⭐ ifi HipDac3 --------------------- amzn.to/4a2Atgy ⭐ FiiO BTR15 --------------------- amzn.to/44mPSqW ⭐ Xduoo XP2 Bal --------------- apos.audio/products/xduoo-xp-2-bal/?sca_ref=36221.ouwJgZltO5 ⚔ Support on --------------------- www.SubscribeStar.com/Zeos 🥇 Support on --------------------- www.Patreon.com/Zeos ☕ Support on --------------------- ko-fi.com/zeospantera
For the Btr15: the PC mode bypasses the battery and directly powers the unit avoiding battery degradation, while phone uses the battery as to not drain the phones battery while using the unit wired.
I disassembled the Xduoo XP 2 Bal because of problems with the potentiometer (volume control), and I saw terrible build quality, the flux on the board was not washed, the bluetooth antenna was not soldered correctly (the signal was soldered to the winding). Measurements show a high level of intermodulation distortion. I hope replacing the operational amplifiers and potentiometer will improve the sound quality. I would not recommend this device due to the terrible quality control.
I have the BTR5 and 7. Love them. Especially i love the clip case of th BTR5. :D But the BTR5 has the worst Bluetooth antenna of all my BT devices. In some cases the sound cuts out when my body is between the BTR5 and my phone. No complaints with the BTR7 there. Glad that they addressed that issue with the 15. :)
Not sure if anyone has mentioned this, sooooo... For the iFi Hip Dac 3 there is zero audio feedback while charging it at the same time, even when using a fast charger. I honestly love this thing so much. I use it with my Koss Porta Pros at work and on the go as well as with my Koss KPH30i at home. No need for high gain, no need for XBass.
In the office and at home I use btr15 wired, but on the go and in my car I use Bluetooth. And I can actually hear the difference between wired and wireless both on my iems and cans
Apologies in advance for potentially sounding dumb but, is the wired connection you’re referring to from the phone to the DAC, or from the DAC to the headset? Also, do you connect the DAC to your aux port in the car. I’m asking this bc my car has no aux port for audio and only has a usb-c port 😅
In btr15 ( 11:39 ) It’s possible to change the volume .. hold to change the music or hold to increase or decrease the volume.. but I think you need to use the app for choose that option..
I picked up BTR15 android phone >>> BT >>> BTR15 >>> HD650 makes my HD650 as wireless.. also macbook>> BTR15 >> HD650 Wired DAC Amp for BTR15 I have not used it with iphone, but I like the flexibility of BTR15.. Only $100. =)
I have the original Hip DAC and think the x-bass is really heavy handed. I think I looked it up and it wound up being a 6dB boost - I would much prefer about 3dB. This one thing is keeping me away from additional iFi purchases. They should add low and high settings for it in my opinion. Another great vid Zeos!
I love my xp2 bal, and I have never had any issues with the lock button. Mainly due to the fact that I never use it. Also yes, it is like too powerful. Phone volume stays at 50% when I use it even on low gain.
Be honest please, does Hip Dac 3 and Go blu sound the same in terms of sound quality? I'm about to buy the go blu 'cause everyone has told me that there's no sound quality difference, only the power and impedance to move hungry or planar headphones
@@angisensual56 it’s close the go blu is amazing for what it is the form factor is great. The hip Dac 3 is better is almost all SQ regards but it is a wired solution and skips BT codecs. Go blu has x bass and x space while hip Dac 3 only has x bass. The x bass on hip Dac is way more assertive which +10 db in sub while the go blu is + 3db. I use the go blu way more for portable use while hip Dac 3 is primarily for my office desk
"You made new thing that is better and cheaper than old thing" This is called progress, and it is supposed to be that way in properly functioning world((((((
I have a set of jh audio sharonas . I use with a btr5 for the last year until that went walkabout backstage now I’m waiting on the btr15 I ordered today . After dropping $2.2k on my IEM. I wanted a killer Bluetooth receiver headphone amp and the fiio stuff has always been amazing for their price . Since the ubtr way back .
