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A Budget Hi-Fi Brand Just Made a Seriously Impressive Desktop Amplifier

Turn your desktop into a bona fide audiophile-grade setup.

A black electronic device with a textured surface, featuring a circular transparent window on top revealing internal circuitry. The front panel has a small digital display showing "384k 48" and two yellow-lit knobs on either side. The device is placed on a dark surface next to a partially visible keyboard.Fiio

By Tucker Bowe

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Earlier this summer, FiiO introduced the K15, a versatile DAC and headphone amplifier designed to be the hub for your desktop hi-fi setup. It costs $549.

Now, the rising force in budget hi-fi is introducing another desktop-friendly DAC and headphone amplifier, the K13 R2R, which is positioned just beneath the K15 in its lineup. It’s designed to do a similar, but just at a more accessible price point.

FiiO K13 R2R

Two stacked black FiiO audio devices sit on a wooden desk next to a headphone stand holding black over-ear headphones. The top device has a circular window showing internal components, two blue-lit control knobs, and a display screen with a connected cable. The bottom device features a power button and a display reading "FiiO 12H HiFi." A monitor is partially visible on the right side of the desk.
The K13 R2R is a powered DAC and headphone amplifier for your desktop.
Fiio

An audiophile DAC

Fiio’s K13 R2R is a desktop DAC and headphone amplifier that is essentially an upgraded version of the brand’s K11 R2R, which was released last year. Compared to that model, the K13 R2R is slightly bigger and more powerful. Thanks to more connections, it’s more versatile, as well.

The K13 R2R features Fiio’s proprietary 24-bit resistor ladder DAC with an ultra-low noise architecture and is paired with a proprietary error correction algorithm. This allows it to, according to the brand, deliver a “uniquely rich and musical sound.”

Additionally, the K13 R2R supports high-resolution playback up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256.

Silver rectangular audio device with rounded edges, featuring two illuminated green control knobs on the front, a digital display in the center, and a visible circuit board through a circular transparent window on the top. A black antenna extends from the back. The brand name "FiiO" is printed on the top surface.
The K13 R2R comes in black or silver (shown) finishes.
Fiio

Powerful Amp

On the headphone amp front, the K13 R2R is capable of delivering 2400mW of total power, meaning it should be more than enough to drive most headphones.

There are both balanced 4.4mm and single-ended 6.35mm headphone jacks, as well as selectable gain control so you can match your headphones’ sensitivity.

You can select the gain using the front knobs and digital display. Here, you can also see other information, such as its sample rate or filter settings.

Rear panel of an audio device featuring two balanced XLR outputs, four RCA line outputs (two left and two right), a coaxial input, an optical input, a USB input, a DC power input, a power switch, an AC power input, and a wireless antenna.
On the back are multiple inputs for building out your system.
Fiio

Beyond the desktop

Naturally, the K13 R2R is far more capable than your average desktop amplifier. In fact, it can function as a standalone preamplifier or power amplifier, too.

Thanks to multiple inputs (including digital coaxial, optical, and USB-C) and line-level RCA and balanced XLR outputs, the K13 R2R lets you build out your desktop hi-fi system in neat ways. For example, you can hook up powered or active speakers, or even connect other digital sources.

It has built-in Bluetooth with support for high-resolution codecs (including LDAC), so you can stream music directly to K13 R2R.

The one thing missing is an analog line-level input, however. So you can’t directly integrate a turntable with a built-in phono preamp.

A black FiiO audio device with a circular window on top showing internal circuitry, two blue-lit control knobs on the front, a small display screen, and an antenna on the back left side. It is placed on a dark surface next to a silver speaker with two visible speaker drivers. A monitor screen is partially visible on the left side.
The K13 R2R in black.
Fiio

Price and availability

The FiiO K13 R2R is designed to bring audiophile-grade performance to your desktop at a relatively affordable price. It costs $319 and will be available this month.

It comes in two finishes: silver or black.

About the Author:

Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. As a Tech Staff Writer, he tracks everything in the consumer tech space, from headphones to smartphones, wearables to home theater systems. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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