Mobileaudiophile

FiiO BTR17 Review

SeanG

Disclaimer

Hello everyone. I want to be clear, as I always am, and tell you that the BTR17 reviewed here today was sent to me by FiiO for a review, and I want to thank them for the chance to test it and share my thoughts. But as always, all opinions in this review are my own, based on my personal experience with the product, and there is no outside influence at all. I will add further that FiiO has never told me what to write, never asked me to view the review prior to publishing, or when to publish this review.

I also want to thank you, the reader, for taking the time to read through my review. Your trust means a lot, and I hope you found it helpful in making your decision.

Introduction

The FiiO BTR17 (190$) is their latest, and most expensive Bluetooth receiver, and it’s pretty clear they have packed it with everything they have got to give us all a top tier device. It promises high quality sound, powerful output, and all the convenience you could want in a portable DAC/amp.

What’s really interesting is that it shares a lot of its internal components with the KA17, so it’s basically the KA17 but with Bluetooth added, plus some cool extra features. On paper, it looks like a winner, but let’s see if it really is.

Unboxing the FiiO BTR17

When I got the BTR17, I immediately realized that it is a flagship product, pretty much because of the packaging. I noticed that FiiO uses different types of packaging for every tier. FiiO usually does a great job with this, and the BTR17 is no exception.

Inside, the BTR17 is securely placed in a foam mold, keeping it safe during shipping. The accessories are packed separately in a box. You get a short USB-C to USB-C cable (which is actually beautiful and high quality), a quick guide, and a user manual. Although yet again, like with the KA17, I wish they would have included 2 cables, and maybe one of them with a USB Type A. One for the main port and one for the desktop mode, and it would have been more convenient. But it’s not a huge deal since most of us probably already have those cables lying around.

One thing I really liked is the leather case. I think it is a must have for the higher end product in order to protect the device itself. A lot of manufacturers make you buy the case separately or even not offer one at all, so it’s great to see it included here.

Overall, the packaging feels solid and well thought out. But I would have liked it to have more accessories for the asking price.

Technical specifications

Specs

Features

Chips used

The BTR17 packs dual ESS ES9069Q DAC chips and THX AAA 78+ AMP, which means it’s all about giving clean, detailed sound and flagship sound. It also has the XMOS XU316 processor for USB DAC, and it handles high resolution audio with ease and the Qualcomm QCC5181 Bluetooth chip. This combo is a big deal if you care about getting the most out of your music, especially with lossless formats.

Sleek Design and Usability

This little device is as stylish as it is functional. It’s compact, lightweight, has a built in microphone, and comes with a 1.3-inch color screen that shows everything you need, like battery life, volume, and codec info. I also love the tactile volume knob that makes adjusting levels feel nicer (but it feels a bit flimsy and fragile), and you can even set a volume limit. I also love that it comes with a protective case.

The BTR17 also has a built in temperature and DC output detection, which will prevent damage to the device and the headphones if it detects something abnormal. 

Codecs supported

The BTR17 has Bluetooth 5.4 and supports a wide range of codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, and LDAC. Whether you’re using it with your phone or laptop, you’re covered for high quality wireless audio. It makes streaming feel like you’re plugged into a wired setup. I really feel like they have taken the KA17 and added a Bluetooth feature to it, and now you get the BTR17.

Desktop Mode and 3 Different Modes

The desktop mode is a game changer if you spend a lot of time at your desk. It lets the BTR17 use an external power supply through another USB-C port to give more power and push the BTR17 to its maximum potential. It can also work as a full time DAC/amp while staying plugged in. No more battery worries, as it can work just from the PC all day long.

It also allows you to switch between modes, and they include:

PC: In this mode, the BTR17 is completely powered by the computer.
BT: In this mode, the BTR17 is powered by the internal battery, and if you connect it to USB, it will power the BTR17 and also charge it.
PHONE: In this mode, the BTR17 will use its internal battery as a power supply and take only the data from the phone, and this way it will reduce the power consumption from the connected phone.

Powerful Balanced Outputs

For those who love a bit more oomph in their sound or just need more power, the 4.4 mm balanced output delivers up to 650 mW of power at 32Ω. It’s perfect for most of the headphones, offering clean, powerful sound. And the 3.5 mm single ended option is great for your everyday IEMs.

How it performs?

