Unleash the potential of your music! Experience different ways to play on two desktop audio devices

In today's audio market, portability is a major trend, whether it is all kinds of headphones, or players, decoding equipment are the same. But this does not mean that desktop equipment has no market, with the user's hands of a variety of audio equipment more and more, how to give full play to their potential, tap more fresh play, desktop equipment has a greater imagination space, all that is needed is the manufacturer's innovation in product planning, design and keep pace with the times. The two desktop audio devices I'm going to experience today have different positioning, but what they're all about is that they both make the audio devices in your hands sound better and more fun.

More feverish Bluetooth "Cam King"

FlyO BTA30 Pro

Fairall BTA30 Pro product specifications

Bluetooth chip: CSR8675

Bluetooth version: Bluetooth 5.0

DSP chip: CT7302

DAC chip: ES9038Q2M

Bluetooth reception format: SBC/AAC/aptX/aptX HD/LDAC

Bluetooth transmission format: SBC/aptX/aptX LL/aptX HD/LDAC

Fiber decoding sample rate: 96k/24bit

Coaxial decoding sample rate: 384k/24bit; DSD128 (DoP)

USB Audio sample rate: 384k/32bit; DSD256 (DoP)

Analog Output Interface: RCA (Max 3Vrms)

Digital output interface: fiber + coaxial

Digital input interface: fiber + coaxial

Digital output sample rate: Coaxial supports 384k/24bit; DSD128 (DoP) fiber supports 192k/24bit

USB interface: USB-C

Size: 120mm×55mm×25.8mm

Weight: 145 g

Reference price 799 RMB

Fei Ou has released a special product BTA30 at the end of 2020, which has both Bluetooth reception and Bluetooth transmission functions, and the decoding ability is also good, allowing users to combine a variety of new and old entertainment and listening devices at home, regardless of wired and wireless communication, into a variety of wireless play. However, feio in the development of BTA30 is more concerned about expanding the general user base, in the fever players value some specifications and functions are somewhat insufficient. Fortunately, a year later, the BTA30 Pro arrived. How has it improved? Let's take a look.

The BTA30 Pro's styling is almost identical to that of the BTA30, but the thickness is slightly increased and the weight is 30g more. On the BTA30 I mentioned that its mirrored top cover is not dirty and wear resistant, which has been improved in the BTA30 Pro. While maintaining the aluminum alloy fuselage, the top cover is changed from the acrylic material of BTA30 to aluminum alloy, which not only makes the overall visual effect of the fuselage more uniform, the texture is more outstanding, but also solves the above problems.

In fact, there are many more changes to the BTA30 Pro. Although the buttons and knobs on the front of the fuselage have not changed compared to the BTA30 in terms of layout and quantity, the actual functions are different. The functions of the two key controls have become much richer, the original power switch has increased the function of audio input switching and PAIR2, the original PAIR key has increased the function of pause, encoding format switching, and the logo has also been changed to "LL/HD". These are improvements in terms of ease of operation based on previous feedback from BTA30 users.

Five indicator lights have been added to the corner of the top cover, making it easier for users to understand the current operating status of the BTA30 Pro.

Also added from this perspective are five indicators in the corner of the top cover, including the input source indicator, bypass indicator, and Bluetooth status/encoding format/sample rate indicator, making it easier for users to understand the current operating status of the BTA30 Pro. While increasing the physical button function, BTA30 Pro can still cooperate with the FiiO Control App, and users can set the Bluetooth reception/transmission status of BTA30 Pro on their mobile phones through the App.

Although the number of buttons, knobs and layout on the front are the same as those of the BTA30, the two buttons superimpose more functions and can achieve more operations than the BTA30.

Compared with the external design and operation function changes, the internal improvement of the BTA30 Pro is more obvious and more valuable. It adds XMOS XUF208 USB decoding chip, with a clock matching management system, can support 384k/32bit sample rate, compared with the previous PCM 48k/16bit sample rate is significantly improved, but also hardware decoding DSD256. At the same time, thanks to the enhancement of USB decoding capabilities, BTA30 Pro adds support for LDAC format in USB input and Bluetooth transmission mode. In addition, in the DSP chip part, the BTA30 Pro has also been upgraded to CT7302EL, which can meet the decoding needs of multiple formats and is more applicable. The DAC chip switched to the ES9039Q2M, which is better than the previous generation, and the film capacitor is added to tune to enhance the translucent hearing of high frequencies.

