FiiO FH9

INTRO

We are going to analyze the Fiio Fh9. An iem type headset from the Fiio brand. This headset for me has been the Flagship of the brand until the launch of the Fx15, a product that we will also see soon. But what is so special about this Fiio Fh9?

UNBOXING SECTION
Closed box (What do we have?), cable length and quality, connection.
When it comes to unpacking we have a huge amount of accessories. When I say huge, I mean huge. I tend to be one of those who prefer brands to focus on providing good sound and leave accessories aside. Let's be honest, most of us have a spare cable, tips of various types... but in the case of the Fiio Fh9 you won't need it. You have everything and of excellent quality. Perhaps it is one of the strong points of this product...although considering the cost of the headset, this number of accessories should be a norm.
The cover, one of the most important elements, is elegant and strong. The earpiece fits in without too much pressure, although it could have been a little wider. The design of this one seems sober and elegant to me, it doesn't have the most beautiful colors, but it does the job very well.
Special mention to the cable. 1.2 meters, high purity, 8 strands, 19 cores and modular. But the best thing is that it feels premium. It's not rigid, but not too docile either. Possibly the best cable I have seen stock in headphones of this type.
As if that were not enough, we have the possibility of modifying the sound with the tips and filters. Personally I don't notice obvious differences with the latter. I consider the stock filter to be the most complete, although I have read users who liked the green treble filter. I encourage you to play and try. As for tips, we have all types and sizes. SpinFit, silicone, double phalanx, memory foam...in addition, each of them allows the signature to be slightly modified. In my opinion, the vocal and balanced tips are the ones I like the most.

-DESIGN, insulation, weight and comfort

This titanium earpiece has a semi-open design. The latter is, theoretically, to give more spatiality and dimension to the sound scene...but we'll see if this is really the case or if it's more marketing. Its isolation, however, is not the best in its price range. In fact, I would say that items less than €200 can insulate more.
As for the design, we have one with a structure similar to that of the Fh5s. Personally, it has a very futuristic design, it is not one of my favorites, but I would say that I quite like it.
The headset has a higher weight than average, I suppose this is due to the titanium casing and its 7 drivers in each capsule. Even so, the comfort is quite good and it doesn't bother me during long listening sessions.

SOUND SECTION

The purpose of headphones is to listen to music. This Fiio Fh9 is tuned for a musical and domestic experience. Thanks to its tonal response it fits many different genres. Its semi-open design does not make it ideal for use in transportation or in crowded places.
The signature
Overall, the sound signature is balanced for me, especially if using the balanced tips and standard filters.
Fiio, with this headset, wanted to bring together the best of the Fd and fh series. Sonically, I would define the Fh9 as a very balanced iem in all aspects, versatile and without weak points. The bass is impressive and very punchy, the mids are clear and lively. They don't feel hidden or muted. The treble is tuned just right so that it is not sibilant, but has good extension giving enough air and liveliness to percussion, for example.

Will a powerful amplifier be needed?
In terms of amplification, only 18 ohms and 108 decibels of sensitivity make this set ideal to combine with a good DAC dongle. With 120mw at 32 ohms it is enough to move it practically at 100%.
I have not noticed a great sonic loss if connected to a mobile phone as I have seen with other headphones. So if you want to use it from time to time with a laptop or cell phone, it can be done without a problem.


SOUND SECTION – BASS
The texture of the bass is excellent, making it an ideal set for those who want good punch, definition and texture. It sounds gratifying and you won't want more in any song. The presence of the subwoofer is also evident. It doesn't seem to be difficult to go down to those frequencies, as I can see that it is difficult for other products.
It is not a dry and fast bass like the Oh5 but instead opts for a more viscous, pleasant and, ultimately, more musical sensation.

SOUND SECTION – MIDS
After the punchy bass, you'd expect the midrange to drop off noticeably, but that's not what happens on the FH9. Ha
and good clarity and cleanliness in the mids without having that noticeable body in the bass. If it had that body we would already be talking about a higher-end headphone at a tonal level. I perceive the voices only slightly further back, but with enough detail and presence to not appreciate a V shape.
Thus, we have a tone that keeps the sound signature fairly uniform throughout the midrange frequency response, although there is some emphasis on the bottom and top ends. At best, the midrange can highlight some details, but presents a natural overall response, with good dynamism and sufficient detail.

SOUND SECTION – TREBLE
The highs of the Fh9 are controlled and not sibilant. You can perceive a slight brightness that, to my taste, gives added liveliness to the sound. With the green filter this is enhanced even more, but it makes it not as versatile in genres.
It is not a referential acute, but it is musical. Let's say they occupy a dominant place in the sound signature without culminating in a distracting tone of penetrating harshness. This done so as not to bother anyone. The texture is quite good and, the body, yes the body of the treble... (I know that sometimes we associate this with the midrange)... well it is a little step below the oh5 but the FH9 gives more extension and clarity which benefits the listen for classical music for example.

SOUND SECTION – TECHS
From experience it seems that semi-open designs allow iems to give more depth than extension in the X axis of the soundstage. Did I expect more? Yeah. Above all, because we are looking at a €600 product. I honestly consider that its technical performance is not of this value considering that there are hybrid headphones for a lower price such as the DuNu Sa6 mk2, Mangird Top, Hype 4, which give more in this section...whether in resolution, separation or another area .
In fact, I consider that a good planar magnetic headphone can give equivalent technical performance. Now, I'm not saying it's not technical. No. It has good capacity, but I expected more.
Taking into account the Fh5s, this Fh9 provides a more three-dimensional and spherical scenario. This is not an IEM that deals with a linear stereo field, where the left and right positions extend beyond the earphone housing. The FH9 maintains a space that represents the spatial image, while providing air and good soundstage separation. The layers overlap well and it is able to place the sound elements in a realistic way although not as well or precisely as other sets.
The soundstage is very natural and focused on making sonic reproduction addictive rather than oriented towards listening to details, positioning and expansion of the soundstage.

SUMMARY SECTION
The Fh9 is one of those headphones that can serve as a flagship for most of us. Even so, I consider that the Quintet, a €250 headset, has a technical performance that is only slightly inferior to this Fh9, a product that is worth more than twice as much. Still, I think what this fiio does really well is playing with that balance between fun and technical ability.
Its pros? Without a doubt, its package full of accessories, the cable, and the construction give an experience that is appreciated and let's say that the economic investment hurts less. On a sonic level, I highlight its dynamism, bass section and natural listening without much color, but tremendously addictive.
Its cons? As I said, its technical capacity for this price does not make much sense today. I was expecting a more massive scenario...(also considering that it is semi-open), better image and a little more resolution... perhaps that is why Fiio has released the Fiio Fx15, a headset that curiously improves these aspects.
Even so, I consider that the Fh9 is tremendously complete.
I say goodbye, see you in the next video or review...

All the best.

I´m also on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMtfbMXFzOKe07X-ZstZ_Bg

I bought these iems after owning the Fh5 and Fh7 from Fiio. The Fh7 were a worth upgrade over the FH5, which in turn were and still are eccellent iems. What sets the Fh9 ahead of its 2 siblings is timbre, separation and high frequencies. You have a feeling instruments are more true to life with the FH9. All three separate sounds beautifully, but the FH9 really takes separation to the next level thanks to its 7 drivers per side. Another element that places the Fh9 ahead of its siblings is how high frequencies are handled. They have the quality of never being fatiguing while remaining expressive. It's like listening to music through a good tube amp. They never sound harsh or shrill.

Comfort is eccellent. I could wear them for hours without having the need to remove them. I usually begin feeling a bit of discomfort after wearing iems or headphones for an hour or so. This just does not happen with the Fh9.

Accessories are abundant. You get a sturdy cable with three terminations and lots of tips. You also get filters that are supposed to change the sound signature of the iems in question I kept the balanced filter as I am neither a basshead nor am I a treblehead.

In a nutshell, I would wholeheartedly recommend these iems to anyone looking for a balanced and universal iem around this price point.

Fiio doesn’t need an introduction, but deserves one.

A veteran when it comes to amplifiers and digital audio players, Fiio is the least known for its IEMs. Though it can be said that Fiio officially entered the portable headphone field in 2015 with their EX1 earphones, it was in 2017 when Fiio entered the IEM market. F1 was Fiio’s first in-ear monitor. It featured an over-ear cable, which is pretty much a trademark of IEMs nowadays. However, when it got serious-serious for Fiio, was in 2018 when the famous FH5 was released. The rest is history.
Don’t be fooled by the short amount of time Fiio has been in the IEM market, because in this short time, it achieved more than some established companies have in their lifetime.

I don’t think there is any other company in the portable head-fi market that has the size, reputation, and recognition of Fiio.

Fiio pretty much is THE face of portable HiFi.




Build Quality & Design

To all the other manufacturers: take notes. This is how you build a premium IEM!

I am not the most loyal IEM follower by any means, but I know the market enough to say that it’s not every day that you see a sub $1k IEM that’s built of titanium—Aa-Aa—not like this. In fact, the majority of IEMs above the $1k price point are still built from materials such as aluminum and stainless steel. When I think of titanium, the first IEM that comes to mind is the Metal Magic Research's Thummim, which is priced at $4500. However, it’s not as though the build quality is exceptional just because pure titanium was used, it’s the finish that sells this material choice.

I can tell you one thing: I am happy I received the titanium version. I thought that the black version would have the same finish as the titanium one, however, that’s not the case. Instead, it features a glossy finish. Besides being a fingerprint magnet, I think that the combination of a high gloss coat and gold grills results in an overall cheap-looking finish. On the other hand, the titanium version not only feels very mature, but is also much more premium-looking.

The FH9 is equally as impressive when it comes to its design. If there is a single part of this IEM that makes it stand out, it’s the design. It appears as though the Fiio team took inspiration from the automotive world because the faceplate of the FH9 looks like something straight off of a sports car. From the smooth curvature to the sleek shape, it's very complete. The only pet peeve I have is the visible seam. I’m sure it was unavoidable, but if there was a way to make the seam less visible and apparent, the design would be perfect.

The shells boast a plectrum shape and features a single vent on the inner side.

The replaceable nozzle system is one of the key features of this IEM. Sure, the concept isn’t anything new–in fact, it’s over half a decade old–but it is still a highly sought after and a well appreciated feature. RHA was one of the manufacturers who played an important role in putting the IEM scene on the commercial consumer level. It was also one of the early adopters of the changeable nozzle filter system with its T20i IEM model.

As a whole, the build quality is 10/10. The design would’ve also been a 10/10 if it weren’t for the seam, so it gets a 9.8/10 from me.



Cable

At one point in time, it was insane to pay 50 bucks for a cable, let alone hundreds of dollars. Nowadays, not only do we have multiple hundred dollar cables, we have multiple thousand dollar cables. The higher priced cables usually are priced at such a price point due to the purity of materials, filters, and things of that nature.

