FiiO UTWS3

Prelude:
FIIO UTWS3 had its premiere some time ago, but only today I decided to buy it. I chose the mmcx variant and I would like to present it to you. I invite you to read my review.

Unboxing:
UTWS3 comes to us in a small cardboard package, in it we find a charging cable and the UTWS itself along with a short instruction manual. That would be pretty much it. Completely sufficient set. The UTWS 3 itself is quite large and made of very high quality black plastic. We have two function buttons at our disposal, one on each module. A great touch is the ability to configure them from the application level. The application also includes a 26-step hardware volume control, which is completely independent and can be done from the modules without the need to use the application. For this we have a large matte case. In which larger headphones such as nxears sonata or BGVP DM8 can be easily accommodated. The case is made of plastic and the only metal part is the lid. The interior is well protected with foam and soft material, but unfortunately the hinge is what it is and it wears out quickly, you can live with it, but it could be improved, as well as the fact that the foam inside deforms very quickly. This is not a functional defect, but it is still worth working on. The case itself is made of a very thick and durable material. We also have a USB C port and we do not have inductive charging, which is an unnecessary addition, for which you usually pay a lot. The case itself allows us to charge the modules fully 3 times, and a single charge translates into 8 hours of playing, which is a great result. Considering the price of PLN 349 or USD 79, this is a very good result. We also have support for the AAC, APTX codec and apparently the TWS + connection technology, which unfortunately does not work in my case without knowing why. Despite the support of the realme 8 pro device. In addition, we have bluetooth in the 5.0 standard and the ability to update the firmware from the application level.

Sound:
At the very beginning, I would like to point out that you should give at least 50 hours for the amplifiers installed in UTWS 3 to warm up to show their potential.
Bass: So let’s first look at the low tones present in UTWS3 tuning. Fiio took care of a natural and neutral presentation, but not forgetting about its home tuning. The bass is present and emphasized, despite the slight contouring, it is present and you can enjoy it. The subbass is strong and shows our songs well. Low tones are well controlled and well depicted. It’s such an entertaining adaptation, but in my opinion it’s a good solution in TWS modules that are supposed to accompany us on a trip or at work.
Vocal midrange: Although it has been slightly withdrawn, it shows a warm and very well realized message. The great quality and smoothness of the slightly recessed midrange is extremely engaging and colorful. Which allows you to immerse yourself in music and free yourself from cables. Yes, this is done at a certain cost of details and increased sound compression, but in mobile applications where we put more emphasis on the quality of comfort and ergonomics, it is an ideal solution. Treble: This aspect is always very important for the fiio, here we also have an emphasis on the upper registers, which translates into a large amount of detail in the UTWS3, and the tonal timbre has been close to neutral, which allows you to preserve the character of the connected headphones. This good and plastic approach to tuning brings the intended results in this case.

Comparison:
FIio UTWS 3 ($79) VS iBasso CF01 ($120) Having both modules, what I definitely noticed is that the CF01 is much more neutral and adds less of itself, but the Fiio in the UTWS3 model has much more power and a deeper soundstage. It’s a more entertaining yet still neutral sound. The convenience itself is also in favor of Fiio in this case, as well as the stability of the connection. However, the CF01’s neutrality is impressive and makes me have a huge fondness for them.

Soundstage: Mentioning the width of the UTWS 3 is considerable, the depth is even more impressive, at times you can forget that it is UTWS, because the sound is really resolving.



Summary:
Pairing UTWS 3 with headphones such as iBasso it01x, BGVP DM8, Anew U1, nxears sonata and many other models, and even ikko oh2 or oh1s, I felt that it was a real multimedia combine. With a great entertainment-neutral sound. Not as neutral as cf01 but still clean noise free tuning. The two built-in microphones work well, they are not perfect, but they are enough for everyday conversations in the office or at home, they get lost in the bus or subway. However, this is a common problem for many TWS. I recommend this model to every lover of comfort. The lack of LDAC is practically not audible, and the whole thing shows impressive parameters and long battery life.

I’ve owned these for about 6 months and am very pleased. I had the TRN BT20s Pro before getting this model. They both approach a true wireless IEM in the same way, but FiiO’s execution is superior in most ways. Here’s how they compare:

Sound: Arguably one of the most important characteristics when converting an IEM to true wireless. FiiO stands out for raw power, but also clarity and extension in both treble and bass are better than the TRN. Also the typical Bluetooth hiss is very quiet on both but much less prominent in the FiiO. Lastly the microphone quality on FiiO is significantly more clear than the one on TRN. Please note, no Bluetooth technology will outperform a physical connection. With FiiO, I mainly notice some small details missing from the upper treble and a slightly compressed soundstage.

Fit/finish: The FiiO lay more flush against the back of your ears, but I find the hooks to be a little short and feel more like they dangle over my ears instead of wrapping around. Here I think TRN takes a slight advantage, but your experience may vary depending on ear size and IEM.

