Christmas and Chanukah are coming early this year for iPhone users who feel shortchanged when it comes to streaming hi-res audio (let alone 16-bit/44.1kHz). Android users have been spoiled for years — but all of that might be coming to an end thanks to a new dongle from FiiO that promises a lot. The new FiiO BT11 Portable Bluetooth Transmitter could change your hi-res streaming experience in a very meaningful way if you don’t mind having it as part of your smartphone on a more permanent basis.
The BT11 supports a wide range of codecs, including aptX Lossless, LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX LL and more — allowing users to enjoy up to 24-Bit 96kHz wireless audio as offered by the major streaming services.
Available in black and silver finishes, this small device simply plugs into the your iPhone’s USB Type-C port and enables high-quality connectivity to wireless headphones and speakers.
The BT11 supports simultaneously connecting to two receiving devices. Equipped with Qualcomm’s flagship Bluetooth chip — the QCC5181 — it features a quad-core processor architecture and two 240MHz Qualcomm Kalimba audio DSPs.
The BT11 also supports Snapdragon Sound, which delivers an immersive lossless audio experience with compatible devices.
Thanks to its support for the latest Bluetooth 5.4 version, the BT11 provides a more stable connection, longer transmission ranges, and overall system performance improvements — all at lower power consumption.
Connect the BT11 to the FiiO Control App for iOS and Android and easily control the device and access functions such as simultaneous pairing to two devices.
The BT11 will also be upgraded via over-the-air (OTA) updates, with scheduled updates including: addition of the LC3 Codec, volume adjustment, indicator light control, channel balance adjustment, and pairing lists.
The color RGB indicator light on the BT11 clearly displays the working status of the device, as well as the current Bluetooth codec being used.
Codec Color State
| RGB Light Indicator | |
| SBC | Blue pulsing light |
| aptX/aptX Low Latency | Purple pulsing light |
| aptX HD | Yellow pulsing light |
| LDAC | White pulsing light |
| aptX Adaptive/aptX Lossless | Green pulsing light |
| Pairing | Blue flashing light |
| Waiting to reconnect | Red and blue lights flashing |
Specifications
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Bluetooth Chipset | Qualcomm QCC5181 |
| Bluetooth Codec Support | SBC, aptX, aptX Low Latency, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC |
| Dimensions | 28mm x 21mm x 9mm |
| Weight | 3g |
| In the box | 1 x BT11 1 x USB Type-A to USB Type-C Adaptor 1 x Quick Start Guide 1 x Warranty Card |
| Available Finishes | Black or Silver |
Initial Impressions
We’ve been waiting for something like the FiiO BT11 for awhile and anything that improves the wireless streaming experience for the tens of millions of consumers in North America who use wireless earbuds or wireless headphones as their primary listening device — is a huge step forward.
With so many new wireless earbuds and headphones flooding the market, we’ve reached the point where there are options that support hi-res codecs and for those of us who listen to TIDAL, Qobuz, Amazon Music HD, or Apple Music (sorry Spotify) — and own wireless headphones that can offer hi-res playback — this is something that makes a lot of sense. Most certainly for the price.
Will mainstream users be able to tell the difference? We will let you know when our review sample arrives and we have an opportunity to pass it around.
Price & Availability
The FiiO BT11 will be available from Oct 8th, priced $44 USD (£42 / €49).
For more information: fiio.com/bt11
Related Articles:
