[Hamlap]

Do you guy think the btr5 could drive a zmf Eikon/Verite sufficiently? I'm loving it so far and I've mostly used it for iems but I plan to get one if not both of those and I'd prefer to stick to one device in the long run.

Not sure if someone answered this already, but I'm trying this atm.

Even unbalanced, it works fine. Perfect hearing levels, even a bit to much.

Can try balanced tomorrow, when my 4.4-2.5 adapter arrives.

 

[Chris Kaoss]

Hi guys.

After a request on another thread

Have had a listen to both, the Mojo and the BTR5 as pre's.

Chain was Tidal exclusive mode on Surface Pro 7 > USB to Mojo/BTR5 > 3.5 to RCA cable > Audio GD R28 > XLR out to the Quad Era-1.

Mojo on Line out (3V)
BTR5 on H-gain at Volume level 60/60

First of all, what a pleasure to listen to both.

Volume on the R28 is set to my preferred listening levels in both cases.
Level matched by ear.

Mojo -> R28: Volume level at 65 out of 99, which is about 7.5% power output of the R28.

BTR5 -> R28: Volume level 75 out of 99, which is about 16.5% power output of the R28.

My guess is that the BTR5 puts out around 1.4V to 1.5V to the RCA-input of the R28.

Verdict is, that it works pretty well in both configuration.

Make sure that your amplifier has enough headroom when feed with the BTR5.
The thing is that the amp has to amplify ^^ the missing output power of the BTR5 in comparison to the Mojo, which throw 3V to the amp. (Industrial standard is 2V)
When the Mojo is set to 2V manually, the difference wouldn't be that much, i think.

I've to say that from level 55 to 60 (coupled with the R28) on the BTR5 it's a hugh jump in volume, but w/o any deterioration in sound quality.

Have a great day and keep listening to good music.

Chris

P.s.
As a pre-amp, the BTR5 stays quite cool instead of heating up when a headphone is connected.

 

[MatusSVK]

Wondering if @FiiO will soon release a BTR5 successor, as Shanling just released their UP5

 

[FiiO]

Wondering if @FiiO will soon release a BTR5 successor, as Shanling just released their UP5

Generally the life cycle of our products is about 18 to 24 months, and we will release new upgrade model based on the market competition and development progress.

Best regards

 

[Opus131]

I just got the BTR5 today, works fine on my phone, cheapo Samsung A10, with a pair of Sennheiser HD 600 out of the 3.5mm output, no less (wasn't hoping much for those headphones but it's a lot punchier than i thought. I gotta wonder what it would sound like if i got a balanced cable on the 2.5mm output).

However, my PC is another story. The device connects, but nothing works right. Volume control on the BTR5 is locked, and i can only hear anything if i set it to 100% on the desktop, but the sound is really faint and distorted.

For the record, i have a Realtek ALC1200 and Intel AC9260. Perhaps it's a driver issue all though the device seems to be recognized fine by windows. What am i doing wrong?

 

[ilianto]

I just got the BTR5 today, works fine on my phone, cheapo Samsung A10, with a pair of Sennheiser HD 600 out of the 3.5mm output, no less (wasn't hoping much for those headphones but it's a lot punchier than i thought. I gotta wonder what it would sound like if i got a balanced cable on the 2.5mm output).

However, my PC is another story. The device connects, but nothing works right. Volume control on the BTR5 is locked, and i can only hear anything if i set it to 100% on the desktop, but the sound is really faint and distorted.

For the record, i have a Realtek ALC1200 and Intel AC9260. Perhaps it's a driver issue all though the device seems to be recognized fine by windows. What am i doing wrong?

BT or USB connection?

 

[Opus131]

BT or USB connection?

Both.

I think. Maybe it was still working in bluetooth even though i thought i was using it in USB i have to check.

 

[ilianto]

Both.

I think. Maybe it was still working in bluetooth even though i thought i was using it in USB i have to check.

Volume controls and track skipping does not work in USB afaik... That's why I asked.

 

[hmscott]

Hi guys.

After a request on another thread

Have had a listen to both, the Mojo and the BTR5 as pre's.

Chain was Tidal exclusive mode on Surface Pro 7 > USB to Mojo/BTR5 > 3.5 to RCA cable > Audio GD R28 > XLR out to the Quad Era-1.

Mojo on Line out (3V)
BTR5 on H-gain at Volume level 60/60

First of all, what a pleasure to listen to both.

Volume on the R28 is set to my preferred listening levels in both cases.
Level matched by ear.

Mojo -> R28: Volume level at 65 out of 99, which is about 7.5% power output of the R28.

BTR5 -> R28: Volume level 75 out of 99, which is about 16.5% power output of the R28.