Qualcomm's flagship Bluetooth chip CSR8675 supports the Bluetooth 5.0 standard, in addition to providing common SBC, AAC, aptX encoding format support, but also for the BTA30 Pro to bring aptX LowLatency (hereinafter referred to as aptX LL), aptX HD, LDAC support capabilities. Among them, it also provides a key aptX LL function, only need to double click the aforementioned "LL/HD" key in the launch mode, you can enable the aptX LL priority function, for gamers, as well as users in application scenarios such as chasing dramas and watching movies, aptX LL low-latency mode is more conducive to their wireless sound experience of audio and picture synchronization.

In addition to a detachable Bluetooth gain antenna, the back also provides a rich set of input and output interfaces, in the same type and number as the BTA30.

The interface on the back of the BTA30 Pro is still rich, including RCA analog output interface, optical fiber input and output interface, coaxial input and output interface and USB-C interface, of which the USB-C interface takes into account USB input and power supply, and the richness of the interface is enough to meet the input and output needs of most users. There's also a detachable Bluetooth gain antenna on the back to provide a faster, more stable wireless connection.

Through the FiiO Control App, users can set the Bluetooth receive/transmit status of the BTA30 Pro on their phones accordingly.

The BTA30 Pro has three usage modes: Bluetooth Receiver (RX), Bluetooth Transmit (TX) and DAC Digital Decoding, the first two of which are undoubtedly the essence of its application. Turn on the Bluetooth reception mode, users can connect with wired speakers, functions and other devices through its optical fiber, coaxial, linear output interface, and the Bluetooth wireless sound signal emitted from mobile phones, tablets, music players, televisions and other devices can be received and decoded through BTA30 Pro, which can make speakers and amplifiers without Bluetooth function also get "wireless" vitality.

Turn on the Bluetooth transmission mode, BTA30 Pro's wired connection object becomes a game console, computer, TV, CD player and other devices, their sound input BTA30 Pro, converted into wireless signals to send to Bluetooth speakers, Bluetooth headsets, so that no Bluetooth function or do not support HD encoding format devices, can also achieve LDAC HD encoding transmission, or aptX LL low latency transmission. It is worth mentioning that BTA30 Pro supports UAC 1.0 mode, which is well adapted to PS5, and users can switch UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0 on the App to adapt to different device access needs.

DAC mode turns the BTA30 Pro into a decoder, converting digital audio to high-quality analog audio output or through coaxial, optical output. It can also be used as a digital turntable, with mobile phones and decoders to achieve decoding and amplification of mobile phone streaming media. Also worth mentioning is the Bypass feature, which enables the output input to work simultaneously, allowing the BTA30 Pro to connect to a variety of devices at the same time. In Bluetooth transmission mode, fiber input to fiber output + Bluetooth transmission output can be supported; in DAC mode, fiber input to fiber output can be supported. The most typical application scenario of this function is that the TV fiber input BTA30 Pro is wired and output to the speaker, and at the same time, it can also connect Bluetooth headphones, fans and friends can wear Bluetooth headphones at night to watch the ball, without worrying about affecting the rest of the family.

I tried the BTA30 Pro's Bluetooth transmitter first. Wirelessly connect with BTA30 Pro with Bluetooth headsets that support LDAC and aptX HD, which is in Bluetooth transmitter mode and connected to the laptop via USB interface. By default, by looking at the BTA30 Pro's indicator light, it can be judged that its connection to the TWS headset is in LDAC encoding format, and the encoding format button can be switched between formats supported by aptX HD, aptX, SBC and LDAC. I observed the synchronous performance of the two in the case of news programs and TV series on the computer. The overall performance is satisfactory, even if you carefully observe the mouth shape of the anchor and actor, there will be no obvious feeling of unsynchronized sound and picture, and even if there is no headphone that supports aptX LL in the user's hand, there is no need to worry about the delayed performance of the sound.

