Dual ES9038PRO DAC chips take the K9 Pro to new heights, achieving better THD+N and SNR than its predecessor.

The pair of THX AAA 788+ chips used in the K9 Pro ESS provides exemplary details and dynamics for both low and high-impedance headphones. The K9 Pro ESS can output up to 46Vpp transients when driving high-impedance loads, and up to an undistorted 2W when pushing low-impedance loads.

Using an ultra-precise clock management system, the K9 Pro ESS can maintain maximum quality no matter the source. Dual asynchronous femtosecond clocks are used to decode USB and Bluetooth sources, while automatic PLL clocks are used to decode optical and coaxial sources.

The K9 Pro ESS employs the Qualcomm QC5124 to handle Bluetooth duties, with support for formats such as LDAC, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive. This chip ensures that Bluetooth connections are both reliable and quick, satisfying both the low latency needs for games/videos and the high bitrate necessary for high-resolution audio.

The volume knob may seem like a pretty simple component of an amp, but executing it well is crucial to the listening experience. The ADC curve reconstruction method of volume adjustment used in the K9 Pro ESS effectively minimizes any left-right channel volume imbalance and noise. It also results in a smooth change of volume across all levels.

Switch between low, medium, and high gain to accommodate your entire headphone library. Thanks to a pure hardware gain circuit, the K9 Pro ESS maintains the dynamic range and fidelity of your music even while amplifying high-sensitivity headphones at low gain.

Controls are clearly and intuitively laid out for an effortless experience. Metal switches are used for controlling input selection and gain level.

The RGB indicator lights surrounding the stainless steel volume knob change colors depending on the currently playing sample rate.

Built-in Bluetooth low energy technology allows you to use the FiiO Control App to control functions like channel balance, sleep timer at any time, even when not in Bluetooth mode.

Dual ESS SABRE ES9038 PRO chips

Dual THX-AAA 788+ amplifiers

Dual femtosecond clocks

Qualcomm QCC5124

Supports LDAC, aptX adaptive, aptX HD

App control

Truly balanced design

Dual voltage linear transformer

Wide connector selection

Lossless MQA decoding

Bluetooth format indicator

DAC chip: ESS SABRE ES9038PRO x2

USB chip: XMOS XUF208

Bluetooth chip: Qualcomm QCC5124

Amp: THX-AAA 788+ x2

Linear transformer: THAILIN/BingZ

Gain: L/M/H

Supported Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX LL, atpX HD, LDAC, aptX adaptive

Maximum supported sampling rates

USB DAC: 32-bit/384kHz, DSD256

Coaxial: 24-bit/192kHz

Optical: 24-bit/96kHz

Recommended headphone impedance: 16-600Ω

USB: Type-C, USB B (data transmission)

Inputs: RCA, 4.4mm balanced, optical

Outputs: 4.4mm balanced, XLR, 6.35mm, RCA

Weight: 6lbs (2750g)

Single-ended line out parameters

THD+N: <0.00042%

SNR: ≥123dB

Crosstalk: ≥115dB

Noise floor: <1.9uV

Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz

Line level: 2.5Vrms

Balanced line out performance parameters:

THD+N: <0.00025%

SNR: ≥128dB

Crosstalk: ≥125dB

Noise floor: <1.9uV

Frequency response: 20Hz – 50kHz

Line level: 5Vrms

Single-ended headphone output parameters:

Continuous undistorted output power 1: ≥1.2W (16Ω/ THD+N< 1%, Aux in)

Continuous undistorted output power 2: ≥2W (16Ω/THD+N＜1%，UAC/SPDIF/BT IN)

Continuous undistorted output power 3 : ≥281mW (300Ω/ THD+N< 1%, Aux in)

Output impedance: <1Ω

Crosstalk: ≥75dB

THD+N: <0.00033%

Noise floor: <2uV

SNR: ≥129dB

Frequency response: 20Hz – 50kHz

Max output voltage: >26Vp-p

Balanced headphone output parameters

Continuous undistorted output power: ≥1.1W

Output impedance: <1Ω

Continuous undistorted output power 2: ≥2.1W (32Ω / THD+N < 1%, Aux in)

Continuous undistorted power 3: ≥1.1W (300Ω/ THD+N <1%, Aux in)

Noise floor: <3uV

Frequency response: 5Hz – 50kHz

Output impedance: <1Ω

Crosstalk: ≥114dB (1kHz, Aux in)

THD+N: <0.0003%

SNR: ≥123dB

Max output voltage: >52Vp-p