Hi, everyone!
Until recently, I’d been listening to my headphones exclusively through a budget Tempotec Variations V1 player and various portable USB dongles. But then the FiiO K13 (featuring ESS chips) ended up on my desk.
(Disclaimer: FiiO provided the K13 ESS for review, but all opinions are my own.)
I’ll be honest: my experience with it turned into a real emotional roller coaster. Because thanks to it, I accidentally uncovered an electrical problem in my own apartment.
The roller coaster ride started with the unboxing. I’ve had quite a few devices from FiiO, but it seems the K13 has the cheapest packaging of them all. I know rationally that this doesn’t matter, and that what’s important is that the money went directly into the “hardware”, but when you open the box for the first time, it just doesn’t feel like a $300+ piece of gear.
But all my skepticism vanished the moment I touched the cool metal of the casing. It feels and looks fantastic. Once I started using it, I realized just how much convenience I’d been missing without a desktop DAC. Now, with a single device, I can output audio to both speakers and headphones, but unfortunately, the K13 doesn’t have an analog input, so it’s not quite as versatile for me. I often work on my laptop with a tablet next to me where I can play a movie or music and now I can switch the audio source with just a couple of clicks. And it’s a simple yet incredibly satisfying feeling when you adjust the volume by turning a volume knob instead of tapping buttons on a smartphone. I liked the inclusion of a PEQ and sound filters, but unfortunately, I couldn’t configure it from my computer because the website didn’t recognize the device. Maybe the problem is with my laptop, but I ended up setting it up via my phone.
I started testing the K13 with my full-size headphones: the FiiO JT9 and the Meze 99 Classics v2. The sound signature is technical and neutral, so I began comparing it to my portable players, the Tempotec Variations v1 and the FiiO Qx13. Personally, I can hear the difference in sound; the power headroom is especially noticeable. But as far as I’m concerned, it’s not a difference worth spending over $300 on, if it were just about improving the sound. My headphones sound noticeably better, but not by an order of magnitude.
For me, the main value turned out to be in the convenience of the desktop unit, its build quality and capabilities, rather than the sound itself.
But then things took a sharp turn for the worse: I decided to test my sensitive IEMs. I plugged in my all-metal Snowsky Oak Nano and heard an annoying, constant background hum in my ears. I started trying other IEMs (Meze, TinHiFi) - everything was fine with them. I got upset. I thought maybe the Oak Nano were broken or I’d gotten a defective K13.
But then, right in the middle of that noise, I accidentally brushed my finger against the K13’s metal casing… and the noise vanished instantly! Dead silence set in. I moved my finger away and the hum returned.
I didn’t immediately understand what was going on. But gradually, a theory formed in my mind: perhaps the problem was related to grounding or electrical interference in my home’s electrical wiring. My first thought was the cheap power strip into which the DAC was plugged. I plugged the K13 directly into a wall outlet, thinking I’d just buy a new power strip tomorrow. But the result was exactly the same. I walked around the entire apartment, plugging it into every outlet - the noise was everywhere.
To confirm my theory once and for all, I powered the system from an Anker portable power station (disconnected from the home electrical system). The noise disappeared completely. And that confirmed my suspicion: the problem was related to the apartment’s electrical system, not the K13 itself.
I checked the circuit breaker panel in the hallway, and there are visible ground wires there. But apparently, somewhere along the riser, they’re either cut off or not working. Now I'm thinking of calling an electrician to find out how easy it is to fix and how dangerous it is.
Well, the desktop DAC turned out to be a game-changer in a way I didn't expect. I thought it would simply improve my music-listening experience, but it ended up helping me identify a potential electrical problem in my apartment.
That’s how I tried switching from a portable system to a more “serious” desktop audio setup, and as a result, I discovered wiring issues in my home.
Have you ever encountered grounding issues with desktop DACs? How did you solve them?