What I am really excited about and am pushing as much as possible are modular cables. I haven’t heard whether they affect sound quality negatively or positively, but I like the convenience they provide. They are a game changer, that’s for sure.

Technically-wise, it’s a litz braided 8-core high-purity monocrystalline silver modular cable. Each core is made up of 28 wires, adding up to a total of 224 wires. I’m usually not a big fan of MMCX cables, but here the implementation is done exceptionally well. The connection is very secure, and you also get the metal tool to help you detach the connectors.

Something I found really cool is how the dark sheathing gives the whole cable a platinum look.



Comfort

Something Fiio’s IEMs have been known for is comfort.

I can speak from experience, though that experience is limited to their entry-level resin models (Fiio FD1 and Jade Audio EA3). These models were very lightweight, and thus made them a perfect fit for daily drivers.

FH9 is a little bit of a different story. Excluding the cable, the weight of each ear-piece is 12.8g. That makes it considerably heavier than the resin models I had experience with. In fact, it’s .1g short of being three times the weight of the FD1! For this very reason, comfort can be an issue. You see, when you have an IEM as heavy as the FH9, it’s the ear-guide that should be partially carrying that weight… but that’s not the case here either. Due to the cables flexibility, it literally goes over the ear instead of resting on the ear. This problem could usually be solved with a simple pre-formed silicone ear hook. However, due to FH9 cable’s thickness, you would really have to search hard to find an ear hook that can hold such a thick cable.

Interestingly enough, the stock ear-tips were not a match for me. What’s more, they further contributed to the problem mentioned before. Initially, I experienced no discomfort or fatigue, but both of these kick within 60 minutes. For whatever reason, the SpinFit CP100 (M) ear-tips fixed the weight fatigue issue for me, I experienced no discomfort or fatigue even in long listening sessions. With these tips I can also get a great fit and seal, so there’s no compromises.

Sound Performance​

Out of the box, I didn’t get what I was looking for from the FH9. For this reason, I let it break-in for roughly 12 hours (with only two breaks). After that period, I went on to play a couple of albums and listen to them myself. I wasn’t focusing on the sound performance, it was just casual listening. However, that casual listening lasted for 3 hours or so, which adds up to 15 hours of break-in runtime. After this period, I feel that the FH9 really opened up. Take this with a grain of salt, but I feel that the lows became more responsive and tighter, the mids gained a more refined tonality, and the highs opened up. Either way, I want to say that the 12 hours of initial break-in were not done in my ears, just to make sure there is no “psychological burn-in”.

At first I preferred pairing it with the iBasso DX300 + AMP12 as opposed to DX300 MAX, but after the break-in period it was the other way around — I preferred pairing it with the DX300 MAX.

Not to stretch this segment any further, I’ll just say that the DX300 MAX offers a more refined sound performance (more quality, less quantity). The two most apparent qualities being the tonality and speed.



Lows

No matter how much quantity you throw at the FH9, it never fails to retain control of it!

I wasn’t impressed with the bass performance of the FH9 straight out of the box. It seemed just “ok”. However, after the break-in period, it’s safe to say that I feel completely different about it. It has what I’m looking for, both in terms of quantity and quality.

I’ll start off with two of my reference tracks: “Hydrogen” by MOON, and “Smoking Mirrors” by Lee Curtiss. In the first track, the bass isn’t overly aggressive. It doesn’t have a hard slam, which is normal, but FH9 does manage to keep up with fast attack & decay. The latter track shows off FH9’s capabilities more so than the first. The bass here is significantly more aggressive, which makes it the more demanding of the two. The bass is extremely responsive, snappy, and tactile, and all of these qualities are the result of FH9’s speed. The bass is also full-bodied and voluminous. What usually happens in “Smoking Mirrors” is that the sub-bass is overwhelming the mid-bass, sacrificing the overall definition of the bass. Luckily, that’s not the case here.

Speaking of sub-bass, Fiio hit the sweet spot. Hans Zimmer’s “Why So Serious?” (3:26) is usually either just present enough or rumbling. Just present enough is the case with the balanced sound signature, and then you only get the tingly feeling in your ears, i.e. the sub-tones are more present physically than audibly. The other scenario is similar in a sense because rumbling usually comes along with the physical sensation of rumble. FH9 manages to stay in the sweet spot by having ever so slight rumble, while also managing to maintain that laid back nature of a balanced sound signature.

A very special reference track of mine is Arctic Monkey’s “Do I Wanna Know?”. What’s unique about this track is its introduction. In particular, the drum hits in the introduction. There are only a handful of IEMs and headphones that managed to pull this track off, and all off them were able to do so due to their ability to have sub-bass rumble present in the drum hits. While the FH9 doesn’t produce the physical sensation of rumble, it does something very special. It manages to give the drum hits enough presence and depth that they don’t sound flat, but it doesn’t do it to the extent where you can feel the physical sensation of rumble.

The low end performance is something fresh, something different. It’s not overwhelming, it’s not underwhelming, it’s just right.



Mids

Although the green (treble) filters are my preferred filters of choice, they make the mid-range intolerable. They give an amazing extension that sounds very good with instruments, but they make a terrible match for vocals. That’s bad news for anyone who specifically enjoys highly energetic and emotional vocals.

Sia is one of my favorite female vocalists, and listening to “Dressed In Black”, “Chandelier (Piano Version)”, and “Chandelier (Piano Version) with the green filters was repugnant. It was at that moment that I made the decision to switch to the black (balanced) filters. With this said, keep in mind that the “Mids” section is being judged based on FH9’s performance with the black filters. It was hard making this decision considering how well appreciated the upper mid-range extension is with the green filters.

Despite taming down the upper-mids, the black filters still offer a very energetic mid-range. Sustained for sure, but to the point that the peaks still tingle your ears. It’s like hugging the inside of a turn on a motorcycle. If you push over the limits, make a mistake, the next thing you know both you and your bike are hitting big air. I’m no racing expert, but I’d compare the black filters to a bike that is aggressively hugging the corner and at no point does it go off track or crashes. It’s playing it dangerously but it’s got everything under control. The green filters, on the other hand, would be a bike that went too aggressively into a turn and ended up highsiding. The turn being a metaphor for peaks.
That’s my crappy take on it.

A great example of what I wrote above are Sia’s three tracks I mentioned earlier.

Intense vocals and acoustic stringed instruments, that’s my thing. FH9 manages to be a tease. It has beautiful tonality, it has the upper mid-range extension, but it only has the tiniest amount of the lower end that’s needed to have a correct string timbre. That’s why I call it a tease. It’s not fully there, but it’s still there. The tracks used:

The Alan Parsons Project— Some Other Time
Led Zeppelin – Babe I’m Gonna Leave You
Dire Straits – Private Investigations
Fleetwood Mac – Oh Daddy
Joan Baez – Diamonds and Rust
Joan Baez – Song of Bangladesh
Deep Purple – Soldier of Fortune



Highs

To my surprise, going back to green filters didn’t result in an overly aggressive treble response.

I was certain that the FH9 would cross the shine levels of treble and enter into the sparkle range. However, as it turns out, I was wrong. Not only does the FH9 (with the green filters) not cross the shine levels, but it also rarely crosses into the shine levels. Most often, it stays within the sheen range.

In case the terminology is confusing, this is how I sort treble by quantity:
Sibilance > Sparkle > Shine > Sheen > Warm

Sibilance being treble in such quantity that it becomes too much to tolerate (present in analytical sound signatures; common in studio tuning), sparkle being the fine line between sibilance and shine, shine being treble with edge but not to the point where the edge tingles your ears (a quality present in sparkle), sheen being treble with a soft edge, and warm being treble with no edge.

Miles Davis’ “Portia” and Stevie Wonder’s harmonica (4:43 – 5:38) in Travis Scott’s “Stop Trying to Be God” have been my reference tracks for sibilance for quite a while now. I was expecting the peaks in both of these tracks to cross into the sparkle range, but that wasn’t the case. In “Portia”, even at the peaks the treble barely was in the shine range, while in “Stop Trying to Be God” stayed mostly in the shine range.

What pleasantly stands out with the green filters is percussion. It’s exceptionally crisp, fast, and snappy. Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing”, Alphaville’s “Sounds Like A Melody”, and Dio’s “Holy Diver” album are a perfect showcase of FH9’s percussion speed capability. I repeat, crisp, fast, and snappy are the treble qualities that FH9 possesses.

Soundstage & Imaging

To be honest, I had very high expectations of FH9’s soundstage. To put it lightly, my expectations weren’t met. With the semi open-back design, I expected a very transparent and wide soundstage. From my experience, I found the design to act more like a big vent than anything else. As is usually the case with open-back designs, if you don’t dampen them enough, you will lose a significant amount of bass. So, my guess is that Fiio used a thick and/or dense dampening. However, the design choice is audible in the sense that there is no pressure build-up or that closed-back feeling when IEMs are snugly fitted in your ear canals.

Size wise, the soundstage is average. The whole presentation is intimate, so there is no holographic soundstage and qualities of that nature. But then again, I don’t think you can expect such qualities at this price point.

I will go over this part in the section below, but even though the imaging is, it gets lost in the crowd.



Separation & Detail Retrieval

Unfortunately, this is not a field where the FH9 particularly excels in. The presentation is crowded and I fine there to be a lack of space for all of the elements in music to breathe. This causes details to be lost and doesn’t allow them to be fully appreciated.

My personal take on as to why this might be happening is as follows. I believe that the high number of drivers and their implementation might be the cause. FH9 is a fairly averagely sized IEM, it’s not overly thick or big, nor is it overly slim or thin. For this reason, the physical amount of free space to spread out those 7 drivers is quite limited.

I think that in the future Fiio should utilize their current knowledge and explore the design with less drivers but more space inside the shells. I have no doubt that Fiio is going to be one step closer to perfection whether they go that route or not.

Conclusion​

The FH9 has got it all: switchable nozzles, modular cable, titanium build, premium design, and a pretty decent sound performance. I think Fiio aimed to make a very versatile IEM that comes in a package for those who want to explore what they like, and that it certainly successfully achieved. The package is equally as future-proof as it is beginner-friendly.

FH9 possesses exceptional mid-range and bass qualities. The treble leans towards the safer side, with no risky tuning present. For those who are looking for an IEM for extreme analytical listening, look elsewhere because that’s not what Fiio was aiming for. I would say the same for those who are looking for an IEM for critical listening. The latter group is usually the one that is really looking to be immersed in the music, and for this they seek a holographic soundstage, separation that allows them to dissect each and every element, and pin-point imaging. Anyhow, while it falls short in some areas, it makes up for it in others.

In my eyes, the FH9 is simply put a very good package. With this package also comes good tuning. What you should not expect is to be blown away by its soundstage, imaging, or separation, i.e. technical abilities. It’s an well-tuned IEM that you can listen to and forget about it.

This said, I think that it would make for a great introduction to the premium IEM market for the masses. More than that, it would make a great for present for a loved one who you are trying to convince to enter this world.

