FiiO FD1

FiiO FD1 IEMs - Warmer, Thicker, Effect

FiiO FD1 is an entry-level IEM priced at 59.99 USD, with a single 10mm dynamic driver, plated with Beryllium, using N50 2-way magnets and celluloid faceplates. Given the price point, it will be compared to Tin Hifi Audio T3 Plus (70 USD), KBEar Robin (55 USD), and HIDIZS MS2 Rainbow (90 USD).

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Introduction

FiiO is that one company everyone knows about, and almost everyone owns a product from, be it an entry-level IEM, some kind of adapter or cable, or even a high quality music player like their FiiO M11 PRO. They have a wide selection of products, each of them with their own strengths, and they are a company that started their journey as a company who cares about your pockets and how much you spend on their products, offering good price / performance ratio for their products. It is generally recommended to purchase FiiO products from trusted sources like Amazon and authorized sellers to get the best warranty and service, and I generally do not recommend purchasing directly from Aliexpress as FiiO has grown quite a bit and they have a huge number of shipments every day, so direct fixes will take a pretty long time, and shipping to China will be fairly pricey for you.

It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with FiiO, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. I'd like to thank FiiO for providing the sample for this review. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it. The purpose of this review is to help those interested in FiiO FD1 IEMs find their next music companion.



Packaging

First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:

Like with most of their products, FiiO made the package of FD1 excellent, and they include the IEMs, a beautiful plastic carrying case (same as the one included with F9PRO and forward IEMs), and a huge selection of tips. The cable is also part of the package, as the cable is detachable, and you can replace it with an aftermarket version (not advised given the current price of FD1). The full list of the package includes:

• FiiO FD3 IEM shells
• Plastic carrying case - FiiO HB1
• Cable
• Foam Tips, two pairs
• Balanced - Red Silicone tips, three pairs
• Bass - Black Silicone tips, three pairs
• Manuals

Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort

FiiO designed FD1 around the large 10mm dynamic driver, and its N50 Dual Magnetic Circuit IEM, with a beryllium coated diaphragm. Beryllium has high rigidness, but is light and should provide good speed for FD1. The two way double magnet won't transform the dynamic driver of FD1 into a planar magnetic driver, as they are on one side of the driver, but rather adds to the strength of the magnet, giving FD1 in theory more dynamics and control.

The text on FiiO's website includes a lot of words, many of which are a raw translation, but FiiO boasts a lot the fact that you won't get any driver flex on FD1, and that it will be comfortable for long wearing periods, subjectively this being true as it doesn't have flex on the driver, and is fairly comfortable to wear. FD1 is on the larger side, and won't fit those with small ears, but they are very light at just 4.5grams for each shell, and the cable is good with ergonomics. The cable is quite tangle prone though, so use a cable separator to avoid having to untangle it every time you take them out of the pocket.

The plastic shell of FD1 is interesting to look through, if you want to see some IEM technology, and you will notice that the driver has a rather small opening through which the sound actually comes. The 32 OHM impedance helps with noisier sources, and the 109dB of sensitivity mean that you can use FD1 with most entry-level affordable sources, including Shanling UA1, iBasso DC05, HIDIZS DH80, HIFI Walker H2, Maktar Spectra X2, as well as FiiO BTR5 2021, and FiiO UTWS3, with the proper adapters.

The cable of FD1 is detachable, and connected to it via a 2-Pin connector, and it is a High Purity, Single Crystal Copper Wire. The 30-core, four twists, 120-core total cable is a good quality one for the money FD1 sells for, and I wouldn't upgrade it to something else for FD1 in particular, as they pair well together.



Sound Quality

I have used fiiO FD1 with a multitude of sources, from entry level music players such as FiiO M3K, all the way to high-end flagships such as Astell & Kern SE180 and Dethonray DTR1+ Prelude. FD1 generally does not scale much with the source, and using it even with a smartphone is a fun and rewarding experience, the IEM avoiding guilt tripping you to purchase any extras to enjoy it.

The overall signature of FD1 is like that of a mini FiiO FD3, a smooth, full, warm presentation with good clarity and details. The soundstage has more of the focus on width than it has on depth, but the signature of FD1 is fairly smooth and it has a rolled-off top end, making the stage wide in the mids rather than the treble. FD1 is enjoyable for almost all music styles because it comes through as a pretty relaxing IEM without much harshness or fatigue. You would typically call the signature of FD1 Laid Back.

