FiiO EX1 Nanotech Titanium Diaphragm In-Ear Monitors

kmmbd

500+ Head-Fier
Pros: Good build and accessories
- Airy, extended treble
- Good vocal rendition
- Class-leading soundstage and imaging/layering
- Mostly flat bass response with above-average bass speed
Cons: Lack of detachable cable
- Poor isolation
- Tonality and timbre is slightly "metallic" sounding
It’s always a nice exercise to go back to stuff that once sounded “oh-so-awesome” and compare them to the latest offerings.

Dunu Titan 1, or its rebranded and cheaper version — the Fiio EX1 (the one that I have here, sounds the same), were once highly lauded and often suggested. Since then they have fallen by the wayside, thanks to the insane amount of chi-fi choices in the sub-$100 range. I have been using one myself, albeit intermittently, for over two years. So, how do they stack up against the current competition?

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Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. Definitely the expectations from a $15 IEM won’t be the same as a $150 one, and that’s the approach taken while assigning scores. I bought the IEMs with my own funds, still, Disclaimer

Sources used: LG G6/G7, Questyle QP1R, Yulong DAART Canary, iPhone SE, Fiio E07K

Price, while reviewed — anywhere between $35 (the Titan1es version) to $100. Can be picked up around $50 during sales.

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Build: The housing is made of matte (Fiio version) or mirror-finished (Dunu version) Aluminium, and has proven to be rather sturdy over time. It has picked up some scuffs but nothing major. There are numerous vent holes on the front plate of the housing, and these aid in sound-stage and imaging. Blocking them apparently increases bass, but at the cost of soundstage. Another nice touch — color coded “rims” around the housings to differentiate between left/right.
The strain relief seems flimsy upon first glance, but it’s also been adequate so far. The biggest issue for me though (with the Fiio version) is the non-detachable springy cable that is quite microphonic and tangles easily now after years of use. The cable is different between Titan 1 and EX1, with the Titan 1 having a black-sheathed cable with braided lower half, while the EX1 cable has a semi-transparent plastic-sheath.
Thus, apart from that cable issue, nothing much of note.
4/5

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Accessories: Apart from the difference in presentations, Titan 1 and EX1 has similar accessories (with different branding, of course). You get basically everything you may need — plenty of tips (8 pairs or so), a nice carrying case (wish it had more room inside though), a shirt-clip, a cable-management buckle (very handy) and a 3.5 to 6.3mm jack. A pair of Spinfit tips would be nice (as Dunu owns them), but that’s just nitpicking.
4.5/5

Comfort:
Comfort might be a divisive factor when it comes to Titan 1/EX1. They have a “half in-ear” design, where the driver is housed in a earbud-like shell (thus allowing for large drivers, 14mm in this case) and then an in-ear friendly nozzle protrudes out. In theory these should be the best of both worlds but reality is a tad problematic.
Since the large shell causes weigh-distribution issues, unless you get a good seal they will slip out. This design is also not completely ideal for over-ear fit, so these are not ideal if you plan to fall asleep with them, or just want to use them for workouts. They personally fit me moderately well, but things could definitely be better. Thanks to the vents, there is no driver-flex, which is great.
3.5/5

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Now, on to the sound. One thing of note — these IEMs are one of the first to use Titanium-coated dynamic drivers, and their size is pretty rare at this price point. The material choice, coupled with the large diameter and front-vented design creates a sound which is rather unique — even to this day.

Lows: Bass speed is faster than average, but sub-bass rumble is completely absent. Mid-bass is mostly linear, and will be right up the alley for those who prefer a neutral/lower than neutral bass response. Those who want more bass presence will be disappointed, however, as both the sub-bass rumble and mid-bass kick with the kick-drums and certain snare hits are rather muted (a side-effect of the vented-front, I assume). However, it’s not all bad, as tracks like The Midnight’s Days of Thunder sound bassy enough, though the sub-bass is not quite there.
A nice side-effect of this lean bass response is that certain tracks with heavy-bass in the mix sound clearer than other IEMs, so there’s that.
3/5

Mids:
If I have to use one word to describe Titan 1’s midrange, it would be: “open”. These have a mid-range that sounds very similar to earbuds, and has great layering between instruments.
In terms of vocals, female vocals are slightly emphasized, while male vocals sound brighter than neutral. Overall mid-range tonality is on the bright side, and on poorly recorded tracks you might hear hints of sibilance. For most of my test tracks, however, that was not an issue. Detail rendition is also above average and a bit better than most single-dynamic driver IEMs at this range (multi-BA IEMs are another story).
Unfotunately, mid-range tonality and timbre is not “natural”, per se, since it has a slight metallic tonality. Nothing major but it does stand out when A/B-ing with more neutral and natural-sounding IEMs, e.g. the BLON BL-03.
What stands out the most about Titan 1’s midrange though is how absolutely fantastic acoustic guitars sound on them. I personally use them solely for acoustic/unplugged tracks, and they sound sublime with subtle details like the guitar pick sliding across the strings/finger-plucks. Try Eternal Tears of Sorrow’s The River Flows Frozen (acoustic reprise) or Damien Rice’s Cannonball as testers. I can overlook some of the flaws of the midrange just for that.
4/5

Treble:
Treble is airy, with a peak around 7KHz that might be intense for some. I personally find the 5/6KHz and 8KHz region more problematic, and these don’t necessarily have weird peaks there. The treble extends well below even 12KHz and this results in nice sparkle up top. Cymbal crashes have accurate attack and decay and even in tracks with repeated, heavy cymbal hits (e.g. System of a Down — Toxicity) the driver doesn’t get overwhelmed. Treble tonality though has that “metallic” feel, so if you need a very smooth, relaxed and natural timbre in the treble region these won’t be ideal.
4.5/5

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Soundstage: This is where the Titan 1 flexes its muscle. See those vent-holes? They leak sound and affects isolation, but they also expand the soundstage more than any other IEM I’ve heard under $100 (apart from perhaps Havi B3 Pro). The expansion is very natural and not achieved through FR shenanigans. Soundstage width is one of the best in this range, and soundstage depth is class-leading even when compared to many multi-BA drivers under $100. Instrument separation is fantastic as well.
4.5/5

Imaging:
Yet another strength of the Titan 1 is its imaging/positional cues. I very much doubt you will get another IEM in this range with better imaging since it’s practically perfect here with nearly holographic imaging. Just try Tool’s Chocolate Chip Trip, or that Barber-shop clip. You’re welcome.
5/5

Bang-for-buck:
This is a bit hard to judge here as the price fluctuates wildly. On AliExpress it’s often priced around $100 during regular season, and $60/70 during sales. The Fiio rebrand was priced much lower (I got mine for ~$40 on a sale) but that’s sadly discontinued. Still, even at ~$60, this is a good buy if you don’t mind a brighter tonality. You can also get the Titan 1es for 15 pounds (on sale as of now).
4/5

Source and Amping:
These sound good outta almost anything. Needs a bit more volume than the usual IEM but that’s about it.

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Select Comparisons

vs
TinAudio T3: Tin T3 has a more comfortable fit and seals better, which leads to more perceived bass in noisy environments. However, bass quality of T3 is average, so Titan 1 has slight edge there. T3 has a more forward mid-range, but the slight sibilance issues can be a downer. Both have similar amount of micro-details and is brighter than neutral. Treble is where the Titan 1 pulls ahead, and much better soundstage and slightly better imaging are the cherry on the top. T3 does have a fantastic detachable cable, while the meh fixed cable of the Titan 1 seems pedestrian in comparison.

vs BLON BL-03: The current chi-fi darling can be a challenging foe. First up — comfortwise, the Titan 1 is better, and has a better fit as the BLONs has an atrocious fit. Titan 1 also has a better accessory set, though BLONs have detachable earpieces.
In terms of sound, BL-03 has the much better bass response. The mid-bass can be a bit heavy depending on your eartip preference and fit, but in general the bass is just outright better both in terms of quality and quantity. Midrange is quite different in both, as the BL-03s prioritize tonality and timbral accuracy over absolute detail retrieval while the Titan 1 focus more on technicalities. Treble is better on the Titan 1 due to the added air and sparkle up top, so is the soundstage and imaging. I personally still prefer the BLONs for most tracks (as they are so fun to listen to, and the vocals sound more intimate and natural) but the Titan 1 also has its moments with acoustic and instrument heavy/binaural tracks.

vs Sennheiser IE40 Pro: IE40 Pros are one of the best IEMs available under $100 IMO, and thus warrants a comparison. I prefer the Titan 1’s build personally, because the IE40’s ABS plastic housing doesn’t inspire much confidence. Comfort and isolation is a landslide victory on Sennheiser’s side. Accessories are good on both but I prefer Titan 1’s hard-shell case to Senn’s pouch.
As for the sound, IE40 Pro has visceral sub-bass and a pretty bumped-up mid-bass. Bassheads rejoice. These also help in commuting as the bass frequencies get attenuated when you’re out and about. From a neutral POV though Titan 1 is definitely flatter. The midrange sounds recessed on the IE40 Pros (due to that bass emphasis) but still has really good vocals and excellent timbre/tonality with no problematic upper-mid peak. Treble is more up-front on the Titan 1 but IE40 Pros fare well with their smooth treble rendition that sounds good even with poorly mastered tracks. Titan 1 aces soundstage and imaging, yawn.
I personally prefer the IE40 Pros for commuting, and the Titan 1 for more critical listening. They complement each other rather than compete.

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Conclusion:
Dunu did not retire the Titan 1 even 4 years after its release, and I guess that bears testament to its longevity in the price bracket. It does show its age on a few areas: the fixed cable, the metallic timbre and outdated housing design.

What it does well though is sound unlike anything out there with its airy treble, detail-heavy midrange and a very open soundstage topped by class-leading imaging. These won’t be a good IEM for commuting, these won’t be good as your only pair of IEMs (unless you know this is what you want), but if you ever want to get a second pair for acoustic tracks — look no further. To boot, they can be had for real low prices at times, so if you find a good deal give them a shot.

They might be forgotten, but they are yet to be completely beaten.

#Recommended

You can buy them from
here or here (or look around for better deals)

Test tracks (as YouTube playlist, often updated):

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NewbieSteve

New Head-Fier
Pros: soundstage, highs, neutral and balanced
Cons: Sound leakage, slightly heavy and can be uncomfortable
Review:
 
I had very high expectations before buying the Fiio EX1 AKA Dunu Titan 1. Before owning these I had the Soundmagic E10 and the Sennheiser CX 300 II Bass Enhanced. Afterwards, I bought the E80 and the GR07 as well. When I got the EX1 I immediately slipped on a pair of comply tips T-400 on the EX1 and was overwhelmed. I'm not an audiophile by any means, but I'm happy to tell you that the other reviews are very correct. These sound amazing. I was worried they would be too bass shy compared compared to my other earphones but... I was wrong. The bass hits hard and quick. There isn't much bloat compared to the CX300 II, allowing the midrange and high to be much clearer in contrast. The midrange is not veiled at all, giving vocals a clear and smooth sound. The highs are sparkly yet not fatiguing. The soundstage really excels, giving accurate imaging and a wide sense of depth. While my E10 had good imaging as well, the soundstage is much narrower. This is likely because of the ports on the Fiio EX1 which are open almost like an "open" pair of headphones.

Now, there are downsides to this implementation, and the reason I had to return these. To me, earphones are suppose to be portable and usable outside. However, due to the open design, they let in a lot of sound. Suddenly, subway rides and office use are a lot louder compared to my other pairs of earbuds. I can't even turn up the volume to my regular listening levels in the office because they leak so much sound. You'd be surprised how much sound these leak because of the open design. If you like the sound signature of these earbuds but want to use them on the go/ in office, then take a look into the Dunu Titan 1ES which is a closed version of these earbuds.
 
In terms of comfort, these are fine as long as you insert them at an angle. The metal housing is heavy and they can rest on the inner parts of your ear depending on how you insert it. While the edges are not sharp, they do feel uncomfortable after a while if they touch your ear. Don't let the comfort stop you from buying them, because they are very comfortable if you adjust the angle correctly.
 
TLDR:
 
Build Quality:
Fiio EX1 > E80 > GR07 = CX300II > the average earbuds

Bass Quantity:
CX300II > E10 > E80 > EX1 = GR07

 
Bass Quality:
GR07 > E80 = EX1 > E10 > CX300II 

Mids:
E80 > GR07 > EX1 > E10 > CX300II

Highs:
EX1 > GR07 > E80 > E10 > CX300II

Soundstage:
EX1 > GR07 = E80 > E10 > CX300II

Isolation:
E10 = CX300II = E80 =  GR07 > EX1

 
Comfort:
E80 = CX300II = E10 > GR07 = EX1

Value (in my opinion):
E80 > EX1 = GR07 > E10 > CX300II



Overall, these sound pretty darn impressive for the price. However, it was not for me since I need the sound isolation for travel and work.
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ExpatinJapan

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Well built, decent price, sound great and good fit.
Cons: The vents mean sound leaks, so not ideal for a train or bus commute

Fiio EX1 Earphones Review - Expatinjapan

 Head Pie  
FiiO EX1 review - expatinjapan.​
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Build
The Fiio EX1 is sturdy, solid titanium. Mine are in black and I was sure they were plastic until I tapped my teeth with them. These IEMs aren`t going to get damaged anytime soon.
The plug is L shaped which will appeal to many users.
The housing is small enough to sit comfortable within ones ear, the nozzle is on an angle and fits nicely into the ear canal.
The cable casing is clear and gives it that custom cable look.
There are some slight micro phonics as they are designed to be worn hanging down.
The IEMs have eleven vent holes on the inside shell, and one on the outside which leads to leakage when the volume gets turned up, so perhaps not the best choice for those busy commutes.
Beautiful and solid.

 

Sound
I tested the FiiO EX1 with the Centrance Hifi-Skyn as they scaled up well with added amplification, ipod touch 6G 128GB using Flacplayer app by Dan Leehr.

I set the volume at around just over halfway as they don`t need much juice to sound great.
The FiiO EX1 is a very clear sounding IEM, has a great sound stage, extended highs without ending up being sibilant.
It is very balanced between the lows, mid and highs, a very coherent sound.
It has great clarity, detail and imaging is beautiful presenting a spacious almost ethereal sound on some tracks.
The vents certainly add to the sense of space, the large and wide soundstage.
I could not find any signs of distortion. They are very fast in terms of response.

 



Fit
As mentioned in the build section they are designed very well and a comfortable satisfying fit can be had very easily. 
I sometimes have trouble getting the right fight with IEMs but the FiiO EX1 slipped right in very easily and provided a satisfactory isolation.
FiiO have been nice enough to include a wide range of tips to suit most peoples ear canal size.

 

Value
At around $70-$90 on amazon.com they fit within the budget zone for most but the very casual shopper, many readers of Head Pie seem to own IEMs in the $500 - $1000+ area.
So in that sense, yes they are great value.
The sound is clear and clean, they look fabulous and are built strong and sturdy.
Lots of tips and that oh so sexy cable.

 

Overall
The FiiO EX1 as a cousin to the Dunu Titan is a breath of fresh air. 
I really enjoyed listening to these whilst going through the review process.
They are well built, a decent and fair price, sound great and fit very well.
The only drawback for me is that most of my listening time is spent whilst I am commuting by train so the vents which add to the magic mean I can`t generally use these day by day.
For the price the sound is wonderful and reminds of some of the satisfaction and joy I had recently listening to Echobox X1, both perform very well within and above their asking price.
Great pies.


 
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Thank you to FiiO for providing Head Pie with the EX1 for review.​

Intensecure
Intensecure
Just a correction, you state that they are "made of titanium", then show the marketing picture that states "duralumin/stainless steel". Titanium would be a very nice feel, wish!

reihead

500+ Head-Fier
Pros: Great engaging sound, lots of details, value
Cons: Highs can be a bit harsh, light on bass (can be a pro), not the lightest iem
Disclaimer
 
1. I was part of the Fiio EX1 world tour. I had the chance to evaluate the unit for 10 days thanks to Fiio.
2. I have no affiliation with Fiio in any way.
3. The following words are my personal opinion, I wasn’t forced to give a favorable review or leaded in any way.
 
Big thanks to Fiio for allowing me to evaluate the earphones.
 
 
 
About me
 
I'm an avid music lover. I'm all about listening music on the go, I have tried several Apple product but never own one. To carry a brick has never been an option for me. Used many Creative players for years. The original Fiio X3 was my first hi-definition portable player.
 
I don’t consider myself an audiophile, but certainly can appreciate quality and I drive myself to find it with the better value possible. My music taste goes from Jazz, to Industrial, to Rap. My digital library is now mostly flac files but also a lot of lossy mp3 files (224 kbps or more) and some 24bit flac files.
 
I’m a web developer and app developer for smartphones, technology is part of my life.
 
 
 
About this review
 
This review comes after evaluating the earphones for 10 days straight.
Many files type were used in the evaluation, FLAC, mp3 at different bit rates.
 
 
 
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First and foremost, let's get the obvious out of the way, the EX1 are based on the Dunu Titan1 iem. I never heard the Dunu's myself, but is well known their IEM are very good.
 
