FiiO UTWS5 and BT11 Review – The Best Bluetooth Sound Money Can Buy
FiiO upgrades its famous UTWS5 high-performance Bluetooth TWS adapters for IEMs with the all-new UTWS5 2025. The latest UTWS5 2025 brings noticeable improvements to the OG model such as a 10-band PEQ tuning option, wireless charging support, and more. With Qualcomm’s latest QCC5141 Bluetooth processor and dual AK4332 low-power high-performance DAC chipset, the UTWS5 2025 provides you with an ideal companion to use your favorite IEMs wirelessly. It supports wireless Bluetooth V5.2 connectivity. The 10-Ban PEQ tuning options allow you to play around and adjust the output more to your liking. With wireless charging support, the UTWS5 2025 matches the standards of premium gadgets in the upcoming year.
FiiO UTWS5 2025 integrates miniature wireless charging coils inside the compact body of the ear hooks. This completely solves the problem of oxidation buildup on the copper charging connector part and enhances the durability of the pair. In addition, it has intelligent linkage functions such as automatic power-off when the ear hooks are placed inside the case and automatic power-on when pulled out of the case.
FiiO UTWS5 2025 brings you customization with its 10-band PEQ function. It has 7 built-in tuning styles and supports custom 10-band adjustment as well. With the FiiO application, users can freely fine-tune the frequency and PEQ settings. It enables accurate EQ adjustments, allowing you to adjust the tuning of your IEM to your liking.
FiiO UTWS5 2025 houses an advanced Qualcomm QCC5141 Bluetooth chipset. It enables wireless Bluetooth V5.2 connectivity with high-resolution codecs such as LDAC, LHDC, aptX Adaptive, etc. Do note that LDAC needs to be enabled in the FiiO Control Application.
FiiO UTWS5 2025 is equipped with dual independent AK4332 DAC chips. Combined with its high-end Bluetooth processor chipset the UTWS5 2025 is an ideal wireless Hi-Fi solution for your IEMs. It has a built-in amp circuit that provides high-power output produces high Dynamic range, and drives your IEMs with ease.
Features
- HiFi TWS Bluetooth Adapters.
- Available for both MMCX as well as 2-Pin IEMs.
- Latest Qualcomm QCC5141 Bluetooth Processor.
- Independent Dual AK4332 DAC Chipset.
- Built-in 10-Band PEQ Tuning Option.
- Wireless Charging Support.
- Hi-Res Bluetooth Transmission Protocol Support(Up to 24-Bit/96kHz Streaming).
- Third-Gen TWS Mode(Low Latency Reliable Connectivity).
- Up to 30 Hours Batof tery Life(With Charging Case).
- Price: $149
FiiO Control App
FiiO BT11
Since the release of the BTA30 Pro, FiiO has been relentlessly trying to enable LDAC on more devices. Despite facing challenges like high costs and lack of original manufacturer support, FiiO’s determination paid off and they have now achieved a breakthrough.
In contrast to the CSR8675, the LDAC transmission supported by the BT11 not only boasts higher computational power but also utilizes the next-generation LE Audio technology and even supports aptX Lossless. These features come together to create a high-end Bluetooth audio experience that delivers exceptional wireless sound quality.
While the BT11 is only about the size of a button, it is equipped with Qualcomm’s flagship Bluetooth chip, the QCC5181. It features a quad-core processor architecture and two 240MHz Qualcomm Kalimba audio DSPs, providing powerful computational capabilities for advanced and complex audio algorithms and tasks. It also supports Snapdragon Sound, which delivers an immersive lossless audio experience, when used with headphones that also support this.
The BT11 enables devices like the iPhone 15 series, PS5, and Nintendo Switch to support LDAC, aptX Adaptive at 96kHz/24bit, and aptX Lossless – ushering in a new era of lossless audio transmission. LE Audio is present and also helps by reducing latency across the entire audio chain to as low as 50 milliseconds, providing higher-quality sound and a more stable audio connection experience.
