#donglemadness

[@muhamadhafizabdullah4841]

great review Andy! this channel deserve more subs.. Andy's explanation on technicalities is compared to none for me.. really enjoy his presentation.. keep up the good work Andy!

[@donglemadness]

Thanks, I sincerely appreciate the kind feedbacks

[@rustyaero]

Nice review! May I ask your advice on how different is the btr15 sound quality using LDAC VS usb C wired to your mobile phone? Thanks!

[@donglemadness]

The quality will depend if you enforce full Max LDAC at. 990kbps and set to Prioritise Audio quality, then assuming that your phone is reasonably nearby without any risk of distortion, then any source files under 1000kbps (of which most online format are set at) will sound as good as wired connection. But once you start pushing for above 1000-1140kbps encoded lossless file then you will hear some degradation on the BT LDAC, like some upper frequency decays would appear rolled off or contains artifacts

[@rustyaero]

Thanks. Understand.

[@justinspirational]

​@donglemadness thanks where are these settings to enforce full Max LDAC at 990kbps please? I don't see that in the fiio app..

[@d0nj03]

@@justinspirational Developer Setings on Android.

[@MrPhenix21]

There's something magical about the BTR15, it's become my favorite dongle in my collection (TP30, Shio, Sonata BHD Pro, Q11, FC4, M1p, AP90, Atom3, UP5) with the Sonata BHD Pro being a close second. Bluetooth connectivity is fantastic compared to my previous BT dongle (Shanling UP5) & the usb c connection actually works with the Pixel 8 (the TP30, Shio, M1p, AP90 all have volume sync issues with the Pixel 8). 10/10 for my use case.

[@donglemadness]

Couldn't agree more. BTR15 is my go to BT dongle now

[@michaelb2685]

Well I tried the BTR15 and it was not my friend, I wanted it for my office PC, and it was a nightmare to use the USB PC or phone connection. It dropped my signal and I had to jump through hoops to do any switching. I never had these issues with my Qudelix 5k. I was looking for a simple and less technical device. I had high hopes, but it was just to quirky for my taste. I wanted a plug-and-go for the office, with the ability to switch to Bluetooth if I needed to move around. Major fail. I boxed it up and sent it back. I loved the onboard eq, but with certain connects, this was not an option. Do other BTR suffer from these quirky connection issues?

[@Saturno_R1]

I agree with you on everything. Fiio btr15 sounds very natural and organic. I choose this over the 5K at any time.

[@45fdes]

You can check amz for my review .the problem of btr15 its the battery life OMG couldn't last 4hrs .and already sent to the fiio tec support hopefully release updates Asap

[@donglemadness]

On BT mode LDAC, my BTR15 scored 9 hours 30 mins, 4 hours when running phone mode (USB) and 8 hours PC mode USB when connected to an Android phone. If you getting just 4 hours on BT mode, then you need to get support to find out why

[@Saturno_R1]

@@45fdes My unit gets 7 hours of playback on balanced output with low gain (Bluetooth) 5 with high gain and 5 in Phone mode. The single output exceeds 8 hours of playback via Bluetooth. What's more, the battery charges in less than an hour, in terms of battery life I think it's excellent.

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

think its the closest to my headphone experience, lejardin is better just need more amp

[@AndrewUKLondon]

Excellent review. And I’m really glad you did Vivaldi as well.

[@Metal_seer]

Thx for the detailed review. I was about to order the BTR7, but now must do more research.

[@MikeHerbosa]

so far on the BTR line BTR7 is king, with dualk THX AAA amps and same dac chips as btr15 nothing beats it yet. I'm waiting for the btr17 the upgrade aof the btr7

[@AmritSingh-gj5rw]

How would you compare btr7 to the fiio ka17. I'm getting both of them at almost the same price​@@MikeHerbosa

[@campermate404]

Thank you for the video and the comparison. I think it's great that you list sample songs. I've had a Q5k for a few years (the first revision) and a Fiio Q15 arrived the day before yesterday. With the best will in the world, I can't tell the difference in the A/B test and bouncing back and forth between the dongles and HD650. This few seconds to switch between the devices are enough for the ears to "forget" the previous sound. Need to elaborate and compare further. In a few days the DC04Pro should arrive. Guess the Q15 will go back.

[@donglemadness]

My pleasure. Doing comparison tests are not easy, hence the need for specific type of playlist that we are so very familiar with to ascertain the nuances, also most critical is what you use to listen to, in this example I use an highly transparent, neutral and uncolored IEM of Kinera Idun Golden which helps to pick up small details that sets them apart. Cheers

[@campermate404]

​@@donglemadness Hi Andy, thanks for your reply. I have to qualify my statement. I have now taken enough time to listen again and have tried different headphones: Edition XS, HD650 (both balanced) and Blessing 2:Dusk (single end). And yes, I can hear differences when comparing the Fiio Q15 and Qudelix 5k. I mainly focused on the first two songs you recommended (Diana Krall and Alison Krauss) and can confirm that the vocals sound a bit fuller, more mature (more body, if I may say so...) and the high notes (cymbals, banjo...) don't stand out as much. It just sounds more harmonious, more balanced. I mean, it's certainly not relaxed listening, but analyzing and searching for imperfections, but yes, they are there. So my main question would be: What is the cause of this? The DAC chip, right? Is that the es9218p sibilance?

[@Bootrosgali]

Are you saying that the 5K has as wide, holographic soundstage as the BTR15 in at times?

[@Nobodythatuknow356]

Great review Andy. Question do you recommend 4.4mm adapters or headphone cables? I’m new to HiFi and would like to know some recommendations and where to purchase. Thanks is advance.

[@donglemadness]

Thanks! 4.4mm adapters? if you are looking to adapt a 3.5mm to 4.4mm BAL, don't do it! You risk heating up the DAC/Amp that has discrete separate grounds. If you need 4.4mm, go full 4.4mm BAL cable replacement

[@Nobodythatuknow356]

@ I’m currently using the Bose Q35 model, which has a 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable. In regard to the full 4.4 balance cable, what would be your brand preferences? Also thanks for the introduction to the Red Ape Audio site.

