@@nigelkelly2286 I've been dropping mine lately as I just got mine too. I origianlly thought the clip was a joke but it's taken all the abuse and drops on the asphalt and concrete at my work. Leaving the actual btr5 as new
@@reyzephlyn105 yeah i drop the thing a hundred times a day lol, only just got my firt little scratch on the screen today, not even a crack just lil scratch😅
I'm listening to the audio of this video through my FiiO BTR5 2021 and a Sennheiser HD 58X through a balanced cable, using LDAC on my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. I've had this BTR5 for a month now, and it's been great.
@@15junio97 I can’t vouch that the 2021 is the exact same as far as this goes but at least with the OG BTR5 I have, both outputs seem to my ears be v comparable with one another!
I have the same phone and a pair of xm4's from Sony Would you think I would see an audio improvement buying this? I just need a good reason to justify the purchase because if it ends up sounding the same I'd rather buy a dedicated dab
@@15junio97 I can't tell the difference between single ended and balanced in terms of audio quality, honestly. I went with balanced more so for the boost in wattage (80 mW SE versus 250 mW balanced), to drive the Sennheiser HD 58X a little easier. It worked fine on 3.5 mm SE, but it's louder and consumes more power at the same volume level through 2.5 mm balanced.
@@Trinket_Master It depends on what you plug into it, as well as what you intend to play. I have the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, and those sound really good. It's what got me back into the hobby. The best thing about them is the convenience: just pop them in your ear, no need to worry about wires or anything. However, if I had just even a minute or two to set things up, I found myself reaching for the BTR5 2021 more often because I could just use my wired IEMs or even a pair of decently easy to drive headphones if I wanted. I never got bored because I have my BLON BL-03, CCA CRA, and now my TRIPOWIN × HBB Olina. Bluetooth has its limitations for audio quality, of course. LDAC is great, and I don't find myself wanting for streaming UA-cam or Spotify. But if I wanted high fidelity, I'd go wired, and that's where the advantage of the BTR5 lies. It will do up to 32 bit @ 384 KHz, DSD256, and MQA via USB 2.0. I haven't played with that yet, but I'll most likely get a QOBUZ subscription for FLAC/lossless audio sometime.
Got the BTR5 2021 via Amazon an hour ago. I paired it wirelessly with my IBasso DX170 and I am using wired (balanced) Fiio FD5. I am SHOCKED how good it sounds, how much floor end and range it has for BT. EXTREMELY impressed, I'm keeping this it's a no brainer.
If it cracks, cover it in gaff tape and don't worry about it. I don't get the fuss about keeping something so pretty if it still works and is going to be hidden in your pocket 90% of the time
Got one of these a couple months ago to use in my non-Bluetooth enabled car stereo by using the 3.5mm input jack. Works perfectly and allows me to get so much more out of my Tidal subscription by downloading lossless files for playback. And yes, it is plenty loud. I set the volume on the BTR5-2021 to around 45 or 50 and it is just as loud as any CD or radio station, so that was very important. Previously I had wasted money buying an FM transmitter thing that was atrocious to use and NOT loud enough. Love this thing.
I’m almost certain that you’re not hearing any fine details with these over a cheap dongle in a car. The wind/road noise alone is probably approaching 80 db. Not to mention the less than ideal car speakers and not ideal acoustic setting. But if it makes you happy go for it!
@@tanachip none of what you mention is why I bought it. Believe me it sounds 100X better than the crappy DAC in my phone and the analog output section of that phone. I had zero dynamics, just godawful sound from the phone. This sounds as good as a CD playing. Yeah, yeah, it is in a car, but I wanted to play music I download from Tidal with just as much goodness as I get from playing a CD. This device gives it to me. If I want "audiophile" sound I'll listen at home on my Carver system and Acoustic Research AR-9 speakers (all refurshed and upgraded).
@@rosswarren436 I have to agree. I use one in my car and it's so night and day compared to my built in BT stereo from my factory unit. It's amazing. I use it from my phone (tidal) BT to fiio, 3.5mm to car. I love the car (auto) mode.
@@straubulous9511 yes the car (auto) mode makes is so easy to use. Compared to the old FM transmitter crappy thing I was using it is a huge improvement to the point it sounds as good as playing a CD in my head unit. I am careful here in the Southeast in the summer to not leave it in my car on most days. Don't want it to get too hot and melt.
Yes Bluetooth LDAC vs USB DAC Mode There's A Difference But For Wireless Convenience I Have No Complaints With My BTR7 . Also For A DAC I Will Also Use My Hidizs S9 Pro DAC AMP DONGLE And It Is AweSomeNess PerSoNiFied.
BTR5 2021 was my first portable DAC/AMP and it was impressive for the price and features. Sadly, I quickly outgrown it as started buying other portable DAC/AMP's, got several in fact within $130~$270 price range. Biggest drawback from BTR5 2021 is its inability to use EQ/DSP in LDAC mode. And trust me, on under $100 IEM's you notice the difference when switching from SBC or aptx to LDAC. Difference when switching codecs is much less noticeable when using Fiio IEM's or mid-level and high-end IEM's.Unfortunately, after trying Qudelix5K for last, there was a noticeable difference in audio quality between 5K vs the rest(I own 6 portable DAC/AMP's total). Once, Qudelix5K is switched to LDAC and a preset for your IEM's is selected is game over for the rest of portable DAC/AMP's. Now, I have a bunch of expensive paper weight's just standing on my desk. Will get more 5K's for my setup. Not worth consider anything else, until I see a company capable of producing EQ/DSP and IEM's custom presets when LDAC codec is selected. Until then, Will patiently wait for competition to see if they ever release a comparable solution. After all, already made an investment and not planning to start selling them or giving them away. FYI, I'm not affiliated to Qudelix, nor receive anything free from them. Remember that Audio Quality is subjective, just do your own tests to hear the humongous difference.