Fiio's really coming up with some bangers lately. Ordered a K9 AKM for ~500€ (incl. tax and shipping) as an upgrade from my old Fostex DAC/AMP. Ordered a K9 Pro ESS for 800€ first, but when i saw that K9 AKM for about 300€ less with nearly the same internals and a "better" DAC I immediately returned the K9 Pro unopened :D
Two ifi products hipdac stopped working because the batery swelled cant even gt it open. Very good straight up amp lovely bass extension. Xcan a masterpiece. Wont even turn on without a usb connection. Scared the same thing is happening. Will not buy ifi again as much as i love their products.
@Z Reviews - yes, FiiO’s naming convention got weird. I hate it. The BTR15 *is* the new BTR5. The new naming convention sticks the version number *before* the base model. BTR5 became BTR15. Guess what the next revision will be? BTR25. Yeah, it’s dumb. They should have put the revision increment at the *end* of the main model name. I hope this explains why the BTR15 is smaller and cheaper than the BTR7… which will likely eventually be replaced by the BTR17. 🤦🏻♂️
I've tried several little dac's to use with my phone at work. My Qudelix 5k is made of adamantine. And survives everything and anything perfectly. Everything else breaks.
My BTR5 literally just died, well... the battery died, it ballooned so much it bent the PCB and pressed the front and rear glass off. It surprisingly still works with USB plugged in. So while I hate that, at least I can replace it with a BTR15. I also might be able to find a replacement battery for the BTR5. Oh well, off I go to spend money on the BTR15 🫡
Honestly, I've had an Ifi Zen V2 for over a couple of years now, and I hardly use the bass boost. I'm pushing 60, and don't get much excited over EDM. Little Chemical Brothers maybe, I prefer old school Tackhead, house, D&B on the chilled end. That's with a choice of 560s' or Sundaras, depending on my mood. Good quality source, especially 24-bit streams sound fine without boost to me.
I have a ZenDac V2 as well, also with 560S, though those are my only headphones. I personally really like the bass boost. I don't use it all the time, but for a lot of songs (especially EDM of course) and some games it really is the way to go. I totally agree with Zeos, it's the best bass boost I've personally heard. Now I don't know if my usage would change if I just had headphones that had more bass to begin with Edit: I'm 21 (for comparison)
For the headphone cups - you are supposed to leave the protective foam layer in place. You definitely will decrease the lifespan of your drivers otherwise.
Anyone else think Dekoni quality have taken a nose dive lately? Ive used them quite alot because I liked their products, but a batch of 5 set of pads I ordered less than a year ago are all broken now. Foam inside deforming abnormally fast on 2 of them, but all 5 have come apart where the leather or fabric is supposed to be attached. Its not like the material is worn out, its just coming apart in the seems and whatnot. 3/5 sets of pads had to be glued within a few months. They didnt use to be like this, right?
The thing is, the iFi Go Blu has the bass boost, which means you can pick up the Sundaras (or equivalent) and literally have two headphones for the price of one, with the press of a button.
The one trick that Ifi missed and is still missing is to put a second knob to control the bass boost. There should've been a switch to turn it on.. And then a knob to set it to 1 db or 2 db or 3 db or whatever we want. Not a straight up rocket fuel to the moon.
I researched dongles on and off for a year to have fun with my ie600.. The annoying thing about Qudelix in forums , is people keep focusing on the PEQ, and that's the main reason people buy it, so it muddies over its performance sound qualities in general. Like I made my decision to get it last week very much knowing I based it on the PEQ and app but that was only triggered by the base of reviews stacked up against Go Blu in terms of SQ.. And it's a fair comparison.. Now of course people are trying to get me down,, even in the 5K headfi forum, that people only get it for PEQ and that their BTR7 sounds better.
Damn now I don't know whether to buy the MUSE M4 or the FiiO BTR15. Both seemed to get rave reviews and seem like solid little units for basically the same price. FiiO seems like it maybe has more features but maybe less fun than the M4? Thoughts anyone who has tried both?
