FiiO BTR17

[frgmnt]

The FiiO BTR17 is out! FiiO provided some parameters for this device. Most of the tests seemed to be done in desktop mode, high gain, and with a 32Ω load.

Guangzhou FiiO Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.-BTR17_parameters

Guangzhou FiiO Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.

www.fiio.com

Anybody here already order this? I'm waiting a little bit to see more reviews on this before deciding.

 

[frgmnt]

Nobody interested in this? Personally I'm on the fence between this and a DAP for on the go listening. Not a fan of a dongle hanging out of my pocket while I'm walking. I'm leaning towards a DAP more as I don't have have a portable device to play my audio collection anymore. Also my Android phone doesn't support BT LDAC and can't stream Apple Music bit perfect.

The one big plus this has over a DAP is that it would perform better as a portable desktop DAC/amp. I just don't have a need for one since I have a separate DAC/amp for home and work.

 

[bkjernisted]

What has better sound the BTR17 or the Hiby R6 MK lll?

 

[Somafunk]

Nobody interested in this? Personally I'm on the fence between this and a DAP for on the go listening. Not a fan of a dongle hanging out of my pocket while I'm walking. I'm leaning towards a DAP more as I don't have have a portable device to play my audio collection anymore. Also my Android phone doesn't support BT LDAC and can't stream Apple Music bit perfect.

The one big plus this has over a DAP is that it would perform better as a portable desktop DAC/amp. I just don't have a need for one since I have a separate DAC/amp for home and work.

There’s a thread here on headfi, read the last couple of pages as the firmware is still buggy, typical Fiio product imho as they seem to treat the buying public as beta testers

What has better sound the BTR17 or the Hiby R6 MK lll?

I doubt you could tell in a db matched listening test, I have the Hiby R6 iii and I’m vaguely interested in the BTR17 for “reasons” I can’t quite figure out

 

[frgmnt]

There’s a thread here on headfi, read the last couple of pages as the firmware is still buggy, typical Fiio product imho as they seem to treat the buying public as beta testers


I doubt you could tell in a db matched listening test, I have the Hiby R6 iii and I’m vaguely interested in the BTR17 for “reasons” I can’t quite figure out

That's a shame with the bugs. I was originally looking into getting the BTR7 and then I saw that the BTR17 was coming out so I waited.

I just placed an order for the R4 Eva so I guess I no longer have a need for the BTR17. I get your curiosity. I have no need for it anymore, but I'm also wondering about how the BTR17 would sound. I've only ever listened to BT through wireless earbuds, so it would be interesting to see how well LDAC would sound with wired IEM's/headphones.

 

[Gaius Helena Moheim]

There’s a thread here on headfi, read the last couple of pages as the firmware is still buggy, typical Fiio product imho as they seem to treat the buying public as beta testers


I doubt you could tell in a db matched listening test, I have the Hiby R6 iii and I’m vaguely interested in the BTR17 for “reasons” I can’t quite figure out

Well, i just bought one of these yesterday in a rather impulsive mood to prevent me from buying a DAP.
I must admit i already own a desktop DAC AMP end 2 balanced DAC AMP dongles. But i found that when moving around with those dongles the short USB C cables sometimes loose their connection. I was hoping to prevent this by using LDAC when mobile.
Now it's becoming clear to me that this device suffers from some software issues. Personally, i am quite basic in the way i use these devices. But i will keep you people posted on the state of it's software interface and my impressions when i receive it tomorrow.

