bobbooo
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2014
- Posts
- 185
- Likes
- 97
From upper left: FiiO BTR5, FiiO BTR3K, FiiO BTR3, Hiby W3, Hiby W5, Shanling UP4
From lower left: TempoTec Blue, EarStudio ES100, Qudelix 5K, Shanling UP2
[Impression]
UPDATE: July 8th, 2020.
[ Rating: Highly Recommended > Recommended > Maybe > Cautious > Not Recommended ]
Radsone ES100: Highly Recommended
(+) Clean and transparent sound
(+) Single-ended and balanced output
(+) Great app support with many extra features
(-) Buttons can be hard to press at time
(-) Only average BT transmission speed./ range / stability
(-) Mostly plastic construction
FiiO BTR3: Maybe
(+) Full range of BT codec support
(+) App support
(+) Solid build quality
(-) Only decent driving power
(-) Warmish, slightly congested sound
Hiby W5: Maybe
(+) Special UAT codec support for 24/192 transmission
(+) Lots of power, great dynamic
(+) Futuristic design
(+) Charging pod for extended playtime
(+) Great BT transmission speed / range / stability
(+) App supported with OTA firmware update, but could use more polish
(-) UAT isn't stable enough to be useful and only good for Hiby music app (or Hiby DAP)
(-) Relatively short standalone playtime
(-) Full touch control is finicky / hard to use / no physical lock button to pervert accidental pressing
(-) Plastic shirt clip seems flimsy and not practical
(-) No volume control on the adapter itself
(-) Silicone sleeve for the charging pod doesn't fit very tightly.
Shanling UP2: Recommended
(+) Full range of BT codec support
(+) Slightly warmish sound with good dynamic
(+) Good power output
(+) Solid build quality
(+) app support, but slightly buggy
(-) Shirt clip / jacket is solid but not the most practical
(-) Easily scratch-able front and back plates
Tempotec Blue: Not Recommended
(+) Good neutral sound
(+) Lots of output power
(+) Good battery life
(+) Single-ended and balanced output
(-) Large body and heavy in weight
(-) No shirt clip or lanyard attachment (pocket only)
(-) Only support LHDC (HWA) and SBC
(-) LHDC is not the most stable of codec
(-) Loud powering up / down sound
FiiO BTR5: Highly Recommended
(+) Almost full range of BT codec support
(+) Good app support with lots of setting.
(+) Single-ended and balanced output
(+) Good build quality
(+) Excellent sound on balanced output with good power
(+) Good design on removable shirt clip
(+) OLED screen allows for most setting change without app
(-) Heavy and big for an BT adapter
(-) Single-ended output is slightly bland sounding
(-) EQ not working on LDAC yet
(-) Pricey, at least for some region of the world
Shanling UP4: Recommended
(+) Full range of BT codec support
(+) Single-ended and balanced output
(+) Good power output
(+) Solid build quality, decent weight despite the size
(+) Dedicated button for gain and filter setting
(+) app support, but slightly buggy
(-) Shirt clip / jacket is solid but not the most practical
(-) Easily scratch-able front and back plates
(-) Grainy sound with noticeable distortion and poor RMAA measurement
Hiby W3: Highly Recommended
(+) Almost full range of BT codec support
(+) App support with OTA firmware update
(+) Good build quality with sensible (*normal) design
(+) Good sound with decent output, neutral with a slight tilt toward warmth.
(+) Excellent value / price
(-) UAT isn't stable enough to be useful and only good for Hiby music app (or Hiby DAP)
(-) Volume rocker's steps are too wide apart and have to be manually fine-tuned.
FiiO BTR3K: Highly Recommended
(+) Almost full range of BT codec support
(+) Good app support with decent amount of setting.
(+) Single-ended and balanced output, and both are really good sounding
(+) Good build quality, not much bigger (shirt clip included) than the original BTR3
(+) Same good design on removable shirt clip as BTR5
(+) Same price as BTR3
(-) EQ not working on LDAC yet
Qudelx 5K: NEW Higly Recommended
(+) Almost full range of BT codec support, first to include aptX Adaptive
(+) Good app support, lots of settings and capable of wireless firmware update
(+) Single-ended and balanced output, and both are really good sounding
(+) Good compacted industrial design
(+) Good EQ that works over LDAC and USB DAC
(-) App's UI could use a bit more refinement
(-) Opposite buttons can be mis-pressed, sometime sticky too
(-) Shirt clip is shallow and not the most practical to use.
