[MGee1]

I own and use both for a while now .. mostly with the Sennheiser IE600 and IE900..

1) SQ quality with those IEM are rather similar and can produce a very decent volume level, even a realistic volume pressure (not really good for the ears) ...

2) The iFi Go blu has a far better battery life and can be used a all work day without any trouble .. the BTR7 can't exceed 6 hours playing time in LDAC mode and a few phone calls. The iFi go is more usable if you need a real day playing time. It's strange as the BTR7 is heavier and far more bulky than the iFi go blu.

3) The BTR7 can be coupled with 2 smartphones/laptop, the Go blu can't do that.

4) The iFi go blu at a very low volume level has a real permanent little background hiss which is annoying (I had 3 iFi Go blu in 2021/2022 .. all had this issue), the BTR7 has no background hiss

5) I like some times to use the xBass/xSpace features on the iFi go blu, at very low volume level it's like a good old "loudness" feature.

Based on this, I really don't know what I would recommend.. both have severe drawbacks, though they still bring a lot of pleasure and comfort to be used, so even myself I am in trouble very often to select what to use for the incoming day.

Have you compared them when wired? Would that allow the 2xES9219c chips of the BTR7 to stretch their legs a little? Is the hiss on the goBlu still prevenlant when wired?

 

[newworld666]

Have you compared them when wired? Would that allow the 2xES9219c chips of the BTR7 to stretch their legs a little? Is the hiss on the goBlu still prevenlant when wired?

I always use them as BT receiver.. so no comparison in a wired mode.

But, because of the hiss of the Go Blu, I could try and ear that it is there even when it is wired to a notebook/smartphone/tablet and used as a simple dongle.. it is definitely the amp part concerned with this permanent little hiss with sensitive IEM not the BT LDAC mode.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Hiss is from the amp circuit, wired or BT connection shouldn't matter.

 

[iFi audio]

I did, but just for 5 minutes in a shop. BTR7 sounded slightly cleaner and more extended in the treble. And most importantly had a way blacker background (Go Blu‘s biggest weakness is hiss imo). Go Blu is no slouch though. Also sounds really good - generally very similar but slightly warmer (especially turning on Xbass). If you ask me, all of those recent BT dongles sound really close (I owned a lot of them). Only slight nuances in sound and differences in functionality…
UP5 and Btr7 sound almost identical to my ears btw.

Thanks for giving it a go still

And yes, wireless DAC/amps got really good!

 

[Hanesu]

Thanks for giving it a go still

And yes, wireless DAC/amps got really good!

Me likey my Go Blu!
As newworld666 wrote, they all have their pros and cons!
With your device, I love the implementation of Xbass and Xspace, the tiny size, battery life and volume wheel!
If you get the hiss completely under control with the next version, it is going to be almost perfect!

I own and use both for a while now .. mostly with the Sennheiser IE600 and IE900..

1) SQ quality with those IEM are rather similar and can produce a very decent volume level, even a realistic volume pressure (not really good for the ears) ... at my age I can ear from 10hz to a bit more than 15Kz (so that's not so bad for music)..

2) The iFi Go blu has a far better battery life and can be used an all work day without any trouble .. the BTR7 can't exceed 6 hours playing time in LDAC mode and a few phone calls. The iFi go blu is more usable if you need a real day playing time. That is strange as the BTR7 is much heavier and far more bulky than the iFi go blu (which is really tiny and light). Both can be charged while playing with a little 2500mha usb-c battery dongle.

3) The BTR7 can be coupled with 2 smartphones/laptop, the Go blu can't do that.

4) The iFi go blu at a very low volume level has a real permanent little background hiss which is annoying (I had 3 iFi Go blu in 2021/2022 .. all had this issue), the BTR7 has no background hiss

5) I like some times to use the xBass/xSpace features on the iFi go blu, at very low volume level it's like a good old "loudness" feature.

I use both BT Receiver with a magnet ddhifi C10B clip sticked on the back to be able to use them clipped on my shirts.. the BTR7 can't be used with a wireless charging, but it is not an important feature for me.



Based on this, I really don't know what I would recommend.. both have severe drawbacks, though they still bring a lot of pleasure and comfort to be used, so even myself I am in trouble very often to select what to use for the incoming day.

I can confirm everything you wrote!

 

[Vijay74]

If you get the hiss completely under control with the next version, it is going to be almost perfect!

And a case with clip! No hand holding or pocket dependency please!

 

[iFi audio]

Me likey my Go Blu!
As newworld666 wrote, they all have their pros and cons!
With your device, I love the implementation of Xbass and Xspace, the tiny size, battery life and volume wheel!