 

[Gaius Helena Moheim]

An update to anyone who is interested in the Fiio Btr17.
My first impressions are quite mixed.
This is a nice piece of engineering that is held back by poor software experience.
I will try to describe how my personal experience went.
Upon receiving the device i tried to connect it to my Google Pixel 8 Pro running Android 14. No go. It remains stuck in pairing mode. Updating my phone to Android 15 fixed that.
Then i installed the Fiio Control app and upon starting that app tried to push firmware 1.51 to my dongle. Tried and failed. Tried with the USB dongle. Again failed.
Connected to my Windows desktop computer via USB. Downloaded the firmware from the Fiio website. Installed the windows USB Dac driver. After unzipping the firmware and starting the firmware updater i was able to upgrade the USB chip firmware successfully to ver 1.28. After that i tried to upgrade the device software itself to ver 0.51 from ver 0.50. The firmware updater showed it progressbar and reported a successful update. However, checking the version in the menu of the device still reports running on ver 0.5 instead of 0.51 and the Fiio control app still tries to update my dongle to ver 0.51 upon starting.
Not sure what is going on here but this is not exactly a good firmware upgrade experience.
After every boot up the device connects in Aptx mode instead of Ldac even if it is selected in my phones Bluetooth options. Remember that i am running stock Android 15 on a Google phone. Deselecting Aptx and only choosing Ldac in the control app switches to SBC instead of Ldac.
There is still a lot of work here Fiio.
Now, before you would think that there is only doom and gloom. That is not the case. There are also positives.
The machining and finishing of the case is excisite. The control interface and button feeling is good. The screen is colorful and informative.
The amplifier is dynamic and powerful in every mode but even more so when a separate USB power source is available.
As for the sound profile of the amplifier. I would describe it as flat with proper extension both in the lower and upper regions with good detail. Actually, imho it's high frequency detail retrieval in Bluetooth mode clearly exceeded that of my desktop Smsl Raw mda1 DAC. No background noise with sensitive IEM's.
Keep in mind that these are my personal impressions and should be seen as purely subjective.
All in all a mixed bag so now I have to decide what to do. Should I keep it and hope that FIIO is capable of fixing my software experience?
As this is my first FIIO dongle, how did this go with their previous BTR devices? What was their firmware and Android software state upon release and how long did it take Fiio fix them?
Any input would be appreciated.

 

[darth]

You can go to their Facebook page and see firmware releases for prior products. Will give you an idea how often they update and how far back they go in the lineup versions.

Based on what I have seen as comments on this and other forums, I would not rely on Fiio's ability to improve software in a timely manner. For example, their app has been out for a while and yet people complain of connectivity issues as they did long ago. See the feedback on the app stores.

This however being their top device in the segment, could be an exception, at least in terms of getting the basics right.

As a data point, I have their K19 DAC, and it has been updated with new firmware once iirc since release almost 10mo ago.

 

[Gaius Helena Moheim]

Thank you Darth for your insight. This is very useful. I think that I will be looking in the possibility of returning it. I bought it online from Fiio Germany so legally it should be possible to return it.

 

[Zoide]

Thank you Darth for your insight. This is very useful. I think that I will be looking in the possibility of returning it. I bought it online from Fiio Germany so legally it should be possible to return it.

Did you end up keeping it?

Has anyone else tried the BTR17?

They upgraded the firmware on Monday:

Updated at 2025-06-09

BTR17 Bluetooth V1.23 and XMOS V1.31 firmware changes are as follows:

1. Added a switch for Bluetooth multipoint functionality.

2. Added the function of double-pressing the knob button to switch to the next track (requires enabling in APP).

3. Added a pop-up window for volume adjustment.

4. Optimized DAC harmonic compensation adjustment.

5. Optimized battery level calculation.

6. Fixed the issue of missing a pop-up notification during LE Audio calls.

7. Fixed the issue of screen flicker that occurred after manually setting the screen timeout.

8. Miscellaneous performance improvements and bug fixes.

(https://forum.fiio.com/note/showNoteContent.do?id=202412181625193628457)

 

[Somafunk]

Zeos has recently published his review of the unit,

 

[Zoide]

I finally got to try the BTR17 with my DCA E3 via the 4.4 mm balanced output, and it drives them great! I'm on low gain, volume 49 and the device feels only slightly warm (Bluetooth mode, not plugged in to anything). Much better than my E1DA PowerDAC v2.1, which would drain my phone battery and get scorching hot. And it's much smaller than I expected.

I'm really happy with this thing!

