The K9 PRO ESS was developed as a flagship product from the very beginning and designed to be uncompromising in both its amplifier and digital-to-analog converter capabilities. Its outstanding performance guarantees that you will want to make room for the K9 PRO ESS in your audio equipment collection.
The K9 PRO ESS is equipped with two cutting-edge ES9038PRO chips, renowned in the audio industry for their exceptional performance and unprecedented decoding capabilities, supporting frequencies up to PCM 384kHz and native DSD256.
The THX AAA 788+ amplification module used in the K9 PRO ensures exemplary level of detail and dynamics regardless of whether you are using low or high impedance headphones. The K9 PRO ESS can deliver up to 1.1W of power when working with high impedance loads and up to distortion-free 2W when working with low impedance loads. Compared to the original, the output power of the K9 PRO ESS has increased by more than 50% with higher heat dissipation efficiency.
Fully differential signals pass through a four-channel DAC, four-channel volume control, and four-channel amplifier for truly balanced sound reproduction. This design ensures minimal interference between different components, preserving all the details and dynamic fluctuations in the music for unparalleled sound quality.
The K9 PRO ESS circuit board uses separate layout, where not only the power supply and signal paths are separated, but the analog amplification contour is also placed in an independent section, guaranteeing the integrity of the processed audio signal.
Each audio signal passes through a 6-stage circuit to accurately reproduce the music with all the finest details.
The linear power supply of the K9 PRO ESS, with a low-frequency transformer and high-capacity Nichicon capacitors, provides sufficient clean power for the whole system. The digital parts of the K9 PRO ESS are powered separately from the analog parts to effectively protect against interference between the two circuits. This schematic solution leads to a very clean sound. Special attention has also been paid to power stabilization and filtering in the audio circuit, and a special high-performance transformer is custom-made.
The latest generation XMOS chips support dual-clock synchronization management technology. Dual asynchronous femtosecond clocks are used for USB and Bluetooth decoding, while automatic PLL clocks are used for optical and coaxial decoding. A more accurate clock management system makes it easier to work with any source and supports maximum possible quality.
The K9 PRO ESS supports the unfolding of the MQA format, allowing you to listen to high-resolution audio files that not only have a reasonable size but also preserve the sound quality of the studio master.
The K9 PRO ESS features the latest Qualcomm QCC5124 chip for processing Bluetooth with support for formats such as LDAC, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive. This chip ensures that Bluetooth connections are reliable and fast, meeting the needs of low latency for gaming/videos as well as high transfer speeds required for Hi-Res Audio. Supported Bluetooth formats: AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX LL, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, and LDAC.
Volume control may seem like a simple concept, but its proper implementation is crucial for high-quality sound. The ADC volume control curve restoration method used in the K9 PRO ESS effectively minimizes any volume imbalance between the left and right channels and is noise-free. This also results in smooth volume changes at all levels.
Switch between high, medium, and low gain to precisely match your needs when listening with a specific pair of headphones. Thanks to the amplifier hardware design, even when listening with low gain in highly sensitive headphones, the dynamic range and accuracy of music reproduction remain uncompromised.
The stainless steel volume control knob seamlessly blends with the aluminum alloy front panel, providing a luxurious feel when controlling the music. RGB indicators surrounding the volume knob can light up differently depending on the current sample rate of the playback.
A custom-made stand is included in the package, which not only reduces the footprint of the K9 PRO ESS on your desk but also provides more efficient heat dissipation through convection, making the stand a true example of both form and functionality.
Features:
- Standalone DAC with headphone amplifier
- Dual ES9038PRO DAC
- THX-AAA 788+ amplifier module
- Dual femtoclock oscillators
- Qualcomm QCC5124 wireless chip
- Supports LDAC, aptX adaptive, aptX HD, aptX LL codecs
- Fully balanced circuit
- Two transformers in the power supply unit
- Extended connectivity
- Supports PCM 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256
- Output power: 2100mW at 32 ohms 6.3mm output
- Output power: 1100mW at 300 ohms 4.4mm, XLR output
Package includes:
- DAC with built-in amplifier
- Power cable
- USB-B cable
- Bluetooth antenna
- Adapter
- Stand
- Documentation