[@ryanpa2000]

The major drawback with the Fiio is the EQ software doesn’t work and after doing adjustments the music will not play its very flakey, look on their forums and you can see the post. If you raise a support request they then want to to perform multiple updates which some can only be performed on a PC. Ive returned mine. Sounds OK but not with EQ, the provided defaults don’t work and your only option is to put it in BYPASS mode.

[@deckardstp]

I was pretty confident that the Qudelix 5K is the way to go for me. After watching you video I also have the FiiO BTR15 on my watchlist, cause I really like their products. I already use one stationary DAC from them for my DT1990Pro and active stereo monitors. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@donglemadness]

Thanks. My pleasure

[@Maltese_Corto]

Thanks so much. Can you do BTR17? Is bluetooth 5.4 gonna improve a lot on latency?

[@donglemadness]

Thanks. I am not sure when I can get a BTR17

[@nsivaraj777]

I own a 5K for the past 2 years and im really enjoying it while travelling. I would strongly suggest this for anyone.😎

[@theonlyegg]

I returned the BTR15 yesterday and got the 5k this morning. I don't know if I had a defective BTR15 or people just live with it's faults. The FiiO unit was so buggy, it would disconnect and shut off when switching between USB and BT, I couldn't use EQ on one of them at all, the volume slider is locked on the phone in one mode so you have to use the tiny volume buttons. Sometimes it would just stop playing completely if I changed EQ settings and it needed a restart all the time. I factory reset the unit 3 separate times and no problems were solved. So far, I'd say the 5K wipes the floor with BTR as far as usability, although it definitely feels a bit more sterile, which is unfortunate. The clip on the 15 was cheap and didn't hold well on belt loops. The size of the 5K is so much more convenient for me, I stuck a metal plate on it and it sticks to my magsafe case. The BTR15 looks cool but it's not practical.

[@ryanpa2000]

I got mine today, same here, set EQ it may or might not play, if it works sounds great, but come back to use latter and no sound, the only option is to go into BYPASS, very unresponsive app. I returned mine.

[@theonlyegg]

@@ryanpa2000Qudelix 5k. It's the best option.

[@cxmxc]

How’s the battery? My btr15 simply drains insanely fast I’m not sure wtf is going on

[@theonlyegg]

@@cxmxc I’ve yet to drain the 5K in the last month.

[@michaelb2685]

@theonlyegg OMG...I had the same experience. I got it on a Wednesday and played with it all day and it was the most frustrating experience. The final no go for me was when it dropped my connection a few times and all I got was white noise. When I tried using it with the usb on my pc I had to jump through hopes to even get sound. If I changed any settings it would freak out, and the eq was only reliable in bluetooth mode. After using the Qudelix 5k this was too much work and frustration. The BTR15 was a mess. I had to do a hard reset too. I filed a return ticket the next day. I'm back to the Qudelix 5k. Has anyone tried the BTR7 or Topping G5? I'm afraid to trust Fiio right now.

[@ric8868]

I own the Q5 for some time now, and I really like it as a “home” device, but not so much to listen on the go. The user interface is a bit cumbersome, and has the tendency to pause or volume up if you have it in the pocket because of the unfortunate position of the buttons. Even using a 3d printed case the buttons are easily actuated in the pocket or the belt. Because of that I ordered a BTR13 to drive IEM’s on the go, and use the Q5 home to drive the Grado, sehnneiser and beyeedinamics, like a desktop dac that I can use in bed or the sofa…

[@markmangion5700]

Nice review - I have the fiio btr7 - is it worth upgrading? Im still very happy with the 7

[@donglemadness]

Thanks. If you already have the higher spec and higher priced BTR7 which also uses the exact same ES9219 DAC, I don't see getting BTR15 as an upgrade

[@markmangion5700]

thanks@@donglemadness

[@adityairawan1843]

Currently I'm torn between Fiio BTR15 or BTR13, as their price aren't so different but it seems BTR15 offers more benefits (such as better technicals and power). Here in Indonesia their price difference is about 20 USD. I mainly use IEMs such as Moondrop Aria 2021, Aria SE, and Pi Audio DR2 Pro (all of them use 4.4mm balanced plug as of now), as well as Audio Technica MSR7b (also 4.4mm balanced). However, I'm planning to get planar IEM as well, most likely I'll start with Salnotes Dioko. In your opinion, which one I should get? Is it better for me to get BTR13 as it uses Dual CS43131 (of which I'm used to from using Jcally AP10 and EPZ TP20), or should I spend 20 bucks more to get BTR15 instead? Thank you in advance.

[@donglemadness]

Unfortunately I haven't tried BTR13 so I have no idea on how to convey the differences between those two. Sorry

[@adityairawan1843]

@@donglemadness Don't mind. BTR13 is still quite new, after all. In the end I decided to spend 20 bucks more and get BTR15. I think that extra 120mW juice from BTR15 (as opposed to BTR13) will benefit me later, specially when I'm interested to get entry level Planars (specially Dioko, PR1 HiFi, or SGOR Luna).

[@pokemonvolleyball3761]

Thank you Andy for the detailed review, you sold me the btr15. Love the organic sound and everything. It pairs amazingly well with my MP145 and unlocks its full potential in 4.4 balanced.

[@donglemadness]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lain6889]

I upgraded to this from the btr5, one thing I noticed straight away is the build quality is worse. The glass is thin and warped instead of perfectly flat like on the btr5, the screen is very clearly separate from the black face unlike the btr5 which had the screen hidden so it looked like the white text just pops out of the entire black face. It's also lighter which makes it feel cheap but for me it's an improvement. I also thought they'de improve the range with their antenna shell design but it's about the same. The battery life is also about the same. The audio qaulity and the eq working through usb are the only real upgrades.

[@TheSecondof5]

Excellent review. I've been looking at the FiiO for a while. I already have, and love, the Qudelix so it's been useful to see a side by side comparison. I prefer a more analogue sound so this has made my mind up. Thank you. Time to listen to Diana and Alison.

[@donglemadness]

My pleasure. And thanks!

