Fiio FX17 1DD+4BA+8EST

General/Packaging/Build/Comfort
Fiio is a brand that needs no introduction, they cater to a wide range of audiences as well as different product categories, ranging from budget to high end, which is a good thing imo so that they will always have something for someone. They don’t churn out new products on a monthly basis for every product line, they take the time and make sure that the released products are polished. The FX17 that I have with me today is no exception, top notch finishing and definitely worthy to be called as top of the line product. It is an IEM with 1DD+4BA+8EST.
Build quality is top notch, The unit’s shell is made out of pure titanium as Fiio claimed. The FX17 is really packed with techs, one might wonder, why the need to use 8 EST, why not 4? 2? The reason behind such implementation is that EST usually has low sensitivity and this leads to a “masking effect” as Fiio claimed ( which means our ear’s sensitivity to high frequency is reduced ), hence fitting 8 EST to boost the spl so it is more audible for our ears in the high and ultra high region
As a TOTL product, the presentation of the packaging is no slouch either, it comes with a tiered box with an individual drawer pocket to store eartips, cable as well as storage case. The storage case is also very high quality and roomy enough to store the unit. The cable also features silver, copper and gold wires which seeks to bring out the best of FX17. The cable comes with 4.4 termination with modular plug of 3.5 as well as type C. Not to mention, a lot of eartips are being bundled as well, SpinFit’s eartips are included as well, so fit and seal will not be an issue for sure.
It is very comfortable to listen to it for long hours, very good fit and isolation, no discomfort throughout my listening session



Gears used for this review

• Earmen L-AMP
• ddHifi TC44 Pro M3
• Questyle M18i
• Fiio M23
• iFi Zen Dac 3
• Aune S9C DAC -> Aune S17 Pro EVO Amp
• Fiio FX17 Stock Cable + Stock Eartip

Foreword
My review is solely based on what I hear via my equipment and I never consider my reviews to be objective in any way rather a subjective approach. Do take into consideration that everyone’s ear anatomy is not the same, so the psychoacoustics perception might be different as well, but i believe it will not stray too far

Sound
The FX17’s tuning does have some slight elevation on the lows and highs, i would describe it as a very mild U -shaped sound profile. Offering a balanced sound signature that avoids any harsh or overly bright elements. Despite featuring 8 ESTs and 4 BAs, the IEM's timbre is remarkably natural and free from any noticeable BA coloration. While there might be a subtle hint of BA timbre detectable if you listen hard enough, it's largely imperceptible during casual listening. The tuning of the FX17 is slightly U-shaped, emphasising the sub-bass frequencies for a more impactful and engaging listening experience. The mid-bass region is also well-represented, providing a satisfying foundation for various musical genres. The mid range of the FX17 is clean and crips, but definitely not thin sounding with very good texture and note weight,

Bass

• The sub bass is rumbly and has good extension, but i wouldn’t say it is anywhere near basshead kind of rumble, it does rumble when the track calls for it and the quantity is sufficient for me to say it is fun
• Mid bass has good body and it doesn’t sound thin, double bass pedal doesn’t sound bloated or lacking in terms of texture, Slipknot’s People = crap, during the fast drumming, every hit can be heard clearly, when i use it with my desktop setup, the bass has even better control, tight and fast
• Bass from the FX17 is tight and clean transition between the sub and mid bass is quite balanced without sounding incoherent
• The bass doesn’t bleed into the mids
• I personally find the tuning of bass is done right to my preference

Mids

• The mid range has plenty of details and they don’t sound recessed at all, very clean and lush sounding
• Vocal doesn’t sound recessed nor too forward, just right to my ears
• Male vocal in my opinion sounds quite full and well textured, female vocal on the other hand also has very good energy level to it, even when you crank the volume higher, it doesn’t sound “shouty”, with very good texture to it as well
• The upper mids are generally quite safe sounding, but again, it depends on your tolerance and sensitivity, and most importantly, the fit
• The note weight in the mids are definitely not thin nor overly thick, very very well done

Treble

• Now, the treble, is also another strong point of the FX17, it has plenty of energy and air, yet it is not harsh sounding when you crank the volume, i personally find that it has very good synergy with Aune’s S9c and also Fiio’s M23 as well as K9 AKM
• It is smooth overall with no hints of sibilant even when you crank the volume up
• Detail retrieval is very good, both micro and macro, i heard notes that i did not hear before from the same track, without even trying hard
• Note weight in this range is also very good, not thin sounding certainly

Soundstage/Imaging

• The FX17’s soundstage is big sounding, a good width and height perception, just slightly out of your head, separation is also top class
• Imaging is very good,the instruments can be pinpointed easily in busy track like Slipknot’s Duality, as well as some other orchestra tracks without any effort, you can easily pinpoint where the instruments are coming from
• The technicalities of the FX17 is very good overall

Driveability

• The FX17 is not hard to drive and it does sound decently loud even from weaker source, what i want to stress is that, sounding loud is not equivalent to driving power
• My observation is that it benefits from better source as well as amplification, i noticed better control on the bass (tightness, texture as well as a slight bump on the quantity (varies with source/amp)
• The type c adapter that came with the FX17 also does a good job in making the FX17 sound good when it comes to convenience
• In short, feed it with good source and you will be rewarded with its good output

Comparison (Spirit Torino Twin Pulse IEM)

• For those who are not aware, Spirit Torino is an Italian high end audio brand, an the Twin Pulse IEM is their only IEM available for the brand, with a isobaric dynamic dd configuration, i know, they are not in the same class in terms of config and price
• Switching over to the Twin Pulse IEM for the purpose of comparison,i would say the tonality between the Twin Pulse and FX17 is vastly different, it is also a Dual DD vs Tribrid configuration
• Priced at 1k Eur for the Twin Pulse vs FX17 at 1499$
• The tonality of the Twin Pulse is leaning towards warmish and deeper sub bass extension/rumble compared to FX17, the tuning is leaning towards neutral warm and thicker note weight compared to FX17
• In terms of bass, the sub bass and mid bass definitely have more quantity and punch when used with bass boost nozzle from the Twin Pulse, FX17’s bass on the other hand has faster bass and better control
• Mids are thick and lush from the Twin Pulse, upper mids are on the safe side to me, FX17 on the other hand has slightly thinner sounding mids and a little bit more energy on the upper mids
• Treble is quite smooth with good amount of air despite sporting only dual DD
• Technicalities i would say the FX17 is definitely a few step ahead of Twin Pulse with better imaging as well as soundstage
• Shell size, the Twin Pulse is bullet shaped and there are some edges which caused me some discomfort after listening for some period, i don’t have such issue with the FX17, but then again to be fair, i always have issues with bullet shaped IEM, so it is my ears anatomy issue rather than the design

Final Thoughts
Having tested the FX17 for several weeks. It is safe to say that it offers a very good and enjoyable experience. For a top end product, it does almost everything right, of course there are some cons if I were to nitpick. The FX17 has been my daily driver since i received them, i have even put it up for comparison with some of the more expensive models from Spirit Torino which is the Twin Pulse IEM, and the FX17 in my opinion is definitely a step up from the Spirit Torino’s offering. This is definitely an outstanding release from Fiio with their cumulative experience and feedback gathered from numerous people and reviewers.

*The FX17 is sent over as a loaner by Fiio for the purpose of this review. I thank them for the support and opportunity as always

Head over to the official store if you are interested in getting one

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