Greetings mate and Welcome aboard!
Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions, so…
The FiiO BTR15 is a portable Bluetooth Headphone Amplifier + DAC that can also be used wired with a phone or PC via its USB Type-C port.
It has plenty of power for 99% of headphones, sports a neutral output impedance, has both balanced (4.4mm) and unbalanced (3.5mm) options, and contains a clear, easy-to-read interface.
Power Output:
- Output Power 1: L+R≥125mW+125mW (32Ω single-ended/THD+N < 1%)
- Output Power 2: L+R≥15mW+15mW (300Ω single-ended/THD+N < 1%)
- Output Power 3: L+R≥340mW+340mW (32Ω balanced/THD+N < 1%)
- Output Power 4: L+R≥50mW+50mW (300Ω balanced/THD+N < 1%)
Total Harmonic Distortion numbers also see an improvement over the BTR5, coming in at <0.0008% vs. <0.002% for the BTR5.
You’re not going to be able to discern these tiny fractions of a percentage, but the difference should be noted.
- Related: What Is Total Harmonic Distortion?
The convenience of the BTR15 is excellent, but it is lighter and doesn’t feel as durable as the BTR5, despite being thicker.
FiiO says the glass encompassing the unit is now “Dual Curved Glass” which has been hot-bent and embedded on both the front and rear of the device.
From FiiO:
Marketing speak aside, it’s not any easier to hold than the BTR5, so take that for what it’s worth.
Comfortably fitting in the palm of your hand, the BTR15 is outfitted with the Qualcomm QCC5125 Bluetooth Chip + XMOS 16-core XU316.
It supports LDAC/aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, AAC, and SBC, with sample rates up to 96kHz.
PC and phone modes support asynchronous decoding up to 384kHz/32-bit PCM and DSD256.
It also happens to be a full decoder, so if you use Tidal it’s a viable option.
Battery Protection
One nifty addition I like is that FiiO implemented battery degradation prevention by implementing a measure to stop it from charging when it’s fully charged.
This is a real issue with tech like phones, etc. where, over time, the battery holds less and less of a charge because it was left plugged into an outlet for too long at 100%.
What’s Stayed The Same
- I’m not sure if the BTR5 was Asynchronous, but the BTR15 is, and all 3 (3K, 5, 15) support 32-bit/384kHz files + DSD256.
- Both the BTR5 and BTR15 contain the ES9219 chip, but the implementation is a bit different. More on that in a second.
- Both have an Output Impedance of less than 1.
- Both have a 550mAh battery.
- Both utilize aluminum alloy bodies.
- Both have mode features like Gain, Filter, EQ, Car Mode, etc. Just search “FiiO Control” in your App Store.
- Both have a USB-C slot for connection to Phones and PCs.
- Both can take calls.
Chip Implementation
The ES9219MQ and ES9219C chips, both from ESS Technology, serve as digital-to-analog converters (DACs).
- Required Reading: What is a USB DAC?
The ES9219MQ (BTR15) targets mobile applications with its compact size and low power usage, fitting well into smartphones and portable audio devices.
On the other hand, the ES9219C (BTR5) is optimized for high-end audio systems, boasting superior performance metrics like signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range, but the difference, specifically with regard to SNR, is rather small (2dB).
While both chips deliver a high-quality conversion, the ES9219C focuses on premium performance, while the ES9219MQ prioritizes efficiency and mobility.
Again, don’t base your decision on those factors as they’re not going to make an audible difference in quality.
Sound
- Playlist: Here!
- Headphones Used: AKG K702, HIFIMAN HE400se, HIFIMAN Arya, Sennheiser HD600, HarmonicDyne G200, Gold Planar GL2000, Philips SHP9500, HIFIMAN DEVA.
- Source(s): Tidal, Spotify, FLAC.
Given its low output impedance, the BTR15 provides a clean, neutral backdrop for your music.
I tested it against the FiiO K11, Universal Audio Volt 2, JDS ATOM 2, FiiO K7, and iFi Zen to determine if there were any significant differences.
There aren’t any. If you’d like to read my philosophy on this, click here.
Before we give a final verdict, let’s recap some things I liked and disliked about the BTR15.
What I Liked:
- Power output got a boost.
- The inclusion of the 4.4mm jack is welcome.
- ESS chip.
- Easy-to-read interface.
- Battery anti-degradation measure discussed earlier.
What I didn’t like:
- The unit feels cheaper than the BTR5.
- Text and fonts, while easy to read, are ugly and stone-age looking in my opinion.
- I don’t like the square box for the interface. The BTR5’s disappeared into a uniform look when powered off or idle.
- The text next to the output jacks is upside down.
Neutral:
- There have been complaints that the EQ function doesn’t work properly.
- Battery life is said to be poor, but I haven’t had any issues thus far. I will update this article accordingly.
Final Verdict
As much as I complained about the aesthetic/interface of the updated BTR15, the power output got a boost and I like the inclusion of the 4.4mm jack since that’s primarily how I listen balanced.
