Snowsky (FiiO) Retro Nano Bluetooth Reciever Measurements

[Jalan]

So if I synthesize :

-Retro Nano has better measures than W3 (even if more power is not needed) ( https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...vices-a-comparative-review.63038/post-2532702 ) (I don't understand good enough measurements so tell me if i m wrong) and removable batteries and that's a very cool feature, especially about product durability and if it is kept on power plugged

-BTR15 could be an alternative, but can someone tell me how are the measures compared to Retro Nano ( https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/some-notes-on-fiio-ka17.61493/page-2#post-2388366 ) ?

-BTR17, TimeEar BTE-9 and Hiby W4 could had better measures (but not the same price range) and do we have measurements ?

-EDIT : There is BTR13 too, but I don't know if we have measures

-EDIT : Qudelix 5K could be a better alternative than BTR15 but I don't know how are the measures compared to Retro Nano ( https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/some-notes-on-fiio-ka17.61493/page-2#post-2388366 ), and I think i'ts discontinued

-Do we have reasonable small alternatives without battery ? (for plugged usage) ?

 

[CedarX]

-Do we have reasonable small alternatives without battery ? (for plugged usage) ?

You mean plugged through USB, with no Bluetooth… aka a dongle?

 

[Jalan]

No, sorry, I mean anything that use bluetooth (exclusively or not) as source but has no battery, for example BEA1, BTA30, BR13... not too big (this three are still quite ok) not too expansive (whatever it means) and with better measures than retro nano.

 

[confucius_zero]

-Retro Nano has better measures than W3

lets be clear here, no one is claiming that the sound is better, but just the electronic implementation of the system.

Qudelix 5K could be a better alternative than BTR15 but I don't know how are the measures compared to Retro Nano

This is ASR's measurements.

 

[Jalan]

Thank you for your answer.

lets be clear here, no one is claiming that the sound is better, but just the electronic implementation of the system.

There's also the TimeEar BTE-9, Hiby W4 (misleading ads saying you can disable DRE) etc... I figured BT audiophile devices that "measure + sound subjectively good" continue to be niche devices that cost the premium vs a Melody. The RetroNano is already better than the W3 I assume.

So let's say that "measure + sound subjectively good"

This is ASR's measurements.

Thank you for adding the link. So according to Amir Qudelix 5K is as good as it can be for its usage... but as I don't have good understanding of the measures, how do they compare with Retro Nano, W3, BTR15 ?

 

[confucius_zero]

measure + sound subjectively good

measure: that can be found and discussed here
sound subjectively good: at your own personal risk (aka either you binge user subjective opinions online, read through "promotional text written by a freesample'ed reviewer" or try it yourself to find your own truth in this).

 

[Jalan]

It is all your words and this forum idea, and why I'm here and not on another website...
So if someone can explain to me how compare the measures between Qudelix 5K, Retro Nano, W3 (unbalanced) and BTR15

 

[confucius_zero]

So if someone can explain to me how compare the measures between Qudelix 5K, Retro Nano, W3 (unbalanced) and BTR15

Please use the search button instead of expecting handouts.
There, I found this for you.

 

[Jalan]

I think I did'nt make me good understand. I'm not an english native speaker and not so good to speak english.

I didn't say that I did'nt understand anything, neither I didn't say that I didn't spent time doing search on this forum (I did...)

But I'm absolutly sure that some people have a huge better understanding and compentences in audio than me.

And I think too that the first idea of a forum is to exchange about thing to collectivly progress in some way.

So I didn't ask anyone specificaly to do anything I can do myself but just present some thoughts about devices what I thought comparable to Retro Nano to help myself and the other that are looking for such device and I think that this thread is not a wrong place to do that.

So all "help" or information that anyone would like to share is for me a good thing but anyone who can not or don't want to answer is free not to do so.

So if I miss something about this forum habits, all apologies...

 

[Damian]

The retro Nano sounds worse than the BTE-9.. I would say thinner. BUT, BTE-9 functionality from user perspective is ridiculous with 2 main culprits:

1) You can't adjust volume unless music is playing.. and I had some pop sound at some point.. maybe before starting music
2) They don't have an app for iOS.. a lot of people use iOS, I use it.. so what do I need to have an android phone around in 2026 for a newly released product.

I wouldn't recommend BTE-9 just for those reasons even if it sounds better.

Best simplest solution is a USB-C dongle for a simple setup because when are you going to use the bluetooth DAC if it sounds worse and you are anyways most of the time with the phone in your pocket. Then you have to worry about charging the device.. dealing with these buggy apps. Like with the Nano.. the AutoEQ shows the presets but then the gain values are 0.. or randomly one has value, what's the point?

