High-end music players are never out of trend. In fact, its growing market only tells how enthusiastic people are about these hi-res DAPs.
If you’re into these heavy devices you must have also heard some names. For example Fiio m17 and Kann alpha.
So which one do you think is better between fiio m17 vs kann alpha?
Fiio m17 has not only a great layout but also a good internal structure. It has a better CPU and a superior DAC chipset. Kann alpha, on the other hand, has better hardware units. But the sound performance is poor in comparison to Fiio m17.
That’s the tip of the iceberg. I’m sure you’re curious to know more. So, jump along and unravel this mystery with us.
Let’s begin!
FiiO M17 Vs Kann Alpha: Quick Comparison
Before we begin, let’s have a look at some key differences between Kann Alpha vs Fiio m17.
| Aspect | FiiO M17 | Kann Alpha |
| Brand | FiiO | Astell & Kern |
| Dimensions | 3.5 x 6.2 x 1.1″ / 88.5 x 156.4 x 28.0 mm | 2.7 x 4.6 x 1.0″ / 68.3 x 117.0 x 25.0 mm |
| Weight | 610 g / 21.5 oz | 316 g / 0.7 lb |
| Display | 5.99″ LCD (2160 x 1080 Resolution) | 4.1″ LCD (1280 x 720 Resolution) |
| Headphone Output Ports | 6.5mm, 3.5mm, 4.4mm, 2.5mm | 4.4mm, 2.5mm, 3.5 mm |
| Frequency Response | 5 Hz – 80 kHz, -3 dB | 20 Hz – 20 kHz, ±0.021 dB |
| Maximum Output Voltage | 27.7 Vp-p | 12 Vrms |
| Signal to noise ratio | 123 dB | 116-117 dB |
| Operation Method | Volume button, touchscreen, physical buttons | Touchscreen, volume wheel |
| Battery | Lithium-ion Battery 9200 mAh | Lithium-ion Battery 9200 mAh |
| Check Availability | Check Latest Price | Check Latest Price |
From the looks of it, there are some pretty interesting comparison between the two DAPs. We’ll elaborate the distinguishing factors in the next segment.
FiiO M17 Vs Kann Alpha: Detailed Comparison
You’ve seen the short comparison. Now let’s get into more details about them.
What Comes in the Box?
Fiio m17 comes with a set of accessories with it. Upon Fiio m17 unboxing you’ll find the following items.
- A leatherette case
- A power supply
- A USB Type-C cable
- Protective glass
- A cooling stand
The leatherette case is designed with metal placed on the rear. It’s for cooling purposes. This beast of a DAP gets hot soon and thus it requires a cooling stand.
It’s an exclusive accessory of Fiio m17. As for astell kern kann alpha unboxing these are the items you’ll be expecting-
- microSD card
- Screen protectors
- A USB Type-C cable
- A leatherette case
- User manual
Design:
Fiio m17 has outdone its other predecessor series in many aspects. The major one of them is the design of it. The first impression you’ll get from seeing it is that it has a beastly size.
On to the dimensions, the Fiio m17 dimension is about 3.5 x 6.2 x 1.1″ / 88.5 x 156.4 x 28.0 mm. So far, that’s the biggest size of Fiio DAP in the market. It weighs about 610g that’s almost like a digital brick.
Its body is made from solid CNC machined aluminum. So you can tell it’s pretty heavier compared to any other hi-res music player.
The whole outlook has a gaming vibe on it due to the LED side grills. These side grills are added for ventilation purposes. Since it tends to get hot soon.
The glassy rear side of it has elegant holographic 3D patterns. The design pattern is different in Fiio m17 compared to Fiio m15. The IPS display size is 5.99” with a resolution of 2160×1080.
It has 2 distinct volume control modes. It’s functioned with an analog wheel as most DAPs have but better. There are also many connecting ports.
Fiio m17 has a total of four (6.5mm, 3.5mm, 4.4mm, 2.5mm) connecting ports. Undoubtedly that’s the most any DAP has offered till now. There are circular mechanical buttons on both sides for play/pause, and switching tracks.
There are also toggle switches and multifunction keys. It’s a beast of a music player that lacks almost nothing.
Despite having all that cool features, can Fiio M17 be used as a DAC?
Yes, the Fiio M17s USB DAC mode can convert the DAP into a high-quality DAC. You can use the Fiio M17 as a DAC with both computers and home sound systems.
Astell&kern Kann alpha is quite smaller in size than the Fiio m17. The size contrast between iBasso dx300 and Fiio m17 is also very much noticeable. That makes Kann alpha dap easily carryable.
It has a dimension of 2.7 x 4.6 x 1.0″ / 68.3 x 117.0 x 25.0 mm. The IPS display screen is of size 4.1″ with 1280 x 720 Resolution.
The display size is much smaller than the Fiio m17 display screen. Its body is built with CNC-milled aluminum and has an attractive black color.
Kann alpha weigh over 316 g. It has three output ports (4.4mm, 2.5mm, and 3.5 mm) on the top. There’s also a volume control dial at the top and a few mechanical buttons.