So... this is a lot. Its overwhelming. Will these things allow me to use my wired headphones as wireless? There's so much information here that feels not useful to me, all I want is to use my wired headphones as wireless instead of buying new Bluetooth headphones. Is that what these things are?
Zeos do you have a suggestion for an affordable balanced headphone amp? Im currently running some cheap amp with a topping e50 dac powering some Sennheiser HD660s, but my amp is starting to make some weird noises, plus i plan on buying some planar headphones soon so i want to make sure i get a decent one
I have had the Q15 for over 4mo. now. I also have the Gryphon. The Gryphon has more I/O options. The Q15 sweeps the floor with the Gryphon in all other respects….especially as far as sound is concerned. Highly recommend the Q15.
I've got a Dawn pro for on the go listening and am trying to decide what to get for at home (at home means lounging on the couch a pretty decent distance away from my home audio equipment in most instances). What would be my starting point for a dac/amp that would be worth it over the Dawn pro (headphones are mainly the Fiio JT1 and Hifiman 4xx)
hi Zeos in the past i've bough the Hifiman Deva pro with the miniblue r2r bluetooth module. I use this amp/dac with my Arya Stealth Headphone when i need bluetooth and it sound very good to me. Have You try the bluemini? Ty
I mean depending on what you want , how far your headphones can go. This could be enough. Hard to drive stuff or things that want tubes. That make it more difficult to quit.
@@Cp48533 I have an upcoming review of the new HiBy R8 Mark II, and it's $2,000 for a portable but might be the best sounding thing in my house. So I mean how far are you willing to go to carry around the best sounding thing
@@ZReviews I think might check out that Muse M4 just for a back up. I ended up purchasing the Gryphon after I tested out at my local audio shop. The feature set was nice and well implemented especially with all the fine tuning you can do.
I have a problem, the car that I’ve ordered only has a usb-c port for audio and no aux port, is there any way I can get around using a DAC in this situation?
@@ZReviews the car is Apple CarPlay enabled through the usb-c port, do you know what resolution music can be played up to? I’m guessing the ability to play hi-res audio isn’t possible
⭐ ifi HipDac3 --------------------- amzn.to/4a2Atgy
⭐ FiiO BTR15 --------------------- amzn.to/44mPSqW
⭐ Xduoo XP2 Bal --------------- apos.audio/products/xduoo-xp-2-bal/?sca_ref=36221.ouwJgZltO5
⚔ Support on --------------------- www.SubscribeStar.com/Zeos
🥇 Support on --------------------- www.Patreon.com/Zeos
☕ Support on --------------------- ko-fi.com/zeospantera
For the Btr15: the PC mode bypasses the battery and directly powers the unit avoiding battery degradation, while phone uses the battery as to not drain the phones battery while using the unit wired.
I disassembled the Xduoo XP 2 Bal because of problems with the potentiometer (volume control), and I saw terrible build quality, the flux on the board was not washed, the bluetooth antenna was not soldered correctly (the signal was soldered to the winding). Measurements show a high level of intermodulation distortion. I hope replacing the operational amplifiers and potentiometer will improve the sound quality. I would not recommend this device due to the terrible quality control.
Made in China I think
I still rank the BTR5 as my best audio purchase of all time. I probably use my KA17 more today, but that is after 4 years.
I have the BTR5 and 7. Love them. Especially i love the clip case of th BTR5. :D
But the BTR5 has the worst Bluetooth antenna of all my BT devices.
In some cases the sound cuts out when my body is between the BTR5 and my phone.
No complaints with the BTR7 there. Glad that they addressed that issue with the 15. :)
Not sure if anyone has mentioned this, sooooo...
For the iFi Hip Dac 3 there is zero audio feedback while charging it at the same time, even when using a fast charger.
I honestly love this thing so much. I use it with my Koss Porta Pros at work and on the go as well as with my Koss KPH30i at home. No need for high gain, no need for XBass.