[@fiddlix]

Hey Andy, it would be great to see you do a comparison of the BTR15 and the BTR7. I know a lot of us in the community would like to see it too. Your thoughts..?

[@donglemadness]

No promise when but I do have that in mind for quite a while now

[@fiddlix]

@@donglemadness I own both, FiiO knows how to price things so it’s really no surprise, imho the BTR7 is the superior unit. Despite being its THX implementation, the BTR7 is warmer with a more musical treble. Just an fyi.

[@thejasonlitchfield]

Thanks for the review. Do you think the BTR15 sounds as good as the Shanling UA4 you reviewed around the same time? I have the UA4 but would like to have bluetooth without losing sound quality. Thanks in advance.

[@donglemadness]

My pleasure, both BTR15 and UA4 already operates at very high level of quality so it is no longer the question of which one "better". Just to give you a bit of perspective, your UA4 has similar ESS Sabre tuning to Qudelix 5K, and by that reckoning BTR15 offers sound that is more natural and organic, less digital Hi-Fi, ultimately personal preferences will determine which one you like better

[@Saitama07]

Andy is the GOAT of dac/amp reviews. Did you use the bluetooth or the usb connection for sound test of the daps ??

[@donglemadness]

Thanks!. As noted at 12:56 I used LDAC Maximum most of the time and also USB mode

[@wendyalfriadi]

Hi andy,now im using KA17 ,but want to secondary DAC, in your opinion,Which one better between BTR15 or Shanling UA4 ?

[@donglemadness]

Better would not be the question now, BTR15 is a firm favorite of mine that I use on daily basis, so it gets automatic recommendation from me especially if you want the most transparent, airy and wide/open sounding DAC, UA4 is pretty much similarly tuned to KA17 and if that's what you like, both of them sounded the same really with UA4 closer to the native ESS Sabre tuning and KA17 just a hair, a bit more organic

[@wendyalfriadi]

Ahh i see, thankyou andy for the question. Im very grateful for your review since ka13, it really suits my taste

[@nusu5331]

Perfect comparison once again, thank you! Usually i am a purist. I dont use EQ or something like tube amps and similar. Just like you i dont want any coloration added by the audio gear i am using. So in the beginning, i also used my Qudelix 5k with NOS filter setting. One day i was playing around in the software (there is also a Chrome extension by Qudelix, to manage settings when connected to a pc) and found out, that the "minimal phase fast roll off" opened up the soundstage, which i found a little bit "boxy"before, like there were some walls that are not allowing the sounds to travel further in space. These walls got eliminated by the other filter. It also deleted the slight hiss from time to time i was hearing with the NOS filter. The sound become ever so slightly more analogue. Maybe that is something to consider. There will also be a large Firmware update in January, that will offer some nice new features, like for example adding an active ground mode, which is described like this in the Qudelix forum: "Active Ground mode is suitable for speakers or amplifiers with only UNBAL input, or earphones or headphones where the BAL cable cannot be replaced. in BALANCE output mode If you turn on “Active Ground”, Instead of L+/L-/R+/R-, L+/Active GND/R+/Active GND is output. To use Active Ground Mode, you will need the conversion cable/gender shown below. Around - 2.5/4.4 Male to RCA Cable - 2.5/4.4 male to 3.5 female cable or gender." To me this sounds quite interesting. There will also be some changes to the EQ settings. Finally if i could have a wish, it would be a comparison between the Topping G5 (which i own myself), Fiio Q15 and the brand new Fiio Q7. Specially how they compare to a proper desktop system. I know, these "bricks" cannot exactly be called dongles😇, so its just something that could be very interesting. In my house i have very bad power sources, so every amp i connect to a power socket is humming at 50hz because of a ground loop that cannot be filtered as far as i learned. So i am using battery powered devices exclusively. Sorry for the wall of text! 😂

[@donglemadness]

Lol that's a lot to read. I give it to Qudelix for innovation and the desire to improve and cater for variety of needs. Yes the options you mentioned does appealing and I will try it out. Also hoping that the next big updates from them would satisfy analog junkies like me too, haha. Cheers

[@Drucycofki]

Thanks a lot for your detailed comparison. And, it was the first time I came across someone mentioning Russian Circles. Amazing band, on records and even more so live 🤘

[@donglemadness]

🤘

[@FangSylux]

This review is exactly what i was looking for. Thank you for helping me decide

[@donglemadness]

My pleasure

[@watashi1793]

Which one would you suggest me to pick between the KA5 and the BTR15 based on sound only (technicalities, timbre, soundstage, detailed retrieval etc.)? Thank you very much for your reviews, a lot of what I consider to be my best purchases was based on your feedback! :)

[@donglemadness]

Easily it will be BTR15 for me, more mature and resolving, on top of being wide open sounding. I am using BTR15 regularly since I received it alongside my favorites like HIBY FC6 or Sony PCM D100

[@watashi1793]

I'll trust you on that! Hoping then that the BTR15 will enter the list of my best purchases alongside your other suggestions. Thank you again and have a nice Christmas! :)@@donglemadness

[@donglemadness]

@@watashi1793 Happy Holidays 🥳

[@СергейКлитко]

Привет, мой друг! Вы уже купили, fiio btr15? Хотелось услышать ваше мнение. Любители хорошего звука должны помогать друг другу, хорошими советами. Спасибо. Какие bt у вас есть?

[@watashi1793]

@@СергейКлитко Sure, friend. Currently I have a BTR5, and my brother have a K5. The BTR15 is on the way, it should arrive the 4th of January. As soon as I have the chance to test it properly, I'll let you know what I think! :)

[@hishamosman4341]

Great review Bro. To me, its just like you choosing between teh tarik or nescafe tarik? you won't go wrong with either one actually? At the end of the day, it is more of the use case of both devices? Consumers today benefits the various dongles on offer?

[@donglemadness]

Precisely. Otherwise why bother having different types and variants yes? 😂

[@rayzapx2559]

I just bought BTR15 and im in love with it. Can you explain to me, what are the diferrences between Fast and hybrid filter?