Configuration: One 13.6mm DD plays mids and lows + 2*60235 dual BAs play mids and highs + one 31736 dual BAs play highs. The silver cable is really thick(the cable got 224 wires!).


Design: The designer may have designed the FH9 after being drunk - its design is so bold!
So FiiO provides two color schemes for the FH9: All Titanium and Black+Gold.


Unlike the titanium version, which has a subtle frosted feel, the black version has a smooth glossy shell, and its black x gold color scheme has a feeling of luxury.
You can also see its semi-open design from its panel, which is its most special design. Some people may be curious about the sound leaks of the FH9, but for real, you got no needs to worry about that.
The semi-open design of the FH9 greatly improves the soundstage and increases wearing comfort.


(The above picture is the measurement of Crinacle.)
Sound: The FH9 got a neutral to warm sound. I will use the M11PlusESS with plenty of power and the Sony ZX505 with average power for testing, just to simulate two situations. But all the tests are under 4.4mm balanced output.


Bass: The bass of the FH9 will not be like closed-back headphones, which will make you feel like your brain is shaking when listening to electro and heavy-bass songs. On the contrary, it will release the excess bass, so that you can get more comfortable bass and bigger soundstage. You might worry about its bass extension or subbass, but they are just good to me. But please note that the FH9 will show stronger dynamics under sufficient power.


Midrange: The midrange is still FiiO-ish. It maintains a decent thickness while still having the proper resolution. It is worthy of praise that the connection between the dynamic driver and the balanced armatures is smooth and flawless, I will say there are no gaps between them. Its midbass doesn't quite stick to the Harman target curve, as the latter got a pit at 250hz. That midbass will make the FH9 sound fuller and richer, But for users who prefer Moondrop's tuning, the mid-bass may be too much for them.


Treble: I like its treble! The treble of the FH9 is smooth and accurate, especially in the treble falling part, It falls off slowly rather than abruptly, so the treble retains plenty of details without being harsh. The treble part is played by the BAs, and the dual BAs in the nozzle playing the treble part above 7khz, are located closest to the ear canal, which can reduce the attenuation of the extremely high frequency, maintain high resolution, and restore the original sound.
The FH9 also comes with replaceable filters so you can use them to adjust the amount of treble. But the fly in the ointment is that when the FH9 performs some tenors, the restoration is not that strong.

Summary: The FH9 got a neutral and warm sound and its soundstage is amazing.
If you have the budget and want iems with a warm sound, then the FH9 is eligible to be on your shortlist.

I found the Fiio FH9 to be a very fun sounding and full sounding iem which does well for its price point. Built exceptionally well with great accessories the FH9 in my opinion is Fiio's best iem to date. The full review can be found at the link below:

https://www.mobileaudiophile.com/fiio-fh9-review/



Written by: Chris Love

I have been a fan of Fiio Iems for at least a few years now. I have always appreciated Fiio’s attempts to create good products for less than comparable brands. Fiio seems to do a very good job at taking an already born idea and making it better. They have had some duds over the years i.e. many of their earlier full BA Iems. That said… They still got better… and better… and better. Fiio is a brand that I’ve come to trust, as it seems they really try to impress the fan base. Their products are like anything else in the hobby… not for everyone all the time, but for those who can appreciate the effort that Fiio puts into the unboxing experience as well as the listening experience…they should like this set. Also I did purchase the Amazon US for $599.



Devices used
–FIIO Ka3
–Shanling Ua2
–Ibasso DX240
–IFi Go Blu


Packaging

Fiio always gives a luxurious unboxing experience that we as audio hobbyists love. Opening the contents of the box uncovers 30 eartips in total. #6 pairs of Bass Tips, #6 pairs of Vocal Tips, #6 pairs of Balanced Tips, #4 pairs of Spinfit Tips, #4 pairs of Memory Foam Tips, and #4 pairs of Bi-Flange Tips. Also presented in the box is a very premium looking fliptop Leather Case. It is blue and tan and very sharp with clearly enough room to store the Fh9’s. Also, you will find that beautiful cable. More on that later. Fiio also supplies three different nozzle tuning filters; Black (balanced), Red (Bass), Green (Treble). One thing I really think is cool; the magnetic leather covered shirt clip, very handy. You also receive a dust brush for cleaning (I’ve never used those) and that’s about it. Hopefully I’m not missing anything.




Design

Fiio really impressed me with the 7 Driver system in which they used to create the Fh9’s. A huge 13.6 mm DLC Diaphragm Dynamic Driver and six Knowles Balanced Armature Drivers. The array of Drivers implemented in this design create a very united and cohesive listening experience. The shells are Titanium Alloy, precision cut, semi-open back design and stunning in appearance. I already spoke of the cable but… really it is truly a fantastic cable which costs $70-$90 alone. The cable is a High Purity Silver Plated Monocrystalline Copper Cable with 8 strands of 19 total cores equaling 152 wires. Each wire is individually isolated and braided in a Litz style, giving off a very stylish appearance. The detachable terminations actually plug in and then screws on in a twist-lock style. You receive 2.5, 3.5 and 4.4 connectors which are very durable.


Overall Sound

Rated at 18 ohms, with a sensitivity of 108 decibels, the Fh9 would seem sensitive. Low powered sources can bring them to decent volumes however, I have found that with a true flagship like this it is better to give them a clean and more powerful source to get the most out of the FH9. By specs alone it would seem you could drive these with anything. That’s just not the case. These do seem to take very well to the addition of power.

I hear a very slight V-shaped to U-shaped tuning which is so very full. In fact, “Full” is pretty much the only word which accurately describes this set in a nutshell.

Click to expand...

Overall, the Fh9 is slightly warm of neutral in tonality but never seeming too warm. Perhaps this is due to the slightly cooler upper parts of the mix. These are very spacious in stage with crisp highs, forward and emotional mids and deep lows. Every area of the frequency seems just as big as the next. These are aggressive but smooth enough. A flagship level Iem, fantastically tuned in my opinion.
The Tuning Filters are tiny! If anyone who purchases this set is able to successfully take on and off these filters on their first try, really man… Bravo! The threads are so fine that any sized finger will have a hard time spinning them on. I may have almost lost these lil guys multiple times. These Filters are the perfect size for losing in thick carpet if dropped, so I’d advise to at least be careful.
All three filters present a slightly different approach to the tuning. I like the balanced and treble filters the most though all three create their own unique flavor to the sound. Fiio added two BAs in the nozzle and so the filters have a very small attenuation filter centered in the middle of the screw on tip (Tuning Filter) which does change the sound of this Iem.
The Bass filter works by attenuating the upper frequencies thus enhancing the low end. The Balanced filter is the true middleman of the three with a tad bit more energy up top and mids which push a bit more forward to my ears. The Treble filter is basically just an open nozzle with simply a screen. It is Probably the most U-shaped of the three, with a more open sound, bringing almost the best-balanced replay of the three tuning filters as well. Albeit a tad brighter but also a tad more open and airier without adding harshness and not affecting the fantastic Bass.
The Bass filter does not create a bass-head set (it gets very close though) and the treble filter does not create a treble-head set, even with the dreaded BA’s in the nozzle. I conducted this review using the Balanced filter as I find it most appealing to me.
Fiio Fh9 & Ibasso DX240

Bass

Ireally love the low end of the mix on the Fh9. What I hear is a full bass with tight edges and full vibration. The sub-bass extends very low without dropping in volume and is pretty linear through the mid-bass. I hear a distinct separation between the two with good texture. The bass here is thick but not claustrophobic as decay is correct to me. Not too fast, not too slow.
In bass heavy tracks the Fh9 almost sounds like a bass-head Iem. However, tunes which require more finesse with quicker energy, the Fh9 seem to handle just as well. I wouldn’t say the FH9 replay exactly to an artist’s truest intent as there is some color to the low end. Not that any of us know what the truest intent of an artist really is. That said, the Fh9 bass is a welcome piece of its repertoire.
There is just such a dynamic and low reaching intensity to the bass here. I hear visceral haptic feedback created by the moving air in this semi-open structure. The diaphragm is pushing and releasing with tightness and control but also with heft and body. The bass in both the sub and mid regions of the low end have fantastic speed which results in air and texture. I percieve tactile imagery along the edges of bass notes as the FH9 does a superb job of giving bass drums that visceral hit, that punchy boom.
With either the “Balanced Filter” or the “Treble Filter” the FH9 seem like they are flirting just a bit shy of bass-head territory, almost like a perfectly satisfying tease, just not quite. Then if you actually screw on the bass filter…. “Hello bass lover we have a special Iem for you”. Seriously though… The Dynamic Driver has one sole job on the Fiio FH9 and that is to replay the bass region. To my ears the FH9 do so very well, with clarity and great resolution.

Midrange

Using the Balanced filter there is a more forward sounding and full sounding midrange. I adore the weight of both male and female vocals. Male vocals have good body, placed nicely within the imaginary stage. There is a crisp but whole element to male vocals that blends nicely with the rest of the replay. Female vocals on the FH9 are just fantastic to me. There is a sweet energy with a certain depth that sounds smooth and forward but also emotional and detail oriented.
There is good control in the midrange with a clean outline to everything. I love that voices on this set are rich and evoke a feeling of being in a room with the singer. The midrange has smooth and detailed notes carried out in high resolution.
There is a richness in this range that is palpable. Still there is good detail and separation of instruments and good placement of the stage. I do hear in the upper midrange a lift in brightness which aids in those details I was referring to. This uphill climb in the upper mids does not detract from the overall performance but in my opinion actually aids the sound to be more natural than not. I do not hear sibilance unless I put on the treble filter, but this is very minimal and only on tracks which are prone to it. I think anyone who enjoys a detail rich, weighty and even tender vocal showing will likely be happy to own the Fh9’s.

Treble

Fiio did a great job with upper areas of the mix here. The FH9 will take me right to the threshold of pierce but doesn’t cross the line. Instead, they stay in control and simply add needed energy in this area of the mix. Listening to a song like “In Bloom” by Nirvana can rip your ears out using many Iems. The Fh9 however take you right to the brink of brightness but stay in control the entire time.
Again, I have come to really enjoy the energy of the treble. There is a contoured sharpness, a restrained edge. I hear well sculpted notes that have presence. Not thin, not rolled off too early or too warm but instead they are on point, lively and vivid.
There is good extension here as Fiio tuned these in a way that they add width to the stage but also depth too. I do not feel anything is missing or left out of the upper region.
Also, I hear zero BA Treble as the Knowles Balanced Armature Drivers handes the higher frequencies well. I enjoy the timbre here. Nothing nasally or splashy. I don’t hear anything which sounds unnatural or metallic. The treble lines up well with the rest of the mix. There is a nice progression from the upper mids to the lower treble. Overall, I find this area mostly natural but completely musical. I hope that makes sense.


