[fe-lixx]

We are testing the engineer sample of BTR3 now, and all the features have been finished but we are working in the RF , anyway, we should release it in June . also there will have another model call BTR5 in the future with BAL output and better DAC/AMP, the BTR3 used the same AKM4376A as BTR1.

Thanks for the update! The AKM4376A sounds good to me, so personally I'm not even sure, if I'd hear the difference to a better DAC, maybe more the AMP section. Given that it's probably going to share the same or very similar hardware as well, I hope the price jump won't be too extreme from the BTR1. A BTR5 with better DAC/AMP is definitely interesting as well, and it would be awesome, if it could drive balanced as well as unbalanced headphones. Makes things easier when you can just use any of your IEMs or headphones, no matter how you have them wired at the moment.

Now that Bluetooth 5.0 is becoming a thing and is offering sufficient bandwidth, I really hope A2DP gets an update with support for a real lossless codec. Then we'll finally be there, universal, wireless, lossless audio transmission, easy to implement into all kinds of portable and stationary audio equipment. Definitely a future to look forward to in terms of convenience!

The only remaining downside for portable equipment will remain power delivery then. Some smart people need to come up with ideas how to build much better batteries and how to transfer energy between devices (wireless, of course!), like my smartphone charging the BTR1 to get more listening time when on the go.

Oh, and while I still might have your attention: I have two small complaints about the otherwise great RC-MMCX1s cable. The connectors are solid and the cable itself has just the right length and a good compromise between the amount of flexibility and rigidity/stiffness. But! They don't have anything around the cable at the MMCX connector side, just a reinforced, formable sleeve or something with a wire that you can bend (like the Shure ones) would have been nice to help IEMs be kept in place. And more importantly, it's missing any form of a... not sure how these things are called... "chin strap", which you can use to tighten the cable around your chin or at the back of your neck. With the cable like it is, my IEMs sit acceptable in my ears, but with the original Shure cable, I can achieve a much better seat that basically holds forever and I'm never having to adjust anything with the slight tightening at my neck - I can wear them for hours and completely forget that I even am wearing something. With the simple FiiO cable I sometimes have to adjust the seat, especially when I'm moving around while wearing the IEMs. So especially this "chin strap" thing or whatever you would call it I'm really, really missing when using those cables. And it's such a tiny piece of plastic/rubber that could improve things so easily, I hope, that you'll consider "upgrading" the cables with some solution that goes in that direction. It can't be a high cost factor, almost every pair of 1$ grab-table earbuds have something like it.

Sorry, that last paragraph was really OT, but I just had to mention that somewhere.

 

[FiiO]

Are you guys trying to take all my money? Guess I need to put the BTR5 my wish list! Hopefully the price is competitive with that one that was on Kickstarter. I trust Fiio to get it right, and a balanced output is not easy to find.

 

[Marco Angel]

How about the connections? now almost all of my electonics have USB-C, i would hope to improve new fiio´s dap, dacs to use USB-C
BTW, where can i look up in to the BTR3 and BTR5?

 

[SomeGuyDude]

Been spending the day with the F9 Pro.

I'm going to give them some time and do a good bit of tip rolling, because my early impressions are... not bad, just lukewarm.

 

[Slim1970]

I was doing some back and forth with the F9 Pro's and IE800's. I came to the realization that the IE800's are very much v-shaped. The F9 Pro's are better balanced by comparison. The bass on the F9 Pro's is elevated but it's not bad. The IE800's bass has better texture and is better defined and the treble is more extended. The F9 Pro's hold there own. Great job Fiio!

 

[SomeGuyDude]

I was doing some back and forth with the F9 Pro's and IE800's. I came to the realization that the IE800's are very much v-shaped. The F9 Pro's are better balanced by comparison. The bass on the F9 Pro's is elevated but it's not bad. The IE800's bass has better texture and is better defined and the treble is more extended. The F9 Pro's hold there own. Great job Fiio!

I like Senn, but I do not understand the IE800. It's one of a tiny handful of headphones where I do not get how they're popular. I lasted a few minutes with a pair and just had to stop.

 

[greenkiwi]

@FiiO Are there going to be some BT Cables released for these? I'd love to get some.

 

[FiiO]

@FiiO Are there going to be some BT Cables released for these? I'd love to get some.

Dear friend,

Do you mean a Bluetooth cable? Currently no. Maybe you would consider the BTR1.

Best regards

 

[Marco Angel]

maybe its choosy on my side but i prefer to have the control buttons and mic right on my side like on the F9 cable. I had 1 week the BTR1 (from a friend) and i cant stand to have to search for the buttons every time i wanted to adjust volume or answer a call (it was on the inside of my jacket.
I know the btr1 is more robust as every other bluetooth cable like shure´s or weston´s but as i really use the controls for answering and controlling my music. it was a no-go fo me

 

[SomeGuyDude]

Tiny update on my end.

Wow the foams make a difference.

And yeah, I agree about right-side controls. I really love the F9's cable.

 

[George Taylor]

Tiny update on my end.

Wow the foams make a difference.

And yeah, I agree about right-side controls. I really love the F9's cable.

Was waiting to see if you tried those yet, after your last post about tip swapping. You're right, I find they really tame the highs and make the F9 something quite lovely.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

Was waiting to see if you tried those yet, after your last post about tip swapping. You're right, I find they really tame the highs and make the F9 something quite lovely.

The "balanced" silicones were really rough. Foams help a good bit. I also have to say these are among the comfiest I've worn.

I'll have a lot more in my eventual writeup but right now these remind me a bit of the KZ ZS6, which is both good and not so good.

 

[George Taylor]

The "balanced" silicones were really rough. Foams help a good bit. I also have to say these are among the comfiest I've worn.

I'll have a lot more in my eventual writeup but right now these remind me a bit of the KZ ZS6, which is both good and not so good.

Without the foam, they're "too much" for me to handle. Glad I tried the foam tips though, because before that I was ready to give up on them. In some ways I like the F5 more, but I think that's me looking at them being the first IEMs I actually enjoyed listening to.

 

[Darksoul]

I'm torn, my local dealer only has the F9 in stock and I'm really tempted to grab them. But I'm also really curious about the F9 Pro. Will I be missing much if I get the F9 instead of the F9 Pro?

 

[HUGO SILVA]

hello friend, I am in doubt between Fiio F9 PRO and Fiio FH1. In the case of POP music like Demi Lovato, Rita Ora, Dua Lipa, which one would suit the best or would both perform well this style? Many thanks for the answers.