I just subscribed because it's nice to have a relatively thorough explanation of features and the reasons behind them (for example, why you might turn a certain Bluetooth codec off or use the low latency version) and still keep the video at a reasonable length.
Been using mine for about 3 months. It is really good and I like the 4.4 pentacon over the BTR5 2021 with only a 2.5 balanced connection. It is bigger than the BTR5 but I like it!
Detailed review that covers all the main points!! 👍 I've been listening to this on and off for abput a month. Found it a bit clean and sterile but the distortion adjustment suggestion warms it up a bit. Thanks a mil. 👍👍
I've had the.clip on my Fiio BTR3K for years now and it works just fine . The clip has never lost grip on whatever I clip it to . I clip it to my shirt pocket and it's neatly out of the way . The BTR3K With LDAC CODEC Makes My X2HR Fidelio Sound Very AweSomeNess PerSoNiFied . I Have A Short 12inch 3.5 Aux Cable And Clip It Onto My Shirt Which Is Far Better Than Running A Wire Down My Shirt . The Clip Is A Life Saver .
FiiO surprises their customers year by year. Gone were the days where they did nothing for sound tuning-dull and not musical 😂This BTR7 packs phone dialling, portability, surprisingly high power and sound quality into a “big usb doungle”. One of my can is 460 ohms. Am looking for something that can drive it well
Just started using them, pairing them with AKG n5005s and I've never heard something sound so good. Always been interested in high end audio and this has been my introduction I was stuck on the filters for quite a bit then just put it on hybrid lmao
thanks for mentioning about music being displacement/distortion of air; i think measurements can be misleading. i wish products like this would just give us a good connection; whether balanced or SE. good review 👍
Its everything btr5 was dialed up to a 11... Power ✅ Stable Bluetooth ✅ 4.4mm Pentaconn ✅ I would have really liked a startup and pairing sound like in btr5, but it can drive 150 ohm 90db headphones, so that's incredible for its size.
I’ve been using this wonderful little device since late early August. It’s plenty powerful and quite frankly overkill for most IEMs, great for my HD6XX. Made me question whether I needed a dedicated DAP ever again as I pair this up with my phone and works really well! Then again Tempotec V6 came out and I couldn’t pass that up! Still plan on using my BTR7 though.
Been using one for about two months now, for IEM's, occasionally a Hifiman Ananda and some overear B&O's, detail and volume levels are good across the board. It produced a little bit of noise when it was connected to a computer via USB to 3.5mm to rca to a tube amp, but not a normal use case.
I stream Tidal and was using a Helm Bolt from my iPhone11. I wanted more power so when the BTR5 2021 came out with MQA through wired I got it to replace the Bolt. Now my phone battery doesn't have to power the headphones. It is also a great convenience to have BT. I don't see a clip on the BTR7. Is it too heavy to clip to a shirt? I like that the 7 screen is brighter too. Not enough going for the 7 for me to upgrade, IMO. I also have a Gryphon but that is in a different category due to its size. I like that for the hotel room when traveling. Love your reviews. Cheers!
you don't need the balance 4.4mm for IEMs BTR7 3.5mm is plenty powerful and even the Boost option works on the 3.5mm output too so even headphones are fine anything up to 50ohm is more then fine on 3.5mm btw Best portable dac ever
For my home office I am using the FiiO BTA30 Pro...what a great product for only $125! RX, TX, and DAC modes...tons of codec support...nice build quality...audiophile quality. I use it in DAC mode from PC (USB-A) to it's USB-C input, then out to my vintage Hitachi SR-503L and Marantz EQ-20. Here, I use either bookshelf speaks OR the phone output to cabled headphones/IEM's. I most often use it in TX mode, with PC as source, and transmit (with a 12dB after-market antenna) to my BT5.2 earhooks + IEM's (e.g. MP145, S12, Hexa, T3+). The KZ AZ09 Pro earhooks (modded for B-pin) support AptX, so the result is not lossless, but it is very good. For the family room, another BTA30 Pro is set in RX mode, with streaming from my Android phone (in LDAC) to another vintage Hitachi (SR-903) outputting to Dali speakers. This FiiO product is extremely versatile. However, I will probably not buy another BTR product...as my BTR5 collects a lot of dust since the arrival of the BT earhooks. The BTR7 is very tempting...but I can't see myself leaving the comfort and convenience of these earhooks in favor of this more cumbersome wireless experience.
I recently purchased the Fiio BTR7 along with a pair of Sennheiser HD 660S headphones. I previously bought a Fosi DS1 to use with a Sony MDR 7506 headphones. I am just getting into HIFI listening and am trying not to go down DAC/DAP rabbit hole. I listened to the BTR7 along with the 660S and was not impressed. As far as the sound quality of the BTR7, I found it no different than my $70 Fosi DS1. And the audio coming out of the 660S was too bassy and muddy for me. I was going to return the BTR7 and the 660s the next business day but decide to give them another look over. Oh, i also have a pair of wirelss KZ VXS that sound nice and clear and LOUD! I was comparing the Fiio BTR7 and the Sennheiser 880S to the sound I get from my KZ VXS and the Fosi DSS1 and found there was a big difference between the two sets of devices. I listened to both device and headphones back and forth in an A and B comparison and was ready to send The Fiio and the Sennheiser back to Amazon. But I played with the equalizer settings on the BTR7 in the User setting and got them to sound like my DS1. Now i am keeping both the BTR7 and the Sennheisers. The BTR7 sound like my DS1 but the DS1 does not have Bluetooth. I use the BTR 7 along with my other headphones and earphones that makes them sound better than before. This is my humble introduction to a better listening experience. With time I will probably buy more audio equipment but hopefully spend wisely. I listen to both wired and wireless to my iPhone. I find little to no difference to the audio quality. Thanks for the review.
wire mode accepts remote input from buttons on your headphones plugged into the btr7 and sends the controller input to the source like play/pause or next track. called wire mode because the buttons are most commonly on the headphone cable or maybe because you’re wiring it through?
