Excellent review

Interesting.. I have always gravitated towards mids but the soundstage and imaging on the FD5s are what cements my position to be honest. Then again, my recent purchase of the HD 560s makes me feel the FD5s mids are not so prominent... I may just buy a pair then and find out. Thanks for the reply.

I’m really happy with my FD3 Pro set. Just wanted to thank you for your review.

Hey buddy, would you please compare to the FiiO FH5? How is the comfort and isolation, the technicalities and so on? I am looking exactly for that warm FR graph that FH5 has, with smooth treble below the Harman target, because I'm treble sensitive. I tried to compare both graphs and I think they are very similar for warmth, right? Also, I want to use them in the gym as well (paired to FiiO UTWS3), do you think that the semi-openness will make them unusable in moderately noisy environments, like in the gym, or the isolation is as good as FH3 or FH5?

Both have comparable stages and comparable technicalities, There is a bit extra in the way of the FH5 as far as a resolving/ tonal aspects goes due to the beryllium coating. its bass texture and impact is a bit better and its imaging is slightly better as well but the FD3 is not a clear drop off. I never liked the narrow bass nozzle from the FD5 as it looses its airy sound and stage perception using that nozzle. FD3 balanced nozzle is much better designed.

The FD3 treble spikes are lesser emphasized from both the FD5 and especailly the FH5s. I think it is worth getting but for you, I would get the non pro version and stick with the base version as it comes with a copper cable to smooth out the highs even further. I like the copper cable they threw on the standard FD3 as it matches extremely well with it and gives a slightly warmer take on Fiios sound. FD3 is still a V shaped signature but it sounds better balanced overall.

Yeah, that cable really is something... I thought cable differences can be heard on high tier equipment, but I guess it is also possible in the lowest tiers lol. And now I understand why everybody compares FD3 to FD5. From the BGGAR video he compared them and the FR graph for both is 99% identical. So I checked the Crinacle's graph for the FD5 and, sadly, it has much more treble than the FH5, maybe I was wrong that FD3 would be as warm? But maybe it is as you mentioned that the FD3 is just V-shaped and it "looks" like the treble will be higher than FH5? Oh well, I guess I got confused again.

That white cable above is not the one that comes with the PRO version. The pro version is a gray/silver cable (much darker, but not copper like the non-pro version).
I have the fd3 pro and I definitely don't have that white cable above. Even look at all the YouTube videos.

Only question is: what cable is what white cable above?

Same here. Pro = gray cable

The pro version sleeving is different in color. The white cable you guys see is the same cable but it was included for the Fiio FD5. I included it with this review as it is essentially the same cable that comes with the Pro version.

My pro version is a gray cable also with the modular connections. Very odd.

Anything the FD5 does better than than the FD3 Pro? I’m interested in hearing the FD5 because of all the positive reviews.

Due to the beryllium coating on the FD5 DLC driver it has a more authoritative bass note and digs a bit deeper with an uptick for texture. I would have loved to have the balanced filter on the FD3 work on the FD5 but it dont work I tried. The balanced nozzle on the FD5 is not good it gimps the stage and air of the FD5 so their open stock nozzle is the only real option.

Sound tuning is similar but the FD3 is more adjustable to your preferences the FD5 requires a cable upgrade to smooth out the highs on them otherwise it is a nice sounding earphone. But the FD3 does what the FD5 does like my review suggests at a 1/3rd of the cost. shelling out $300 for a slight increase in detail and bass rumble and no balanced filter that works well is very up in the air if you think that will be worth it. But your essentially getting a fixed FD5 in the FD3.

Thanks for the quick answer. When you say “balanced” filter, are you talking about the red or black one?

The red one is the balanced filter for the FD3. The black one is their open nozzle. I like using that balanced filter and a the more resolving pro cable. The other alternative is to use the black open nozzle and use the copper cable that came with the stock unit. This is essentially how I am using the FD5 is with a gold plated copper cable called the ISN GC4 makes the FD5 sound very nice. I am a strong cable believer as I do cable reviews and I have always suggested to Fiio they need to include a copper cable for their earphones and they started to do that with the new FD3.

if i used the red filter and the FiiO LC-4.4D cable, would that be even better than the pro cable?

Pure silver will highlight detail and the technical aspects more so than anything copper related. If you want a more detailed presentation yes. I think that cable will be an upgrade on the pro cable. Will throw out the best stage ,best clarity and details for treble but the negative effects of pure silver is it leans out bass notes but if you feel bass needs a bit of tightening and would like a more detailed presentation with the best stage possible. go for it.

However their pro cable is already very resolving so I have no idea just how much your gonna gain from getting pure silver. Let me try a silver cable on the FD3 I will report back later.

I've had that cable for almost a year and dont use it bc all of my other IEMs are 2 pin. I have MMCX to 2 pin converters but they dont work that great; they were really cheap and i dont trust them.

Hello @Dsnuts , I'm looking for a DD that sounds like ISN H40 with tighter bass to better handle the kick drums of my heavy metal playlist.
Do you think FD3 has any chance to be "the one".
Tks

@Dsnuts Thought I might as well join the party, you decided on a final cable / filter / bud combo after your rolling ? Picked up the pros from Advance MP3 (UK) for £107, hard to refuse at that price.

@Mr. Olinad This is a good question, FD3 is certainly an enjoyable earphone. I listen to metal and rock music myself and I put it out there I think the FD3 is best suited for metal genres since it is a more balanced signature using the balance filter. If your interested I would get the pro version with its cable that matches well with the balanced tuning

@ledzep The price to performance ratio and value is higher with the FD3. I am using the balanced filter and the pro cable which was worth getting for added detail, stage. Unlike the FD5 which the cable does not match as well the FD3 with balanced filter is great. I am using Spiral Dot +++ for these as well. Was listening to the new K3 Fiio amp yesterday with them. Fantastic one two punch. You guys will be impressed.