Soundstage/Imaging

Fiio designed the Fh9 with the help of a semi-open shell. The intent is to add space and air, but these also stay thick enough and aggressive in the presentation. I find they have come to a great balance here. There is very nice width, height and depth to the music. It isn’t some grand auditory expanse like a stadium or anything. That type of listening experience isnt needed because there is a certain charm to the Fh9’s stage. The stage is as wide and deep and tall as it should be and really is just …appropriate. It seems Fiio pulled out all the tricks here as they managed to create a very real stage which is convincing to the ear. What I hear is an almost 3D presentation that is a joy for my ears.
Imaging is on par with similar Iems in this price point. I don’t hear anything out of place as far as instrument placement is concerned. Nothing negative distracts or takes away from the overall performance. Vocals aren’t somewhere floating around inside of my head and Instruments have partitioned off areas to be singled out. I have nothing bad to say about the Fh9’s performance concerning spatial cues and imaging. Details both macro and micro seem to be on display as well. All in all, I gotta hand it to the people of Fiio…I dig em!
Fiio Fh9 & Included Leather Case

Last Words

The Fiio FH9 are bold, slick looking, comfortable and sound fantastic. This is Fiio‘s best in-ear to date in my opinion. Fiio seems to have learned from past fortune and past mistakes to create a true flagship at a price that actually renders this set ultra-competitive. While there are many Iems in this price tier which do very well to challenge the FH9, at this price I think these are useless challenges. It comes down to preference at this point.
One may prefer something even more detail oriented, more reference or even more grand in staging etc. etc. What Fiio has done is put many great attributes into the creation of the FH9. Seven drivers in a congruent dance that evokes a sense emotion. Depending on the track or genre my hands were either dancing and toes tapping, or my eyes were closed, and I was lifted emotionally. The Fiio FH9 are a fantastic addition to Fiio’s lineup, and I have very much enjoyed my time with them. Take care everyone and thank you for reading.

​

After going down this rabbit hole for 4+ years now (even after essentially being born into it due to my father who made a killing selling tons of high end Japanese audio gear from home back in the 70/80's - before all the big box stores took all his business and being a pro drummer for the last 25 years), I think I've finally got my endgame IEM.... (famous last words?) I think like many of you, covid restrictions helped go me quicker & deeper down the rabbit hole since a couple of years too....

Even after appreciating good audio all my life, it was a pair of Treblab X5 TWS (!) that turned it into much more of a passion. I then tried Tin T2's and was blown away for the $... Then Tin T4, then FiiO FH3, then etc., etc. (IEM's, speakers, receivers, cables, tips, headphones, subwoofers, DACs, soundbars, PA systems, you name it)... Since covid, I just stopped holding back. My last two and best wired IEM purchases were Moondroop Blessing 2 Dusk followed lastly by 7Hz Timeless... I also really enjoyed the slightly warmer fun tuning of my 1More ANC TWS. I was looking for a top shelf IEM that essentially had all of the qualities of the above mentionned IEMs and more without going into kilobuck territory.

Well... I found it! In fact, I think I'm in love as one can be with a pair of IEM's.

I blind buy pretty much everything after rather thorough research. Although I very much enjoy my Dusks and Timeless, the Dusks are quite natural/neutral sounding with bass boost tuning but not filter or tip friendly from my experience (a bit high maintenance IMO). Timeless soundstage is quite intimate / restrained whereas the bass and driver speed/detail is right up my alley. My 1More ANC TWS are fun and convenient for being out and about but lack in soundstage, natural timbre, imaging, upper extension and detail. The 1More max volume is a little restricted too, but it's only really been a problem once while on a Teams call in a loud environment.

Even if there wasn't/isn't that many English reviews on the FH9 yet (especially on YouTube), they were all quite positive with generally around 9/10 score. So, I took the plunge on a slightly used pair and saved almost a couple hundred bucks compared to new retail cost...

Once they arrived a couple weeks ago, I tried them for a few hours with the neutral filters before changing them for the bass filters. A few days pass and I realize that they are quite the bass cannons (even for a borderline basshead/treble sensitive like myself) and I go back to neutral filters along with changing the SpinFit medium tips for large... What a good move... The bass filters seemed to affect the lower mid range and reminded me a bit of a high end BLON-BL03 or something. Going back to neutral filters expanded soundstage and improved natural timbre + midrange while still providing plenty of nice low end and overall lush, immersive, complimenting & forgiving fun.

Of all my 15 or so (less expensive) IEM's, the FH9 have the best everything, except for maybe detail/speed which can be borderline matched by my Dusks and Timeless (that says a lot for the Timeless for the $ IMHO).

Tuning wise, compared to the Dusks, they have a bit more of a V / fun tuning with better/smoother extension on both ends, lushness and soundstage. This is what I felt the Dusks were lacking and are more reference / analytical IMHO. The FH9 timbre sounds plenty natural/organic with a little more warmth compared to the Dusks which seem a little more mid-forward. Comfort wise, even though they are similar in size, the FH9 are more comfortable for me, even with SpinFits on both models.

Compared to my Tin T4, the FH9 are quite similar in terms of smooth mids and highs but with much better soundstage, seperation, imaging, overall extension, etc... They are almost like T4's on an quasi-overdose of steriods. T4 comfort and easy-listening is on par with the FH9.

Compared to my Timeless, they have rather similar tuning, except soundstage again is night and day. Everything related to soundstage is improved too (imaging, seperation, height/depth/width, etc.) The DD driver of the FH9 also gives that low end punch that the Timeless can arguably lack. Mid bass & lower mids are somewhat cleaner on the FH9's too.

Compared to my FiiO FH3's, the FH9 are much less U tuned. The FH3's in comparison sound like they considerably lack mids, natural timbre and ability to handle complex musical passages in a less open/large soundstage. I still find the FH3 are a good value, especially as an on-stage/studio IEM (due to isolation and extension) or for EDM/pop.

I haven't yet tried the treble filters as I'm borderline treble sensitive and the neutral filters already offer me everything I've ever wanted in an IEM. I find that hitting the Truebass button my Zen DAC provides easier, better and more forgiving low end should ever I want more bass anyways. Maybe one day I'll try the treble filters but feel no rush to do so.

- My Apple Music lossless & Spotify sources from iPad/iPhone or Windows are:
Dragonfly Red
Zen DAC
Focusrite Saffire PRO 24 DSP
Qudelix 5K

- My ''test tracks'' are generally:
Micheal Jackson
Gorrilaz
Magic City Hippies
Snarky Puppy
David Bowie
Anything funk/jazz/RnB/hip hop/older pop basically

A special thanks to all other reviewers here + in other forums for sharing their thoughts on the FH9 prior to my purchase.

Bottom line, I don't see how anyone could go wrong with these babies.

FiiO FH9 Hybrid IEM Review ​

Introduction:

2021 was a very productive year for FiiO, especially when it comes to In-Ear Monitors, whether Hybrids (FH5s/FH5s Pro), Single Dynamic Driver (FD3, FD5, FD7/FDX) and Pure Balanced Armature Driver (FA7s) In-Ear Monitors.

The FH9 is the brand new flagship Hybrid IEM of the company that features a 6BA+1DD driver configuration. The Hybrid Driver configuration is a combination of 6x Balanced Armature Drivers + 1x Dynamic Driver with a 13.6mm Diameter Self-Developed DLC (Diamond like Carbon) Diaphragm. The High frequencies are produced with the Knowles SWFK-31736 drivers.

Some other remarkable features are a Titanium Alloy Construction, Interchangeable Audio filters and a Semi Open Acoustic Design.







Disclaimer:

I would like to thank FiiO for providing the FiiO FH9 as review sample. I am not affiliated with FiiO beyond this review and all these words are reflecting my true and unaltered opinions about the product.





Price & Availability:

The actual price of the FiiO FH9 is 599.99 US$. More information’s can be found under the links below;

• FiiO FH9 In-Ear Monitor

Package and Accessories:

The FH9 came inside a rectangular box that was wrapped with a fancy looking cardboard sleeve that features the product illustration and some product related brandings on the top.



After you remove the cardboard sleeve you will see the main box in black color that sport a sketch of the FH9 on the top and the motto of the company, which is “born for music”.




This box of the FiiO FH9 contains the following items;

• 1 pair x FiiO FH9 Hybrid In-Ear Monitors
• 1 piece x 8 Core detachable cable with MMCX connectors
• 1 piece x Interchangeable Headphone Plugs 4.4mm TRRRS, 2.5mm TRRS & 3.5mm TRS
• 3 pairs x Interchangeable Audio Filters (Green, Black, Red “Black came Pre-installed”)
• 3 pairs x Bass Ear tips (S/M/L)
• 3 pairs x Vocal Ear tips (S/M/L)
• 3 pairs x Balanced Ear tips (S/M/L)
• 3 pairs x SpinFit Ear Tips (S/M/L - 1 pair came preinstalled)
• 2 pairs x Double Flange Ear tips (M/M size)
• 2 pairs x Memory Foam Ear Tips (M/M size)
• 1 piece x HB5 Storage Case
• 1 piece x Cleaning Brush
• 1 piece x SK1 Magnetic Cable Organizer (can also be purchased here separately)
• 1 piece x MMCX Assist Tool
• 1 piece x Warranty Card and User Manual

The FH9 comes with a very rich ear tips collection same like other FiiO products that I have reviewed in the past, which has been placed in to a foam layer that is showing a short description about the sound effect and the size.

Here are 3 pairs of balanced ear tips (S/M/L size), 3 pairs of vocal ear tips (S/M/L size), 3 pairs of bass ear tips (S/M/L size), 2 pairs of SpinFit Ear Tips (S/M/L - 1 pair came preinstalled), 2 pairs of memory foam ear tips (M/M/ size), 2 pairs of Double Flange ear tips (M/M Size).


Inside the box are also 3 different Interchangeable Headphone Plugs (the 3.5mm SE, 2.5mm & 4.4mm Balanced plugs), which are part of the 8 core High Purity Monocrystalline Pure Silver upgrade cable.


The FH9 came also with some nice additions such like the SK1 Magnetic Cable Organizer, a cleaning tool and the FiiO MMCX Assist Tool.







Design & Build Quality:

The FH9 is an extremely stunning looking In-Ear Monitor that reflex FiiO’s next generation industrial design language. The FH9 features a Pure Titanium Alloy construction that is a very rigid material, which is also according to FiiO, able to greatly minimize unwanted harmonics and resonances to improve the overall sound performance.

The monitor shell of the FH9 is precisely made with five-axis CNC machining since titanium is a harder to process material compared to aluminum and stainless steel material.


Inside the heart of each monitor is a Hybrid Driver configuration, which is a combination of 6x Knowles Balanced Armature Drivers (SWFK-31736) + 1x Dynamic Driver with a 13.6mm Diameter Self-Developed DLC (Diamond like Carbon) Diaphragm.



The inner shell design is engineered to eliminate unwanted harmonic resonances generated and reduces negative conditions such as sibilance in combination with the new sound tube design.

