Disclaimer
Hello everyone! I want to start by letting you know that FiiO sent me the SNOWSKY Retro Nano to review. I’m not getting paid for this, and they haven’t asked me to say anything specific, check my review before posting, or told me when to publish it.
Everything I share here today is based on my own experience with the Retro Nano. I always try to be as fair as possible, but we all know that at the end of the day, this is just my opinion, and everyone’s preferences are different, and that’s what makes this hobby so awesome!
I really want to thank to FiiO for giving me the chance to try out the Retro Nano, and of course, a huge thank you to you, the readers, for your time and support. It truly means a lot to me!
Introduction
Snowsky is a new sub-brand of FiiO, which has recently started making retro looking products. And today I’ve got with me the Snowsky Retro Nano, which is one of the coolest Bluetooth DAC/AMPs I’ve come across. It looks like a tiny cassette tape, which gives it a fun, old school vibe that really stands out. But the best part is that it has a replaceable 10440 battery.
Most portable Bluetooth DAC/AMPs have built-in batteries that wear out over time, but with the Retro Nano, you can just swap in a new one instead of replacing the whole device. You can order any replaceable 10440 battery, and while you are out and the battery dies, you don’t have to stop listening, as you can pop in a charged one and keep going. It’s such a simple but smart idea that makes the Retro Nano super practical and built to last, while costing only 60$.
Now, let’s dive in and see how it performs!
Unboxing the Snowsky Retro Nano
The box for the Retro Nano is small, cute, and has a really nice design. It’s simple but well done, which I appreciate. Nothing overly fancy, just a clean, well presented package that gets straight to the point.
Opening it up, the first thing I see is the Retro Nano itself. It’s tiny, built entirely out of plastic and even smaller than I expected, and has that retro cassette player vibe that makes it really fun to look at. Above the device itself is a small case for an extra battery. This is actually a really smart inclusion if I want to carry a spare battery. It will keep it safe while traveling instead of having it rolling around loose in my bag.
Underneath, I find a few additional accessories:
- A simple USB-C to USB-C cable for charging and wired connections. Nothing special, but it gets the job done.
- A lanyard so I can wear it around my neck. Definitely a nice touch.
- A couple of different stickers to customize the Retro Nano’s look. It’s actually nice to have some personalization options.
- A quick start guide, which is simple and straight to the point.
FiiO also included for me some extra stickers and cooler neck straps, which I really appreciate! But I think it should be purchased separately.
Technical Specifications
Specs:
- Chipset: Qualcomm QCC5125 (CPU+DSP Dual-Core Architecture)
- Version: Bluetooth 5.1
- Supported Codecs: AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX LL, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, LDAC
- DAC Chips: Dual CS43131
- USB DAC Support: Driver-free up to PCM 96kHz
- 3.5mm Single-Ended: 100mW @ 32Ω
- 4.4mm Balanced: 220mW @ 32Ω
- Type: 3.7V Rechargeable Lithium Battery (10440 Battery, 450mAh)
- Battery Life: Approximately 7.5 hours.
- Feature: User-replaceable battery.
- Charging time: ≤2 Hours
- Frequency Response: 20Hz ~ 40kHz (-3dB)
- Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (THD+N): <0.0018% (1kHz/-4dB @ 32Ω)
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): ≥128dB (A-Weighted)
- Output impedance: <0.3Ω (32Ω load)
- Size: 55.1×37.5×13.7mm
- Weight: 28.3g (including battery)
Additional Features:
Display: 0.96-inch 60×160 color IPS screen, with a couple of different looking setups to choose from. It has a couple of different cassette looking display and a more modern looking one.
FiiO Control App – Extra Customization
One of the best things about the Retro Nano is that it works with the FiiO Control App, giving you more control over how the device operates. Here’s what you can tweak in the app:
Button Customization: You can change how the volume buttons work. Options include:
- Hold volume buttons to switch tracks.
- Double-click volume buttons to switch tracks.
- Double-click volume buttons to switch EQ presets.
Play/Pause Button Settings:
- Double-clicking can wake up your voice assistant.
- Or you can set it to control your phone’s camera for taking pictures.
Parametric EQ:
- 10-Band Parametric EQ (PEQ): You can fine-tune the sound exactly how you like with a 10-band PEQ and even save custom presets for different IEMs, headphones, or music styles (JAZZ, POP, ROCK, DANCE, R&B, CLASSIC, HIP-HOP, RETRO, USER 1, USER 2, USER 3).
Volume & Sound Adjustments: The app lets you control:
- Maximum volume limit: Up to 60 steps.
- Device volume: Up to 60 steps.
- Tone volume: Up to 60 steps.
- Call volume: Up to 60 steps.
- Channel balance: Up to 60 steps.