My guess is that the BTR5 puts out around 1.4V to 1.5V to the RCA-input of the R28.

Verdict is, that it works pretty well in both configuration.

Make sure that your amplifier has enough headroom when feed with the BTR5.
The thing is that the amp has to amplify ^^ the missing output power of the BTR5 in comparison to the Mojo, which throw 3V to the amp. (Industrial standard is 2V)
When the Mojo is set to 2V manually, the difference wouldn't be that much, i think.

I've to say that from level 55 to 60 (coupled with the R28) on the BTR5 it's a hugh jump in volume, but w/o any deterioration in sound quality.

Have a great day and keep listening to good music.

Chris

P.s.
As a pre-amp, the BTR5 stays quite cool instead of heating up when a headphone is connected.

Thank you for testing and posting the BTR5 single-ended 3.5mm output to the R28.

The R28 has an XLR Balanced input available. You could use the BTR5 2.5mm Balanced output to the R28 XLR input.

For my use I find the higher output of the BTR5 2.5mm balanced output into my IEM's and headphones is a big improvement. It was a nice improvement replacing 3.5mm single-ended cables with 2.5mm balanced cables for my IEM's and headphones that would support Balanced cable upgrades. I rarely use the 3.5mm port on the BTR5.

I looked up the BTR5 single-ended (3.5mm) output parameters posted by FiiO:

Amplitude
PO：1.6V（32Ω /THD+N＜1%）
PO: 1.8V (no loaded)
BAL≤2.2uV（ A-weighted）
BAL: 2.8V（32Ω /THD+N＜1%）
BAL: 3.6V(no loaded)

Output Power
PO about 80mW（32Ω loaded）
PO about 90mW（16Ω loaded）
BAL about 240mW（32Ω loaded）
BAL about 240mW（16Ω loaded）

THD+N
PO＜0.003%(LDAC 1kHz A-weighted)
BAL＜0.002%(LDAC 1kHz A-weighted)

Output Impedance
PO≤1.0Ω（32Ω loaded）
BAL≤2.0Ω（32Ω loaded）

Noise Floor
PO≤2uV（ A-weighted）
BAL≤2.2uV（ A-weighted）

SNR
PO≥118dB (32Ω A-weighted)
BAL≥122dB(32Ω A-weighted)

Crosstalk
PO≥ 79dB（1kHz 32Ω loaded）
PO≥ 95dB（1kHz no loaded）
BAL≥ 118dB（1kHz 32Ω loaded）
BAL≥119dB（1kHz no loaded）

More BTR5 Specifications posted by FiiO: FiiO BTR5 Parameters

Please post a review of the BTR5 Balanced output to R28, and please post the links to the cable(s) used.

 

[Chris Kaoss]

Thank you for testing and posting the BTR5 single-ended 3.5mm output to the R28.

The R28 has an XLR Balanced input available. You could use the BTR5 2.5mm Balanced output to the R28 XLR input.

For my use I find the higher output of the BTR5 2.5mm balanced output into my IEM's and headphones is a big improvement. It was a nice improvement replacing 3.5mm single-ended cables with 2.5mm balanced cables for my IEM's and headphones that would support Balanced cable upgrades. I rarely use the 3.5mm port on the BTR5.

I looked up the BTR5 single-ended (3.5mm) output parameters posted by FiiO:

Amplitude
PO：1.6V（32Ω /THD+N＜1%）
PO: 1.8V (no loaded)
BAL≤2.2uV（ A-weighted）
BAL: 2.8V（32Ω /THD+N＜1%）
BAL: 3.6V(no loaded)

Output Power
PO about 80mW（32Ω loaded）
PO about 90mW（16Ω loaded）
BAL about 240mW（32Ω loaded）
BAL about 240mW（16Ω loaded）

THD+N
PO＜0.003%(LDAC 1kHz A-weighted)
BAL＜0.002%(LDAC 1kHz A-weighted)

Output Impedance
PO≤1.0Ω（32Ω loaded）
BAL≤2.0Ω（32Ω loaded）

Noise Floor
PO≤2uV（ A-weighted）
BAL≤2.2uV（ A-weighted）

SNR
PO≥118dB (32Ω A-weighted)
BAL≥122dB(32Ω A-weighted)

Crosstalk
PO≥ 79dB（1kHz 32Ω loaded）
PO≥ 95dB（1kHz no loaded）
BAL≥ 118dB（1kHz 32Ω loaded）
BAL≥119dB（1kHz no loaded）

More BTR5 Specifications posted by FiiO: FiiO BTR5 Parameters

Please post a review of the BTR5 Balanced output to R28, and please post the links to the cable(s) used.

I know this spec sheet very well.

Could be an interesting task to do.
I'll have a look for an adequate adapter to perform this test.