I'm still going to keep my ADI-2 DAC FS because of the nice knob and screen animations, but realistically speaking the BTR17 would probably be good enough for all my needs.

 

[Somafunk]

I'm really happy with this thing!

Cool , have you tried the phone app yet?, and if you have is your phone android or iOS?.

I have this Tempotec V1 arriving tomorrow which is basically the same as the BTR17 in functionality/size with the addition of a dap with sd card, it’s using the same Hiby software as Hiby R1 so it can do WiFi tidal/qobuz streaming

Ordered it a fortnight ago for an introductory offer of £55 so we’ll see if it is or , I imagine it’ll be decent enough with Hiby software as I previously owned the Tempotec v3 which was great.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009209242733.html?spm=a2g0o.order_detail.order_detail_item.3.6ad9f19c9YKFI9

 

[Zoide]

Cool , have you tried the phone app yet?, and if you have is your phone android or iOS?.

I have this Tempotec V1 arriving tomorrow which is basically the same as the BTR17 in functionality with the addition of a dap with sd card, it’s using the same Hiby software as Hiby R1 so it can do WiFi tidal/qobuz streaming

Ordered it a fortnight ago for an introductory offer of £55 so we’ll see if it is or , I imagine it’ll be decent enough with Hiby software as I previously owned the Tempotec v3 which was great.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009209242733.html?spm=a2g0o.order_detail.order_detail_item.3.6ad9f19c9YKFI9

Yeah, I installed the FiiO Control app on my Android phone and used it to upgrade my BTR17 to the latest firmware version.

It also lets me customize the controls, set EQ, and even tweak DAC settings like 2nd and 3rd harmonic compensation, and the lowpass filter (I left them on their defaults).

Good luck with the TempoTec!

EDIT: I can't believe you got it for so cheap, it now shows €137 for me

 

[Somafunk]

Yeah, I installed the FiiO Control app on my Android phone and used it to upgrade my BTR17 to the latest firmware version.

Ahh, I’m apple/iOS so that’s why I have held off, there’s a few reports of iOS users having to use chrome browser to adjust stuff rather than the app.

 

[Zoide]

Ahh, I’m apple/iOS so that’s why I have held off, there’s a few reports of iOS users having to use chrome browser to adjust stuff rather than the app.

Ahhh, no wonder.

 

[jkim]

Cool , have you tried the phone app yet?, and if you have is your phone android or iOS?.

I have this Tempotec V1 arriving tomorrow which is basically the same as the BTR17 in functionality/size with the addition of a dap with sd card, it’s using the same Hiby software as Hiby R1 so it can do WiFi tidal/qobuz streaming

Ordered it a fortnight ago for an introductory offer of £55 so we’ll see if it is or , I imagine it’ll be decent enough with Hiby software as I previously owned the Tempotec v3 which was great.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009209242733.html?spm=a2g0o.order_detail.order_detail_item.3.6ad9f19c9YKFI9

Worth trying it at £55. You probably do not care about it adopting the CS43131 chips. Right? Anyway, its DAC/HP amp features without the DAP functionality are similar to the TRN Black Pearl.

I believe the PEQ function supported on portable devices should be tested to see if it works correctly. That is why I in the process of testing some of those for their PEQ performance...

 

[Somafunk]

Worth trying it at £55. You probably do not care about it adopting the CS43131 chips. Right? Anyway, its DAC/HP amp features without the DAP functionality are similar to the TRN Black Pearl.

I believe the PEQ function supported on portable devices should be tested to see if it works correctly. That is why I in the process of testing some of those for their PEQ performance...

Not fussed regarding the chips or any pops etc, I'm so not a critical listener for such things , as long as it transmits a signal leading audio to my iems I'll be happy enough.

I don't think it has parametric eq, it has the hiby mseb equalisation which is fine, I've used it before on a tempotec v3 and hiby r3 ii happily enough

 

[Zoide]

The BTR17 (which uses ES9069Q*2 chips) doesn't have any known CS43131-style issues, right?