On the front of the monitors that we also describe as faceplate is are two openings with a impressive looking design shape that features a fine woven mesh, which is part of the latest Semi-Open Back Cavity design.



At the rear side of the monitor housing are L (left) / R (Right) markings, a pressure relief vent and the slightly angled sound nozzle.


The FH9 features 3 pairs of Interchangeable Audio Filters, which are the Green (Treble), Black (Balanced) and Red (Bass) filters. You can install one of the 3 filters that do have a fine metal mesh on the top to prevent the insertion of strange particles such like dust and ear wax.


The top of monitor shell sports a new expanded female MMCX (Micro Miniature Coaxial) connector design with blue (left) / red (right) blue indicator circles. This new design offers a more stable connection.


The overall build quality of the monitors is top notch same like other FiiO products, without to show any imperfections such like gaps, burs, etc.







Detachable MMCX Cable:

The FiiO FH9 comes with a very good stock cable, which is made of High-Purity Monocrystalline Silver wires. It has 8 cores and 28 strands per core that makes 224 wires strands in total. Each wire is individually isolated and all are braided together in the Litz style.

The cable features special isolation made from environmentally friendly TPU material in grey color. This TPU material is also resistant against yellowing after long-term use and against stiffening when in low-temperature environments.



The MMCX connectors are made from stainless steel material and do have a curve shaped that is based on scientific research to make the FH9 more comfortably for longer listening periods and on the go.


The expanded angled MMCX connectors with left "blue" and right "red" indicators make it easy to connect and detach the FH9. Near the MMCX connectors are transparent heat-shrink ear hooks for a better over the era wearing experience.



The cable sports a chin slider and y splitter made of metal in silver color. The y splitter has the FiiO branding on the top.


The detachable cable of the FiiO FH9 has a unique Interchangeable Headphone Plug design and offers 3 (three) plug variants, which are the 3.5mm Single Ended (TRS) plug, 2.5mm Balanced (TRRS) plug and the 4.4mm Balanced (TRRRS) Pentaconn plug.



The housing of the headphone plug has a strait profile and is made of the same metal material in silver metal color.

Comfort & Isolation:

The FiiO FH9 is maybe not one of the smallest IEM’s on the market since it features 7 drivers per earpiece and a very complex acoustic design. However, the shape of the monitor shell fits perfectly in to my ears with an average ear concha, and doesn’t hurt them even after longer listening periods.

When it comes to the passive noise isolation, I can say that it is on an average level, since it has a semi-open back design and a monitor shape that doesn’t allow a very deep insertion of the nozzle. But don’t get me wrong, the isolation is efficient enough for the use it in fairly noise environments such as metro, bus or train, while it is not suitable for the use on the stage.





Efficiency & Pairing:

The FiiO FH9 is a relative efficient to drive In-Ear Monitor thanks to an impedance of 18Ω and a sensitivity of approx. 108dB/mW. This makes the FH9 to a pretty compatible IEM for most audio sources form Smartphone’s to Tablets or small Digital Audio Players/Mp3 players with a relative weak amplification.




Technical Specifications:

• Driver Configuration : 6x Knowles BA +1x DD Hybrid Driver
• Frequency Resp. : 10Hz ~ 40kHz
• Sensitivity : 108 dB/mW
• Impedance : 18 Ω
• MAX Input : 100mW
• Plug : Interchangeable Plugs (3.5mm SE, 2.5mm & 4.4mm Balanced)
• Connector Type : MMCX Connector
• Cord Length : 120cm
• Wearing Type : Over the Ear
• Weight : 12.8gram (Single Monitor)

Sources used for this review:

• IEM : FiiO FH9, Final Audio B1, Oriveti O400
• DAP/DAC/AMP : FiiO M11 Pro, FiiO Q5s

Albums & Tracks used for this review:

• Adele – My Little Love (Spotify)
• Randy Crawford – On Day I Will Fly Away (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Hayley Westenra – Odyssey Album (Dezzer HiFi)
• Dionne Warwick – Walk On By (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Sarah McLachlan – Angel (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Sertap Erener – Aşk (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Edith Piaf – Non Je Ne Regrette Rien (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Diana Krall – So Wonderful (DSF)
• Aretha Franklin – I Say A Little Payer (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• David Bowie – Heroes (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Elton John – Rocket Man ((Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Barry White – Just The Way You Are (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Isaac Hayes – Walk On By (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Sting – Englishman in New York – (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• B.B. King – Riding With The King (Tidal Hi-Fi)
• Dave Gahan – Kingdom (Tidal Hi-Fi)
• U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Bro Safari, UFO! – Drama (Deezer HiFi)
• Armin Van Buuren – Vini Vici (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Really Slow Motion – Deadwood (Deezer HiFi)
• Jo Blankenburg – Meraki (Spotify)
• Lorde – Royal (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Toutant – Rebirth (Deezer HiFi)
• Portishead – It Could Be Sweet (Spotify)
• Charly Antolini – Duwadjuwandadu (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Gogo Penguin – Raven (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• 2Cellos – With or Without You (Spotify)
• Ferit Odman – Look, Stop & Listen (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Chopin – Nocturn No. 20 In C-Sharp Minor (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Fazıl Say – Nazım Oratoryosu (Live) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Vivaldi – Le QuarttroStagioni “The Four Season” (Deezer HiFi)
• Otto Liebert& Luna Negra – The River (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Lunatic Soul – The Passage (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Deftones – My Own Summer (Shove it) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Metallica – Sad but True (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Opeth – Windowpane (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Megadeth – Sweating Bullets (Tidal Hi-Fi)
• Rush’s – Leave That Thing Alone (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Slayer – Angel of Death (Spotify)s
• Liquid Tension Experiment 2 – Acid Rain (Spotify)
• Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles (Spotify)

The Sound:

The FiiO FH9 is a Hybrid In-Ear Monitor with a mildly warm tonality, which offers pretty dynamic, lively and entertaining sound profile from the lows up to the highs. The bass of the FH9 is powerful yet controlled; the midrange is nicely transparent and detailed from the lower midrange up to the upper midrange, while the treble area is shown with a decent sense of extension and clarity.



Tuning Filters Explained:

• Black Filter : Reference Tuning that shows the most balanced frequency response
• Red Filter : Increase of Bass intensity, slightly reduced Treble forwardness
• Green Filter : Treble Boost, mildly increase in treble intensity and overall brightness

Please note that my review below is mainly based on my sound impressions with the Balanced Silicone Ear Tip Black in combination with the Black Audio Filter, which is the default Reference Filter of the FH9. I have used the stock 8-core Pure Silver cable and have paired the FH9 with the FiiO M11 Pro and FiiO Q5s.



Bass:

The bass of the FH9 is produced by FiiO’s self developed second generation 13.6mm diameter DLC (Diamond like Carbon) diaphragm dynamic driver that is able to create an decent subbass performance, which shows great sense of power, depth and extension when needed. What I really like about the subbass character of the FH9 is that it shows a good level of rumble and intensity without to affect the clarity in this area, when I do listen to string instruments such like a contrabass and bass guitar or to percussion instruments like kick drums. The subbass depth and rumble of the 13.6 diameter DLC diaphragm dynamic diver in songs like Lorde’s “Royals”, Massive Attack’s “Angle” or Armin Van Buuren’s "Vini Vici" is very exiting.

The midbass area of the FiiO FH9 shows an above average intensity that is always in control, especially with the Back Balanced Audio Filter. It is punchy, shows a good level of resolution and the best part is that is offers a fast response and quick decay for such a large dynamic driver, which shows how further FiiO has come with its second generation DLC diaphragm Dynamic Driver. Percussion instruments such like cross drums or brass instruments like trumpets do sound pretty accented and are reproduced with a mildly warm and nicely soft tonality.

While the FH9 has not a reference oriented bass presentation, it offers a solid bass performance whatever you listen, from pop to electronic from rock to dub step.





Midrange:

The FiiO FH9 shows a highly transparent and spacious midrange presentation and offers a decent performance in this area in terms of resolution. The tonality of the midrange is slightly warmer than neutral while the sense of airiness is on an impressive level thanks to the well-adjusted Knowles Balanced Armature Drivers that are dedicated for the midrange as well as the new Semi-Open Back design.

The lower midrange has a moderate level of depth and intensity that is sufficient to show a good sense of depth and body when I do listen to romantic male voices such like Barry White and Isaac Hayes or Sting. The level of clarity and resolution of this area is impressive and can easily hold up with higher priced Top Tier IEM’s, while I maybe would wish a tad more body in this area.

Female vocals on the other hand are reproduced in a very lively, detailed and controlled manner, without to show any remarkable sibilance or harshness, even while listen to soprano voices such like Hayley Westenra or Sertap Erener, when I do use the Black (Balanced) and Red Audio Filters. The Green Filter on the other hand is a slightly more prone to sibilance, especially if I do listen to records with poor quality. The level of detailed retrieval and realism when I do listen to Adel, Aretha Franklin and Diana Krall was quite impressive.

The FiiO FH9 shows a fairly natural, lively and detailed instrument presentation with decent sense of airiness and separation. Instruments pianos and clarinets do sound pretty vivid, clear and are shown with an above average level of extension, while violas and trumpets do sound moderately bold, pretty natural and detailed.





Upper Midrange & Treble:

The both the upper midrange and the lower treble area of the FiiO FH9 are quite pronounced, while the transitions are in general pretty controlled, especially with the Black and Red Audio Filters. The FH9 offers a good sense of authority when instruments do play with high level of distortion, only the Green Audio Filter sounds a bit prone to sibilance and sharpness.

The lower treble area sounds fairly bright and is able to produce an above average level of clarity and definition. Instruments such as organs, pianos and soprano voices are shown with a good grade of presence.

The upper treble range of the FH9 sounds pretty natural and detailed, especially for an In-Ear Monitor at this price level. It is able to create a good sense of airiness and sparkle when I do listen to tenor saxophones, tenor and soprano voices.

Instrument such as hi-hats in metal music do come slightly from the background, while the hits still quite audible. Crash cymbals on the other hand do sound in general pretty realistic and detailed, while the extension is on an efficient level.

Overall, the general treble quantity and intensity will satisfy most users. I really liked the balance of the treble range when I do listen to the FiiO FH9, especially with the Black Audio Filter and Balanced Silicone Ear Tips.



Soundstage & Imaging:

The FiiO FH9 offers an impressive performance in terms of separation and placement of both instruments and vocals offers, thanks to the very spacious and airy soundstage atmosphere that is additionally supported by its Semi-Open Back design. Both the depth and the wideness of the soundstage are on an above average level.







Some Comparisons:

FiiO FH9 (599 US$) versus Final Audio B1 (699 US$):

Both the Final Audio B1 and the FiiO FH9 are hybrid driver IEM’s, while the FH9 has a 6BA+1DD and the B1 a 1BA+1DD diver configuration. The Final Audio B1 needs much more power do show its true potential, while the FiiO FH9 is much easier to driver. Both IEM’s do have a solid build quality and do shows a pretty good fit and isolation, while the B1 is slightly pricier.

