RC046
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Model: FIIL CC Pro
Price: MSRP $69.99
Vendor Website:
FIIL
Review Reference: RC046
Manufacturer Blurb:
- Brand: FIIL
- Model: CC Pro
- Driver: 10mm Dynamic Driver
- Chipset: Airoha Luoda AB1562A
- Impedence: 32 Ohm
- Mic: 6, ENC
- ANC: Yes, up to 39dB
- Volume Control: Yes, switched on via the app
- Codecs: AAC, SBC
- Earbud Weight: 5.15g
- Earbud Dimensions: 21.9mm wide, 32mm stem length. Nozzle - 9mm x 7.2mm
- Gross Case & Buds Weight: 44.68g
- Case Dimensions: 61.4mm (width) x 23.8mm (depth) x 47mm (height)
- Case Charge Capacity: 420mAh
- Full Charge Time: 150 minutes
- Quick Charge: Yes
- Wireless Charging: Yes
- Input: 5V 0.5A
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 6.5 hours (ANC Off), 5.5 hours (ANC On)
- Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 30 hours
- App Support: Yes, but only on Chinese app as of 3.1.1.6
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.2
- Bluetooth Protocols: BLE/ HSP/ HFP/ A2DP/ AVRCP
- Water Resistance: IPX4
Includes:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
3 x Pair Silicone Tips
1 x User manual, warranty card
Real Life Experience
Welcome to the Regancipher review of the long-awaited FIIL CC Pro. Having rated the
CC 2 and
T1 Pro amongst my favourite TWS of the last 12 months, a hybrid of the two should theoretically be my dream earbuds, especially given the addition of one button device switch, FIIL's answer to the growing clamour for multipoint connectivity in TWS.
FIIL were founded by Chinese rock-star Wang Feng in 2015, aiming to emulate the successes of Dr Dre in the US, and is heavily involved in R&D and tuning. Bringing in Leon Wu as CTO from Plantronics was part of this journey, and the $30m+ ploughed in by VC seems to have pushed them in the right direction so far. After their Diva Pro succeeded on Kickstarter and received rave reviews across the board, they became the top selling mid-range headphone manufacturer in China within 2 years of their foundation and have won various design awards - IF Dot and CES, to name but two.
The CC Pro are FIIL's first attempt at full in-ear, stem design earbuds, featuring some headline specifications, including quick charge, wireless charging, Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity and up to 39dB Active Noise Cancellation, however, as we have learned over the years, specifications are not everything. Given FIIL's stellar track record, how would their new release stack up in a congested market, especially with the likes of Edifier raising the bar with LDAC/LHDC support?
The Unboxing - 8/10
The unboxing is typical of FIIL's branding, with the key features outlined at the top, and the model at the bottom above their slogan 'the art of audio'.
The back is a similar story too, with a focus on their 'unique design', wireless charging, low latency modes and dual control mode (I guess this is their name for quick device switch)
The biggest difference compared to previous FIIL releases is that the box folds outwards. The inside of the box pictured above, as well as the instruction manual, are 100% Chinese - no other languages are referenced. The same can be said for the voice prompts and app - a clear sign they were meant for the Chinese market.
The Case - 7/10
Measuring 61mm wide, 47mm high and 24mm deep, the CC Pro case is nicely sized and well finished.
It's proportions are not too dissimilar to the CC2, albeit rotated 90 degrees.
Weighing 44.68g, with its rounded edges and weight spread through the flat design, it feels very portable and sits nicely inside your jacket pocket without being too obvious or feeling too heavy.
The case features USB charge on the bottom, but also supports wireless charging, and the FIIL logo lights up when it is on charge, and pulses when the battery is really low. It doesn't, however, give you any indication of charge level. Would have been nice if each letter represented a quarter of the charge, or even if the FIIL logo turned red when really low, but no, you have to guess, or check through the app.
