Fiio BTR3 Review (Portable DAC & Bluetooth Receiver)

[JWAmerica]

Hmmm...

Does Fiio make any top-tier products? Or do I dare ask any above average? Links or product models are welcomed.

Fiio Q3 is the best at its price point

 

[GeekyBastard]

Ah, Fiio with their sh*tty products strike again.

 

[Blorg]

The BTR3 is a low power BT dongle designed for driving IEMs, it seems peculiar to test it with HD650s. This just isn't the intended use case. It's meant to make your wired IEMs wireless. I have it, and use it with IEMs, and for that use I'm really not sure the power level is a problem. I wouldn't use it with overears.

It's discontinued now, replaced by the BTR3K. This is still a relatively low power device designed for driving IEMs, but has dual DACs with substantially more power on the balanced output.

The BTR5 is really the sort of device you need if you want something for high impedance overears. If looking at Fiio devices. Or, the Qudelix 5K which probably is the better device overall but uses the same ESS DAC and seems to measure pretty similarly.

 

[Strato007]

Hey! I just wanted any of these shity devices to connect my earphones/headphones (some IEM and the HD650) to listen to movies from the tv while my wife is sleeping.
I didn't want to spend a hundred bucks in this so I got the new BTR3K... Cheap and good Bluetooth codecs. I believe the DAC is also good and fun. I am a little bit tired of ESS cold sound.
What do you think? Should I cancel the order and go for qudelix 5k??

 

[AudioSceptic]

Hey! I just wanted any of these shity devices to connect my earphones/headphones (some IEM and the HD650) to listen to movies from the tv while my wife is sleeping.
I didn't want to spend a hundred bucks in this so I got the new BTR3K... Cheap and good Bluetooth codecs. I believe the DAC is also good and fun. I am a little bit tired of ESS cold sound.
What do you think? Should I cancel the order and go for qudelix 5k??

If the specs <https://www.fiio.com/btr3k> are to be believed, this fixes the problems with the one Amir tested. Output power is 25 mW, similar to that of the Apple USB-C headphone adapter, so if you have one of those you can see if that's enough. Build/finish looks great on the website.

As for "cold" ESS sound, you mean accurate? ;-)

 

[Strato007]

If the specs <https://www.fiio.com/btr3k> are to be believed, this fixes the problems with the one Amir tested. Output power is 25 mW, similar to that of the Apple USB-C headphone adapter, so if you have one of those you can see if that's enough. Build/finish looks great on the website.

As for "cold" ESS sound, you mean accurate? ;-)

Yes. Accurate and very precise. I also have a LG G8X and Zorloo Stella with ESS DAC.
For AK, I have a little Shanling M1 DAP and a desktop DAC Topping E30.
Despite of the "spatial" effect of ESS, AK sounds more natural and nice to listen to music in general.

Hope what you said about the Fiio was true. I will write a review comparing with Apple iPhone lightning DAC.

Thanks for answering

 

[AudioSceptic]

Yes. Accurate and very precise. I also have a LG G8X and Zorloo Stella with ESS DAC.
For AK, I have a little Shanling M1 DAP and a desktop DAC Topping E30.
Despite of the "spatial" effect of ESS, AK sounds more natural and nice to listen to music in general.

Hope what you said about the Fiio was true. I will write a review comparing with Apple iPhone lightning DAC.

Thanks for answering

I'm just guessing, based on the specs on the website. Can you return it if it's no good?

I nearly mentioned the Lightning adapter (I have one myself) but thought the USB-C one was more likely.

Does your TV have built-in BT or are you using a separate transmitter?

 

[Strato007]

I'm just guessing, based on the specs on the website. Can you return it if it's no good?

I nearly mentioned the Lightning adapter (I have one myself) but thought the USB-C one was more likely.

Does your TV have built-in BT or are you using a separate transmitter?

Yes. I can return it if it is not good.

If USB-C adapter is better than the old Lightning, I am very good. What I have felt connecting Lightning DAC adapter with the Senn HD650 is good sound but lack of bass and body in sound. So if the USB-C is slightly better, I think I am good, otherwise, I will use Soundmagic earbuds and that’s it… for the time using, I am not want to spend more money… I would buy a DAC 100 watt Amp for passive speakers instead.

 

[Strato007]

I have received my BTR3K from AliExpress and my very first impression is relly good. I did connect my Senn HD650 and it sounded nice! I mean, compared with my Ztella, this Fiio sounds more bold, warm with no hiss in the area of high frequencies and also with good volume!. I believe it is a really good option to listen to music (LDAC or APTX HD) or TV through bluetooth a really good price.