In the office and at home I use btr15 wired, but on the go and in my car I use Bluetooth. And I can actually hear the difference between wired and wireless both on my iems and cans
Apologies in advance for potentially sounding dumb but, is the wired connection you’re referring to from the phone to the DAC, or from the DAC to the headset? Also, do you connect the DAC to your aux port in the car. I’m asking this bc my car has no aux port for audio and only has a usb-c port 😅
In btr15 ( 11:39 ) It’s possible to change the volume .. hold to change the music or hold to increase or decrease the volume.. but I think you need to use the app for choose that option..
Yes, you need to use the app to select what happens when you hold the volume keys versus when you press them.
Charge protection when charging= 20% to 80% 👍
Completely missed this review !!!!! Thank you Zeos!
I picked up BTR15
android phone >>> BT >>> BTR15 >>> HD650 makes my HD650 as wireless..
also macbook>> BTR15 >> HD650 Wired DAC Amp for BTR15
I have not used it with iphone, but I like the flexibility of BTR15..
Only $100. =)
The iFi Audio Hip DAC 3 is on sale for $179 on Amazon.
I have the original Hip DAC and think the x-bass is really heavy handed. I think I looked it up and it wound up being a 6dB boost - I would much prefer about 3dB. This one thing is keeping me away from additional iFi purchases. They should add low and high settings for it in my opinion. Another great vid Zeos!
I love my xp2 bal, and I have never had any issues with the lock button. Mainly due to the fact that I never use it. Also yes, it is like too powerful. Phone volume stays at 50% when I use it even on low gain.
I got my hip Dac 3 ($100) used and it’s a fuggin beast for the price. I also have the ifi go blu so I’m all set for my potable setup.
Be honest please, does Hip Dac 3 and Go blu sound the same in terms of sound quality? I'm about to buy the go blu 'cause everyone has told me that there's no sound quality difference, only the power and impedance to move hungry or planar headphones
@@angisensual56 it’s close the go blu is amazing for what it is the form factor is great. The hip Dac 3 is better is almost all SQ regards but it is a wired solution and skips BT codecs. Go blu has x bass and x space while hip Dac 3 only has x bass. The x bass on hip Dac is way more assertive which +10 db in sub while the go blu is + 3db. I use the go blu way more for portable use while hip Dac 3 is primarily for my office desk
Love my Ghost w Meze pads. Thanks Zeos!
amazing review as always, I've decided to get the Btr15 to pair with my mega5est!
"You made new thing that is better and cheaper than old thing"
This is called progress, and it is supposed to be that way in properly functioning world((((((
I have a set of jh audio sharonas . I use with a btr5 for the last year until that went walkabout backstage now I’m waiting on the btr15 I ordered today . After dropping $2.2k on my IEM. I wanted a killer Bluetooth receiver headphone amp and the fiio stuff has always been amazing for their price . Since the ubtr way back .
Fiio's really coming up with some bangers lately. Ordered a K9 AKM for ~500€ (incl. tax and shipping) as an upgrade from my old Fostex DAC/AMP.
Ordered a K9 Pro ESS for 800€ first, but when i saw that K9 AKM for about 300€ less with nearly the same internals and a "better" DAC I immediately returned the K9 Pro unopened :D
I’ve been using the Gryphon for 2 years now. Best investment.
Two ifi products hipdac stopped working because the batery swelled cant even gt it open. Very good straight up amp lovely bass extension. Xcan a masterpiece. Wont even turn on without a usb connection. Scared the same thing is happening. Will not buy ifi again as much as i love their products.
Best top gun maverick review on youtube.
@Z Reviews - yes, FiiO’s naming convention got weird. I hate it.
The BTR15 *is* the new BTR5. The new naming convention sticks the version number *before* the base model.
BTR5 became BTR15.
Guess what the next revision will be?
BTR25.
Yeah, it’s dumb. They should have put the revision increment at the *end* of the main model name.
I hope this explains why the BTR15 is smaller and cheaper than the BTR7… which will likely eventually be replaced by the BTR17. 🤦🏻♂️
This guy knows how to live. I commend you, sir.
I've tried several little dac's to use with my phone at work. My Qudelix 5k is made of adamantine. And survives everything and anything perfectly. Everything else breaks.