[@Mark-hb2zy]

Also wondering about this

[@donglemadness]

BTR15 comes only with Hybrid and Fast filters. On most IEMs or headphones these filters barely introduce and audible differences, but if you have something which is versatile, then the Hybrid is best suited for neutral/bright sounding partners, as it helps with smoothing decays pace or if you have warm or slow IEMs, then the Fast Roll Off will help with prompt attack and crisper decays. But like I said, it depends on how sensitive the attached IEMs are if they are even audible at all

[@rayzapx2559]

@@donglemadness ohh thanks. I have shure Se215 IEMs, they are warm so I think Fast filter will be ok. Another question if I use the 4.4mm output with a 4.4mm to xlr (to use with another headphone aplifier) it it will provide me more gain?

[@donglemadness]

@@rayzapx2559 Yes, 4.4mm BAL like on most DAC/Amp that has 3.5/4.4, the 4.4 will give you 100% power and 3.5mm just under 50%, so you want to use the 4.4mm BAL side

[@rayzapx2559]

@@donglemadness thanks a lot for your awnsers. I will suscribe your channel. Im musician and producer it is glad to follow your content. My gratitud from México City.

[@atheisthumanist1964]

Love my 5k, specifically for the peq and the voluminous presets for headphones/iem's. Presets, for me anyway, is generally a good starting point to tweak the tunings to your ear. Just ordered the T71 and super excited for it to arrive.

[@curtisvincent2238]

Great review as usual Andy. Big fan of the channel. What do you prefer between the BTR15 and EPZ TP50?

[@donglemadness]

Thanks! That's a tough one. BTR15 offers a little bit more of air and TP50 denser note weight. Both of which are equally important to me. I like both equally

[@santalopiantubes]

Looks like I can't go wrong either way thanks!

[@bobslydell806]

You’re SO RIGHT about that Vivaldi.

[@nusu5331]

thank you for sharing your tidal playlist! do you have a space somewhere, where your viewers do exchange their playlists too?

[@donglemadness]

You're welcome. I am not aware of a playlist exchange. But feel free to join DongleMadness FB and ask around, I have seen people sharing playlists too

[@Lagrangeify]

Excellent presentation. You convey technical information in a relatable way. I have the Qudelix 5k on the way, for that one big reason you mentioned at the end, but also because I genuinely like how basic it is physically. Small nondescript black matchbox with a couple of inputs and a light to tell me it's on is a net positive for my OCD.

[@donglemadness]

Thank you!

[@rodpinfold8824]

Qudelix 5K I went for, superior for my use with Letshuoer S12 Pro, stunning

[@KrmSnty92]

why is 5k superior for a s12?

[@rodpinfold8824]

@@KrmSnty92 Hi Kerem, having tried both with my S12’s I preferred what I could achieve with the Qudelix. Perfect performance for me.

[@ChristosTsitselis]

Thanks for this review Andy!!!!! As always very detailed and helpful!!!

[@donglemadness]

My pleasure

[@romanpavlov1229]

Thank you a lot! Very detailed review and I've also added a lot of cool music to my library.

[@donglemadness]

Glad it was helpful!

[@paulhealy6390]

Fantastic video Andy is the best at reviewing dongles. have a very happy Christmas Andy.

[@donglemadness]

Thanks Paul, happy Holidays to you too

[@aaakjhgfdswerty]

great to.see bt dacs review but why no score comparison between other dacs.can you compare dc04 pro vs 5k ?(detail,separation rsolution..)

[@donglemadness]

I will probably do scoring table for them once I have enough number of BT DACs to compare. I already mentioned in the video that BTR15 is similar to DC04Pro, which means 5K is more focused on being analytical

[@portugasanwa]

The Quedelix 5K at the begining brought the dual ESS9218P but now it brings dual ESS9219C, btw I have the og Fiio BTR5 and the Fiio BTR7, both are great, the BTR7 is better but for the price/quality ratio the BTR5 is unbeatable, I'm thinking about purchasing the BTR15, to complete the collection (yes, I know the BTR3, BTR3k, BTR1, BTR1K and uBTR are missing), but the Quedelix5K, due to its app, becomes a fundamental device for those who like these devices, oh choices, choices!

[@donglemadness]

Lol, then you will be a BTR collector :D. Yes, the 5K is simply on its own when it comes to features and tweaking, no other devices that I can think of capable of matching 5K when it comes to that

[@gonrossi]

Will BTR7 be better in sound, detail and soundstage than BTR15 if money / cost is not an issue? Thanks.

[@donglemadness]

I have no idea, haven't tried BTR7 yet

[@AndreaRavaioli]

It is, no question. I sent back the 15.

[@chimps4gimps]

Great review. What mode would be used connecting phone to USB A in my car? PC?

[@donglemadness]

Thanks. If you connect using USB, yes PC

[@JoseFerreira-zb7wh]

It's surprising to see one of these being equaled in peformance to one of your top traditional dongle dacs. I'd say for the price it's a no brainer then!

[@marhensa]

Great detailed comparison review Andy! 10:00 Anyway, I can't even tell the difference between Hybrid and Fast filter, also, when I'm using 3.5mm I also can't tell the difference between Dual DAC on/off in terms of oomph or power. Is my hearing the problem (I'm just 36 years old), or my headphones/IEM? Mine is KZ PR2 and ATH-M50X. Now I'm running the latest firmware v3.8.

[@donglemadness]

Thanks. Don't worry too much about the filters. For the most part I am having difficulties as well trying to discern the differences with many IEMs. Only specific IEMs like Etymotic ER2XR or HiFiMan Sundara may exhibit some nuances change, otherwise filters on BTR15 is not really audible like many other devices

[@marhensa]

@@donglemadness Thank you, I'm just affraid that I have defect DAC/AMP, it's my biggest purchase yet on dongle DAC. Your video keeps me entertained with this audiophile realm, I'm just beggining to taste it, and it's tasty and can't go back to just regular earphone and built-in jack. Keep up the good work, your videos and written reviews are great!

[@avalanche9142]

A great feature of BTR15 for me is the car mode! It automatically powers up and shuts down when the car starts.Does Qudelix also have this feature?

[@donglemadness]

Not sure, I don't have a car to test that feature

[@avalanche9142]

@@donglemadness I see, thanks for the great video.