 
 
Specifications
 
http://Fiio.net/en/products/43
 
  
 
Packing and Built
 
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Box is fairly simple, the EX1 comes with an excellent number of tips and a small but rigid carrying case.
 
These iem are solid, from the metal housing (made from fancy duralumin and more common stainless steel) to the cable, there is a great sense of quality, also durability comes to mind, but beware with this assumption given my limited number of days with the earphones.
 
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Cable length is 1.20 meters long, the right length for portable use, non detachable, which at this price point is something it should be expected. Microphonics we not tested properly on the go, but during the hours of daily use zero to minimum noise here. If needed the included shirt clip will help keeping the cable under minimum movement.
 
 
 
Comfort and Isolation
  
Isolation was average to good once I found the right tip size. I haven't used iem straight down in a while, but found these very comfortable, easy to insert. The metal housing can get cold (winter time!) and the insertion in your ears would be like grabbing a cold can of soda!
 
I couldn't test how they will fare while walking but given the weight of each ear piece, a good fit would be very important to keep them in place while moving, again, I couldn't jog with these but from experience these wouldn't be a good choice for exercise earphones.
 
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Sound
 
So how do they sound? Clear, neutral sound leaning towards the warm side comes as first words to describe them. There is a lot of details with this iem, more than I would expect from an earphone at this price level. Certainly enjoyable sound while the amount of details makes them engaging.
 
Bass is fast and punchy, but I found it a bit light, I believe the reason for this is lack of extension, but I'm being very picky here. No reason to discard these earphones because of the bass.
 
The warm side to them could be result of the player used, but I found this to be surprising since the highs can be a bit pronounced. This edgy highs occurs sometimes, but when it happens is easily spotted and distracting.
 
Same as the level of detail, the EX1's soundstage is above average. Very good in use with smartphones, they are easy to drive and will have enough volume to enjoy.
 
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Conclusion
 
At the publish date of this review (February 2016) the price in the UK is around £50, around 70 US dollars in North America. With Fiio there is a recurrent theme in most of their products: value, the EX1 is no exception, great value.
 
At this price point, including a remote is probably a good idea, but if that is not a deal breaker and you are looking for a good IEM under 100 US$, definitely the EX1 deserve a good look.
 
 
 
Other considerations
 
Only the included stock tips were used.
 
All testing was done indoors, so please take the isolation comments with a pinch of salt.
 
Players and smartphone used: Fiio X5 1st gen, HTC One m8, Moto G 1st gen.
 
To my knowledge this was a retail product and package.
zanox
zanox
I do agree with your review. Upper treble is superbly extended, but the lower treble is edgy. There's a bit metallicness to the treble that i dislike and it's accentuated with some tracks making them sound analytical . Even though the mids are a bit warm, they are neutral most times and pushed back in the presentation. The bass is on the lighter side, but with some tracks the bass just sounds fine. The soundstage and imaging is extremely good for the price.
The EX1's are great detailed sounding and incredible value for money, but not that musical to my ears.

BloodyPenguin

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Well Built, Great Hard Case, Fun Sound Signature, Very Comfortable, Good Controlled Lows, Cool Smoothness
Cons: Slight Drop In The Mids, Black Version Not as Premium Looking as the Silver Version, Highs Can Be Harsh at times
--
 
**Disclaimer - I was provided the EX1 from FiiO in return for an honest review**
 
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                                             ~ All Photos Taken By Me ~
 
 
*Introduction*

The EX1 is FiiO's first stab at producing an IEM. 
 
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[The Dunu Connection] - The FiiO is based off the Dunu Titan 1. The Dunu name can seen in multiple locations on the FiiO EX1.
 
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*Content*
 
- EX1 IEM
- Multitude of Eartips
- User Manual/Warranty Card
- Hard Case
- Shirt Clip
 
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*Specifications*
 
Type:  Dynamic(13mm)
Frequency response:  20Hz-30kHz
Sensitivity:  102dB/mW
Impedance:  16Ω
Plug size:  3.5mm Gold-plated
Cord length:  1.2m
Weight:  18g
Color:  Black
 
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*Build/Design*
 
The EX1 is built very well with its tough metal housing and soft yet very reassuring cable. Stress reliefs are very well thought out and it seems as though the EX1 could take a beating and keep on going.
 
The milled out vents on the housing and on the nozzle are quite nice. You can tell that this is a very well produced earphone.
 
Design wise, they look good, but IMO the silver version is a little more premium, as the alternate black color makes the EX1 look like it is made of plastic, until of course you hold it in your hand. I LOVE the Red/Blue trim, I think all IEMs should have this, makes figuring out right/left a breeze, plus it looks cool.
 
The cable is a thing of beauty; soft and easy on the eye.  There is a touch of microphonics that can be heard, but is reduced significantly with the use of the shirt clip.
 
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*Fit*
 
The EX1 is a smaller IEM and only is half in-ear. For me, that equals a much smaller footprint in my ear canal which is a very good thing. Insertion can take a little getting used to as the housing is not the easiest to get a good grip on, even with my small fingers. Once inserted, I could wear the EX1 for days with great comfort. I think at this point, while I type this, I have had them in my ears for almost 2 hours and I don't mind at all.
 
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*Sound*
 
Lows - Listening to [Deadmau5 - Failbait (feat. Cypress Hill)], I notice that even with a song with strong bass that the EX1 handles it with ease and control. Lows are present with a touch of sub-bass and a smooth mid-bass (which I very much like). Bass is never bloated or overwhelming, but also not lacking in anyway. For me, the lows of the EX1 are a highlight and my favorite of their sound signature.
 
Mids - Listening to [Beck - Cold Brains], Mr. Hansen's voice is taken back just a bit, I don't want to say recessed, but not just as prominent. I find there to be a relaxed smoothness to the mids, easy listening. Even though vocals might not be as forward as I personally like, I still found quite a lot of enjoyment in the middle frequencies.
 
Highs - The upper range can be hit or miss depending on what you are listening to. While playing [Bassnectar - The Matrix] the highs borderline being harsh and are a little rough on the eardrums. Though on the other hand, when I put on [Cat Stevens - Wild World] I was greeted with excellent playback and detail of his guitar strings.
 
Isolation - The EX1 is not the best at sound blocking, but for me, it is not a bad thing. There are plenty of IEMs out there that isolate well, but it is nice to have a pair that I can wear and still hear a bit of what is going around me. For example, as I write this review, I am testing the sound signature of the EX1 AND listening to see if our 9 month old has woken up. I am not completely isolated from the world and that is good. I will also say, my wife is also right next to me and she can hear my music which on the other hand might not be the best thing. She just asked me why I am listening to my music so loud, which it not at a high volume. So I guess the isolation or lack there of will either be a plus or minus depending on what use you have for them.
 
Soundstage - The rather low isolation, due partly to the abundant vents, has a positive affect on the width of the music. I found there to be good distance between instruments. I did not notice any congestion or narrowing with the EX1. Soundstage is most definitely a highlight of the EX1.
 
Smoothness - I wanted to add this extra category for the EX1, to touch on the easy going, non-fatiguing sound signature. It almost seems contradictory when I just posted about how the highs can be harsh, but for most of the time I find there to be a smoothness to the EX1 that is quite wonderful. Right now I am listening to [RÜFÜS / RÜFÜS DU SOL - Blue EP] and each song is silky smooth with the EX1 at the helm, like the two were meant for each other. I think I will just hit repeat and take this album for another ride with the EX1.
 
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*Overall Thoughts*
 
The FiiO EX1 has a lot of personality. It is complex IEM, with a curious sound signature and design features. It makes for a good earphone for review as there is a lot to touch on, as it does not blend in with of the other products out there. From its big soundstage, to its at times harsh highs and very controlled bass, the EX1 will never be called boring.
 
The EX1 is a very interesting IEM, it does a lot well, but also has a few places it could see a little improvement. I think with a touch of tuning, the EX1 (2.0?) could really be something special.
 
My review should be over now, but I still have the EX1 in my ears and I am honestly really enjoying them, much more than I thought I would when I started this review. The EX1 really do grow on you. The more I listen to the FiiO EX1, the more I like them.
 
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..
leovince
leovince
I currently own this but the silver color. All I can say is they sound soooooo nice!
Lifted Andreas
Lifted Andreas
Very nice review, I'd pick some up but I am way too involved with my OnePlus Icons atm
Podster
Podster
Good review BP, the EX1 is a great little iem for the price. Like you having it with the M3, would also be a great pairing with X1:)

fleasbaby

Member of the Trade: Wabi Sabi Headphones
Pros: Great sound, for a great price
Cons: Microphonics, tip-rolling, all the things I hate about IEMs basically...
FiiO continues to rampage through the audiophile market. Maybe rampage is the wrong term. FiiO are more like a fox with a burning brand tied to his tail, sprinting through the wheat fields of audiophilia. 
 
Their core mission statement of high quality audio products at humane pricing is popular, and everywhere they touch catches alight. They started with amplifiers, and have an extremely respectable range of units for all tastes at incredibly competitive pricing. Chances are, your first foray into portable audiophilia probably involved a FiiO amp. Mine was an E7. The X3 was their first DAP, and once they had made it through the growing pains of development, release and a lifecycle management the gloves were off in the DAP market for them. The X5, Xii, X5ii came, saw and conquered. Early indicators show that the X7 is about to blow a hole through the high-end market as well. The M3 and M1 are on the cards, and who know what they will do in the super-portable segment.
 
And now they are waltzing into the headphone market with an IEM. This time the approach is different. They have partnered with Dunu and taken one of their most successful headphones and re-branded it. Openly as well. This is an understandable strategy. The sub-$100 IEM market is jam-packed with amazing deals at the moment. To attempt to reinvent the wheel would be foolish.
 
I volunteered to participate in their global tour. I received no compensation for this, aside from ten days with the tour unit. I am not usually a big fan of IEMS. The deep insertion, cable-noise and excessive isolation I find bothersome. I focus mainly on earbuds and over-ears. My daily drivers are a pair of Pono-balanced VE Zen or my Pono-balanced self-woodied Grado SR60 pinks. I keep a pair of Tpeos Altone 200, Zero Audio Carbo Tenore and VE Dukes (Pono-balanced as well) on hand for those situations in which I cannot get by without isolation. I use a Pono, my work-supplied MacBook Air and a Sansa Clip+ as sources. Occasionally I’ll pull out my old iPod Touch 1G as well. My listening is done primarily at work, in my office, which is closed off. I listen to mostly jazz (from Hard Bop though to Spiritual), left field electronic music (like Four Tet, Flying Lotus, etc, etc) and blues.
 
After popping on my usual tips (a pair of clear, double-flange tips that can deal with  my funkily contoured ear-canals) I found the X1 to be not quite as resolving as my Altone 200, but with equivalent bass depth. It was superior to the Zero Audio Carbo Tenore, but not as “fun”. I always find myself keeping the Tenore simply because everyone has those days where they don’t want to hear the Coltrane cut a fart as he starts blowing his solo, they just want to enjoy the track. The X1 didn’t catch the fart :). The Duke beats out the X1 in the treble department. Some might find this a turn-off though. 
 
Overall it was nicely placed in the middle. It was the Goldilocks of the bunch. Not too hot, not too cold. Not too hard, not too soft. Juuuuust riiiiiight. And that explains why FiiO chose the X1 as their first foray into headphones. It will most likely pair well with all of their players. It will please the widest audience with a little fun, some accuracy, a durable build and best of all, it cost them nothing to develop. It was Dunu’s brainchild. FiiO’s resources are all tied into developing their DAPs. It is the headphone equivalent of their first DAP, the X3….a tentative, exploratory shot into the field. 
 
This leads me to believe we should all be looking out for their next move. Whether it be something they do themselves, or something they partner with someone else on, its likely to be a knockout. 
swannie007
swannie007
I have these and love them! They are my go-to earphones and I use them a lot, even though I have numerous earphones. They are just so easy to slip in your ears and are so comfortable and sound great(to my ears). I would recommend them to anyone without hesitation and they certainly offer GREAT value! Cheers.

areek

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Amazing sound, great soundstage, Clarity, Accessories, Value
Cons: Highs too sparkly, springy cable, Isolation. non-detachable cable
INTRODUCTION
Hello again guys, I am Areek Nibras, a junior Head-fier and a recently graduated physician from Bangladesh. Today I will be reviewing the recently released Titanium diaphragm in-ears called the Fiio EX1, which is essentially a slightly altered and cheaper version of the Dunu Titan 1, the IEMs that came and won over every budget audiophile out there. The EX1 currently goes for just 69.99$ from amazon.com whereas the dunu's version goes for 118$. I was the proud owner of the Titan 1 when these released and soon after the release, Fiio arranged the 'Fiio EX1 World Tour'. I was instantly interested in taking part in the tour to find out if the EX1 could hold the sq of the original Titan 1 at a lot cheaper price. I was selected on the 1st list and the 3rd and candidate to receive the Fiio EX1 after @Tobius89 and @ezekiel77 in Asia. But unfortunately I had visited Canada in the meantime and lost my Dunu Titan 1 there during my travel. :frowning2: So after I came back, I decided to try the EX1 out and if it were similar sounding, I would go for these instead. 

Thanks to @Joe Bloggs for arranging the tour and helping the members whenever an issue came up during the tour. 

I tested the iems in both my pc and portable setup, tried out music, movies and gaming with these. Even took these outside while riding a bus to my pg classes, to test the isolation and should these really be used while commuting. I will try to describe my thoughts and experiances in this thread.

DISCLAIMER
I have received the Fiio EX1 demo unit as a part of a world tour arranged by Fiio. I am in no way affiliated with Fiio other than being owners of other Fiio products like the Fiio X1 DAP and the Fiio E12 amp. I, like the other participants were given the demo unit for a duration of 10 days in exchange for my honest review regarding the EX1.

 
 
APPEARANCE, BUILD, ACCESSORIES:
The Fiio EX1 comes in a slender box that is much smaller than the Titan 1 came with and feels less premium but compact. This is cost effective this is a fair compromise. There is a transparent portion on the box that shows the earpieces and rest is hidden under the packaging. Upon opening, we can see a box at the bottom, which contains all the accessories that come with the iem and acts as the carrying box for the iems. 
5K1A6251.jpg


Inside the box, there is a paper with manual and warranty info, a shirt clip and the supplied tips. The single thing that is mising from the Titan 1 packaging is the 3.5mm to 6.3mm gold plated adapter, which is rather useless for me, I have a lot of those sitting in my drawers not being required. 
5K1A6253.jpg

As you can see, these come with  total 3 types of different silicone tips, each type having 3 sizes (S/M/L). This is really good considering the price. I wished that the Titan had included the comply tips but they didn't. But for these, no complaints. These tips are quite comfortable. Although, for review purposes, I tried out the comply isolation tips as well, I will get to that during the sq part.
5K1A6254.jpg
 
So, enough talk about the accessories and packaging, time to check out the IEM itself. The driver housing looks similar to the Titans but come with a shiny chrome finish which gives these a sparkly look.There are 11 holes on the inner aspect which contribute to the openness of the iems. These are half in ear designs with the housing sits partly outside the tragus of ear. The R/L drivers are easily distinguishable by red/blue color coding around the housing. the big difference from the Titan is the cable, which now has a plastic like sleeving instead of the clothed sleeving that came with the titans. These are non detachable, feel really strong and might provide better protection than the Titan 1, but these feel springy and if you don't get a proper fit, these can pop out off the ear. The Y-splitter is matte silver and is quite compact and feels solid. There is a chin slider as well. Another awesome thing is that they kept the rubber cable tie from the Titans, which is a Dunu patent and I feel is an absolutely brilliant inclusion. All the in-ears should have it. The cable terminates into an L shaped 3.5mm gold plated jack. Overall, even though the packaging did not look much, the build surely looks premium with the EX1 and are these are built to last.
5K1A6255.jpg5K1A6258.jpg
Next up, the sound.
 
HOW THESE SOUND:
Coming from the Dunu Titan 1's, I was pretty much expecting a slightly U-shaped sound; slightly boosted but accurate bass,  airy and lifelike mids and sparkly and clear highs. I got what I expected. I had used the Titan 1 about 15 days before I got these in my hands, and from my memory these sound almost the same, although I felt the highs were a bit more controlled and the bass might have been slightly altered. Description below-

Gears used- 
PC > JDS labs Odac+O2 > Fiio EX1 ( 2.5x gain, 10 o' clock position)
Fiio X1 > Fiio E12 > Fiio EX1 (low gain, 11 o' clock position)

 
Lows- 8.5/10
The bass has really good quality and comes with just the right amount of quantity that is loved by most of the people. There is slight mid bass boost which never tends to bleed too much and gives a feeling of satisfaction. The bass punch feels great, although with some songs I felt the a bit of extra thump. Remember that this are not in any way a bass heavy iem, these just have a very rich bass which compliment with the overall SQ of the iems.

Mids- 8.5/10
The mids have the airy feeling that sounds magical and even when these are U shaped, the mids really shine on their own. These can sound ever so recessed due to the prominant lows and highs, but the airyness along with the soundstage makes up for the flaws.Guitar tunes feel almost lifelike. The clarity is superb. Some of the female vocals sounds really sharp. I really enjoy these with tracks by Norah Jones, Ed Sheeran but even in hard rock and metal music these can bring out the voices to an quite clear and understandable level and I enjoyed these with Eluveitie and other metal bands. 

Highs- 8.5/10
Sharp, revealing, sparkly. Might be a bit too much for the sensitive ears but as I am used to the signature, I really enjoy the clarity these produce. Although, some rock/metal tracks can be a bit fatiguing, specially when heard with the ODAC+O2 combo. The X1 with E12 stack sounded a bit more rounded and less fatuguing. But highs are still one of the stronger feats of the EX1.

Soundstage- 10/10
These are open iems with a big soundstage. This is the factor which takes it a step above the other budget iems at sub 100$. These sound like I am listening to a room during a live performance. Imaging is accurate. Every instrument feels like in their right places. Other than music, I also play compatitive counter strike global offensive and in some cases I have found these to be more accurate in positional audio than my Hifiman HE-400 cans. These open up more with the O2+ODAC combo which is known for providing a larger soundstage and the effect is astonishing. I can hear foorsteps easily and pick up a lot on in game ambient sound that I usually couldn't with my HE-400. So if there is any fps gamer looking for iems, this could be a really good option.

Isolation-  3/10
The major setback for these would be the lack of isolation due to the open nature of the iems. If I put these on without any music on, they barely isolate and I can hear my ceiling fan and my pc hardware running. With soft music, there was slightly audible ceiling fan sound during the quieter segments. Then I took these outside while riding a bus to my pg class. The local buses running in Dhaka are mostly old and noisy, there is also a  lot of traffic. Here's a picture of the bus I ride mostly, just for fun :p
dhklocal.jpg

So, as you can guess, pretty noisy. And while listening to the EX1 while riding one of these......well, I could hear every other car horns, traffic whistles and people talking inside the bus. So, if you need your iem to be super isolating and keep the noises away, this won't cut it. Not even with the comply isolation tips, they don't help here at all. But, being said that, it's a common scenario in my country so I wasn't bothered much by it. Not sure about the passenger sitting beside me though, because the sounds leak quite a bit and anyone sitting closer can hear it.. 
 
Silicone vs Comply tips
The 200 series tips by Comply can be used with the Fiio EX1 as well as with the Titan 1. I had the T-200 isolation tips and tried them out. These alter the highs a bit, making them a bit more rounded, but I feel it also somehow alters the sound a bit. I feel like the silicone tips articulate the sound a bit better or maybe it's just me. The silicone tips are quite comfortable and provide a good fit. Anyways, it will be the users preference to use the comply tips, just do not go for the active series tips, those alter the sound quite a bit. 

Comparison with Philips SHE3590
A lot of people know and praise the 3590 as the sub 10$ king of iems, producing clear, rich sound that can compete with iems 2-3 times or more of it's value, and I agree. However, the EX1 is clearly a couple of steps up. The huge soundstage of the EX1 along with the airy mids, clear highs, tight bass make the 3590 sound cluttered, slightly congested and a lot less sparkly. Vocals lack the depth and texture the EX1 can produce. Higher frequencies feel rolled off. The bass lacks quality and punch. Well, this is no way a fair comparison but the 3590 has got enough praise to make me compare these with the EX1. I really like both iems at their price point. The build with the 3590 is awful though and these demand a lot of care.

Comparison with Soundmagic E80

Another budget iem closer to the pricing of the EX1 is the Soundmagic E80. Luckily for me, my friend had recently bought one and lend me his pair for trying out and compare with the EX1(Sorry I forgot to take a picture). The E80 sounds truly neutral with a flat SQ. The bass has almost no impact but is accurate. Mids are really good with this one although there is not a hint of sibilance. And the highs have good clarity but these never get too sharp with any kind of songs. Compared to these, the EX1 sounds like more consumer friendly, has good bass punch which purists might say feel a bit fake, but is liked better by general people. The mids in the EX1 feel a bit recessed but the airyness makes up for that. Vocals sound almost similar with great texture on both but the EX1 gives a bit of sparkle to the female vocals which is rather a love/hate thing. The highs in the E80 feel less sparkly than the EX1 and is well controlled, never becoming painful, but lacked a bit of clarity compared to the EX1. The EX1 wins due to it's bigger soundstage with the U-shaped SQ. But those who prefer flat SQ might prefer the E80 more. I personally like the EX1 due to it's fun signature.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

So, Dunu Topsound came up with the Titan 1 which took over the 'below 150$ market' by flash. And I can safely say that the Fiio EX1 is here to rule the 'sub 100$ market'. I have previously owned the Monoprice 8320, Soundmagic E10 & E30, Steelseries Flux iems and tried out the Hifiman RE400, Vsonic GR07 BE and a few other iems before and these took me away completely by surprise. It comes with a big sound at an affordable price and I believe with more availability as Fiio has dealers in a lot of countries around the world. I believe that these are the best value iems below 100$. So, if you are looking for a pair of fun sounding iems you wanna use for music, movies or games, the EX1 should be the 1st pair you should be demoing. And yes, I am getting one for myself. :p
bolmeteus
bolmeteus
Excellent review! How does it perform without external dac/amps? Are the highs untolerable?

originalsnuffy

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Good bass and midrange. Fairly eficient. Good overall sound for price
Cons: Open design results in sound leakage. Make sure you have the right fit; you may need a larger attachment than you normally us. Bright presentation .
I have tested the FIIO EX1 as part of the North American Tour.  No compensation was received for this review.
 
By now you have seen multiple reviews that reviewed the accessories that come with this unit, its Dunu heritage, etc.  So I will focus on sound signature, fit, and sound leakage.
 
In summary, I think that if you are looking for a headphone with a bright sound and is not bass shy, these are worth considering.
 
I did find it took larger tips than I am used to in order to get a proper sound signature.  I had to place the units a bit further in to my canal than I found comfortable to get the proper levels of bass.
 
When properly fit, the sound signature presented a good level of bass but not bass head worthy, which I think is a good thing.  The midrange is pleasant.  I found the treble a bit overdone, but then again I tend to favor IEM units with a slightly tailed off high end and the EX1 has heightened treble. I did find these to have a nice open soundstage, and instrument clarity was gratifying.
 
I was unable to get a good fit with my usual comply tips.  I had pulled them out on the theory that maybe I would not have to insert these units too far in to the ear canal to get full bass, and that they might tamp down the high end a bit.  Unfortunately, that did not work out.
 
I enjoy my IEM listening in public places such as airplanes and before going to bed.   These IEM units may not be the best choice for those locations.  The open design does lead to sound bleed.
 
These did help out my old FIIO X3 first generation running firmware 3.34b, which tended to be more midrange driven and needed some high end help.  With firmware 3.4 the benefit was reduced, as that sound signature is more balanced. On the oriignal X3, I fiddled with the hardware level eq  and had some success.  I turned the bass up one or two notches and treble down three notches and achieved a somewhat better sound profile to my taste.  On the X3 second gen unit that is no hardware level eq so that did not work.  Note:  I play quite  a bit of hi res material, jazz and classic rock, and so hardware eq is needed in the FIIO line.   And as you may know, the X3 gen two can't provide eq to hi res material.
 
I was hoping that the EX1 units would knock the ball out of the park for me based on some early reviews.   Instead, I am looking in to more tunable IEM units and did order one unit on 11-11 called the LZ-A2 which by most accounts is more like the Carbo - Tenores which are my current "go to" units.  The Carbo -Tenore's a comfortable in a sleeping configuration, and do not have leekage.  If your taste
runs a bit more to the treble forward side you will be rewarded with these units.
 
I should mention that I took these to a Minneapolis head-fi gathering.  I would say that more than half of the group was favoring over the ear headphones not in-ear.  But for those who were willing to try out headphones, only one person particularly enhused about the EX1.  This person also noted that they had hearing problems in the high end from a scuba diving accident, so I suspect the sound signature was perfect for their needs.  But it also reinforced my feeling that the sound signature it not going to find universal acclaim, but will find favor with those that favor elevated high end sound profiles.
 
 
 
.IMG_1609.jpg
 
IMG_1608.jpg

kamcok

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Build, Sound, Accessories, Sound Stage
Cons: No remote, Highs could be tuned better, Not too different from Titan1
Intro
Since there are many reviews of both the Dunu Titan1 and the FiiO EX1 I’m not going into too much technical detail or packaging contents of the earphones.
 
The Titan 1 and the EX1 share a different box, the Dunu looking more premium and costs more but both have completely identical contents.
The only physical difference between the FiiO and Dunu is that the EX1 has a nicer uniform cable (as opposed to the fabric/rubber hybrid on the Titan) that is less prone to tangling.
In addition to that the EX1 also has a matte finish as opposed to chrome on the y-splitter and the jack.
DSC_1539.jpgDSC_1559.jpg
 
 
 
 
DSC_1541.jpg
Above: What you get out of the box. All the ear tips and the shirt clip is in the case.
 
 
 
 
Despite the different finish on the y-splitter and the jack, the earphone housing however, is chrome like the Dunu.
I would’ve liked to see the housing to also be matte as it would make the IEM more consistent.

DSC_1552.jpgDSC_1553.jpg
 
 Some logos have changed to FiiO but some footprints of DUNU are still present which shows the obvious fact that Dunu had the original design.
DSC_1556.jpgDSC_1562.jpgDSC_1554.jpg
 
Sound & Comparisons
In general the EX1 is a great sounding earphone that delivers an excellent bang for your buck.
Compared to its (literally chronologically) older brother the Titan1, the EX1 provides slightly smoother highs to my ears.
This makes the EX1 more forgiving, and therefore is more suitable for a wider range of genres.
Other than that, the mid-range, soundstage and the bass sound pretty much identical to my ears.
This is further supported by the image (courtesy of Brooko on the FiiO EX1 tour forum) which shows more significant difference in the upper range of frequencies in comparison to the lower spectrum.  
900x900px-LL-c53c876a_Titan1vsEX1Freq.png
 
 
 
 
Going into further details by comparing to other In-ears, Compared to other Chinese IEMs in its class such as Vsonic VSD3(S) / Hifiman RE-400, the EX1 wins over both (in my opinion).
Unlike the unnatural and sibilant prone highs of the Vsonic VSD3(S), the EX-1 presents a slightly shimmery top end that isn’t as prone to sibilance.
It sounds far more natural, but can still be ever so slightly sibilant on some tracks.
How shimmery is the top end you might ask? Compared to what most refer to their most neutral and flat in the price range, it extends further and has more shimmer than the RE-400, but not to the extent that it’s splashy or harsh (on most tracks).
In my opinion the RE-400’s highs are simply too dry, hence one of the reason I prefer the EX-1.
 
The bass is smoother and faster than the VSDs but still reaches quite deep, deeper and in greater quantity than the RE-400 but without muddying the mids.
It may not satisfy absolute bassheads but should be enough for most.
Furthermore, depending on the tips being used the bass presentation may present to be thinner / thicker.
 
In regards to the mids, I’d say it’s almost on par with the RE-400. It’s not as neutral or water clear as the RE-400 but it sounds natural enough that I can’t point any flaw on it.
Female vocals sound good, male vocals sound good, guitars sound crisp, nothing to complain for here.
Despite the slight v-shape signature the EX-1 is quite a controlled unit.
In other words, the bass or highs won’t be in the way when the music doesn’t call for it.
This, in addition to the above average soundstage, due to the half-in-ear design makes the EX-1 a very well rounded contender in the sub $100 range.
 
Overall, the EX-1 is a more refined, better controlled and more detailed and in my opinion is simply superior than the VSD3 in almost every way.
It is also a lot more fun than the RE-400 and is more well-rounded without sacrificing much.
 
In comparison to more expensive headphones like the CKR9(LTD) the EX1 is outperformed in all parts of the sound quality.
The two however, in my opinion are in completely different class categories; whereas the EX-1 is more portable, the CKR is more for home use.
Despite the different sound presentation, the CKR9 (being warmer and bassier) has far better separation, more detail and more spacious sound stage.
The most noticeable difference is in the bass region, despite presenting in greater quantity, the CKR9 is able to produce a lot more detail and sense of realistic sound placements, without interrupting the mid-range in any way.
The CKR9 gives users an experience almost like listening to home speakers with a well-tuned separate subwoofer unit.
The EX1, despite not being able to reach such grade of presentation is still a great earphone for its price.  
 
In contrary, the CKR9 might not be that much better when the two are compared in a more noisier environment.
The spaciousness and detail of the CKR9 is something to be appreciated in a quiet environment like the library / at home.
Take the two on the bus or train and you probably won’t get that much more enjoyment with the CKR9LTD.
Furthermore, the EX1 is lighter, more portable, fits in a smaller case and has a cable cinch/ chin slider which the CKR9 doesn’t even have!
So if you’re planning to use the IEM to commute and walk about and what not, the EX1 is probably the one to go for.
Plus it’s also far cheaper, so if you do end up damaging the IEM your wallet wouldn’t cry as much.
Overall, the EX-1 is simply outclassed by earphones such as the CKR9 and probably others alike, but considering the individual MSRP of the products the EX-1 fully justifies its asking price and delivers even more.
 
Comparison Summary
 
- VS - CKR9LTD
CKR9 wins in overall sound, looks, premium feel
Ex 1 wins in portability, comfort, accessories, cheaper
 
- VS - RE-400
Ex 1 wins in more fun in sound, build quality, accessories, sound stage
RE-400 wins in more neutrality
 
- VS- VSD3(s)
EX 1 wins in sound overall, build quality, accessories
Some VSD3 wins in removable cables (some), cheaper, over ear
 
Who should NOT buy the EX1 ?
  • Already own Titan 1
  • Require a device remote/ microphone
  • Want over-ear fit
  • Already own a higher tier IEM
  • Those who’d rather own 10 Philips SHE3590 :p
 
 
Recommended for those who :
1.      1. Need a capable portable daily IEM
2.      2. Appreciates natural, non-overly boosted bass
3.      3. Are looking in the sub $100 market
4.      4. Need extra ear-tips to come in the package
5.      5. Looking to upgrade from budget earphones
 
 
 
TLDR
The EX1 sounds not too different from the Titan1 with smoother highs, making it a more forgiving set of earphones. It has the same housing but better cables and is cheaper.
One of the best sub $100 entry grade IEM.
 
 
Apologies for typos/ errors.
Do point them out if it needs to be corrected
Thanks for reading :)
Hawaiibadboy
Hawaiibadboy
Nice review. I like the who should and who shouldn't buy opinions. That is actually a smart idea. Nice.

afterstory100

New Head-Fier
Pros: huge airy soundstage, heavenly treble, smooth and punchy bass texture
Cons: isolation, recessed mid
first of all i'm sorry for my bad  english
 
from the first time i saw this iem i fell in love with how good they looks, shiny metal pieces, damn they do looks expensive, even it's case is beautiful
 
i own some iems for different purposes such as dunu dn 1000, shure se 215, and dbe pr 30 rev iii
fiio ex 1 is always my number one iem for home use. simply because i really love how great they sounds but they lacks in isolation, so in order to appreciate these iems true potential, use in when you're home, a warm sounding amp is reccomended.
 
ergonomics : they sit in your ears quite nicely with that angled nozzle, spinfit eartips will provide better fit and better sound. the isolation is bad due to their airy sound they sacrifice the isolation
 
so how they sounds to my ears?
 
bass:
the bass of these iems are quite fast for dynamic, they are quite punchy, not really deep, but for my ears it has a smooth nice texture which kind of unique. i have other iems with great amount of bass such as dunu dn 1000 and shure se 215 but the bass texture of fiio ex 1 is more favorable for me, it has an airy rumble...(i don't know how to describe it) like a true bass speaker, so yeah i love the bass of this iem
 
mids:
if this iem has a flaw.. this is it.. a little reccessed mid and has and emphasized upper mid. it makes male voice sounds thin and less powerful, but good for female sound actually
 
treble:
this is the best point of fiio ex 1, for me the treble extend really well without being sibilant, just when you think that there will be sibilance you'll hear smooth edge instead, perfect for violin, strings, piano and guitar
 
i also hear no distortion on loud volume ... great... simply great

El Zilcho

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Clean, Detailed Sound. Well Built. Comfortable. Good Value
Cons: May Be Bright For Some Tastes.
    Intro
 
EX1-1.jpg  
EX1-2.jpg  
 

 
I received these headphones for evaluation from Fiio.  I was not paid for my review and the headphones were returned after the review period.  
 
Music can evoke real emotion.  It can be a powerful experience to listen to a good song.  The type of music that stirs you is different for everyone.  Luckily, music is as diverse as its power is universal.  And the variety of headphones available is almost as diverse as the music they are designed to reproduce.
 
I love music.  But I am a bit of a beginner when it comes to headphones.  I’ve only recently begun to really get into headphones as a way to listen to music more often.  I don’t have the huge stable of headphones that many headphone reviewers have.  I do appreciate good sound, and I hope my thoughts and opinions can help someone considering the EX1 headphones from Fiio.
            
