FiiO BTR17

Introduction to the FiiO BTR17 Review

The hood classic, the BTR5, was one of my first serious audio purchases and has been the clear first step in taking my passion for good sound to the next level. After getting the (then) Massdrop HD58x, of course, I wanted something better to plug them into than my ordinary stereo system’s jack. And that’s when the BTR5 reeled me in with its combination of decent power and functionality. Now, after some releases, the BTR17 is out, and no, that does not mean that there have been 12 BTR models in between. Looking back at the BTR5, it seems like the BTR series has come quite a long way in terms of improving functionality and sonic performance, as much as I used to love using that little gem. 

The thing that stands out to me the most with the BTR17 is its versatility. Thanks to a decent power output in the all-new desktop mode, the BTR17 seems like a good solution for headphones with lower power requirements, as well as IEMs of all sorts. I’ve used the device in various conditions – via Bluetooth, connected to my iPhone, as well as via desktop mode, connected to my – wait for it – desktop computer. Both use cases have been enjoyable enough for me to pick this device as my daily driver for IEM testing. So that’s exactly what I did. Let’s see how it fares against its predecessor – the BTR7.

Packaging

The unboxing here is straight to the point, leaving bells and whistles behind for the sake of only the necessary things – a leatherette case, a USB-C to USB-C cable, instructions, and the device itself of course. I wasn’t expecting to be blown away by what the unboxing might offer, and indeed I wasn’t, but I’m glad to see that the essentials are there, and they are of decent quality as well. The leatherette case is fine, and I was very glad to see it included. I’d hate to see the fresh-out-of-the-box BTR17 immediately collect fingerprints or worse, get scratched up. The USB-C cable is of good quality as well, making use of a braided design you might see in some audiophile headphone cables. It does its job well, and it has also become my cable of choice to use with dongles and the BTRs.

Design, Build Quality and Functionality

The design is quite different than that of the previous BTR iterations, as it is no longer a glass-covered, DAP-like device. Fashion changes all the time, you know? Now, FiiO is shooting for something that seems more utilitarian – they have accommodated the volume knob, which has to be my favorite aspect of the design, as well as numerous physical buttons and switches. The back of the BTR17 makes me think that sturdiness has overtaken elegance when it comes to FiiO’s priorities in their latest portable design. This is not at all a bad choice – With my BTR5 I was always scared that it would get scratched, or worse, broken, even with the plastic protector it used to come with, but now I don’t really have those issues anymore. The belt strap on the leatherette case makes it look like you’re wearing a pager by your trousers, ready to be called into action at any moment, kinda like on House M.D., still the best medical drama out there.

Another thing that inspires confidence is the BTR17’s build quality. Nothing new here – as always, FiiO delivers when it comes to nailing the quality of materials and fit of all the elements. The only thing I’m not a huge fan of here is the rubberized back with a leather-like texture. I’d rather have it made out of similar materials as the rest, or just put real leather there. Apart from that, everything is A-okay. The build quality also manifests itself in the ease of use – ergonomically, there’s really nothing that I can have against the BTR17, as everything is clearly labeled and tactile. Now, back to my favorite addition to this generation of BTRs – the volume knob. The BTR17 is the first of the BTRs to use a knob for volume regulation, and I think it’s a fantastic idea – I have grown weary of the buttons on my L&P W2. The encoder is stepped and can be pressed to play/pause the music. The knurling of the knob (however that may sound) is not overly aggressive, so you won’t cut your fingers on it, but it’s deep enough for comfortable use.

The functionality is in my opinion the greatest strength of the BTR17. You can comfortably use it in any setting. Wired as a dongle with your phone, wired with a PC, wireless with Bluetooth, with IEMs, with some headphones… Of course, let’s make it clear, you won’t drive the Susvara with it properly, but something like the HE1000SE that I’m about to mention down the line sounds quite good with the BTR17’s 650mW maximum output. Some of the functionality seen in the BTR7, its predecessor, has been kept, like the UAC1.0 mode in case you want to plug the BTR17 into a console, as well as a microphone, and a FiiO Control app, which in all honesty, I haven’t used much, since all the functionality I need can immediately be accessed using the device itself – gain settings, filters et cetera. It’s a good thing to have though in case you want to play around with EQ some more and update the device.

Tech

This section will be full of comparisons to the BTR7, as it seems like the perfect device to depict what changes have been made in the BTR product line. Let’s start with the screen. This time it’s also an IPS panel, similarly sized, but now the resolution is noticeably better. Both screens are of similar brightness, but it’s pretty clear that the BTR17 is superior in this aspect.

All of the significant internals have been upgraded as well. The Bluetooth chip used in the BTR17 is the QCC5181, supporting Bluetooth 5.4 (as per the manufacturer’s website), compared to the BTR7’s QCC5124, supporting up to Bluetooth 5.1. Speaking of Bluetooth, the codecs have changed as well. Both devices support AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, and most importantly – LDAC, but the BTR17 ditches the aptX LL in favor of aptX Lossless. 