So there’s no real reason to recommend the BTR5 unless you’re one of those weirdos who still listens balanced via 2.5mm.
Hey, I’m not judging you. I still have a 2.5 cable for my HD600 just in case; so there’s that.
Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with either the BTR5 or BTR15, but again, I’m not recommending the 3K anymore.
The BTR5 happens to be my #1 portable option, and even though the 15 edges it slightly in some ways, I still think the 5 is a fine purchase and I probably won’t go editing the dozens of articles and change anything – at least for now.
The difference in price between the 5 and 15 is something like $30 (Subject To Change), so just go with the one that fits your situation!
If you listen balanced via 4.4mm, go with the BTR15. If you listen balanced via 2.5mm, go with the BTR5.
At A Glance
- Bluetooth Chip: QCC5125 (CPU+DSP dual-core architecture)
- Bluetooth Version: 5.1
- USB Chip: XMOS XU316
- DAC: ES9219MQ*2
- Bluetooth Codecs: AAC/SBC/aptX/aptX LL/aptX Adaptive/aptX HD/LDAC
- USB DAC: Asynchronous 384kHz/32bit, DSD256
- USB DAC driver-free mode: Supported
- Display: 0.96-inch 96×96 resolution OLED
- Headphone outs: Single-ended 3.5mm + Balanced 4.4mm
- Dimensions: About 32.0mmx72.2mmx12.5mm
- Weight: About 37.3g
- Charging Time: <2h
- Battery: 550mAh high-temperature resistant lithium-ion
- Battery Life: About 8 Hours
- Output Power 1: L+R≥125mW+125mW (32Ω single-ended/THD+N < 1%)
- Output Power 2: L+R≥15mW+15mW (300Ω single-ended/THD+N < 1%)
- Output Power 3: L+R≥340mW+340mW (32Ω balanced/THD+N < 1%)
- Output Power 4: L+R≥50mW+50mW (300Ω balanced/THD+N < 1%)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz~50kHz (-0.8dB)
- Signal-to-noise ratio: ≥122dB (A-weighted)
- Noise floor: PO < 2μV (A-weighted); BAL <2.7μV (A-weighted)
- Output Impedance: PO < 1Ω (32Ω load), BAL < 1.5Ω (32Ω load)
- THD+N: <0.0008% (1kHz/32kΩ)
In The Box
1x BTR15
1x Type-C to Type-C Data Cable
1x USB-A To USB-C Adapter
1x Removable Back Clip
Quick Start Guide
Warranty Card
Photo Gallery
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this FiiO BTR15 review and came away with some valuable insight.
If you love what I do here and want to support the blog and channel in a more personal way, check me out on Patreon and discover all the value I have to offer you.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
Could you see yourself with a BTR15? Why or why not? I would love to hear your thoughts. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
6 comments
Hello!
With more sensitive IEMs, do the first steps of the volume knob allow me to get a very low sound or does it start at a relatively high volume?I ask this because I bought the xduoo xp2 pro and when I used it with sensitive IEMs the initial volume was already high, which I didn’t like
Hey man!
Just tested this out for you with the Westone Pro X10’s that I just so happened to receive for demo recently. They are 114dB Sensitivity and yes, the first steps of the volume knob with the Q15 are very quiet. I’d say it doesn’t start getting loud until around 24-30 steps, so plenty of room. Hope that helps! Let me know.
-Stu
Yo! Just stopped by to say that for me the presence of PEQ in BTR15 made BTR5 obsolete although I have to admit that FIIO must work on app improvements as the PEQ interface is far from being user friendly. Also, I really like the presence of 4.4mm – now I can use my IEMs but also power hungry big headphones. What I don’t like is the battery life.
YO! Aleksander! Howyadoin! Yeah, the BTR series is a great value (4.4mm is great) but I personally didn’t feel 15 or 13 needed to be manufactured at all. Have you checked out the BTR17? And yeah, FiiO’s app is a bit clunky but I haven’t messed with it in a while. I’ll put a word in to FiiO.
-Stu
Yo! Yo! If you are mainly 3,5mm user and PEQ is not a must for you than agree – 13 and 15 are pretty redundant. Checked the BTR17 and it has a potential of being the only device you will ever need. It can operate as a desktop AIO device and you can just grab it and take it outside for a walk. Also the PEQ looks better as it is web based. For portable use however, it is rather large which makes it less attractive for me. Last point will be rather controversial but as a boomer I have to say that I would love to see replaceable batteries back in this type of devices (even as AA/AAA which now can be directly usb-c rechargeable ). Built-in batteries significantly limit the lifespan of devices like BTR17 which I wouldn’t call cheap.
Aleksander,
YO! Nice to hear from you again. Love the BTR17 to me that’s the perfect marriage of portability and desktop usage + plenty of features. It’s just a fantastic product. True about the battery life. As an example, I bought an iPhone a couple years ago and the battery drains so fast now it’s ridiculous.
-Stu