Hi! Great informative video, most of which I sadly could not understand. However, I liked how well you tested and covered the nuances. I want to buy a portable dac possibly bluetooth for hd560s to use with Android phone in budget, would you say btr7 a good recommendation?
Nice review, good observations throughout. Good to see side by side on the btr5. Looks like they have thought carefully about all round improvements. Although it's primarily a headphone amp it can also be used as a desktop dac. I'm using my btr5 for portable listening and occasionaly with a proper hifi when I'm away. Thinking of picking one up, but it's not that easy. I agree with your observation regarding new case concept. The btr5 has a great clip case that has lasted well over 4 years. So I'd miss having a clip no end, hard to understand why such an important feature wasn't carried, especially with the built in mic for allowing use in calls has been, which is a great feature. Can't say I'm a big fan of the sharp edges either. I'd be after an aftermarket case that has a clip if I was to pick one up.
FiiO actually sells a clip case now, albeit separately. It's called the SK-BTR7. BTR7 is a bit too big, though and I wouldn't really recommend shirt-clipping it. For me personally, when I'm out I prefer to clip it to my belt and use an in-line mic in case I get any calls. Of course, this means only 2/4 of the THX amps are usable.
Have the btr5 n now btr7. They definitely sound different. Not just louder. Also bought the new clip case. And going to use btr7 like btr5 clippes to my shorts. Great little... though bigger than btr5 device
Thank you so much for review. I wonder how it sound comparedto the q5s. If I focus to the sound quality should I look for 2nd hand q5s or just go for btr7?
@@Currawong exactly ! Thats why the whole Bluetooth DAC is somehow misleading regarding DSD. Bluetooth with LDAC codec is limited up to 24bit-96kHz only.
Passion for sound described the BTR7 as being polite sounding I'm not as engaging as some other dongles for the same price. It's a pity you didn't compared to other dongles apart from the btr5.
Hey, I just returned ifi XDSD Gryphon because I thought it's not worth it's price also not much better than BTR5 so does BTR7 sound as good as gryphon and is it much better than BTR5 2021?
Check the manual, but using an external amp, you probably wont have noise cancelling. If you want louder output, I recommend buying wired headphones and forgoing the noise cancelling.
@ 15 minute mark you mention a test file with digital silence A file with nothing but digital silence will not turn the amps on with many of these small devices The test file MUST contain a short (preferably low level) audio signal at the beginning of the test file to turn on the amps, and then switch to digital silence for the remainder of the track The amps normally stay off until there is audio content in the file For example, a test file that is pure silence for the first 3 minutes before it reaches a test tone will not turn the amps on for 3 minutes when playing the file, but will keep the amps on until the end of the test track once the test tone turns the amps on
I only noticed this problem when testing ground plane noise rejection on a very noisy computer Without the constant background noise to tell you if the amps are on or off, you might never notice this by simply playing a test track with nothing but digital silence
Also, even if you play a test track with an audio tone to turn the amps on, you must continue playing the digital silence until your testing is finished If you pause or stop playback, the amps turn off to conserve power and will remain off even if you un-pause, or continue playback of the digital silence You must provide another audio signal to turn the amps back on again and continue playing the digital silence until your testing is done
Thanks for that! I had this thought in the back of my mind that I should, indeed, make a test track with something at the start to ensure the amp switches on. Usually I can here a very faint pop as it comes on with the Campfire IEMs. I did make up such a track as you suggested, with a tone at the start to ensure the amp was switched on, and I still hear silence after the tone.
I am looking for something to brighten up my car stock speakers. I was mainly interested in the BTR7 then the m11 plus and q7 dsd512 caught my attention. Any suggestions which one would be best for my usage? Thanks
Have this now. Listening through 4.4mm to the Timeless. Streaming from my phone via USB. Holy dang it sounds good. I don't really even care about the app only working in BT mode, or that the sample rate does not show correctly (via USB at least, COULD be Android also messing with it), the sound quality just plain trumps those little niggles, imo.
As do I. Bass is tighter on the BTR7 and requires the OS mode on the RU6 to get the same tightness, but then the differences go away in sound signatures making them redundant. It's nice the BTR7 can fully unfold MQA but I hardly use it for that, I bought it first week because I happened to forget my 5K on the plane and needed a quality Bluetooth solution for that use case.
@@WindMills_ Sorry for the late reply, I didn't see your comment untill now. It's hard for me to choose one over the other for just sound quality, they are both good. I would recommend getting the one that has the features you need. For pure sound quality, I'll probably go with the RU6. IEMs with good technicalities and detail pair better with the RU6. BTR7 sounds transparent and warm, bassy, neutral IEMs pair nicely with it.
Hey how is BTR7 holding up ? Am stuck between BTR7 and Qudelix 5K . I just ordered Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X for 250 Euro and am thinking about which one i should get. Thank you in advence for reply.
I'm relatively new to this kind of thing. I tend to listen to my music through a decidedly outdated iPod classic, could I connect that to the BTR then use the bluetooth to run to wireless headphones, or is that a bit too outside the box for this device?
Can it be charged via USB while functioning in Bluetooth receive mode? That was my single biggest issue with BTR5, and reason I went with a Qudilex 5K, but the 5k interface and pairing functionality is just horrible.