Before the data reaches the ESS chips, it is met with the USB microcontroller, which in this case is the 16-core XMOS XU316, advertised as an innovative chip supporting low latency USB decoding and PEQ support. There is also a change in the DAC section. The BTR17 sports dual ES9069Q chips, supporting sampling rates up to 32bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512. It is quite a significant upgrade from the BTR7’s dual ES9219C chips which supported up to 32bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256, though in practice I can imagine that not many of you are in possession of files thick enough to make use of those new BTR capabilities. Be that as it may, it is still an upgrade that deserves a mention. 

The amp section is similar to that found in the KA17 and M23, a non-Bluetooth dongle and a DAP made by FiiO. The architecture in question here is the THX AAA 78+ amp section featuring a four-channel design with 8 op-amps. If you’ve heard the name THX AAA before, the presence of this architecture should immediately tell you that FiiO is shooting for a sound as neutral and clear as possible. There is also a significant improvement to the power output of the amp section – 650mW is more than twice the amount that the BTR7 is capable of pushing. Let’s see how all of this fares in practice.

Sound of the reviewed FiiO BTR17

When it comes to the sound, I think it is best to emphasize the use of many different headphones/IEMs when evaluating the BTR17’s performance. After all, it is meant to be used together with almost anything on the market, both source and headphone/IEM-wise, right? No matter the device, however, the BTR17 sounds mostly neutral, natural, and clear. This kind of sound signature should be perfect for use with any IEM on the market, but if you need some extra coloration here and there, you might wanna look elsewhere, or just improve your in-app EQ skills. Artifacts like noise shouldn’t be a concern no matter how sensitive your IEMs are – everything is clean with a pitch-black background. 

BASS

The bass here is punchy and tactile, but it’s not the fastest or snappiest bass presentation I’ve seen come out of a mobile device. Befitting a neutral sound signature, it never overpowers any other facets of the sound, instead blending in securely. It’s a good way to reproduce bass in an overall neutral sound signature, but I’d like to see an increase in punching power and snappiness. However, the BTR17 doesn’t hinder the ability of the drivers to reproduce a textured and powerful sub-bass rumble, keeping things well extended, yet clean.

MIDRANGE

The midrange is another region of the frequency response curve that is neither too forward nor too recessed – the BTR17 spares the listener the extra coloration of the sound, instead focusing on aspects like clarity and detail, which there is a good amount of. Users of headphones and IEMs with a higher focus on the midrange, with extra richness and lushness can rest assured that the BTR17 won’t steal the show by evening things out too much – it lets the midrange do its job as intended by the IEMs, putting aspects like clarity and balance on display. It also does a good job of highlighting textures in vocals, as well as keeping things noise-free in the most organic-sounding of musical arrangements.

TREBLE

The treble served by the BTR17 is as sparkly and dynamic as can be without becoming the main focus of the sound signature. The treble’s Achilles’ heel here is how vulnerable to bad recordings it is – if mastering was done wrong, you’re going to know. There is no sibilance to be found when gathering look impressions, but I’d like to see a slightly better extension of the highest registries. Hi-hats are clean and sharp with plenty of dynamics, and all of that is done while keeping things tied in well with the overall neutrality of the sound signature. The details are also there and are well-reproduced, but I wouldn’t go as far as labeling the overall spectacle as analytical.

SOUNDSTAGE

The staging’s greatest strength is the black background achieved by the virtually noiseless sound. Everything is well separated and has its own 15 minutes with no jumble or mess. The stage itself isn’t enlarged by the BTR17 at all. Things like the Craft Ears Omnium, which has amazing staging, may have their staging slightly reduced, but not in a manner that makes things claustrophobic or squished together. The Omnium still extends far into the left and right, but the depth is somewhat limited this time, at least when compared to something like the Luxury & Precision W2.

Pairings

Craft Ears Omnium

I consider Craft Ears Omnium to be a pretty good test for any mobile device. It’s flamboyant, it shines, and it’s explosive, and sometimes certain devices might either take it too far or limit its potential. The BTR17 fares quite well when paired with the Omnium, allowing things like textures and detail of the midrange to shine with all its might. Another advantage to be noticed here is the fact that the Omnium’s prominent treble is slightly tamed, which could be a great solution for users who love the Omnium but consider it too treble-forward.

There are two things that don’t really sit right with me – the slight reduction of the soundstage and the way the BTR17 handles bass. My favorite thing about the Omnium is the razor-sharp bass response, which is slightly tamed now. Of course, the powerful punch and tectonic rumble are still here, but in tracks like “Roman Holiday” by Fontaines D.C., the kick drums may become a bit less sharp this time around.

All of that being said, I think that for the price and functionality that the BTR17 represents, it’s still a great pairing even for the more demanding IEMs. The Omnium is quite the test for the mobile devices out there, and for 200 USD, the BTR17 does very well overall, and I wouldn’t mind using that combo more often.