The subbass region of both the FH9 and the B1 is quite pronounced, while the B1 shows slightly more rumble and intensity towards the midbass region. The FH9 has the upper hand when it comes to the clarity and resolution in this area, while the grade of decay and control is pretty similar. The midbass region of the B1 sounds more pronounced and shows a higher level of impact and intensity. The FH9 offers a better sense of clarity and resolution in this area.

The midrange of the Final Audio B1 is a touch warmer in tonality and shows slightly more body and depth in the lower midrange area, which makes it slightly more successful with male vocals and instruments like acoustic guitars and cellos. The FiiO FH5 on the other hand offer a more natural and neutral tonality with better sense of transparency and airiness. The upper midrange is more highlighted and detailed, which is audible when I do listen to female vocals and instruments such like violins and pianos.

The both the Final Audio B1 and the FiiO FH9 do offer a good treble performance in terms of resolution, brightness and extension without to sound overly sharp. However, the FiiO FH9 is superior when it comes to the lower treble presentation, which shows a better level of extension and detail retrieval. The Final Audio B1 on the other sounds more highlighted in the upper treble region, where it has the slightly edge in terms of airiness and resolution.

The FiiO FH9 is the better IEM if soundstage performance and the separation of instruments and vocals is important for you. It offers a better level of depth and wideness, thanks to its semi-open back design.





FiiO FH9 (599 US$) versus Oriveti OH500 (499 US$):

The Oriveti OH500 is also a hybrid driver IEM that offers a 4BA+1DD configuration, which are located inside a very comfortable resin housing. The FiiO FH9 on the other hand looks more robust and fancy in direct comparison while it is slightly more expensive.

The Oriveti OH500 has noticeably warmer tonality compared to the FiiO FH9, and shows a more V shaped sound signature with emphasized lows and highs.

The subbass region of the Oriveti OH500 sounds more highlighted and shows more depth and rumble in this area. However, the FiiO FH9 is superior when it comes to the resolution and control. The FH9 offers also a better level of layering, tightness and speed especially when I do listen to complex bass passages like Gogo Penguin’s “Raven”.

The midrange of the Oriveti OH500 is warm and soft, while the level of transparency and airiness are on an average level. The FiiO FH9 on the other hand offers a more natural, neutral and transparent midrange character with better sense of airiness and resolution. The lower midrange of the FiiO FH9 is slightly more emphasized then those of the Oriveti OH500, while the biggest difference is in clarity and resolution of this area when with male vocals and instruments such as cellos and violas.

The upper midrange and lower treble regions of the FiiO FH9 are reproduced with a higher grade of intensity and detail retrieval, while both IEM’s are pretty controlled in moments when instruments do play with high distortion. The upper treble range of the OH500 is more pronounced especially around the 8kHz region. However, the FH9 offers a better sense of authority and smoothness.

Both the FiiO FH9 and the Oriveti OH500 are successful in terms of soundstage performance. The main difference is that the FH9 has the upper hand for soundstage width, while the OH500 has the slightly edge when it comes to the depth of the stage.






Conclusion:

The FH9 is another solid product from FiiO that has an impressive sound performance with its highly transparent and detailed midrange, airy and well extending treble tuning, and a bass response that is powerful yet controlled. This sound is produced with a brand new 6BA+1DD hybrid driver configuration and semi open-back design, which are located inside a gorgeous looking monitor made from titanium material. All this features are crowned with a very rich accessory package that includes a high quality 8 core pure silver cable with Interchangeable Headphone Plugs, the HB5 leather case and many ear tips.


Thank you for your Read!

The FH9 was kindly provided by FiiO free of charge, I only covered import fees and taxes.
As always this is my subjective and unbiased review.
The price is €699 and you can buy it from this - not affiliate - link FiiO.eu.

Introduction

FiiO's hybrid line of earphones is distinguished from the letters FH and the available models are named FH1s, FH3, FH5 (now OP), FH5s, FH7 and the brand new FH9, the latest flagship hybrid driver in-ear monitor.



Design features

FiiO has designed the FH9 with a seven-driver hybrid configuration on each side.
The pair houses a 13.6mm 2nd generation DLC diaphragm dynamic driver, one of the largest to be found in an earphone, paired to six premium balanced armature drivers designed by Knowles.

The FH9 is FiiO's first hybrid IEM to feature a self- developed 2nd generation DLC (diamond-like carbon) bass driver.
Compared to the 1st generation driver, the magnetic circuit structure has been redesigned resulting in 20% higher magnetic density to better push the massive 13.6mm DLC diaphragm - which means an even more dynamic sound.
And thanks to DLC's outstanding rigidity and high damping coefficient, the FH9's bass driver is capable of providing extremely quick transient response with extremely minimal distortion.

All 6 BA drivers in each ear unit of the FH9 are from Knowles.
High frequencies are handled by three of the proven SWFK -31736 drivers.
For the mid frequency drivers, FiiO has partnered with Knowles themselves in over 2years of extensive research on how to best implement such drivers to achieve perfect harmony between multiple drivers for an absolutely coherent sound.



The FH9's shell is specially engineered to eliminate unwanted harmonic resonance generated as sound waves travel through the shell, sound tube and cavity - which greatly eliminates undesirable sibilance in the sound.
FiiO has designed the cavities for FH9 based on their latest-gen industrial-grade design.
They feature precisely crafted CNC machined Titanium alloy ear cavities. The Titanium-alloy construction is extremely rigid and helps to minimize the unwanted harmonics and resonances in the output signal.
Each FH9 unit is made with great precision using a five-axis CNC machining process.

The FH9 features a semi-open acoustic design incorporating FiiO's patented system of balanced pressure relief between the front and rear cavities.
The result is more natural sound, and more comfortable listening in longer sessions due to greatly minimized pressure on your eardrums when listening.

FiiO FH9, like most of their latest earphones, comes with three interchangeable sound filters, each filter has its own damping and filter density.
They help adjust the sound a little bit, and can be used as per the user’s preferences.
The pair comes packed with a red filter for enhancing bass response, a green filter for transparent and balanced sound and a black filter for highly-resolving detailed treble sound.



Cable

Included with the FH9 is a high-purity pure silver cable with 8 branches of 28 wires each, for a total of 224 wires.
Each wire is individually isolated and all are braided together in the Litz style.
The outer sheath of the cable is made from environmentally friendly TPU, which not only sports a radiant transparent look but is also resistant against yellowing under long-term use and stiffening when in low-temperature environments.
The stainless steel angled MMCX connectors are designed to make the wearing experience as painless as possible.
Details such as the special angle allow you to more easily connect your IEMs for more comfortable wearing as well as the left blue right red indicators to quickly get you going.
The cable features the interchangeable plug system so the user can use it with a multitude of devices without the need to use adapters.
The package includes 3.5mm, 4.4mm and 2.5mm plugs.
The included cable is a masterpiece and such aftermarket cables usually cost more than the FH9 itself.
Excellent and congratulations on FiiO for including such a high-end cable at this price.



Accessories

When it comes to accessories, FiiO is number one in providing the customer with everything that is needed for a complete listening experience.
The buyer along with the FH9 gets the following:

HB5 carrying case*1
Bass ear tips*3 pairs (SML)
Balanced ear tips*3 pairs (SML)
Vocals ear tips*3 pairs (SML)
Foam ear tips*2 pairs (M)
Double -flange ear tips *2 (M)
SpinFit eartips*3 pairs (SML)
Cleaning brush*1
MMCX removal tool*1
Magnetic clamp*1
Green/Black/Red audio filters*1 set
2.5/3.5/4.4mm interchangeable audio plug*1 set
8 strands of 224 wires each high-purity monocrystalline pure silver cable*1



Wearing comfort and isolation

Too many drivers need a larger housing to accommodate them, so the FH9 is quite bulky especially when compared to some single dynamic driver Iems like the FiiO FD7 or Sennheiser IE900.
Thus said, the shells are anatomically designed with an extended nozzle that helps with deep and snuggle insertion while the shell rests into the outer ear without causing any extra annoyance.
Despite the increased weight (12.8gr per unit) I would rate the fit as comfortable but the user will not fail to notice that there is something large snug in his ear and while the design is beautiful and contemporary, the FH9 is not the most discrete earphone.
Needless to say that the FH9 is not suitable for outdoor activities and exercise not only for the fit but also for the semi - open design which doesn't help a lot with passive noise isolation.
It is not that you can't use it outdoors but you better avoid some very noisy places.



Build quality

Build quality is excellent, this is one of the best - if not the best - earphones that I have ever laid my hands on.
It is premium and classy with top notch finish and the most excellent craftsmanship, the same goes for the cable which is simply top tier, from the interchangeable plugs, to the braided design and the aluminum MMCX connectors.
Kudos to FiiO for the excellent job.



Listening impressions

I left the FH9 playing music for more than 200 hours but I haven't bothered to observe if there were any sound changes, I have just started listening after that period of time.

The FH9 are rated at 18Ω@1kHz with a sensitivity of 108dB so they don't pose any significant requirements for driving them.
But while they can get pretty loud from most portable sources, the user must remember that they are a set of transparent and revealing flagship earphones so a good quality source is a must.
I have mostly used the FiiO M11 Plus along with the iBasso DX240 and DX300.

Upon starting the listening sessions my first move was to swap the pre-installed Spin-fit ear tips for the balanced ones.
I don't know about you but I never had good results with the Spin-fits as I find them to be too forward sounding for my liking.



The first impression is that of a huge sounding earphone with top notch clarity across the range and a bass dominant sound signature that thankfully doesn't end up masking the rest of the frequencies.
And when I say huge, I mean really huge, like listening to some great open back headphones, the FH9 is the most spacious and grand sounding iem I have tested till now.
And bassy, really bassy as the FH9 has bass-head level emphasized low end, starting from the sub-bass and extending to the upper-bass.
I am not talking here about mere frequency response but rather about the style of the overall presentation.
In the FH9 the dynamic dynamic driver is the dominant force, the one that sets the pace, it is like a giant standing above the armature drivers blocking the sun out of them, letting them dwell under his shadow.

Macro dynamics are utterly impressive, the bass is so full bodied and thumping that it gives the most realistic impressions while sub-bass kicks like there is hidden a subwoofer inside the FH9.
The bass is not lacking in quality as it is tight, controlled and fast but due to the excessive mid-bass coloring the end result is lacking in ultimate clarity, the bass line gets masked and layering is not as satisfying at least when considering reference standards.
So from now on we must split the listening impressions in accordance with the music genre and the listener preferences.

Fans of electronic music, RNB, modern pop and such will be jumping in their feets from joy, oh boy the party is on and the night is still young and full of possibilities.
Listening to the "Disco" album by Kylie Minogue is a pure joy thanks to the punching bass and her fine voice which is expressed with clarity and outstanding articulation without getting lost in the mix.