Sum-up
Out of all, W5 probably has the best SQ for the 3.5mm single-ended output with just a faint touch of warmth and overall very good dynamic, no doubt thanks to its extra output power - but it also caused it to have the shortest playtime, which is why the need of an charging pod. As good as it sounds, W5 is hard to recommend due to its many shortcomings - while these are mostly just small flaws, they do add up to what I think is a fairly clumsy design. Most people who use BT adapter are those are willing to compromise SQ for a bit more convenience. But in the case of W5, you are compromising more for SQ than convenience. The full touch control is especially a pain to use - sometime it is hard to press correctly, other time it is too easy to mis-press - 'lacking polish' is what comes to my mind after a few days of use. UAT is too unstable to be of any usefulness and limited to HIby's own music app or DAP (thankfully LDAC is great on W5) and the app still need some work. Hiby might have aimed too high with the W5 futuristic design. It could well be a great BT adapter if it just goes for a more conventional design.
ES100 has been well established so I am not going to spend much time talking about it - it has a good clean sound and power output, but what sets it apart is the excellent app and a full range of extra features that you can control. ES100 is what sets the standard of how any future higher-end BT adapter should measure up to. On the other hand, UP2 is a really good alternative for those who wants something that is just a touch more warm and musical sounding than the slightly sterile sounding ES100. The multi-functional scroll wheel is not difficult to use as well. If Shanling can invest more time to make an independent app for UP2, it would be perfect (*it is said to be in development). [UPDATE] Shanling app has arrived, but so far it is somewhat buggy and doesn't really do much extra stuff.
BTR3 in itself is a solid BT adapter and FiiO has been doing a good job adding more features to its app, though unfortunately it is built into the FiiO Music app and not an independent app of its own (*UPDATE April 2020: an independent app has been released and can be found on Play Store) . By all means a good sounding BT adapter when compared to all the other regular BT adapter out there, it does however fall slightly short when compared to the likeness of ES100 / W5 / UP2 as BTR3 sounds more congested in comparison.
Tempotec is a Chinese company that makes mostly DAC and amp, and as such perhaps it is why Blue really designed more like a portable DAC/amp rather than an BT adapter. It is heavy and a bit on the larger size with a fairly limited codec support, but it does offer fairly good SQ with lots of driving power - assuming if you can get a stable LHDC connection in the first place. The powering up and down sound is also overly loud and annoying. All and all, Blue is rough on the edge and not recommended.
BTR5 on first glance is way too big and heavy for an BT adapter, but a sensible design and a removable shirt clip makes it far more usable than Tempotec Blue though it is probably pushing the limit of what is considered portable among many BT adapter users. However, the extra size and weight is offset by the features and SQ it offers - and for those who don't mind a few more grams, the BTR5 does deliver the goods. The addition of the OLED screen allows for many settings to be changed without the need of app, also the standalone app (which is still in beta) also makes BTR5 more of a completed package. The SQ and output power on the balanced 2.5mm socket is also excellent with a slightly warmish presentation that isn't that far of FiiO preferred house sound, better than that of ES100's balanced output and probably the best sound in all the BT adapters reviewed so far, besting even W5 overall. The single-ended 3.5mm is however a little bland sounding - not bad per se and definitely better than BTR3, there is however nothing truly remarkable to speak of. For those who only intended to use the 3.5mm output for music listening, BTR5 might not be the best choice value wise. However, the 3.5mm socket does offer support for inline mic+remote on headset, and that could be very useful - not to mention it also support dual mic cVc noise cancelling (when used with headset), which is something only available on smartphone until now. For the desktop user, BTR5 also offers 32bits / 384kHz support as well as DSD256 decoding on hardware level, something that you won't find any other BT adapter's USB DAC mode. So far, besides the weight/size and not having a great 3.5mm output, the only two downsides are perhaps (1) the lack of EQ on LDAC codec as well as the missing HWA (LHDC) support - the former is said to be in development while the later is actually not a bad thing, since HWA is really unstable and not particularly usable in the first place. (2) BTR5 is pricey, but the good news is that you can find it on cheaper price on some places. Last but not least - while the EQ isn't fully working (*LDAC), the clock and filter setting do make quite a noticeable impact on fine tuning the sound, even more so than what can be found on ES100. The standalone app is definitely the right way to go as well. Overall, BTR5 is an easy recommendation for those who wants the best SQ on-the-go, at least for now.