Opening the case, however, immediately reveals the issues I have with it - silly mistakes that could have been avoided. Firstly, getting the case to stay open for this image has taken about a week! The lid just snaps shut with very little encouragement. This makes single-handed operation impossible, despite the handy lip on the outside, and even worse is yet to come....
For reasons only known to FIIL, the hinge does not retract fully 90 degrees. This makes getting the earbuds out, even with my child-like skinny fingers, practically impossible without dropping the case or dropping the buds. Unlike the Huawei FreeBuds Pro, which suffered with a similar issue, there is nowhere logical to dig your fingers in to get the buds out. Had they positioned the stems at the front, it would have been far easier, as the top of the stem is the bit you grab onto. Instead they made this fatal design flaw that has you flustered even before you've tried the earbuds on.
Now if you've ever owned or sampled the Huawei Freebuds Pro, you'll probably recognise this issue. Aside from the above, the Freebuds Pro case has a friction lid, so you can rest it down on you desk while pulling the buds out, and the lid tilts back a few degrees further - just enough to get the buds out without dropping them. Had FIIL gone this step further, it wouldn't have been an issue.
So a real mixed bag here - nice to look at, wireless charging great, but lack of indication of charge level and a poor design spoils an otherwise excellent case.
The Ergonomics - 6/10, Build Quality - 7.5/10
Heavily influenced by their original CC2 design, the stems are visibly shorter - 32mm compared to 40mm on the CC 2. Not only that, they have mirrored the design of the Haylou W1 and Edifier Neobuds, as pictured below, by raising the area that houses the driver above the top of the stem, and dropping down to sit against your concha.
The similarities are clear to see when compared against the aforementioned contemporaries, however, whilst the square design worked well in the CC, where you could pinch the top to adjust, if you try that on the CC Pro, you will initiate the controls. Yep, again for reasons only known to FIIL, the controls are precisely where you would want to adjust the buds, and right next to the feedback mic. Baffling. They aren't the only vendor to do this, but every time I see this it leaves me scratching my head wondering why.
Whilst the position of the battery connectors (the base) is ideal for those with nickel allergies, the inside (above) shows that the diaphragm drops very low and deep into your concha, and unfortunately that isn't aided by the gigantic nozzle that can be extremely uncomfortable until you find the right tips. Again, this isn't exclusive to FIIL - they Airpods Pro are similarly hindered, and to a degree the Huawei FreeBuds Pro also suffer the same fate.
The 'nozzle' measures around 9mm at it's widest, and just over 7mm at it's narrowest. This is huge by TWS standards - dwarfing the Tronsmart Onyx Apex - which was pretty uncomfortable without a tip change, so I didn't have high hopes for trying to get these to fit, since our ear canals are generally far narrower than this. Only the Huawei Freebuds Pro measured bigger.
I noticed in El Jefe's review he had Spinfits on them, and when I first tried the CC Pro out, I immediately realised why - the stock tips are horrendously bad. You have to change them out for any degree of comfort, but when you bear in mind most tips are designed for round nozzles and a diameter of around 4-6mm, this makes tip rolling a real challenge. It also means whatever you choose is going to have pros and cons.
My first choice were the BGVP W01L - it's large enough to fill your ear, augments ANC, and it improved comfort marginally. However it still became uncomfortable after around 1 hour. You can see these pictured in the image showing the buds weight on the mini scales a few pictures down.
Eventually I settled on two preferred options. First, the Feaulle h370 food-grade latex tips.
The
Feaulle have a nice wide bore perfect for the CC Pro. They were the comfiest, sticking in your ear, preventing them from slipping as was the case with the FIIL stock tips, and putting some distance between the sound and your ears, giving the perception of a slightly wider soundstage. They are very similar in design to the Sedna Xelastec tips and slightly taller than the Spinfit CP1025, minus the adapter.
They don't really help ANC though, and when I tested them outdoors the trade-off was very obvious. Wind noise became almost unbearable. They DO thankfully fit in the case with the buds though.
