FiiO TRUSTBLU USB DAC & LDAC Bluetooth Receiver – Compact HiFi Receiver with Bluetooth 5.4, USB DAC and Extensive Sound Control
The FiiO TRUSTBLU packs Bluetooth 5.4 with SBC and LDAC, a standalone USB DAC handling 24 bit and 96 kHz, and a headphone amplifier into a 8 g housing. A 31-band parametric equaliser with Auto EQ, plus dynamic range compression, lets listeners shape the sound to taste. We look at how the little receiver is meant to bring analogue-only systems into the digital age, and where its limits lie.
- The FiiO TRUSTBLU USB DAC & LDAC Bluetooth Receiver adds wireless LDAC streaming, a USB DAC for 24 bit and 96 kHz files and a headphone amplifier to any system with a 3.5 mm analogue input, all in a housing measuring roughly 55 × 19 × 9.1 mm. Its 31-band parametric equaliser with Auto EQ, dual-source Bluetooth connection and dynamic range compression set it apart from simple adaptors, though it needs USB-C power at all times; FiiO has so far confirmed availability in Asia only, with no European pricing yet.
Plenty of perfectly good active speakers and amplifiers have no Bluetooth, no USB input and no way of adjusting the tonal balance. Upgrading them usually means buying new kit. FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. is pitching a far cheaper route with the new FiiO TRUSTBLU USB DAC & LDAC Bluetooth Receiver: a very small adaptor that connects to a computer as a USB DAC, receives music wirelessly from phones and tablets, and passes the result on through an analogue output.
It is not a bare-bones design. FiiO has included LDAC, a parametric equaliser and dynamic range compression, features that make the TRUSTBLU worth a closer look for more demanding desktop and living-room set-ups.
Key Facts – FiiO TRUSTBLU USB DAC & LDAC Bluetooth Receiver
- Compact USB DAC and Bluetooth receiver with built-in headphone amplifier
- Bluetooth 5.4 with SBC and LDAC support
- USB DAC for PCM signals up to 24 bit and 96 kHz
- 31-band parametric equaliser (PEQ) and Auto EQ via FiiO Control on the desktop
- Smartphone control through the FiiO Control app
- Dynamic Range Compression (DRC)
- Simultaneous connection to two Bluetooth source devices
- Analogue output on a 3.5 mm stereo mini jack
- Automatic activation and standby function
- Housing of around 55 × 19 × 9,1 mm, weighing just 8 g
- Powered via USB-C; no internal battery
Powered, not portable: the one catch
It is worth starting with the limitation, because it shapes everything else. The FiiO TRUSTBLU has no internal battery, so it only works while it is plugged into an external USB-C supply. FiiO specifies 5 V and at least 1 A. That makes it a stationary component for a desk, a hobby room or a shelf, and not a pocketable Bluetooth dongle to take on the train.
Within that remit, the manufacturer has clearly focused on keeping things simple. According to FiiO, the receiver switches itself on as soon as an audio cable is connected. If it detects no audio signal, it drops into a power-saving standby mode on its own. The idea is that it can sit behind a pair of speakers and be forgotten about, with no routine of switching it on and off.
Size and controls
At roughly 55 × 19 × 9.1 mm and about 8 g, the TRUSTBLU is the kind of device that disappears into an existing set-up. Even a crowded desk should have room for it.
Despite the tiny footprint, FiiO has not stripped out the physical controls. There are buttons for volume, a multifunction key and a switch for selecting the operating mode. An LED shows the Bluetooth codec in use and, in USB mode, the sampling rate, which saves guesswork when you want to confirm that a high-resolution stream is actually arriving as intended.
Two inputs, one output
The core idea is simple: two digital sources feeding a single analogue output. Music can arrive wirelessly via Bluetooth, or the receiver can be connected over USB-C and used directly as an external digital-to-analogue converter. Either way, the signal leaves via the 3.5 mm stereo mini jack, which can be connected to suitable active speakers or amplifiers.
This matters most for older equipment. Systems that so far only had analogue inputs can be extended to play digital music over USB or Bluetooth without replacing anything.
Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC
Wireless reception is handled by Bluetooth 5.4. As well as the mandatory SBC codec, the TRUSTBLU supports LDAC, which allows compatible source devices to transmit audio at a higher data rate. The benefit should be greatest when linking a smartphone, tablet or computer to an existing HiFi system. The catch is that LDAC only comes into play if the source device supports it as well.
A second feature should appeal to anyone who juggles several devices: the receiver can stay connected to two Bluetooth sources at once. FiiO says an intelligent prioritisation of the audio signals makes switching between them easier, for example when you alternate between music from a phone and sound from a computer.
USB DAC: 24 bit and 96 kHz
Used over USB, the TRUSTBLU becomes an external DAC. FiiO fits a standalone digital-to-analogue converter that processes signals at up to 24 bit and sampling rates of a maximum of 96 kHz, in linear PCM. That is enough to play high-resolution music files from a computer. The signal is converted inside the receiver and made available as an analogue signal at the 3.5 mm output.
