K3 USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier

The XMOS USB receiver chip in the K3 directly converts any USB audio input to digital signals output via the coaxial and optical connectors, allowing you to connect to speaker systems, amplifiers, or other external decoders. 

A cohesive tactile experience

The volume knob blends in with the curves of the K3's body for a distinctive touch. Next to the volume knob is an RGB light that indicates what kind of digital audio is being input to the K3, visually confirming what you are hearing in your music. It has both 3.5mm single-ended and 2.5mm balanced headphone jacks. Both outputs have audio jack detection, which means that when headphones are inserted into the balanced out, balanced boost automatically kicks in, which engages a 50% output power increase compared to the single-ended out.

Dual headphone jacks

The 3.5mm line out is driven directly by the OPA1612 op-amp, to ensure as little sound quality reduction as possible. The line out output is also adjustable with maximum power output up to 2Vrms, to ensure compatibility with a wide variety of active speakers and external amplifiers.

Connection options

The switch for high and low gain ensures that you can use the K3 with a wide variety of headphones, and that your listening volume needs are covered. The hardware bass boost switch enhances the dynamic range of the lower frequencies and gives them some extra punch to really make your songs, games, and movies come to life.

Gain and bass switches

The all-aluminum black body has been painstakingly CNC-machined, anodized, and sandblasted to ensure that the K3 feels robust yet perfectly textured for a great feel in your hands. Combined with its small size, you can easily take the K3 wherever you need to.

Low-distortion op-amps

The combination of the proven OPA926 with its low-distortion, low-noise, and high output swing along with the professional-grade TI OPA1612 acting as the low-pass filter (LPF) ensures the K3 effortlessly provides highly resolving sound, pumping out 320mW at 16Ω from the balanced output.

Reliable USB power

The K3 adopts the modern USB Type-C input interface for a more reliable and stable connection, including that of power. However, care to ensure an uncompromised power supply doesn't stop there – the K3 implements overvoltage protection (OVP) and a double-filter circuit to ensure power supply stability, while the digital and analog audio circuits each get their own power supply to greatly reduce crosstalk.

Capable decoding

The secret to effectively eliminating channel volume imbalances is to use an ADC volume control, which is implemented in the K3. Plus, an added side benefit is that by reconstructing the ADC curve, the user is able to smoothly adjust the volume to a more accurate and finer degree, allowing the K3 to be used with headphones of all kinds of sensitivity for a variety of listening needs.

No more channel imbalances with ADC volume control

The K3's well-thought-out internal design consists of two main layers that work together perfectly. Digital processing is carried out by the high-performance AKM AK4452 with 32-bit VELVET SOUND technology and fully differential outputs for true balanced output, while the analog signals are handled and amplified by a design consisting of LPF/voltage amplification and a current drive circuit.