Audio & Headphones · Head-to-head
FiiO KA17 vs iFi Audio iFi GO blu Air
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Portable Headphone Amps: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The FiiO KA17 delivers near-desktop power and a stack of features for a fair mid-range price, making it the easiest all-rounder to recommend. The iFi GO blu Air runs a close second for anyone who wants their phone free, with LDAC and aptX Adaptive, a balanced 4.4mm output and analog tone controls in a 31 gram body.
FiiO KA17
Buy itA punchy, powerful, feature-loaded dongle that punches far above its modest price.
- Big balanced output that comfortably drives most headphones and IEMs
- Dual ESS ES9069Q DACs with a tuning owners describe as neutral with a touch of warmth
- Loaded with extras: OLED readout, gain modes, filters, and a separate desktop power port
- Both 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs on a slim body
- Draws meaningful battery from your phone and can run warm under load
- No Bluetooth - it only works plugged in
iFi Audio iFi GO blu Air
Buy itA 31 gram Bluetooth DAC/amp with a balanced output and analog tone controls, so the phone can stay in your pocket.
- Bluetooth 5.2 on a Qualcomm QCC5144 with LDAC, LHDC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, AAC and SBC
- 4.4mm balanced output rated at 262mW into 32 ohms, plus an S-Balanced 3.5mm output that iFi says halves crosstalk for IEMs
- XBass and XSpace tone shaping, a magnetic clip, and about 10 hours of battery in a 31 gram body
- Bluetooth input only, so it cannot act as a wired USB DAC
- iFi's warranty is one year in the US, against two in the EU
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| FiiO KA17 Our pick | iFi Audio iFi GO blu Air | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Listeners who want close to desktop-level power in a plug-in dongle without paying flagship money. | Listeners who want better sound and a balanced output without a cable between phone and headphones. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range |
| Type | Plug-in USB dongle | Bluetooth DAC/amp |
| Wireless (Bluetooth) | No | Yes (LDAC, aptX Adaptive) |
| Output power | Very high for a dongle | 262mW at 32 ohms (4.4mm) |
| EQ / tone controls | Digital filters, gain | XBass / XSpace |
| Outputs | 3.5mm + 4.4mm | 3.5mm S-Balanced + 4.4mm |
| Pocketability | Slim, hangs off phone | 31g, clips to a bag |
| Sound character | Neutral, slightly warm | Tunable with XBass / XSpace |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the FiiO KA17 if
listeners who want close to desktop-level power in a plug-in dongle without paying flagship money.
Know before buying: draws meaningful battery from your phone and can run warm under load.
Pick the iFi Audio iFi GO blu Air if
listeners who want better sound and a balanced output without a cable between phone and headphones.
Know before buying: bluetooth input only, so it cannot act as a wired USB DAC.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the FiiO KA17 - A punchy, powerful, feature-loaded dongle that punches far above its modest price. Choose the iFi Audio iFi GO blu Air instead if listeners who want better sound and a balanced output without a cable between phone and headphones.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Portable Headphone Amps: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).