    Sound
 
EX1-7.jpg  

 
I listened to the EX1s on my Fiio X5ii, my Denon receiver, my computer and my iPad.  As expected, all were able to provide more than enough volume, with ample headroom to spare.  There were a variety of sources, including Netflix movies, Youtube, lossless, AAC, etc.
 
The EX1s are brighter than my other headphones (currently: Bose Soundtrue In Ear, Bose QC25, Apple Earpods, Samsung in ear), and those I’ve had previously (Bose AE2, Klipsch Image One).  No detected sibilance, or other problems with the treble, but it’s noticeably more present/forward.  Initially, the extra brightness of the EX1 seemed to make parts of the song sound almost harsh.  However, this was in comparison to my other headphones.  In comparison, my others sounded a bit smoother, but at a cost of some of the perceived detail and airiness which the EX1s have.  
 
As I listened to the EX1s I quickly got used to the bright sound and they no longer sounded harsh.  I found them to be very clean sounding across the range.  They aren’t fatiguing, nor do they have the undefinable quality (or lack thereof) that some headphones possess which makes me perpetually feel the need to turn the volume down.  I began to appreciate the added detail and clarity of the EX1s.  They are bright, but balanced.  After a while listening to the EX1s I switched back to the Bose Soundtrue and they sounded downright muffled in comparison, rather than smoother.
 
If the recording/song has hiss, it was slightly more noticeable with the EX1s than my other headphones due to the brighter sound signature and, possibly, greater treble extension.  Not a fault, just an effect of the more forward treble.  I happen to have a few older, hissy songs, and the hiss is a bit more noticeable (along with the rest of the treble) in the EX1s.  That didn’t stop me from enjoying those songs at all, it’s just something that’s more noticeable with a brighter headphone.  It is a small difference, but it’s there.  Also, bear in mind, the vast majority of what I listened to had no hiss, and the background on my X5ii was as inky black as ever with the EX1s.  So any background hiss was definitely not an attribute of the headphones.
                    
While these phones are brighter than my others, they still have decent bass.  The bass is crisp and defined, hits when it should, and doesn’t bleed into the rest of the song when it shouldn’t.  It is a flat bass response though.  Unlike many of the headphones available today, which tend to have a dB bump in the bass range.
 
There are songs that do benefit from a little extra bass, but if you have to err on one side or the other, I would say the EX1s are a better choice for me than an overly bass-heavy pair of headphones.  In my opinion, balanced (meaning flat, not boosted) bass won’t ruin a song that would benefit from more bass.  But too much bass can nearly ruin some songs for me.  Again, the EX1s do have bass, but these are not bass-head headphones.  Interestingly, the sub-bass does seem to extend a little further down than on my Bose Soundtrues.  This may be due, in part, to the better seal/isolation.  My Soundtrues do have a warmer sound with a bit more bass overall, but the EX1s have impact when I feel they should.  Songs that have a lot of sub bass surprised me with how powerful the bass sounded in the EX1s.  
 
The brightness brings a level of clarity and detail I don’t quite get with any of my other headphones.  I have some Samsung in ear headphones (came included with a phone) that are nearly as bright on the top end, but the highs aren’t quite as clear.  The Samsungs have an almost grainy and artificial sound to the highs at times, compared to the EX1s.  I know it’s not a fair comparison.  The Samsungs are cheapos; they are outmatched by the EX1s in every way.
 
Compared to my Bose QC25s, I would say the QC25s have a bit more upper bass/lower mids, leading to a bit more “fullness” to some songs.  But actual bass “slam” and low end power seems about the same, and the EX1s have a cleaner sound, with easier to pick out detail, particularly in the higher frequencies.
    
I like the sound of the EX1s.  If you are looking for an in ear headphone with a fairly flat response, and good treble and bass extension, give the EX1s a try.  The sound is clean, clear and while nothing is boosted, nothing is missing either.  
 
    Fit
 
EX1-4.jpg  

            
The shallow fit of the EX1 is great for me.  Deeper insertion in-ear headphones become uncomfortable after a while for me.  These have a shallow insertion depth, and the “body” of the earphones just tuck against the back of the ear, holding them in place.
 
The isolation may not be quite as complete as some others because of this shallow depth, but I’ll give up a little isolation to get long term wear-ability any day.  Comfort wise, at first I’d have still given a slight edge to my Bose Soundtrue In Ears (the EX1s do provide much more isolation than the Soundtrues).  But I got used to them quickly and they basically “disappear” in my ears now.  Comfort for me personally is very good.  They strike a good balance between isolation and comfort.  They isolate much more than my Soundtrues, but are still comfortable for hours.  
 
The EX1 headphones stay put in my ears much better than I anticipated.  This is particularly surprising since it takes so little effort to insert or remove them.  Even if I shake my head around quite vigorously, they don’t budge.  Fit is a very individual thing, and the experience of others will surely vary.  For me the fit is great.  They do include various silicone tip sizes to match your ear canal as close as possible.  Because the body/housing of the earphones tuck against the ear, there is a chance that with larger ears than mine they wouldn’t hold as securely.  Likewise, with smaller ears they may end up too tight and become uncomfortable.  I don’t know how prevalent these issue would be, since they fit without issue in my ears.
 
Now that the temps are dropping, the metal body is cold on the ears for a moment when you first put them in.  I imagine if they were left in a car in winter they could cause quite a shock when you pop them in your ears.  Probably not a huge issue for most, but just something I noticed.
 
    Build
 
EX1-5.jpg  

 
Build quality is very good.  The metal is smooth and polished, with no rough edges, tool marks or obvious issues that stand out.  The gaps are tight and even and everything seems to suggest quality.  The cord ends with a 90* plug, which is something that could be debated.  I typically prefer a straight plug, but there are situations where a 90 degree is preferable, so I wouldn’t count for or against a straight or 90 degree plug.  There is a bit more cord noise/microphonics than my Bose Sountrues, which is likely due to the increased seal they have rather than any differences in the cord.  This is to be expected, and it’s not too bad. 
 
There are colored rings around the body of the earphones which add a little flair and help differentiate between right and left.  Right and left are easy to tell apart just as a result of the shape, but the color adds a quick, visual key that will never leave you guessing.  There is also an “R” and “L” etched on each respective earphone.
 
The cord is reasonably supple and doesn’t cause any unusual annoyances.  The insulation is a more slippery feeling material than what my Bose Soundtrue cord has (it is also very slightly stiffer than the Bose Soundtrue cord).  This makes the EX1 cord a bit less apt to tangle, as the cord doesn’t hang up on itself as readily.  The cord is not detachable, but it does give the impression of being fairly durable.  Nothing about it stands out to make me think it wouldn’t hold up over time.    
 
 
    Conclusion
 
EX1-6.jpg  

 
I think a simple way to wrap this up is to say that if I was in the market for some in ear headphones I would feel very comfortable buying the EX1 headphones from Fiio.  They have a fairly flat, balanced sound signature with clean, detailed sound across the range. They have decent isolation and a secure, comfortable fit.  And finally, considering the build quality, included tips and hard case they are a pretty good value for money as well.  
 
The EX1s are a well rounded pair of earphones.  They may not be for everyone, but no headphone/earphone can claim that honor.
 
Happy listening.
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nmatheis

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Great sound. Open, airy soundstage. Comfortable. Attractive.
Cons: Lacks isolation. Mids could be more prominent. Springy cable.

Titan-19.jpg

 

INTRODUCTION

I'm going to let you in on a secret: I never tried the original Dunu TITAN 1. Why? The many excellent reviews were balanced out by reports of weak bass and aggressive highs. These discrepancies made me leery of trying them, but when I saw Fiio sponsor a tour for the EX1 (basically a FiiO-branded TITAN 1), I signed up without hesitation. Here was my chance to hear one of the most hyped IEM of 2015. If I didn't like it, no worries. If I did like it, maybe I'd end up buying it. Either way, I'd find out if the hype was deserved. 
 
I'm sure most of you know about FiiO, one of the most popular portable amp and DAP manufacturers on Head-Fi. Their X3 DAP was my first DAP. I also own the X5 DAP and E12A and E12 DIY portable amps. I've reviewed their X3ii (LINK) and X5ii (LINK) DAPs and am excited to be one of the first-round reviewers of the X7 on Head-Fi. I provide you with this information so you understand that I do have a history with FiiO. I also recently received pre-release versions of the Dunu TITAN 3 (review) and TITAN 5 (review) for review and tour, so I'm confident I have a good understanding of where the EX1 falls amongst in the TITAN lineup.
 
Here's some information about FiiO from their About Us page:
 
About FiiO Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.

FiiO designs, produces and sells high-quality products at favorable prices to those who love music and style.

FiiO's aspiration: to raise the reputation of "Made in China".

Brand spirit: innovation, quality, service

Brand positioning: HiFi with style

FiiO was established in 2007 and has experience in researching and developing countless portable music products of different types,
and sell FiiO-branded products through sales agents worldwide.

FiiO is focused on product quality, adheres strictly to ISO9001 standards in quality management and works hard to attain the lowest
repair-related product returns rate.

Several products from FiiO have created record sales in their respective product segments; our portable headphone amplifiers, DACs and
high-resolution digital audio players have all received praise from the majority of users.

FiiO places great importance on users’ needs and ceaselessly pursues perfection in product design and manufacturing, to supply users
with the best audio products at the best prices. 




 
FiiO's Website: LINK.
 
Dedicated Dunu TITAN thread: LINK.
 
 

DISCLAIMER

There is no financial incentive from FiiO for writing this review.  I am in no way affiliated with FiiO, and this is my honest opinion of the EX1.  I would like to thank FiiO for giving me a chance to test drive and tour the EX1, and I hope my feedback proves useful for my fellow Head-Fi members as well as for FiiO.
 
 

ABOUT ME

I'm a 43 year old father who loves music.  While I listen mostly to electronic and metal these days, I do listen to a wide variety of music - from electronic (Autechre, Boards of Canada) to modern/minimalist composition (John Cage, Philip Glass) to alternative rock (Flaming Lips, Radiohead) to jazz (John Coltrane and Miles Davis) to metal (Behemoth, King Diamond) to classic rock (Eagles, Rush).  
 
I'm primarily a portable audio enthusiast. My portable music journey started with the venerable Sony Cassette Walkman and then progressed to portable CD players, minidisc recorders (still have my Sharp DR7), and finally on to DAPs like the Rio Karma, iRiver IHP-1xx, iPod 5.5, iPhones, and the newer crop of DAPs from Fiio and iBasso.
 
Being a portable audio enthusiast, I typically listen with IEMs but am enjoying listening with full-size headphones more and more and tend to like u-shaped sound signatures, although I break out v-shaped IEM & HP from time to time for fun.
 
As with a lot of people my age, I've got some hearing issues.  I've got mild tinnitus and suffer from allergies, which can affect hearing in my right ear.  I'll admit it, I'm not blessed with a pair of golden ears.  That said, I've been listening to portable gear for a long time and feel confident in assessing audio gear - just wanted to be transparent up front.



 
 
SPECS
  1. Driver: 13mm titanium coated dynamic
  2. Frequency Response: 20Hz-30KHz
  3. SPL: 102dB
  4. Impedance: 16Ω
  5. Plug: 3.5mm Gold-plated L-plug
  6. Cord Length: 1.2m
  7. Weight: 18g
 
 

PACKAGING & ACCESSORIES



Packaging
Titan-15.jpg
 
 
Carry case
Titan-5.jpg
 
 
Tips

 
Not pictured: Shirt clip + 1/8" plug adapter.
 
To sum up: So you get the EX1, Heir and Hybrid style tips in S, M, and L, the hard carry case, a shirt clip, and an 1/8" plug adapter. Not bad. I'll say right now that I'm not a fan of Heir style tips. They always seem to slip out of my ear canals. The Hybrid style tips are grippier and stay put in my ears much better, so that's what I gravitated towards. The hard case works very well with the EX1. Since I have the TITAN 3 and TITAN 5 in for testing, I'll mention that it doesn't work so well for those. The larger housing size Dunu used to accommodate the detachable cable connectors makes them just a bit too large to easily snap the case shut.
 
 
 

BUILD & ERGONOMICS

The EX1 are a half in-ear design, which allows them to include a large driver without compromising on comfort. I'll walk through the various design and ergonomic features of the EX1 in pictorial format below.
 
Here's a look at the EX1's inner face. I love the brushed metal finish and wish that was also used on the outer face. Note the numerous vent holes that give the EX1 its unique open, airy sound.
Titan-16.jpg
 
Here's a look at the EX1's outer face. Here you can see the candy colored strips sandwiched between the inner and outer housings that provide a quick visual distinction between L/R earpieces. While this is much easier than looking for the low contrast L/R markings on the inner face, I would've preferred more subtle dark red and black strips.
Titan-19.jpg
 
Since I've got the TITAN 3 and TITAN 5 in-house, I thought I'd show you just how much bulk the detachable cables add. You can also see a little of Dunu's cable, which I preferred to the FiiO cable. Dunu's implementation is quite supple, while FiiO's is springy. This makes cable management a bit more of a chore with FiiO's version.
Titan-22.jpg
 
Y-splitter and chin slider
Titan-17.jpg
Titan-18.jpg
 
3.5mm L-plug
Titan-20.jpg
 
The EX1 feature Dunu's awesome cable management feature. Wish all my IEM had this!

 
Here's what EX1 look like worn down vs. over ear. While they're designed to be worn down, they can be worn over ear fairly easily - although this will result in channels swapping (left earpiece in right ear and vice versa).
FullSizeRender-10.jpgFullSizeRender-12.jpg
 
 
 
To sum up: The FiiO EX1 are an attractive, ergonomic, well-built IEM. I can't find many flaws beyond the aesthetic choice to use candy colors to differentiate L/R earpieces (which I'm sure some will love) and the springy cable.
 
 
SOUND
I'm going to keep this section simple. There are already a lot of reviews for the EX1, so if mine doesn't fit your needs there are plenty more to explore. You can always hit up the TITAN thread, where they've been discussed across 150+ pages already.
 
I mainly listen to experimental electronic and metal and use those genres to evaluate HP & IEM. During my time with the EX1, I mainly used them with the FiiO X5, Shanling M3 (LINK to review), and the newly released Shanling M2 I have in for testing and US tour (LINK to the M2 thread I started). 
 
The original TITAN and the FiiO's EX1 have already received a lot of attention, and I know a lot of people are asking themselves how the new TITANs differentiate themselves from the TITAN 1 / EX1. So I decided to do a bit of comparative listening across the three and will go over how they differentiate themselves below.
 

FiiO EX1
It's the hardest to drive, has the worst isolation, but has the most unique sound. Regarding driving power, a comfortable listening level in a quiet rom was 35 on Low Gain out of my X5. That actually indicates to me that the X5 isn't actually hard to drive - just harder to drive than the other TITANs. To get an initial sense of isolation, I snapped my fingers by my ears while music was playing. The snaps were dulled but still clearly audible. Later I listened to them while walking in my neighborhood, and while they were definitely less isolating than my other IEM it wasn't night and day. It certainly wasn't egregious, and I clearly had a better sense of environmental awareness. Soundstage was open and airy for an IEM at any price point. I was quite impressed with the holographic sound. It actually reminded me a bit of my HiFiMan HE400 in this respect.  Not the same mind you but reminiscent nonetheless. The basic sound signature is a u-curve. Bass is relatively flat with just enough mid-bass emphasis to add a bit of punch - definitely neither weak nor boomy. Mids are neutral and clear but are a bit lacking in sweetness and emotion. The upper end is a bit edgy but didn't verge into sibilant territory for me and is something I could easily be happy with. 
 
Quite honestly, the EX1 exceeded my expectations, pushing a lot of the right buttons for me. Soundstage was fantastic, providing a very holographic listening experience. Bass was deep enough for a satisfying listen with electronic music but also fast enough to keep up with the rapid fire kick drums oft employed in metal music. Mids were definitely the weak point but were present enough not to call EX1 recessed. They're the aspect of EX1 most ripe for improvement. While the upper end was a touch harsh, it wasn't as aggressive as I was expecting and provided a good level of detail without veering into fatiguing territory. I see what the hype was about now. EX1 sounds nice!
 
Since I've got them, how do the new TITANs compare?

Dunu TITAN 3
T3 are the easiest to drive of the bunch. To get a comparable volume, I was able to turn my X5's volume down to 28 while listening in a quiet room. Isolation is on par with typical dynamic IEM. I could barely hear my fingers snapping when music was playing and environmental noise in my neighborhood was mostly blocked. Soundstage is much more conventional. Gone is the original's very open, airy almost holographic sound. T3's sound signature is just on the warm side of neutral. Bass sounds similar to the EX1's but a bit flatter. Nonetheless, it was still satisfying with a wide range of music. The key difference is the mids, which are more present vs. EX1. Whereas the EX1's mids were neutral, the T3 brings them forward - especially the upper mids. This makes female vocals pop. Those of you who know me know I'm a big Bjork fan and routinely use her Biophila album when testing new IEM. T3 were hands-down the best of the TITANs for bringing out the best in Bjork's voice. EX1 and T5 were still satisfying but failed to convey the same emotional presence the T3 did. Similar to the low end, the T3's upper end sounds similar to EX1 but takes the edge off. If you thought the originals were a bit on the harsh side, T3 should solve that issue for you.
 
