FiR Audio Electron 12

E12/E10 combined review

The set(s) were provided to me as part of an European tour organized by @Sebastien Chiu , for which I am truly grateful.

This is a set that I never considered before. Everybody knows bigger brother Rn6 is a bass head’s dream. Since I’m rather treble head myself, I wasn’t particularly interested in Fir Audio before.

Enter e12/e10



Both sets are magnificently crafted from machined aluminium and painted in a nice blue-grayish, respectively red color. The shells are big, but on the light side though (8,67g / 7,5g). The seam between the shell and the top plate can hardly be felt, that small it is. The face plate, which is removable and can be easily swapped is protruding ever so slightly, so when running your finger across the edge of the top it feels a bit rugged. This was less evident with the e10. I haven't tried to remove the face plate, as I did not have any additional ones.

The cable is of good quality, it looks classy, and it is supple. I haven’t experienced any microphonics. All in all, a nice experience. The IEM comes in a nice round box made of what looks like faux leather. Not quite pocketable, but of good quality.


E10 looks even better in its bright red color. Now I want some red IEMs . The shells seems identical between the e12 and e10.



First thing, I’ve hooked them up to the AK SP300T in hybrid mode and started off with some metal....


So, let’s talk about what this thing isn’t. It’s not an extreme metal specialist. It’s got massive bass. The treble is very clear, nicely presented, making it a V profile, I guess. The entire shell serves as a resonance box for the bass. Maybe this is exactly where the problem lies, when you say resonance, you say reflections, tiny delays. With metal, in particular the very fast variety with lots of double bass drum, everything is happening too quickly. The next drum beat falls while the previous one is still resonating, so to me it sounded congested, the bass covered everything, and the details were lost in the sea of bass. I was a little bit disappointed, but there was so much more to discover.

So, I tried Dua Lipa. It sounded completely different. With this kind of music, the bass has enough time to breath, actually to shine. The mid bass is more evident, very well controlled and not masking anything else. Sub bass is also noticeable, but in a very tasteful way. I also noticed a very strong holographic imaging, with such marked layering. All sorts of sounds coming from different distances, giving you a nice stage width, but not too wide so that the voice sounded veiled. The timbre seems right, but not being a huge fan of this music it’s more difficult for me to judge. The treble has nice extension, but maybe lacks a bit of sparkle. But I’m a treble head, so for most people would probably be just right. Basically, everything just clicks into place. I was hearing a bass centered, but otherwise balanced IEM. What’s extra in the bass region is not taking from other frequencies. Because of the great layering, everything has its own space. I was in awe.

From there on, I moved to rap. I like this 2Pac album, All eyez on me, that I used to listen to, in high school. Problem is, all my IEMs render it too bright. There is bass, alright, but there’s also eardrum scratching cymbals. Maybe it’s the recording, maybe my gear. On e12 there is no problem. I’ve never heard it like this before. There was a substantial amount of sub bass, but not dominating the scene. Mid bass is very nicely articulated, and quite amazingly very well separated from the rumble. This is helped substantially, once again, by the holographic imaging. The lower bass rumble is more distant in the soundstage, while the mid bass is closer to the center, so the distinction is made easy. Mids no longer seemed depressed, just right for me. The treble was perfectly clear, quick, having just enough finesse, but with faster decay, so it was never bothering.

Then I had another idea: Morcheeba…I wouldn’t be surprised to learn they’ve tuned this set with Charango in mind. Song after song, it delivers with precision and control. Totally different voice(s), same effect. Detailed and emotional. The layering is what takes the cake here, since there are a lot of tiny sound effects. On e12 there’s plenty of space for everything, it sounded almost like surround. Particularly pleasant is how everything is so cohesive.

But I wasn’t ready to give up yet and that’s when I struck gold. These things are good for bass but not crazy fast tempos… Enter Black Sabbath. At first, I didn’t know what to enjoy more, the thunderous drums of Bill’s, the harsh, demonic guitar tone of Tony’s or Geezer’s bass. But Ozzy’s voice demands attention here. No matter what kind of music you like, you have to give Paranoid a spin. Or two, or thirty. Maybe I don't need to save up for a Trifecta...

From there I moved to Iron Maiden. It takes advantage of the holographic stage in a very interesting way, the bass is like residing in another dimension that has suddenly opened. You can easily follow everything Steve Harris is doing on his bass guitar, without neglecting any of the other instruments and/or Bruce’s voice. The cymbals are a little bit recessed compared to my preferred sound signature, but they have the right timbre and the right amount of energy. They seem to live in a space of their own. The level of detail is impressive, what is missing in sparkle is certainly compensated by finesse.

I have tried a couple more cables, but for most of the time I stayed with the stock cable.