Try the BTA30 Pro's Bluetooth reception mode again. Connect the M200 active speaker through the RCA interface, and then connect with the BTA30 Pro through Bluetooth with the mobile phone, which works in the LDAC encoding format by default, at which point the M200 transforms into a "wireless" speaker that supports high-definition wireless encoding format. Under such a combination, the overall listening experience is good, the M200's warm and full sound is well displayed, and the BTA30 Pro has no additional "seasoning", but restores the original characteristics of the product. BTA30 Pro can still connect two Bluetooth devices at the same time, achieving "one drag and two". However, this time it will be two devices of the pairing key independent, a pairing key corresponding to a headset, in actual use of the operation is indeed much simpler. I use it to connect two pairs of Bluetooth headphones at the same time, listen to music with my family, watch movies, sync sound, have a stable connection, and have a good experience.

It can be seen that on the basis of maintaining the rich modes and functions of the previous game, Fei ou BTA30 Pro has achieved the improvement of product strength through internal and external upgrades. It is one of the few devices on the market that supports bidirectional LDAC, especially in the case of USB input and optical fiber input, which can also support LDAC transmission, which gives users a variety of devices in their hands and the ability to obtain high-definition encoding wireless transmission in different application scenarios. As long as you can think of devices: desktop computers, laptops, multimedia speakers, decoders, players, game consoles, headphones... The BTA30 Pro activates them to achieve different ways to play with a wireless connection. The higher output capacity imprints the "Hi-Fi" label on the body, which is enough to meet those enthusiasts who have higher requirements for sound quality.

Come back with better changes

Fairall K5Pro ESS

Fairall K5Pro ESS product literature

USB decoding chip: XMOS XUF208

Audio DAC chip: ES9038Q2M

Headphone Output Power: ≥1.5W in 32Ω load, THD+N<1%

Output Impedance: 1.2Ω (PO)

失真：＜0.0009%（UAC IN/SPDIF IN）

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: ≥118dB (A Weighted, 32Ω)

Resolution: >80dB (USB DAC/OPT/COX), PO output

Audio output: RCA/6.35mm

Audio input: USB-B/OPT/COAX/RCA

DSD support: hard solution 64/128/256/512

Weight: Approximately 480 g

Size: 120mm×146.5mm×55mm

Reference price: 1199 yuan

The topic of lack of cores is a hot topic throughout the past year or so, whether it is consumer electronics, or automobiles, industries involving the use of chips have more or less this problem. The audio market is no exception, especially after the fire at the AKM factory in October 2020, resulting in the inability to supply the relevant chips, many brands and products were affected, and The FlyO K5Pro desktop decoding ear amplifier is one of them. As a product that has been widely praised after the market, Fei O will certainly not give up on it easily. This is not, after the core change of the Fei ou K5Pro ESS reloaded on the market, can it continue the good performance of the previous product? Let's take a look.

Although it is a desktop decoding ear amplifier, the K5Pro ESS is not very large, and the 120mm × 146.5mm×55mm "three circumferences" are more than ten millimeters longer than the K5Pro. The process still adopts the CNC sanded all-aluminum alloy body, the surface is supplemented by anodizing and sandblasting process, the texture is hard and solid, and the touch is delicate.

The RGB indicators around the volume knob after powering on will light up different colors depending on the sample rate of the source.

The one-piece stamped metal volume knob is a striking element of the front of the K5Pro ESS, which is concave inward when combined with the front panel, forming a natural three-dimensional visual effect with a good level of craftsmanship. The knob still takes into account the volume adjustment and power switch, the damping is moderate, the adjustment is very smooth, quite a sense of grade. ADC curve reconstruction is applied on the K5Pro ESS, and the knob adjustment progression is fine and non-jumping, which can effectively solve the problems of volume left and right misalignment and noise. The combination of the knob and the panel also hides a circle of RGB indicators, which gradually brightens after booting, and the gradient effect between light and dark when working is a detail that reflects the texture, and the light is soft and not dazzling. In addition to the aesthetically pleasing visual effect, it also lights up different colors according to the different sample rates of the sound source: blue at 48KHz and below, yellow above 48KHz, and green for DSDs.