[@gtaseed]

Yep, the 5k does have the same car mode

[@avalanche9142]

@@gtaseed thank you!

[@VinhTran-oj8rg]

Thanks for the review. I want to ask one question, does the Qudelix 5k support voice assistant?

[@donglemadness]

I don't think so. And thanks!

[@watashi1793]

Andy, out of curiosity, can you please tell me what filter do you use for the BTR15? Thank you! :)

[@donglemadness]

Me, I always use Hybrid. Balance between Fast and Slow

[@watashi1793]

@@donglemadness Thank you very much for the reply! :)

[@aroundtheflatearth2388]

Can`t wait for your end year rankings of iem and dac , btw thank you for you help before i really enjoy the ibasso dc03pro

[@donglemadness]

Excited for the closure of 2023 too!

[@orcunozcan1532]

great review thanks!! i decided to will buy Questyle M15. but btr15 feedback amazing so i confused because of btr15 with bluetooth and app that huge advantage. about questyle M15 vs btr15 which one is better synergy with fiio FH7S or FH9? with synth+intrumental pop, edm, house etc. Questyle M15 is great discount now so i confused. i can paid more 60 dollar over btr15 and sacrifice bluetooth advantage if they have big difference. or colorfly cda m2? i can wait for 3 weeks if you will review it

[@donglemadness]

Between BTR15 and M15 is like trying to compare two pristine diamonds, because the fact is both are amongst the best with sound quality and technicalities. If I must nitpick, BTR15 offers a bit more of openness and wider staging compared to M15. Let's also not forget BTR15 offers a lot more controls and features which would appear limited on M15, the LDAC, independent volume adjustment and a few more. As for M2, I would not know anything about it until I tried it personally, soon I hope

[@orcunozcan1532]

thank you for detailed answer 🙏@@donglemadness

[@lain6889]

Would this be a wireless alternative to the dc04 pro? Seems you graded them both closer to analog/natural sounding.

[@donglemadness]

Yes, what my ears telling me, BTR15 is the BT equivalent of DC04Pro

[@sukanta999]

Great review Andy! I bought BTR15 as my first DAC loving it. I am also amazed by feature set in Qudelix 5k but lacking on device display and 5K supports upto 96KHZ/24-bit USB audio streaming. Please correct me if newer 5K support 384K/32Bit like BTR15 which you mentioned in comparison table in this video.

[@donglemadness]

Thanks. I was not aware that 5K would be limited to 96/24. Because I know for a fact both ES9218 and ES9219 is rated to be capable of 384/32. I have no means to test it because none of my sources go beyond 96K and I never need higher than that. But if that's your requirement then I would say it is a shame Qudelix implemented the 5K to just 96/24 when the native DAC can support higher

[@gonrossi]

How does the BTR15 represent the vocals? Ive read that the mids are a bit recessed. Mostly male vocals not being able to show themselves up. Thanks.

[@donglemadness]

BTR15 is flat neutral all round in the entire frequency range, no coloration, no enhancement. Recessed or not recessed depends on the listening device you use mostly when you connect to a neutral DAC/Amp. To me BTR15 are not recessed, but accurate and realistic as it does not try to overcompensate, it sounded Mids centric when used with Etymotic ER series or SIBGA Nightingale, or Sennheiser HD600, the sound being natural and transparent. Perhaps what you need is something that is enhanced Pre-EQ to suit your equipment and preferences

[@gonrossi]

@@donglemadness thanks for your dedication on replying ❤️

[@masters-b]

god-tier review by Andy

[@Mastermnd1]

I own the btr15 and I agree, I chose it over the q5k due to the 4.4mm output. I wish the btr15 supported shelves in the PEQ, but not yet. The EQ in the Q5K is superior

[@donglemadness]

If FiiO continue to work on improving the FiiO app, which they seem to be active at updating it, I think the EQ section will get improved too

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

yeah its not just amp apparently

[@PINKFL0YD-s2h]

I have a btr and love it. I have no problem with it at all.

[@razz_v95]

Hey Andy, I hope you are doing well. On your recommendation I went for DC03 pro and am loving it like anything. I am not going back again to my audiocular CX one. That's how good it is in every aspect.. many thanks to you.. I won't bother you much I just had 2 questions 😅 1. I saw you mentioned that Tanchzim Zero has the widest soundstage. So does this depends on the DAC/source also (currently using DC03 pro) if attached?? Or is it straight out of the box?? 2. I am considering to buy KZ ZVX or T.Zero any one among these. Does it sound more rich than T.Zero when it comes to audio quality? I know zero is flat sounding but I don't know how flat sounds so just wanted to know you from your side. I hope you reply to me. Thanks in advance. Have a great day Andy.

[@donglemadness]

Yes soundstage also depends on what DAC you use. For example if you switch from DC03Pro to DC04Pro using Tanchjim ZERO, one of the first things you realize is the open wide sound DC04Pro offers. Between T ZERO and ZVX both are close to neutral with mild boost in Midbass. I would even sayT ZERO is richer with sound density but ZVX offers marginally better upper frequency extensions

[@razz_v95]

@@donglemadness thanks Andy.. I have Simgot EW200 which I have been using for the past few days. Will ZVX be an upgrade or just a sidegrade? Looking at your ratings I was considering ZVX hoping it would sound something different nd unique..

[@donglemadness]

@@razz_v95 ZVX is technically better with resolution, speed and imaging compared to the more musical EW200

[@razz_v95]

@@donglemadness thank you Andy for the quick replies.. that was helpful..

[@deadline7610]

Nicely Done. Quick question Bluetooth connectivity. Trying to connect to my tv that has bluetooth AptX to watch late night movies with my iems connected to the (maybe) Fiio BTR15.. Qudelix 5k that I own only seems to want to connect to it's app on the phone (doesn't work) Can the Fiio BTR15 via bluetooth connect and play in sync audio from the tv ? Thanks

[@donglemadness]

Hard to say as it could differ from one TV system to another. I assume that your TV can identify and recognize Audio BT devices, then I see no reason for it not to work

[@hatdog703]

glad to see you're continuing the #donglemadness haven't looked for a while in the audio game

[@donglemadness]

Thank you

[@peevonb7070]

Thank you ever so much. this is gold. the info is so clear.

[@donglemadness]

Glad it was helpful!

[@yeeyw]

Still torn between the 2 qudelix felt more for me i always want to tinker stuff, but i also want the plug n play in btr 15 One thing tho i can get btr15 easily, while qudelix 5K i need to pre order and a bit expensive too

[@MandyFA]

Hi Andy… could BTR15 power Letshouer S12 Pro without any problems?

[@donglemadness]

More than capable, almost overkill. BTR15 drives my full sized magnetic planars with good authority and synergy with rich airy sound, these planars are like 3x more demanding than S12 Pro

[@MandyFA]

⁠Hi Andy , thanks for quick reply ❤

[@armanddarmawan]

Hi Andy. Which is better BTR15 or EPZ TP50 in wired connection?

[@donglemadness]

EPZ TP50

[@anatol1204]

Nice review..Layering is equal or 5k is bit better ?

[@donglemadness]

Thanks. Layering both equally matched on the two of them

[@anatol1204]

@@donglemadness I will probably go with 5k the only doubt that I have is that it s a little "old" now and I wonder if they plan to upgrade it.Thanks..!

[@benmacdhui]

Excellent review Andy. I'm a bit surprised that you didn't touch on all the presets in the 5k has also. For seemingly every IEM and headphone available, the presets tuned by a few audiophiles-including Crin

[@donglemadness]

That's because as noted a few times, I don't like to use EQ, DSP or Presets. I just prefer to enjoy my IEMs as how they are meant to be, so despite all the amazing collection of Presets, not one of them appealing to me, a matter of personal preference

[@benmacdhui]

​@@donglemadnessthat's fair. I suppose I'm in the tinkerer category. And seemingly every IEM and headphone is available in the presets. I used to use the Sennheiser HD600 one while listening to an IEM which have them an even more warm and analog sound. Like I said bro virtually everything is in there Anyways Happy Christmas to you and yours bro 🤙

[@Josecunyat]

⁠​⁠@@donglemadnessI was like this until I did try something like the venture electronic monk sm and trasformed them from something I didn’t want to hear to my prefered buds on the go. I look like walking with some earbuds, but inside I feel like if I was at the best of the raves. To have some reference to evaluate my comment at home I use the Dan Clark AEON 2 Noir and I had to eq that bass down. I notice when a set has not good eq and I cannot help it. I prefer not to use it than hearing a bad eq. So after time eq did win me. There are sets that accept really well eq and some have become gems to me. I always looked for perfect sound with no eq, but that is now part of my past. I guess there is only some headphones I would be happy to use without eq, but they cost way too much for my pocket…

[@d0nj03]

​@@benmacdhui If you like to tweak things to perfection, let me try to destroy your concept of neutrality with some next-level tinkerer perfectionism: perceptual equal-loudness tuning of the same pair of headphones by different people shows we can have very individualized differences of up to +/-10 dB in how our ear canals modify various frequencies before the sound gets to the eardrum. To pretend there can be a single EQ profile per headphone that will give everyone a "neutral" response is no more than a joke. You always need personalized EQ for real neutrality. Look for dr. David Griesinger's video "Binaural hearing, Ear canals, and Headphones".

[@Sorantis]

Thank you for the clear explanation.

[@donglemadness]

@@Sorantis My pleasure

[@leonardopapantoniou4227]

I love the clean and aggresive brilliance of qudelix. And You forgot that qudelix has eq profiles given by such audiofiles such as Crinacle for ... every headphone in the market perhaps? That is truly amazing

[@leonardopapantoniou4227]

I should bet ... Say me the name of an iem or headphone and probably You Will find a " suggested eq setting" for it in a ready - to - listen setup developped by those experts. Take them as a point of departure

[@M0N0XS]

1. Can this bluetooth dac still can play the Bluetooth LDAC feature when charging or connected to a charger ? 2. what if the battery is damaged? Can it still be used via cable and can the battery be replaced or repaired ? sorry if my english is not good

[@donglemadness]

1. Yes, if you are running in BT mode, which is the only way to get LDAC, you can still charge BTR15 when attached to a charger 2. If the battery is damaged or no longer charging, running in Phone mode especially will ignore the battery altogether. To replace the battery? I don't know as I am not working for FiiO haha, you just need to ask them this question

[@M0N0XS]

@@donglemadness terima kasih teman..

[@orcun3763]

excellent review thank you! i have a question. you defined analog natural and digital hifi timbre for about timbre signature. which one is better on edm,psytrance, melodic techno and other synth music especially bass and treble(i'm treble head, secondary basshead) performance? i dont mind vocal performance.

[@donglemadness]

My pleasure. Usually for Electronic music, Techno or modern Pop with lots of synthesizers, Hi-Fi sort of timbre would suit better for bold crisp and vibrant output. At this point it doesn't really matter if the timbre is analog or digital Hi-Fi. In my scenario, I prefer analog sound because I listen a lot to stringed instruments and certain type of Contralto/Soprano or E Minor type of sound, where accuracy and analog presentation makes more sense to my senses

[@orcun3763]

thank you for your fast and detailed answer. you are best. @@donglemadness regards

[@AmieWea]

What is the difference between the single DAC chip and dual DAC chip like in this video? Any video explaining that particular topic?

[@donglemadness]

I would like to know more too, because from what I have learned so far, even a single DAC can still be superior to even Quad DAC configuration if the single DAC is implemented and tuned correctly

[@jkwanness]

great review.. im a "out of retirement" audiophile since 2009 pre-jaben days.. I'm amazed with the improvements over the years and looking to get back into the portable game.. thanks for the reviews

[@donglemadness]

My pleasure. And welcome back to the rabbit hole! haha

[@jkwanness]

@donglemadness thanks! not sure if you know any shops in penang to audit the iems.. i guess still gotta trust my own ears before commiting haha

[@donglemadness]

@@jkwanness In Penang I am not sure

[@jkwanness]

no prob... which would you prefer with btr15? Hidizs mp145 or er2xr? i also have a hifiman sundara ifi hip dac since 2020.. haha blown away by it but needs a bit of bass boost

[@donglemadness]

@@jkwanness BTR15 is very versatile since it is neutral and transparent, so both MP145 and ER2XR shines with it, or practically any IEMs for that matter

[@MobuFPS]

What rating would you give both of these out of 100? Like the other dac/amps you reviewed, thanks!