I have the btr5 with some etymotic er2xr's fed by a balanced cable, and it is a match made in heaven. I don't find that I need any eq, and I feel like it is the best audiophile experience for ~$200 on the market
I like the camera angles and time spent with the BTR5 but also the phone view angle, like I was looking over your shoulder as you where showing me. They are $80 on Amazon now, says arriving by 10pm tonight. It will be my most expensive DAC yet. The Hibi FC1 has been ok. For the Truthear Reds and Hexa. I prefer the Reds for old 60s and 70s rock for some reason.
Well so far I'm disappointed, the bass at Flat settings is 1/2 of what the cheap $30 Hibi FC1 has, as a matter of fact the entire range sounds better on the FC1. It does seem that on wireless the built in Equalizer of Amazon music has never worked better. So those that use Amazon music should be very pleased with the BTR5. The range for wireless is only about 12-17 feet. Placing the phone upright instead of laying flat gave a extra 2 ft of range. If your PC has wireless capability that was nice having the BTR5 just clipped on my shirt collar. Latency was almost nill on World of Warships, so that was actually impressive. Otherwise I'm still testing, none of the EQ setting make anything sound better. The rock setting for example is one of the worst. Coming directly off the phone with a USBc to Coaxial adapter through a 30 year old Adcom GCD really shows how cheap and tiny sounding this thing is. I'm surprised but still playing with it. Thanks again for doing things the way you do.
I had the first es100 but I really like BTR5 2021 as an upgrade or side grade.. I use it mainly with a wired connection. I have a monolith as my desktop but I use this most of the time. Doesn’t sound as clean, of course, but definitely doesn’t have the noise floor like the monolith does with iems, when listening on balanced.
Wouldn't really consider the BTR5 as an upgrade as I think the way the original ES100 implemented its AKM chip was spectacular, not to mention the functionality of the EarStudio app far surpasses that of the BTR5. I'd think the BTR5 is more of an optional sidegrade, but to each his own I suppose
"@6:25 ahm ah the ah ehm, output, power. On the 2.5 eh output, you have ehm, 80. Milliwatts, of of of power. On the 2.5 milimeter ah output you got 240 milliwatts of power, which is plenty ah plenty of power actually." Well that clears it up, great review bro. 👍
I was originally thinking of getting one of these to use with wired IEM's and also wireless buds that support LDAC but all I have to do is connect the buds to my phone as it can stream LDAC. I'm probably better off investing in a USB DAC yeah?
I owned btr3, I think one benefit is that it doesn't use phone's battery. If you are outside using the phone a lot, this may help. unfortunately my btr3 died after 2 years, I guess the battery died and I dont know where to change it. I own another Fiio connected to my laptop that I use almost daily, it still works fine after 7 years. I just bought fiio ka3 that connects to my phone through USB and it drains my phone battery quiet quickly and you can't charge the phone at the same time if you don't have wireless charge.
This is just a fantastic review! Clean, concise.. love it. I have not looked at your videos yet, but how would you compare this to the Earstudio mk ii? Or do you have another favorite under 150? I love the ear studio but snapped my clip so.. just looking out there.I am not using anything big. I have a pair of peacock Moondrop star fields and I also have a set of Peacock Audio P1s. Bluetooth / portability a must.I don't want to plug anything into my phone.
If I'm wanting to use this as a Dongle DAC for my iPAD, will just any Lightning to USB-C cable work, or is there some "special" cable I need to buy? For it to work, do I need to turn off charging in the app? Thanks! Just don't want to waste $10 to $20 on a cable to find out it won't work.
@@joseavilasgHexa come around 80 USD and if you are importing then it could go upto 90-100 USD due to import tax and delivery charges in some countries.
Y Thanks for the review.. Just had a quick question.. Could I use this to boost the Bluetooth audio from a AP80 PRO (or my Note10) To a set of true wireless soundcore Liberty 2 ear buds? Or does the receiving source must have a wire in take..? Thanks
Thank you! If I'm only using it as a USB DAC I would choose the K3 mainly because of its versatility (coaxial, optical out, line out ) . The BTR5 has a little more power output out of the 2.5 output (2.4 watts vs. 2 watts) but the K3 has more power out of the 3.5 (1.2 watts vs 80 mW). Both have very quiet backgrounds and to be honest as far as sound quality its a toss-up. Both sound great. Both use newer DAC chips and have similar capabilities.
@@Gizaudio Okay Thank you. I've asked many people and they said the same, that sound is almost the same, so I think I'll buy the BTR5, since it's portable and has Bluetooth too.
So I Been Looking At Power Output Of BTR5 VS BTR7 And See The 7 Has Alot More Power For My 3.5 AND 4.4 Devices For My 2.5 Devices I Use A 4.4 Adaptor And WOW
@@Gizaudio When I want to listen to the master recording over tidal, is there a situation that I need to activate in fiio btr5? Or does mqa support automatically adjust itself?