The second option is the
NICEHCK 07L. These low cost, high quality tips are the perfect companion for the CC Pro, and actually triggered me to increase their overall scores. Not only are they comfy, they increase stability, fit inside the case when fitted, augment ANC, and improve the sound. With a height of 9.2mm and width of 14mm, they certainly aren't small, but the thick inner ring enhances the feel of the buds, and they are now my go-to for the CC Pro, removing one of the major issues.
The stability of the CC Pro is not helped by their weight - 5.15g, a whole 1g heavier per bud than the Tronsmart Apollo Air. This no doubt contributes to the buds feeling loose in your ears with the stock tips.
They look a little odd sticking all the way out your ears, and the stubbier design doesn't help with call quality either. You can see why they've done it - to fit in the case - but this is a prime example of taking a success (their 'Germanic-design) and applying it where it doesn't really work. Compared to, not just the buds pictured above, but also really low cost buds like the QCY T11, they are really quite uncomfortable and unnecessarily difficult to get to fit, not to mention the dodgy control positioning.
Audio Quality - 7/10 (for the price), 7/10 (raw score)
I tested the sound with a number of signature tracks in FLAC using the AAC codec, and was very surprised at the sound signature. Firstly, with the stock tips, the sound stage is really quite narrow and flat. In fact, they sounded pretty uninspiring - bass sounded a little flabby, and the high mids over-compressed. Not a good start.
Changing out the tips for the Feaulle puts some distance between the sound and your ear canal, and this does them the world of good, giving the auditory sensation of a wider soundstage than first experienced with the stock tips. 'Don't You Want Me' by Human League is a prime example of where the sound totally changes, the drums echoing around your ears, the bass clean, and the vocals coming forward when they have to. The high mids and rolled off quite well, but it can sound a little messy there at times. 'I've Got Your Music' by Saint Etienne, sounds at times surprisingly analytical with the vocals whispering at times, but 'I Was Born on Christmas Day' by the same band can thin out, with a heavy reliance on snares and high hats coupled with Sarah Cracknell's lispy vocals leaving you feeling a little disappointed. Having got used to the balanced armature drivers in more recent TWS releases such as the SoundPEATS H1 and Edifier Neobuds, the notable absence of detail in higher frequencies stands out far more these days, and this is the area where the CC Pro fall flat.
I've seen some reviews proclaiming a overpowering mid bass - maybe it's the tips, but I don't hear it as often as I expected. 'We Found Love' by Calvin Harris sounds really thin, extending Rihanna's vocals right to the front, but lacking a thump that you come to expect when the drop hits. Where the mid bass comes on strong are tracks like 'No One' by Alicia Keys, which has far more body to the lows whilst letting Alicia's amazing vocals echo around your ears. Really nice. After playing with them a little while longer, I noted they are far better suited to RnB and Rock tracks, where you have a lot of simultaneous mid and subbass, and rely on detail, speed and separation in those lower frequencies.
Overall, I don't mind this sound signature, but I do understand why it has received a little criticism from those expecting the rawness of the T1 Pro. The CC Pro aren't worse, just
different. I find I listen using the classical EQ setting much more than the default though, and they respond very well to EQ adjustments, whether through their own app or Wavelet.
Call Quality - Indoors - 7/10, Outdoors - 7/10
The earbuds feature a 6-mic array with an ambient mic on the top outer edge for environmental noise reduction, a voice mic on the bottom and a feed through mic somewhere on the inside.
On cell calls your voice is clear enough but can sound over-compressed. It's the same story on Zoom. Any ambient noise seems to add crackle to the sound whilst it tried to nullify whatever it is picking up. This isn't atypical for TWS, so I wasn't altogether surprised, but when you see 6 mics you expect something intelligent going on...and it doesn't seem like there is.
Something I noticed on Android, was that my voice kinda echoed - the person on the other end of the phone couldn't hear it, but I could. This may have been an isolated issue, but it happened with the same caller, twice, so maybe not.