The mood gets even higher with bass beating re-mixes where the listener feels like being in the club dancing to his favorite tunes.



The FH9 also excels in movie watching or listening to your favorite soundtracks.
The experience is reminiscent of a well calibrated multi-channel home cinema system.
Watching the "Black Panther" movie and then listening to the title ``OST was utterly impressive with exploding and earth-shattering action scenes.



On the other hand with more reference friendly material like the "Cello Concerto" by Eduard Lalo, the solo cello was more intense and forward-sounding than it should be, overpowering with its presence the delicate orchestral accompaniments.
Even more in the large orchestral tutti the bass instruments sounded too dominant and thick, lacking in ultimate layering and definition that is needed in order to clearly pick every single note of each individual instrument, especially when playing at a different dynamic range.
As an example, it gets quite difficult to hear "ppp" bassoon playing under the dominant "fff" double basses and cellos.



Thankfully this mild masking phenomenon is only effective as far as the dynamic driver frequency range goes and from the point where the balanced armature drivers kick in, everything stays clear, unaffected and well defined, as such the FH9 manages to sound cohesive and comprehensive despite the bass dominant sound signature.
The mid-range is mostly neutral tuned with good presence, well articulated voices and some fine sounding instruments with a natural timbre.
Texture is a little lean, more precise, airy and transparent, less rounded and organic, not as full bodied but it doesn't sound artificial or clinical.
It is not the most musical presentation but it still gets communicative and enjoyable with all kinds of music but don't expect a lush and mid - forward presentation.

Transition to the treble is exemplary with excellent integration between the drivers and nothing sounds detached or out of phase.
The tuning is smooth and stays under control but still extended and present, able to resolve some fine detail without sounding analytical.
The FH9 is tuned to the opposite direction of the forward-sounding FH5s, more relaxed and not too sharp but not as far as to sound muted or blunt.
It is balanced and natural sounding, one of the most musically tuned high frequencies in the FiiO stable, with good body weight, fine texture and even decaying but the attentive listener will not fail to notice the slightest hint of the so-called balanced armature timbre.
But I am nitpicking here and I have to admit that I am very fond of the FH9 upper frequencies response, especially with the "balanced" tube.



Sound tuning tubes

Users who prefer a more spicy treble presentation can switch for the "treble" tube which adds some extra sparkle, enhanced clarity and more presence with only a touch of brightness as a side effect, while it also helps for the bass to sound clearer and better defined.
On the opposite side the "bass" tube mutes the higher frequencies adding more heft and impact to the bass which however becomes boomy and less controlled but bass lovers will certainly appreciate the extra oomph and weight.



Soundstage

I am a little short of words to describe the FH9 soundstage which is one of the best available from an iem and rivaled only by the top tier, highly expensive competition.
The FH9 sounds more like a good open back headphone as it draws a soundscape that extends in front and around the listener in a very enveloping way.
Wide and extended but always natural and perspective, it adapts accordingly to the listening material, be it a solo instrument or a large symphony orchestra, always feeling open and spacious with accurate and precise imaging.
The overall feeling is holographic with good depth layering, high levels of transparency and excellent spatial cues, a truly remarkable performance that will make you forget about the semi open design and the lack of relative isolation.
Movie watching is awesome.



Compared to the FH5s

Unfortunately it's been a long time since I have reviewed the FH7 and I wouldn't risk a comparison so I will limit my impressions against the FH5s.
The FH9 is almost two times the price of the FH5s but worthily so because it is better in various parameters.
Treble tuning is more balanced, leaving behind the FH5s sharpness for a smoother approach although with better micro detail resolution and better perceived extension.
Timbre is more natural and the drivers sound better integrated as a whole, leading to a more cohesive sounding experience.
Bass is not so overbearing on the FH5s and tuning is more neutral but the FH9 wins in overall technicalities and in the intensity of the presentation.
Also transparency, presence and definition are of higher caliber in the FH9 as is the spaciousness of the soundstage.
Thus said the FH5s is miraculously performing for the asking price and if you need a spacious, open sounding, highly detailed iem and you don't mind the treble forward presentation then it is a great choice.



Compared to the FD7

The FD7 is a single dynamic driver earphone and is currently seated at the top of the FiiO "FD" line.
On first glance someone might think that a single dynamic driver iem can't compete with a multi driver hybrid set but this is far from the truth.
The FD7 holds on it's own with a more reference and balanced tuning and that is not only in the bass range.
Bass is more tight and controlled without any signs of masking or bleeding into the upper bass so the FD7 has higher layering capabilities and sounds more clear, precise and defined in the low end.
Of course it can't compete with the FH9 in sub - bass extension or power and kick, you can't party with the FD7 as you can do with the FH9 but on the other hand it can do much better in resolving complex bass lines.
Mids and treble are quite close regarding the overall balance and tuning, the FH9 is a touch more forward in the upper mids but the main differences that we should concentrate on are timbre related.
The FiiO team has done an excellent job regarding the integration of the FH9 multiple drivers and the final result is pretty homogeneous sound.
But still nothing can beat a good single dynamic driver when it comes to the integrity and cohesiveness of the frequency bands.
The FD7 is more accurate and precise with greater unity across the spectrum while the timbre is more organic, natural and lifelike with greater musicality.
In the end both earphones are great, certainly worth their flagship status and as always individual musical preferences should be the judging criteria for choosing the one over the other.
As an example the FD7 is unbeatable when it comes to classical music but I should prefer the FH9 for movie watching and some Disco tunes.



In the end

The FiiO FH9 is a great sounding iem with a huge, bold and spacious sound signature.
No, it is not a strict reference in it's tuning but not everything needs to be tuned this way.
With explosive bass performance and an exuberant personality this a fun and utterly exciting earphone that without sacrificing in flagship level technical performance, is going to reward the happy owner with great moments of sheer (and a guilty one for some of you) pleasure.

Test playlist

Copyright - Laskis Petros 2021.

Fiio FH9

Flagship products don’t come by often but when they do. It should be everything a manufacturer has learned in making a product that culminates into the very best of what they have done and a bit of extra that would make it a flagship product. Fiio has broken out this year as being more than a hardware manufacturer. They have released their highest performing earphones to date and the new flagship FH9 is the end result of years of making all types of earphones and one type that has been the mainstay of their earphone popularity. The tried and true hybrid IEM. In evaluating the new FH9, I took a good look at their previous FH line up. Their older FH5, FH3, FH5S, FH7. The FH7 unfortunately is the only hybrid Fiio made earphone I was not able to hear or own. The FH9 is in many ways an extension of the previous FH designs now incorporating 6 Knowles BAs and a stout 13.6mm 2nd gen DLC bass dynamic. The sound of the FH9 reminds me the most of their number one seller of all time, the FH5.

Arguably the most popular earphones Fiio has made is their hybrid line of earphones and it was only a matter of time before they threw down a whole bunch of drivers in an all metal shell, opened up the back end for proper venting and tuned them to possibly recapture that success they had with their FH5. This is what the new FH9 is. This type of design and tuning for the FH9 is not something a manufacturer whips up out of the blue. These have been in the works for several years, which is what I was told, meaning they had these on the drawing board before the pandemic and probably did a lot of trial and error to figure out exactly how they were going to make what has become the FH9.

Standardly disclaimers. The FH9 was provided by Fiio for the purpose of a review and analysis. You feel the need to get yourself a FH9 you can purchase a set here on Fiios aliexpress home page or on Amazon here. I have burned in the set for a week and are now ready for evaluation using my sources. IBasso DX300Max, Fiio M15, Shanling M6 pro, M5s, M3s. IBasso DX160, Sony ZX300, Fiio K3 2021,KA3 w Samsung Galaxy. IBasso PB3 and IFI Black Label for amping.

The package.

If you have never bought a Fiio made earphone. What you get included for their earphones are world class. It should be the standard for IEMs. I have mentioned in my other reviews that I feel other manufacturers can learn a thing or two from Fiio about including accessories. Sure accessories are not the bottom line when it comes to sound but it sure influences how we think about a company based on what they throw in the box. Inside the box, you get a whole lot.
Their top of line HB5 case lined with separators for the shells, a set of bass silicone tips 3 pairs, a set of vocal tips 3 pairs, Balanced tips 3 pairs, 2 pairs of foams,2 pairs of double flange tips, spinfit tips 2 pairs, an mmcx removal tool, magnetic clip, 3 sets of nozzle filter caps that change how you hear the trebles, and a remarkable 8 strands, 224 wire high purity monocrystalline silver cable with Fiio’s modular plugs in all terminations. That my friends is a proper accessory package.

I noticed the cable this time is double the strand count of their monocrystalline pure silver cable used on their FD7. Why does this matter? From my own experiences with thicker cables in general. Thicker pure silver cables are rare in the industry as it counters the one aspect about silver cable properties that has a tendency to lean out a sound signature. Silver cables are the most resolving of cables but in doing so your perception of the body of sound will have a leaning effect. With a thicker pure silver cable this counters this by adding a fuller sound while retaining all the benefits of pure silver. I felt the FD7 cable was an excellent throw in cable. While the materials are the same for the new FH9. It adds to the end sound of how the FH9 presents. Absolutely superb match up with the FH9 sound. This is one of the rare instances where you don’t need to go out and spend extra on a nicer cable. You're getting an absolute superb cable that matches extremely well with the FH9.

Build.

Titanium alloy shell means, these are gonna last. The shells are precision machine crafted titanium alloy and while it is always a good idea to treat your earphones with kid gloves. These are one set of earphones where if you were rough with them, I can honestly say they can probably take quite the beating. Love the added touch of how the cables mmcx plug has a curved Titanium alloy stem to it as well, which gives the FH9 a slick premium modern look. The cable itself is pliable for a thicker cable, a touch springy but does not have annoying noodling and is not a heavy cable despite being a bit bulky.

The housing design is clearly vented here so while passive isolation suffers, I would say isolation is about average for such designs meaning passive isolation is slightly below average for earphones in general. It's not terrible when it comes to sound leakage, but I do notice the FH9 will not be the best for your noisy commutes. They are more ideal for stationary use. What counters that moderate passive isolation is that the FH9 has some stout bass which actually works better for busy commutes. As you know outdoor noise lowers bass perception, so I suppose it will be a matter of trial if you would like to use these for your commutes. It is certainly not a bad thing to hear the surrounding environment at times. The mmcx has solid connections due to being encased in titanium alloy so I can’t see the mmcx end becoming a problem. Please do use the included mmcx tool everytime you plan on switching up the cable. Tool is perfect to help with your other mmcx earphones as well.