Just recently picked up a btr3k for work use with iem's and its more than enough at that task. I did try it with my headphones and it's not quite powerful enough to get my 660s or Sundaras to a decent listening level so was thinking of getting the btr7 for home use for movies in the lounge when im not trying to disturb anyone. Anyone own these 2 that can vouch for the difference? I know it was mentioned in the video that the btr7 doesn't offer much more power over the btr5 but I don't know how much more power the btr5 has over the btr3k haha. So many btr's
I'm looking to see if I can connect this to my Samsung Galaxy tablet (no mini-jack for output) , and have my bluetooth headphones connect to this. My desire is to boost volume, use an EQ, and improve sound.
Would this be good to pair with HD660S? How much better in sound quality is a computer amp ? Not sure which way to go. But I do know that I don’t spend a lot of time at a desk.
Can I use this in car audio to run Apple Music lossless audio from my phone to HelixV8 dsp via coax or Bluetooth? Compared to running my iPhone 13 just into the usb?
It's not a problem with frequencies, it's a problem with the type of distortion this type of DAC has. If you EQ it, then you're just masking the distortion.
I'm using the btr7 with HD600's with wired connection from Samsung phone with Tidal. I don't listen overly loud, but I'm on low gain and have volume between 21 and 26 out of 60. Sounds really good. I like it much better than the RME adi-2 dac/LCD-3F combo I had.
I have this and got the lightning jack version but I still can’t play it wired without the Bluetooth kicking in. I have switched the priority and shut off the Bluetooth with no luck. Anyone know what I’m doing wrong? Do I need a dongle before I can plug it into the iPhone?
You did not spend much time describing the sound character, but I also suspect that given its hardware architecture, there is nothing much to describe about it either. I saw mentioned somewhere else that such nested feedback amplifiers, like the ones on Topping devices, are good at distortion control and linearity of output, but sacrifice macro dynamics in the process. How would you say this device swings in dynamics? Does it have good transient responses? Is the Bass character flat and relatively untextured or can it slam hard and be impulsive when it needs to be?
@P.Shukla - Perhaps you'll find all the answers you seek by taking in a film: The Menu... & thinking upon it as introspectively as your capabilities allow.
Wanna know if that usb C port can be used with headphones (with mic) over bluetooth from smartphone when selecting that side button ?!? Did i se or not, a microsd card slot for on device music, why ?!?
Hi nice and informative review, thanks! Can I use BTR7 as a BT transmitter from my PC? It would be nice if I could plug it into my PC via USB and transmit audio to my BT enabled headset. Unfortunately my PC's BT does not do aptx/ldac but SBC only :(
@@Currawong Hi, thanks the quick response ! It is a pitty, that would be a very useful feature. I could solve all audio connectivity issues I have. Do you know if newer models of Fiio players can do that? A player must have BT tx capability and also works as a USD DAC, so the hw functionality must be there.
I'm not sure what you're asking, but if you have headphones that already have Bluetooth, then you don't need a BTR7 or anything like it. I made a video about this: th-cam.com/video/kFXv-umvhgM/w-d-xo.html
I probably should have stated it more clearly: Noise from a computer makes the sound quality noticeably poorer, with the music sounding harsh and unpleasant. But yes, I can't stand listening to music that way.
@@CurrawongMac? I don’t know but it sound like total BS you can’t stand the fact that a $200 Bluetooth dac can sound as good as your solid state amps get over it
OK curious why doesn’t the Apple cable that comes with my iPhone work with this dac? I do have the cable that came with the dac for the iPhone and it does work it’s just very short. Also, I’m just wondering I get this kind of metallic sensation from the FiiO DACs I’m doing something wrong is there a way to lesson that. One other thing the FiiO website does anybody know why it’s so slow and or if there’s another link for the firmware update because the website is almost impossible to access --so slow so very slow… the FiiO app says it’s updated, but the current firmware is V1.85 but I have 1.68.
I think bluetooth dacs don't make sense even if it's better quality it's still lossy connection wired is always gonna be better and if your spending basically £200 on a hi res device just have it wired
Interesting about the standard Apple cable not working. So if the supplied cable fails you can't run it wired on an iPhone unless you can get hold of one of their bespoke cables. Have you tried extending the USB C end of the cable?
It's not truly high-res (there is still some data loss) but the LDAC and APTxHD Bluetooth audio codecs support higher resolution audio, if the connected device also supports it.
@@Currawong This is why I am having trouble with Bluetooth and stick to wires except for casual stuff.. Those codecs are 24-96 which sounds good on wired earphones but less good by Bluetooth, hence the question.
So you said 95% of the users who use 3.5mm system get only the 50% performance out of this device? Whats the use of it then? And this is about all the Hi Res amps that come with these two ports?
That's a good question. Most amplifiers with "balanced" circuits perform best from the corresponding 4-pin XLR or 4.4mm output. Many headphones now come with one of these two connections, so it's not an issue. I *do* think it's a bit silly to make something portable, and put the focus around requiring connectors that are less common and/or inferior (eg: the 2.5mm plug, which is horrid). It's fine for a "high-end" portable device designed for people who also will buy "high-end" IEMs, but silly at the lower end, where telling people getting into the hobby that they have to spend *more* money to get the most out of a product is ridiculous. That, for example, Chord has ignored the balanced hype goes to show that if you make an excellent product, whether the circuit is balanced or not doesn't matter.
Friend, tell me some headphones or a player with physical keys to rewind tracks 10 seconds forward or backward. and not just switching tracks forward back, do such things even exist?
