FiiO BTR15 vs FiiO BTR5 2021

Both are Bluetooth receivers, both at $109.

The FiiO BTR15 reaches 100 dB on 565 of the 567 models here, the FiiO BTR5 2021 on 563.

Through the balanced sockets the two are level on the same test: each reaches 100 dB on 565 of the 567 models here. Derived figures are worked out from the loads the maker did publish.

Copied from the makers’ own pages: fiio.com/BTR15_parameters, fiio.com/btr52021_parameters, fiio.com/btr52021. Battery life is the maker’s own test figure.

Both makers publish a power rating. FiiO BTR15 publishes at 32 Ω and at 300 Ω; FiiO BTR5 2021 at 32 Ω. The other rows are worked out from those.

So the two columns are not equally firm row by row: at 300 Ω only the FiiO BTR15 figure is the maker’s own. On those rows the derived number is the one to doubt first.

What the labels mean.

2 headphones reach 100 dB on the FiiO BTR15 but not on the FiiO BTR5 2021 — HiFiMAN Susvara, Symphonium Crimson.

563 of the 567 models here reach 100 dB on both.

Headroom is at a 100 dB SPL peak.

The widest gap on the list is the Shure SE846: FiiO BTR15 has +34 dB of headroom there against +31 dB. 3 dB is about 1.8 times the power, which matters for peaks rather than for how loud the music sits.

Hiss below about 20 dB SPL is inaudible in a quiet room.

These two cost the same, $109, so price settles nothing. Out of the 567 models here, the FiiO BTR15 drives 2 models to 100 dB — and on the other side there is no such advantage at all.

Only published figures count here; blank axes are counted separately.

Each in full: FiiO BTR15 and FiiO BTR5 2021.