Pros Excellent Build Quality Small size Available in both 4.4mm and 3.5mm variants Has full parametric Eq capability Good Sound Cons Could have had more power Specifications Integrated Dac + Amp Chip Dynamic Range: 111dB Power: 34mW @ 32ohms SNR: 104dB Sample Rates: CM up to 32bit/384kHz and DSD up to DSD256 Compatibility: Android, iOS, MacOS, Linux, Windows, Nintendo Switch Microphone Support: Yes (only 3.5mm version) Price: 15 Dollars (for both 3.5mm and 4.4mm versions) Before starting the review, I want to thank Fiio for sending Jiezi in for a review Design and Build Quality The design follows a pretty standard dongle DAC style, similar to an Apple dongle, but the build quality is quite an upgrade over that. It feels very solid and well built for the price. The connectors are made out of metal, and the cable connecting them is also thick and sturdy. The 3D engraving on the connectors adds a more stylised and premium look. Heat Management & Efficiency Jiezi also handles heat very well; it only gets mildly warm during heavy loads and extended usage. It’s also quite efficient, consuming very little of the source device’s battery. Fiio App & EQ Since the dongle has no buttons, if you want to access more settings and functions you will need to do so through the fiio access app. Through the app, you can adjust all the basic settings and apply EQ. The app has been performing better with recent updates; the sub-menus now take much less time to load, and it’s good to see fiio improving the app with regular updates. The coolest thing about the Jiezi and the fiio app is the support for full parametric EQ, which allows you to fine tune the sound exactly to your needs and taste. It’s one of the few dongle DACs in this price range that offers proper EQ support. Huge kudos to fiio for that. Gears Used for Testing & Drivability In terms of iems, I used everything from entry level to high end. The iems used are - Tanchjim Bunny, Gk Kunten, Tanchjim Zetian Wu Heyday, Dunu Dk-3001BD and Thieaudio Hype 10. In terms of headphones, I used the Fiio FT1 Pro. The driving power of this dongle is decent, but don’t expect it to power very demanding IEMs or headphones. It drove all my IEMs quite well, and even planar IEMs were handled with decent authority. I would suggest pairing the Jiezi with relatively budget and easy-to-drive IEMs. In terms of headphones, I was actually surprised that it was able to drive the FT1 Pro. However, it wasn’t the best I’ve heard the FT1 Pro sound. In terms of headroom, there were still two notches left before it got loud for my personal listening level, so there is some headroom available for mild EQ adjustments. Sound The sound is actually very good for the price. The overall signature is slightly bright leaning neutral. Before diving deeper into the sound, let me state this upfront: there is no sound difference between the 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm versions. The bass sounds clean and uncoloured. The extension into the sub bass is good, with nice texture and rumble. The mid bass also hits with good authority and impact. For the price, the bass performance has a surprisingly good sense of dynamics and weight. The mids are transparent, with no noticeable colouration. If you prefer your lower mids to be warmer or thicker, the Jiezi might come off as a bit lean. However, I’d say it leans more towards neutral rather than thin. The upper mids are also faithfully represented without any harshness. Treble is where the Jiezi imparts a bit of coloration. There is a mild boost in the mid treble region, which increases the sense of detail. There is also a slight roll-off in the air region. Detail retrieval and overall technical performance are good for the price. I wouldn’t say they punch way above their weight, but they are right where they should be. Macro detail and dynamics are handled well, with a satisfying sense of punch. Micro detail retrieval is decent, and staging, imaging, and layering are all appropriate for this price bracket. The stage is not the widest due to the slight roll-off in the air region, but it is still good for the price. Fiio Jiezi vs Apple Dogle If you're in the market for a super budget dongle DAC, the Apple dongle is usually the first recommendation from everyone, so comparing the Jiezi to it is a must. In terms of design and build quality, the Jiezi clearly wins. The Apple dongle feels quite flimsy in comparison. Its entire build is plastic, and the cable connecting the connectors is very thin. On the other hand, the Jiezi has metal connectors and a much more robust cable. When it comes to heat management and efficiency, although the Jiezi performs well, there is no beating the Apple dongle. The Apple dongle doesn’t even run warm and sips very little power. The Jiezi, on the other hand, uses slightly more power and gets a little warm after extended use. For compatibility, the Jiezi straight up wins. It works flawlessly across Android, Mac, Windows, and iOS devices. The Apple dongle performs at its fullest mainly on Apple devices, while on other platforms, it usually delivers reduced power. The Jiezi also comes in a 4.4 mm version, which makes it easier to use 4.4mm cables without spending much more. In terms of extra features and app support, Apple doesn’t offer any app or EQ functionality, so this is another big win for the Jiezi. Now to the main subject, sound quality. The sound between the two is very similar, with only minor differences. Both have a slightly brighter leaning neutral sound signature, but the Apple dongle sounds a bit leaner in the lower mids. The bass on the Jiezi feels slightly more dynamic and punchy. In terms of treble, both are quite similar, with a mild boost in the mid treble region, although the Apple dongle has slightly more emphasis there. Both also have a slight roll off in the air region. When it comes to detail retrieval and overall technical performance, they are very close, and it can be quite hard to distinguish between them. Overall, if you have a slightly bigger budget, I would recommend picking the fiio Jiezi over the Apple dongle. It has better build quality, more features like EQ and app support, and better compatibility with different operating systems. Conclusion Fiio has done a good job with the Jiezi. It’s a very solid entry in the ultra budget dongle DAC market. It offers excellent build quality and very good sound performance. You also get the option of a 4.4 mm plug, which is quite rare to find in this price range. One of the most impressive features is the EQ capability, which makes it very versatile and especially appealing for beginners and tinkerers. Altogether, it’s a well-rounded package, particularly for someone just getting into the hobby. There is only one drawback though, I would have liked to see slightly more power so it could drive more power hungry headphones and iems a bit better. Overall, the Jiezi gets a thumbs up from me.