Laptops and computers plug and play to catch up on TV shows and movies and listen to music, which will impress you with higher-level sound quality.
*If the computer has access to other audio devices, please manually select the BT11 as the output device in the audio settings.
To enhance the Bluetooth transmission capability of the BT11, FiiO spared no expense and adopted advanced PDS antenna technology. Despite the limited space of the BT11, they significantly improved the Bluetooth transmission range while ensuring a more stable and efficient connection
Thanks to the QCC5181 platform, the BT11 supports the latest Bluetooth 5.4 version. It provides more stable connections, longer transmission ranges, and overall system performance improvements – all at lower power consumption.
Not only are the LDAC and SBC codecs supported, but the BT11 also supports all Qualcomm aptX codecs including aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Low Latency. So you can fully enjoy having access to a wide variety of audio codecs.
*AAC transmission not supported yet
Connecting to the FiiO Control App lets you easily control the device and access functions such as simultaneous pairing to two devices. The BT11 will also be continuously upgraded via over-the-air (OTA) updates, including LDAC 96kHz/24bit, LC3, volume adjustment, indicator light control, channel balance adjustment, and pairing lists.
Features
- LDAC, aptX Lossless transmitter
- Qualcomm QCC5181 flagship platform
- Bluetooth 5.4
- Ultra-long transmission range
- RGB indicator light
- Pair to two devices simultaneously
- Expanded functionality in the App
- Price: $44.99
FiiO Control App
I would like to thank FiiO for sending me the UTWS5 2025 and BT11 for testing.
Sound
The FiiO UTWS5 2025 is a transparent, clean, and resolving Bluetooth DAC-AMP. It does a great job of conveying the sound signatures of the in-ear monitors or headphones you pair it with and does not saturate or color them. It offers a neutral signature. Testing is done with the LDAC codec (quality mode on the phone).
Lows are tight and deep. The bass of the FiiO UTWS5 2025 reaches much lower than expected, although being a Bluetooth gadget. The bassline is deep and meaty, but also well-controlled and with a good sense of rhythm. When you push the volume up, you can easily hear those discrete rumbles in the background. It’s impactful, more realistic, and overall more natural.
The mids are flat but smooth. Tones residing in the midrange are crisp and uncolored, with plenty of texture to be heard in both vocals and all the instruments. With a very very slight bump on the upper mids, just enough to give voices more depth and body. FiiO UTWS5 2025 sorts out the instrument and vocal tracks into clearly defined spaces on the sound stage in terms of both width and depth and presents utterly realistic acoustic guitars.
The FiiO UTWS5 2025 certainly impressed me with its clarity, well-organized and vivid imaging, and overall sense of organic and likable sound. This kind of clarity and precision lands a hand on good instrument separation. The vocals are very present in the dead center, with guitar strings having crisp and energetic edges.
Highs are airy and well extended and again superbly clean. Details and micro-details could be overwhelming, if not for the fast transients and sharp attacks. Listening to classical music and jazz is bliss. The FiiO UTWS5 2025 is dead silent in any conditions. Even with poor recordings, I didn’t hear any hiss or hum.
Dynamic is top-notch, layering is razor-sharp and the sound stage pinpoints are accurate. Every nuance, every sensation is there. Surfing through slow and fast-paced tracks or watching YouTube videos, I haven’t found any audio material that doesn’t sound great with the FiiO UTWS5 2025. The soundstage extends well too.
Sum-Up
The UTWS5 2025 combined with the BT11, is the best Bluetooth sound money can buy because you can use the IEM of your choice and have the best wireless codec on both sides. This combo also has the most range that easily exceeds the 10m which is the limit of most TWS on the market.
LDAC was kind of a mobile platform codec, mostly smartphones. With the BT11 in our hands now we can enjoy it on our Windows PCs too and this is a huge improvement for guys like me who spend most of their time in front of a PC. Also, Apple users with Type-C ports on their gears can experience the LDAC protocol thanks to the BT11.