Sound.
All recent Fiio offerings, the FD7, FA7S and now the FH9 all have some fundamental balanced signatures. They all have their strengths and each does its own sound to a proficient degree. The FH9 is kind of a throwback in sound design. As mentioned above these remind me of the bass on the FH3, the tuning of the FH5 and the spacious nature and fullness of the FH5S. It is a much more musical and full-bodied colored sound signature vs their FD or the FA offerings. It is another variant of their V shaped signature but this time with some tricks up its sleeves as to how you perceive this full-bodied signature. It comes with 3 tuning caps, not a tuning nozzle this time around. Since the FH9 uses two Knowles BAs in the nozzle as a design, they had to resort to screw-on caps for the tips of the nozzle with some filter screens. The negative in this particular design is that the bigger fellas with sausage fingers can and will have some issues with the tiny caps. Just take your time and you should be fine.

The 3 caps are labeled bass red, balanced black, treble green. Both the bass and the balanced caps have a baffle design for the cap screen with the central baffle portion that has a thicker mesh material that seems to dampen the treble output of the two balanced armatures that are in the nozzle of the FH9. Bass cap has the most material in the central baffle cap so it lowers the treble perception, increasing how you hear the bass. Less material for the more balanced presentation which still leans the tuning to be a bit more for the mids and bass. Then there is the treble cap.

Don’t be afraid of trying out the treble cap folks. I will say that out right. This cap is different from the balanced and bass cap. It does not have the baffle pattern underneath the cap mesh. Therefore, the entire sound is now open. This does not mean you're getting a healthy extra dose of treble. I can argue this actually makes the FH9 sound more proper, more higher end sounding vs having that constriction on the treble. Sound becomes more airy, more open sounding with this cap and with a proper treble emphasis. Using the Treble cap sounds less of a L shaped signature for the bass cap, a v shaped using the balanced cap to more of a U shaped signature. If you own the FH9 or would like to try it. Before you quickly judge the earphones based on its balanced filter. Try out the treble filter before judging the FH9, and please do some burning in.

So there are some concerns with the treble BAs in the nozzle design and I can assure folks that you will not have to worry this time around. The tuning of the FH9 is much more superior to the likes of their previous FH5S that used a similar treble BA in the nozzle design. Treble this time is blended in with the sound tuning of the FH9 much better to the point where unless you know the design was as such, you will not notice how that is different from the treble BAs being inside the body cavity vs being in the nozzle. A better designed hybrid in general to achieve the end sound is what the FH9 seems to be. Lets just say I can tell Fiio took to the criticism of the BA in the nozzle design and they figured out how to make it work and in being much better balanced with the rest of the sound tuning.

My treble perception of the FH9 has to do with the treble cap attached to the FH9. Again this does not turn your FH9 into a treble head paradise. I can see some folks thinking the FH9 treble might be a touch reserved actually and that is if you're using either the bass cap or balanced cap. One of the big changes for Fiio in their newer tunings for their earphones is a better improved treble tuning and that is clearly evident in the FH9 even with the treble cap. How I can tell is by critically listening for tonal changes using the caps. Crash cymbals do not grind in your ears and cause fatigue. This time around crash cymbals have power with a proper sustain, but sounds clean and does not step out of bounds. If anything treble has a slight subdued clarity but has ample emphasis with very good sparkle and shimmer. I can tell Fiio has “detuned’ the treble to not interfere with the rest of the tuning and in doing so the treble aspect here plays a supporting role more so than being highlighted. And this is the reason why you should not be afraid to try out the treble cap. In other words the treble cap actually sounds balanced showing some tuning finesse of the FH9 trebles tuning which is more proper this time than bringing the rays of the sun.

The treble in the nozzle aspect of the design gives a straight shot directly closer to your ears vs the rest of the drivers so in order for proper sound balancing the treble actually has to be adjusted accordingly. This is how I can tell Fiio was able to maintain a very good balancing act with the FH9. Treble has good fundamental crisp detail and has its main emphasis in the lower to mid trebles with a decrease of treble emphasis toward the upper trebles. It has good extension with a quicker agility and you can say is more transparent due to the nozzle treble design. Its shimmer aspect is addictive, which adds to the fun aspect of the F9 tuning. The treble is aligned with how it is emphasized vs the mids and bass. With the balanced or bass this treble emphasis is attenuated a bit further.

Mids
Mids have a remarkable fullness to its sound. It was one of the aspects of the FH9 sound that impressed me on open listen. Since burning in, I don’t feel the mids fullness or body of sound is as full sounding but it still has a large bodied sound signature that is very addictive. Mids are handled by 4 BAs for its mid to upper mids. Dynamic handles bass to lower mids so you're going to get a lot of drivers pointed at your ears to do the mids giving the mids some serious projection and space. Mids can sound a touch forward using the balanced cap to a bit laid back in the mix using the treble cap. Again I think for the overall tunings the treble or open cap gives the most natural and open sound presentation vs the other two caps but this is all subjective and the great aspect of the FH9 is that you don’t have to compromise. You're actually getting 3 sound signatures in one. I think this is the best aspect of the FH9. Up till now you got some minor changes with tuning nozzles Fiio has done for their prior earphones, but the FH9 does a great job of actually giving you 3 different sound profiles with not much sacrifices in sound quality. Mids tonality can sound a touch warm and forward to neutral in emphasis depending on which cap.

The one consistent however is it gives a full on spacious well layered dimensional sound for the mids. 4 BAs and a large dynamic will do that for you. BAs gives an imaging and a precision factor to its sound, especially when multiple BAs are used and that is evident in the FH9. Mids have supreme control, very good precision, clarity, images amazingly well, sound separation is superb and its detail qualities are clearly evident in the hearing space of the FH9. Vocals have full on note weight be it female or male vocals and stringed instruments sounds natural. The FH9 does have BA timbre but that should not be a surprise. Tonality wise the immersive qualities far outweighs any coherence issues one might perceive with the FH9. The added plus to utilizing 4BAs to focus on the mids are the nuanced micro details like reverb and room ambient effects come through with ease on the FH9.

I have seen rumblings of folks that do not like BA timbre and such. For those folks the FH9 might not be for them but I can tell you the Knowles BAs being used here are not some run of the mill cheap BA or do they sound unnatural. Sure something like Fiios own FD7 has better timbre, one of the very best for its price but the FH9 makes up for it with a dimensional full bodied sound signature that absolutely blankets how you're hearing your favorite tunes. Imaging and its technical ability comes full force and while I have heard some aspects done better in much higher end IEMs, the FH9 does a fine job giving you gobs of full bodied sound all up in your grill. Something akin to much higher end offerings that I own actually. Their big bold sound reminds me of Fiios version of the UM Mest and the a more mid forward IER-Z1R. The stage perception is what reminds me of these earphones. All 3 being large big with a wide earphone stage.

Bass specialist.
Bass for the FH9 is most definitely for bass fans.It utilizes Fiios patented S.Turbo tube emanating from the bass driver. If you're taking a look at my read and want neutral or rolled off stuff. You should stop your reading right here and move on. The FH9 will not be for you. The new 2nd gen 13.6mm DLC big boy bass dynamic Fiio is using throws down some meaty physical bass. You're not getting some off the shelf bass dynamic here. You're getting one of Fiios top manufactured bass specialist dynamics and they fully utilized the larger vented shell of the FH9. I can tell the dynamic here breaths and that low bass rumble is full on. You're the type that need you some big boy bass, the FH9 can and does deliver. Even using the open treble cap there is plenty of physical bass to go around for any of your tunes. The bass cap is full on bonafide basshead. You're not a basshead you say? Time to look up a weaker bass end.

Bass tuning is not as easy as you would figure. Too much in the way of mid bass and that starts to encroach upon the wide open mids. Too little and your tracks will lack any real soul and will be lacking that power that punch that boom stick. Since the FH9 is an open design. You will clearly hear much more bass emphasis when listening indoors. Like I mentioned previously even with the treble cap it has plenty of the low end. But since ambient noise in outdoor environments lessen bass perception. Using the balanced or if you really want that bass the bass cap will add a healthy dose of bass. Bass caps does just what it says; the tuning now focuses more on the bass end and has the most prominent bass infusion on the FH9 sound. In the mood for a big bold bass end from your earphone? You can certainly change up and crank up the bass emphasis. The balanced cap still gives a bigger bass profile but the mids are now lined up better with the bass end giving the FH9 sound a more balanced sound but at the cost of not having that full treble end of the Treble cap.

The reason I mention the treble cap is the best sound for the FH9 is that you will now get all of it full trebles, full mids and a full bass. This works because the overall sound of the FH9 has a big canvas for sound to work with. If the stage was more intimate or confined these tunings using the caps will not work as well. Bass requires a proper stage to come correct and that is why the FH9 actually works and gives the user 3 different sound profiles to work with.

Bass quality is right up there with the quantity. It can get brawny but with that brawn comes with a high-octane rumble. It digs deeep in the mix. Bass is tight for being bigger in the profile. It is speedy too and has a supremely high-quality texture to the subs. Metal guys that love a beefy lower end yet want that bass speedy and tight. Look no further. The FH9 was made for you. Hip hop fellas want that low end grunt to be all that. I can tell you the bass end of the FH9 is supremely satisfactory and will surprise you just how beefy the bass can be using the bass caps. Going from the FH3 to FH5, FH5S and now the FH9. It is actually the hybrid series by Fiio that has that brawny bass. While their dynamic series does a good job at bass. When you dedicate Fiios top dynamics for the sole purpose of bass. This is what you get on the FH9. High quality, big authority room filling bass. So ya you have to be a bass fan. You can say the FH9 is truly more of a 5.1 system in your ears.

In the end
The FH9 is full on with a forward bold sound signature that is very immersive in how it portrays sound. Wide, tall and deep energetic sound that will encompass what you are hearing. A hybrid should be the best of both worlds, and this is clearly what the FH9 represents. BA precision, imaging, detail sound separation with an added dimensional character due to having 4 BAs for its mids. An airy, well extended detailed shimmery treble and a bass end that lets you know these have some brawny subs with an extra slab of top sirloin in the mix. The FH9 is the disco of Fiio earphones.


You want that club experience in an earphone presentation? The FH9 has a versatile sound but one thing is consistent. It has that bold full-bodied well-balanced sound large and in charge signature. Sure, there are others that do accuracy, detail and imaging and timbe better but be prepared to spend a whole heck of a lot more to achieve it. The FH9 is the type of earphone you throw in your ears to get your soul shaking, your blood pumping, heartbeat racing, hearing immersive renditions of your favorites. They are not the best for analyzing but analysis be damned, when you have a discotech in your ears. Absolutely one of my all-time favorites for EDM and bass genres. The FH9 is one of those guilty pleasure IEMs. You know the type. In the earphone world there is too much caught up on what is proper and what is timbrally accurate. Sometimes a bold immersive proper 5.1 in your ears is whats needed to get into my music. That is what the FH9 delivers in spades.

They are easy to drive, are built to last and most importantly have the best FH sound ability with 3 distinctively different tunings in 1. This is absolutely one of Fiios best guilty pleasure offerings to date and if you're in the market to hear what a Fiio made earphone is all about the FH9 is most definitely for folks that want them some disco in your ears. As always, thanks for taking the time to read.