This thread answered my question. I was wondering if this K7 had fixed line level and pre-outs. You can actually just use it as a DAC if you want to. It will also work well in a tape loop. Add analog input and a nice headphone section + balanced AK4493 chips. Looks like the most versatile unit I can find out there. No wall wart either! I think I'm done looking and will order one today.
@LordOishi , do you like it so far??
I do very much. I was initially looking at the A2N and Topping E30 ii stack but in the end I got the Fiio K7 and decided to split my budget into two headphones; Sundara and 177X, so I got open and closed covered; I needed the closed as I work in the study with my wife.
So the K7 I decided on for the smaller footprint and cosmetically to me it looks nicer. It fit's my use case perfectly as it I can pre-out to my speakers and control the volume on the unit. The line out has the fixed as you pointed out. Also gives me room for upgardes further down the line. I understand technically the Topping stack was probably the better option but I went for practicality for my use case ultimately.
The K7 has a couple of odd characteristics though; not deal breakers for me personally but worth knowing. There's nothing really happening on the volume knob from about 7 -11 then it starts kicking in. It also has a slight but noticeable delay in the volume increase. Like I say, I got used to both by day 2 and it doesn't bother me.
Then there's the RGB round the knob but again for me it's fine as I have RGB around my battlestation, in the PC and Hue Lights so it complements that nicely.