UP4 is probably Shanling answer to BTR5. Despite having less hardware features, Shanling has done a good job on simplifying the design while keeping all the essential, resulting in a BT adapter that doesn't feel bulky yet is actually not very small. First thing to note is that it has noticeably more driving power than UP2, even on 3.5mm single-ended output. However, unlike the slightly warmish and smooth sounding UP2, UP4 has a colder sound with a noticeable grainy treble
With the original firmware 1.0, UP4 has an uneasy presentation - after almost 2 weeks of listening, it comes clear to me that something is off with UP4 balanced output (with a smaller degree on its single-ended output as well). To make sure this is not purely an imagination / subjective interpretation, I ended up custom built a cable so I can test the UP4 balanced output on my Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 using RMAA - and the result confirms my suspicion that there is indeed significant distortion and abnormalities in UP4. First round of RMAA tests show jagged FR curve with significant treble roll-off (-3dB at 10~11kHz) regardless of digital filter setting. Secondly, distortion is almost over the roof. The result is so poor that I have to run several other USB DAC on the same test to make sure my test equipment isn't broken, yet multiple tests all point to UP4 being the culprit. To ensure my UP4 isn't a lemon, I consulted a third party whom also measured his UP4 and the result is similar to mine..Further testing, including UP4 as in both USB DAC mode as well as BT mode, reveals perhaps UP4 is not as bad as previous first round of RMAA tests suggested, but there is certainly some level of distortion as well as inconsistent issue in performance (which might explain why it was tested so badly before). At this point I can't be 100% sure if this is a hardware or software issue - if it is the later, then perhaps a firmware update will be able to correct the problem. However, without knowing if or when this problem can be fixed or not, I will caution those who want to pick up an UP4 at this moment.
For those who are interested in looking into UP4 updated RMAA's result, you can find it in the following zip file (BTR5 result is included for reference): RMAA result2.zip (fimrware 1.0)
With the new firmware 1.1, most of UP4 issues on firmware 1.0 have been fixed. New RMAA tests show that UP4, while still not picture perfect, is at least decent in most parameters. While the grainy treble has been reduced, the overall sound signature remains mostly the same. It is still a colder sound with an emphasis on detail, with a reduced but still presented graininess over treble. Not quite as cold as before, but still a leaner sound for sure. Overall imaging and positioning has also improved, now with a well presented soundstage. The improvement in the new firmware 1.1 has allowed UP4 to earn my recommendation, though I don't think it is quite there to compete with best of the best yet. [UPDATE] Shanling app has arrived, but so far it is somewhat buggy and doesn't really do much extra stuff.
RMAA result3.zip (firmware 1.1)
W3 comes after W5 and is meant to be its little sibling, but by all means I think it is what W5 should have been. The problem with W5 is its unnecessarily complex, futuristic but also completely unpractical design. W3 on the other hand is conventional in a very good way - because everything just works. To say Hiby has learned from its mistake on the W5 will be an understatement. Another interesting point is that W3 uses the AK4377 chips instead of the newer AK4377A - the later is more optimized for mobile use, but also lesser in performance. Besides the fact that UAT is less than useful, the only real downside I'll say about the W3 is that the volume control on the W3 itself actually control the software volume on your smartphone, and each step can be overally big, resulting in one step being not loud enough yet the next step becomes overly loud. This can somewhat be remedied in the app by adjusting (limiting) the max volume on the smartphone, though I rather see an independent hardware volume control on the W3. As far as sound signature goes, W3 has a fairly neutral sound, if not ever slightly tilting toward a fainted sense of warmth, pleasing and unobtrusive - not quite as full bodied as UP2, but pretty much the same level of performance and thus also make for a good recommendation. However, it is the low price of W3 that really sets it apart as far as overall value goes. If you are on a tight budget while looking for the best bang for bucks, W3 should be on the very top of your list.
BTR3K comes as a slightly surprised replacement / upgraded model for BTR3. The original BTR3 is one of the very first 'Hires' Bluetooth adapter in the market that targeted audiophiles that lost their 3.5mm socket on their new smartphone. It had done a lot of things right but it was always over-shadowed by its main competition, the ES100. FiiO no doubt has taken note of the situation and designed the BTR3K to take on the challenge. First thing to note is that the BTR3K measured very well in RMAA (which FiiO gears usually do). With DAC set to High Performance mode, the result is excellent on both single-ended as well as balanced output. Output impedance are also very low on both, in the perfect sub-1-ohm range. Max power output on the balanced 2.5mm is comparable to, if not just slightly higher than ES100 2.5mm (1x voltage). Max power on 3.5mm is about half of 2.5mm, but it should be more than loud enough for your average headphone. Both BTR3K and ES100 use (*different) AKM DAC/amp codec chips in dual configuration, so overall sound signature is fairly similar. On 2.5mm output, the difference is subtle and hard to say which is better. On the 3.5mm however, BTR3K offers better sound with bigger image / soundstage and grander presentation. In short, ES100 will be able to go louder - but for the same volume, BTR3K sounds at least as good (on 2.5mm) if not better (on 3.5mm). The only real advantage that ES100 still hold are on the more sophisticated app and a working EQ on LDAC. If neither of those are important to you, BTR3K will be a better buy, consider that FiiO's app, while not as good as E100, is still head and shoulders above the rest. Given it is only about $10 more expensive than the already-excellent-in-value Hiby W3, the BTR3K now probably represents the best value and best sounding BT adapter in the sub-$100 price range.
