kismetsky
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2017
- Posts
- 137
- Likes
- 63
Hey guys,
Am I crazy? I just received my BTR3k which I was SO excited to get after reading about it, and to tell the truth, I'm really disappointed with the sound quality of this thing. I feel like the SQ plugged directly into my phone is SIGNIFICANTLY better. Better sound stage, and just richer and more detailed across the board. Kick drums especially have nowhere near the same tight impact when I'm listening through the BTR3k as through do when plugged in directThis is my first venture into the BT world, so maybe I misunderstood what I'd read on here and it really is impossible to get better SQ from a phone via BT, but I thought that that was what the BTR3k was for. Really the only "improvement" soundwise is that the BTR3k gives me quite a bit more bass. But even that is sort of a blessing in disguise as it comes at the expense of overall clarity, and like I said, there may be MORE bass, but it doesn't sound nearly like the QUALITY of bass I get straight out of my phone. It's sluggish and bloated to my ears.
Wired into my computer, I am maybe even more disappointed. I feel like my DragonFly Red runs absolute circles around the BTR3k. It is more expensive, but I'd heard that the BTR was as good or better. To me, after admittedly not too much listening, it loses to the DFR in soundstage, detail, treble, and basically everything besides sheer quantity of bass. Everything sounds muddy and squashed together with the BTR3k, and when I A/B it with the DRF, suddenly the whole song opens up. I remember when I first got the DFR--my first and only DAC until now--and immediately I noticed a huge improvement in SQ. It was like night and day from straight into my computer. But honestly, I can't even tell if my headphones (FLC8s if you're curious) sound better through the BTR3k or if they're actually better just plugged direct into my computer. What the heck???
Does anyone else feel this way? Did I just have too high expectations for BT audio? Am I doing something wrong? Could my BTR3k be defective?
I'm really really bummed that this cool looking gadget feels pretty useless. I was so excited for it. While it's been nice not being connected to my phone, as of now I'd take the better SQ any day over that slight convenience.
I used to have the Dragonfly Red and sold it in favor of my ES100. I just ordered a BTR3K based on ClieOS's impressions.
I think what you're describing above is the ESS Sabre sound versus the AKM sound. ESS Sabre is very open and spacious (but too clinical for me) while AKM is more lush and full (while exhibiting a more studio-like soundstage). It really comes down to what you prefer and also what you're used to. If you listen to an AKM DAC for a week or two and then switch back to the ESS Sabre DAC, you might feel the same as I do. If you're coming from an ESS DAC, the AKM will definitely sound closed off. In deciding between the two, I let my ears 'break-in' to both before I settled on AKM.
