Browse Bluetooth DAC FiiO BTR3 — all wireless rat

specifications

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• Bluetooth chip: CSR8675
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• DAC: AK4376A
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• Bluetooth: 4.2 codec support AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX LL, aptX HD, LDAC, LHDC
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• frequency Range: 20Hz ~ 20kHz, aptX, 20Hz ~ 40kHz at LDAC
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• output power: 25 mW @ 32Ω, 33 mW @ 16Ω
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• Output impedance: <0.3 Ω
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• Recommended load impedance: 16Ω ~ 100Ω
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• Total harmonic distortion+noise: <0.003% LHDC
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• the Ratio signal/noise: 120 dB
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• Division: ≥75dB
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• Entrance: USB-C
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• Output: 3.5 mm TRS
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• Microphone: with built-in noise-cancelling technology Qualcomm cVc
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• Battery: 300 mA/h
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• charging Time: ≤1.5 hours
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• Time: up to 11 hours
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• Dimensions: 58×25×10.4
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• Weight: 26 Gy.

Packing and delivery

Design and control

About the appearance, perhaps, there's not much to say: a compact block of black aluminum with a glass front panel. Fashion «2.5 D effect» available. In the top of the panel is illuminated FiiO logo, it also acts as a universal indicator: changes colors depending on the codec and indicates the discharging/charging the battery. I must say that the idea of changing colors, mesmerizing 10 minutes I had fun, switching codecs in M7, over and over again making sure that the switch actually works.

The right side has push button on/off switch, a microphone, a separate «smart» buttons for play and pause, voice assistant and many other functions, as well as the volume rocker. Short of clicking on it, change the volume, long — surfing tracks. Here, by the way, there is one feature that to me seems quite logical, but the reviews online say that not everyone shares my opinion. The fact that pressing rocker up increases the volume, but a long detention causes a transition to the previous track, and a lot of it is confusing. For me this looks logical, since the conditional volume indicator is always growing up, and the track list, on the contrary, comes from the top down, so that the work of these keys I think it's good. However, almost certainly, with time, regulation of this behavior, add a built-in utility settings.

All the buttons are well made, they did not hang out, have a pleasant move and a clear click.

Of Course, «internal» the side of the gadget has a clip to attach to clothing, it is quite durable, with a good spring.

And a USB input and output naushnikov underneath, so the large 3.5 mm plugs are difficult to use simultaneously with a connected USB. For charging USB-C, BTR3 fully charged you 1 hour 20 minutes and this is enough for 9-11 hours of active use. Also, this port can be usedin order to connect the receiver in the role of USB DAC in the first firmware version for this it was necessary to enable a special mode manually, but latest firmware added auto-detection mode.

Speaking of firmware, FiiO couple of times already upgraded FOR this device include among other things the ability to configure BTR3 with the application FiiO Music on compatible devices. While a few settings (channels balance, filter, codecs, indicator), but hopefully with time they will be more. To install the update you need a computer with Windows, so I also hope that in the future I'll add wireless upgrade.

One of the most interesting questions, of course, is the quality of communication. Everything is relative and depends firstly from the sources, and, secondly, the amount of electromagnetic interference around you. Plus, of course, the role played by the codecs, the same LDAC modes «sound quality» «the connection» — it is very markedly different in terms of reliability. In General, I have problems with BTR3 not experienced using codecs aptX, AAC, and LDAC mode «the connection», up to 15 meters in direct line of sight, he holds easily, with the main walls with a door, the distance decreases until about 10 meters. Scripts like «receiver in one pocket, the source in the opposite» practiced without problems.

Sound

To listen To the device used the following headphones: , , , , , , and others.

SBC The «base» a codec that is with us for many years. The sound is roughly similar to MP3 in 128 bitrate quality compressed codec. Lost release, the scene is flat, HF give the synthetics. Almost any music, except the very very badly written, the difference is well noticeable even on cheap headphones. Although in fairness, it should be noted that a lot of phones over the wire sounds or worse or not much better.

aptX Perhaps the most significant step forward relative to the SBC. Imaginary scene acquires depth, release the lower half of the spectrum appear, but not all, the synthesis in the upper half less, but on good headphones it is still noticeable. The gap in quality of 3.5 mm output of most phones becomes more noticeable.

AAC a Signature codec is Apple, in many ways suffering because of the trend of the company not to disclose their technology. Despite its lossy nature and quite strong compression in the upper part of the frequency response, using some of the brand developments on the hype of hearing that allows him to sound better than aptX, especially in the lower half of the range. However, for normal music, with decent headphones there is a noticeable difference is still there.

aptX HD the Increase of bitrate is about 2 times makes itself felt especially benefit from this RF, which almost «real» naturalness. Release still is not all, especially those that have «grasp», but then in order to hear the difference need to listen.

LDAC Standard Briefly compare the three modes of operation LDAC I decided in the final blind taste test to limit it to the average, as the most effective in daily use, as the regime «the connection» the sound towards aptX HD, and the regime «sound quality» gives a not very large increase, compromising the overall reliability of the connection. In General, if LDAC is expected, the difference is even smaller, but interestingly, it is noticeable more than anything USC, there appears to be some simplification. But to simulate the overtones of this codec umerennoi close to a wired connection. Also noticeable is the lack of length of the upper treble, but other codecs it is still visible.

LHDC the Codec that is almost comparable to LDAC, during the tests I was not able to determine, it is worse, or just different. He's probably still a little easier LDAC for the study of the LF and MF range, but the upper half of the range it does a little better. However, in most genres still, «bottom half» plays a more important role, so for «mass» music LDAC is preferable, and for «high art» the choice will be determined by the tastes of the listener.

Insights

More and more people choose the convenience of wireless connectivity, the technology is not in place, sometimes it comes to funny, modern players via Bluetooth work longer than when wired headphones are connected. It is not surprising that the receivers are also developed, in the market there «flagship» the device with maximum functionality and BTR3 on the right is here is one of the leading places.