Posts: 23968 Location: Central Kentucky Joined: December 20, 2000 Contributor Since: January 29, 2004
I'm not familiar with that particular product, but I own a number of other FiiO components and they're truly topnotch. I'm currently using the FiiO M17 digital audio player as my only source for digital playback. I also own a number of their headphones and earphones, and they all sound excellent to me.
Good luck! John Elison
RE: Fiio BTA30, posted on October 9, 2023 at 14:28:50
Posts: 98 Location: Wexford Joined: December 30, 2021
I AM LOATHE TO ADMIT THIS, and my ears must be deceiving me because of the low volume levels, but there is zero difference between this 130 euro DAC and the DAC in my 3,000 euro CD player.
It doesn't stop there. The RCA between CD and amp cost me 600e to make and is pure silver shielded with pure silver RCA connectors. The Coax to DAC is a 30e OFC cable and the RCA from DAC to amp cost me a whole 30e to make with pure copper cable and gold plated copper RCA plugs. My CD power cable is an OCC silver plated affair with silver plated plugs.
The DAC power cable is a USB C frickin cable.
I'm at sea. I HATE TO ADMIT how outrageously good this little DAC is thats smaller than my hand. (and that's small)
Honestly, this thing is off the chart good. I need a few hours at high volume levels to really hear if anything breaks up/rolls off, but so far so good.
For reference, I am listening at 47dB @ 800W.
RE: Fiio BTA30, posted on October 11, 2023 at 13:41:15
Posts: 23968 Location: Central Kentucky Joined: December 20, 2000 Contributor Since: January 29, 2004
I had the same reaction when I discovered FiiO several years ago. Their components are simply amazing for the price. Actually, they're amazing at any price. I was using a $3000 Mytek Brooklyn Bridge as my digital source and now I'm using the $1800 FiiO M17 DAP. It has eight DACs per channel and sounds better than any other DAC or DAP I've ever owned. I'm hoping it lasts the rest of my life. I'm 75!
Happy listening! John Elison
RE: Fiio BTA30, posted on October 11, 2023 at 14:13:40
Posts: 98 Location: Wexford Joined: December 30, 2021
So- after several months of being in my system, the little Fiio shows its weaknesses against the heavyweight CDP.
What I originally thought was minute levels of absent detail are actually large gaps. My CDP wins hand over fist, and I'd be disappointed otherwise. I acknowledge the IC's on the CDP are pure silver with pure silver plugs vs pure copper with gold plated copper on the Fiio, but still. It's vastly more rewarding listening to the CD than digital.
RE: The intricacies , posted on February 12, 2024 at 06:50:48
Posts: 23968 Location: Central Kentucky Joined: December 20, 2000 Contributor Since: January 29, 2004
Well, as I already mentioned, I'm using the $1,800 FiiO M17 DAP, so your comparison might not be applicable to the FiiO component I'm using. On the other hand, it probably doesn't make a lot of difference anyway because I don't listen to CDs anymore. I'm heavily into high-resolution digital such as 24/192 PCM or 352-kHz DXD or DSD256. I've been mostly listening to DSD256 lately. I now own just over 400 albums in DSD256. My FiiO M17 will play all digital formats up through DSD512.