Greetings mate and Welcome aboard!
Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions, so…
FiiO was kind enough to send me their BT11; a tiny (about the size of a button) portable high resolution Bluetooth Transmitter that purportedly improves the sound quality of your audio by essentially outputting a higher quality signal to your already existing Bluetooth device.
But does it? Today we’ll find out!
Available in silver or black and equipped with Qualcomm’s flagship QCC5181 Bluetooth chip, the BT11 features a quad-core processor architecture and two 240MHz Qualcomm Kalimba audio DSPs.
These provide powerful computational capabilities for advanced and complex audio algorithms and tasks. Additionally, Snapdragon Sound (lossless) is supported as well.
The transmission is done via LDAC primarily, but the BT11 also supports other codecs like aptX/aptX LL, SBC, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive/Lossless (24-Bit/96kHz).
For example, I have an iPhone 11 with a lightning port. Because the BT11 is USB-C, i need an adapter (shown below) to make the connection possible.
I simply plug the transmitter into the bottom of that^ and then plug it into my phone.
Here’s where it gets dicey.
The BT11 is one of the buggiest and most unreliable pieces of gear I’ve ever used, but I could have just gotten a lemon. It’s also possible that FiiO is still rectifying some of its many issues.
When it works, it’s great. But the problem is that it’s incredibly finicky and temperamental, and hardly ever functions properly per my experience.
Yesterday I was able to get it to work after about an hour of finagling with it, but today it’s stuck in pairing mode (flashing blue and red) and will not connect to my phone under any circumstances.
Here’s a free-flowing paragraph of nearly everything I did before it finally decided to work. Keep in mind that the device pairs through the FiiO Control App and you’ll have to download that first before you do anything.
First, it wouldn’t enter pairing mode through the FiiO Control App, then it did randomly, then it wouldn’t, then I rebooted my phone (dozens of times), unplugged/replugged, disabled BT, enabled, deleted the device from FiiO Control (dozens of times), added it, cleared pairing, then it connected through the App and I saw it in my BT settings even though no music would play, then it disappeared, then it connected even though it said Connection failed.
I reset it to its factory settings which worked once and then never again, then it showed a pulsing light indicating connected (but it didn’t work), then it was somehow flashing blue and red even though it showed it was already paired, then it was paired and playing music but no sound, and on and on. That’s most of it.
After all of this headache, I finally had it transmitting through the BTR15 to my FiiO FT1, but it didn’t even appear in the Bluetooth list.
Apparently, FiiO is still ironing out some major kinks with it. To test it after it started working, I unplugged it and plugged it back in and it was still fine.
The good news is that once it finally decides to work properly, you don’t have to worry about it. sOrTa.
FiiO also says it may not be compatible with iPhones that have a lightning port (mine), but I read other people had no issues. I will definitely NOT be re-pairing it ever even though sometimes the Control App doesn’t work properly either as far as registering commands and whatnot.
Could all of this simply be a matter of, “You need to upgrade to iPhone 15 or 16”?
Meh. Perhaps, but there’s no reason why FiiO can’t make it work across a wide range of Apple phones without issue.
And all of that brings me to today.
Right now, the unit will not work at all. It’s stuck in pairing mode and won’t do anything. I’ve tried rebooting numerous times and deleting the device with no luck. At this point it’s essentially a vegetable, and that’s a shame.
Why?
Because, and my regular readers are about to lose their minds when I say this, it actually does sound better.
*GASP*
I know, I know. I never thought I’d say it, but I did hear an improvement in clarity, resolution, separation, openness, etc. Still, it could have been my imagination playing tricks on me or a simple case of it being louder. I was going to do another A/B demo today, but it won’t work.
For my original demo, I used the BTR15 and a standard Bluetooth connection to my phone with the FiiO FT1 (AAC) and then just the BT11 transmitting to the BTR15 with the same FT1 headphones (LDAC).
I read plenty of other folks having issues with dropouts and whatnot, but I haven’t experienced that.
LDAC is generally considered a better codec than AAC (iPhone) for high-resolution due to its ability to transmit audio at a higher bitrate, up to 990 kbps, which allows for better preservation of audio quality.
AAC, on the other hand, is optimized for lower bitrates (up to 256 kbps on most devices) and is more efficient for streaming in environments with limited bandwidth. However, the perceived difference in quality depends on factors like the audio source, the hardware/headphones, and the listener’s ears.
LDAC is ideal for audiophiles with compatible devices, while AAC is more universal and works seamlessly with Apple devices.
In addition, the unit allows for simultaneous pairing with 2 devices and according to FiiO, will be continuously upgraded via over-the-air (OTA) updates, including LC3, volume adjustment, indicator light control, channel balance adjustment, and pairing lists.
That said, if FiiO could release a firmware update now that rectifies all of these insane issues, I’d love to recommend it. It’s fairly cheap at less than $50, and I do think it could be a feasbile option for snobby audiophiles.
As of right now, it’s relegated to the recycle bin but I will update this article as new information comes to light.
Click here for an Android compatibility list (scroll to the bottom).
FiiO BT11
Check FiiO!
In The Box
Type-C protective plug x1 (pre-installed on BT11)
BT11 x 1
USB-A to USB-C Adapter x 1
Quick Start Guide x1
Warranty Card x 1
Specifications
- Name: Portable High-Res Bluetooth Transmitter
- Color: Black, Silver
- Bluetooth Chip: Qualcomm QCC5181
- Bluetooth Version: 5.4
- Bluetooth Codec Support: LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, SBC
- Transmission Range: Over 50 meters (all codecs)
- Dimensions: 28x21x9mm
- Weight: About 3g
- Static power consumption: <22mA
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this FiiO BT11 Review and came away with some valuable insight.
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Would you take a chance on the BT11? Why or why not? I would love to hear your thoughts. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
