FiiO BR13 Compact Hi-Res Bluetooth Receiver

The FiiO BR13 is a compact hi-fi Bluetooth receiver and DAC that brings wireless streaming to the amplifier, active speakers or hi-fi you already own. A Qualcomm QCC5125 Bluetooth chip receives LDAC, aptX Adaptive and aptX HD, an ESS ES9018K2M DAC and TPA1882 op-amp do the decoding, and USB, coaxial and optical inputs make it a wired DAC too. FiiO’s upsampling raises wired sources to as much as 96kHz/24-bit, and a custom screen, buttons and the FiiO Control app put you in charge from the sofa. It has dual Hi-Res Audio certification and won a VGP 2024 Summer Life Style award.

Wireless for the hi-fi you already have

Bluetooth audio breathes new life into traditional amplifiers: connect the BR13 and you can sit back on the sofa and control your music from your phone or tablet, without being tied to the system by a cable. As FiiO says, going back to wired listening is hard once you’ve experienced the convenience.

Six Bluetooth codecs including LDAC, two devices at once

The BR13 supports more Bluetooth codecs than most receivers in its class: LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, aptX and SBC. It can stay connected to two phones, tablets or other devices at once, so you can switch between them seamlessly. An external antenna keeps the connection stable at up to 30 metres, by FiiO’s figure.

For gaming and films, a dedicated low-latency mode in the app gives aptX Low Latency priority with one tap, keeping sound in step with the picture.

Bluetooth, USB and S/PDIF: one box for all

• Bluetooth: stream from phones, tablets, laptops, TVs and other Bluetooth devices.
• USB DAC: plays up to 96kHz/24-bit over USB-C. UAC 1.0 means it works without drivers on computers and games consoles.
• S/PDIF conversion: connect the optical or coaxial output of a TV, set-top box or DVD player (coaxial up to 192kHz/24-bit, optical up to 96kHz/24-bit) and the BR13 sends it on as RCA analogue, coaxial or optical, for a home cinema set-up.
• S/PDIF bypass: optical and coaxial sources can both stay connected, saving the hassle of swapping cables.

Digital and analogue outputs

The RCA line output delivers 2Vrms to active speakers or an amplifier, and the coaxial and optical outputs carry up to 96kHz/24-bit to an external DAC or AV receiver: higher output specifications than most Bluetooth receivers.

FiiO’s upsampling, for wired sources

FiiO’s own digital upsampling, which it says is unique to the BR13, raises low sample-rate audio from the wired inputs to as much as 96kHz/24-bit (44.1kHz becomes 88.2kHz), bringing it closer to master quality. Bluetooth isn’t upsampled. Some older devices only accept 48kHz, and the app has a compatibility mode for them.

A complete hi-fi system inside

At its core are the Qualcomm QCC5125 Bluetooth chip, the ES9018K2M DAC and the TPA1882 op-amp. FiiO added the details: five low-noise LDO regulators for precise voltages, a dedicated over-voltage protection chip, a 100MHz crystal oscillator and a hi-fi mute circuit, so switching on and off or changing codec has almost no effect on the sound. Volume is adjusted in 60 independent steps, and FiiO spent many hours lowering the noise floor (under 5µV) for purer, more immersive sound.

A clear screen, buttons or app

The custom 1.1-inch backlit LCD is high-contrast and durable: it shows the input, codec, EQ and volume at a glance and is always on without burn-in (it switches off after 5, 10 or 15 minutes without a signal, as you choose in the app). Unlike many products in its class, the BR13 can be run from its front buttons (power and play/pause, input, EQ and volume) or from the FiiO Control app, so you can use whichever is closer.

EQ presets and your own parametric EQ

EQ presets for jazz, pop, rock and classical music let you enjoy different kinds of music straight away. In the FiiO Control app you can also set two parametric EQs of your own, each with 10 bands whose frequency, gain and Q you can adjust, and recall them from the EQ button. The app also switches on the low-latency mode and sets the screen timeout, and firmware updates arrive over the air.

Fits almost anywhere

The compact, durable aluminium alloy body has a specially angled front panel that is easy to read wherever the BR13 sits: beside your amplifier, under the TV or on a desk. It runs from any USB power source (5V/1A) through its USB-C port, which also carries USB audio.

Good to know

• The BR13 has no headphone output: connect it to an amplifier, active speakers or a DAC.
• Want to send Bluetooth as well as receive it? The FiiO BTA30 Pro does both. For an R2R DAC with balanced outputs, see the FiiO BR15 R2R.
• In the box: BR13, USB to USB-C cable, quick start guide and warranty card. Power it from any 5V USB charger.