NEW! The long anticipated Qudelix 5K has finally reached the market after the long Covid-19 delay, the good news is that it s well worth the wait. Both 5K's balanced and single-ended outputs measured fairly well in RMAA (*high performance mode, low output voltage), almost as good as BTR5 which uses the similar DAC configuration (dual ES9218P setup for balanced and the single ES9218P for single-ended). Output impedance for both outputs are also at a very respectable sub-1-ohm range. Output power is higher than BTR5 for the same load and it can go a little louder if wanted as well, though there is unlikely you will need to be that loud for either BT adapter for most headphones in the market (*if you do, I suspect a full sized portable DAC/amp with BT function is probably a more suitable option). 5K also comes with the newer aptX Adapive codec, though it is not nearly as widely supported as your normal flavor aptX/aptX-HD or LDAC. Besides, it is a codec that isn't meant to give the best possible SQ but rather to achieve better connection stability. Subjectively speaking, 5K is very good sounding - pretty much the same level as BTR5 and BTR3K, just a hair better than ES100 and pretty much one of the best sounding BT adapter in this impression so far. With the same DAC configuration as BTR5, the overall sound signature is about the same - neutral with a slight tilt to warmness, but 5K's 3.5mm does sound slightly less dull than that of BTR5 even though the difference isn't night and day. The 2.5mm output on the other hand is equally as good as that of BTR5. That being said, if you already own a BTR5 or BTR3K, 5K won't likely going to be an upgrade as far as SQ is concerned. The part you will likely going to find as an improvement is 5K's app, and namely its EQ system that works over LDAC as well as USB DAC (*via smartphone app control). However, the app is still in its early days so there could be more functions and settings coming in the future. Certainly the use of the newer and more powerful Qualcomm QCC5124 SoC is going to give 5K a more effortless performance over the older generation of BT adapter that rely on CSR8675. While the SQ is good, there are other minor imperfection to be found on 5K - First, the shirt clip is noticeably more shallow (in both angle of opening as well as insertion depth) and not the easiest to press. The clever design on the placement of 2.5mm and 3.5mm sockets with the incorporation of the shirt clip unavoidable makes the shirt clip less useful and practical than it should. Secondly, the opposite placement of the rocker buttons are prone to mispress, which is an old problem that we have seen on ES100. The less-than-defined rocker action is not helping either, as it is hard to really differentiate one side of the rocker from the other and always feel like both buttons will get pressed at the same time. Both of these issues, while minor, are result of form-over-function where it should have been form-follows-function. All and all, 5K is still an easy recommendation for its excellent SQ and small form factor. However, if you are don't use EQ much and already own a BTR5 or BTR3K (*especially if you don't find BTR3K lacking power), than there is no real need to get a 5K. But if you are using any other Hi-Res BT adapters and think about upgrade, then 5K should be on top of your consideration.
------------------------
[Battery Test]
As battery test usually take hours and hours to do, this section will only be updated occasionally and not every model will be covered.
Testing condition:
Source: FiiO M6, random selection of music on loop, LDAC SQ prioritized
Devices: No EQ, all extra setting disable and low gain (if applicable), 50mV output (or as close as possible) into a 23.5 ohm dummy load, single-ended 3.5mm output.
Result:
FiiO BTR3 - over 9 hours
EarStudio ES100 - around 12 hours
FiiO BTR5 - over 7.5 hours
Shanling UP2 - over 9 hours
------------------------
[More Impression]
Hiby W5 and followup by @pstickne
ArtExtreme R3 by @Hal Rockwell
FiiO BTR5 by @sinquito
Qriolus 1795 here and here by @greyforest
Thanks for the Qudelix 5K impressions! Could you upload your RMAA measurements for it by any chance?
