The world of portable DACs is hard to get into: the competition is fierce, and finding a reliable model can be a challenge — especially for a fair price. Thankfully, FiiO solves that problem for me, since their new BTR13 DAC costs about $70 while offering almost everything you might want from a device like that. Let’s take a closer look.
Specs
- Bluetooth chip: QCC5125 (CPU+DSP dual-core architecture)
- DAC: CS43131*2
- Bluetooth version: 5.1
- Bluetooth codecs supported: AAC/SBC/aptX/aptX LL/aptX
- Adaptive/aptX HD/LDAC
- USB DAC: Driver-free PCM 96k
- Display: 0.96-inch 80×160 color IPS
- Headphone outputs: Single-ended 3.5mm + balanced 4.4mm
- Dimensions: About 63.2x30x18.8mm including back clip
- Weight: About 28.6g
- Charging time: ≤2 hours
- Battery life: About 8 hours
- Output power 1: L+R≥100mW+100mW (320 SE, THD+N < 1%)
- Output power 2: L+R≥10mW +10mW (3000 SE, THD+N < 1%)
- Output power 3: L+R≥220mW+220mW (32Q BAL, THD+N < 1%)
- Output power 4: L+R≥55mW+55mW (3000 BAL, THD+N < 1%)
- Frequency response: 20Hz~40kHz (-3dB)
- Signal-to-noise ratio: ≥128dB(A-weighted)
- Noise floor: PO < 1V (A-weighted); BAL < 1V (A-weighted)
- Output impedance: <0.60 (320 load)
- THD+N: <0.0018%(1kHz/-4dB@320)
Like other devices in FiiO’s popular BTR lineup, this one functions as both a DAC and a Bluetooth dongle, making it a breeze to use your IEMs or wired headphones on the go. With 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs, it provides flexibility for a wide range of audio gear. Under the hood, you’ll find two dedicated CS43131 chips pushing out 220mW of power—one chip handling Bluetooth duties, while the other focuses on wired connections. It’s a dual-core setup that ensures optimized performance, whether you’re going wireless or sticking to wired listening like I do, as an iPhone user.
Design
The BTR13 is tiny and light. At 63.2x30x18.8 mm, it fits in every pocket. Design-wise, there’s not much to discuss there: it reminds me of those iRiver MP3 players I had back in the year 2004-2006. It even has a back clip, which is both cute and functional. The resemblance to the players of old doesn’t end there: the 80×160 color IPS display is EXACTLY the same, too, offering quite pathetic quality. But then again, for a device like that, anything better would be an overkill. The goal here was affordability, after all.
The BTR13 comes in black, and in the bundle, you’ll find a short Type-C to Type-C cable for use with your phone, as well as a lanyard.
On the top edge, there are two headphone outputs — a standard 3.5mm jack and a 4.4mm balanced output.
The right side houses several buttons and controls. There’s a power button that also serves to activate menus and navigate through them. Below is a multifunction button for tasks like reconnecting, playback control, and activating voice assistants. Two volume buttons allow for adjusting sound levels, switching tracks, and navigating submenus. At the bottom of this side panel is a mode switch.
The bottom edge features a USB Type-C port for charging and audio decoding.
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Features and the battery life
This DAC comes loaded with several modes. In Bluetooth mode, it supports the LDAC codec, delivering audio at up to 990kbps with a sample rate of 96 kHz and 32 bits per sample. While Bluetooth inevitably involves some compression, LDAC is as close to high-fidelity as you can get over wireless. Plus, it supports multipoint connectivity, letting you pair two devices at once.
Then there’s PC mode, where you can connect it via a Type-C to Type-C cable to use it as a USB DAC. In this mode, the device charges its built-in battery, adding convenience if you’re working long hours on your computer. For phone users, there’s a dedicated mode too—this wired connection utilizes the DAC’s battery rather than draining your phone’s, a clever touch for mobile listeners.
Battery life is advertised at around 8 hours, but with the optional setting to limit charging capacity to 80%—which helps reduce battery degradation over time—you’re realistically looking at about 6 hours.
The DAC supports 32-bit audio, and when tested on an Android device using the LDAC codec, it fully takes advantage of that capability. LDAC really stands out here, offering higher bit depth and bitrate compared to other Bluetooth codecs.
However, for iOS users, the options are more limited. Apple devices only support SBC and AAC codecs, which cap the audio quality at 16-bit with lower bitrates. Similarly, Windows users will also be restricted to SBC, AAC, and aptX, none of which can deliver more than 16-bit audio.
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Software
The BTR13 features its own built-in menu system, giving you direct access to a few key settings without needing the app. You can toggle Charging Protection, enable or disable Car Mode, adjust the screen brightness, and switch between English and Chinese for the interface (for a while, I kept making the UI Chinese by mistake). There’s also the option to select your EQ setting—either from one of the seven included presets or one of three custom profiles.
One minor frustration is that some settings are exclusive to the FiiO Control app, while others are only accessible through the BTR13’s on-device menu.
Despite it having a color screen and various presets, getting anything done on that tiny thing is a pain. Thankfully, there’s an app for that.
The FiiO Control app lets you adjust various settings on the BTR13, such as selecting specific Bluetooth codecs and creating custom PEQ (parametric equalizer) profiles. Available on both Android and iOS, it is fairly easy to use. However, if you’re on a laptop or desktop, you can access the same functionality through the web interface at https://fiiocontrol.fiio.com while the device is plugged in.
Personally, I found the web app the easiest way to create custom EQ profiles, as inputting values feels more precise and manageable on a larger screen.
In use
For testing, I used the FiiO FT1 headphones and various devices, including an iPhone, an iPad, a laptop, and an Android phone.
The sound profile of the FiiO BTR13 remains impressively consistent across both USB and Bluetooth modes. The overall sound signature leans neutral, with a balanced presentation that works well across a wide range of music genres. There’s a slight warmth in the midrange, and the upper mids are slightly elevated, which brings vocals and certain instruments more to the forefront without overwhelming the mix.
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One standout feature is the silent background—there’s zero noise, which makes for an incredibly clean listening experience. The soundstage, while largely dependent on your headphones or IEMs and the quality of the music mastering, is rendered quite effectively. The BTR13 gives you a good sense of depth, width, and height, allowing for a solid perception of the stage size.
Imaging is also a strong point, with excellent separation and layering. Instruments are clearly distinguishable and can be pinpointed in the mix, each occupying its own space rather than sounding cluttered or mashed together.
Review
The FiiO BTR13 is an impressive mobile DAC that offers an incredible array of features for the price. It’s powerful and lightweight and offers a fantastic price-to-performance ratio. The only thing it lacks is a case and a screen with better legibility outside.