Love mine! Solid device 👌🏽
My BTR5 literally just died, well... the battery died, it ballooned so much it bent the PCB and pressed the front and rear glass off. It surprisingly still works with USB plugged in. So while I hate that, at least I can replace it with a BTR15. I also might be able to find a replacement battery for the BTR5. Oh well, off I go to spend money on the BTR15 🫡
Honestly, I've had an Ifi Zen V2 for over a couple of years now, and I hardly use the bass boost. I'm pushing 60, and don't get much excited over EDM. Little Chemical Brothers maybe, I prefer old school Tackhead, house, D&B on the chilled end. That's with a choice of 560s' or Sundaras, depending on my mood. Good quality source, especially 24-bit streams sound fine without boost to me.
I have a ZenDac V2 as well, also with 560S, though those are my only headphones. I personally really like the bass boost. I don't use it all the time, but for a lot of songs (especially EDM of course) and some games it really is the way to go. I totally agree with Zeos, it's the best bass boost I've personally heard.
Now I don't know if my usage would change if I just had headphones that had more bass to begin with
Edit: I'm 21 (for comparison)
For the headphone cups - you are supposed to leave the protective foam layer in place. You definitely will decrease the lifespan of your drivers otherwise.
Anyone else think Dekoni quality have taken a nose dive lately? Ive used them quite alot because I liked their products, but a batch of 5 set of pads I ordered less than a year ago are all broken now. Foam inside deforming abnormally fast on 2 of them, but all 5 have come apart where the leather or fabric is supposed to be attached. Its not like the material is worn out, its just coming apart in the seems and whatnot. 3/5 sets of pads had to be glued within a few months. They didnt use to be like this, right?
Magnets on mine are so weak.
The thing is, the iFi Go Blu has the bass boost, which means you can pick up the Sundaras (or equivalent) and literally have two headphones for the price of one, with the press of a button.
And XSpace! Dont you put on both at same time??
The one trick that Ifi missed and is still missing is to put a second knob to control the bass boost.
There should've been a switch to turn it on..
And then a knob to set it to 1 db or 2 db or 3 db or whatever we want.
Not a straight up rocket fuel to the moon.
Honestly as someone who loves to eq, the qudelix is still properly the top for me
the app is insane🤯
too bad they haven’t come out with a newer version in such a long time😞
I researched dongles on and off for a year to have fun with my ie600.. The annoying thing about Qudelix in forums , is people keep focusing on the PEQ, and that's the main reason people buy it, so it muddies over its performance sound qualities in general. Like I made my decision to get it last week very much knowing I based it on the PEQ and app but that was only triggered by the base of reviews stacked up against Go Blu in terms of SQ.. And it's a fair comparison.. Now of course people are trying to get me down,, even in the 5K headfi forum, that people only get it for PEQ and that their BTR7 sounds better.
So is Qudelix sound good enough, besides the PEQ which people focus on completely.
Has Sennheiser sent you the new 620s for your wadeering ? They are going for 600 territory but cloooosed !! Imagine them in yellow !
Thanks for this but I have the hipdac3 and love it. I do also run mine wired and with only IEMs, It is great.
About that wallpaper... Don't you me sir? 😂
Damn now I don't know whether to buy the MUSE M4 or the FiiO BTR15. Both seemed to get rave reviews and seem like solid little units for basically the same price.
FiiO seems like it maybe has more features but maybe less fun than the M4? Thoughts anyone who has tried both?
Just me and I will probably use the M4 more. But the Fiio is REALLY nice. Like it has real options and amazing build.
If the BTR15 had better battery life than the BTR5, than it would have been an instant buy, the BTR5 already sounds great.
the btr7 messed me up for not having a clip case, I clip it to my backpack or shirt for phone calls.
They should have at least released a 3D print file.
So, is the Xduoo the choice for lefties? Looks that way because of where the buttons are.
I have a Hip DAC 2 and it’s great. I wonder what the difference is to the 3……Aaaaaaand you just explained it.
So... this is a lot. Its overwhelming.
