This Gorgeous Mechanical Keyboard Isn’t What You Think — It’s a Perfect Hi-Fi Upgrade

The FiiO KB3 is an eye-catching mechanical keyboard with transparent keys and … a built-in DAC/amp for your wired headphones.

By Tucker Bowe

Published December 7, 2023

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You’ve probably never seen a keyboard like the FiiO KB3 before. I certainly haven’t. On the surface, it looks like a pretty snazzy mechanical keyboard. It has transparent swappable keycaps, RGB backlighting and a metal base (made of aluminium-magnesium alloy). But under the hood, it packs a pretty serious built-in amp/DAC for your wired headphones.

Essentially, the FiiO KB3 is a mechanical keyboard for hi-fi lovers.

FiiO KB3 Mechanical Keyboard
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For those unfamiliar, FiiO is a respected hi-fi maker that’s best known for its portable music players (DAPs), in-ear monitors and, most of all, its external headphone DAC/amps for your desktop. It’s not known for its keyboards — the KB3 appears to be its first — but that hasn’t stopped the brand from throwing its hat in the ring with this unique offering.

a computer with a rainbow keyboard — The KB3 is a first-of-its-kind keyboard with a built-in DAC/amp for wired headphones.

The idea behind the FiiO KB3 is both simple and clever. Enthusiasts of mechanical keyboards and hi-fi are cut from similar cloth — both tend to appreciate analog — so FiiO made something that scratches both those itches.

Inside, the FiiO KB3 actually packs dual DACs (both Cirrus Logic CS43131), dual amplifiers, and supports lossless audio up to 32-bit/384kHz. It houses dual headphone jacks, one 4.4mm (balanced) and one 3.5mm (unbalanced), and there’s a tactile scroll wheel in the top-right of the keyboard for volume control.

You can customize the KB3 with your choice of switches and keycaps, but its default options — specifically, the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Yellow switches — as well as the construction of the keyboard are designed to dampen a lot of the natural clickiness you’d get with a mechanical keyboard. You don’t want it interfering with your music after all, right?

The FiiO KB3 has another ace up its sleeve — it can function as a hub for your computer by adding two extra ports: one USB-C and one USB-C. So if you want to charge a peripheral accessory, like your smartphone or a wireless mouse, or even connect a flash drive, you can do so right through the keyboard.

The FiiO KB3 costs $150 and is compatible with both Mac and Windows computers. It comes in two different finishes: black and silver. And you can purchase it with or without its switches or keycaps. If you already know you’re going to swap in your own, you can save $20.