Titanium is rarely used as material as it negatively affects the sound. Just in case you were wondering.

As FiiO uses Soundpipes, it doesn't matter for them, but it does matter for In-Ear that don't use Soundpipes and so you rarely, if ever, find it.

@Vamp898 That's a very generic thing to say, and I don't mean it in a rude way!!

Unless there is a scientific study that is specifically focus on how titanium affects sound performance in IEMs, I would be very skeptical about this claim. For example, I don't know whether the MMR Thummim uses soundpipes, but I can say it's the best IEM I've heard to date.

MMR Thummim uses Soundpipes. In general, only companies who develop/built their own drivers don't use Soundpipes. There are exceptions, but these are exceptions.

It is very complex and expensive to develop an Earphone without Soundpipes so that is rarely done.

The big advantage of Titanium and why you use it outside the Earphone world is exactly the reason you are not using it in Earphone. It is softer than high grade stainless steel.

Softer means it will pickup vibrations and so modify the frequency response of the DD. It is harder than aluminium, that is why FiiO uses it (and they even advertised that aspect), but it's softer than high grade stainless steel.

Also it is pretty heavy and weight is something you generally don't want a lot in an earphone.

But because they use Soundpipes, it doesn't matter.

So there is no need for an scientific study, it's common knowledge and the reason why companies, who don't use Soundpipes, use magnesium or high grade stainless steel.

@Vamp898 Thank you for the thorough explanation. It makes sense.

Interesting writeup. And slightly different from what I have been hearing in my local audiophile groups on the FH9. People have been praising the FH9 in my local area by all means. I have asked one of them to help me audition these hehe.

To be fair, the store keeper at my local Hifi store buys FH5s for himself to complement his speakers after listening to everything that he sells in the store (Entire lines up of Fiio, Campfire, Final, 64 Audio, and Dunu). There might be discrepancies between head-fi centric people and usual audiophiles. I personally have the same impressions as @voja, but without the burn in step.

I have a very straightforward approach to my articles, and that's that I only write what my ears hear. Over the years I've been perfecting that skill, and I'm at the point where I trust my ears and my judgment. I'm very strict when it comes to critical listening, I take it very seriously.

I want my articles to serve as educational material, both for the consumer and the manufacturer.

Great review. I really liked your description of the range between warm and sibilance. Nice job describing what you liked and didn’t like.

If you’ve heard the FH7, how does it compare in terms of soundstage?

@Barnstormer13 FH9 is the first and only premium IEM I've heard from Fiio, and for that reason I cannot answer your question.
Thank you for the compliments!

Update: The rating is 5 stars — a match made in heaven — when paired with the Cayin N8ii.

Hi. You should try others tips like Canal Works Gel, wide bore version. Then, you will get true holography, separation and soundstage of the highest level.

how it compare vs fd7 in bass and highs and separetion?

@poskus I wouldn't know, never got my hands on the FD7

thwen hiow fd9 compare vs monarch mkii,dunu est 112,?