FiiO BTR17 Review: Cream of the Crop?

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Greetings mate and Welcome aboard!

Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions, so…

Let’s take a gander at another one of FiiO’s BTR series DACs; this time the BTR17. Today’s review will help you determine if it’s worth a purchase!

We’ll discuss build, features, versatility, sound, power output, and more.

By the time you’re finished reading this article, you’ll know if it’s right for you, and if it isn’t, I’ll point you in the direction of something that is.

Deal?

Cool.

Let’s dive in!

All specs, pricing, box contents, and additional photos towards the end.

What Is It?

FiiO’s BTR17 is a combo Bluetooth Amplifier + DAC (digital-to-analog converter) that can be used in a few different ways:

Wired on your desktop
Wired with your phone
Wireless with your phone

To support this, there are 3 modes:

PC Mode which is powered through USB, BT receiving mode (can also be powered through USB), and PHONE mode, decoding for mobile devices and disabled for USB charging.

Like the others in the series, it contains both a balanced 4.4mm and single-ended 3.5mm headphone output.

I’m happy to report that the 3.5mm headphone output also functions as a line output, meaning it can be used as a preamplifier connected to active speakers like FiiO’s own SP3; whether that be via Bluetooth or wired is up to you!

On the bottom, you’ll find the Type-C charging/decoding port and Type-C charging/power supply port.

The side reveals the volume knob/button, acting as a Play/Pause, volume adjustment, Enter/Switch/Confirm/Exit menu, Answer/Hang Up/Reject/Cancel a Call, Bluetooth reconnecting, and voice assistant activator.

Below are the microphone hole, Power On/Off, turn on/off display, reset, the next/previous track/switch EQ buttons, the mode toggle switch (PC mode, BT mode, Phone mode), and the desktop mode switch.

Recap

In addition to music playback, the device can also take calls, activate voice assistant, be paired to 2 devices simultaneously, and be used as a preamp.

The new feature, desktop mode, should be switched off if you’d like to charge the device without consuming its power and the BTR17’s battery.

If the switch is set to on, the device will enable high voltage power supply and also parallel drive, utilizing desktop-level output power while not consuming its own and the BTR17’s battery.

In UAC 1.0 mode, no drivers are required. For UAC 2.0, click here to download the driver.

You’ll need to unplug and replug the BTR17 when switching between 1.0 and 2.0.

In 2.0, the BTR17 supports full MQA decoding and rendering and will show up as “MQA” on the display.

Build Quality

The unit itself is wider than the others in the line and feels much better in your hand; something you may appreciate more over time.

Part of this is due to its fully bonded raw leather backing, but it also feels more substantial and looks the part more so than say, a BTR13 or 15.

Don’t get me wrong, those units work fine, but the BTR17 feels more intuitive and the volume knob/button seems more useful from a practical standpoint.

With it, you easily access the DAC’s functions and I don’t know about you, but I prefer a dial when adjusting volume as it’s quicker and more convenient.

It’s not that button functionality is bad, only that because the BTR17 has a dial, you’re not using buttons for every single task. This, in my opinion, makes the device more streamlined and predictable.

Functions are a bit easier to access, the 1.3″ IPS color display is cleaner and looks much better, the font choices are excellent, and the unit overall just looks more like something I’d want to own.

Features

Equipped with Qualcomm’s QCC5181 Bluetooth chip and BT 5.4, the BTR17 complies with the Bluetooth LE Audio standard, has a transmission bandwidth capacity of 2.1Mbps, and is also capable of lossless quality within the aptX adaptive system.

Support includes AAC/SBC/aptX/aptX Lossless/aptX HD/LDAC LDAC, and aptX adaptive 24-Bit/96kHz in addition to Snapdragon Sound Technology.

It also comes with low and high gain, a PEQ (Parametric EQ) mode, filters, car mode, and UAC mode. To access PEQ, you’ll need to download the FiiO Control App for your phone.

Sound-wise, we’re getting a clean, distortion-free signal and a 128dB Signal-to-noise ratio; easily surpassing the 90dB SINAD standard (Signal-to-noise and distortion) which ensures your music sounds true to the source and very neutral.

Additionally, power output is good and should be more than enough for any headphones you may have lying around.

Battery life and range are both good as well, giving you around 8 hours before needing a charge.

Final Verdict

As far as Amps & DACs are concerned, I put the cap on what I’d spend at around $200 based on extensive experience with over 80 of them. This is the point when diminishing returns kick in pretty aggressively, and the BTR17 is right around that price point.

All in all, I feel as though it’s a good value for everything you’re getting, and to me, runs circles around the others in the series due to its form factor, overall appearance, and ease of use.

The volume knob is a much-needed addition to the lineup, the display and ergonomics are excellent, and the unit, like the others, can be used in a few different ways depending on your setup.

FiiO BTR17 Review

The leatherette case is also a nice gesture and it’s certainly a very attractive piece of kit at the end of the day. Because of all these things, I will likely be recommending it as the DAC to buy in this series until further notice.

But, for the love of God FiiO, please, PLEASE include a lightning cable or adapter in the package next time. Seriously, if iFi can do it for their dirt cheap Go Link, you can too.

Required Reading: FiiO’s BTR Series

For more info on the BTR17, click here.

FiiO BTR17

Price: Check Amazon

In The Box

BTR17 x1

Leatherette case x1

Short dual Type-C OTG data cable x1

Quick start guide x1

Warranty card x1

PET protective film (pre-installed) x1

Specifications

USB chip: XMOS U316
USB DAC: 768kHz-32bit, DSD512 native, MQA full decoding
USB DAC driver-free mode: Supported
Bluetooth Chip: QCC5181
Bluetooth Version: 5.4
Bluetooth formats supported: AAC/SBC/aptX/aptX Adaptive/aptX Lossless/aptX HD/LDAC
DAC: ES9069Q*2
Display: 1.3-inch 240×240 color IPS
Battery Life: About 8 hours (LDAC)
Charging Time: ≤2H
Headphone Outputs: Single-ended 3.5mm + Balanced 4.4mm
Output Power 1: L+R≥280mW+280mW (32Ω/THD+N < 1%/single-ended/desktop mode)
Output Power 2: L+R≥31mW+31mW (300Ω/THD+N < 1%/single-ended/desktop mode)
Output Power 3: L+R≥650mW+650mW (32Ω/THD+N < 1%/balanced/desktop mode)
Output Power 4: L+R≥125mW+125mW (300Ω/THD+N < 1%/balanced/desktop mode)
Output Power 5: L+R≥300mW + 300mW (32Ω/THD+N < 1%/balanced/desktop mode)
Output Power 6: L+R≥140mW + 140mW (32Ω/THD+N < 1%/single-ended/non desktop mode)
Signal-to-noise ratio: ≥126dB (UAC decoding, desktop mode, A-weighted)
THD+N: <0.00035% (UAC decoding, desktop mode, balanced output)
Dimensions: About 16.3×41.2×86.6mm
Weight: About 73.4g
Color: Black/Blue

For more parameters, click here.

Well, that’s about it for today folks! I hope you’ve enjoyed this FiiO BTR17 review and came away with some valuable insight.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

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