HeadphonesNewsPersonal Audio

FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier – Away with the Cable

With the help of the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier, a wide range of in-ear headphones can be transformed into Bluetooth in-ear headphones, at least if they have an MMCX connector.

The task of the new FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier is quite clear, it transforms a variety of in-ear headphones into Bluetooth in-ear headphones, so-called True Wireless in-ear headphones.

The only prerequisite for this is that the in-ear headphones have a detachable cable and rely on a so-called MMCX connector for connection.

This means that the new FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier can be attached in just a few simple steps and the headphones can from then on be operated solely via Bluetooth on smartphones, tablets, computers and also portable hi-res audio players.

No cables, impeccable quality

The new FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier is equipped with the finest components to ensure that you don’t have to sacrifice quality in the process, but can enjoy the benefits of a wireless signal connection alone.

This new solution is by no means the first system of its kind; FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. already has the FiiO UTWS1 True Wireless Bluetooth Module and the FiiO UTWS3 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier to its name, but the new FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier is set to join the top of the FiiO UTWS Series and set new standards.

FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier with AKM D/A Converter

It is astonishing that the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier uses a D/A converter from Asahi Kasei Microdevices, also known as AKM. This is interesting, as their converters have long since been classified as a rare commodity.

Nevertheless, in the new FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier there are of course two of them, in the form of AKM AK4332 DACs. Each channel is built here in the form of a complete signal processing chain.

By the way, the manufacturer particularly emphasises that this separate D/A converter is used here, after all, it is quite common in this class to pack as many functions as possible into one chip. This is not the case with the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier.

Bluetooth 5.2 for Hi-res Audio up to 24 Bit and 96 kHz

But here, too, a Bluetooth module is required first and foremost, whereby the latest generation from Qualcomm is used, specifically the Qualcomm QCC5141, which, according to the manufacturer, brings with it a series of significant improvements in the signal processing of hi-res audio content as well as an optimisation of the signal processing as a whole.

It is a Bluetooth 5.2 module that supports the codecs SBC and AAC as well as aptX and aptX Adaptive.

This is supposed to achieve signal processing of up to 24 bits and 96 kHz, so the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier is equipped for hi-res audio.

Of course, the new FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier also has integrated microphones so that it can be used as a hands-free device. Here, too, aptX Voice is used, so that signal transmission at 32 kHz ensures particularly good voice quality.

Another new feature is that the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier now has a much more sensitive volume control, with 32 levels available instead of only 26 as with the previously available solutions.

Third-gen TWS Mirroring

Incidentally, the new FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier is supposed to rely on the latest generation of Qualcomm TWS Mirroring to guarantee particularly stable, latency-free signal transmission.

The two earphones equipped with the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier and the source device form – to put it bluntly – a trio between which an optimal connection is always maintained.

MMCX Connector for connecting in-ear headphones

As already mentioned, the new FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier uses a so-called MMCX Connector for the connection to the actual in-ear headphones.

Interestingly, this solution is designed in such a way that it is routed from the front of the ear to the back, so that the electronics are located behind the ear and this special design alone guarantees a secure hold while at the same time providing a high level of wearing comfort.

It goes without saying that the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier is particularly light, as each Ear Hook Unit weighs only around 8g.

In this context, it should be mentioned that FiiO Electronics Technologie Co. Ltd. has also announced a special version with a 0.78 mm pin, so that in the future, in-ear headphones with this type of connection can also be turned into True Wireless in-ear headphones.

The FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier delivers an output power of 33 mW to earphones with an impedance of 32 ohms, and even 53 mW to models with an impedance of only 16 ohms.

  • Foto © FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. | FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier
  • Foto © FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. | FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier
  • Foto © FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. | FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier
  • Foto © FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. | FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier
  • Foto © FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. | FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier

Solid weatherproof construction

The FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier is, of course, very robustly designed, even if it looks very delicate. It is IPX4 certified, which means that it is resistant to splashing water and sweat. This means that it can be used outdoors in all weather conditions without any problems and is also perfectly equipped for sports.

Simple controls

Of course, the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier has buttons on the outside to control the volume, playback, answer and end phone calls, as well as voice control via Apple Siri or Google Assistant.

A suitable app is also available in the form of the FiiO Control App and FiiO Music App, both for Apple iOS and Google Android.

Long battery life

A big advantage of Bluetooth 5.2 is that it is a comparatively resource-saving connection. According to the manufacturer, this module is also characterised by particularly low power consumption, so that long battery runtimes are guaranteed.

In concrete terms, this means that the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier offers a playing time of up to eight hours, and in combination with the matching transport case and its 800 mAh battery, it can be charged in between for up to 30 hours away from the power socket.

This transport case can be charged via USB Type C or Qi Wireless Charging.

Getting to the point

The new FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier is another option from FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. for turning in-ear headphones into True Wireless in-ear headphones. The latest solution in this area comes with a number of significant improvements and, it should be noted here once again, will probably not be limited to MMCX alone, but will soon also be available for headphones with 0.78 pin.

PRODUCTFIIO UTWS5 TRUE WIRELESS BLUETOOTH AMPLIFIER
PriceN/A
BrandFiiO
ManufacturerFiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd.
DistributionNT Global Distribution GmbH
More about this manufacturer at HIFI BLOG
Show More

Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button