Wireless Performance
Since the FiiO AIR LINK operates on a Bluetooth 6.0 radio, expect stellar performance as far as connection stability and transmission distance.
I was unable to test the 6.0 since Bluetooth 6.0 gear is scarce at this time. I had one set that is in the development and testing phase, but I was unable to pair them together, and I’m not blaming the AIR LINK.
But I was able to test it at the 5.4 level, which still gave very good results. I was able to scale half an acre before sensing dropouts. In feet, I would say that I was able to get at least 60 feet away from the source with no issues.
I was able to put my mobile device in a corner of my three-bedroom house and walk inside each room, including the bathroom, and heard no dropouts whatsoever. That’s a first for me.
This is the first Bluetooth transmitter that lets me do that. All the others drop out as soon as I enter another room, and that was done with the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 on aptX Lossless and with the Svanar wireless. Lesser codecs give you even more move around. Very nice.
Latency
I opened up a YouTube page with lots of vocals. I mostly used talk shows, and the host was always time-aligned well, even though I was using the LDAC codec, which tends to add time lag for the benefit of sound quality.
In the Low Latency mode, the delay was nil and seemed almost an unnecessary codec to use due to the downgrade in sound quality. Even the aptX Lossless codec did well with latency. But I would stick with the higher-tier codecs for sure.
Pairing
It’s easy to pair the FiiO AIR LINK, but remember you have to do it within the app or the web interface.
To place the AIR LINK into pairing mode, simply press and hold the onboard button for a few seconds, and your gear will show up as available within the pair management list inside the app.
What I like most about the FiiO AIR LINK is that it always defaults to selecting the highest quality codec available. If aptX Lossless is available, it defaults to that codec; if not, it chooses LDAC second, etc.
The AIR LINK also pairs effortlessly, and the connection is very stable once it sticks, adding to the enjoyment since you get fewer dropouts when you move around with the AIR LINK than with stock BT transmissions, especially if you go 6.0. It does particularly well in a home audio scenario.
The Bluetooth 6.0 variant seems more forgiving around corners, but it still prefers a straight line view of the source, not necessarily with the AIR LINK, apparently, since it covers long enough distances to cover most common home interior spaces.
Select Comparisons
Questyle QCC (non-Pro Edition)
Technical
Being one of the first of its kind, the Questyle QCC (non-Pro) offers an easy way of obtaining aptX Lossless connection capability.
Like the AIR LINK, it works on almost any device that has a USB port. Perhaps there are LED TVs that have USB ports, which, if installed on, this device might not work on, but this is just an assumption rather than a blanket rule.
However, if you want better Bluetooth capability on a laptop, desktop, MacBook, Android, or iOS device, then the QCC is a serious competitor to the AIR LINK.
Most devices only include basic Bluetooth codec capability, and the QCC supplies aptX Lossless capability, but not LDAC, which I prefer over aptX Lossless since it’s widely available, and even the cheapest mobile devices are capable of using this codec these days.
I guess it boils down to the fact that if you own one of the several models with aptX Lossless capability, like the Creative Aurvana Ace 2, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4, or if you want to feed something like the iFi audio ZEN Blue 3, then the Questyle QCC is meant for you.
Design
The Questyle QCC is small indeed, but I’ve seen smaller USB Bluetooth dongles in the past; however, they didn’t pack so much tech, and they were basic transmitters. Not his one.
The housing is plastic, but it’s chromed out. If it were made of metal, the transmission would not reach the receiving device. It’s a hefty enough build, and that design gives us a lightweight device that performs.
The size of the Questyle QCC is half the size of the AIR LINK, or probably less than that.
However, the QCC only has a small LED, but the AIR LINK has an onboard button and a large LED strip to show the user what codec is being used. The small LED on the QCC is small and harder to see in a well-lit environment.
Performance
The biggest issue people will encounter with the Questyle QCC is that they omitted the LDAC codec on the basic edition; you have to get the more expensive Pro edition of the QCC to use LDAC.
So when you pair them to something like the HIFIMAN Svanar Wireless, or something that is not capable of the aptX Lossless codec, the QCC will drop down to SBC since the Svanar are not aptX-friendly.
However, when paired to something like the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 or the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless, it’s a different story altogether, and the results are stellar. You know you’re on aptX Lossless when the QCC’s LED turns red, and you will hear the difference.
Another thing I noticed was that the FiiO AIR LINK also comes in a few decibels louder on the aptX codec. However, I could not use the LDAC codec on the QCC. For that, you have to go pro, QCC Pro.
My Verdict
I wholeheartedly recommend the FiiO AIR LINK to any PC or tablet owner, or anyone who owns any type of gear that comes with a USB port and has inferior Bluetooth codecs and performance. This is one of the best Bluetooth solutions out there presently.
Most devices only supply basic Bluetooth function to get you by, but the AIR LINK takes gear to a level that’s fit for audio, especially on the higher aptX Lossless and LDAC codecs.
If you own Bluetooth devices with HQ codec capability, this is one device you won’t regret buying.
FiiO AIR LINK Technical Specifications
- Hardware: Qualcomm QCC5181
- Weight: about 4 grams
- Dimensions: 34.5 x 23.5 x 9.5 mm
- Firmware upgrade: OTA upgrade / USB upgrade
- Button: Switch pairing mode, select Bluetooth codec, factory data reset
- Antena: FPC
- FooI Control: Supported
- Bluetooth version: 6.0
- Maximum supported sampling: 96kHz / 24bit
- Bluetooth multipoint: Supported
- Bluetooth Transmission distance: Open space 50m+
- Type C male plug: Power supply/data transmission
- Type C female plug: Charging
- Rated input: 5V 1A
- Bluetooth codec: LDAC, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, aptX low latency, SBC