The bass of FD1 is fairly full in quantity, and has a pretty good extension, as low as about 30Hz. It provides a good amount of mid bass and thickness as well, with a full presentation. FD1 has some slight bloom of the lows towards the mids, but the slower speed fares well with its own quantity, giving the impression of a lush and relaxing evening, rather than a peppy or slowed down bass.

The midrange of FD1 is combined well with the bass, and it has a pretty smooth midrange, with a full and thick presentation. The midrange has a good width, and instruments are not mashed together, but fairly well separated, especially for the price point. We have a good amount of lushness and a pretty natural tonality, both male and female voices being ok for the price range. There's a bias towards male voices sounding deeper and female voices sounding a bit darker than they should but this is given by the tonal balance towards a darker signature as FD1 does not have a very strong treble.

The treble of FD1 is smooth and fatigue-free, leading to a pretty easy and light listening experience. There's not much action going in the treble, but the highs are not rolled off entirely, rather gently and slowly, leading to a fairly natural listening experience, albeit a limited one in resolution, by the absence of the treble sparkle.



Comparisons

FiiO FD1 vs Tin Audio T3 Plus (59.99 USD vs 70 USD) - The overall sonic presentation is quite similar between FD1 and T3 Plus, and I generally would recommend picking the one that looks / seems most comfortable to you, but there are some minor differences in sound, in the details, where T3 Plus scales a bit more with the source, and can get more detailed, so if you're using a high end player, or a better source, such as at least a Shanling UA2, T3 Plus is going to provide a slightly better sonic performance. On the other hand, if you purchase the IEM to use with a smartphone, the FD1 will be 10 USD cheaper, but still provide a beautiful sound.

FiiO FD1 vs KBEAR Robin (59.99 USD vs 55 USD) - Robin actually is another IEM with a similar signature to FD1, but slightly less detail and resolution. FD1 is only slightly more expensive, but it provides a good amount of detail and impact, making for a fun, thickish and warm listening experience. The soundstage is also a bit wider on FD1, although both Robin and FD1 have about the same amount of depth and dynamics.

FiiO FD1 vs HIDIZS MS2 Rainbow (59.99 USD vs 90 USD) - MS2 Rainbow is actually physically smaller than FD1 by a small margin, but it has a slightly heavier build. The sound of MS2 Rainbow is actually similar in thickness to FD1, but it has a more sparkly treble that balances the overall signature more, giving a more V-Shaped tuning and more sparkle / detail for the treble. There's no mystery that I'm a bit of a V-Shaped signature lover, so it makes sense that I'm digging MS2 Rainbow, but if you want a smooth top end with a nice bass, FD1 is fun and better priced than MS2 Rainbow.



Value and Conclusion

At the end of the day, the value of FD1 is excellent, and FiiO provides a fairly consistent and high quality package for a fair price. They provide the technology, comfort, lightness and the sonic performance to be competitive in the entry level market, which is no easy feat, considering how aggressively the chifi companies are pricing their best IEMs. FiiO still makes sense in today's market, and their FD1 is still easy to recommend.

If you're looking for a fairly thick and full sound, with a good amount of clarity, and with a smooth treble, FiiO FD1 is comfortable, fun to use and light to wear, so it is a fully recommended IEM at the moment.

Fiio FD1 is a budget IEM using a beryllium-plated 10mm dynamic driver. It is priced at 59.99$.

Packaging

I like Fiio’s consistent approach to the packaging of their products. Even tho these are 59.00$ budget IEMs it doesnt show by the box. It has a minimalistic graphic and is pretty well made.

Inside you’ll find the FD1 IEM, a great hard case and a set of eartips. Nothing super flashy, but quite generous and functional. The case is very secure and you won’t have to worry about your new in-ears being destroyed when thrown into a bag.

Build quality

In terms of the build quality these are nothing special. But when was the last time that you saw budget IEM which really stand out from it’s competition in this regard?
Indeed, the budget market, just like smartphones is really starting to look like a war of clones. It’s not a bad thing obviously, as these are made very well and i cannot find a single thing to criticise. Fiio FD1 are well made, and that’s it.

As for the cable, it is braided, has an angled 3.5mm jack and is pretty comfortable to use.
The most important thing is the connectors…Fiio finally switched these faulty mmcx connectors to 2-pin ones. Don’t get me wrong, i really like the mmcx, but it has to be quality connectors, not the one that Fiio has been using for a couple of years now. That’s why i call it a big step up.