Will these things allow me to use my wired headphones as wireless? There's so much information here that feels not useful to me, all I want is to use my wired headphones as wireless instead of buying new Bluetooth headphones.
Is that what these things are?
What are the 2nd set of headphones you're testing with? Other than the Ghosts...
I wonder how it compares to the MuseHiFi M4 at a similar price point (when on sale).
Have you tried/reviewed the ibasso DC07Pro?
Zeos do you have a suggestion for an affordable balanced headphone amp? Im currently running some cheap amp with a topping e50 dac powering some Sennheiser HD660s, but my amp is starting to make some weird noises, plus i plan on buying some planar headphones soon so i want to make sure i get a decent one
Can u please review Fiio Q15 ??? Really want to know if it's worth it vs Gryphon
I have had the Q15 for over 4mo. now. I also have the Gryphon. The Gryphon has more I/O options. The Q15 sweeps the floor with the Gryphon in all other respects….especially as far as sound is concerned. Highly recommend the Q15.
I suppose my BTR7 is still good enough, the BTR15 doesn't replace it.
I've got a Dawn pro for on the go listening and am trying to decide what to get for at home (at home means lounging on the couch a pretty decent distance away from my home audio equipment in most instances). What would be my starting point for a dac/amp that would be worth it over the Dawn pro (headphones are mainly the Fiio JT1 and Hifiman 4xx)
Will you be reviewing the iBasso DX260?
hi Zeos in the past i've bough the Hifiman Deva pro with the miniblue r2r bluetooth module. I use this amp/dac with my Arya Stealth Headphone when i need bluetooth and it sound very good to me. Have You try the bluemini? Ty
nice watch, first time you are shoving it if i/m right
Z, could you please give us an update on the Forums and the server issue?? It’s been happening a ton and the sites been down for more than 2 days now.
Zeos, what cables are you using?
What´s that fu..in sexy purple cable on the ghost?
Perfect Timing, my BTR5 died lol
When the BTR15 was wired it showed pcm and 48k which is lower then with LDAC bluetooth 96k. Can someone explain that ?
I cant wai for you to review the latest BTR13 I love to know if its good enough for its price
I am waiting for you to get the Shanling H2.
what about the FiiO Q15?
Btr15 does it take a 4 pole 3.5? Can I make a headset Bluetooth with this?
Yup
If you dont care about portability…how much better do desktop builds get? Or can you just run these everywhere and just be done with amps/dacs?
I mean depending on what you want , how far your headphones can go. This could be enough. Hard to drive stuff or things that want tubes. That make it more difficult to quit.
@@ZReviews say something scaleable, eg hifiman arya
@@Cp48533 I have an upcoming review of the new HiBy R8 Mark II, and it's $2,000 for a portable but might be the best sounding thing in my house. So I mean how far are you willing to go to carry around the best sounding thing
I have the ifi go blu and use Artti T10, sennheiser 599s and Koss KPH 30i. Week I be OK with this for portable and is there a worthy upgrade?
what is the purple cable?
Currently in the market for a bluetooth dac/amp. What do you think my best bet would be between the ifi gryphon or fiio q15
There is also the Questyle CMA18.. But it lacks Track control buttons.
And Muse M4.. which might be my call.
@@ZReviews I think might check out that Muse M4 just for a back up. I ended up purchasing the Gryphon after I tested out at my local audio shop. The feature set was nice and well implemented especially with all the fine tuning you can do.
What about Shanling H2
Zeos please review MoonDrop MIAD 01
Anyone recognize that watch?
I have a problem, the car that I’ve ordered only has a usb-c port for audio and no aux port, is there any way I can get around using a DAC in this situation?
seems like the car can only take digital. Which might be better than an analog that is getting re-converted back to digital.
@@ZReviews the car is Apple CarPlay enabled through the usb-c port, do you know what resolution music can be played up to? I’m guessing the ability to play hi-res audio isn’t possible
vs aune m1p ?
Hello, I am Suqiya, I hope to get your reply, thank you!
dont fotget the fiio Q15
Hey Z, What is up with the HiFi Guides forum? It's been down for 2 days now.