HiFiMAN HE1000se

This is my low-power-requirement headphone of choice. It’s been my daily driver for the longest time, and I have become acquainted with its sound signature quite well now. I have tested it before with things like the L&P W2, Cayin RU7, N3Ultra, and some other DAPs out there, and so far it seems very forgiving toward all kinds of power outputs. How does it all work this time?

The BTR17 seems to use each and every one of its 650 milliwatts to drive the HE1000SE to its fullest potential. I must admit, the little device does quite well even in this setting. The HE1000SE has a noticeable punch and slam while keeping things clean and clear. The background is still pitch black and the staging is expansive. The treble is well-extended and lively without any harshness. To put it simply – the BTR17 maintains all of the greatest strengths of the HE1000SE, while also keeping a good amount of detail and dynamics. The HE1000SE sounds lively and pleasant with this pairing, and while the punch could be stronger and I would’ve liked to hear slight natural warmth, for a neutral pairing, the BTR17 does very well here, despite the HE1000SE costing 10 times as much nowadays.

Overall, the BTR17 seems to be a great option as far as mobile listening with full-sized headphones goes, in desktop mode as well as during mobile listening via Bluetooth. Of course, it’s possible to squeeze more out of these headphones than the BTR17 does, but at that price and level of functionality, it doesn’t get much better than this. Congrats!

Comparisons

FiiO BTR7

This comparison was obvious from the get-go – how does the old compare to the new? Well, to me, it seems like quite an upgrade. I’ve already taken time to describe the differences between the two in the Tech section, so let’s dive straight into the sound.

The power output difference between them shines especially when plugging the HE1000SE into each. The difference in power manifests itself in the overall liveliness and tactility of the sound, which matters a lot in a headphone like the SE. The BTR17 provides a sharper and snappier sound than the BTR7 but doesn’t provide a boost to the bass. The kind of neutral sound that the BTR17 emits is good for many headphones with light power requirements, and the HE1000SE is one such example.

The BTR17’s neutral sound characteristics make it a better test bench for IEMs as well. The neutral, yet natural and technically proficient sound brings out the good and the bad in IEMs such as the NFACOUS NM20. Personally, though, I slightly prefer the NM20 when paired with the BTR7, as it provides a funkier and livelier sound thanks to the overall bass boost, with the proficient highs of the NM20 flourishing, but not aggressive.

Overall, I think it’s safe to say that the BTR17 is a clear upgrade over the BTR7 in almost all facets that a Bluetooth/USB DAC can be judged upon. The BTR7 has gotten cheaper now, so if you don’t mind the extra bucks that the BTR17 requires, I’d go with the newer model, unless you really want that extra V-shape in your sound signature. I’d just EQ it if it were up to me.

LUXURY & PRECISION W2

The W2 has been a long-standing daily driver of mine when it comes to mobile listening, and for good reason – it stood the test of time like Dapper Dan, still pushing great performance and ease of use. How does it compare to the BTR17? Well, the first thing to get out of the way is the fact that the BTR17 is 100 USD cheaper than the W2 was at its release, which is quite a huge factor to be taken into account.

The battle between the BTR17 and the W2 is a battle between the ultimate functionality and the ultimate sound that each can provide in their respective categories. When it comes to functionality, the BTR17 knocks it out of the park in almost all aspects – the volume knob instead of the W2’s small buttons that I’m quite sick of, a better display, Bluetooth… you name it. The only advantage that the W2 has in terms of functionality is that it can be used as a USB-to-SPDIF converter, but that’s some exotic functionality that I have yet to see myself using.

The sound, however, is another story. The W2 sounds better extended, more tactile, and overall more spacious than the BTR17. And I would expect nothing less of it. It’s been my daily IEM driver for a reason, that reason being the amazing sound quality that it can deliver. It’s an incredibly balanced sound with tasteful coloration here and there, bringing out the best out of any IEMs that are plugged into it. The BTR17 is more neutral and slightly more dry-sounding in comparison to the W2, but if you’re shooting for something as close to neutral as possible, I’d go with the FiiO.

Whether you should choose an ultimate wired dongle or something like the BTR17 is mostly dependent on your needs. If functionality and versatility are your priority, then the BTR17’s swiss-knife-like nature will suit you well. If you prefer to put all your points into sound quality at a lower power output, go with a good dongle.

FiiO BTR17 Review – Summary

It’s no news that FiiO does a great job as far as Bluetooth listening goes. The BTR17 packs as many features as the 200 USD price tag can get you, and most importantly, it is a noticeable upgrade compared to the previous offerings from the BTR range. While the sound could use improvement, let’s not forget that we’re discussing a 200 USD device focused on functionality, which is executed perfectly.

Whether you’re listening with low-impedance high-sensitivity headphones or noise-sensitive IEMs, the BTR17 should do no less than a great job providing a clear and neutral sound signature. If you’re not looking for coloration, or don’t mind playing around with the in-app EQ, this is quite an easy recommendation.

Recommended.