[@donglemadness]

I don't have a rating table or rating system for BT dongles yet. But safe to say that on sound alone, FiiO BTR15 is on par to DC04Pro and Qudelix 5K on par to iBasso DC06Pro

[@MobuFPS]

@@donglemadness BTR15 have the same soundstage, imaging and separation as DC04pro?

[@donglemadness]

@@MobuFPS Yes, wide as DC04Pro and I think more air too and more open sounding, FYI I have been using BTR15 more over DC04Pro now, especially with that superb LDAC Max

[@MobuFPS]

@@donglemadness Dang, I already ordered DC04pro lol. Worth returning and getting BTR15 instead?

[@donglemadness]

@@MobuFPS Lol. regardless, DC04Pro is still one of the very best you can find in the market now, you can't go wrong with either DC04Pro or BTR15

[@ericchau1058]

New Qudelix-T71 is out for the fc6 (220 Valentine’s Day sale) original msrp

[@MaxCascades]

Andy, is there a possibility that Red Ape Audio might expand their sales to an international market, or specifically to the Philippines? It would certainly broaden our choices for audio equipment.

[@donglemadness]

I hope Red Ape is reading this, they may consider expanding knowing PH has big audio consumers base

[@muhamadhafizabdullah4841]

they do have shopee platform.. maybe you can ask red ape and shopee about this.. maybe there is a way

[@AndrewYouTubehandle]

Brilliant in-depth and helpful review. Thank you🙏

[@donglemadness]

My pleasure!

[@Nordi1_0745]

Hello Andy! Do we have any comparison between BTR15 with M1P,DC04 PRO and other dongles with your excel rating system such as rating for sound and driving power and the other categories? I do not see anywhere in the video. Thanks for all

[@donglemadness]

Did you skip any part of this video? because I did mentioned that BTR15 is like a DC04Pro but with BT

[@Nordi1_0745]

@@donglemadness No I just do not see your nice rate and Rating & Comparison sheet with the analytic results. Thanks for all

[@systembooms69]

Your opinion regarding ONLY soundstage and imaging for Fiio btr15 VS ibasso dco4 pro? Thnx in advance!

[@donglemadness]

BTR15 soundstage is a tad wider and more open than DC04Pro

[@systembooms69]

@@donglemadness thnx, your channel really rocks! 👍

[@systembooms69]

​@@donglemadnessI just got it and yes, you are very right... fiio btr15 is really impressive for it's price, I use it with my KZ ZS 10pro and the sound is phenomenal. I don't know if you've ever bothered with these iem's, since they are considered cheap, but they really provide a sound, with upgraded cable, that gets you hooked seriously ! Thnx for your really objective review and the positive influence 👍

[@BrandonAdams1010]

Where do these live on your donglemadness spreadsheet? 5 star?

[@donglemadness]

Yes especially for BTR15, perhaps 4.5 for Q5K

[@asyrafhebat8722]

Hi andy how much would you rate the dongle only performance according to your system? Especially against iBasso 04 pro and shanling ua4?

[@donglemadness]

BTR15 is equal to DC04Pro and 5K is equal to DC06Pro

[@asyrafhebat8722]

@@donglemadness wow might as well take btr I guess for the price difference. Thanks bro

[@ZeoNeXus]

5:57 it seems we're getting a Q15 review from Andy pretty soon 🤩

[@pickcick1580]

Haha,, Yup... Wish Andy may compare it with the K9.

[@Markknightexeter]

The thing is that's stupid money!

[@eboboboy]

I think theres a "connected hidden message" in all of Andys song test lyrics! 😆

[@donglemadness]

😂😂😂

[@Daniel19766]

Very interested in the BT but torn by the trade off in sound quality with something like Aune Yuki. Where does this one score against the highest performers in your (wired) comparison chart?

[@donglemadness]

BTR15 running LDAC 990 kbps edges very close to Yuki in sound performance. As far as I am concerned, BTR15 is a 5 Star performer in #donglemadness universe

[@Daniel19766]

Thanks!!!

[@jlopez54]

Andy would love to see a review of the Aune Yuki dongle, perhaps could sound different to other CS43198 implementations? Cheers.

[@donglemadness]

Yes I have one on order. Stay tuned!

[@vyyyy9103]

Is there any reason to go for DC04 for example over these two, since they all cost similar amounts and sound equal, but these have bluetooth?

[@donglemadness]

I would choose DC04Pro over Qudelix 5K, but for BTR15, it is like having a wireless capable DC04Pro without sacrificing quality when LDAC Max is utilized especially when you use Tidal or streaming services mostly (they typically operate under 1000kbps). So, if BT or EQ or tweaking with sound (5K) is not something you do, DC04Pro is already a great choice

[@tkhsu9092]

great review! how does BTR15 sound as usb dac for PC?

[@donglemadness]

Thanks, it is already great sounding when used as LDAC Max so of course it is amazing when used as wired DAC either for phone or PC

[@tkhsu9092]

@@donglemadness already got btr15 to replace my broken micca origen g2. (tho I have audiolab mdac for the speakers I prefer a smaller usb powered dac on my desk for my headphones).... btr15 sounds weird when I plug it in .... however, it became very good after installing the driver for PC.... i can confirm that the btr15 sounds much better than micca origen g2 on my fostex thx00 ph. btr15 sounds a bit more open and a bit more detailed while maintaining the nature tonality compared to micca origen g2.... cheers!

