Love the Audio-GD R7HE Mk2, Hifiman Serenade Jr and HeartField R1 USB dongle however 

17 minutes ago, MattyW said:

Out of interest are there any other discrete R2R DAC's you find the sound reminiscent of?

 

Love the sound of my MSB R2R Discrete, and no Delta Sigma based dac has touched it, even ones with the ESS Sabre Pro ES9039PRO or AKM in different dacs  .

 

To me, if I can use a bit of an analogy, Delta Sigma is like looking up close at "small screen" 4k TV which is like looking through  a microscope searching for the fine detail like every blade of grass at the footy and not really enjoying the footy it self.

Where good R2R is like looking at a "massive big screen" 4k TV  where your on the field with the players.

 

Cheers George

Edited November 5, 2025Nov 5 by georgehifi

Yeah, I don't posses any these days either. Everything is discrete R2R and I find I don't like ALL of those either however I'm more likely to find something I like amongst discrete R2R DAC's. Anyway, just ordered a FiiO K13 to use at work. Should be good for audiobooks and a bit of light listening from my phone over bluetooth. The best chip based DAC's I've run are all based around old multibit DAC chips though I find I prefer discrete R2R overall. 

Edited November 6, 2025Nov 6 by MattyW

On 05/11/2025 at 7:31 PM, DazzS said:

I'm tossing up whether to upgrade my K11 R2R to the K13, or go a different route and get a Fosi ZH3.

Reviews I've read so far on the K13 suggest that although the dac is the same as in K11, the overall implementation and higher specs of the k13 result in better sound - both as dac/pre-amp and hp amp. I'm just not sure it will be enough of an improvement to warrant the extra cost - especially as I don't need bluetooth or peq (as my wiim mini already takes care of wifi streaming and eq).

The Fosi on the other hand is very cheap, has a  good AKM sigma/delta dac, no superfluous features (for me), and a remote (which I do miss with the k11). It also seems to measure and review very well.

The one other annoying thing about the K11 is its light weight and ineffective rubber base, which leads it to slide around too easily when using the knob or inserting headphones. Hopefully the K13 doesn't have this problem given it's a fair bit bigger.

Decisions, decisions!

 

I use the K11 R2R as a headphone setup at work.  Good enough IMO.  The preamp is crap but hey, its a $200 dac/pre/headphone.  IMO i wouldnt bother with the K13, if you're dead set on a Fiio dac, i'd wait for the Warmer dac (silly name) but thats a much better dac

Well, recieved my FiiO K13 from Addicted to Audio and have it plugged in at my desk at work. Over bluetooth it sounds really rather nice with my Verum 1 Mk2 headphones though I have sneaking suspicion its bottlenecked by its SMPS. I'll bring in one of my spare Gieseler Kraftwerk II LPS tomorrow and see how that goes. It's a nice little unit and while I'm not a fan of all the lights I guess its fine for desktop use. I don't feel its on the level of the Hifiman Serenade Jr discrete R2R DAC however the inclusion of Bluetooth is actually quite useful for a headphone DAC/Amp.

The Fiio's K11 R2R really benefited from a LPS + this - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006110406493.html?spm=a2g0o.tesla.0.0.7187EY5TEY5T1U&pdp_npi=6%40dis!AUD!AU%2446.65!AU%2441.99!!!!!%402101e2b417628452966518973eccbe!12000035795238005!btfpre!!!!1!0!&afTraceInfo=1005006110406493__pc__c_ppc_item_bridge_pc_main__N8lK5hy__1762845296726

Just to confuse the entire issue….just released.

 

https://www.fiio.com/newsinfo/1099293.html

Tubes in the I/V or output stage of a dac,👎 Marketing gimmick.

 

Or to me it's done only if your dac/system isn't right and your trying to hide/soften something.

And they look to be the output stage as well as being capacitor coupled🤮

 

 

 

Cheers George 

 

Edited November 11, 2025Nov 11 by georgehifi

20 minutes ago, georgehifi said:

Tubes in the I/V or output stage of a dac,👎 Marketing gimmick.

 

Or to me it's done only if your dac/system isn't right and your trying to hide/soften something.

And they look to be the output stage as well as being capacitor coupled🤮

 

 

 

Cheers George 

 

That’s why I love our community, there is always someone that is far more knowledgeable than I, and is happy to pass on his thoughts.

Thanks George, it’s appreciated 🙏

Ps: I chase that full sounding holographic walk into the performers space, where each instrument stands alone and is easily defined. If that makes sense, thought the tubes might have given a little more of that. But as you say, if not implemented correctly, that’s not going to happen 🙏

Edited November 11, 2025Nov 11 by Mr 57

10 hours ago, Mr 57 said:

Ps: I chase that full sounding holographic walk into the performers space

 

They "can" do that "artificially" but at a large expense of precise imaging (left to right, also outside the speakers)  and (depth front to back) placement, and the bass is "rarely ever" as well defined as solid state can be.