Sure thing, there's enough space for every product and thanks for liking ours

 

[Hanesu]

And a case with clip! No hand holding or pocket dependency please!

There IS an official Go Blu clip case now

 

[Hinomotocho]

Out of all my gear my BTR5 was used the most, every night for TV and movie audio. So far the BTR7 is a satisfying upgrade for sound, and a chance to finally drop the need for a 2.5mm adapter and cables and go 4.4mm all the way.
There are a couple of things I hope to see improved in future firmwares and have faith that Fiio will sort out as it is still early days.

 

[iFi audio]

Out of all my gear my BTR5 was used the most, every night for TV and movie audio. So far the BTR7 is a satisfying upgrade for sound, and a chance to finally drop the need for a 2.5mm adapter and cables and go 4.4mm all the way.
There are a couple of things I hope to see improved in future firmwares and have faith that Fiio will sort out as it is still early days.

That's an awesome setup right there. Although I don't know how it sounds like, the idea of attaching a wireless DAC/amp product to full-sized headphones really works for me

 

[Hinomotocho]

That's an awesome setup right there. Although I don't know how it sounds like, the idea of attaching a wireless DAC/amp product to full-sized headphones really works for me

The Z7 are very easy to drive but the power available from these devices now is great for owners of harder to drive headphones.
I have the Sony TA-ZH1ES with BTA30 which takes it to the next level but the small portable wireless form is much better for couch potatoing
I seriously considered the Go Blu, and still now have a second thought about it as I like the dial and could benefit from the XBass and XSpace for my movies, but after having a good run with the BTR5 I chose to follow that path.

 

[iFi audio]

The Z7 are very easy to drive but the power available from these devices now is great for owners of harder to drive headphones.

That's true, they're powerful enough to make cans really effortless and controlling, which shows how good such dongles now are. It's also very cool that wireless these days isn't a blasphemous word

 

[ChrisOc]

Out of all my gear my BTR5 was used the most, every night for TV and movie audio. So far the BTR7 is a satisfying upgrade for sound, and a chance to finally drop the need for a 2.5mm adapter and cables and go 4.4mm all the way.
There are a couple of things I hope to see improved in future firmwares and have faith that Fiio will sort out as it is still early days.

My exact experience with, and views on, both the BTR5 and the BTR7. The BTR5 was my everyday, everywhere companion, and the BTR7 is a welcome improvement.

The BTR5 made me hang on to 2.5mm plugs for much longer than I would have, if I did not have the BTR5. With the BTR7 I feel liberated (partially) from 2.5mm plug, partly because it is a worthwhile successor in many ways, but the BTR7 requires some software improvements, which I hope will be implemented by Fiio with time.

Also, there are issues not unique to Fiio, such Bluetooth 5.0, 5.1 and 5.2 limitations, and battery life, which seems to be the result of using ESS DACs.

 

[newworld666]

Till this evening, I only used the BTR7 with IEMs (IE900/600 and VE EXT) ... But on the DCA Stealth thread today someone was claiming that the BTR7 could surprisingly do a very nice job with the very difficult headphone DCA Stealth. So, I tried too with the BTR7 and iFi Go blu on a very difficult track like Max Richter's Cradle To The Grave (Hostiles album) => I could find that at a rather high volume level, the BTR7 could really do a nice job while the iFi Go Blu was clipping and bringing distortion on many ultra low frequencies of this track !!! A real surprise..

I will probably never use again the Stealth with the Fiio BTR7, but clearly it's one a the few portable amps on market able to avoid clipping with just 2x320mw at 32ohms (I don't know how much mw are still there at 23ohms, but, it seems just enough to offer a really decent result while the iFi Go Blu can't do that).

 

[barber]

I'm still procrastiating here!
Do I even NEED bluetooth?
On a purely audio level how does the BTR7 compare with non-blutooth DACs? I'm considering the following over the BTR7 at the moment and wondered if anyone has any experience of them?
iBasso DC06
IFI AUDIO GO BLU
HIDIZS DH80S
AK HC2 Dual DAC
Nuprime Hi-mDAC
Cayin RU6
Earman Sparrow
Really appreciate any comments. Thanks

PS...any other suggestions with 4.4mm balanced output welcomed

I tested Shanling UA5 vs FiiO BTR7 (USB mode). UA5 sounds cleaner and better. Anyway, just go give a try on them. Maybe it's different result for different iem. But if you need bluetooth, then no brainer it's BTR7