FiiO UTWS1 True Wireless Bluetooth Module

With the new FiiO UTWS1 True Wireless Bluetooth Module, any in-ear headphone with MMCX connector from FiiO Electronics Technology Co Ltd. can be transformed into a true wireless in-ear headphone.

What has been the standard for over-ear and on-ear headphones for years and days is now also becoming increasingly popular for in-ear headphones, namely the complete absence of cables. “True wireless” is the slogan with which many manufacturers advertise their products in this area. This promises customers particularly flexible use, absolute freedom of movement, since with “True wireless”, no cables should actually interfere with anything.

However, some users, especially demanding users, already own extremely fine in-ear headphones, or are focusing on special models where “true wireless” has not been an issue so far and may not be in the future. Or they don’t want to do without cables altogether, so they use their in-ear headphones with or without cables as required.

The solution that FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. is now presenting for the first time, namely the so-called FiiO UTWS1 True Wireless Bluetooth Module, is likely to be of particular interest to precisely this target group.

As James Chung of FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. points out, “True wireless” is one of the dominant trends in in-ear headphones these days, and his company is of course dedicated to this development as well – after all, the company is considered a proven expert in the field of personal audio devices, especially with a focus on headphones, portable hi-fi audio players, but also portable headphone amplifiers with Bluetooth on board.

So it was obvious to make “True wireless” the topic, but once again, the company is taking a particularly exciting path with the new FiiO UTWS1 True Wireless Bluetooth Module.

This is a module that can turn a variety of in-ear headphones into True wireless in-ear headphones, provided that they use a so-called MMCX connector, which is the basic requirement. This MMCX connector is a standard for the connection between the cable and the actual earplug, a kind of bayonet lock that allows the quick exchange of cables, which is always essential in connection with high-quality in-ear headphones. After all, you can use particularly high-quality cables or use cables with different connections such as balanced 2.5 mm or 4.4 mm connectors instead of the unbalanced 3.5 mm stereo mini jack.

The new FiiO UTWS1 True Wireless Bluetooth Module features exactly such MMCX connectors, with 0.78 2-pin connectors also supported. The FiiO UTWS1 True Wireless Bluetooth Module is a very compact module, although actually there are two, as one is required for the left and one for the right earplug to actually be able to speak of “True wireless”.

The compact module is “fixed” behind the ear, and a very, very short cable is used for the connection to the earplug, whereby the cable is led from behind the ear.

The compact modules contain the complete electronics including battery, with a Qualcomm QCC3020 at the heart of the new FiiO UTWS1 True Wireless Bluetooth Module. This allows the use of Bluetooth 5.0, the latest standard, which is characterised by very low energy consumption, among other things. In addition to SBC and AAC, aptX is also supported, so that adequate transmission quality is guaranteed for both Apple iOS and Google Android. A so-called FPC Bluetooth Antenna is supposed to guarantee reliable operation at all times and via Intelligent DSP Noise Cancellation an appealing playback is largely free of ambient noise.

An integrated microphone is also “on board”, so that the FiiO UTWS1 True Wireless Bluetooth Module can be used as a hands-free device with any corresponding in-ear headphones.

It’s also worth mentioning that the new FiiO UTWS1 True Wireless Bluetooth Module is at least protected against splash water, so that it can be used for sports or in slightly duller weather without any problems. However, the FiiO UTWS1 True Wireless Bluetooth Module isn’t really resistant to water, as far as the manufacturer’s advice goes.

A very important aspect of True Wireless In-ear headphones is of course always the battery life. Especially due to the almost tiny dimensions of the whole solution, the battery is comparatively small, so that the battery life is usually much shorter than with solutions in the field of on-ear and over-ear headphones, but also than with in-ear headphones that rely on a so-called neckband. In the case of the new FiiO UTWS1 True Wireless Bluetooth Module, the specification of up to eight hours of battery life is therefore surprising; the standby time is said to be up to 180 hours. This is enough to get by for a few days, if you trust this solution on your way to and from the office every day…

By the way, of course, the new FiiO UTWS1 True Wireless Bluetooth Module comes with a micro-USB cable that charges both modules of this solution simultaneously as a “one-for-two”.

The new FiiO UTWS1 True Wireless Bluetooth Module is, as originally announced, now available at retailers. The recommended retail price for this extremely practical solution is € 79,-.

Getting to the point

As James Chung of FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. points out, “True wireless” is one of the dominant trends in in-ear headphones these days, and his company is of course dedicated to this development as well – after all, it is considered a proven expert in the field of personal audio devices, especially with a focus on headphones, portable hi-fi audio players, but also portable headphone amplifiers with Bluetooth on board. So it was only natural that the company should focus on “True wireless” for all aspects of in-ear headphones, but once again they are taking a particularly exciting path with the new FiiO UTWS1 True Wireless Bluetooth Module.