Features/Versatility: FiiO has a large advantage because there is an accompanying app that lets you change the button configuration, choose from preset EQ settings, adjust volume, and is open to future firmware updates. Also FiiO has a more powerful integrated amp, which plays well with less sensitive IEMs. TRN misses big here but has one killer feature, the hooks can disconnect from the battery pack. This means you can buy extra hooks with different terminals (MMCX, 2 Pin, etc) without having to buy the full unit or adapters. FiiO does offer a 2 Pin version, but as of writing this review it isn’t available on Amazon. So you may have to consider buying MMCX to 2 Pin adaptors, or resort to buying from another marketplace.

Carrying Case: TRN and FiiO took very different approaches here. TRN made a pouch, covered in fabric and closing with a zipper. It’s convenient for throwing in a bag, but doesn’t exude a sense of quality. There is a nice pocket inside the pouch to store accessories (something I miss when using the FiiO). On the negative side, there is no battery level indicator on TRN’s pouch, and larger buds need to be rotated to be able to fully close the pouch (This may be a deal breaker if you have a 2 Pin IEM). FiiO has an anodized aluminum case that opens with a magnetic latch. It's a nice presentation, but the finish may scratch over time. The IEMs sit in a nicely sized rubberized pocket. Lastly a 3 light indicator of charge state is a useful addition. My only gripe other than not having a pouch for accessories is that the magnet used to align the hooks doesn’t seem very strong. On the TRN I felt like I could almost drop the hooks and they would slide into place, with the FiiO it feels like a conscious effort to make sure the hooks are seated and being charged. Both use USB-C charging ports and neither have Qi wireless charging.

On a side note the FiiO app is what makes me most excited here. It is clearly in the early days, the “Guide” tab is still blank on iOS. But I’ve already seen a firmware update come through, so FiiO is clearly working on improvements. In the future I hope to see custom button configurations, custom EQ settings, improved call clarity and maybe even someday an active noise canceling feature.

(Update): I liked these enough to get a 0.78mm version. Unfortunately this has a serious design flaw. Instead of having the pins come out of a rectangular cross section, they protrude directly from the round ear hooks. This looks nice, but does not follow the design of most 0.78mm cables. As a result, most 0.78 earphones will not fully seat and can easily fall off of the hooks during handling. I'm knocking off a star for this oversight.

Fiio utws3

Pros
Sound Quality and amplification
Price to Performance Ratio
38mW（16Ωload）
25mW（32Ωload）
Good Battery Life
Comfort
Build quality
Software updates
Nice charging case with room for iem also

the UTWS3 uses an independent headphone amplifier (TPA6140A2) rather than relying on the embedded amplifier of the QCC3020.

analog volume adjustment system of 26 levels.

Cons
No interchangeable 2pin/mmcx ear hooks ( this prevents this from being legendary )
Have to buy one or other
App is terrible, they should talk to the people who make Qudelix software.
It’s better not being installed it’s so bad

Still my best go to solution over trn bt20 pros for listening

Amp is neutral sounding with slightly less sub bass than I’d prefer

$79.99 cost, best for money although trn bt20 pros are dang good as well and offer a warmer sound signature ( I use for cold bright iems that need a bass boost or tone down )

Each UTWS3 adaptor features two microphones, one primary and one secondary microphone.

The battery life of each adaptors is about 5 hours , while the TWS+ mode offers an even higher battery life of about 6- 7 hours, with 4-5 recharge times If the case is full.

Phone calls sound good with mic

• Chip: Qualcomm QCC3020, Bluetooth 5.0
• TWS+ Low Latency (2 channels connected at once)
• 2 independent amps
• Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX
• Output Power:
• 38mW（16Ωload）
• 25mW（32Ωload）
• Noise: ＜8μV
• Driving ability: 16~100Ω
• THD+N: ＜0.06%
• SNR: 100dB r”A“
• Output Impedance: ~0.7Ω
• Crosstalk: 94dB
• Balance: ≤0.5dB
• Working Time:
• TWS+: 7hs of use/charge
• TWS: 5.5hs of use/charge
• Overall battery life 30h (800mAh) (4-5 recharges from the case)
• Mics: 2 mics/channel with noise cancelling feature
• Device control over: FiiO Control APP
• Physical controls: multifunctional button (per each channel, on cradle)
• Indicators: multicolor LED (each channel and cradle)
• Wires: silver plated copper integrated wires
• Environmental protection: IPX4
• Connections: MMCX or 2-pin, 0.78mm
• Dimension: 93.5×71.1×34.6
• Weight: 125.5g

You can easily control the UTWS3 with the multifunctional buttons to answer, hang up, play, pause and many more.
Here are some basic button controls;
• Vol+ :tap left unit
• Vol- :tap right unit
• Play : tap 2times
• Pause :tap once when paused
• Next :Long press right unit
• Prev : Long press left unit