Comfort
If there is a thing that Fiio has mastered over the years, it’s their IEMs comfort. Once again FD1 is a lightweight, very well shaped and in result – a superbly comfortable earphone. I don’t know if this is the case with my ears, but Fiio’s IEMs are the closest thing to custom in-ear monitor’s i’ve used, and im not talking just about the FD1 – FA9, FA1, FA7, FH1s etc are among those.

Sound


Fiio FD1 has a sound signature that is my personal favorite, or very close to it. It’s slightly warm, lush and full, with great extension on top and well controlled bass. Also, one thing about it’s sound quality is absolutely astonishing for the price, but more about it below.


The bass is not dominating, but it’s well polished, controlled and rich. One thing worth mentioning is that if you’re a basshead, these will not satisfy you. For some this will be surely too bass-light, but i find it quite neutral and just enough for most genres i listen to.
The amount of details in the low frequencies is very good for this price range, it lacks subbass, but it’s understandable looking at the rest of the spectrum.


The midrange is the star of the show here. I’ve never heard such a beautiful, rich, thick and airy vocals in this price range. It has a lovely timbre for male vocalists that is purely addictive and satisfying. It is not the best detailed midrange in the game, but it is surely very enjoyable and natural sounding. For acoustic and jazz music this is a truly spectacular IEM.

The treble is very smooth and neutral throughout the whole range. I haven’t heard a slight sibilance whatsoever, no matter how hard i tried or how badly mastered music i’ve played through these. It is filled with details and airiness, but in a very gentle, sophisticated and smooth way. It is a perfect example of greatly polished driver implementation, as FD1 simply sounds like Fiio have put many hours of listening into them to deliver a very coherent and well thought product.

Well, i said that the midrange is a star of the show, right? It is, but it’s still not the best thing about the FD1. It’s soundstage is just ridiculously good for 59.99$.

When i burnt these in i started my listening sessions with my favorite test tracks. Exploring the sound of the FD1 through Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Lunatic Soul was great, as this is really my cup of tea in terms of sound signature.

But when i’ve played Space Oddity by David Bowie (2015 remaster Master on Tidal) my first thoughts were – no, that can’t be right….wait, what? I know the soundstage of this specific song very well, as i test it with every single piece of equipment that i test.
So, what was the reason for me being so suprised? Simply put – everything about the soundstage of these 59.99$ earphones.

It is very wide, has a fantastic depth and great imaging. Instrument’s are very easy to distinquish and are well placed on this big and airy scene. The vocal is placed in front of you. It is by far the best soundstage in this price range i’ve ever heard. Wow.

Last thing worth mentioning – it’s a bit suprising to me, considering the sound signature, but FD1 are quite source dependant, so make sure to plug them into quality audio player or a good DAC for the best experience.

Summary

Fiio FD1 is my new favorite IEM in the 60$ (and even higher) price range. It is well built, packs nice accessories and offers a fantastic ergonomy. Whats most important tho, is that these sound just phenomenal – rich, warm, lush and natural, without any sharpness or being overly dark. And yea, it’s soundstage is just class-leading. This is the easiest recommendation in the history of Ear Fidelity and it’s well worth it.

Gear used during this review for the sake of comparison and as an accompanying equipment:

• Headphones – Fiio FH1s, Lime Ears Aether R, Noble Khan, Rha MA750, Cayin YB04, Final E3000
• Sources– Samsung S8+, Cayin N5ii, Fiio M11, Fiio M5, iFi iDAC2, Topping DX3PRO

Introduction:

FiiO, a brand well known in the audiophile community and space, launched two new sub 80$ In-ear monitors later this summer. FH1s and FD1. Both of them share the same shell, same box and accessories set, but the technicalities differ. FD1 has a single dynamic driver of 10mm which is beryllium plated while FH1s comes with a 13.6mm dynamic driver with Knowles 33518 BA.

Disclaimer:

The review was tested at 80$ and all the judgement was made keeping the exact same price in mind. We're not responsible for any price change that might alter this review.

The item was purchased from fiio.co.in (Indian region) from our own money. This is not a comparison between FD1 and FH1s, this is a standalone FD1 review.

Purchasable link:

FiiO Indian Store
FiiO Global Store

Specifications:

Unboxing and accessories:

Unboxing has always been great with FiiO, they provide plenty of accessories and a good packaging experience. Same goes with this model, you are provided with a box that opens sideways magnetically, after opening the box you’ll see IEMs sitting in foam securely. Just below that you have a box in which you’re provided the FiiO waterproof case, 7 pairs of tips including foam tips and long bore silicone tips.