To the right of the knob is a 6.3mm headphone jack with a 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter in the accessory. The two lever switches on the left are still retained, each with three gears, one for selecting the input mode, including USB DAC, LINE IN and SPDIF IN, and the other for selecting high, medium and low three-stop gains, which can effectively expand the adaptation range of the headphones. It is worth mentioning that the K5Pro ESS uses a pure hardware gain circuit, which can ensure that it is used with high-sensitivity headphones at low gain, and the dynamic range and fidelity of the music are not affected.

The back is designed with a number of interfaces, including coaxial input, fiber optic input, RCA line input and line output, as well as USB-B input interface and power interface.

Most of the interfaces are concentrated on the back of the fuselage, including coaxial input, optical fiber input, RCA line output/input, USB-B input interface and power interface, the interface type is rich, can well cover the current mainstream audio source and various types of speakers, headphones, playability is good. It can be seen that the K5Pro ESS is equipped with an external adapter that is powered via the DC15V interface. It is reported that the secondary power conversion circuit is designed internally, and the front and rear stage audio circuits are also independently powered, which effectively suppresses the ripple of the power adapter while also avoiding power supply crosstalk. The ESS and SABER HiFi logos in the upper right corner of the back are the differences that can be distinguished at a glance from the K5Pro. It is a little regrettable that K5Pro ESS has not changed the USB interface to the current more popular USB-C, and daily use can only rely on the USB-A to USB-B data cable in the accessory. Fortunately, the desktop ear amplifier does not have the need to move frequently, but it is not harmful.

Compared with the external "unchanged response", the changes in the internal hardware of K5Pro ESS are the focus. Among them, the DAC chip as the core is replaced by the ES9038Q2M, which can be regarded as the flagship DAC model of ESS in the field of portable applications. Compared with the previous generation, the ES9038Q2M's specifications have been comprehensively improved, including a 50% reduction in distortion, an increase of more than 6dB in LO crosstalk attenuation, better resolution, and a 3dB increase in dynamic range. The XMOS XUF208 USB decoder chip, combined with the clock matching management system, supports 768k sample rate and DSD512 hard solution, directly "pulling the specifications full". At the same time, K5Pro ESS leaves more room for analog audio amplification and drive, and the second-order LPF + analog volume adjustment + voltage amplification + current drive of the four-level professional architecture better ensures the dynamic range and integrity of the sound. Fei Ou also applied the "stunt" on the AM5 ear amplifier module to the K5Pro ESS, reducing the recommended 10Ω output impedance of the ear amplifier stage TPA6120 to less than 1.5Ω, which increased its output capability by more than 60%. The output power of the 32Ω load can reach 1.5w, and the swing of 20Vpp can be output at 300Ω impedance, which can be well driven regardless of whether the user has a low-impedance or high-impedance headphone in his hand.

I connected the K5Pro ESS to a PC via a USB interface, and the headphones I matched were the Sennheiser HD600 with an impedance of 300 Ω. By adjusting the gain lever to high gain, the K5Pro ESS's thrust can easily drive the HD600, and the remaining force is not small. With this combination to listen to large music, the sound field space positioning is more accurate, the horizontal and vertical spaces reflect a certain breadth, and the boundary outline is still relatively clear.

When listening to popular music, the K5Pro ESS can well display the thick and solid vocals of the HD600, the knot image is full and clear, the performance of high frequencies is natural and silky, the low frequency sense of volume is moderate, and the overall hearing resistance is good. Then connected to the M200 through the RCA interface, compared to the direct connection with the computer, the sound performance of the M200 is more abundant and powerful, and some details that were originally blurred can be better captured at this time. At the same time, its sound field space has also been expanded by a series of progressions, making it more transparent and clear.

Although there are forced factors in the change of the core chip, K5Pro ESS as a new product of Fei O will not be at all. In addition to maintaining the advantages of the previous product in terms of design, interface and hardware configuration, Fei O also takes this opportunity to further optimize and upgrade on the K5Pro ESS, and the new DAC chip is better tuned, so that the K5Pro ESS has significantly improved in distortion, resolution, dynamic range and other specifications compared with the previous product. This allows the K5Pro ESS to better demonstrate its full desktop application capabilities: easily push large headphones, external active Hi-Fi speakers, activate mobile phones, portable players with Hi-Fi headphones, speakers... For players looking to build a set of decoded ear amplifiers on the desktop that can adapt to a variety of devices, the Fairall K5Pro ESS will be a product worthy of their attention.