[XDT]

I can't say for sure but when the IEM cable is plugged in I believe the BTR5 is using the mic on the 3.5 mm cable that came with the SE425. The reason I believe this is partly because the BTR5 is pretty advanced in general, and partly because a number of times when the control pod was behind my head the voice commands to Google Assistant were not recognized until I moved the control pod close to my mouth and then it worked fine.

My understanding is that if your cable has a mic, the BTR5 will use that microphone and use its in-built mic for background noise cancelling. If your cable doesn't have a mic, then the BTR5 will use the in-built mic.

 

[fonkepala]

I can't say for sure but when the IEM cable is plugged in I believe the BTR5 is using the mic on the 3.5 mm cable that came with the SE425. The reason I believe this is partly because the BTR5 is pretty advanced in general, and partly because a number of times when the control pod was behind my head the voice commands to Google Assistant were not recognized until I moved the control pod close to my mouth and then it worked fine.

On the Qudelix 5K you can choose (via its app) whether to use the 5K's mic or the inline mic that's on your IEM/headphones.

 

[Jaysound]

It is just a new color.

For the first few months the original black version was super difficult to find due to the combined reason of original slow production as well as the later COVID 19 crisis. Titanium color is sort of the commemorate edition for FiiO to celebrate its production going back to full swing, nothing more.

I'm actually really liking the titanium color. Plus, I always use the provided clear plastic clip case and it looks much more pleasing on the titanium than on the solid black model. (By the way, knock on wood, so far the clear plastic clip case is darned durable. Dropped the unit on pavement and not even the slightest hint of any detectable scratches on it.)

 

[Jaysound]

For now I'm still just using my SE425 with the provided 3.5 mm cable (and Bluetooth/LDAC). Is there any real benefit to installing the app? I didn't notice any and ended up deleting it since all the controls I want are on the device (and on the cable that came with the SE425, and accessible via voice command).

I'm seeing on this forum that "second order harmonics" is a thing and is done through the app. Does that apply to using a 3.5 mm cable also, or only to a balanced 2.5 mm cable?

 

[LoryWiv]

For now I'm still just using my SE425 with the provided 3.5 mm cable (and Bluetooth/LDAC). Is there any real benefit to installing the app? I didn't notice any and ended up deleting it since all the controls I want are on the device (and on the cable that came with the SE425, and accessible via voice command).

I'm seeing on this forum that "second order harmonics" is a thing and is done through the app. Does that apply to using a 3.5 mm cable also, or only to a balanced 2.5 mm cable?

From 1st principles I can't see why adjusting 2nd order harmonics wouldn't apply to both 2.5 and 3.5 mm outputs, just as EQ would, but perhaps others have a more definitive answer.

 

[LoryWiv]

Question: I can't seem to activate google assistance with a double click on middle button "B". In fact, double clicking has no effect, the music keeps playing w/o interruption. My phone is android based, does have a lock screen but works fine when I speak directly into phone saying "Hey Google". Any tips / ideas on how to get BTR5 to activate google assistant?

 

[hmscott]

I can't say for sure but when the IEM cable is plugged in I believe the BTR5 is using the mic on the 3.5 mm cable that came with the SE425. The reason I believe this is partly because the BTR5 is pretty advanced in general, and partly because a number of times when the control pod was behind my head the voice commands to Google Assistant were not recognized until I moved the control pod close to my mouth and then it worked fine.

My understanding is that if your cable has a mic, the BTR5 will use that microphone and use its in-built mic for background noise cancelling. If your cable doesn't have a mic, then the BTR5 will use the in-built mic.

For my own use I buy 2.5mm balanced cables without a control pod and use the BTR5 built in microphone which is very sensitive and provides good audio to people I call.

The BTR5 can sit on my desk a good 3-4 feet away and still pick up my normal speaking voice for phone calls.

Here is what FiiO says about the micrphone built-in and how it handles the CTIA and OMTP external "control pod" microphones.
https://www.fiio.com/btr5

From the BTR5 FAQ
https://www.fiio.com/btr5_faq

18.Does the BTR5 support a headset's remote control and the microphone？
The BTR5 supports the CTIA standard for line control as well as line microphone. But the headsets with OMTP protocol only support normal listening.
https://www.fiio.com/newsinfo/328481.html

My understanding is that if your cable has a mic, the BTR5 will use that microphone and use its in-built mic for background noise cancelling. If your cable doesn't have a mic, then the BTR5 will use the in-built mic.

Per FiiO CTIA cables work that way, but OMTP cable microphones aren't guaranteed to work.

I rarely use the cables with built in microphones these days, I order my IEM's with a straight cable and if I like the IEM I swap the stock cable for a 16 core 2.5mm balanced cable, and in both cases rely on only the BTR5 microphone for phone calls.