ANC - 7/10, PNI - 6/10
ANC has never been FIIL's strong point, and it doesn't really flex with the CC Pro either. They are heavily reliant on having a good seal, which is not easy with those over-sized nozzles. When you are able to, it's okay. You can still very clearly hear traffic, and wind is particularly pronounced. They fall some way behind the Edifier Neobuds, SoundPEATS T2, Tronsmart Apollo Air and 1More Comfobuds Pro, however, and this is mostly down to fit - when you push them further in your ears, you can hear the ANC is working, but the shape of the buds simply doesn't really facilitate it.
It isn't for lack of trying either - FIIL give you lots of options to customise your ANC experience. They have a wind reduction mode, which doesn't really seem to do a lot but is designed to obviate the issue with wind circling through the mics and creating a weird sound whilst you're walking, running or cycling, and transparent or ambient mode, whatever you want to call it, isn't great either, seemingly no different to ANC off. These attributes are victims of the design - evidencing a real absence of passive noise isolation.
There is also a 'voice mode', which is kinda like a cross between wind reduction and ambient, designed to negate low frequency distant sounds and elevate voices. Nothing fancy going on here, just a fine tuning, but it gives another option and no doubts some will see the benefit.
On a positive note, and perhaps this is better suited to the controls section, but the FIIL+ app allows you to map the different ANC modes to the two second hold action of each earbud. So for example, if you want to map ANC on or off to the left bud, and wind/ambient to the right bud, or vice versa, you can. Having all of the ANC modes available through button presses rather than using the app is really handy.
It is worth noting that in single mode, ANC just switches off and is not configurable.
Connectivity, Controls and other Interactive Features - 7.5/10
Connectivity is rock solid, with LDS and Bluetooth 5.2 seeing no drop outs, and no accidental 'single bud starts' like with the Qualcomm QCC3040-based buds. This is a real strength with the FIIL products, and reflective of the necessity given the population density in the areas where this product will most likely be used the most.
The controls are theoretically OK, but like with all FIIL products, they ship with the basic control scheme as default, so in order to activate full control mode, you need to navigate to it in the app. With this mode enabled you gain the ability to hail voice assistant (quadruple tap!), adjust volume, etc...but it not only becomes confusing due to the amount of times you find yourself tapping, is also counter-intuitive to use, especially if you had the CC2 before, because the touch area is much higher up than on the CC2 - practically covering the ambient mic. This makes for a lot of accidental touches, and since the voice prompts are all in Chinese, half the time you haven't a clue what you've just done, and it sounds kinda weird when you tap over the mic and disrupts your flow a little. It's another major design fail that adds weight to the view they rushed the release just to keep pace with the other vendors who are releasing this style bud without these needless problems.
The FIIL+ app has been done to death in my previous reviews. You activate the controls, button functions, latency mode, wear detection, EQ and Bluetooth device switch through the FIIL app, and whilst this array of features is incredible at the price point, just opening the app sees your blood pressure start to rise...it is an absolute nightmare, as has been elaborated on many times previously. These were made for the Chinese market, and as such the app is by default in Chinese, or if you use the Global app, not even available as a configurable device. I host the Chinse version of 3.1.1.6
here, but I'd recommend getting the English version, well, when I say English version, I mean a version that some kind souls over on XDA managed to translate just so consumers outside China understand what the hell is going on
- you can download that version
here.
Above shows the Chinese app vs the translated app - once again, kudos again to XDA member
dominj97 for a superb job deciphering and coding, as it is definitely needed here given the complexity of options.
Latency is really good out of the box - around 160ms - so it's unlikely you'll need low latency mode unless you're a gamer, but it reduces it by around 10% and is also accessible via the app. Wear detection is annoying - just taking one bud out will pause it, so being able to disable this is welcome.