Thank you for your video. I liked it a lot even tho I didn't understand everything. I am very beginner in headphones and dac world. You kept mentioning in ear headphones. Can I use this with over ear headphones also, or does it need to be a bigger powered DAC? I planned to use this with Sennheiser HD 599 headphones, I was wondering if I can do that?
I’m pretty new this this myself but from what I understand over-ears work with them. I found that the headphones I have only play through one ear but that’s likely because my headphone cable isn’t the proper size for the amp, as well as them only having a cable in one ear cup, But I imagine it would work fine with any headphones that have proper cables. I’m currently waiting on my 58x to arrive so I can use it with the amp
I ended up buying this because the headphone jack in my phone broke I also bought at BTR3k I would recommend you get his over the 3k the 5 just feels better to use and sounds better to me. As a sidenote this thing runs my Argons better than I expected actually sitting down to listen to how they make them sound. You might get more out of an actual desktop unit if you're super analytical but as someone that just wants music to sound good they run Argons well enough for me.
You just helped me to decide between whether to get the BTR5 or the BTR3k. Decided to pay that little bit extra to get the BTR5s. Thank you! How are the 5s for you now, still using them?
@@haarismemon Still works great haven't been using it as much just because I've been on my phone less but it's held up great don't think I'll have to worry about replacing it for years. Still easily prefer the 5 over the 3 just for the feel peronally.
@@xclonecommander thanks for getting back, that’s good to hear. Just got my 5s today and have been using it with my TV via Bluetooth (mainly why I got it) and also with my phone. So far I’m impressed with how it makes my headphones sound.
@@haarismemon Yeah no problem happy you're enjoying them too. They're really nice to use also highly recommend setting the phone/tv volume high and adjusting the volume more with the btr. I might be wrong but I think playing at a lower volume on the btr makes the battery last longer.
My BTR5 came in the same packaging and box in this video is that a US version or Chinese version there is Chinese characters on the back of the box is that an international version or a global version or us version please let me know before I open it up I remember buying one he's in the past in the box was different hopefully this ain't Chinese version Jim looks kind of weird especially with the Chinese characters on the back somebody please clarify
I got the btr5 from timmy recommending it on another video. I didn't know about the app + eq and high gain mode, thx for that. I love the btr5, but I'm wondering how it compares to the go blu? I'm pretty satisfied with my iem collection now, but looking to get an amp/dac and don't need mobility. A lot of people like the go blu, but then I'm also looking at the modius+magni, and also a used chord mojo which I'm leaning towards. I think there's a pretty big diff between BT and wired on the btr5. BT loses a lot of the magic. That being said, I also really like my utws3's for BT so I don't feel too picky.
@@wadec6799 Dacs are so hard to research. I have the 2021 btr5. Fiios has an app, but I haven't used it with the btr5 yet. I also got a khadas tone 2 pro, but I like the btr as a dac better. Macbook airs also have good dacs, but same thing, prefer the btr5. I would be in the super minority I think, though.
What kind of phone is it? The BTR5 2021 works as a Bluetooth and a USB DAC however, it can only decode DSD through USB. It really depends on whether or not your phone can output DSD through USB
Can you give insight to the btr5 2021 v s original birth in regards to sound representation. Is this a upgrade in terms of of sound over the original? Cheers. I own the OG.
I used to own the OG and I loved it. If you don't care about MQA then there's no real reason to upgrade. The newer DAC chip has a better s/n ratio and is more power efficient but is the same in almost every other regard. I think you're okay sticking with the OG for now.
Thanks for this review, Im starting my adventure with DACs and was wondering if this will help me to connect Tidal in MQA played by iPhone 13 Pro and with Sony XM4s and use LDAC ? So I would like somehow to operate Tidal with iPhone, and play sound through this DAC and listen on my Sony's . Thanks in advance !
The dac is receiver only. In bluetooth, it works with the codec from source. iPhones only work in SMB and AAC. The headphone should be plugged through cable to dac. To get higher quality audio on iPhone, it must be plugged through cable over lightning.
Everyone complains that its hard to detach from the device, i dont see whats hard or finnicky about it. I wish it was something more durable than just clear plastic.
@@markallen6317 For someone like me who just keeps it in a jacket pocket and doesnt wear the clip at all that doesnt make much sense. Id settle for it being made of some glass fiber reinforced plastic, with a lock to keep it from being unclipped by someone simply pulling on it.
This is the type of user reports i expect to find. So many people are saying they dropped theirs and the btr5 didnt shatter. It is possible theirs didn't but I've seen so many of them say the same thing that it's hard to believe none of theirs broke.
@@krayozmines sorry to hear that btw Samuel, that sucks buddy 😕 I happen to be one of the majority of the consumers who got superbly built units. I’ve been fortunate that out of the small handful of times I’ve dropped mine, it still hasn’t developed any signs of cosmetic wear and tear whatsoever (not even micro-scratches on the surface of the glass). I always have the included clip case on the FiiO, which performs pretty admirably overall. I admittedly am quite careful and gentle with all of my equipment tho to a degree that’s really pretty excessive and unnecessary by most people’s standards. I’m sorry you guys haven’t had positive experiences with the BTR5 as far as durability/longevity goes. I have an es100 I also use for portable and I have a Shanling UP5 set to be delivered in the next few days. I have been up (no pun intended 🤷🏼♂️😂) on whether or not to try the iFi Go Blu as well. My BTR5 has always had very subpar battery life so I’ve been wanting to purchase another portable DAC/amp to use supplementally. I’ve seen mixed reviews on the iFi however both in regards to BT signal/connection strength, and also regarding a pretty high noise floor on the unit when used with (espesh more sensitive) IEMs which are a good portion of my mobile listening goes. I’m still tempted by the iFi tho and may honestly pick one up down the line just out of curiosity. I have the Zen DAC V2 and the Zen Can and I really enjoy the analog stage XBass and XSpace quite a bit and thought it might be a nice feature to have on the go but for now I’m gonna be stoked to check out the UP5!
more power, so if you have high-impedance and/or low-sensitivity headphones - balanced will be better in general (better bass + more details in highs + more space)
Based on my unit, pros are good details (95% of wired), MQA decode (need bit perfect mode), premium feel. Cons are weaker battery (LDAC mode), weaker range (compared to Neo buds Pro, 2x better)
Sir you have dongle DAC KA3 aslo .... Can you tell me which one sound better KA3 or BTR5 in USB mode Thankyou so much for great review 👌🏻. Love from india
i had that question but the answer depends on what HEADPHONES you are using + subjective ear (personal like of sound qualities) - the best way is to go to your local shop and TEST !! listen to it yourself. OR if no local shop has them, ORDER online both amplifiers and TEST and send back the one you do not like
@@josephtremblant2173 i was planning on gettting a qudelix-5k but they were sold out so i went with this after some research. I don't have much audio equipment to compare and I'm not too technical with reviews but its been really enjoyable.
Both use the same DAC. UP5 is more expensive however, UP5's BT chip is supposedly more power efficient. It also adds a 4.4 balanced output, bigger battery, bigger screen and slightly more power output via 3.5. Balanced power output is the same. I haven't heard the UP5 so I can't a/b for sound comparison but I'm sure it sounds great. Thanks for watching!
I have the original btr5 and drop it frequently, including on asphalt, and no damage. Very minimal scratches or chips.
Mine fell out of my pocket and landed on a pebble and the glass is in 4 pieces
@@kalxi1724 i got mine the other day for my akg k712s hoping that the little plastic clip protects it.🙏🤣
@@nigelkelly2286 I've been dropping mine lately as I just got mine too. I origianlly thought the clip was a joke but it's taken all the abuse and drops on the asphalt and concrete at my work. Leaving the actual btr5 as new
@@reyzephlyn105 yeah i drop the thing a hundred times a day lol, only just got my firt little scratch on the screen today, not even a crack just lil scratch😅
i have mine for 15 minutes, i looked at it wrong and it shatered into atoms.
I'm listening to the audio of this video through my FiiO BTR5 2021 and a Sennheiser HD 58X through a balanced cable, using LDAC on my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. I've had this BTR5 for a month now, and it's been great.
Does it sound as good as balanced from single ended
@@15junio97 I can’t vouch that the 2021 is the exact same as far as this goes but at least with the OG BTR5 I have, both outputs seem to my ears be v comparable with one another!
I have the same phone and a pair of xm4's from Sony
Would you think I would see an audio improvement buying this?
I just need a good reason to justify the purchase because if it ends up sounding the same I'd rather buy a dedicated dab
@@15junio97 I can't tell the difference between single ended and balanced in terms of audio quality, honestly. I went with balanced more so for the boost in wattage (80 mW SE versus 250 mW balanced), to drive the Sennheiser HD 58X a little easier. It worked fine on 3.5 mm SE, but it's louder and consumes more power at the same volume level through 2.5 mm balanced.
@@Trinket_Master It depends on what you plug into it, as well as what you intend to play. I have the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, and those sound really good. It's what got me back into the hobby. The best thing about them is the convenience: just pop them in your ear, no need to worry about wires or anything.
However, if I had just even a minute or two to set things up, I found myself reaching for the BTR5 2021 more often because I could just use my wired IEMs or even a pair of decently easy to drive headphones if I wanted. I never got bored because I have my BLON BL-03, CCA CRA, and now my TRIPOWIN × HBB Olina.
Bluetooth has its limitations for audio quality, of course. LDAC is great, and I don't find myself wanting for streaming UA-cam or Spotify. But if I wanted high fidelity, I'd go wired, and that's where the advantage of the BTR5 lies. It will do up to 32 bit @ 384 KHz, DSD256, and MQA via USB 2.0. I haven't played with that yet, but I'll most likely get a QOBUZ subscription for FLAC/lossless audio sometime.
Got the BTR5 2021 via Amazon an hour ago. I paired it wirelessly with my IBasso DX170 and I am using wired (balanced) Fiio FD5. I am SHOCKED how good it sounds, how much floor end and range it has for BT. EXTREMELY impressed, I'm keeping this it's a no brainer.
If it cracks, cover it in gaff tape and don't worry about it. I don't get the fuss about keeping something so pretty if it still works and is going to be hidden in your pocket 90% of the time
Got one of these a couple months ago to use in my non-Bluetooth enabled car stereo by using the 3.5mm input jack. Works perfectly and allows me to get so much more out of my Tidal subscription by downloading lossless files for playback. And yes, it is plenty loud. I set the volume on the BTR5-2021 to around 45 or 50 and it is just as loud as any CD or radio station, so that was very important. Previously I had wasted money buying an FM transmitter thing that was atrocious to use and NOT loud enough. Love this thing.
I’m almost certain that you’re not hearing any fine details with these over a cheap dongle in a car. The wind/road noise alone is probably approaching 80 db. Not to mention the less than ideal car speakers and not ideal acoustic setting. But if it makes you happy go for it!
@@tanachip none of what you mention is why I bought it. Believe me it sounds 100X better than the crappy DAC in my phone and the analog output section of that phone. I had zero dynamics, just godawful sound from the phone. This sounds as good as a CD playing. Yeah, yeah, it is in a car, but I wanted to play music I download from Tidal with just as much goodness as I get from playing a CD. This device gives it to me.
If I want "audiophile" sound I'll listen at home on my Carver system and Acoustic Research AR-9 speakers (all refurshed and upgraded).
@@rosswarren436 I have to agree. I use one in my car and it's so night and day compared to my built in BT stereo from my factory unit. It's amazing. I use it from my phone (tidal) BT to fiio, 3.5mm to car. I love the car (auto) mode.
@@straubulous9511 yes the car (auto) mode makes is so easy to use. Compared to the old FM transmitter crappy thing I was using it is a huge improvement to the point it sounds as good as playing a CD in my head unit.
I am careful here in the Southeast in the summer to not leave it in my car on most days. Don't want it to get too hot and melt.
@@rosswarren436 Does it come with the wire that you need to plug it into the aux?
Yes Bluetooth LDAC vs USB DAC Mode There's A Difference But For Wireless Convenience I Have No Complaints With My BTR7 . Also For A DAC I Will Also Use My Hidizs S9 Pro DAC AMP DONGLE And It Is AweSomeNess PerSoNiFied.
BTR5 2021 was my first portable DAC/AMP and it was impressive for the price and features. Sadly, I quickly outgrown it as started buying other portable DAC/AMP's, got several in fact within $130~$270 price range. Biggest drawback from BTR5 2021 is its inability to use EQ/DSP in LDAC mode. And trust me, on under $100 IEM's you notice the difference when switching from SBC or aptx to LDAC. Difference when switching codecs is much less noticeable when using Fiio IEM's or mid-level and high-end IEM's.Unfortunately, after trying Qudelix5K for last, there was a noticeable difference in audio quality between 5K vs the rest(I own 6 portable DAC/AMP's total). Once, Qudelix5K is switched to LDAC and a preset for your IEM's is selected is game over for the rest of portable DAC/AMP's. Now, I have a bunch of expensive paper weight's just standing on my desk. Will get more 5K's for my setup. Not worth consider anything else, until I see a company capable of producing EQ/DSP and IEM's custom presets when LDAC codec is selected. Until then, Will patiently wait for competition to see if they ever release a comparable solution. After all, already made an investment and not planning to start selling them or giving them away. FYI, I'm not affiliated to Qudelix, nor receive anything free from them. Remember that Audio Quality is subjective, just do your own tests to hear the humongous difference.
WhT would you grab for under 200 I'm eying this and the ifi hip dac 2 or the ifi go blu
I have the btr5 with some etymotic er2xr's fed by a balanced cable, and it is a match made in heaven. I don't find that I need any eq, and I feel like it is the best audiophile experience for ~$200 on the market
BTR3K was my 1st and I'm wondering if BTR5 is that much better .
certain elements are not subjective such as detail.
I like the camera angles and time spent with the BTR5 but also the phone view angle, like I was looking over your shoulder as you where showing me. They are $80 on Amazon now, says arriving by 10pm tonight. It will be my most expensive DAC yet. The Hibi FC1 has been ok. For the Truthear Reds and Hexa. I prefer the Reds for old 60s and 70s rock for some reason.
Well so far I'm disappointed, the bass at Flat settings is 1/2 of what the cheap $30 Hibi FC1 has, as a matter of fact the entire range sounds better on the FC1. It does seem that on wireless the built in Equalizer of Amazon music has never worked better. So those that use Amazon music should be very pleased with the BTR5. The range for wireless is only about 12-17 feet. Placing the phone upright instead of laying flat gave a extra 2 ft of range. If your PC has wireless capability that was nice having the BTR5 just clipped on my shirt collar. Latency was almost nill on World of Warships, so that was actually impressive. Otherwise I'm still testing, none of the EQ setting make anything sound better. The rock setting for example is one of the worst. Coming directly off the phone with a USBc to Coaxial adapter through a 30 year old Adcom GCD really shows how cheap and tiny sounding this thing is.
I'm surprised but still playing with it.
Thanks again for doing things the way you do.
I had the first es100 but I really like BTR5 2021 as an upgrade or side grade.. I use it mainly with a wired connection. I have a monolith as my desktop but I use this most of the time. Doesn’t sound as clean, of course, but definitely doesn’t have the noise floor like the monolith does with iems, when listening on balanced.
Wouldn't really consider the BTR5 as an upgrade as I think the way the original ES100 implemented its AKM chip was spectacular, not to mention the functionality of the EarStudio app far surpasses that of the BTR5. I'd think the BTR5 is more of an optional sidegrade, but to each his own I suppose
"@6:25 ahm ah the ah ehm, output, power. On the 2.5 eh output, you have ehm, 80. Milliwatts, of of of power. On the 2.5 milimeter ah output you got 240 milliwatts of power, which is plenty ah plenty of power actually."
Well that clears it up, great review bro. 👍
All I want to know, will it even gonna make a difference for My Dt770 Pros 80ohm when going from my Laptop 3.5 mm connection to this DAC
Maybe you can answer me this. Is the purpose of using the BTR 5 for connecting wirelessly from phone to DAC then using wired IEM's plugged into BTR 5?