It overall has a good design. But we must say, Fiio m17’s design is extraordinary comparatively.
All that discussion leads to the question:
Is Fiio M17 waterproof?
Technically, the Fiio M17 is sweat and waterproof to some extent. Thanks to the FW1 circuit board that uses waterproof nano-coating and glue. Due to this, you don’t have to worry about mild water spillage or sweat. But being soaked in water can seriously damage your Fiio M17.
Key Specifications:
Fiio m17 specs consists of a highly-optimized internal structure. No wonder since it’s a desktop-class music player. It has a dual ES9038Pro DAC chipset. It uses the Snapdragon Qualcomm 660 CPU and the upgraded THX AAA-788+ op-amplifier.
It also has a QCC5124 flagship chip that supports almost all types of BlueTooth transmission. That makes Fiio M17 output power one of the industry-leading examples.
Kann alpha uses the dual Sabre ESS 9068AS chipset. It’s a really excellent chip considering it’s also used in Shanling M6 Pro 21. It has a quad-core DAP technology CPU.
You also get massive power support from Kann Alpha thanks to the 5200 mAh battery. But Fiio m17 battery output surpasses Kann Alpha with its overwhelming 9200 mAh power.
Sound Performance:
Fiio m17 is not just about looks but aces in performance. It has a sharp, natural, and weighty sound scale. You’ll find density and strength in it.
There’s no artificial sonority or unnecessary harmonicas. Thanks to SNR cancelling excess noise. In high frequency, it sounds clear, transparent, and cool. It also has a metallic tint to it.
The mid-tonality has a natural yet distinct weighty tone to it. It gives a melodious or smooth vibe which is pretty pleasant to the ears.
But can you listen to Spotify with Fiio M17?
Yes! Fiio M17 supports a wide range of platforms. That includes Fiio Music, Tidal, Qobuz, Roon, and most importantly, Spotify. With Fiio M17, you can also play natively DSD files, making it a multitasking beast!
Compared to that Kann alpha is quite lacking in sound performance. It can get annoyingly loud so the mid-range is mostly suggested to be used.
The high tonality of it comes clean and sharp. But it may sound a bit flat. The low tonality sounds deeper so it’s not quite bad.
However, you might hit a brick wall with some common Astell and Kern KANN problems. But don’t worry, a few useful software updates can fix the issue for you!
Looking to pair up the music players with top-quality IEMs to test their abilities? Check out these amazing IEMs you can get from Linsoul! Take your listening experience to the next level by pairing up your music players with these IEMs:
| Product | Features | Price(Amazon) | Price(Linsoul) | Price(Aliexpress) |
THIEAUDIO Elixir | High-Quality Litz Cable3-Dimensional Velocity TransducerBalanced and Neutral Tonality | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
| 7HZ Timeless | 14.2mm Planar DriverFrequency response range: 5-40000hzImpedance: 14.8ohm | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
| Tripowin Leá | LCP Dynamic DriverPowerful Bass, Enhanced PerformancePremium Detachable Cable | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
These IEMs are some of the most popular launches of the last few years. You can get a good deal from Amazon and Linsoul with quick delivery. We consider these IEMs to be the best IEMs to pair with Fiioo M17.
Our Winner
The winner between these two music players would undoubtedly be Fiio m17. Because it tops Kann alpha in every aspect. It has a better design, better hardware, and a software unit.
It also sounds much better in sound comparison. It’s desktop portable and works really fast and also has a large user interface. All together it gets a total win.
Kann alpha specs on the other hand don’t have a promising UI. Also, it’s slow. The sound performance is average. So, if you’re seeking the best experience go with Fiio m17.
If you’re happy with fewer features and average music quality then Kann alpha it is. Ultimately the decision would be yours.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
People ask similar queries and a few more talks on today’s topic-
What Audio Formats Does Kann Alpha Support?
The audio formats that Kann alpha supports are WAV, AAC, WMA, FLAC, MP3, and OGG. It also supports AIFF, DSF, DFF, MQA, and APE formats. It’s more than what Fiio m17 supports.
What Audio Formats Does Fiio m17 Support?
Fiio m17 supports fewer audio formats compared to Kann alpha. But the list isn’t that small either. The supported formats are WMA, OGG, MP3, WAV, AIFF, AAC, and FLAC.
What Is the Battery Life of Fiio m17 and Kann Alpha?
The lithium-ion battery of Fiio m17 is 9200 mAh power. It takes 4.5 hours to charge it and can supply charge for 10 hours. The lithium-polymer battery of Kann alpha is of 5600 mAh power. It takes 3.5 hours to be charged fully and runs for 14.5 hours.
Conclusion
That’s all from us regarding fiio m17 vs kann alpha. Now you know which one you want to pick. If you’re worried about the price don’t be.
Fiio m17 might be expensive but it’s worth every penny and even more. Hopefully, you’ll make the right decision.
Happy shopping!