[@donglemadness]

@@tkhsu9092 That's awesome

[@gonrossi]

Hi there ! Will the BTR15 be able to drive my Hifiman Ananda Stealth properly? At a good volume, fullness and deep in presentation? What about my hard to drive/power hungry Hifiman HE400SE? Thanks ! 🙏🏻

[@donglemadness]

My BTR15 was able to drive Sundara and Fostex T40RP MK3 and Sennheiser HD600 properly with good sound authority via the 4.4mm BAL with High Gain. All of these headphones are more demanding than HE400SE

[@cenen7021]

ok wating for my 5k order. wanna correct some high peaks shadowing upper treble extension on some of my stuff. shit cant happen with normal eq.

[@andresvr8357]

No sabía que le gustará Vivaldi,tiene buen gusto musical

[@bitterbuffalo8997]

Russian Circles on an audiophile playlist, hell yes!

[@donglemadness]

🤘🏼

[@stevenmoreno1737]

Did you try Qudelic QX-Over IEM with Dual 8mm Dynamic Drivers 2-way Digital Active Crossover.Like to know what you think. Thank you.

[@donglemadness]

At the time of my testing with 5K, I didn't have the QX-Over IEM to play with so I have no idea on this. Sorry

[@quistizz4820]

Thank you for the extensive review, very detailed.

[@donglemadness]

My pleasure!

[@justinspirational]

Can you plug in the qudelix 5k into your phone without it drawing power from your phone like the fiio btr15?

[@donglemadness]

Yes there's a toggle in the app you can set for that

[@kristiandawe85]

Is it any better than the BTR7 I’m guessing not because it’s basically an update to the BTR5

[@donglemadness]

I have no idea. Never tried BTR7. What I do know they share the same DAC configuration and BTR7 has THX

[@VanDungLe2510]

Btw, why did you include the sound rateing chart in 100 points in this video as well? I'm very much interested in that chart, along with thr timbre chart in other dongle comparison :))

[@donglemadness]

I didn't do the normal rating because I don't have enough numbers to grade BT dongles, not fair to use the normal dongle rating as they are graded differently and with limited options. Perhaps when I have enough coverage on BT devices, I will setup a different rating system

[@FrantaPo-bc5mu]

So does the BTR15 sound as good as the DC04Pro when wired???

[@donglemadness]

Yes, to my ears both are on par comparatively

[@FrantaPo-bc5mu]

@@donglemadness Great! Original BTR5 has similar natural/neutral tuning but DC04Pro beats it in refinement (and possibly even power delivery).

[@MrGarkin]

Outside of timbre, how would you compare imaging and soundstage of wired BTR15 against DC04Pro?

[@donglemadness]

BTR15 sounded more open and airy, that's what O observed

[@sodapopinksi667]

I've used the BTR3, BTR5, Qudelix, and I ordered the BTR15. The Qudelix is better than the BTR5. The app is superior. The EQ is powerful. Battery is good. Only reason why I got the BTR15 is because I wore it out and broke the ports, and Qudelix never released a sequel.

[@robertduluth8994]

With the qudilex out of stock would you say the btr3k is worth as a cheaper alternative?

[@sodapopinksi667]

@@robertduluth8994 I think you should go out of your way to find a Qudelix. It sounds better. The battery will last you longer both long term and short term. The app is in a different league. Even if you don't use the balanced output, it's worth. Imo

[@sodapopinksi667]

​@@robertduluth8994I wish I could compare the btr15 and Qudelix. I guess you can just watch the video for that. It hasn't come in yet for me. Should be today or tomorrow. But so far, Qudelix is better than BTR5 and btr3k. It's not just the battery quality, but it has better battery management for long term health.

[@Psygisk]

You broke port of btr15 or btr15?

[@sodapopinksi667]

@@Psygisk Qudelix. It wasn't the fault of the device. It was me using it all the time and mishandling it. I just got the btr15 in today.

[@DroidLocks6971]

....I Have BTR15 & it Sound Alot Like BTR7 So It Sounds Great . My issue is the fiio controll app does not connect to the BTR15 even though I scanned the QR CODE In The Box And Downloaded The Fiio Controll App But It Nevver Worked With My BTR3K Or BTR7 And Does Not Work With My BTR15

[@СергейКлитко]

Привет! У вас btr15 and btr7? Хотел спросить, мне нужен bt, для прослушивания идя на работу. Стоит переплачивать за bt7? Я так понял по всем обзорах, что звук у них, плюс- минус одинаковый, даже в 15 чуть прозрачнее и воздушнее. Что вы скажите? Спасибо.

[@AndreaRavaioli]

I have tried probably all the BT dongles in the market. In my opinion the best is hard to pick between the BTR7 and the iFi Go Blu. The first is more dynamic and punchy, the second is more sonically refined, comes with handy volume wheel, much smaller and with a hardware bass boost to die for. The BTR15 was very underwhelming, very flat and 2D sound.

[@Windof]

Perché deludente il BTR15? C'è molta differenza con gli altri due?

[@AndreaRavaioli]

@@Windof a mio avviso sì

[@Windof]

@@AndreaRavaioli mi è appena arrivato il btr15, lo trovo un po' duro ed effettivamente piatto, vorrei qualcosa di superiore e dal suono energico da ascoltare in auto ma caldo o non affaticante. Secondo te i migliori sono proprio i due che hai indicato? Quale consiglieresti per l'auto? Ho un impianto dedicato.

[@AndreaRavaioli]

@@Windof iFi Go Blu. Concordo, il BTR15 è proprio piatto in suono e palcoscenico. Forse anche un passo indietro in rapporto al BTR5. È il 7 quello da comprare, oppure l'iFi Go Blu che secondo me è meno analitico, ma anche meno dinamico. Io ascolto Jazz, Flamenco e Classica e preferisco l'iFi. Per electronica penso sia meglio il BTR7.

[@Windof]

@@AndreaRavaioli ti ringrazio. Ho appena ordinato il btr7 e chiesto il reso del 15. Spero che anche il 7 non sia troppo freddo e fastidioso, però l'ho preferito per l'app che consente di equalizzarlo e le altre cose che ha in più, come lo schermo, che specialmente in auto possono tornare utili.

[@CsTruth]

Great video! I'll be pairing the BTR15 with hisenior mega5est

[@donglemadness]

Thanks!

[@kendallcurtis7863]

Fabulous breakdown!