New Firmware v1.4 for FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier

With the help of the new firmware v1.4, FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. equips the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier with a range of new features and capabilities.

With the help of the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier, a large number of in-ear headphones can be transformed into Bluetooth in-ear headphones, at least if they have an MMCX connector. This solution was introduced by the Chinese specialist for personal audio devices FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. last autumn. Now the company is offering new firmware for the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier, which adds several exciting new features.

Firmware v1.4 for FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier

The basis for extending the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier with new functions with the help of a new firmware is a Programmable Bluetooth Processor Platform, as the manufacturer states.

A powerful processor provides the signal processing and sufficient reserves to expand the functionality beyond the originally announced scope.

The R&D team of FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. has been working in recent weeks to exploit the potential of this platform even better, with a particular focus on optimising the audio signal processing.

In fact, according to the manufacturer, it is the Qualcomm QCC5141 platform that is the central component here.

Ambient Sound Mode

The new firmware v1.4 for the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier introduces a new Ambient Sound Mode, which allows users to stay in contact with their surroundings even when using the in-ear headphones.

On the one hand, this facilitates conversations for which the headphones do not have to be removed from the ear beforehand, but also increases safety when driving in traffic, for example.

Game Mode

Another innovation is the so-called Game Mode, which allows signal transmission with particularly low latency. This operating mode is of course aimed at all those who use headphones via the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier in connection with games, for example on a smartphone.

According to the manufacturer, the latency could be reduced by 27 per cent with aptX Adaptive and by as much as 41 per cent with aptX.

Both the new Ambient Mode and the Game Mode can of course be activated directly via the FiiO Control App for Apple iOS and Google Android.

It is also possible to activate or deactivate these operating modes via multiple taps on the keypads of the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier.

LHDC Bluetooth Codec

Still in beta, but already on board is the support of LHDC as a further codec for signal transmission, whereby up to 24 bit and 96 kHz are achieved and thus a playback in hi-res audio is offered.

What about LDAC?

FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. also mentions LDAC in connection with the availability of the new firmware, but has to admit that this codec is not yet supported.

They are already working intensively on such an implementation, but regret that there is still no progress in supporting LDAC. According to FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd., this is mainly due to the fact that Sony Corporation and Qualcomm are still struggling with various errors in the implementation of LDAC. Even though LDAC has already been implemented in other Bluetooth platforms, it cannot yet be offered in the specific case of the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier. As an OEM partner of Qualcomm, they can only wait until the corresponding problems are solved and the corresponding source code is made available to the partners.

Pricing and availability

Of course, the new firmware v1.4 is available free of charge to all users of a FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier, and the manufacturer’s website provides all the information needed to install it. The FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier itself retails for €139.

Getting to the point

It is extremely pleasing that FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. does not simply leave products like the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier as they were originally announced and delivered, but not only provides bug fixes via firmware updates, but actually adds new features. The new firmware v1.4 for the FiiO UTWS5 True Wireless Bluetooth Amplifier delivers a handful of extremely practical innovations.