Sound Performance

The BTR17’s sound is honestly fantastic. It’s detailed, smooth, and I would say it is just a touch on the warmer side of neutral, and it is really enjoyable for long listening sessions. As always, it’s not easy to describe the sound of a DAC/amp since it doesn’t have its own very distinct sound “signature” like headphones or IEMs, but I’ll say this: it’s incredibly clean and balanced. Whether I was listening to acoustic tracks by Hans Zimmer or electronic music like Lorn and Zamilska, the BTR17 brought it all with great clarity, separation, and detail.

The detail retrieval is impressive, with every little nuance in the music coming through naturally, and I really feel like the BTR17 is not missing any detail from the original recording. Everything sounded natural to me; the bass was very good, the mids were awesome, and the vocals, both male and female, are rendered amazingly. The best part is the very convenient 10 band PEQ included in the FiiO control app. I could make any adjustment I wanted at any frequency I wanted. And let’s not forget the highs, which are smooth and airy, with enough sparkle to keep things lively but without ever becoming sharp or harsh.

Honestly, the BTR17 sounds almost identical to the KA17, which makes sense since they share the same DAC and AMP chips and a lot of the same internals. So whether you are using Bluetooth or wired mode, the sound quality holds up incredibly well, but you must update the firmware, as with the old firmware I had some noises sometimes in the BT mode only. The Phone mode and Desktop mode worked without any issues; it was just the BT mode. 

Some issues I encountered

That said, before the update, I did notice some crackling or weird popping noises in Bluetooth mode when I first started using it. It was rare, but it did happen enough to be annoying. After updating the firmware to v0.51, those issues completely disappeared. So if you pick up the BTR17, I’d definitely recommend updating the firmware right away, as it made a huge difference for me.

I have also seen that some people complain about the battery issue, where it just gets stuck on empty, although it has some charge, but to be honest, I haven’t experienced it.

Another issue I have noticed was that it always goes back to aptX HD from LDAC. When I was trying to connect it to LDAC, it would just go into aptX HD instead… I have found that in order to make it stay on LDAC, I must disable all the other available options through the FiiO control app; otherwise, LDAC won’t be working. This one isn’t really that big of a deal, but please, FiiO, fix it if it is possible with the next firmware update.

Power Performance: Desktop Power in the Pocket

For such a small device, the BTR17 got a very serious punch. It has plenty of power to handle most headphones, even more demanding ones. It is once again, very similar to the KA17, as it has the same power output of up to 650mW into 32Ω in 4.4mm balanced and desktop mode, which is crazy good for a portable DAC/amp. Even in non-desktop mode, it’s still strong enough to easily drive IEMs and portable headphones.

I tested it with everything from easy-to-drive IEMs to a pair of full-sized planar magnetic headphones, and the BTR17 powered them all. It’s the kind of device that gives you the confidence to plug in anything and know it’ll sound great. The desktop mode is very handy when you are using it at home with more power-hungry headphones. Oh and lets not forget that it keeps your phone’s battery from draining while unlocking the full potential of the amp, as the internal battery will be powering it, with the added power supply port. And on PC mode, it will be powered from the PC which will prevent the battery from draining at all.

Conclusion

Ok, so let’s conclude this review. And I have to say, the BTR17 completely changed the way I look at portable devices. This one really has a great sound, with all the details you need, very smooth, and the background is absolutely clean, with no hiss or any unwanted noises. In addition to that, it offers a lot of features that make life much easier and make it so versatile.

I’ll admit, my first impressions weren’t perfect. I had some crackling sounds when using Bluetooth, which was frustrating. But after updating the firmware to version 0.51, the issue disappeared, and now it works flawlessly, but the issue that doesn’t allow playing LDAC while any other option is available is still present, and I hope that FiiO will fix it as soon as possible. So, if you grab one, make sure to update it right away.

What really impresses me is how powerful this little thing is. It can drive everything I own, from simple IEMs to my full sized planar headphones, and it doesn’t even struggle. The desktop mode is great to have, and it makes the BTR17 a mini desktop amp that you can carry around.

To be honest, after using the BTR17, I can’t see myself going back to a regular dongle DAC. Plugging something into my phone or laptop just feels like such a hassle now. With this, I get the convenience of wireless, and the sound quality doesn’t lag behind. It’s just easier, and it works.

In the end, I really think that the BTR17 is a fantastic Bluetooth DAC/AMP. It’s powerful, portable, and sounds amazing. If you were to ask me if I recommend it, I would say, “Yes,” definitely, but you have to consider the cost, as it isn’t that budget friendly, and additionally, you must update the firmware to avoid any issues.

Pros

Cons

Where to buy: FiiO Official site

Exit mobile version