Cable:

Cable that comes with the box is a 3.5mm unbalanced cable, which is absolutely fair at this price point. It is a 2 pin (0.78) dark copper cable with thicc braiding and a chin slider with FiiO branding on it. The chin slider is functional and the cable is flawless. Since the IEMs have detachable cable, you can always purchase a balanced cable from FiiO if needed. Cable is a 10/10 at this price point and some of TOTL IEMs don’t even come with a cable of this quality. The only thing that I could point out was 2 pin connectors can be of better quality, but again it’s nitpicking at this point.



Case:

Case is a FiiO branded waterproof carry case with diamond-like cutting beneath the surface. It looks really impressive and serves the purpose. It’s an amazing box and one of the best boxes we’ve seen a manufacturer provide. Pairs perfectly with your IEMs.



IEM Quality and fit:

FD1, at the time of writing this review comes in only 2 colors. Black and blue, which we feel is quite less and should come up with our favorite color, purple. It has a celluloid faceplate on top, which means every FD1 will have a different pattern. A sweet touch from FiiO’s side, the IEMs are made of acrylic. Edges are smooth and feel durable in hand. There are 2 vent holes for pressure relief. They weigh in at only 9 grams(approx), which means they are not putting a lot of weight on your ear. They are comfortable for long usage but they do stick out a little because the IEMs are thicc. All in all, great job done by FiiO for build quality.

Sound Isolation:

Since they are made up of acrylic they do not completely block outside noise. Sound isolation is decent with right pair of tips and pressure relief holes to provide non fatiguing sound.



The Driveability and Sources used:

FD1 is perhaps very easy to drive. One can plug it in a phone and call it a day. Although, with right amping it might help open up the soundstage. You don't have to fuss a lot for amping these as they sound great with any source.
Sources used are:

• Shanling M0
• Pioneer XDP-100R
• iBasso DX120

The Sound:

Bass:

At the time of review we tested the FiiO FD1 with Shanling M0 and after listening to great hours we came to a conclusion that FD1 is not a bassy pair, in fact to some it may sound less bassy. Speaking of low end it lacks the low end rumble that is present in Blon BlO3 (which is a pair considered specifically for low end), however it has very punchy and fast bass which has tonality in it that which fills the spectrum.

Mids:

It is very well understood by the characteristics shown by FD1 that it is not bass heavy which means it really has space for the mids to shine. Talking about the upper mid presence it has a lot and due this it feels very airy and spacious in vocals, but a drawback of this is that sometimes it may seem a bit harsh in the representation of female vocals as the upper mid presence is bit more as per our liking. Coming to the lower mids FD1 is perfectly balanced giving the voice of the artist the heft that is required to perfectly represent the soundstage. To put in perspective anybody seeking a pair under 80$ for vocals should really consider this as in our span of testing various IEMs, till date we have never heard a product under 80$ handle mid and soundstage this good.

Treble:

FiiO FD1 no matter how hard you try to drive them, we never heard a slightest hint of sibilance whatsoever, higher treble range rolls of at the right position and moreover the treble is not sharp and biting rather it is smooth and linear which portrays a dominance in lower range of treble as compared to Higher range which is not crisp in nature, however we would have liked some spark and crispness added so that details would also come forward like the ways mids do in this pair.

Soundstage:

The main USP according to us is soundstage. FD1 does a phenomenal job of recreating the stage before the listener, again highlighting the price which is under 80$ it outperforms our expectation and rivalry. Soundstage is so wide that it actually gives you an immersive experience of extreme caliber which is shocking and scary but in a good sense, there were many tracks in which we experienced certain nuances for the first time and that is where these shine. The soundstage extends in length but due to lack in low end reproduction of bass, the depth of the presentation seems to take a hit but not so much to ruin the grand experience.

Imaging:

The position of instruments is projected to the listener perfectly and accurately, If eyes closed one can pick the positioning of the instruments effortlessly and it almost feels like 3 dimensional which is a very big thing to accomplish in this price segment. They are so good in imaging that it reflected the same in games, playing Valorant and CS.GO. The player positioning was accurate and on point.



Reference track:

• Johnny Cash - “ Hurt ” For male vocals, space and details.
  

• Crooked Still - “ Little Sadie ” For imaging and female vocals.

• The Rolling Stones - “ Sympathy for the Devil ” For Soundstage and treble.

• Mac Miller - “ Nikes on my Feet “ For bass and decay speed.

• Chuck Berry - “ Maybellene” For Separation in old recordings.

Rated: