BerryBak BEA1 Bluetooth Receiver & DAC Review

[Alegretti]

Unfortunately, the most important test in my opinion, multitone 32, was missing.
Edit: If I remember correctly your equipment only tests at 192kHz.

 

[yo!]

I got the BerryBak BEA1 as workaround for a short while. A universal tool and pretty good built for what it is IMHO. Connected to a iPhone, if it could handle telephone calls, I would still have it. I remember the blue LED was annoyingly bright and got taped.
Unlucky, that the analog output is below average, but it did it's job and nobody complained about the sound

In this sense I call it a 'good' device.

 

[capslock]

What is the use case for this in a fairly high-end hifi setup??

 

[staticV3]

What is the use case for this in a fairly high-end hifi setup??

To add LDAC and aptX Lossless capabilities to your DAC or Receiver

 

[SlowJim]

I am curious how one would even select a different codec on Android using this product. On my Bluetooth earbuds, the manufacturer provides an app that allows you to change from LDAC to aptx Lossless. As far as I can tell this has no associated app.

 

[staticV3]

I am curious how one would even select a different codec on Android using this product

Developer Options->Bluetooth Audio Codec

 

[SlowJim]

I think that resets to default each time you disconnect/reconnect though

 

[capslock]

To add LDAC and aptX Lossless capabilities to your DAC or Receiver

Sure, but why would I want to do that? There are various lossless ways to do the same thing. I use chromecast and don't see why I should keep my cell phone draining its battery to convert to semi-lossless LDAC do get this to the DAC.

 

[Michou]

I think that resets to default each time you disconnect/reconnect though

You don’t actually have to dig into Developer Options to manage Bluetooth audio settings. There’s an app called Bluetooth Codec Changer that does it for you. It lets you select any of the supported codecs (LDAC, aptX, aptX HD, AAC, SBC, etc.), and then lock in the sample rate, bit depth, and overall audio quality you want. You can even save per-device profiles, so your headphones always connect at the best possible settings instead of Android randomly falling back to SBC or a lower LDAC bitrate.

If you’re familiar with USB Audio Player Pro (UAPP), it offers similar functionality. UAPP is best known for bypassing Android’s audio mixer to deliver bit-perfect playback to external DACs, but it also includes advanced Bluetooth controls—letting you fine-tune codec selection, bitrate, and sample rate.

Both apps basically give you control over the audio chain without needing to tinker with hidden menus. If you care about squeezing the most out of your Bluetooth gear, they’re worth a look.

 

[kazuviking]

Finally, hi-res Bluetooth on your iPhone: this cheap, tiny dongle adds aptX Adaptive and L

This thing is pure grade A E-Waste. The amount of people reporting random drops, pops, seconds long pause after music starts playing, everything becomes distorted. Most units just brick themselfs the first time you connect it as for some reason FiiO thought its a good idea to update the firmware the second you plug it in WITHOUT indication. This thing is bad on iphones and on most phones.

 

[Jalan]

Hi to everybody, thx for your excellent and unique website end reviews.

BEA1 seems the perfect purchase for LDAC bluetooth on a SPDIF or Toslink DAC but....

If we want a display (a simple LED for the bluetooth mode could be ok) and/or a power switch and/or a more descent DAC what are the options ?

- iFi ZEN Blue 3 seems the only one with APTX lossless (not the same price but), an ASR review could be great
- EDIT : Several SMSL DAC/AMP have LDAC and measure excellent on ASR (not the same price but very good value for the price)
- Fiio BR13 seems very similar to BEA1 but with switch and display and perhaps a better DAC implementation ?, an ASR review could be great
- Lavaudio DS200 Pro very similar to but with switch and display and perhaps a better DAC implementation ?, an ASR review could be great (discontinued but possible to find in good shape)
- Fiio BTA30 Pro is more versatile, DAC seems better but not perfect and there is some strange behaviours
- Fiio BTA30 was not tested, I'm not sure how it is comparing BTA30 Pro
- WiiM products are lossless wireless transmission oriented but only the more expensive seem to have a descent DAC
- Topping BC3 seemed to be a reference (not sure how DAC compare with BTA30) but with a battery (not so great for desktop), discontinued and not easy to find in good shape
- Qudelix 5K seemed to be briefly a good successor to topping BC3 (without SPDIF nor Toslink out) but disappeared too
- EDIT : HiBy W3 II is still available has a battery but could be used plugged in "car mode" has no SPDIF or Toslink out so that's not for a desktop DAC but could be quite descent for other usages. I didn't found ASR review but measures on other thread but i'm not sure to understand how good it is for an usage without big power needed (so if someone can help about that)

So tell me if I am mistaken about some assertions (I'm quite technically incompetent regarding lot of people here) and don't hesitate to correct me or add informations. And if some other options could fill the apparently no so simple need to have a convenient LDAC (or lossless) bluetooth receiver with a non limiting DAC.

Thank's a lot !