 
Dunu TITAN 5
T5 are just a bit harder to drive than T3. To get a comparable volume, I had to turn my X5's volume up to 30 while listening in a quiet room. Isolation is identical to T3, so on par with typical dynamic IEM. Soundstage is still quite conventional, but I found the soundstage larger vs. T3. And just like the T3, you'll be missing the original's open, airy sound. T5's sound signature is a mild v-shape. Bass is the star of the show. It's more prominent than the other TITANs but is well-done - not loose or boomy. The mids are neutral and remind me of the EX1, whereas the upper end is quite reminiscent of the T3. Revisiting Bjork for a minute - where T3 really made Bjork's voice pop, the T5 made the bass drops more satisfying. But when switching to The Eagles, I found the T5's bass made the bass guitar more prominent than I was used to. EX1 and T3 feel truer to the music in this respect.
 
TLDR
  1. T3 takes the general EX1 sound, adds in more prominent mids (especially upper mids), more refined upper end, and better isolation. It also brings a much more conventional soundstage.
  2. T5 takes the general EX1 sound but adds in more prominent bass, more refined upper end, and better isolation. It also brings a much more conventional soundstage but not as much of a compromise as T3.
 
 
SUMMARY
So what do I think of the FiiO EX1? Well, first of all I'm going to admit that I'm saddened that it took me this long to hear them. The EX1 are a superb IEM. Sure they've got a few flaws. Their mids could be more prominent, the upper end could be more refined, isolation isn't great, and they've got a springy cable. However, their open, airy soundstage, well-balanced sound signature, and high level of comfort more than make up for these minor flaws. In my opinion, they hold up very well against the upcoming TITAN 3 and TITAN 5. I can easily see people choosing any of the different models based on their sound signature, soundstage, and isolation preferences. And I'll be blunt, I don't think the new TITANs benefit much from detachable cables. I much prefer the fixed cable design of the EX1, which allows the earpieces to remain small and light. 
 
I hope you found this useful and would like to give a hearty thanks to FiiO for giving the Head-Fi community the chance to review the EX1. I really enjoyed my time with them and put them on my "must buy" list. Be on the lookout for more reviews as the tour progresses. @Podster's next up on my leg of the tour
Paulus XII
Paulus XII
Great review as always ; )
Astral Abyss
Astral Abyss
Well written, very descriptive review.  I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the RHA S500 as they're on my radar as well.
BloodyPenguin
BloodyPenguin
Fantastic Review.  Really Impressive.  Well done nmatheis.

ezekiel77

Reviewer at Headphonesty
Pros: Best soundstage in its class, astounding clarity and detail, good bass quality, fun and exciting tuning, solid build quality, great looks and comfort!
Cons: Mids slightly recessed, borderline sibilant in some tracks, bass quantity a bit lacking, springy cable, poor isolation, sound leak, not for vocalheads
Introduction
First off, many thanks and salutations to Joe Bloggs of FiiO for the opportunity to participate in the EX1 review tour. I missed the boat on the Dunu Titan 1 the first time around, because looking like they did I thought they were entry-level IEMs for earbud lovers. Since then they’ve become one of the best-reviewed IEMs in Head-Fi. So naturally, when FiiO released the EX1 (or Titan 1 reloaded), I jumped at the chance to review it. I had a loaner unit for a week before passing it on to the next reviewer. How different are they from the Dunus? Featuring a better cable and a lower price, that’s quite a pitch. The drivers and housings however, are identical.
 

EX1.jpg

 
Equipment Used:
Astell & Kern AK100ii
FiiO EX1
HiFiMan RE-400
VSonic GR07 Classic
Audio Technica ATH-CKR9

 

Albums Listened:
Adele – 21
Amber Rubarth – Sessions from the 17th Ward
Diana Krall – When I Look Into Your Eyes
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Metallica – The Black Album
Michael Jackson – Thriller
Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles
The Eagles – Hell Freezes Over

EX4.jpg

 
Packaging and Accessories

It’s a functional packaging, that much I can say. Not blingy nor particularly attractive. Open the box up, you get a plastic carrying case, 9 pairs of eartips (from smaller to larger bore at 3 different sizes) and a tie clip. I used the large-sized medium-bore eartips with the red stems for most of the review. Gave me the best comfort and striking looks. Sound differences between the eartips are subtle.

 

Design, Build Quality and Cables

They look great! Like tiny shiny UFOs, with venting! The full metal housing, Y-split and connectors have a solid, reaffirming quality to it, at least when compared to IEMs of similar price. Definitely gives more confidence than my GR07 Classic or RE-400. The housings are made of anodized duralumin and stainless steel. Sounds great doesn’t it? The cables are made from OFC copper, intertwined with Kevlar strands. Again, solid comes to mind. They feel rather springy and rubbery though, and reminds me a LOT of the Ostry KC06 cables. Not particularly fond of it but it’s quality inside.

 

Fit, Isolation and Comfort

Here’s the thing. I’m very used to deep insertion IEMs, and have sort of taken isolation for granted. The EX1 is neither. They are very shallow-fit, and isolate poorly. In a noisy environment like taking the train, you’ll hear many things other than your fine music collection. On the other hand you can probably wear them while driv… I didn’t say that. The noise leak might be a bother too. Because of the numerous vents in each housing, expect people to comment on your music taste. I got more than that. The first night of listening, I didn’t know how bad the sound leak was until my wife gave me a look. She was trying to drift asleep but kept hearing Enter Sandman instead. Comfort however, is top notch. I wear them straight down, and while microphonics might pose a problem, it is easily solved with the tie clip. After a while you won’t even remember wearing earphones. They’re light as a feather.


EX5.jpg

 
Overall Signature
To me the EX1 is tuned for fun and excitement. It's a slight V-shaped sig whereby the bass and treble are lifted above the mids. But if you ask me, it sounds more swoosh-shaped as the treble boost is more prominent. Definitely more bright than warm. Clarity and soundstage are phenomenal for the price. Overall balance and cohesion is good. The sweep from bass to treble sounds effortless with good air in between. Only in the case of cymbal-heavy tracks, however, does the treble seem isolated from the rest, and the balance is thrown off. Like, what are you doing over there, pal? This happens mostly in rock and metal tracks.

Bass
Well executed. This is bass done tastefully right. I hear a sub-bass boost for that all-important rumble and a very slight lift in the mid-bass. Crucially, there is no bass bloat and the mids are left well alone. It's clean, reasonably fast, and manages a good balance between quality and quantity. Sacrificing just a bit of fun for detail, it isn't as boomy or impactful for bassheads, but enough to get your foot tapping, head bopping. The bass carries the tune very well, like the friendly guy who hands out drinks at a party, making sure everybody has a good time. The most inoffensive part of the sound spectrum, if lacking excitement ever so slightly.

Mids
The mids are slightly recessed. Not very obvious, but in rock tracks the vocals and acoustics get less attention than the cymbals (and they WANT you to hear the cymbals dude!) and bass line. Note articulation is thin, not too engaging but with good detail. I hear a slight boost in the upper mids that increases clarity but can make vocals sound unnatural. This is more obvious in female vocals, and in the upper registers they can sound a bit tinny. Detail is certainly there, but lacks the smooth, syrupy and intimate vocals that I prefer, and the best mid-centered IEMs have. The mids here are content to come in, do their job, and leave the party on time. No after party, no fanfare. Just doin' m'job, sir.

Treble
I'm still on the fence about this one. The treble is upfront, great for trebleheads, but it has a sort of Jekyll/Hyde character about it. On one hand, clarity is extremely good. You hear nearly every nuance and detail of the music. They extend up and far seemingly without effort. Notes are light, thin, fighting fit, and very crispy! They blend well with the rest of the spectrum when I listen to jazz, orchestral, and generally downtempo tracks. Mr Hyde, however, comes a-knocking when I put on some heavy rock. The EX1 pushes the cymbals and hi-hats TO YOUR FACE. They want and CRAVE your attention, and become borderline sibilant and harsh. Try a cymbal-heavy track like Guerrilla Radio and the treble attack becomes all too apparent, separating itself from the rest of the sound spectrum. Coupled with the slightly recessed mids, rock and metal can be tiring, trying listens. Keep the treble in check however, and you're given an amazing time.

Soundstage and Imaging
Now this, is more like it! Are you sure these are budget phones? The soundstage is huge! It extends wide (I mean wiiiiiiiiiiide) and deep (deeeeeeeeep) giving each instrument enough space to shine on its own, yet maintaining overall cohesion and never sounding disjointed from each other. Imaging is top-notch as well! If you close your eyes and do that Daredevil thing you can zoom to and focus on a particular instrument/voice, like wandering around a stage. Height, however, I'm not a good judge of. I would think that it's pretty good, there's a 3D-like effect from the imaging, and you can't have that without good height. Just a few inches up and down, don’t expect to hear a piano tinkling from two floors up. So once again, probably the best part of the EX1, is the soundstage and imaging. I have not heard anything come even close to this at sub-$100. Not even sniffing distance.
 

EX2.jpg
 
Comparisons:

HiFiMan RE-400
The RE-400 has acquired legend status among audiophiles looking for a flat, neutral, reference tuning. Mention any of those words and the RE-400 should get a mention. For me it occupies a place in upper head-fi echelon for one reason, and one reason only. Its magical mids. Smooth, velvety and rich, in effect sounding astoundingly lifelike and intimate. Fire any acoustics, piano and vocals its way, the RE-400 can handle them no problem. The EX1, with its thinner notes, and good clarity, does its job quietly but doesn’t compare at all to the mighty mids of the RE-400. It does however, emerge victorious in all other aspects. The EX1 has tight, clean, impactful bass that has good quality and detail, but might be less quantity than preferred for a basshead. The RE-400 has equally good detail deep into sub-bass level, but seriously lacks impact, and sounds anaemic. For treble, the EX1 is more prominent, exciting and sparkly, with borderline sibilance on cymbal-heavy metal/hard rock tracks. The RE-400 treble is extended but smoothed out, perhaps too smoothed out. Soundstage is a wipeout. The RE-400’s intimate soundstage does not hold a candle to the EX1’s magnificence in width, depth, height and imaging. Overall, the EX1 is the better all-rounder, while the RE-400 shines in mid-centric tracks.

VSonic GR07 Classic
The GR07 is my go-to reference budget-fi superstar for the better part of 2 years, for its immaculate balance and neutral-ish tuning. Recently there are a few sub-$100 contenders that take the fight directly to the GR07, including the Ostry KC06 and Havi B3 Pro 1. I have to say the EX1 stands proudly among them. It’s a titanic battle between the two, with no clear winner. Overall the EX1 sounds brighter with more detail. GR07 takes the bass, which I thought had more impact and presence than the cleaner EX1, thanks to its mid-bass lift. GR07’s bass tuning, quality and quantity-wise remains one of my favourite regardless of price or drivers. I prefer the GR07 mids as well. It’s slightly warm, more smoothed out and natural compared to the clear, but slightly recessed EX1 mids. Vocals perform better on the GR07 too. That being said, the EX1 comes roaring back in the treble region, boasting better extension, more clarity and details and surprisingly, less sibilance than the GR07. Better air too? Yup. Which leads to soundstage… not much of a fight. The EX1 completely obliterates the GR07 in width, depth, height, imaging and separation. In the beginning of my head-fi journey I didn’t emphasise soundstage much. But now I hear the stark difference between a flat canvas of sound, and a large reverberating hall of enveloping, musical goodness. The EX1’s soundstage is exemplary for its class. Again, no clear winner. Both are extremely good all-rounders and equally fun. Entirely down to preference.

Audio Technica ATH-CKR9
Moving up a bracket, the $150 CKR9 uses dual-dynamic 13mm drivers. They are well-regarded for their realistic, natural, warmer-side-of-neutral tuning. Interestingly the lean and mean EX1 bass makes the CKR9 sound bloated and slow in comparison. Bass detail are equal, but note decay is definitely longer in the CKR9, with a noticeable subbass and midbass boost. This makes for a fun, rumbly, attention-grabbing bass, like how the treble does the headlining for the EX1. Great for some tracks, too heavy-handed in others. An acquired taste, I’m calling this a draw. The CKR9 mids, however, do a great job of being awesomely detailed with a good serving of smoothness and warmth. Notes are thicker, heavier, and more intimate than the EX1. Vocals are slightly forward but sublime, perfect for midheads like me. CKR9 takes this one. The CKR9 treble stretches very high, with a good amount of detail, sparkle and excitement, and the edges smoothed out slightly, never sibilant nor harsh. However it takes a backseat to the rest of the spectrum… while much better than its brother the CKR10, the treble will not be the first thing you notice. Suffice to say, the EX1 shares the same properties with the CKR9, but pushed forward, with more detail and excitement heard but at the risk of sometimes sounding harsh. But overall I prefer the more thrilling (albeit unpredictable) treble of the EX1. Soundstage is where they fight neck and neck. The EX1 has a slightly wider soundstage, but the CKR9 has more depth. Imaging, however, is a landslide victory for the EX1 helped by its light and airy notes giving a better sense of space in between instruments. The slower CKR9 suffers here, but the thicker note articulation pulls you in with its mesmerising, natural tone. It’s the more musical of the two, but the notes flow like rich chocolate syrup as opposed to EX1’s clear, sparkling water. Overall? Both phones have great, balanced sound with different flavours, on opposite sides of neutral. Just goes to show the EX1 can punch above its weight.

So, just for kicks:
Bass: GR07 > CKR9 = EX1 > RE-400
Mids: RE-400 = CKR9 > GR07 > EX1
Treble: EX1 > CKR9 > GR07 > RE-400
Soundstage: EX1 > CKR9 > GR07 > RE-400
Overall: CKR9 > EX1 > GR07 > RE-400

EX3.jpg

Conclusion
The week has come and gone, and I’ve been a very happy reviewer of a solid, stellar pair of earphones I might end up buying in the near future. If fun, clarity, detail, and excitement tick your boxes, you’re in for an excellent time. Not to mention the class-leading soundstage which is like no other I’ve heard in this price range. Value for money is no question at all. Just be wary of the below average isolation and sound leak. Other than that there really is not much fault with the EX1, with a great many things to like about it. Job well done, FiiO. Job well done indeed.
RomanRise
RomanRise
Nice review.
So, they are , lets say, low/middle class earphones. Are they worthy to be used with X7? 
ezekiel77
ezekiel77
Thanks guys.
I'm sure they are worthy for the X7. They are among the best in budget-fi earphones. Question is are the X7 ready for them? Lol.
saikat1729
saikat1729
Very good review indeed. Exactly what I need to replace my 598SE while travelling.

yfnt

New Head-Fier
Pros: Neutral balance sound
Cons: Isolation, need amplifier
About Me: Hi all, I like FiiO products, and my main system X5 DAP, E12 DIY AMP. I’m glad to review FiiO new product the EX1 In-ear Monitors.
  
Fit: FiiO EX1 weight is light. I felt really comfortable EX1 fitting. 
 
Sound
I used the EX1 with my favorite music in train at commuting time. My first impression, I wonder if the EX1 would be really 16 ohm. So, the EX1 is low volume. I thought  the EX1 sound quality depends on headphone amplifier, my amp is E12 DIY has JRC Muse8920D and TI BUF634.  Sure, the EX1 sound quality is up by headphone amplifier
 
The EX1 don’t have detail sound, but it has well neutral sound about Bass, Mid and High. And above all, the EX1 don’t have uncomfortable sound !!
 
My favorite music:
TRANCE, EDM
Japanese VOCALOID music
Japanese Game music
Japanese Anime music
 
Conclusion:
The Ex1 is the best choice under $90. If you enjoy your favorite music for a long time, the EX1 will be really comfortable.  
 
Final Words:
I don't have much appropriate English. but I could join FiiO EX1 world tour--open for application now! (1st round member list announced).
I very thank Joe Bloggs and FiiO which gave a chance of a review.
 
Thank you !!
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Hawaiibadboy
Hawaiibadboy
Bro, your English is great. Nice review!!

Army-Firedawg

1000+ Head-Fier
Pros: Excellently made, super comfortable, very fun to listen to
Cons: Slightly recessed mids, cord tangles easily
                                                                   20151010_180247_HDR.jpg
 
 
 
 
    I must first start this by giving a huge thanks to @Joe Bloggs and @FiiO for allowing me to take part in their very FIRST world tour. It’s a huge honor and privilege for me and one I’m tremendously thankful for.
    But what drew me into applying for the EX1 is that I’ve been extremely familiar with Fiio for a few years now in their portable amp. category and have always been impressed per the price. I’ve also heard wonderful things about their DAPs for their price,  so when I heard them making their first IEM I had to give it a shot, so how does it stack up?
 
   20151010_180702_HDR.jpg   20151010_175652_HDR.jpg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Opening Experience
 
    The initial handshake of the EX1 was alright. Nothing to write home about but nothing to be offput by either. The box is very basic as is the presentation of the product, however a great high note that Fiio did was supply an impressive assortment of ear tips so one shouldn’t have any difficulty finding their perfect size (I however used my personal Comply memory foam for personal & sanitary reasons, these are very early in the rotation and are going to other people). Also I was quite impressed in the quality of the hard carrying case provided, doesn’t feel cheap at all.
 
                                                                                          20151010_174553_HDR.jpg
 
 
Construction
 
    The build quality, the longevity of a product's life. Being made of an aluminum construction it impressed me, to be sub $100 it floored me. These are very lightweight and despite being aluminum I found no rough or sharp edges but rather found them to be rather smooth. The horn is angled which does wonders for the comfort (to be discussed in the next section) and is sized so most any 3rd party tips will fit.
The cable reminds me a lot of the Sennheiser IE800’s, being very thin yet confidently strong as well as attractive. A downside however is that this cable loves to tangle up on itself regardless of how well I try and package it. Another downside to the cable. and it’s one I find in every IEM. is the feedback is pretty decent. When I turn my head and the cable brushes something I hear a pretty good bit of noise, but very acceptable in retrospect.
 
 
 
Comfort
 
    An aspect I feel is slowly going by the wayside to fashion, colors, features and other nonsense. I mostly care about how long can I comfortably enjoy the music being presented to me more than rather or not they look good. So how are the EX1’s? Wonderful. They stay in the ear firmly without any fear of falling out. They’re so light I forget they’re in my ears and are so smooth I barely feel them either. When paired with Comply memory foam the horn fits perfectly in my ear so my longer listening durations of roughly 2 hours went by without any fatigue whatsoever.


                                                                                           20151010_175926_HDR.jpg
 
 
Sound
 
    The most important part of an audio component (for most people). How does Fiio’s first IEM sound; especially in the sub $100 range which I firmly believe is the most competitive? Well, pretty darned good I do have to say.
    My first and most prominent view of these is that they’re definitely a “fun” IEM to listen to. I can quickly tell they’re not that sonically accurate (regardless of its price point) as it holds a very distinct “V-shape” sound curve with an emphasis on the bass. I don’t find this uncommon for the “fun” sound is what sells in the mainstream market. But what exactly makes me feel this way about the EX1?
 
Treble
 
    The highs on the EX1 sound nice and clean overall. I feel they portray the artist's voice (namely female) respectably accurate, but, and I’ll use the song “Diva Dance” from the fifth element as an example, when the treble greatly extends to the upper range these peak quite early and don’t recreate the entire experience. This only applies to the upper treble range.
 
Mids
 
    My personal favorite aspect of audio is the mid range, or vocals for another way to look at it.  Up front I’ll admit I’m not personally a big fan of the “V-shape” sound curve for most often the company will greatly recess the mid range in order to better increase the treble and bass. This to me leaves the audio piece sounding hollow and lacking of a “soul” as I put it.
    Though the EX1 does have some slight recession in the mid range, it wasn’t enough for me to push them away. All in all the the only complaint I had with the mids is the somewhat dullness to them.
 
Bass
 
    Very quickly found to be the focal point of the EX1, which again ties into the mainstream craze. The bottom end is very punchy and hits hard, even to the sub bass levels. For the price, I can’t really complain at all by the bass response.
The only downside I will say and it is from an “audiophile's” perspective, but since the bass is working harder to reach the lower notes and forcing them to hit them harder, I find it to be somewhat bloated and artificial.  Nothing huge or major but a note that exists nonetheless.



                                                                                          20151010_175116_HDR.jpg
 

 
Conclusion
 
    To sum up the Fiio EX1’s, they’re a very fun sounding headphone that I believe is a great way of introducing the mainstream audience into a new product line. The build quality, comfort and even the sound out classes most any other product I’m familiar with in this price range and should absolutely be a frontrunner to someone looking for either a great gift for a friend who’s interested in the field or even for yourself as a casual pair to tap your feet to. Fiio’s price/quality ratio has always made them a front runner in my mind throughout any of their products and their newest offering maintains that consistency.
 
Till next time my friends, also check out my unboxing video here, and my full video review here
 
hakushondaimao
hakushondaimao
Seems we have similar impressions of how these sound. Nice job.
Army-Firedawg
Army-Firedawg
Haha I thought the same when I read yours but thank ya friend.

hakushondaimao

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Impactful bass (when worn over ear); crisp, clear highs; overall warmth; good soundstage; non-fatiguing; bang for the buck.
Cons: Slightly recessed mids, springy cable; not designed to be worn cable-up.
The Fiio EX1 is the first Fiio-branded IEM. If it looks familiar, that’s because it is basically a re-tuned Dunu Titan 1 (a collaboration made obvious by the appearances of both the Fiio and Dunu names on various parts of the product).
 
The Titan has an excellent reputation within Head-Fi circles for spacious soundstage, capable bass, sparkling treble and revealing detail. Although curious for some time to try the Titan, I was held back from purchasing a set of my own by reports from some reviewers of poor isolation, edgy treble (tip dependent), shallow fit and cable-down design (I like over-ear).
 
0.ProductIMage.jpg
 
With the release of the EX1, Fiio organized a world tour, and I saw my no-risk chance to try out the latest iteration of the Titan. I put my name forward, and luckily was selected to lead off one of the North American legs, which led to me having ten days with the EX1 in exchange for my unbiased impressions. There was no financial incentive for me in this review, and at the end of ten days the IEM was packed up and sent on to the next tour participant.
 
I’m 50 verging on 51, and I have deficiencies in my hearing (in a recent, entirely non-scientific test I discovered I can’t really hear anything over about 15 kHz, with roll-of starting around 12 or 13 kHz, which I guess is pretty good for someone of my vintage but not perfect). My hearing sensitivity is pretty low, and so I listen at higher volume than the average bear. I listen to a variety of genres, in particular, Classical (mostly chamber), Jazz (‘50s to 70’s), ‘70s Rock, ‘80s New Wave/Electro, and Trip Hop/Acid Jazz (90’s into 00’s). I like good sub-bass presence, tight mid bass, relatively linear, detailed mids and highs, lush and rich with a good level of detail. I’m not a bass-head, and am not a fan of anything boomy. I’ve been a music lover for decades, but am relatively new to Head-Fi (bought my first over-ear headphones in November 2014). I am not an expert in electronics or musical terminology. I spend a lot of time on Head-Fi, know what has been useful to me in reviews, and try to give useful insights to help others make decisions about items they are thinking about trying or buying.
 
About the EX1
 
This is a summary of product information I found on Amazon: Each EX1 earpiece contains a nanotech titanium diaphragm dynamic driver within a CNC milled duralumin (back) and stainless steel (front) housing, with short nozzle for comfort. At the end of each nozzle are 7 tuning ports in a beehive pattern, sized and positioned for the desired sound properties. Housings are connected to grey kevlar-strengthened high-purity multi-strand (42 strands) OFC cables.
 
1.Package.jpg   2.Package.jpg
 
To add some of my own observations on receiving the EX1: The cable terminates at an L-shaped gold-plated plug. Strain reliefs are substantial, with black, soft rubberized material at the plug, an aluminium sheath at the y-split, and grey rubberized material at each housing. The housings are well vented (11 vents on the front, ear side and one on the back) so driver flex is not an issue. Cable is a bit springy, but not to the point of being a big issue. There is an aluminium cable cinch, which slides easily and locks securely; it inserts slightly into the recessed end of the y-split sheath when not in use.
 
3.PackageandSpec.jpg
 
Vital specifications:
  1. Driver: 13mm dynamic driver (titanium)
  2. Frequency Range: 20Hz – 30kHz
  3. Impedance: 16 ohm
  4. Sensitivity: 102 dB/mW
 
At the time of writing, the EX1 cost US$89.99 on Amazon.com.
 
EX1 Impressions
 
On receiving the EX1, I tried them out the way they’re designed, worn cable down and with stock tips. To tell the truth, I wasn’t happy with this set-up. I like a deep, secure insertion and the ear tips didn’t insert very far. The result was that I felt the earpieces were going to fall out or I would lose my seal if I moved my head too vigorously or quickly. The main culprits here were:
  • short nozzles and short bore stock ear-tips, and
  • the fact that I have rather prominent traguses (tragi?), both front and back, which caught on the strain relief and kept tip insertion shallow.
 
Feeling like maybe these weren’t for me , I decided to play around with different tips to see if I could get a more secure fit. I have Comply tips lying around, but I’m not the biggest fan of their sound, so I started with the Sony Isolation (foam-filled) Hybrids. I had success with these with the RHA MA750, which also fit insecurely with stock tips. With the EX1, if I really jammed them in as deep as they’d go, I got an okay fit, but it didn’t last long as the strain relief on the housing worked them out again. Same with other tips I tried.
 
So, I got a bit more drastic. The design looked like it would work cable up if I reversed ears (left earpiece in right ear and vice-versa… I know, sacrilege) so I gave it a try. The result? An excellent fit! I got much deeper insertion, everything felt secure, the earpieces didn’t work their way out, and I got a great seal. From there it was a matter of tip-rolling to find an ideal combination of comfort and sound quality.
 
4.TipRolling.jpg   5.TipRolling.jpg
 
I ended up settling on the Spinfits, with my top-three choices being: 1) Spinfit (best insertion, great bass and detailed highs, good soundstage, male vocals just a touch subdued at times), 2) Stock Silicon (bass fuller than Spinfits, highs and soundstage almost at Spinfit levels, but shallower insertion), and 3) Sony Isolation Hybrid (similar sound to Spinfit but warmer and smoother, insertion similar to stock silicon).
 
iTunes on MacBook Air via Fiio Q1
Dire Straits – You And Your Friend (from On Every Street, ALAC)
  1. Sony Isolation Hybrid (short narrow bore): Bass goes deep, has real substance in both sub- and mid-bass. Guitar beautifully detailed, sparkling and bright at high end but not harsh. Snare and high hat also nicely detailed. Knopfler’s vocal rich and textured, but veiled when competing against other instruments. Overall sound is warm, no harshness.
  2. Spiral Dot (short wide bore): Bass more forward, longer sustain, more echo-y. Highs (upper mids and treble) rounder, less detailed but still satisfying. Vocal more subdued. Overall warmer and less detailed, but pleasant, and suitable for long listening sessions or for music as background.
  3. Spinfit (long medium bore): Great insertion (tip extends about 2mm more from housing than other tips). Similar sound signature to Sony hybrid with powerful bass, detailed highs and slightly veiled mids (male vocal), though more open, greater sense of space.
  4. Stock Silicon (short wide bore): Look similar to Spiral Dots, but bore slightly wider and shorter (so sit shallower and less securely). Less bass forward than Spiral Dots and slightly fuller than Sony and Spinfit. Vocal and guitar more textured than Spiral Dots. Excellent detail and airiness to highs, with guitar quality and soundstage approaching Spinfits.
  5. Generic Silicon (short medium bore): Duller sound overall. Bass less full, more mid-bassy. Guitar rounder, less detailed. Vocal lusher but less textured. No real sense of spaciousness, more inside the head.
 
 
Sound Impressions
 
General sound signature: As mentioned at the beginning of the review, my sound expectations for the EX1 were a mix of good and bad: spacious soundstage, capable bass, sparkling treble and revealing detail, along with poor isolation and sometimes edgy treble. Once I dealt with my fit and insertion issues through tip choice and wearing the earpieces reversed and over the ears, fears were allayed and positive expectations met in spades.
 
6.Impressions.jpg   7.Impressions.jpg
 
I used the EX1s a lot in the 10 days I had them. Some of the time was spent listening objectively and taking notes for my review, but most of the time I enjoyed them while on the go or just listening for pure pleasure.
 
8.Microphone.jpg
 
In addition to a lot of listening, for the first time I made use of some objective measurement for this review. Thanks to input from my Head-Fi pal @nmatheis, I recently purchased the Dayton iMM-6 Calibrated Measurement Microphone (pictured above, with tubing added so I get an air-tight sound chamber for accurate results), and used it with the iPhone AudioTools app (with calibration file installed) to create an FFT curve showing frequency response characteristics of the EX1 (see below). I won’t pretend the curves produced are 100% scientifically accurate, but from experimenting with a number of the IEMs I own, have found the sound signatures I hear match pretty well with the graphics produced. To avoid influencing my impressions, I performed measurements after several hours of listening.
 
9.FFT.jpg
And with that preamble out of the way, my impressions:
 
  1. Bass: Just the way I like it. Not boomy, but very good in quantity and quality. On tracks with a lot of bass, you can feel the sub-bass in the pit of your stomach. On non-bassy tracks, there is a warmth from the low end that adds to ambience nicely. Bass doesn’t bleed or overpower other frequencies, and has good speed and snap.
  2. Mids: Texture of mids is excellent, with lots of micro-detail and realism to brass and toms. Lower mids can be subdued when competing with bass and treble in busy passages, but on their own sound lovely.
  3. Highs: Upper end is bright, detailed and clear. High hats, cymbals, guitar and piano shimmer and sparkle beautifully. Extension (at least to my aging ears) is good. At no point in my listening did I feel highs were harsh or sibilant; perhaps this is due to tip choice, or maybe the retune of the Titan has made a difference in this area.
  4. Female vocals: To be brief, the EX1 is wonderful with female voices. It’s revealing, detailed and honest. With smooth singers (Norah Jones, Lana Del Rey, Elizabeth Shepherd, Sade and the like), voices translate beautifully, with air and space, while those who’re more raw and edgy (Björk, Beth Hart, Joss Stone) deliver wonderful texture.
  5. Male vocals: If there’s a shortcoming with the EX1, this is it for me. Vocal detail and texture are good, but the slight veiling of lower mids is to me very evident in tracks or passages with a lot going on. Characterful singers like Geddy Lee, Eddie Vedder and Mark Knopfler have great quality during quiet passages, but when their bands get going and there’s a lot of energy, the low end of their vocals drops out noticeably.
  6. Balance: As mentioned already, bass and treble both have excellent quality, and some veiling is evident in the lower mids (note the dip between 500 Hz and 1.5 kHz in the FFT graph). I would call the EX1 mildly v-shaped, but not significantly so as neither bass not treble are over-emphasized.
  7. Soundstage: Very good sense of space and atmospherics, and very definitely takes your music outside your head. Positioning is accurate, with width, height and depth. Side-to-side fades and stereo effects have impact.
 
iTunes on MacBook Air via Calyx PaT DAC
Massive Attack vs. Mad Professor – No Protection (Whole Album, ALAC)
  1. Wow! Crunching bass, deep and punchy. Visceral, gut-punching sub-bass. Lot of low frequency synth effects, clear with amazing textured reverb. Nice clarity in tracks with female vocals. Highs are clear, bright, detailed. Side-to-side fades have echo-y and strong stereo quality. BIG sense of soundstage, wide, tall, deep… holographic and atmospheric.
 
Fiio X3ii via Fiio Q1
Duke Jordan – Deacon Joe (from Flight to Jordan, ALAC)
  1. Natural, full bass. Drums mostly focused on high hat, brushed snare and a bit of cymbal, clear as a bell. Sax reedy and textured, trumpet sweet and clear, bright and squawky. Piano sparkles, natural, no damping or muffling, crisp attack with sustain neither too short nor long. Solos are clear and clean, group passages well balanced with good definition of individual players.
 
 
Comparisons
 
While I had the EX1, I preformed several comparisons with other IEMs of similar class and price. I could have compared against higher-priced hybrids (Dunu DN2000J, Fidue A73, Altone 2000, Trinity Delta), but felt it unfair to pit a budget single dynamic against competition like that. Instead, I chose to compare with several popular IEMs in similar technology (single driver) and price (sub $100) ranges.
 
10.Comparison.jpg   11.Comparison.jpg
 
  1. RHA MA750: I really like the MA750, and it’s been one of my go-to IEMs for running about due to it’s rugged construction and cable and good sound quality. I was thus surprised at how much more I liked the EX1, which has more substantial bass, dynamic, revealing mids and highs, and warmer presentation overall. In comparison I found the MA750 rather flat and thunky.
  2. Trinity Hyperion: The Hyperion is tiny compared to the EX1, and cheaper by half, so perhaps this comparison is also a bit unfair. That said, it’s very listenable. Compared to the EX1, it lacks sub-bass, is more v-shaped (more recessed mids), and overall a bit dry and analytical. EX1 is fuller and deeper, with more warmth and airy, spacious soundstage.
  3. Havi B3 Pro 1: The Havi is a double-dynamic IEM known for excellence with vocals and stellar soundstage. It lacks a bit in the low end, and I prefer the sub- and mid-bass quality of the EX1. Havi is more mid-forward than EX1, so vocals (especially male) sounded more natural and balanced, while treble quality was similar. Soundstage with both was very good, with EX1 a touch smaller. Overall the bass presence makes the EX1 sound fuller and warmer, and if I have to chose between the two on sound alone, I give the edge to the EX1. The EX1 is significantly easier to drive (Havi requires a fair bit of power), so for portable use without an external amp, the EX1 wins, too.
 
EX1 vs. RHA MA750 (Fiio X3ii, LG)
Nitin Sawhney – I Ask You (feat. Joss Stone, from OneZero, ALAC)
  1. EX1: Bass substantial, nice thump, goes deep, realistic attack, not overpowering or bleedy. Stone’s vocal clear, detailed, textured. Good air, breathy and throaty. Balanced well with instruments. Piano clear and sparkling. Snare and high hat shimmer. Warm and spacious overall.
  2. MA750: Overall sound is drier, flatter. Less prevalent bass, particularly sub-bass. Overall sound a bit muffled. Vocal veiled. Piano sounds damped. Snare and high hat more thunky than shimmery. Sound is boxed in, lacks space and air. EX1 wins.
 
EX1 vs. Trinity Hyperion (Fiio X3ii, LG)
Roxy Music – Take A Chance With Me (from Avalon, ALAC)
  1. Hyperion: A little lacking in sub-bass, though mid-bass is satisfying. Good detail in highs (snare, high hat, guitar, synth). Ferry’s vocal nicely detailed but veiled and lacking the smooth, croony quality it usually has. Overall dry and a bit analytical, but very listenable.
  2. EX1: Bass fuller and deeper, more impactful. Ferry is croony again, with warmth and textured airiness. Highs shimmery and bright. Overall warmer, airier, more engaging and spacious. Like EX1 more.
 
EX1 vs. Havi B3 Pro 1 (Fiio X5ii, LG for EX1 and HG for Havi)
Rush – Red Barchetta (from Moving Pictures, ALAC)
  1. Havi: Overall sound is definitely bass-light. Mid-bass is there, but a bit thin and subdued, lacking power and impact. Lots of detail in the mids and highs (small toms, snare, cymbals, high hat, guitar). Geddy’s vocal is lively and natural, detailed yet full and without any harshness. Good sense of width and depth.
  2. EX1: Bass is much fuller and goes deeper. Overall sound is warmer. Mids recessed somewhat, body has gone somewhat from lower end of Geddy’s vocals. Highs similarly detailed and crisp. Soundstage good width and depth, but smaller than Havi. A close one, but overall prefer the EX1.
 
 
Conclusion
 
I’m glad I got to try the EX1 as it certainly lives up the Titan hype. For $89 I didn’t expect to find this quality of bass married to revealing highs and excellent soundstage. Overall sound is natural and warm, with very good levels of detail, and other than the slightly recessed lower mids, I find little to fault here.
 
12.Conclusion.jpg
 
Having spent some time with the EX1, I now regret not having gone in on the Titan 1 when it was first released. From what I’ve read, the EX1 is a retune of, but not that different from, the Titan. Lucky for me the EX1 is more reasonable price-wise, so this is a purchase I’ll definitely be making in the near future. Now if only it came with a detachable cable so I didn’t have to reverse left and right channels!
 
Many thanks to @Joe Bloggs of Fiio for coordinating this review tour.
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GN-0015
GN-0015
I remember Hifiman made an adapter for RE-272 that can switch your left/right side so you can wear IEMs like this one over the ear. Do they sell those things separately or are they any alternatives?
hakushondaimao
hakushondaimao
FiiO Sunny
FiiO Sunny
Thanks for your kind support, great review , hakushondaimao.

Tobias89

Previously known as ojy89.
Pros: Rather balanced signature and is very detailed, which is rare at this price point. Good build quality. Cheap, excellent bang for buck.
Cons: Poor isolation due to semi-open design. Springy cable that results in some microphonics. Some treble harshness. Identical to Titan1 (except cable)
About Me
I stumbled into the head-fi world when my itchy fingers picked up a Shure SE846 back in January’14. Since then, it has been a long journey, and I’m only just starting. Exploring the various IEMs and portable set-ups available, I’ve slowly learnt to appreciate good sounding gears at various price points, culminating in my decision to start writing reviews in order to contribute in my tiny way back to this community. I’m still looking to slowly develop a more consistent writing style as well. I’ll appreciate any feedback anyone has on any areas I could improve on!
 
I have varying music taste, so I can listen to/ appreciate most genres of music too, from classicals to pop/rock and almost anything in between, and choose my listening genre at a particular time based on mood, although I’m still building up my music collection.
 
Personally, I like my bass. It doesn’t have to be in huge, overwhelming quantities, but it has to be good, clean and deep base. I don’t like recessed mids, while I’m generally tolerant towards treble, and can appreciate both bright and rolled-off trebles.
 
As with all reviews, this review is purely subjective, based on my own experience, gear and preference, so YMMV!
 
About the EX1
IMG_7209.jpg
 
The Fiio EX1 is Fiio’s first IEM offering, and they have jointly partnered with DUNU to create the EX1 that is currently in my hands. It is based heavily on DUNU’s Titan 1, and it shows in their similarities, also featuring the same titanium dynamic driver that is found in the Titan 1.
 
Build Quality
IMG_7233.jpg 
The EX1, as with the Titan 1, is built out a combination of CNC milled duralumin and stainless steel to minimize unwanted resonance. While it certainly felt heavy in my hands, once inserted into my ears, I didn’t feel any discomfort even after prolonged usage.
 
The cable is made of Kevlar-reinforced OFC, and coated with TPE. While certainly well built, it is slightly springy and the TPE coating gives it a rubbery and slightly sticky feel which wasn’t to my liking. I also felt that there was a tad more microphonics with the EX1 vs the Titan 1. Sliding the chin slider up helps a lot, and attaching the included shirt clip all but removes any microphonics. I felt that that the Titan 1 had much less microphonic issue, but since I only used it while sitting down in quiet environment, it was not an issue for me.
 
Comfort and Isolation
The EX1 has pretty poor isolation, which I attribute mainly due to its semi-open design. Thus, I wouldn’t really recommend using it outdoors, such as in a train/subway or on a bus. While sound leakage isn’t as bad as a pair of open-backed headphones, it is substantial enough that my colleague asked if I was playing my music too loudly while in the lifts (oops). Thus, I only used the EX1 while sitting down in a quiet environment (as mentioned above). Despite that, its isolation isn't as bad as earpods or earbuds.

As the EX1 is a shallow-insertion IEM, confort wasn’t an issue for me. I also did not find the EX1 to be uncomfortable for prolonged usage despite its size and weight. While its presence can be felt, it didn’t trouble me in anyway.
 
Accessories
IMG_7215.jpg
 

Accessories provided are almost identical with the Titan 1. A very similar looking carrying case is provided, as is a similar selection of tips. 3 different types of tips were provided in 3 sizes (S/M/L). The one on the left that looks a bit like the Sony Hybrid has the smallest bore, with the middle red & grey tips with a medium sized bore, while the black one on the right has the widest bore of the lot. Later in this review, I will talk more about tip rolling.

Also provided is a shirt clip, which I found to be especially useful to eliminate microphonics as mentioned above. However, missing from the EX1 is the ¼” adaptor, but this is a non-issue to me personally.
 
Specifications
EX1
Type
Dynamic(13mm)
Frequency response
20Hz-30kHz
Sensitivity
102dB/mW
Impedance
16Ω
Plug size
3.5mm Gold-plated
Cord length
1.2m
Weight
18g
 
 
Sensitivity
The EX1, as with most dynamic driver IEMs that I’ve tried, which admittedly isn’t a lot, is not a very sensitive IEM. While it varies from track to track, I found myself turning the volume higher than I normally do with my other IEMS, which are admittedly more sensitive BA IEMs. On my Samsung Note 3, I found myself hitting about 3-4 clicks below max volume most of the time.
 
Sound
Right, so now we're at the main point of this entire review, the SOUND!
 
Source
IMG_7266.jpg
 

For the purpose of this review, my main source will be Foobar>Chord Hugo>EX1 (middle sized bore red & grey tips).
clip_image008.jpg

Tracks Used
Some of the tracks used for this review are:
Storms Are On The Ocean
Amber Rubarth
Spanish Harlem
Rebecca Pidgeon
Angel
Saybia
Drum Impro
Dali CD
Ignorance (Acoustic)
Paramore
Just A Fool (ft. Blake Shelton)
Christina Aguilera
Cheek to Cheek
Lady Gaga / Tony Bennett
Royals
Lorde
See You Again (ft. Charlie Puth)
Wiz Khalifa
 
General Signature
Very natural tonality. Good details, transparent and good imaging/soundstaging. Pretty balanced, with a slight tilt to U-shaped. Bright treble. Excellent bass. Above average midrange – clean and with good details and timbre for instruments, with just a hint of lushness. Vocals not the most engaging though.
 
 
Bass
Bass on the EX1 is slightly warm, but clean yet very slightly boosted. It is very quick, tight, and has good extension, with a good amount of sub-bass rumble
 
While I mentioned that the bass is slightly boosted, it remained rather linear, with some added emphasis given to the mid bass. The bass still remains accurate however, and has excellent details, including all the way down in the sub-bass.
 
Bass decay leans towards being slightly quick, but there is no bass bleed into the midrange, and I never felt overwhelmed at any point when using it despite it having a small bass bloom at times on some tracks.
 
Mids
The mids of the EX1 is slightly recessed, giving the EX1 its slight U-shaped signature. However, I never felt that it was recessed, just that in comparison to the bass and treble it is slightly further back. It is airy, clear and detailed, with a tiny hint of warmth in there, and never felt veiled.

Instruments have a very realistic timbre and sounded great, and it really shines when listening to acoustic or classical pieces. However, while vocals are pretty engaging, it does exhibit some sibilance on vocals, and especially so for female vocalists.
 
Treble
The EX1 has a very detailed and well extended treble, which is bright and airy but also rather prominent. This prominence poses a slight issue, as the EX1’s treble also has a slightly metallic timbre, to the point that it did sound a bit harsh on some tracks, and cymbals do sound somewhat glaring. Treble decay though, is excellent, being neither too fast nor slow.
 
Soundstage/imaging/presentation
Likely as a result of its semi-open design, the EX1 has very good and coherent soundstage. While not the widest, it has good height, depth and width. Imaging is good, and instrument separation is excellent as well. I was easily able to pinpoint the locations of various instruments.
 
Tip rolling
Vyz-53egltest1.jpg
Photo credit to @earfonia.
 
The black tip with the smallest bore (sony hybrid look-a-like), had a noticeable bass boost, especially in the midrange. It had the warmest signature with the least amount of sibilance, but also resulted in a slightly more congested soundstage. My recommendations for modern genres such as Pop.

The red & grey tip with a medium sized bore gave a slightly brighter sound, but a decidedly less warm signature. Bass is present but less emphasised compared to the black tips. The most sibilant of the 3 tips, but nothing unbearable.

The black tip with the widest bore gave more bass than the grey tips without being as warm as the sony hybrid lookalike tips, but the treble was also more forgiving compared to the red cored tips. Also seeming provide the widest soundstage of the three.
 
Comparison to Titan 1
IMG_7307.jpg
IMG_7328.jpgIMG_7335.jpgIMG_7341.jpg
 
Again, I’d like to thank @earfonia for loaning me his Titan 1 for this comparison. However, before I start my comparison, I’d like to note that the EX1 is a very new unit, and I’m the first person on its tour, while the Titan 1 has been with earfonia for a period of time.

The same type of tips were used for all direct (A/B) comparison, which are RHA’s silicon tips, as I neglected to borrow the original tips from him. However, I did use the medium bore, red cored tips to listen to both the EX1 and Titan 1 by changing the tips between prolonged usage.
 
I felt that both the Titan 1 and EX1 sounded very similar, to the point of being almost identical. I did not notice any major difference in sound between the two, and only when I did direct A/B-ing did I notice some very minute difference.

What tiny difference that I may have noticed may be attributed a variety of probable reason, such as the different cable, or difference in burn in length, or even just my perception that there is a difference (psychological). I am unable to say that any one particular is the main reason for the difference, as it felt too close to call for me (if there even is any difference at all).
 
With that said and done, I’d just list differences that I noticed here for those who are still curious. Do not read too much into this though. I felt the EX 1 to be very slightly warmer, while the Titan 1 had a slightly more prominent and bright treble. I also felt that the EX 1 had a very slightly lusher mid-range. These differences were slight as mentioned, and not very noticeable without any direct comparisons. I will also not attempt to discern the potential reasons for these observations.
 
Conclusion
Being very similar to the Titan 1 from DUNU, but available at a cheaper price point, the Fiio EX1 is an excellent IEM, doubly so at its price point.
 
Being almost identical to the Titan, it shares both the Titan’s strength and weakness. It has a detailed and pretty balanced (just slightly U shaped) signature, a touch of warmth at the low end. While not a bassy IEM, the bass coming out is of excellent quality and a decent quantity to boot. However, as with the Titan 1, it is also a rather unforgiving IEM, and poor quality recordings can be rather easily exposed.
 
I’d like to say that I do love the EX1, and for what it offers at this price, it is nigh unbeatable. Its open design does make using it while on the go somewhat problematic, especially if ambient noise creeping into your little world of music is unwanted. Still, when in a quiet environment, the EX1 rewards you with a very detailed sound that still remains musical enough for enjoyment.
 
While it is a rather versatile IEM, I feel that the EX1 shines with well recorded music due to its detail. It is excellent with natural acoustic recordings, classical music and even jazz, but I would advise against using it for modern POP recordings due to it being rather harsh with poorly recorded tracks, modern recordings have a tendency to be rather bright.
 
If you don’t mind tip rolling, it is very enjoyable with most genres of music (ie. Changing to the smallest bore tips gave a less sibilant, warmer signature that sounds good with pop despite me just stating that the EX1 doesn’t really suit pop music!!!).
 
 
Ending Notes/Suggestions
I find the EX1 to be too similar to the Titan 1 for comfort. Perhaps Fiio should consider having an exclusive IEM in partnership with DUNU instead of a slightly varied version of one of DUNU’s offerings with a very similar signature.
mayi
mayi
This one is exactly the same as DUNU TITAN1, EXACTLY SAME
Cocki
Cocki
is this a re-branded product or a knock-off? either way i feel bad for dunu
Tobias89
Tobias89

pixelsphotopro

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Channel separation, confort, isolation, Excellent value for the money and much more....
Cons: Packaging (Because I'm fussy)
Hi all, I just want to say that it's my first review done on a product but I'm very proud to do it on a FIIO product. Review of the new FIIO EX1 In-ear Monitors. I will use the EX1 with the FIIO X1 alone. I don't consider myself a professional, I'm just a guy who love music and appreciate when the sound is nice to my ears.
 
Day 1: Let's begin:
 
Packaging: I was surprised to see the box the EX1 and parts were put in, I do have the FIIO X1, E07K and E12 and the boxes look more high end than the the EX1, the box did not give the protection that I was looking for but was more a regular box that you see all the time but not from FIIO. It's maybe just me who is too fussy about the packaging.
 Parts included: I was really pleased and surprised to see all that is included with the EX1. You do naturally have the EX1, a nice little black box to put the EX1 and all parts together, 9 pairs of ear tips, a clip, a warranty card but if you want the specifications you have to look on the back of the box that you just put in the garbage.
Now the more serious task, let's listen to music, I will listen to different genres of music to see how versatile the EX1 are.
Eric Clapton   MY FATHER EYES and others
Jennifer Warnes  WAY DOWN DEEP
Luciano Pavarotti  O SOLE MIO and others
TIESTO and Techno
As you see, I do listen to many genres of music.
For the first day it will only play some random music to open them……  Goodnight for now
 
Day 2: Tonight I feel to party so it will be Techno night, just to let you know that I’m 57 y/o and I love techno….. I was part-time DJ up to 45 y/o, that’s why I love it.
I did listen to around 2 hours of mix techno style music and one thing I was surprised is the very high frequency are there big time. I did have to use the EQ on my X1 player to give a rest to my ears. The voices were nice to listen, at least to my old DJ abused ears. Bass were also very good, like I used to hear these mixes.
So for tonight after I did adjust the high frequency it was a wonderful and nostalgic moments of my time behind the tables. It’s not the best music to make a review but still not everyone listen only to classical or quieter music.
 
 
Day 3: Classical music night with Pavarotti
This is going to be thought to do a fair review tonight as classical music with a Tenor like Pavarotti it’s sometimes very hard for in-ear monitors to endure and be able to make a nice representation of all the instruments and at the same time keep the voice as it supposed to be.
What a wonderful evening I had to listen to the best of all time, at least to me: Luciano Pavarotti. His voice was sublime and the instruments were well defined, what I mean is everything was well balance between the instruments and his voice, I don’t know how to say it with frequency terms but to my ears it was WOW, even when he was pushing his voice to the higher level I did not have to lower the highs.
 Only thing that I do have when I listen to the same album with my Grado SR225I is the FIIO EX1 did not gave me the same stage effect, you know when you listen and you think the person is singing in front of you , that was not there for me. And this is one thing that I’m very fussy about. Everything else was so perfect that I did really appreciate my night with the master.
 