$4000 headphones!?!?! I can't wrap my wits around how much better it could sound compared to my $200 M570 planar magnetic headphones. I'm sure they do but are they twice as clear, detailed, etc. etc? The open back planars are maybe 15% better than my closed back dynamic KRK 8400 studio monitor headphones in a quiet room. My mind was blown hearing both of them for the first time through my Sanskrit 2 and Asgard 3. I guess I need to find a rich friend who will let me listen.
@@peterscrace3530 yey thanks for that great news. I was gonna grab the BTR5 because of the smaller size and the lack of clip on the 7 but this gives me the reason to go for the bigger brother. 🥳
I got one of these recently to try out as I'm very unhappy with the battery life (and weird bass) on the ifi xDSD Gryphon. However the xDSD Gryphon is just much better at soundtsage which you'd expect given its price increase.
Without the ability to buckle up to a shirt and compactness, this BTR7 became useless for what it is compared to the BTR5. Why would you need a portable device with all its upgraded power and quality, if it undermines the whole idea of portability and becomes inconvenient to carry it outside, you won't be able to clip it anywhere close to your mouth, nor it is applicable in a home environment where people usually have their grown-up setups. Why is there a mic, if you will never use it for phone calls? Just buy yourself a DAP then, if you want to carry a brick in your pocket. At least it won't suffer from the bluetooth lossy codecs. Why bother with this BRT7? There are too many questions to the designers of this bulky and mostly unusable brick enclosed in an ugly grey case which looks like it's made for a toilet utensil rather than a hi-fi equipment. Yes, I just hate this thing, but I love the BTR5. And I'm OK with less power and fidelity just for the sake of sheer usability. The BTR5 is convenient in the streets. The BTR7 is not.
Consider buying looser clothing...? It's only a brick compared to the BRT 5. Compared to a brick, it is not a brick. The case does not resemble the case of a toilet utensil. I checked. Hyperbole, by definition, is exaggeration. It's not the truth. To be taken seriously by adults, you should avoid it. If the BRT 5 does everything you want it to do, well, good on you. But for someone who doesn't own a BRT 5, this upgrade seems more powerful, versatile and future-proof. Time will tell who replaces their bluetooth amp/dac sooner.
I just subscribed because it's nice to have a relatively thorough explanation of features and the reasons behind them (for example, why you might turn a certain Bluetooth codec off or use the low latency version) and still keep the video at a reasonable length.
Been using mine for about 3 months. It is really good and I like the 4.4 pentacon over the BTR5 2021 with only a 2.5 balanced connection. It is bigger than the BTR5 but I like it!
Detailed review that covers all the main points!! 👍 I've been listening to this on and off for abput a month. Found it a bit clean and sterile but the distortion adjustment suggestion warms it up a bit. Thanks a mil. 👍👍
Yes, a detailed review that covers the menus and the app. Thank you.
Thank you for at least explaining it. Some people don't even explain what they are. You explained it and now u got a thumbs up and subscriber! Thx.
I've had the.clip on my Fiio BTR3K for years now and it works just fine . The clip has never lost grip on whatever I clip it to . I clip it to my shirt pocket and it's neatly out of the way . The BTR3K With LDAC CODEC Makes My X2HR Fidelio Sound Very AweSomeNess PerSoNiFied . I Have A Short 12inch 3.5 Aux Cable And Clip It Onto My Shirt Which Is Far Better Than Running A Wire Down My Shirt . The Clip Is A Life Saver .
I have both the BTR5 and the BTR7.. I find both are a joy to use , well done FIIO.
FiiO surprises their customers year by year. Gone were the days where they did nothing for sound tuning-dull and not musical 😂This BTR7 packs phone dialling, portability, surprisingly high power and sound quality into a “big usb doungle”.
One of my can is 460 ohms. Am looking for something that can drive it well
Just started using them, pairing them with AKG n5005s and I've never heard something sound so good.
Always been interested in high end audio and this has been my introduction
I was stuck on the filters for quite a bit then just put it on hybrid lmao
thanks for mentioning about music being displacement/distortion of air; i think measurements can be misleading.
i wish products like this would just give us a good connection; whether balanced or SE. good review 👍
Its everything btr5 was dialed up to a 11...
Power ✅
Stable Bluetooth ✅
4.4mm Pentaconn ✅
I would have really liked a startup and pairing sound like in btr5, but it can drive 150 ohm 90db headphones, so that's incredible for its size.
I went out and ordered it today thanks to your review 👍
I'm using a Topping G5 and it is superb. sparkle, punch and extension...lovely
I’ve been using this wonderful little device since late early August. It’s plenty powerful and quite frankly overkill for most IEMs, great for my HD6XX. Made me question whether I needed a dedicated DAP ever again as I pair this up with my phone and works really well! Then again Tempotec V6 came out and I couldn’t pass that up! Still plan on using my BTR7 though.
Almost bought the Tempotec V6 but being a "startup" i hesitated to buy it.
Have a HiBy R5 and thinking to replace it. So, is it any good?
*Fiio Q3 vs Fiio BTR7 vs Ifi Hip Dac 2 vs Ifi Go Blu*
In terms of pure sound quality, which one is the best??
Also, how would you rank them???
@@princesmith8008 Dont forget to consider the Earmen Colibri if you're after sound quality.
@@princesmith8008look for Andy's Dongle dac and IEM reviews and hall of fame.
Been using one for about two months now, for IEM's, occasionally a Hifiman Ananda and some overear B&O's, detail and volume levels are good across the board. It produced a little bit of noise when it was connected to a computer via USB to 3.5mm to rca to a tube amp, but not a normal use case.