Firmware Updates: Whenever new firmware is released, you can update the Retro Nano through the app.
Three Modes for Different Uses
The Retro Nano lets you easily switch between three different modes by double pressing the mode button or entering the setting with a long press on the mode button:
PC Mode – When connected to a computer, it acts as a USB DAC, getting both power and audio data from the USB connection. Perfect for desktop use and also to charge the battery while still using the device.
Bluetooth Mode (BT Mode) – Standard wireless mode for using it as a Bluetooth DAC/AMP. Just pair it with your phone, tablet, or other Bluetooth device.
Phone Mode – Works as a USB dongle for your phone, using only data transfer while running on the internal battery.
How does it perform?
Sound Quality
The Retro Nano has a slightly warm sound, but it still keeps things clear, detailed, and fairly natural, with nice technicalities. It doesn’t color the sound too much, and everything comes through nicely without being too sharp or too dull. The dual CS43131s are doing a great job, as usual, and they are the most popular DAC+AMP chips for a good reason. One thing I really appreciate is that there is no noticeable background noise or hiss, even with sensitive IEMs. That’s something not every Bluetooth DAC/AMP gets right, so it’s a big plus here.
Battery Life
Compared to other Bluetooth DAC/AMPs in this price range, the battery life is on the shorter side. I usually get around 6, or maybe a bit more, per charge, depending on how I’m using it. But because the battery is replaceable, this actually isn’t a big deal (please, be careful with the little door when replacing the battery as it feels really fragile). To be honest, I still haven’t bought any replaceable batteries, but I can imagine how convenient it is to just throw in a fresh one and keep listening. It’s way more convenient than being stuck waiting for a recharge, and it also means the device will last much longer in the long run.
Power & Driving Capability
I must say that the Retro Nano isn’t the most powerful DAC/AMP out there, but it’s more than enough for most IEMs and even some bigger headphones. I never feel like I’m lacking power when using my IEMs, and even with some full-sized headphones, it holds up pretty well. If you need something extremely powerful for very demanding headphones, this might not be the best choice, but for everyday use, it does a solid job.
Retro Nano vs FiiO BTR13
The internals of the Retro Nano are pretty much identical to the BTR13, and the sound profile is also very similar. Maybe the Retro Nano sounds a bit warmer for me, and this makes the BTR13 feel like it has a bit more clarity, but it might as well be just a placebo effect. So I can pretty confidently say that all I said about the BTR13 sound in its review is applicable for the Retro Nano as well.
The design is also a bit different. The Retro Nano is thinner and more slim looking while the BTR13 is thicker and also has a clip on the back, which can be very useful for some users. But both are unique in their own way, and it comes to personal preference, which one of them is designed better.
One of the biggest advantages of the Retro Nano is the replaceable battery, which gives it an edge in long-term usability. When the battery eventually wears out, you can just swap it instead of replacing the whole device. On the other hand, the BTR13 has better battery life overall, so if you don’t want to worry about carrying extra batteries, the BTR13 might be the better choice.
As for build quality, I think the BTR13 feels a little more premium, while the Retro Nano is still solid but lighter and more plasticky. That said, the Retro Nano’s retro cassette design makes it way more unique and fun to use.
Which one is better? I would say that if you want better battery life, better build quality, and slightly more refined sound, go for the BTR13. But if you like the idea of a replaceable battery and a warmer, more relaxed sound, and of course the retro cassette player look, the Retro Nano is a great option.
Conclusion
After using the Retro Nano for a while, I can say that I love it a lot, and it’s one of the most fun and practical Bluetooth DAC/AMPs I’ve tried. The retro cassette design makes it unique looking, and the fact that it has a replaceable battery is great and something new, which I don’t often see nowadays. Even though I don’t have a spare battery yet, just knowing I can swap it out in the future gives me peace of mind.
Sound-wise, it’s slightly warm but still clear and detailed, and there’s no annoying background noise. It’s not the most powerful DAC/AMP out there, but it runs IEMs really well and even works with some bigger headphones. The battery life isn’t the longest, and that’s true, but with the option to replace it, that’s not really a big deal for me.
Overall, the Retro Nano is a cool, nicely designed little device that’s easy to use and definitely has the potential to last a long time.
Pros:
- Cool retro cassette design.
- Replaceable battery.
- Slightly warm but clear and detailed sound.
- No background noise or hiss.
- Decent power for IEMs and some headphones.
- 3.5mm & 4.4mm balanced outputs.
- Bluetooth and wired modes.
- FiiO Control App support, which includes 10-band PEQ, volume limits, and firmware updates.
Cons:
- Battery life isn’t the best.
- Not the most powerful DAC/AMP.
- Plastic build.
- Battery door feels a bit fragile.
- A protective case would’ve been nice.