There are CTIA / OMTP adapters, but I haven't tried them - it might be worth trying if the cable your IEM came with microphone won't work:
https://www.amazon.com/ctia-omtp-adapter/s?k=ctia+omtp+adapter

If it comes to that using the BTR5 microphone would work fine too.

What's the difference between L and H gain other than the obvious difference in volume/range? Is H inherently "better" or is it just the obvious difference in the range scale?

Driving your headphones harder often makes them sound better - up to a point, but don't damage your hearing by turning it up loud. In H many of my IEM's sound more full, but that usually has them running too loud for long listening sessions.

I tend to run in L for IEM's that can run in the Volume "number" 20-30 range, if I need to run the IEM higher I bump it up to H, which lets me drop the volume "number" down by about 10, say from 40 in L to 30 in H.

I recommend to try these subjective experience settings on your own, everyone's hearing sensitivities are different, so what works for me may not work well for you. You may prefer it in H gain all the time even if it means Volume numbers down in the 10 range. Try it for yourself.

Some headphone amplifiers will label their gain as impedance changes, but FiiO hasn't said anything about impedance being changed.

B&H has the bundle with both the 3.5 mm and Bluetooth cables at $199 as the ongoing price: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...bt2_se425_sound_isolating_earphones_with.html

Weird, I saw that that deal too and wrote it into my previous post from yesterday, but I came back today to find my post saved as unfinished - missing the answer above too, so yeah that's a good suggestion - you would get the replacement cable + a Bluetooth wireless harness for use without the BTR5 as well.

Also, for everyone with a BTR5, FiiO has a lot of information online to read that will save you from answering questions here and give you more background for your use of the BTR5 - things we didn't think to ask.

Technical support for BTR5
In here you could find the introduction, resources download, system updates, troubleshooting or after-sales service of BTR5.
https://www.fiio.com/btr5_faq

Then there is the actual product page for the BTR5 which has several "tabs" with additional information - Parameters (Specifications) here:
https://www.fiio.com/btr5_parameters

BTR5 Product Page
https://www.fiio.com/btr5

And, FiiO has public product user forums:

General Discussion
http://www.fiio.me/forum.php?mod=forumdisplay&fid=65

Hot News
http://www.fiio.me/forum.php?mod=forumdisplay&fid=73

Firmware & Drivers Download
http://fiio.me/forum.php?mod=forumdisplay&fid=58

Knowledge Base
http://fiio.me/forum.php?mod=forumdisplay&fid=71

The first section are stickies that show up in all the forums, but the 2nd section "Forum Thread" are all different.

 

[hmscott]

Question: I can't seem to activate google assistance with a double click on middle button "B". In fact, double clicking has no effect, the music keeps playing w/o interruption. My phone is android based, does have a lock screen but works fine when I speak directly into phone saying "Hey Google". Any tips / ideas on how to get BTR5 to activate google assistant?

You have to be in the right mode to have the expected result from the multifunction button and volume controls. If you are in the settings mode the volume control doesn't work as the volume control it works as up/down changes for the current setting - and the multi-function button jumps between the settings.

FiiO BTR5 Manual Download

The manual says 2 button Presses of the multifunction button brings up "Siri", and 2 presses brings up Bixby on my Samsung S20 Ultra - I don't use it often, but it works fine. There are no settings in the menu options to enable / disable "voice assistant" and no settings in the FiiO Control App for "voice assistant".

 

[LoryWiv]

You have to be in the right mode to have the expected result from the multifunction button and volume controls. If you are in the settings mode the volume control doesn't work as the volume control it works as up/down changes for the current setting - and the multi-function button jumps between the settings.

FiiO BTR5 Manual Download

The manual says 2 button Presses of the multifunction button brings up "Siri", and 2 presses brings up Bixby on my Samsung S20 Ultra - I don't use it often, but it works fine. There are no settings in the menu options to enable / disable "voice assistant" and no settings in the FiiO Control App for "voice assistant".

Yes, I tried this from the main screen, not settings menu. I assume it works for you even with a lock screen on as most phones have one...Oh well, I'll play around some more and thank you for taking the time to respond.

 

[hmscott]

Yes, I tried this from the main screen, not settings menu. I assume it works for you even with a lock screen on as most phones have one...Oh well, I'll play around some more and thank you for taking the time to respond.

I've got my lock screen "locked down" - nothing displays, and with my Samsung "View" case closed the Bixby alert popped up in the View Window - but if I flip open my case the lock screen is still there. I was able to talk to Bixby with the case closed, and through the View display port on he side I can see my voice prompts and answers.

BTW, I used a NiceHCK DB3 3.5mm stock cable without a control pod / microphone, I used the microphone on the BTR5 while it was sitting on the couch next to me - at cable's length.

From 1st principles I can't see why adjusting 2nd order harmonics wouldn't apply to both 2.5 and 3.5 mm outputs, just as EQ would, but perhaps others have a more definitive answer.

In the app it doesn't say it's for SE or Balanced only, it should be for both.