I was originally thinking of getting one of these to use with wired IEM's and also wireless buds that support LDAC but all I have to do is connect the buds to my phone as it can stream LDAC. I'm probably better off investing in a USB DAC yeah?
I owned btr3, I think one benefit is that it doesn't use phone's battery. If you are outside using the phone a lot, this may help. unfortunately my btr3 died after 2 years, I guess the battery died and I dont know where to change it. I own another Fiio connected to my laptop that I use almost daily, it still works fine after 7 years. I just bought fiio ka3 that connects to my phone through USB and it drains my phone battery quiet quickly and you can't charge the phone at the same time if you don't have wireless charge.
@jbl3792 super helpful! Thanks for this
I wanted this but bought cayin ru6 instead. And cayin is great. Thanks for the review.
I haven't heard the ru6 but have heard good things about it. Thanks for watching!
This is just a fantastic review! Clean, concise.. love it. I have not looked at your videos yet, but how would you compare this to the Earstudio mk ii? Or do you have another favorite under 150? I love the ear studio but snapped my clip so.. just looking out there.I am not using anything big. I have a pair of peacock Moondrop star fields and I also have a set of Peacock Audio P1s. Bluetooth / portability a must.I don't want to plug anything into my phone.
If I'm wanting to use this as a Dongle DAC for my iPAD, will just any Lightning to USB-C cable work, or is there some "special" cable I need to buy? For it to work, do I need to turn off charging in the app? Thanks! Just don't want to waste $10 to $20 on a cable to find out it won't work.
You need an OTG cable. Normal cable will not work.
@@tihm.huver1219 Thank you. I'll have to seek one out.
any iem recommandation to pair with theese bad boys for under 50 bucks? Kz preferably but anything in aliexpress is fine
CCA PLA13, TRN ST5, Truthear HEXA
@@joseavilasgHexa come around 80 USD and if you are importing then it could go upto 90-100 USD due to import tax and delivery charges in some countries.
@@ayushj6216Yeah, you're right. Maybe I did not check the price correctly.
If you use it as a USB DAC, does it draw power (charge) from your phone?
Hi can u please tell me if there is any sound difference to the btr5 and the newer btr15
Y
Thanks for the review..
Just had a quick question..
Could I use this to boost the Bluetooth audio from a AP80 PRO (or my Note10) To a set of true wireless soundcore Liberty 2 ear buds?
Or does the receiving source must have a wire in take..?
Thanks
Great review mate. How does BTR5 compare to K3? Which one is better overall?( considering only USB DAC functionality).
Thank you! If I'm only using it as a USB DAC I would choose the K3 mainly because of its versatility (coaxial, optical out, line out ) . The BTR5 has a little more power output out of the 2.5 output (2.4 watts vs. 2 watts) but the K3 has more power out of the 3.5 (1.2 watts vs 80 mW). Both have very quiet backgrounds and to be honest as far as sound quality its a toss-up. Both sound great. Both use newer DAC chips and have similar capabilities.
@@Gizaudio Okay Thank you. I've asked many people and they said the same, that sound is almost the same, so I think I'll buy the BTR5, since it's portable and has Bluetooth too.
Is Timmy dead?
So I Been Looking At Power Output Of BTR5 VS BTR7 And See The 7 Has Alot More Power For My 3.5 AND 4.4 Devices
For My 2.5 Devices I Use A 4.4 Adaptor And WOW
hello, for Btr5 Fiio, which model DT770 pro would you recommend? 80 ohm 250 ohm 32 ohm ?
Probably not the 250 ohm. 32 ohm would be easiest to drive but should be enough to power 80 ohm out of the 2.5
@@Gizaudio
When I want to listen to the master recording over tidal, is there a situation that I need to activate in fiio btr5? Or does mqa support automatically adjust itself?
How will this go powering my beats by Dre studio 3? Will it have enough power and volume?
@@MostlyLost I ended up buying the FiiO btr5 and some Audio Technica ath-m50x. They are so much clearer than the beats.
Does it support two way Bluetooth? Transmit and receive?
I have a btr5 2021 but I am unable to play hi res on my windows laptop. Can some one guide me to make it happen?
Can these DAC/AMP drive Marshall Killburn 2 bluetooth speakers and car audio system through 3.5 mm audio jack ?
Thank you for your video. I liked it a lot even tho I didn't understand everything. I am very beginner in headphones and dac world. You kept mentioning in ear headphones. Can I use this with over ear headphones also, or does it need to be a bigger powered DAC? I planned to use this with Sennheiser HD 599 headphones, I was wondering if I can do that?
I’m pretty new this this myself but from what I understand over-ears work with them. I found that the headphones I have only play through one ear but that’s likely because my headphone cable isn’t the proper size for the amp, as well as them only having a cable in one ear cup,
But I imagine it would work fine with any headphones that have proper cables. I’m currently waiting on my 58x to arrive so I can use it with the amp
I ended up buying this because the headphone jack in my phone broke I also bought at BTR3k I would recommend you get his over the 3k the 5 just feels better to use and sounds better to me. As a sidenote this thing runs my Argons better than I expected actually sitting down to listen to how they make them sound. You might get more out of an actual desktop unit if you're super analytical but as someone that just wants music to sound good they run Argons well enough for me.
