Class A Amplifier

The FiiO Class A is a fully discrete Class A headphone amplifier and preamplifier, and the heart of FiiO’s retro-styled desktop system. It’s built from individual audio transistors rather than integrated chips, with each channel matched and hand-calibrated. The goal is a warm, natural, distinctly analogue sound.

Two transistor families, working together

FiiO pairs Toshiba matched-pair transistors, chosen for warmth and sweet vocals, with Sanken audio transistors for speed and control. Every unit’s bias current is calibrated by hand for consistent Class A operation.

Serious power, properly supplied

A custom 60W toroidal transformer and 20,000μF of Nichicon capacitance feed a fully balanced circuit capable of 4000mW per channel into 32Ω from the balanced outputs. Five gain levels make it easy to match anything from easy-going headphones to genuinely hard-to-drive planars. A DC servo keeps output offset at zero to protect your headphones.

Class A amplifiers run warm by design. That’s part of how they work, so give it some space on the desk.

Shape the sound if you want to

Independent bass and treble controls offer up to ±10dB each. Purists can leave them flat. Everyone else can take the edge off a bright headphone or add a little weight on late-night listening.

Connects to almost anything

There are four inputs (3.5mm, RCA, 4.4mm balanced and XLR), RCA and XLR line outputs for a power amp or active speakers, and three headphone outputs: 6.35mm, 4.4mm and 4-pin XLR. A 12V trigger in and out lets it power up with the rest of your system.

FiiO Class A at a glance

• Type: fully discrete Class A headphone amplifier and preamplifier
• Transistors: 16× Toshiba matched pairs, 8× Sanken audio transistors
• Output power (balanced): 4000mW + 4000mW (32Ω), 1360mW + 1360mW (300Ω)
• Output power (6.35mm): 2850mW + 2850mW (32Ω), 350mW + 350mW (300Ω)
• Gain: five levels
• Tone controls: ±10dB bass and treble
• Inputs: 3.5mm, RCA, 4.4mm balanced, XLR
• Outputs: 6.35mm, 4.4mm, 4-pin XLR headphone; RCA and XLR line out
• Power supply: custom 60W toroidal transformer
• SNR: 126dB or better (A-weighted)
• Size and weight: approx. 213 × 239 × 67mm, 3.5kg
• Colours: Silver, Black

Talk to Audio Concierge

If you’re weighing up the FiiO Class A against what you already own, or you’d like to know how it will fit with the rest of your system, get in touch. Tell me what you listen to and what you listen with. No jargon. Just good advice.