Really like the Questyle M15, would you recommend getting this over it.
does 3.5mm sound low res like they did to btr5's 3.5mm?
I stream Tidal and was using a Helm Bolt from my iPhone11. I wanted more power so when the BTR5 2021 came out with MQA through wired I got it to replace the Bolt. Now my phone battery doesn't have to power the headphones. It is also a great convenience to have BT. I don't see a clip on the BTR7. Is it too heavy to clip to a shirt? I like that the 7 screen is brighter too. Not enough going for the 7 for me to upgrade, IMO. I also have a Gryphon but that is in a different category due to its size. I like that for the hotel room when traveling. Love your reviews. Cheers!
We got parametric EQ on BTR 7, its very versatile. Could adjust it on Fiio Control... Really dark background and like it!
you don't need the balance 4.4mm for IEMs BTR7 3.5mm is plenty powerful and even the Boost option works on the 3.5mm output too so even headphones are fine anything up to 50ohm is more then fine on 3.5mm btw Best portable dac ever
Got dt 990 pro 250 ohm will they run properly
Qudelix better
I'm considering purchasing it for it's wireless capabillites. as a desktop DAC/AMP I use the FiiO K7 and very happy with it.
For my home office I am using the FiiO BTA30 Pro...what a great product for only $125! RX, TX, and DAC modes...tons of codec support...nice build quality...audiophile quality.
I use it in DAC mode from PC (USB-A) to it's USB-C input, then out to my vintage Hitachi SR-503L and Marantz EQ-20. Here, I use either bookshelf speaks OR the phone output to cabled headphones/IEM's.
I most often use it in TX mode, with PC as source, and transmit (with a 12dB after-market antenna) to my BT5.2 earhooks + IEM's (e.g. MP145, S12, Hexa, T3+). The KZ AZ09 Pro earhooks (modded for B-pin) support AptX, so the result is not lossless, but it is very good.
For the family room, another BTA30 Pro is set in RX mode, with streaming from my Android phone (in LDAC) to another vintage Hitachi (SR-903) outputting to Dali speakers.
This FiiO product is extremely versatile. However, I will probably not buy another BTR product...as my BTR5 collects a lot of dust since the arrival of the BT earhooks. The BTR7 is very tempting...but I can't see myself leaving the comfort and convenience of these earhooks in favor of this more cumbersome wireless experience.
Thank you for the comprehensive review 🙂
I recently purchased the Fiio BTR7 along with a pair of Sennheiser HD 660S headphones. I previously bought a Fosi DS1 to use with a Sony MDR 7506 headphones. I am just getting into HIFI listening and am trying not to go down DAC/DAP rabbit hole. I listened to the BTR7 along with the 660S and was not impressed. As far as the sound quality of the BTR7, I found it no different than my $70 Fosi DS1. And the audio coming out of the 660S was too bassy and muddy for me. I was going to return the BTR7 and the 660s the next business day but decide to give them another look over. Oh, i also have a pair of wirelss KZ VXS that sound nice and clear and LOUD! I was comparing the Fiio BTR7 and the Sennheiser 880S to the sound I get from my KZ VXS and the Fosi DSS1 and found there was a big difference between the two sets of devices. I listened to both device and headphones back and forth in an A and B comparison and was ready to send The Fiio and the Sennheiser back to Amazon. But I played with the equalizer settings on the BTR7 in the User setting and got them to sound like my DS1. Now i am keeping both the BTR7 and the Sennheisers. The BTR7 sound like my DS1 but the DS1 does not have Bluetooth. I use the BTR 7 along with my other headphones and earphones that makes them sound better than before. This is my humble introduction to a better listening experience. With time I will probably buy more audio equipment but hopefully spend wisely. I listen to both wired and wireless to my iPhone. I find little to no difference to the audio quality. Thanks for the review.
wire mode accepts remote input from buttons on your headphones plugged into the btr7 and sends the controller input to the source like play/pause or next track. called wire mode because the buttons are most commonly on the headphone cable or maybe because you’re wiring it through?
Hi! Great informative video, most of which I sadly could not understand. However, I liked how well you tested and covered the nuances. I want to buy a portable dac possibly bluetooth for hd560s to use with Android phone in budget, would you say btr7 a good recommendation?
Nice review, good observations throughout.
Good to see side by side on the btr5. Looks like they have thought carefully about all round improvements. Although it's primarily a headphone amp it can also be used as a desktop dac. I'm using my btr5 for portable listening and occasionaly with a proper hifi when I'm away. Thinking of picking one up, but it's not that easy. I agree with your observation regarding new case concept. The btr5 has a great clip case that has lasted well over 4 years. So I'd miss having a clip no end, hard to understand why such an important feature wasn't carried, especially with the built in mic for allowing use in calls has been, which is a great feature. Can't say I'm a big fan of the sharp edges either. I'd be after an aftermarket case that has a clip if I was to pick one up.
FiiO actually sells a clip case now, albeit separately. It's called the SK-BTR7. BTR7 is a bit too big, though and I wouldn't really recommend shirt-clipping it.
For me personally, when I'm out I prefer to clip it to my belt and use an in-line mic in case I get any calls. Of course, this means only 2/4 of the THX amps are usable.
Have the btr5 n now btr7. They definitely sound different. Not just louder. Also bought the new clip case. And going to use btr7 like btr5 clippes to my shorts. Great little... though bigger than btr5 device
Thank you so much for review. I wonder how it sound comparedto the q5s. If I focus to the sound quality should I look for 2nd hand q5s or just go for btr7?