I have it disabled and the settings all set to 0 before I disabled it. I tried setting everything to maximum - to see if I could hear a difference, and I did, but I didn't want to futz with it at the time... someday.

 

[pilgrimbilly]

Del

 

[HiFiHawaii808]

What you're talking about is technically called sidetone. Don't know if that helps in any way (ehh... probably not).

Thanks. Now I have a technical term for it. I am surprised that iem product companies don’t add that feature. Hard to wear the earphones for 8 hours or more without having to talk to someone either on the phone or in person.

 

[megabigeye]

Thanks. Now I have a technical term for it. I am surprised that iem product companies don’t add that feature. Hard to wear the earphones for 8 hours or more without having to talk to someone either on the phone or in person.

Smart phones often have some setting for it under accessibility. I haven't used it in a while, but I think it might reside under hearing aid compatibility. Can't quite remember. I don't know if it applies to DACs/Bluetooth.

 

[lucasd]

The only thing I see close to "sharp-roll-off/ brick-wall" in the BTR5 filters list is "BRICK". So, I assume you're suggesting that's the one to use for the least distortion (or "enhancement"), correct?

On BTR5 I think there are two filters of this type. I have selected Fast.

 

[HiFiHawaii808]

For my own use I buy 2.5mm balanced cables without a control pod and use the BTR5 built in microphone which is very sensitive and provides good audio to people I call.

The BTR5 can sit on my desk a good 3-4 feet away and still pick up my normal speaking voice for phone calls.

Here is what FiiO says about the micrphone built-in and how it handles the CTIA and OMTP external "control pod" microphones.
https://www.fiio.com/btr5

From the BTR5 FAQ
https://www.fiio.com/btr5_faq

18.Does the BTR5 support a headset's remote control and the microphone？
The BTR5 supports the CTIA standard for line control as well as line microphone. But the headsets with OMTP protocol only support normal listening.
https://www.fiio.com/newsinfo/328481.html


Per FiiO CTIA cables work that way, but OMTP cable microphones aren't guaranteed to work.

I rarely use the cables with built in microphones these days, I order my IEM's with a straight cable and if I like the IEM I swap the stock cable for a 16 core 2.5mm balanced cable, and in both cases rely on only the BTR5 microphone for phone calls.

There are CTIA / OMTP adapters, but I haven't tried them - it might be worth trying if the cable your IEM came with microphone won't work:
https://www.amazon.com/ctia-omtp-adapter/s?k=ctia+omtp+adapter

If it comes to that using the BTR5 microphone would work fine too.

Driving your headphones harder often makes them sound better - up to a point, but don't damage your hearing by turning it up loud. In H many of my IEM's sound more full, but that usually has them running too loud for long listening sessions.

I tend to run in L for IEM's that can run in the Volume "number" 20-30 range, if I need to run the IEM higher I bump it up to H, which lets me drop the volume "number" down by about 10, say from 40 in L to 30 in H.

I recommend to try these subjective experience settings on your own, everyone's hearing sensitivities are different, so what works for me may not work well for you. You may prefer it in H gain all the time even if it means Volume numbers down in the 10 range. Try it for yourself.

Some headphone amplifiers will label their gain as impedance changes, but FiiO hasn't said anything about impedance being changed.

Weird, I saw that that deal too and wrote it into my previous post from yesterday, but I came back today to find my post saved as unfinished - missing the answer above too, so yeah that's a good suggestion - you would get the replacement cable + a Bluetooth wireless harness for use without the BTR5 as well.

Also, for everyone with a BTR5, FiiO has a lot of information online to read that will save you from answering questions here and give you more background for your use of the BTR5 - things we didn't think to ask.

Technical support for BTR5
In here you could find the introduction, resources download, system updates, troubleshooting or after-sales service of BTR5.
https://www.fiio.com/btr5_faq

Then there is the actual product page for the BTR5 which has several "tabs" with additional information - Parameters (Specifications) here:
https://www.fiio.com/btr5_parameters

BTR5 Product Page
https://www.fiio.com/btr5

And, FiiO has public product user forums:

General Discussion
http://www.fiio.me/forum.php?mod=forumdisplay&fid=65

Hot News
http://www.fiio.me/forum.php?mod=forumdisplay&fid=73

Firmware & Drivers Download
http://fiio.me/forum.php?mod=forumdisplay&fid=58

Knowledge Base
http://fiio.me/forum.php?mod=forumdisplay&fid=71

The first section are stickies that show up in all the forums, but the 2nd section "Forum Thread" are all different.

Thanks for this post. I must be doing something wrong because the call quality experience I have when walking outside is not very good. I'll give it another go. Maybe I need to use a CTIA cable for better call quality, but I am concerned it will impair audio experience. When I am inside near my desk, call quality is good, but there is no noise. When someone comes into my office, I need to remove an earphone to talk. I guess I'll have to live with that limitation for a while.