[FiiO BTR15/BTR5 2021/BTR5]Bluetooth DAC and Headphone Amplifier Discussion & Impressions Thread

[davedm]

@FiiO No support for LDHC/HWA? Anything planned via firmware update in future?

 

[ClieOS]

@FiiO No support for LDHC/HWA? Anything planned via firmware update in future?

This is on FiiO's BTR5 FAQ (Chinese side):

23.BTR5支不支持HWA（LHDC）？
不支持。 HWA自从推出以来，音质得到了很多国内用户的认可，飞傲的BTR3作为市面上最早较完美支持HWA的接收的产品，一经推出得到了受到了消费者的喜爱和欢迎，但是也遇到了一些我们自身暂时解决不了的问题。包括：
1，HWA作为最新的技术，暂时在连接可靠性上不如LDAC, aptX编码；

2，HWA的相关支持设备目前比较少，市场占有率比较低；特别是国外消费者大都不了解和使用这个功能。

3，CSR8675本身的内置ROM容量有限，尤其在升级到5.0之后，BLE链接功能（APP控制）所占用的空间更大；如果再加上HWA算法，使得更加有限的ROM容量，限制了我们一些产品功能的完善及拓展。（BTR5的主要原因）

4，华为做为HWA的所有者，也在论坛上说明HWA将会面临较大版本升级，而且升级后的HWA不再兼容前面的版本，所以华为手机在最新系统上，也暂时取消了HWA的支持。

Rough translation:
23. Is BTR5 not supporting HWA(LHDC)?
Yes, it is not support. Since HWA's launch, FiiO BTR3 was one of the first BT receiver to provide relative full support of the codec and has received positive feedback from the customer. However, there are also a few issues that can't be solved by FiiO alone, such as:

1. As a fairly new tech, HWA doesn't currently provide as reliable a connection as other codec such as LDAC and aptX

2. The availability and usage of HWA supporting gears are limited, especially outside of China.

3. CSR8675 has limited internal ROM, especially after upgrading to BT5.0 where BLE function (app control) requires more memory. If we put in HWA codec, it will further limit the space in ROM and restrict other functions (this is the main reason for BTR5).

4. Huawei as main developer of HWA, has announced that they are planning to update HWA in the near future. Once updated, the new HWA codec will not be compatible with the old HWA codec. Thus even Huawei has stop supporting HWA on their newer smartphone.

 

[FiiO]

 

[FiiO]

 

[ClieOS]

Those who already owns the BTR5, note that the firmware has been updated to v1.02.

You can download BTR5's firmware here: https://bbs.fiio.com/note/showNoteContent.do?id=201910281104318430028&tid=16

If you read Chinese, the firmware upgrade process is explained here: https://bbs.fiio.com/note/showNoteContent.do?id=201910182344172854175

For those of you who don't read Chinese, here is a rough guide:
1) Download and unzip the filmware file
2) Set the BTR5 into DFU mode: First, turn BTR5 on. Then press and hold the play/pause button for 5 seconds till it goes into 'pairing'mode. Now press and hold both Volume+ and play/pause buttons until the screen went off - your BTR5 should be in DFU mode now, so plug it into the PC now.
3) Inside the unzipped folder, run the FiiOBluetoothDfu.exe, click to start upgrading.
4) If the program shows that it didn't detect any device, you need to unplug your BTR% and repeat step 2.
5) If the program detects your BTR5, follows the instruction to upgrade the firmware.
6) Done. Upplug your BTR5, turn it on and check the setting to see the current version.

 

[digititus]

Those who already owns the BTR5, note that the firmware has been updated to v1.02.

You can download BTR5's firmware here: https://bbs.fiio.com/note/showNoteContent.do?id=201910281104318430028&tid=16

If you read Chinese, the firmware upgrade process is explained here: https://bbs.fiio.com/note/showNoteContent.do?id=201910182344172854175

For those of you who don't read Chinese, here is a rough guide:
1) Download and unzip the filmware file
2) Set the BTR5 into DFU mode: First, turn BTR5 on. Then press and hold the play/pause button for 5 seconds till it goes into 'pairing'mode. Now press and hold both Volume+ and play/pause buttons until the screen went off - your BTR5 should be in DFU mode now, so plug it into the PC now.
3) Inside the unzipped folder, run the FiiOBluetoothDfu.exe, click to start upgrading.
4) If the program shows that it didn't detect any device, you need to unplug your BTR% and repeat step 2.
5) If the program detects your BTR5, follows the instruction to upgrade the firmware.
6) Done. Upplug your BTR5, turn it on and check the setting to see the current version.

Fiio should think about incorporating firmware updates into the Fiio App. Not everyone has access to a Windows box.

 

[ClieOS]

Fiio should think about incorporating firmware updates into the Fiio App. Not everyone has access to a Windows box.

I won't hold my breath for it.

 

[digititus]

I won't hold my breath for it.

Yes, I know. Shanling has the same update process.

 

[FiiO]

 

[FiiO]

Fiio should think about incorporating firmware updates into the Fiio App. Not everyone has access to a Windows box.

Dear friend,

Thanks for your kind feedback and we will also report to the engineer about that. The OTA update via app may take a long time. So we do not consider about that currently.

Best regards

 

[Hanesu]

Hi Fiio! How many sources can the BTR5 remember? I am still wishing for an easy switch between sources like the Apple Airpods can do....

 

[revand]

no I didn't, it was hifigo

The price of BTR5 is an enigma for me.
HIFIGO sold the BTR5 for USD 140 (stating that this is a discounted price), however I can see this official Fiio page:
https://www.fiio.com/btr5
At the end of the detailed comparison table it is clearly stated that Fiio sells the BTR5 for USD 110 !!!
May I ask Fiio to clearly inform us (living in Europe) how much does the BTR5 cost if it will be available for European distributors?

Many thanks!

 

[ClieOS]

The price of BTR5 is an enigma for me.
HIFIGO sold the BTR5 for USD 140 (stating that this is a discounted price), however I can see this official Fiio page:
https://www.fiio.com/btr5
At the end of the detailed comparison table it is clearly stated that Fiio sells the BTR5 for USD 110 !!!
May I ask Fiio to clearly inform us (living in Europe) how much does the BTR5 cost if it will be available for European distributors?

Many thanks!

The official Taobao price is about US$99. Given you guys in EU have to pay VAT, so somewhere in the ballpark of $120?

Is HiFiGo even an official distributor? If not, they don't have to follow FiiO price guidelines.

 

[revand]

I think the official price of BTR5 will be $109 or €109， maybe $119 or €119, so I think the price of $139 (about €126) is OK, HiFiGo is free shipping to the world.

Many thanks
I do not have a problem with asking more than the official price, however I could see on Amazon.com a silly price for an Ibasso DC-01 audio adapter: USD 480!!!
I bought mine from Penon Audio paying USD 53. What a difference! Delivered from Asia to Hungary within 9 days!!!!
For EUR 109 BTR5 is a must have device.
I have both BTR3 and the even better Hiby W5, but it seems to me that BTR5 will be the best Bluetooth music player.
Why? Because it has balanced out option. I am now trying the Ibasso DC01 which is an excellent audio adapter for the money and with it's balanced out it gives more naturalness to the music.

 

[FiiO]