Then there's the higher output impedance of tubes (if not used as cathode followers which most tube lovers don't like, as they sound too solid state for them) in the output stage or output buffer in a dac or preamp, they don't impedance match into the lower input impedance of many of today's amps as well as solid state can.

(like I said above, this to me is a bit of a marketing gimmick for the diehard tube lovers)

Cheers George 

Edited November 11, 2025Nov 11 by georgehifi

Thanks George….

my k13 has just arrived, plugged it in via the Fiio LPS.
It's a big box of tricks to play with. First thing I noticed is how quiet it is (background) in comparison to the K11 r2r.

It is a step up from the k11, in regards to how much more relaxed it presents music.

More than enough user eq presets to play with too….lots of fun, and isn’t that why we play in this silly hobby 😜

 

Next day, and still enjoying this new toy.
In NOS mode is by far the best.

Running it into class A amplifiers, whether SS or Valve, is so far the peak of performance and presentation.

Prefer the Valve….just magical,…..

Cheers

Jeff

 

I said I'll do a in-depth review of this FiiO K13 Discrete R2R (Swiss-Army-knife dac) after a week of listening, but every spare moment I have has been used up listening to it, all been very positive, streaming to it and playing CD's especially for the $499aud

Just want to do the last a/b change with a 12vdc 50w  super regulated linear power supply (LPS) that's coming later this week which I think will get from passed experiences even better audible performance from this K13 R2R.

As from experience switch-mode (SMPS) supplies just don't cut it for me, especially with sensitive source component equipment let alone my Class-D Hypex NC 500 monoblock poweramps I have, which have had large linear supplies for over 3 years now and never ever questioned the need to return back to the SMPS they have/had.

 

Cheers George   

Edited November 18, 2025Nov 18 by georgehifi

Eight days in….

usually I’ll sit and listen whilst I scroll on the iPad, looking at and reading reviews, music suggestions etc. But you just know when something special has been inserted into the music reproduction chain.
When it makes you put the scrolling aside and just listen to what is being presented.  It’s giving me that “I can hear his vocal cords” sound. The insight into the music is just wonderful.

It has just exploded the soundstage !

This is one of those very things! It is just so relaxed in it’s presentation, I hate the “never heard before” schtick, but this thing brings back stuff I knew was there from listening to ESL’s…..it’s a massive step up from the K11…..massive!

Hope your finding as much enjoyment from it as I am @georgehifi🙏

Edited November 20, 2025Nov 20 by Mr 57

I just sold my K11 R2R last week and decided to buy a topping dx5ii which I'm very happy with, but I may have to now avoid this thread so I don't get too tempted to try the K13 😆

It's very nice paired with a Gieseler Kraftwerk LPS. That's what I have it paired with at work. That said my Verum I MK2 are having some issues so need to send the left cup back to Ukraine for a fix. 

 

I've SVGA P2 Pro on order in the meantime which should tide me by.

Edited November 20, 2025Nov 20 by MattyW

On 20/11/2025 at 8:48 PM, MattyW said:

It's very nice paired with a Gieseler Kraftwerk LPS.

Got my 50w (4amp) regulated LPS yesterday and yes it's immediately better in all respects than the internal SMPS of the K13.

 

Cheers George

Edited November 22, 2025Nov 22 by georgehifi

Well here it is my review of FiiO's K13 discrete R2R ladder dac the "Swiss Army-Knife of Dacs), after the external LPS power supply was also listened to instead of the internal SMPS.

 

Both dacs have that typical huge wide deep rich sound-stage, with masses of dynamic slam and tight rich upper and lower bass and sweet transparent upper mids and highs, speakers just disappear, (it's as though they can be taken out of the room and the sound will stay with you) no Delta Sigma "whiteness/coldness" that can attract your listening-sight to the speakers drivers, with either of these R2R dacs.

 

Most know that this is comparison is made with what I have owned and loved for years and has never been equalled, which is the rare (outside of the US because of weight & air shipping fire hazard) the MSB discrete R2R ladder "Power Dac", which is a "no thrills version" of the far later MSB "Discrete Dac" R2R  2 x box ladder dac.

 
But this earlier MSB has the option of running off it's own internal 5 x SLA rechargeable batteries or mains, which when run in battery mode is said to sound a touch better than the later newer far more expensive "Discrete Dac" mains power only, they share the same R2R dac modules someone mentioned in the US.

 

1: Using both dac's in OS-mode with their own volume controls (MSB digital domain and K13 analogue domain) both direct into my Hypex NC-500 monoblocks that use very large linear supplies and have no input buffers The MSB in battery mode was a little ahead of FiiO K13 when using it's own internal SMPS, but with the external 50w 4amp LPS on the K13 they sounded very close, I don't think a blind A/B could reveal a winner.

 

2: What a bargain at $499 and you get host of goodies with it, a 10 band digital domain PEQ that also has q-factor for wider or narrower peaks or dips depending on what's needed.

 

Cheers George     

Edited November 26, 2025Nov 26 by georgehifi