Headphone amplifier
A headphone amplifier is built in as well. According to the manufacturer, it delivers at least 2 × 55 mW into 32 ohms and 2 × 100 mW into 16 ohms. FiiO recommends headphone impedances of 8 to 100 ohms. These figures point to headphones and in-ear monitors that are relatively easy to drive; the TRUSTBLU is not aimed at power-hungry, high-impedance models.
31-band parametric equaliser
What sets the receiver apart from most adaptors in this class is how far its sound can be tailored. FiiO relies on its FiiO Control software platform, which is available for mobile devices and for the desktop.
The smartphone app handles playback and volume. The desktop version goes further, unlocking a parametric equaliser with no fewer than 31 bands. Unlike a basic tone control, a parametric equaliser lets users target individual frequency ranges with much greater precision. That opens the door to adapting the sound to particular headphones, speakers or personal listening habits.
FiiO Control also offers an Auto EQ function, which is intended to supply suitable correction curves. Equaliser profiles created by other users and shared within the community can be loaded too. The aim, according to FiiO, is to make tuning easier without requiring owners to work out every parameter themselves.
Dynamic range compression for film and TV
The TRUSTBLU also includes Dynamic Range Compression (DRC). It is designed to narrow the gap between quiet and loud passages, which can make films, series and other dynamic material more comfortable to listen to.
In practice, this could help where dialogue is mixed quietly while effects or music play at a much higher level. Compression reduces these differences so that speech stays intelligible even at a moderate overall volume. For late-evening listening or use at a desk, that could be a handy addition.
For music, it is a different story. DRC deliberately alters the dynamics of the signal, so anyone after the most natural reproduction will probably not want it switched on.
Where FiiO sees it fitting
FiiO names compact desktop audio systems as the typical use, for example in combination with the FiiO SP3 active speakers or the FiiO GIGAS 1 headphone amplifier. Beyond the desk, the mix of small size, wireless music streaming and extensive sound control could suit a hobby room or serve as an unfussy upgrade to existing components.
All benefits at a glance
- Three functions in one: USB DAC, Bluetooth receiver and headphone amplifier share a single, very compact housing.
- Wireless high-resolution streaming: LDAC allows compatible smartphones and other sources to be connected at a high transmission quality.
- Detailed sound shaping: the parametric equaliser makes it possible to tune the sound to different tastes and audio systems.
- Easier tuning: Auto EQ and community-shared equaliser profiles take much of the work out of finding a good setting.
- More flexibility: two simultaneously connected Bluetooth sources make it easier to use different playback devices.
- Relaxed listening at low volume: the built-in dynamic range compression can help with films and series in particular.
- Discreet integration: the tiny housing needs virtually no extra space in a desktop audio system.
- Upgrading existing kit: older active speakers and amplifiers can be given digital sources with little effort.
Price and availability
According to FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd., the new FiiO TRUSTBLU USB DAC & LDAC Bluetooth Receiver is already on sale, at least in Asia. A firm retail price for Austria, Switzerland and Germany, and concrete details of availability through local specialist dealers, are not yet available.
Conclusion
With the FiiO TRUSTBLU USB DAC & LDAC Bluetooth Receiver, Guangzhou FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. shows once again how much functionality even the smallest audio components can now offer. The combination of USB DAC, Bluetooth LDAC and a 31-band parametric equaliser makes it particularly interesting. Anyone wanting to give existing active speakers or an amplifier a straightforward digital front end will find a well-thought-out concept here, one that wins above all through its versatility and minimal footprint. The need for external power does make clear, however, that the TRUSTBLU is intended mainly for stationary use rather than as a classic mobile Bluetooth receiver.
| Product | FiiO TRUSTBLU USB DAC & LDAC Bluetooth Receiver |
|---|---|
| Price | N/A |
Technical Specifications
| Product | FiiO TRUSTBLU USB DAC & LDAC Bluetooth Receiver |
|---|---|
| Characterisation | USB DAC, Bluetooth receiver and headphone amplifier |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth function | Reception, connection to two source devices |
| D/A converter | Standalone USB DAC |
| Supported audio formats | Linear PCM up to 24 bit and 96 kHz |
| Audio output | 3.5 mm stereo mini jack |
| Headphone output power | ≥ 100 mW + 100 mW into 16 ohms; ≥ 55 mW + 55 mW into 32 ohms |
| Recommended headphone impedance | 8 to 100 ohms |
| Sound control | 31-band parametric equaliser, Auto EQ |
| Additional audio functions | Dynamic Range Compression |
| Control | On-device controls, FiiO Control |
| Power supply | USB-C, DC 5 V / ≥ 1 A |
| Battery | None |
| Dimensions | Approx. 55 × 19 × 9,1 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 8 g |
| Brand | Guangzhou FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | FiiO |
| Distribution | NT Global Distribution GmbH |
| More about this manufacturer at HiFi BLOG |
