FiiO UTWS17 – Cables Gone, Premium In-ears Remain

A detachable cable need not tie a pair of high-quality in-ear headphones permanently to a conventional headphone output. The new FiiO UTWS17 True Lossless HiFi Bluetooth Ear Hooks place Bluetooth reception, D/A conversion and amplification directly at the ear, allowing numerous existing in-ear models to operate wirelessly. Guangzhou FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. has equipped the system with the Qualcomm QCC5181, Bluetooth 6.0, a dedicated AK4333 DAC for each channel and up to twice 85 mW into 32 Ohms. The interchangeable connector system is equally significant: MMCX and 0.78 mm 2-Pin are no longer separate product versions, but are supplied together in the same package.

Key Facts FiiO UTWS17

• Product: Wireless Bluetooth ear hooks for in-ear headphones
• Bluetooth platform: Qualcomm QCC5181 with Bluetooth 6.0
• Codecs: aptX Lossless, LDAC, LHDC V5 and aptX Adaptive
• Audio system: Two independent AK4333 DACs with integrated headphone amplification
• Output power: Up to 85 mW per channel into 32 Ohms
• Connectors: Interchangeable MMCX and 0.78 mm 2-Pin adapters
• Charging case: Wireless charging for the ear hooks and an integrated status display
• Signal processing: 10-band PEQ, channel balancing and separate 32-step volume control
• Calls and gaming: aptX Voice, dual microphones, CVC and Game Mode with latency as low as 74,6 ms

Turning Existing In-ear Headphones into a Fully Wireless System

The purpose of the FiiO UTWS17 is straightforward: in-ear headphones with detachable cables can be used much like True Wireless models without abandoning their existing drivers or acoustic tuning. Each ear hook therefore contains its own Bluetooth receiver, D/A converter and headphone amplifier.

FiiO has pursued this principle across several generations of its FiiO UTWS Series. Following the FiiO UTWS1, FiiO UTWS3 and FiiO UTWS5, the latest version introduces more than an updated wireless platform. It also addresses two practical limitations of earlier solutions: fixed connector variants and exposed charging contacts that can accumulate dirt or oxidise over time.

Qualcomm QCC5181 with Bluetooth 6.0

At the heart of the system is the Qualcomm QCC5181. In addition to Bluetooth 6.0, the platform supports Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound and a broad range of audio codecs. Alongside SBC and AAC, this includes aptX, aptX HD, aptX Lossless, LDAC, LHDC V5 and aptX Adaptive.

According to FiiO, LHDC V5 permits transmission at up to 24 Bit and 192 kHz, provided that the connected smartphone offers the necessary support. aptX Adaptive can operate at up to 24 Bit and 96 kHz.

For aptX Lossless, FiiO quotes a wireless data rate of up to 1.2 MBit/s and lossless transmission at CD quality. The company’s “True Lossless” description should therefore not be interpreted as applying to every Bluetooth connection. It specifically refers to aptX Lossless within an entirely compatible playback chain and under suitable wireless conditions.

Separate AK4333 DACs for Left and Right

The two channels are treated as largely independent audio systems. Each ear hook uses its own AK4333 DAC with an integrated amplification stage, so conversion and amplification take place directly on the side to which the respective in-ear headphone is connected.

Output power is specified at up to 85 mW per channel into 32 Ohms. This means the FiiO UTWS17 are not restricted to particularly easy-to-drive in-ear headphones and are also intended for models with somewhat greater amplification requirements. Whether that output is sufficient for a particular model will nevertheless depend on its impedance and sensitivity.

MMCX and 0.78 mm 2-Pin in One Package

The connector arrangement is among the most useful changes. Instead of selling separate FiiO UTWS17 versions for MMCX and 0.78 mm 2-Pin, FiiO now employs interchangeable adapters.

Both connector types are included and can be fitted to the ear hooks as required. Users can consequently move between different in-ear headphones without purchasing two complete Bluetooth systems. The respective headphone must, of course, use the mechanical format and pin configuration of one of the supported standards.

Wireless Charging and a Case with Display

FiiO has also revised the charging system. The ear hooks receive power wirelessly while placed inside the charging case. This removes exposed charging contacts from the hooks themselves and is intended to prevent problems caused by dirt deposits and oxidation.

A display on the front of the case provides real-time information about the battery level of both ear hooks and the case, as well as the current pairing status. For a system built around two independent receivers, this offers considerably clearer information than a collection of differently flashing LEDs.

10-band PEQ and Independent Volume Control

A ten-band parametric equaliser allows the sound to be adjusted for the connected in-ear headphones or personal preferences. FiiO also provides channel balancing and separate 32-step volume adjustment for the left and right sides.

Multipoint connectivity is supported as well. The ear hooks can remain connected to more than one source, simplifying a switch between devices such as a smartphone and notebook. Users can also change directly between HiFi Mode, intended for music playback, and Game Mode, which prioritises lower latency.

Clearer Calls and Reduced Gaming Latency

For voice calls, the FiiO UTWS17 use aptX Voice with a sampling rate of 32 kHz. A dual-microphone array and revised CVC algorithm are intended to suppress ambient noise and capture speech more clearly.

Game Mode employs aptX Adaptive to reduce latency to as little as 74.6 ms, according to the manufacturer. This is relevant for games and video content, where an obvious discrepancy between picture and sound can be distracting. The quoted figure represents the best achievable latency with a suitable combination of source device, codec and operating mode.

The most important advantages at a glance

• Continue using existing in-ear headphones: High-quality models with detachable cables can become part of a fully wireless system.
• Two connector standards included: Interchangeable adapters provide support for MMCX and 0.78 mm 2-Pin.
• Wide codec selection: aptX Lossless, LDAC, LHDC V5 and aptX Adaptive cover a broad range of compatible source devices.
• Independent audio hardware for each channel: Separate AK4333 DACs handle conversion and amplification for the left and right sides.
• Wireless charging: Removing exposed contacts reduces the risk of problems caused by dirt and oxidation.
• Informative charging case: The integrated display shows battery levels and pairing status directly.
• Individual sound adjustment: The 10-band PEQ enables targeted correction for different headphones and listening preferences.
• Greater everyday flexibility: Multipoint, aptX Voice and a dedicated Game Mode extend use beyond music playback.

Price & Availability

According to the manufacturer, the FiiO UTWS17 True Lossless HiFi Bluetooth Ear Hooks will be offered for US$ 219,99. Specific pricing and availability information for local markets has unfortunately not yet been announced.

Getting to the point

The FiiO UTWS17 address two complications that have made Bluetooth ear hooks less convenient than they ought to be. Buyers no longer have to commit permanently to either MMCX or 0.78 mm 2-Pin, while wireless charging eliminates the vulnerable exposed contacts on the hooks. The Qualcomm QCC5181, individual AK4333 DACs and twice 85 mW of output power provide a convincing technical basis. “True Lossless” still requires context, however, since genuinely lossless Bluetooth transmission remains dependent on the codec, source device and wireless conditions. What makes the FiiO UTWS17 particularly interesting is that Guangzhou FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. has developed a flexible platform for different compatible in-ear headphones rather than a wireless solution tied to one specific model.

Technical Specifications