You just helped me to decide between whether to get the BTR5 or the BTR3k. Decided to pay that little bit extra to get the BTR5s. Thank you! How are the 5s for you now, still using them?
@@haarismemon Still works great haven't been using it as much just because I've been on my phone less but it's held up great don't think I'll have to worry about replacing it for years. Still easily prefer the 5 over the 3 just for the feel peronally.
@@xclonecommander thanks for getting back, that’s good to hear. Just got my 5s today and have been using it with my TV via Bluetooth (mainly why I got it) and also with my phone. So far I’m impressed with how it makes my headphones sound.
@@haarismemon Yeah no problem happy you're enjoying them too. They're really nice to use also highly recommend setting the phone/tv volume high and adjusting the volume more with the btr. I might be wrong but I think playing at a lower volume on the btr makes the battery last longer.
My BTR5 came in the same packaging and box in this video is that a US version or Chinese version there is Chinese characters on the back of the box is that an international version or a global version or us version please let me know before I open it up I remember buying one he's in the past in the box was different hopefully this ain't Chinese version Jim looks kind of weird especially with the Chinese characters on the back somebody please clarify
I got the btr5 from timmy recommending it on another video. I didn't know about the app + eq and high gain mode, thx for that. I love the btr5, but I'm wondering how it compares to the go blu? I'm pretty satisfied with my iem collection now, but looking to get an amp/dac and don't need mobility. A lot of people like the go blu, but then I'm also looking at the modius+magni, and also a used chord mojo which I'm leaning towards. I think there's a pretty big diff between BT and wired on the btr5. BT loses a lot of the magic. That being said, I also really like my utws3's for BT so I don't feel too picky.
The BTR5 is excellent for the price. If you already own the BTR5 I don't really see a reason to get the go blu.
What app? And do you have the btr5 or new btr5 2021? Lookin to buy my first dac
@@wadec6799 Dacs are so hard to research. I have the 2021 btr5. Fiios has an app, but I haven't used it with the btr5 yet. I also got a khadas tone 2 pro, but I like the btr as a dac better. Macbook airs also have good dacs, but same thing, prefer the btr5. I would be in the super minority I think, though.
Full glass is also annoying for repair, or to change the battery
Is it okay to have this even you're just streaming via Deezer hifi
Hi I am wondering if I can use this with my old phone and turn it into a dap that can play dsd natively? Will it work with Bluetooth or cable?
What kind of phone is it? The BTR5 2021 works as a Bluetooth and a USB DAC however, it can only decode DSD through USB. It really depends on whether or not your phone can output DSD through USB
Can you give insight to the btr5 2021 v s original birth in regards to sound representation. Is this a upgrade in terms of of sound over the original?
Cheers.
I own the OG.
I used to own the OG and I loved it. If you don't care about MQA then there's no real reason to upgrade. The newer DAC chip has a better s/n ratio and is more power efficient but is the same in almost every other regard. I think you're okay sticking with the OG for now.
@@Gizaudio cheers Sir my girlfriend is very pleased to hear that!
Just a minefield of acronyms/initialisms! 😂
Great review for the elements i understood.
Question: What is your first recommend for "flagship" audio performance in a portable dac/amp? Thanks!
Will My X2HR Sound Better With BTR5 Than BTR3K
excepting aesthetic differences, any firmware/hardware differences that would make you lean to the BTR5 2021 over qudelix-5k?
wow your review was beautiful and thorough
How much does this sound better than listening from smartphone with wired headphones?
Hi, I would like to ask what ear tips you’re using on Blessing 2. Thank you in advance.
Looks like spinfit to me.
Is the Bluetooth better on this than the original.The btr5 originals Bluetooth is terrible .
Thanks for this review, Im starting my adventure with DACs and was wondering if this will help me to connect Tidal in MQA played by iPhone 13 Pro and with Sony XM4s and use LDAC ? So I would like somehow to operate Tidal with iPhone, and play sound through this DAC and listen on my Sony's . Thanks in advance !
The dac is receiver only. In bluetooth, it works with the codec from source. iPhones only work in SMB and AAC. The headphone should be plugged through cable to dac. To get higher quality audio on iPhone, it must be plugged through cable over lightning.
@@peudroid my post is a year old, i already invested to ifi go link and better headphones 😉
Does anyone know how this compares to the btr15?
Does it provide any enhancement over an Apple dongle?
the ability to go bluetooth and more power
Is it possible to turn off the BT completely?
Does the work with a iPhone 14 Pro Max?
Is the ldac connection was stable?
How does btr5 2021 compare to btr7
how does the belt clip function (by your experience)?
Everyone complains that its hard to detach from the device, i dont see whats hard or finnicky about it. I wish it was something more durable than just clear plastic.
@@maoristereo I wish one had the option of the clip being integrated into the back of the FiiO BTR5 2021, just like the Qudilex-5k is designed.
@@markallen6317 For someone like me who just keeps it in a jacket pocket and doesnt wear the clip at all that doesnt make much sense. Id settle for it being made of some glass fiber reinforced plastic, with a lock to keep it from being unclipped by someone simply pulling on it.
I have the original btr5, dropped it once without the case on, back glass shattered
This is the type of user reports i expect to find. So many people are saying they dropped theirs and the btr5 didnt shatter. It is possible theirs didn't but I've seen so many of them say the same thing that it's hard to believe none of theirs broke.
