FiiO’s KB3 adds DAC and headphone amplifier to RGB 75% Keyboard
Whether you’re a gamer struggling with desktop space or work from home and need better audio, FiiO’s KB3 mechanical keyboard may be what you are looking for.
Sporting a gamer-friendly 75% layout, this tenkeyless (TKL) mechanical keyboard, the FiiO KB3 adds a shock-absorbent gasket mount design on an aluminium-magnesium alloy base and Gateron G Pro 3.0 yellow switches with semi-transparent swappable keycaps that expose the RGB lighting beneath into the mix. The keys and switches are also hot-swappable, enabling you to find the perfect set-up. So far, this sounds like the basics of any gaming board.
Even the 3.5mm headphone port in the keyboard isn’t new territory; I remember Razer at least doing so. However, where the KB3 comes into its own is that headphone output is not just at the end of an analogue passthrough; audio, in fact, is treated to a DAC and headphone amplifier built into the FiiO keyboard.
Crunching the numbers are dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 DACs supporting up to 32-bit / 384kHz and DSD256 audio, helped along by a pair of low-noise SGM8262 op-amps producing a claimed 550mW. Alongside the standard 3.5mm headphone jack, you also get a 4.4mm balanced output. Not too shabby, then.
Finally, two USB A and a USB C port around the rear of the board round things off.
Available in Midnight Black / Morning Silver, the FiiO KB3 Hi-Fi Keyboard with built-in DAC/Amp is available now, priced at £139 / $149 / €169.