 

[Chris Kaoss]

I just got the BTR5 today, works fine on my phone, cheapo Samsung A10, with a pair of Sennheiser HD 600 out of the 3.5mm output, no less (wasn't hoping much for those headphones but it's a lot punchier than i thought. I gotta wonder what it would sound like if i got a balanced cable on the 2.5mm output).

However, my PC is another story. The device connects, but nothing works right. Volume control on the BTR5 is locked, and i can only hear anything if i set it to 100% on the desktop, but the sound is really faint and distorted.

For the record, i have a Realtek ALC1200 and Intel AC9260. Perhaps it's a driver issue all though the device seems to be recognized fine by windows. What am i doing wrong?

Just try the FiiO USB Dac driver instead.
It works sometimes, sometimes it's useless. ^^

 

[hmscott]

...I'll have a look for an adequate adapter to perform this test.

Audio-GD has a number of interesting cables, but not the 2.5mm TRRS to Dual XLR, perhaps they might take a custom order?
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/CablesEN.htm

Here are a few Amazon candidates:
2.5mm Trrs to Dual XLR Male Cable Balanced Audio Headphone Adapter Cable 1 FT 0.3M
NewFantasia 2.5mm TRRS Balanced Male to 2 XLR Male Dual XLR Male
P2.5-M2 HiFi Hi End 2.5mm TRRS Balanced Male to 2 XLR Male Cable

I've used a number of NewFantasia cables and they are well made and so far reliable...

 

[Opus131]

Nevermind it works now. Must have been Windows 10 acting up. Bloody hell.

 

[Opus131]

BTW this thing beats my LG V10, at least at first impression. Since i no longer have the V10 i can only go by memory but the sound just seems better, and that despite using my HD 600 out of the 3.5mm.

One question about that. Does the 2.5mm output changes the sound quality or is it just about power? I could get balanced cables for the HD 600 and my IEM but honestly if it's just about power i may not need to re-cable since i'm don't really listen to loud music. Plus i think the 3.5mm output doesn't drain the battery as much, right?

 

[fsi22]

Thank you for testing and posting the BTR5 single-ended 3.5mm output to the R28.

The R28 has an XLR Balanced input available. You could use the BTR5 2.5mm Balanced output to the R28 XLR input.

For my use I find the higher output of the BTR5 2.5mm balanced output into my IEM's and headphones is a big improvement. It was a nice improvement replacing 3.5mm single-ended cables with 2.5mm balanced cables for my IEM's and headphones that would support Balanced cable upgrades. I rarely use the 3.5mm port on the BTR5.

I looked up the BTR5 single-ended (3.5mm) output parameters posted by FiiO:

Amplitude
PO：1.6V（32Ω /THD+N＜1%）
PO: 1.8V (no loaded)
BAL≤2.2uV（ A-weighted）
BAL: 2.8V（32Ω /THD+N＜1%）
BAL: 3.6V(no loaded)

Output Power
PO about 80mW（32Ω loaded）
PO about 90mW（16Ω loaded）
BAL about 240mW（32Ω loaded）
BAL about 240mW（16Ω loaded）

THD+N
PO＜0.003%(LDAC 1kHz A-weighted)
BAL＜0.002%(LDAC 1kHz A-weighted)

Output Impedance
PO≤1.0Ω（32Ω loaded）
BAL≤2.0Ω（32Ω loaded）

Noise Floor
PO≤2uV（ A-weighted）
BAL≤2.2uV（ A-weighted）

SNR
PO≥118dB (32Ω A-weighted)
BAL≥122dB(32Ω A-weighted)

Crosstalk
PO≥ 79dB（1kHz 32Ω loaded）
PO≥ 95dB（1kHz no loaded）
BAL≥ 118dB（1kHz 32Ω loaded）
BAL≥119dB（1kHz no loaded）

More BTR5 Specifications posted by FiiO: FiiO BTR5 Parameters

Please post a review of the BTR5 Balanced output to R28, and please post the links to the cable(s) used.

I've tested the BTR5 balanced out , 2.8V no clipping maxed out on 40hz and 1khz sine wave into 56 Ohm load.

I use mine through 2.5mm into an Xcan. Balanced Ouput is 5.5V (Max BTR5 and + 10 in red zone on Xcan)

Which I find stunning as it then is Diablo, Normal output level. To put into context. The Susvara I have which measures 60 Ohm @ 80dB mW ( 92dB V) sensitivity, will reach 107dB SPL with that combo.

Testing a track like Billie Ellish - Bury a Friend ( My go to torture test) @ 56 seconds , reaches 0dbFS and 70hz. The BTR5 on it's own, will output a clean 101dB SPL with my headphones.