@@krayozmines sorry to hear that btw Samuel, that sucks buddy 😕 I happen to be one of the majority of the consumers who got superbly built units. I’ve been fortunate that out of the small handful of times I’ve dropped mine, it still hasn’t developed any signs of cosmetic wear and tear whatsoever (not even micro-scratches on the surface of the glass). I always have the included clip case on the FiiO, which performs pretty admirably overall. I admittedly am quite careful and gentle with all of my equipment tho to a degree that’s really pretty excessive and unnecessary by most people’s standards. I’m sorry you guys haven’t had positive experiences with the BTR5 as far as durability/longevity goes. I have an es100 I also use for portable and I have a Shanling UP5 set to be delivered in the next few days. I have been up (no pun intended 🤷🏼♂️😂) on whether or not to try the iFi Go Blu as well. My BTR5 has always had very subpar battery life so I’ve been wanting to purchase another portable DAC/amp to use supplementally. I’ve seen mixed reviews on the iFi however both in regards to BT signal/connection strength, and also regarding a pretty high noise floor on the unit when used with (espesh more sensitive) IEMs which are a good portion of my mobile listening goes. I’m still tempted by the iFi tho and may honestly pick one up down the line just out of curiosity. I have the Zen DAC V2 and the Zen Can and I really enjoy the analog stage XBass and XSpace quite a bit and thought it might be a nice feature to have on the go but for now I’m gonna be stoked to check out the UP5!
What symbol is that? at the lower front of the DAC.
NFC
Any acoustical difference between 2.5mm balanced output and 3.5mm output?
more power, so if you have high-impedance and/or low-sensitivity headphones - balanced will be better in general (better bass + more details in highs + more space)
I'm getting very low battery life on my btr5 2021. Is there something I am doing wrong?
I've tested mine using Ldac and aptx. Around 8 hrs on aptx and 4hrs on Ldac. Seems Ldac kills battery life.
I've btr3k it's been a year but should i upgrade to btr5 2021? I use moondrop kato n fiio fh3
Nah. Wait for another refresh/product
@@krayozmines new Moondrop DAC gonna come out soon
@@kkasavu3149 for dac i only have btr3k as dac
@@krayozmines yea might get a refresh
@@kyoroshidest1865 yeah my name was on their wall who answered their giveaway question right. But i wasn't the one who got it. So its price ll be $99
Does my Netflix movie audio gets better with these?
Based on my unit, pros are good details (95% of wired), MQA decode (need bit perfect mode), premium feel. Cons are weaker battery (LDAC mode), weaker range (compared to Neo buds Pro, 2x better)
Does this sounds better than the FiiO BTR5-384K/32Bit Native DSD256 Hi-Res CSR8675 Bluetooth5.0 Receiver/USB DAC/DSD Headphone Amp with LDAC, aptX HD, aptX, AAC (3.5mm Unbalanced&2.5mm Balanced Output, Black)?
Hi, do you reccomend to use this Dac with akg y50? Thanks!
"I haven't dropped it on any hard surfaces yet." 🤣
Sir you have dongle DAC KA3 aslo .... Can you tell me which one sound better KA3 or BTR5 in USB mode
Thankyou so much for great review 👌🏻. Love from india
i had that question but the answer depends on what HEADPHONES you are using + subjective ear (personal like of sound qualities) - the best way is to go to your local shop and TEST !! listen to it yourself. OR if no local shop has them, ORDER online both amplifiers and TEST and send back the one you do not like
You have to try the Cayin RU6 if you can. I haven’t touched my desktop setup ever since I received it 😮💨
Wow, Cayin RU6 is kind of expensive. Looks Impressive on features and built quality.
@@josephtremblant2173 i was planning on gettting a qudelix-5k but they were sold out so i went with this after some research. I don't have much audio equipment to compare and I'm not too technical with reviews but its been really enjoyable.
Does it affects the mic quality? Thanks
microphone is good for call?
Not great but adequate. Thanks for watching!
"I dropped it on carpet and it was fine", "It was FINE!"
Where is Timmy?
Can u tell me your all iem names
Thank God for the case/clip. The device is extremely slippery!
Compare it with the UWTS5 please!
Btr 5 2021 or shanglin up4?
Up4. BTR5 2021 too overpriced
When I dropped it, it just shattered
Please do a review about btr7. Thanks
Can you use it in the car too ?
It doesn't have a dedicated line out but you should still be able to use the 3.5 output to the aux in
@@Gizaudio does it by pass the phone DAC
If you're sending the audio signal to the BTR5 via Bluetooth then the signal bypasses the phones internal DAC.
@@Gizaudio have you tried bt in the car
I went the KISS route ..
Keep
It
Simple
Stupid.
IFI Go Blue 👍
Hello sir what would you buy for a dac under 200 to power tripowin olina???
Who's this guy?
second gizaudio host besides timmy
what was that intro song. That was good!!!!
Agree! Unwind by Dream Cave.
I thought im in wrong channel
Same, they must be collaborating?
your voice changed
Yo… I know you know your audience is listening on decent headphones. We can hear your breathing….
The snobbery is real
how you compare it with the hanling up 5?
Both use the same DAC. UP5 is more expensive however, UP5's BT chip is supposedly more power efficient. It also adds a 4.4 balanced output, bigger battery, bigger screen and slightly more power output via 3.5. Balanced power output is the same. I haven't heard the UP5 so I can't a/b for sound comparison but I'm sure it sounds great. Thanks for watching!