Day 4: Repeat of Pavarotti
Before listening to Eric Clapton, I did repeat my Pavarotti night and a good chance I did, I was probably tired the other night because this time I did have the scene presence I was looking for, This time he was like in front of me singing with his incredible voice and it was wonderful to have another night, tomorrow I will listen to Eric Clapton and Jennifer Warne’s
Day 5: Eric Clapton and Jennifer Warne’s
 
That was so wonderful, that copy of Eric Clapton Unplugged is sublime, it was really as though he was in front of me singing and the scratch of his pick and fingers on the guitar string simply WOW, don’t know how much more I could describe it.
 
For Jennifer Warne’s the bass at the beginning of Way Down Deep was there and it’s hard to get it properly and I did get it with that song.
Conclusion: I was pleasantly surprises of listening my different genres of music with the FIIO EX1. I’m not good to explain the frequency but personally I will put a 8/10 on this pair of In ears monitors for quality for your money and same thing 8/10 for the quality of the frequency range, only lose points when the very high were too much with my Techno music.
Also I have to say that I did have the EX1 shipped to me for free just to be able to do my review without any pressure at all, although I have to ship it to the next person afterwards (also paid for). You also see that this is my first review ever done so my phrasing is not really professional but I do mean what I say and I hope your understand.
Thank you
Pixelsphotopro (Daniel Tremblay)
Francki Conniff
Francki Conniff
Good Job on the Review... I need to get me a pair as my old IE's are worn out and I only use my Sure SE215's when I cant use my NAD HP50's on the plane. But I want some IE's for home use and I will have to give these a try. Oh and hold on to that HP Touchpad hehe I still use my White 64gb as well :)
pixelsphotopro
pixelsphotopro
Thank you and yes I will keep my HP Touchpad as long as it will work, I simply love it and do what I need.
Pros: Build quality, lots of tips, fairly neutral tuning (good mids)
Cons: Isolation, Bass is light
0.jpg

 
 
I used 3 tracks only. I have O.C.D and can get lost in music. I prefer stuff I know like the back of my hand for comparing.
 
I have listened to these three hundreds and hundreds of times.
 
I used the Alpha & Delta AD01 (dual dynamic)  and the Sony xb90ex (single dynamic) for all three songs to compare with the FiiO EX1 (single dynamic)
 
All 3 files are .flac 24/192 played from a Note 4 > Cozoy Aegis which played them back at 24/192 using U.A.P.P and no eq
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Earth Wind & Fire - "That's the way of the World"

 
 
 

 
0.jpg

 
 
Listened to IEM in this order:
 

EX1

  1. Bass - Hard to hear... more than usual however I use elevated bass eq almost always so this could have been my ears adjusting.
  2. Mids - Sounded forward or "loud", vocals were good but horns and studio mixed layers were getting lost as the treble approached.
  3. Highs -  Singers voices in EW&F reach very high and the highs had a glare. The whole song sounded  ( ___/ ) shaped.
  4. Stage - Not wide and not narrow. didn't strike me as a item worth noting except it is
 
 
I assume the freq graph for the Dunu Titan would apply so the response should not sound like so
 
 

AD01

  1. Bass -Sub-bass and bass clearly elevated but pleasing
  2. Mids - nice but slightly muted or less forward than the EX1
  3. Highs -  Singers voices in EW&F reach very high and the highs had no glare but sounded very smooth, not too detailed which is bad for some. I like smooth highs
  4. Stage - More compact than the EX1
 
 
 

XB90EX

  1. Bass - Less sub-bass than AD01 but more than EX1 which had none. Bass is present and feels true to master
  2. Mids -  sound is natural and has no clear recess and not forward.
  3. Highs -  Sound crisp and detailed.
  4. Stage - Very very large presentation. Unlike AD01 and EX1
 
 
I would take the AD01>xb90ex>EX1
The sub bass of the AD01 is just so damn nice. The XB is Xtra Bass but without an eq it is not so. The EX1 seems to lack bass.
The graph of the Titan shows a semi flat region from 10-100Hz which is like a Planar. Very nice for an audiophile I imagine but too much info was simply not there.
 

Paused review as some things were off in my mind.
The EX1 had fantastic mids the night before but were in my face now?
Decided to alter the order of listening but leave these impressions as they are real.
 
 
 
 
 

Tupac Shakur (2pac)  - "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted"

 

 
0.jpg

 
 

AD01

  1. Bass - sub bass and bass transition to mids very nice.
  2. Mids - slight recess or falling into the treble area but not scooped
  3. Highs -  very nice and smooth. Clearly a type of genre' the AD01 shines at
  4. Stage -  Again, the AD01 is close to being compact but only compared to BA having units
 
   

EX1

  1. Bass - This track has a lot of bass beyond sub-bass which was again not there but familiar 80Hz hit was there.
  2. Mids -  sounded loud, forward but for this track that is good. What was shouty in the Earth Wind & Fire track is bouncy joy on this track little info gone (dip in freq?)
  3. Highs -  maybe it's the master but the highs sounded great and I know this track inside out and it was bass light but otherwise fine
  4. Stage - Not of note. Track not mixed in a way that sounds wide but holographic ghostly sounding women's voices were hard to catch (late mids?)
 
 
 

XB90EX

  1. Bass - Less sub-bass than AD01 but more than EX1 which had none. Bass is present and feels true to master (same as previous track)
  2. Mids -  sound is natural and has no clear recess and not forward. (same as previous track)
  3. Highs -  Sound crisp and detailed. (same as previous track)
  4. Stage - Very very large presentation. Unlike AD01 and EX1 (same as previous track)
 
 
 
would take the AD01>xb90ex>EX1.
 
 So a R&B and a Hip Hop track are better listens at least on a flat eq as the other 2 pair have an elevated bass tuning.
The xb90ex should dominate this track but without an eq and an amp it does not. AD01 sounds best.
 
 

 

Crosby Stills Nash & Young - "Helplessly Hoping"

 
 

 
0.jpg

 
 
 

AD01

  1. Bass - mostly guitar notes in the bass area and generally not much info here, what is mastered seems fine and no roll off or anything lacking
  2. Mids - sound is nice but appears a bit recessed. I listened to this with the EX1 last night so I know what's going to happen here
  3. Highs -  voices are smooth like butter but rolling off
  4. Stage -  Again, the AD01 is close to being compact
 
 
 

EX1

  1. Bass - Not much bass in this track and what is there sounds present and nothing seems lacking in lower guitar chords resonance
  2. Mids -  What was in my face on the Earth wind and Fire track is really nice on this track (first track is vinyl rip....hmmmmmm)
  3. Highs -  The vocals sound really awesome which I heard last night. knew this was coming. Very good recording or just a perfect match for these IEM or both
  4. Stage - Not of note. Track not mixed in a way that sounds outdoor stadium. there is a live version but quality is not great for testing
 
 

XB90EX

  1. Bass - Bass is not prominent in track and sound is not better or worse than other two IEM
  2. Mids -  sound is natural and has no clear recess and not forward. (same as previous track (s))
  3. Highs -  sound is nice but not as pleasing as the EX1
  4. Stage -   This track does sound around your head with these IEM.
 
 
 
would take the EX1>xb90ex>AD01
 
Guitar and vocal-centric music seems to be the sweet spot for these IEM and I listen to  a lot of that. Jim Croce, Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young and the like.
The AD01 is an excellent set for rock but the clarity in the mids and detail of guitar plucks and pulls is superior on the EX1.
 
 
 
 

 If I were a Dummy :wink:

 
 
 
 
The Fletcher Munson curve
 
If you note the dip at 4Khz and look at the Golden Ear curve it is almost a compensation graph. The bump they are placing is almost exactly where in a relative manner the human ear has an issue.
 
 
 
 
 
Assuming that is a pleasant line where the average human ear can hear the most musical information in the most appealing way (Golden Ear curve)...then it doesn't matter if it's your best line. It's mine for this exercise and the other 3 are relative to what I find appealing. I am the black line.
 
 
The EX1 are rising into the audible and are not elevated in the sub bass.
The AD01 clearly enter audible elevated with a boosted sub-bass .
The xb90ex are also rising as they require power and eq.
The EX1 have a mid section that is either ideal or it is slightly forward.
The Highs of the EX1 have an airy feeling and seem as though the peak is slightly further up the register.
 
**click to enlarge**​
 
 

EQ me

 
If I were to EQ the EX1...and I did. I'd raise 35-70Hz with 55Hz as the peak of that bass hill  of +5dB with a cut hard down to 250Hz at -2dB. I would also drop 2k a tad and raise 3-4khz and 8Khz in amounts depending on the genre'.
 
 

 

4U

The reviews on Head-Fi are results in search engine queries. The  # of folks who see these reviews will very often...especially later.. be from non members with little knowledge or care about warm,dry,hot,wet,stage,separation etc.
 
Some love pictures others love analogies others love videos and on an on.
My review is one view.  It's mine. I like bass and I like mids and I like highs. The sound is kind of airy and thin to me. Fit is not great but that's why god made lots of tips. There are lots of tips in this sets package. I think a set of foam Comply would be a really good idea.
 
 
 I cannot try 10 songs and keep track honestly in my mind. I can do that with 3.
I chose 2 bass heavy genre' which is not this IEM's strong point but a world tour is underway and a bass lovers input is a slice of the pie
 
If i were to tip roll and eq which is natural for me it would certainly sound better and it's larger driver and vent modding could eclipse the "fun" of the AD01 in all manner but that is a rabbit hole. Stock, no eq....not my thing but much easier to follow if your a reader/listener.
 
I will edit and refine the presentation of the review but the general observations will stay. I d not believe in burn in but do believe in brain burn in and don't want that to be a factor.
 
Many thanks to @Joe Bloggs for letting a bass lover and person in Japan take part.  FiiO should give you a raise. You help make them look very good.
 
 
 

C.R.E.A.M.(y)          4 me  n  U

 
Gotta  end this with a blast.
 
If I have one regret it is that I did not see the enormity, the massive power of this review system sooner. It has been used well and abused well.
Credibility is the real currency on Head-Fi.  Takes time to build and moments to throw away. Just like in real life. "Joe P. Public" cannot see who is who and even if they could it wouldn't matter if they didn't know exactly what they wanted ....(how many folks know exactly what they want??) ..and to be honest 1/2 the folks doing reviews have not found what they want.
End game items mean end of game.  I'd be gone and so would they. 
 
It's a journey marked by levels of financial investment. Not accurate markings but as good as any.  Are these (FiiO EX1) worth the amount of money at this point along the way? Sure, with a bonus of being backed by a company that will respond to any issue related to the item. I have had my ups and downs with em' but never about value for your money or inquiry and interaction. FiiO is peerless on Head-Fi in that way (10/01/2015)
 
 
The big question is...would I rec these to you? I dunno you..so no.  You come back here saying my rec was off and you mess my cream. No way.
 
Are these good IEM? Yes. Well made and tuned relatively neutral and backed by a solid company. So they are good.  3.5
Hawaiibadboy
Hawaiibadboy
@knorris908  it's a Hawaiianese mash -up 4 sure :)   FiiO e18 is my fave. Gets little love round here but it plugs n plays with the droid and the power is just enough to send SZ into thunder mode. They make good stuff. I am hoping for a basshead capable unit from them in the future.
Luckbad
Luckbad
Good to see Fiio in IEMs. Hopefully they make a basshead earphone soon!
D
Diego Davila
Why almost everyone takes the isolation factor as an important thing?. Wasn't this IEM designed to get better soundstage?, therefore would not be suitable for the street.

420204

500+ Head-Fier
Pros: wonderful comfort, great soundstage, neutral sound, small galaxy of tips
Cons: no detachable cable, no isolation
FiiO EX1 – the non portable portable headphone
 
PA010440.jpg
 
Disclaimer:
I was part of FiiO's worldwide review tour for their first in ear monitor, the EX1. Which is based on the very popular Titan 1 by Dunu. For ten days I could test this IEM.
Many thanks to Joe Bloggs for organizing yet another tour and for including me again, and also for extending the loaner period!
Neither do I work for FiiO nor have I any affiliation with them.
 
 
Introduction:
As said above, the EX1 is based on Dunu's Titan 1. Dunu and FiiO partnered up for this monitor, and as far as I know the only difference of these two models is the cable. Which got developed by FiiO, they have some experience in making cables, as they have released a few different upgrade cables themselves (for example the RC-HD1 for Sennheisers HD 5X8 series).
I want to state that I have never been an IEM person because of comfort issues.
 
Specifications:
 
Type
Dynamic (13mm)
Frequency Response
20Hz - 30kHz
Sensitivity
102db/mW
Impedance
16 ohms
Plug size
3.5mm, gold plated
cable length
1.2m
Weight
18g
 
 
Package and Accessories:
 
P9250401.jpgP9250402.jpg
 
Like any other product from FiiO the EX1 also comes in a black and red box. Since I didn't want to damage the box too much I tried to open it gently. So it took quite some time to get the IEMs out. If you don't have to send them to another reviewer I guess you can just rip it open and enjoy them a little faster.
 
P9250404.jpgP9250405.jpg
 
The EX1 comes with a transport box, a small galaxy of tips and a shirt clip alongside the authenticity card.
 
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I think it's great to see so many different tips, but I'd love to see some non silicone tips for a change. Why is everyone jumping on that train? They're easy to manage, right, but as far as isolation goes these are horrible. Well, different story.
 
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Build:
The monitors are made of aircraft-grade duralumin, the same material is used in their upcoming X7 I think. They are a little heavy because of that, but nothing to be worried about. The housing has a few holes for an open design. The cable is soldered into the earphone, so no detachable cable. Also it is designed to be worn down only, but it is manageable to wear them upside down if you swap sides (left earphone in right ear and the other way around).
 
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As mentioned before the cable is the main difference between the Dunu and the FiiO. The homepage states that it is a kevlar-strenghened high purity multi strand OFC cable.
At the end of the cable you'll find a standard right angled 3,5mm TRS plug before which is a silicone cable binder that says 'Dunu Patent'. I didn't know you can put a patent on those things, but the past has shown that basically everything can get patented (hello Apple). The cable binder works well and is a nice touch for storing the earphone, also it works well.
 
Fit, comfort and isolation:
With a total of nine tips it won't be hard to get a good fit, for me the pre-applied tips worked like a charm.
In the introduction I said that I always had comfort issues when it came to in ears. Notice that I said had? Yes, that's right, these are absolutely comfortable and for the first time I was able to wear an in ear monitor for more than an hour. I wore the EX1 while traveling for 3 hours to work, and nothing! Of course I felt them, but they didn't get anything near uncomfortable. These changed my opinion on IEMs. Thank you FiiO/Dunu! It was about time :wink:
Now for isolation. The title of this review is 'The non portable portable headphone', and here's why: their open design ensures a more natural flow of the soundwaves, but makes it leak sound in and out. So there's basically no real isolation. That makes the EX1 practically unusable for outside actions, at least for me.
 
Sound:
At first I used the EX1 with my loaner AK100II, and I was quite surprised as I found them to be missing body and detail, they sounded muffled and boring. So I thought what would they like? Maybe FiiO's earphone likes one of FiiO's DAPs. So I took out my X5ii and voilà. Now the EX1 delivered a very clean and full sound. Who would have thought that these are made for each other :wink:
 
At first I made the mistake in taking them out for a walk. This is where the above mentioned open design hit me. Every noise made its way to my ears and it was not anything near where I expected them to be. When used inside you can really enjoy it's full potential though.
 
The EX1 has a good slight V shaped soundstage, a full and vivid body. Its sound is very balanced and natural, with a hint in the bass region. The sound can not be described as warm or bright, it is more of a neutral kind.
Bass has a good presence and is punchy, treble is crisp and clean while mids are airy and very detailed Male vocals are full and female artists (such as Björk) really shine with these little diamonds.
They match nearly every genre, but for my taste were best accompanied by female singers.
Separation could use some improvement in my opinion.
 
Conclusion:
The EX1 is a wonderful in ear monitor in sound and comfort. I can enjoy them for hours straight without them ever getting fatiguing or exhausting. But I don't see the point of having in ears that have an open design. The main purpose, at least for me, of an IEM is to be portable. Isolation has one of the bigger roles in this part, and the EX1 has none. When I was traveling by train to work a woman a few meters away from me asked me to turn down the volume even though it wasn't high at all.
 
For 90$ these are a bargain if you can live with the open design.
 
Final Words:
Again a huge thanks to Joe Bloggs and FiiO for making this tour happen! It was my pleasure to review their first earphone.
Off they go to Ireland.
 
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Hawaiibadboy
Hawaiibadboy
Nice review. I would also describe them as kind of neutral.
JK1
JK1
IEMs with am open design would be great if they are open enough so that someone can hear their surroundings well enough to safely cross traffic intersections when the volume is kept low. It seems like they probably aren't open enough for that though. 
 
I hope Fiio comes out with some less expensive IEMs, especially ones with a detachable cable that retail for under $50. Open earphones with earhooks would also be interesting. Something that sounds like the Sennheiser MX580 but has ear hooks to keep it in place would be great.
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