FiiO BTR7 Flagship Portable Bluetooth Amplifier

Ummed and ahhed whether to purchase this, then lost my original BTR5 (which I really liked despite it's poor BT range), decided it was a toss up between BTR7 or Shanling UP5, I also use an ifi GO blu, (the price of which is now a more reasonable and I like a little variation). The BTR7 is a worthy successor to the 5, it's a little larger all around but not massive, still easily pocketable. Control is quite intuitive very much like the 5, but read the manual as the physical controls have dual functions. The presentation is great as always from Fiio (the Chinese do this so well) making unboxing a joy, in the box BTR7, a leatherette protective case, two short leads USB-C to C and USB-C to A and a well printed clear manual in multiple languages. In use. When first switched on, battery was at 75%, the volume however was very low even when turned up and switched to high gain, using the SE 3.5mm output, a firmware update fixed this, so be prepared to update to at least firmware V 1.88. Bluetooth operation has been improved over the BTR5, it transmits over a much farther range and no connection dropouts during use. External controls 1. mic at the top. 2. on/off menu select/exit, 3. Play, pause etc, answer/hangup, pairing, voice assistant. 4. Vol +, track select <, switch menus. 5. Vol -, track select >, switch menus. 6. Charging on off switch. Outputs on upper end 4.4mm balanced, 3.5mm SE. Single USB-C for charging and DAC usage on bottom end. Should you wish to use this as a Windows computer DAC a driver will need to be downloaded from Fiio site and installed first, if using with computer it may be necessary to plug phones/speakers into device prior to making computer connection. In use it sounds delightful, currently connected to iPad via BT and AAC, using balanced connection, settings source volume ~50% BTR settings, LOW gain, volume 30. Moondrop Aria, balanced cable, absolute perfection in all aspects of sound reproduction, from Black Sabbath to Beethoven! Tested with full size head phones Sennheiser, Sony to Koss KSC75s and various iems Shure, Sony, Moondrop to KZs. This little DAC amp has managed to produce great sounds at more than acceptable volume levels throughout my tests, with about 7+ hours useful battery power. Tested with these sources, Android phone and tablet, iPad and iPad pro, MacBook and Windows laptops, not failed or waivered once. On using the Fiio app, it's been "worked on" and has it's uses, it connects easily between host devices and the BTR7 to enable a few tweaks etc. to be made there are better apps supplied with other devices but there's not a lot in it. Conclusion you get what you pay for in most instances and I feel this is worth the price, recommended if you need a compact easily portable capable DAC amp that has sufficient bells and whistles with plenty of power.

FiiO BTR7, delivers exceptional audio quality and versatility. Sleek design, compact form factor, and robust build. A go-to choice for audiophiles who enjoy quality music when out and about. The amplifier provides a significant boost to sound quality, offering a balanced and clear audio experience. Its compatibility with various Bluetooth codecs ensures a seamless connection with a wide range of devices, such as, DAPs, mobile phones, laptops, etc. The inclusion of a USB DAC further enhances its functionality, allowing for high-resolution audio playback on a computer. The battery life is decent, and the intuitive controls make it easy to operate. While it's a bit on the expensive side, the FiiO BTR7 justifies its price with its premium audio performance and feature chip set, making it an excellent choice for those looking to elevate their mobile audio listening experience beyond the limitations of the factory basic code dec. Wide and expansive audio will impress.

Brought this to improve the sound quality on a pair of wireless Momentum 4's. The trouble is I have a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and this only supports AptX. Flagship phone and has no AptX HD or Adaptive. So, I use it as a USB DAC with wire to power the cans and all I can say is fantastic resolution and clarity. Does everything it should do and does it very well. The problem I have with it is if the cable is plugged in a certain way it sounds like the song is being played underwater. Absolutely abysmal sound and starts crackling. Turn one of the USB-C connections over and back to it singing sweetly. Thought it might be the USB-C to C cable so purchased another FIIO cable, same problem. Mental note to self, mark the cable. Highly recommended though.

This DAC/amp provides a surprising amount of power and is comfortable driving my Sennheiser HD650 headphones to relatively high sound levels. The EQ allows me to slightly boost the bass which is normally a bit light on the HD650. I'm also using it with IEMs (IE600) and a selection of other headphones and it sounds great in all situations. Works well both wired and via LDAC. Loving the small form factor and solid build quality. Also good for connecting to my TV via bluetooth. My first Fiio product and so far so good.

More than enough power to run HD600, LCD-X and Liric in low gain, with plenty of volume left to use (using the 4.4mm balanced output), which shouldn't be surprising as the latter two are easy to drive. Easy controls, good battery life and subjectively it seems to be a true/clean sound with no colour or house sound added (very minimal AXB testing against other DACs and AMPs with same source and songs). I don't EQ my headphones so the very VERY basic and rudimentary preset and manual options aren't a downside for me but could be for others. My main takeaway is that I tend to use this more than desktop or main setup equipment even with the downsides of Bluetooth not being bit perfect.

I'm not an audiophile. I enjoy music and enjoy music on the go. For a really reasonable price, and matched with in ear headphones with quality drivers the Fiio BTR 7 opens up my music library and provides detail otherwise lost over regular bluetooth listening. Additionally the extra power provided by the unit really helps your headset reach its potential. For on the go quality music listening at an affordable price I really recommend this little unit. I have had the BTR3 and BTR4 previously and this is a step up from the 4 and obviously the 3. I'm sometimes a closet base-head and the unit has provided the depth I was looking for, even on very neutral balanced headphones. I'd be being picky to review any negatives with the unit. One of those tech bits of kit which goes everywhere with me.

Firstly this dac is amazing, it pairs incredibly with my audioquest nightowls and breathes new life into them, on android using uapp the separation and drive is incredible. I say all this with the caveat on an iPhone it is incredibly frustrating to use. Sometimes it connects others it doesn’t, it will not power through an iPhone on the charge mode even if the phone is mains connected using the camera adapter, so the battery depletes no matter what. As a dac for android this is insanely good, for iOS it’s head bangingly frustrating

Improvement in power and functionality over the BTR5.. 4.4mm Balanced connection is welcomed. Lots of power, sound is very clean and linear. Great looking device. UI not as user friendly as other units but app is easy to use and straight forward. If you need a portable device with LDAC bluetooth codec and usb from phone, this is the way to go... Highly recommended...