How would BTR7 sound connected to a speaker as a Bluetooth receiver? Can you notice the power and clarity?
Thanks. Would be great to see how lossless DSD performs via bluetooth codecs....
You can't send DSD over Bluetooth.
@@Currawong exactly ! Thats why the whole Bluetooth DAC is somehow misleading regarding DSD. Bluetooth with LDAC codec is limited up to 24bit-96kHz only.
I mean, on balanced mode the BTR5 can perfectly drive 300 ohm drivers
Agreed, but "perfectly" isn't a thing in audio. It can drive most 300 Ohm headphones well enough :)
Nice review! any plans for a Topping A90D review?
Yes. I'm working on it now.
Balanced Sounds Better
Great for headphones 🎧 hd58x wonderful 😊and my brt5 for IEMs .. brt7 rocks ☝️
Fiio BTR7 or Cayin RU6?
Passion for sound described the BTR7 as being polite sounding I'm not as engaging as some other dongles for the same price. It's a pity you didn't compared to other dongles apart from the btr5.
Right at the end, you say you WOULDNT use it on the go. ??
Hey, I just returned ifi XDSD Gryphon because I thought it's not worth it's price also not much better than BTR5 so does BTR7 sound as good as gryphon and is it much better than BTR5 2021?
I just bought Momentum 4 headphones and I have i phone 13 , can I purchase BTR 7 to make it louder
Check the manual, but using an external amp, you probably wont have noise cancelling. If you want louder output, I recommend buying wired headphones and forgoing the noise cancelling.
@ 15 minute mark you mention a test file with digital silence
A file with nothing but digital silence will not turn the amps on with many of these small devices
The test file MUST contain a short (preferably low level) audio signal at the beginning of the test file to turn on the amps, and then switch to digital silence for the remainder of the track
The amps normally stay off until there is audio content in the file
For example, a test file that is pure silence for the first 3 minutes before it reaches a test tone will not turn the amps on for 3 minutes when playing the file, but will keep the amps on until the end of the test track once the test tone turns the amps on
I only noticed this problem when testing ground plane noise rejection on a very noisy computer
Without the constant background noise to tell you if the amps are on or off, you might never notice this by simply playing a test track with nothing but digital silence
Also, even if you play a test track with an audio tone to turn the amps on, you must continue playing the digital silence until your testing is finished
If you pause or stop playback, the amps turn off to conserve power and will remain off even if you un-pause, or continue playback of the digital silence
You must provide another audio signal to turn the amps back on again and continue playing the digital silence until your testing is done
Thanks for that! I had this thought in the back of my mind that I should, indeed, make a test track with something at the start to ensure the amp switches on. Usually I can here a very faint pop as it comes on with the Campfire IEMs. I did make up such a track as you suggested, with a tone at the start to ensure the amp was switched on, and I still hear silence after the tone.
How will the btr7 drive 300ohm sennheiser headphones?
Eg, hd600 and hd6xx etc
Cheers Dave
Wire function is to setup with headphones in-line function.
I am looking for something to brighten up my car stock speakers. I was mainly interested in the BTR7 then the m11 plus and q7 dsd512 caught my attention. Any suggestions which one would be best for my usage? Thanks
Have this now. Listening through 4.4mm to the Timeless. Streaming from my phone via USB. Holy dang it sounds good. I don't really even care about the app only working in BT mode, or that the sample rate does not show correctly (via USB at least, COULD be Android also messing with it), the sound quality just plain trumps those little niggles, imo.
I already have BTR7 & RU6. I'm curious what your preference is though? Which device would you pick if you had to choose one between the two?
how about your preference, I can only buy one and still undecided.
As do I. Bass is tighter on the BTR7 and requires the OS mode on the RU6 to get the same tightness, but then the differences go away in sound signatures making them redundant.
It's nice the BTR7 can fully unfold MQA but I hardly use it for that, I bought it first week because I happened to forget my 5K on the plane and needed a quality Bluetooth solution for that use case.
@@WindMills_ Sorry for the late reply, I didn't see your comment untill now.
It's hard for me to choose one over the other for just sound quality, they are both good. I would recommend getting the one that has the features you need.
For pure sound quality, I'll probably go with the RU6. IEMs with good technicalities and detail pair better with the RU6. BTR7 sounds transparent and warm, bassy, neutral IEMs pair nicely with it.
Hey how is BTR7 holding up ? Am stuck between BTR7 and Qudelix 5K . I just ordered Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X for 250 Euro and am thinking about which one i should get.
Thank you in advence for reply.
if you can buy the 5K, get it. I regret selling mine as I can't buy them anywhere now.
I'm relatively new to this kind of thing. I tend to listen to my music through a decidedly outdated iPod classic, could I connect that to the BTR then use the bluetooth to run to wireless headphones, or is that a bit too outside the box for this device?
No. This is a Bluetooth *receiver*, not transmitter.
Thx. Cancelled BTR5. Will study BTR7 (abt $70 more)
How do I connect the BTR7 to my Sony WF1000X from my phone with UCB-C. Can it be done? Thanks!!
Can it be charged via USB while functioning in Bluetooth receive mode? That was my single biggest issue with BTR5, and reason I went with a Qudilex 5K, but the 5k interface and pairing functionality is just horrible.
Of course. Otherwise, it wouldn't work in car mode. See also where I show the menu options - it has an input priority setting.
So you said that this wouldn’t be your goto portable unit. What would be, as in a portable DAC?
A Mojo 2 and Poly, but those are way more expensive.
