Introduction
In the last years FiiO has gained much momentum between budget-sensible Audiophiles, making good product for the right amount of money.
When they announced a new flagship that should give much I was genuinely excited, and curious if they can match the quality of my Etymotic. Let’s see if it is the case.
About Me
I’m 32, music-first-audiophile from Italy, I listen mainly rock, metal, indie and electronic music with some jazz hip-hop and soul.
Packaging and Accessories
FiiO’s packaging has improved much in the years and FH5 make no exception, the box is beautiful, the accessory list is complete, with a good cable, a good-looking hard case and soft-pouch, and replacement ear-tips to shape the sound at your needs.
Sadly, balanced cable is missing, given the effort that FiiO has put on promoting balanced in the last years, is a little disappointing but finding one is not difficult or expensive.
I used a custom-made balanced cable on FiiO Q5 and Radsone EarStudio and the sound improved a bit in dynamics and imaging, but it can also be a little of self-suggestion
Build quality
The earphones are beautiful casted in metal, with a timeless and awesome look, the cable is good and give a premium feel. They are a good object to put on and to look. Sadly, this premium look-and feel add some weight. For the can is not a problem but the cable can be more comfortable on long listening sessions
Sound
My review sample has unknown hours of burn-in, so for safety I burnt them for 10 hours with pink noise. I replaced the tips with memory-foam ones, I don’t like much standard ones. They give good seal but above-average insulation. Don't know if they were worn before but started soon to fell apart and switched back to balanced ones
When put on, the sound signature is immediately pleasing. The warm bass, the lush high and the emphasis on 2khz are made to appeal the listener, given the right track.
NOTE: all my review is written WITHOUT EQ.
Selected listens
Radiohead - Karma Police/Creep
Lush height really shines in karma police, there is a good dynamic on the background electronics and the drums have the right punch. The voice is a little recessed compared to other
In Creep, that is much less polished records the bright highs are more prone to give fatigue, almost annoying. The bass instead is very round and consistent.
REM – Bittersweet Me
Given the sensibility of this headphones on the hiss, this track (and all New Adventures in Hi-Fi) is a good testbench. In this track, the sibilants are a little forward but never a problem. But the whole track sounds a little closed than I expected
Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
This track is fantastic, her production suits perfectly the tuning of these earphones, the guitar is crisp and in-your-face, the bass is sweet and give a good floor for the track. The trumpet solo is floating right in your ears.
But still in this track the harshness on the treble causes some fatigue and discomfort.
Nightwish – The Pharaoh Sails to Orion
Metal is consistently good on these cans, much more than other genres, mainly thanks on the forward midrange and details. In this the drumming and the growl slaps your face while keyboard and Tarja’s voice lift you up.
Jon Hopkins – Open eyes signal
Electronic is a mixed bag on FH5, there is a lot of clarity in the high and mid-range, but the bass lacks a little punch overall, subs are good but this track like other non-dancing electronic music lacks a little of involvement
Pairings
MacBook Pro/iPhone X
The headphones are driven easily from my MacBook or iPhone, obviously the detail is below-average, the sound stage is closed and the high are rolled-off. The iPhone is better but only a bit.
FiiO Q5
This is a fantastic pairing, especially for “warm” genres with plenty of detail, and a good rounded bass, a good amount of detail, but the dynamics are a little off.
Radsone EarStudio
Big step up here, is my favourite for metal and rock, giving good detail and dynamics, scarifying a little punch.
Saffire Pro24 DSP
This professional soundcard has a well-balanced sound, punchy bass and plenty of dynamics and a fantastic stereo imaging. The FH5 made it shine, made it the better pairing in my possession.
Comparisons
Etymotic ER3XR
Etymotic are not as charming as the FH5 for sure: the look and feel is more spartan, they are harder to drive, also the sound signature is flatter, and less pleasing when A/B testing them, but their amazing insulation, the weight, and their stunning dynamics, and the lesser listener fatigue, make them a strong contender in the price range.
Conclusions
The FiiO FH5 is a beautiful pair of IEM, with an awesome price value ratio: they have a good and pleasing sound, stellar build quality, amazing look, but may not fit everyone tastes and needs because of their strong sound signature.
There are some tracks that shine and other that are problematic, even in the same genre. The tuning is critical in this case. Maybe EQing out the 2k peak can work for someone, but for others no
Addendum
I listened some tracks removing 4db from 2khz with the EQ and the listening experience improved much, the harshness and the fatigue went away almost completely, and the soundstage opened. Amazing!
In the last years FiiO has gained much momentum between budget-sensible Audiophiles, making good product for the right amount of money.
When they announced a new flagship that should give much I was genuinely excited, and curious if they can match the quality of my Etymotic. Let’s see if it is the case.
About Me
I’m 32, music-first-audiophile from Italy, I listen mainly rock, metal, indie and electronic music with some jazz hip-hop and soul.
Packaging and Accessories
FiiO’s packaging has improved much in the years and FH5 make no exception, the box is beautiful, the accessory list is complete, with a good cable, a good-looking hard case and soft-pouch, and replacement ear-tips to shape the sound at your needs.
Sadly, balanced cable is missing, given the effort that FiiO has put on promoting balanced in the last years, is a little disappointing but finding one is not difficult or expensive.
I used a custom-made balanced cable on FiiO Q5 and Radsone EarStudio and the sound improved a bit in dynamics and imaging, but it can also be a little of self-suggestion
Build quality
The earphones are beautiful casted in metal, with a timeless and awesome look, the cable is good and give a premium feel. They are a good object to put on and to look. Sadly, this premium look-and feel add some weight. For the can is not a problem but the cable can be more comfortable on long listening sessions
Sound
My review sample has unknown hours of burn-in, so for safety I burnt them for 10 hours with pink noise. I replaced the tips with memory-foam ones, I don’t like much standard ones. They give good seal but above-average insulation. Don't know if they were worn before but started soon to fell apart and switched back to balanced ones
When put on, the sound signature is immediately pleasing. The warm bass, the lush high and the emphasis on 2khz are made to appeal the listener, given the right track.
NOTE: all my review is written WITHOUT EQ.
Selected listens
Radiohead - Karma Police/Creep
Lush height really shines in karma police, there is a good dynamic on the background electronics and the drums have the right punch. The voice is a little recessed compared to other
In Creep, that is much less polished records the bright highs are more prone to give fatigue, almost annoying. The bass instead is very round and consistent.
REM – Bittersweet Me
Given the sensibility of this headphones on the hiss, this track (and all New Adventures in Hi-Fi) is a good testbench. In this track, the sibilants are a little forward but never a problem. But the whole track sounds a little closed than I expected
Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
This track is fantastic, her production suits perfectly the tuning of these earphones, the guitar is crisp and in-your-face, the bass is sweet and give a good floor for the track. The trumpet solo is floating right in your ears.
But still in this track the harshness on the treble causes some fatigue and discomfort.
Nightwish – The Pharaoh Sails to Orion
Metal is consistently good on these cans, much more than other genres, mainly thanks on the forward midrange and details. In this the drumming and the growl slaps your face while keyboard and Tarja’s voice lift you up.
Jon Hopkins – Open eyes signal
Electronic is a mixed bag on FH5, there is a lot of clarity in the high and mid-range, but the bass lacks a little punch overall, subs are good but this track like other non-dancing electronic music lacks a little of involvement
Pairings
MacBook Pro/iPhone X
The headphones are driven easily from my MacBook or iPhone, obviously the detail is below-average, the sound stage is closed and the high are rolled-off. The iPhone is better but only a bit.
FiiO Q5
This is a fantastic pairing, especially for “warm” genres with plenty of detail, and a good rounded bass, a good amount of detail, but the dynamics are a little off.
Radsone EarStudio
Big step up here, is my favourite for metal and rock, giving good detail and dynamics, scarifying a little punch.
Saffire Pro24 DSP
This professional soundcard has a well-balanced sound, punchy bass and plenty of dynamics and a fantastic stereo imaging. The FH5 made it shine, made it the better pairing in my possession.
Comparisons
Etymotic ER3XR
Etymotic are not as charming as the FH5 for sure: the look and feel is more spartan, they are harder to drive, also the sound signature is flatter, and less pleasing when A/B testing them, but their amazing insulation, the weight, and their stunning dynamics, and the lesser listener fatigue, make them a strong contender in the price range.
Conclusions
The FiiO FH5 is a beautiful pair of IEM, with an awesome price value ratio: they have a good and pleasing sound, stellar build quality, amazing look, but may not fit everyone tastes and needs because of their strong sound signature.
There are some tracks that shine and other that are problematic, even in the same genre. The tuning is critical in this case. Maybe EQing out the 2k peak can work for someone, but for others no
Addendum
I listened some tracks removing 4db from 2khz with the EQ and the listening experience improved much, the harshness and the fatigue went away almost completely, and the soundstage opened. Amazing!