 

[Jalan]

Thank you for your thoughts. How do you make BTE-9 and Nano sound comparison ? Did you try both or do you have info as measurements ?

Concerning bluetooth usage, I think too that it has not too much interest for listening phone or portable player with headphones. But it has a big interest to use your portable player on every other sound systems (including on the go). Moreover Nano has the big interest to be used without battery on any usb c power source. And even in this configuration, have the "reasonably best" DAC possible could be interesting.

 

[CedarX]

1) You can't adjust volume unless music is playing..

I actually prefer this behavior… for the safety of my ears.

2) They don't have an app for iOS.. a lot of people use iOS, I use it.. so what do I need to have an android phone around in 2026 for a newly released product.

AFAIK, FiiO Control is available on iOS and it supports Retro Nano.
What is not available on iOS are app to control devices through USB. But that’s an Apple restriction (with no easy workaround).

Best simplest solution is a USB-C dongle for a simple setup because when are you going to use the bluetooth DAC if it sounds worse and you are anyways most of the time with the phone in your pocket.

Yes, but I still have this damn cable to deal with each time I take my phone out my pocket. And my phone’s battery is going to die a lot sooner.

 

[Damian]

I actually prefer this behavior… for the safety of my ears.

AFAIK, FiiO Control is available on iOS and it supports Retro Nano.
What is not available on iOS are app to control devices through USB. But that’s an Apple restriction (with no easy workaround).

Yes, but I still have this damn cable to deal with each time I take my phone out my pocket. And my phone’s battery is going to die a lot sooner.

I’m referring to the BTE for my comments. Actually, for the volume I can see the setting but can’t change it until something plays even if connected . So for me it is more dangerous. There is no BTE app for iOS.

 

[Damian]

Thank you for your thoughts. How do you make BTE-9 and Nano sound comparison ? Did you try both or do you have info as measurements ?

Concerning bluetooth usage, I think too that it has not too much interest for listening phone or portable player with headphones. But it has a big interest to use your portable player on every other sound systems (including on the go). Moreover Nano has the big interest to be used without battery on any usb c power source. And even in this configuration, have the "reasonably best" DAC possible could be interesting.

I have both but no equipment to measure them, the sound is fuller on the BTE tested with good IEMs ( Andromeda , Timeless and Arete among others ).

The nano is just a better user experience in terms of controls and a proper switch to turn on and off plus some settings in the app itself and cheaper . If used on the go I would choose the Nano just because it is smaller, lighter and better controls plus an app if I want to apply PEQ. I also think BTE just drains its battery if connected to a laptop which is also ridiculous.

All these hype reviewers and influencers most of the time either ignore or don’t mention these cons which are important (leave it up to you about why ).

Like I went to the supermarket with it and the amount of noise from the outside just negates those advantages in sound that you can hear when you are at home.

Which TOL IEMs really isolate that well? Not many and if they do you most probably get noise just from walking . An AirPod is a better experience overall.

If I’m in office just connect the IEMs to a good usb dongle .

Some people take calls with the BTE, but come on, you need to take the DAC out of your pocket anyhow and place it near your face. There is no clip with it neither .

I’m not happy with the BTE9, 3x the cost of the nano with less functionality that I actually use. Even the high and low setting has a switch and the difference is a couple of db maybe… if i switch between full headphones and IEMs the amount of clicking to change the volume is insane and even doesn’t register properly.

It’s a typical case of great hardware and bad functionality.

 

[gizmos_toasts]

Hi. Does anyone have an idea why my retro nano sounds awful? I have Final Audio A6000 IEMs - they’re low sensitivity (101 db) and their impedance is 18 Ω. On paper, the retro nano should drive them just fine. But in reality - the bass is almost nonexistent - it’s very flat, and soundstage is generally poor. I compare to a FiiO KA13 DAC, which supposedly has the same chip, and that one is miles better. Such a shame because I really wanted Bluetooth for my IEMs.

I use the 3.5 mm output, though a 4.4mm-to-3.5mm dongle didn’t seem to make things MUCH better. Things also didn’t change when I switched from Bluetooth to PC mode, which suggests to me that Bluetooth isn’t the problem here.

I actually would go as far as to recommend avoiding this dac if you consider yourself at least somewhat of an audiophile. Maybe it’s just my headphones though?

 

[CedarX]

I use the 3.5 mm output, though a 4.4mm-to-3.5mm dongle didn’t seem to make things MUCH better.

You mean a 4.4mm to 3.5mm adapter/cable? Do you know how it is wired? It may have made things worse…

 

[gizmos_toasts]

You mean a 4.4mm to 3.5mm adapter/cable? Do you know how it is wired? It may have made things worse…

No, I mean I’ve tried both a regular 3.5 mm connection, and a 4.4 mm to 3.5 mm, both were equally bad