Just recently picked up a btr3k for work use with iem's and its more than enough at that task. I did try it with my headphones and it's not quite powerful enough to get my 660s or Sundaras to a decent listening level so was thinking of getting the btr7 for home use for movies in the lounge when im not trying to disturb anyone. Anyone own these 2 that can vouch for the difference? I know it was mentioned in the video that the btr7 doesn't offer much more power over the btr5 but I don't know how much more power the btr5 has over the btr3k haha. So many btr's
I'm looking to see if I can connect this to my Samsung Galaxy tablet (no mini-jack for output) , and have my bluetooth headphones connect to this. My desire is to boost volume, use an EQ, and improve sound.
This is not for Bluetooth headphones.
Would this be good to pair with HD660S?
How much better in sound quality is a computer amp ?
Not sure which way to go. But I do know that I don’t spend a lot of time at a desk.
I saw another comment by someone saying he powers his HD 600 just fine with plenty of head room to spare..
Noticed that FH9 in one of the cheesecake shots of the DAC, will you be doing a separate video on the FH9 sometime soon?
Yes. I've been planning to for a while. I need to do a re-listen and shoot the video.
@@Currawong Sounds good, I'm looking forward to that! I think they're quite good but there doesn't seem to be a lot of talk about them.
Is there noticable difference between btr5 and btr7 in bt ldac mode with in ear IEM ?
None whatsoever.
Can I use this in car audio to run Apple Music lossless audio from my phone to HelixV8 dsp via coax or Bluetooth? Compared to running my iPhone 13 just into the usb?
No.
Can you not get rid of the edginess using the Equalizer? Different EQ settings or the User EQ?
It's not a problem with frequencies, it's a problem with the type of distortion this type of DAC has. If you EQ it, then you're just masking the distortion.
Is the btr7 fine for sennheiser hd600 and loud listening ?
Really im watching Btr7 videos for that info man. Whats ur idea dear @currawong? (and 4.4 mm balanced connection is neccesary or not??)
I'm using the btr7 with HD600's with wired connection from Samsung phone with Tidal.
I don't listen overly loud, but I'm on low gain and have volume between 21 and 26 out of 60.
Sounds really good. I like it much better than the RME adi-2 dac/LCD-3F combo I had.
Is there any point in using this rather than a samsung phone when pairing to sony xb910n headphones via Bluetooth?
You don't need a separate device if you're using Bluetooth headphones to begin with, so no, there's no point.
I have this and got the lightning jack version but I still can’t play it wired without the Bluetooth kicking in. I have switched the priority and shut off the Bluetooth with no luck. Anyone know what I’m doing wrong? Do I need a dongle before I can plug it into the iPhone?
You did not spend much time describing the sound character, but I also suspect that given its hardware architecture, there is nothing much to describe about it either. I saw mentioned somewhere else that such nested feedback amplifiers, like the ones on Topping devices, are good at distortion control and linearity of output, but sacrifice macro dynamics in the process. How would you say this device swings in dynamics? Does it have good transient responses? Is the Bass character flat and relatively untextured or can it slam hard and be impulsive when it needs to be?
It’s dry and harsh in the treble compared to the Qudelix5K
@P.Shukla - Perhaps you'll find all the answers you seek by taking in a film: The Menu... & thinking upon it as introspectively as your capabilities allow.
Wanna know if that usb C port can be used with headphones (with mic) over bluetooth from smartphone when selecting that side button ?!? Did i se or not, a microsd card slot for on device music, why ?!?
No, unfortunately not. No micro SD card slot either.
Ive got the audio technica ath r70x is this good with it?
Can I use the 4.4mm bal out as a line out going into a receiver? Thanks.
Yes -- 4.4mm to XLR cables exist. You might have to set a suitable volume level for the output though.
Have you paired the btr5 with true wireless earbuds?
The BTR5 is a Bluetooth *receiver*, not a transmitter, so this is not possible. th-cam.com/video/kFXv-umvhgM/w-d-xo.html
When I use wired mode on my galaxy s22(pcm mode) the sound pitch lowers whenever a next track plays or resume. What do I do to fix that issue?
Anybody find the over the head light reflexion annoying on the btr7 screen? Can hardly see whats going on
Hi nice and informative review, thanks! Can I use BTR7 as a BT transmitter from my PC? It would be nice if I could plug it into my PC via USB and transmit audio to my BT enabled headset. Unfortunately my PC's BT does not do aptx/ldac but SBC only :(
No, you can't use it that way, unfortunately. You need the BTA30 Pro or something like it for that.
@@Currawong Hi, thanks the quick response ! It is a pitty, that would be a very useful feature. I could solve all audio connectivity issues I have.
Do you know if newer models of Fiio players can do that? A player must have BT tx capability and also works as a USD DAC, so the hw functionality must be there.
Can i use my wireless grado 100x via Adaptive Aptx (Wirellessly) and plug the BTR7 into my PC? Thus is Tidal on PC, but not wire my headphone to BTR7?
I'm not sure what you're asking, but if you have headphones that already have Bluetooth, then you don't need a BTR7 or anything like it. I made a video about this: th-cam.com/video/kFXv-umvhgM/w-d-xo.html
No you cant. this is receiver eq - you can connect computer over bluetooth or usb and must have it {btr7} connected to headset via cable.
I was set on BTR5 until I watched this video however the PC noise via USB is deal killer.
I probably should have stated it more clearly: Noise from a computer makes the sound quality noticeably poorer, with the music sounding harsh and unpleasant. But yes, I can't stand listening to music that way.