Bluetooth Device Switch, FIIL's answer to multipoint, is a welcome attempt by FIIL to work around a chip limitation that deserves to be lauded, but isn't really the messianic feature we were all hoping for. To enable it, you need to switch it on in the app, then pair with two devices. Once you've done this, holding the controls for approx. 4 seconds will then activate the switching process, which itself takes around 4 seconds. So in this time, you will likely miss a call if you want to switch from, for example, Windows to Cell. The other way around, it's not so bad, but generally we want multipoint because we want to know when our phone is ringing and to jump on a call seamlessly...and it doesn't quite do the job in this respect. Nevertheless, kudos for trying.
Battery Life - 8/10
I got just over 5 hours with ANC on, with moderate usage connected to a Windows PC, and this is not far off the advertised 5.5 hours, so fair play this is not to be sniffed at.
With a total of 30 hours battery available from the case, and the support of quick charge and wireless charging, FIIL have tried to make the buds as convenient as possible, and again, kudos to them for offering these features at the price point.
They do get extremely hot when on charging wirelessly though, which may be cause for slight concern - even with the case covering them, when I put them in my ear it was almost like they had been in the microwave!
Final Comments
Overall the CC Pro are a fair release, but not the ground breaking innovation that the T1 Pro and CC were. Being a huge FIIL fan - I loved the CC2 and T1 Pro, and favouring many of the features the CC Pro offer on paper, I was really excited by this release, as FIIL typically push the boundaries with the Airoha chipset and deliver features that make a mockery of their price, but we don't wear headphones on paper - we wear them in reality, and the features that make them attractive become frustrating, due to lack of English voice prompts and flakey app support.
This release feels like FIIL have looked at the Huawei Freebuds Pro and tried to mould this release fusing hem in the style of the CC2. The problem is, they've copied all of the worst elements of that model, and made them even worse (albeit for a third of the price!)
I can't even give FIIL credit for the English version of the app - it was translated by some guys over on XDA
here, and even with this, the position of the touch controls means half the time you have no idea what you're pressing. The annoying issues with the case, design and ergonomics make this a release to avoid unfortunately, unless you have wide ear canals and are fluent in simplified Chinese or Mandarin - and even then, the sound may not be to your liking.
It may sound like a slightly harsh verdict, and over time they have grown on me a little - the NICEHCK tips have made them far more stable in your ears, and the multi-device switch does actually work, even if it is a little slow. This is rarely seen in TWS, so it's nice they've at least tried to address it, even if it is somewhat impractical.
The ANC in-ear stem-based market is congested to say the least. We've seen solid releases from Tronsmart with the Apollo Air and 1More and their Comfobuds Pro, which are a similar price and offer a frustration-free experience, and more recently the Edifier Neobuds Pro and OnePlus Buds Pro, which support higher definition codecs and much greater comfort.
FIIL really don't stand out from the crowd with this release, which is a shame as they had so much promise - but we should remember this was not a global release but one for the Chinese market. Let's wait and see what FIIL do next, with talk of a CG Pro already hitting the jungle drums!
Ideal for:
- Native Chinese speakers
- People with small fingers and big ears!
- Those that switch between two devices frequently
- Those that appreciate a warm sound signature
Not so suitable for:
- Those that need strong active noise cancellation
- Those with a bigger budget
- Those that listen for long periods without a break
- Those that need ergonomic stability
Price Weighted Score: 74%
Raw Score: 74%
2022 Score: 68%
instagram: regancipher
FIIL Review Inventory:
CC Pro
CC2
T1 Pro
T1 XS
About FIIL:
FIIL were founded by Chinese rock-star Wang Feng in 2015, aiming to emulate the successes of Dr Dre in the US, and is heavily involved in R&D and tuning. Bringing in Leon Wu as CTO from Plantronics was part of this journey, and the $30m+ ploughed in by VC seems to have pushed them in the right direction so far. After their Diva Pro succeeded on Kickstarter and received rave reviews across the board, they became the top selling mid-range headphone manufacturer in China within 2 years of their foundation and have won various design awards - IF Dot and CES, to name but two.
