It makes sense what you say, thatās what Iād expect. On another note: I can pause my music using the button but I canāt resume unfortunatelyā¦ I have it connected with Bluetooth to an android (Xiaomi) phone.
For me, the Stop/play button works normally via Bluetooth, but as a USB Dac it is completely ineffective.
Unfortunately I canāt help with this problem.
Out of curiosity, did you get a replacement device or was it repaired?pause
I got a replacement. The shop I bought it at really did an excellent job with the service. I bought an outlet product which was DOA, when I sent it back the postal service apparently lost the package but the guys over at Wifimedia sent me a new unit right away after they found out the other one was lost.
1 Like
Maximum LDAC quality while maintaining the settings after rebooting the smartphone or disconnecting the connection. Install from the Sony Music Center market, go to the Bluetooth output settings / settings / LDAC playback quality and select āPriority of sound qualityā. Checked in the developer menu (displays the active mode 990 Kbps, 96 kHz / 32bit), the setting works as a global one, i.e. after setting up in the music center, the application can be closed and listen to music in any other application you are accustomed to. Good luck to all 
Would it be crazy if I said I think the balanced out sounds worse than the SE? I bought balanced cables for the FH3 and Tin T2 and, it may be placebo, but I feel like it sounds worse. Of course this could be due to the cables, but Iām not sure I want to swap the cables due to them being MMCX (I really donāt understand why this connector exists instead of everybody using 2-pin).
It sounds less compressed, but I feel like voices are more recessed, the soundstage has narrowed, separation is worse and some tones kinda sound off or something. Iāll get a 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter at some point to A/B more easily, but I was wondering whether anyone has noticed the balanced being worse or if Iām just bonkers.
What cable did you get? I switched my FH3s to balanced on the BTR5 and itās made the low end come to life. Honestly if it sound better to you SE go with that! I got this cable:
My cable was considerably cheaper I do confess. Iāll listen more to them tomorrow and then switch back to the stock cable to compare, maybe itās just that I had expected it to become better and when that didnāt happen I interpreted it as being worse. But I canāt help but feeling like stuff is being pushed down and everything is darker and more veiled. I noticed with the T2 and FH3 for which I have different cables, thatās what made me think it may have something to do with the balanced out of the BTR5.
1 Like
You got this! I really love the BTR5 FH3 combo but like everyone says itās subjective.
1 Like
I even spent a little more money than cigmanfroyd.
I canāt really describe the difference to SE, but balanced sounds better to me.
Donāt get me wrong, I love the combo. I am just unsure whatās happening now that I went balanced. Now everything Iām saying is with the knowledge that there are a lot of things in play here, so it probably has nothing to do with the balanced out of the BTR5. First off it may be bias and expectations playing a trick on me. Secondly I was a stubborn little boy who didnāt listen to @Rikudou_Goku and bought cables he didnāt recommend because Iām very impatient indeed. Thirdly I donāt have much experience so my opinions are not necessarily worth much.
However I am listening to the same playlist now using the SE cable that I was listening to earlier this morning with the balanced cable, and I really do think Iām hearing a difference in favour of the stock SE cable. I feel the stage is a bit bigger and the instrument separation is just better. Earlier it sometimes sounded like the instruments got muffled away when somebody started to sing, and now they seem to exist more next to each other if that makes sense.
I do feel like the bass, mostly the sub-bass, had more of a presence using the balanced cables though.
Iām using the same source (Spotify on laptop over LDAC to the BTR5) and Iām using foams to ensure that I have a good seal each time.
I got the Yintoo 8-core silver-plated copper cable on the FH3.
A good way to eliminate the effect of the cable is to get an adapter. Using my ddHifi 2.5 to 3.5mm with my Tin T2, I do found a difference but a very slight one, not something groundbreaking. The Legacy 4 seems to have a more noticeable difference, things get better separated and ābreathā more, IMO.
If you donāt find any difference still, then maybe it makes no difference to you. I would count this as a win, running everything SE is always simpler. 
2 Likes
Yeah Iām not sure if Iām going balanced at all, but if I do Iām getting an adapter (was looking at the same one you mentioned) so I can still use it with my laptop and with the Liquid Spark at my desk. For now, SE is cheaper and easier, so Iāll just wait until the addiction for new stuff starts itching again and then Iāll replace them :P.
Has anyone noticed the difference in sound
when switching between Bluetooth/USB input priority options in the FiiO Control app, while on wireless connection? Iāve recently discovered that they sound differently for whatever reason, which is strange.
I wanted to try the EQ build in the BTR5 today, but I noticed that when you turn on the EQ to a profile where nothing gets boosted, the volume changes pretty drastically (louder when EQ is off). I have the BTR5 set to APTX since not all my devices support LDAC. Not sure whether it also changes the sound or whether it just massively increases the volume when the EQ is off. Any ideas why this is happening?
I have the BTR5 and really like it. It works well with my IEMs. When it comes to my HD650 and my SUNDARA it feels that it canāt drive them properly. What headphones do you use with your HD650? Is it wise to buy a pair of HD58X for the BTR5 for portable use? (āWiseā is a strong word. It certainly aināt wise to invest so much money into audio-gear!).
Are you using the balanced output? I do like the btr5 + hd6xx combo, pretty enjoyable but not on the level of a desktop amp.
Honestly with the btr5 I find my ācheaperā headphones have the best synergy, koss ksc75, grado sr80, senn hd560s, they sound amazing out the btr5 SE out and the 58x should too.
For portability I would look at closed backs instead, I like the audio technica msr7b a lot with the fiio. Elegias and sony cd900st also driven with no issue.
2 Likes
Ever tried headphones which work fine unbalanced but Fāed up when balanced. The FiiO Q5s is horrible balanced. it can not drive 24 ohm Sony MDR M1ST at all but with Topping A90 man it is good (unfair comparison) but I prefer unbalanced. Not enough power for NDH20 too, unbalanced. Just curious about the BTR5. Id use it if I did not have the need, before getting an amp, for PS1 and PS2 audioā¦
IMO the btr5 cannibalized the q5s, not enough power for its pricetag. btr5 is not a miraculous product but for what it costs its extremely useful, I use mine a ton.
3 Likes
Definitely an incredible amount of features for the price.
As long as one of those features is not the app I agree. I love Fiioās products, but their android/iOS app is horrendous. Luckily I donāt EQ and all the other things I need I can setup with the little screen.
1 Like