@@Currawong Does Qudelix 5K has noise via USB? Thank you
@@CurrawongMac? I don’t know but it sound like total BS you can’t stand the fact that a $200 Bluetooth dac can sound as good as your solid state amps get over it
OK curious why doesn’t the Apple cable that comes with my iPhone work with this dac? I do have the cable that came with the dac for the iPhone and it does work it’s just very short.
Also, I’m just wondering I get this kind of metallic sensation from the FiiO DACs I’m doing something wrong is there a way to lesson that.
One other thing the FiiO website does anybody know why it’s so slow and or if there’s another link for the firmware update because the website is almost impossible to access --so slow so very slow… the FiiO app says it’s updated, but the current firmware is V1.85 but I have 1.68.
I think bluetooth dacs don't make sense even if it's better quality it's still lossy connection wired is always gonna be better and if your spending basically £200 on a hi res device just have it wired
Interesting about the standard Apple cable not working. So if the supplied cable fails you can't run it wired on an iPhone unless you can get hold of one of their bespoke cables. Have you tried extending the USB C end of the cable?
Does android actually output high res by Bluetooth? Out the spout it's 16-44...
It's not truly high-res (there is still some data loss) but the LDAC and APTxHD Bluetooth audio codecs support higher resolution audio, if the connected device also supports it.
@@Currawong This is why I am having trouble with Bluetooth and stick to wires except for casual stuff.. Those codecs are 24-96 which sounds good on wired earphones but less good by Bluetooth, hence the question.
Can you use Bluetooth headphones with it
I have a video about that: th-cam.com/video/kFXv-umvhgM/w-d-xo.html
So you said 95% of the users who use 3.5mm system get only the 50% performance out of this device? Whats the use of it then? And this is about all the Hi Res amps that come with these two ports?
That's a good question. Most amplifiers with "balanced" circuits perform best from the corresponding 4-pin XLR or 4.4mm output. Many headphones now come with one of these two connections, so it's not an issue. I *do* think it's a bit silly to make something portable, and put the focus around requiring connectors that are less common and/or inferior (eg: the 2.5mm plug, which is horrid). It's fine for a "high-end" portable device designed for people who also will buy "high-end" IEMs, but silly at the lower end, where telling people getting into the hobby that they have to spend *more* money to get the most out of a product is ridiculous. That, for example, Chord has ignored the balanced hype goes to show that if you make an excellent product, whether the circuit is balanced or not doesn't matter.
Why can't FiiO make it display song info?
Ask them!
5:23 Reflective screen. 😵💫
Friend, tell me some headphones or a player with physical keys to rewind tracks 10 seconds forward or backward. and not just switching tracks forward back, do such things even exist?
There might be music software for your phone with that feature.
$4000 headphones!?!?! I can't wrap my wits around how much better it could sound compared to my $200 M570 planar magnetic headphones. I'm sure they do but are they twice as clear, detailed, etc. etc? The open back planars are maybe 15% better than my closed back dynamic KRK 8400 studio monitor headphones in a quiet room. My mind was blown hearing both of them for the first time through my Sanskrit 2 and Asgard 3. I guess I need to find a rich friend who will let me listen.
Is FiiO planning to sell a clip case for this?
Yes coming very soon
@@peterscrace3530 yey thanks for that great news. I was gonna grab the BTR5 because of the smaller size and the lack of clip on the 7 but this gives me the reason to go for the bigger brother. 🥳
YES!
It's got MQA❤️
Qudelix 5k smokes this out of the water
*Fiio Q3 vs Fiio BTR7 vs Ifi Hip Dac 2 vs Ifi Go Blu*
In terms of pure sound quality, which one is the best??
Also, how would you rank them???
Q5K has the most versatility b/c it has a parametric EQ. I wish it had more balls (power) though. Current IEM’s: DuNu SA6 & TA Monarch MKii.
So basically no reason to buy this over a qudelix 5k I see...
4.4mm if you need it. But, less EQ functions. I have both and find myself using the BTR7 more.
I got one of these recently to try out as I'm very unhappy with the battery life (and weird bass) on the ifi xDSD Gryphon.
However the xDSD Gryphon is just much better at soundtsage which you'd expect given its price increase.
Doesn't the Gryphon have a bass boost? The xDSD had it and the XSpace on by default.
👍👍👍
btr5 still better, it doesn't have any noise interference.
Without the ability to buckle up to a shirt and compactness, this BTR7 became useless for what it is compared to the BTR5. Why would you need a portable device with all its upgraded power and quality, if it undermines the whole idea of portability and becomes inconvenient to carry it outside, you won't be able to clip it anywhere close to your mouth, nor it is applicable in a home environment where people usually have their grown-up setups. Why is there a mic, if you will never use it for phone calls? Just buy yourself a DAP then, if you want to carry a brick in your pocket. At least it won't suffer from the bluetooth lossy codecs. Why bother with this BRT7? There are too many questions to the designers of this bulky and mostly unusable brick enclosed in an ugly grey case which looks like it's made for a toilet utensil rather than a hi-fi equipment. Yes, I just hate this thing, but I love the BTR5. And I'm OK with less power and fidelity just for the sake of sheer usability. The BTR5 is convenient in the streets. The BTR7 is not.
Fiio are going to release a case with a clip very soon.
Consider buying looser clothing...?
It's only a brick compared to the BRT 5. Compared to a brick, it is not a brick. The case does not resemble the case of a toilet utensil. I checked.
Hyperbole, by definition, is exaggeration. It's not the truth. To be taken seriously by adults, you should avoid it.
If the BRT 5 does everything you want it to do, well, good on you. But for someone who doesn't own a BRT 5, this upgrade seems more powerful, versatile and future-proof. Time will tell who replaces their bluetooth amp/dac sooner.
No