They are very easy to drive, the AK SP3000T having more than enough power for them, unlike the Annihilator, which needs the boost of an amp. Cayin RU7 is another source that paired very well with the e12. On the other hand, they don’t seem to be very source dependent. I've also tried the Cayin N3U, but I ended up deactivating the tubes timbre, so not really the best combination. Ifi xDSD Gryphon, on the other hand, worked like a charm. AK SP2000T also pairs nicely with the e12.

I had to try them with the Tsuranagi though. A clear improvement in that the soundstage is as wide, but fuller, like all instruments have been expanded. To be honest, I did not expect this kind of effect, it was such a pleasant surprise.



Finishing notes: the fit was rather problematic, after having tried several tips, I settled for the foam ones that came with it. I think there are two stops on the nozzle for the tips. One gives a larger soundstage, but it sounded a bit hollow, while the other (inserting them all the way) gives a more intimate soundstage, without affecting the holographic imaging.

It’s no point comparing the e12 with my other IEMs, as none has that much bass. Well, Maestro mini, but that is mostly sub bass, so not really comparable. Also, it’s priced 4-5 times less than the e12.

In the end I enjoyed this set immensely and it’d be interesting to compare it with the Trifecta, a set that costs nearly twice as much. Trifecta has single-handedly brought me back to IEMs after a years-long hiatus in the world of over-ear HP.

Pairing with other cables


FA Ultron
The bass gallop (still on Iron Maiden is even more present, but something is lost. The treble sounds a bit faster than with the stock cable, but maybe a tiny bit too much. The cymbals are brought forward, with that magical layering being somewhat lost. Since they are closer in the mix, e12 tends to sound brighter. Not unpleasant, but less pleasant than with the stock cable. The guitar attack is more incisive, the tone a bit more grainy. However, I prefer the stock cable.

EA Code 24C
This is a cable that usually brings more bass, but not in this case. I couldn’t hear much of a difference other than in imaging, voices being closer to center. Not an upgrade from stock cable, just a side step.

Ulan 8w
Certainly brighter. Unsurprisingly so, this being a silver cable. Stage is larger, and it brings that sparkle in the trebles that now sound more open, more controlled. Bass has less rumble, but it is beautifully controlled in a perfect harmony, no longer overpowered, just the way it should be. This is my favorite combo from the technical point of view. Extreme metal is accessible with the Ulan. This is a night and day difference. However, some of the magic is lost and the ergonomics are worsened. This is a behemoth of a cable compared to the stock one. Combined with the less than ideal fit, even the foam tips struggle to keep the e12 in my ears.


Before I forget, the bass really seem like it’s got a physical component, like when you are at a concert and you feel the drums in your chest. With certain genres, the bass drum feels like a tiny physical kick. I guess this is the tactile bass they’re mentioning in the official materials.
In conclusion: very enjoyable set, but I think the Trifecta is still superior to me (I don't have them, so I am relying on memories, some of them rather old).

E10

I wish I could talk just as much about the e10. But much to its misfortune, I had one week for both and e12 is just so much more fun.

E10 is very safely tuned, nothing felt left behind, but nothing really shined either. Even though the shell appears identical in size with the e12, the fit was more problematic, even with the provided foam tips. It’s airy enough, but it is missing that special ingredient of the e12. The only thing I liked more about e10 than e12 was the color.

E10 exists in a very crowded market space, where difference can be made by tiny aspects. Personally I did not have enough time to find those aspects, so, taking into account the price difference, I would recommend the e12, but not the e10.

On the other hand, all my IEMs sound bright now after the e12

And some more pictures
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I am not a professional reviewer, so please excuse my ignorance and possible mistakes. It is actually the first time I gather the courage to share my views in such detailed manner.

It's review-o-clock for me!
After stalking around the FiR audio lineup on classified, i ended up lucky enough to try their E12 and E10!
But i won't review them side by side, and instead doing a review of each.
One point i want to critic is the system for holding the tips. It allows the tip to slide and thus the iem pushes inside the ear canal more than usual, making it trickier to find the right seal, this happens with the included tips, meanwhile my AET7 don't slide.

Let's hit the ground running:

"You haven't done nothin'" - Jen Chapin Chesky Records
Very pleasant female vocals, very good control of the sound, the saxophone hits just right and you can hear perfectly the drumsticks working on the battery. Now you know me and i like being unfair, so i will pit these single DD IEM against a TRIPLE DD Iem (trifecta) to see the differences. The Trifecta double down on the bass, making the saxophone more full bodied and the drum impact linger longer. So it isn't a case of a cheaper iem being moggede by a more costly one, but getting a different rendition. If you look for precision and are good on a quite even distribution of the FR, the E12 show great technicalities and pleasant sound, being more oriented toward a controlled, even sound, compared to the more "impactful" trifecta. Say, the E12 are a nice sedan car, with 4wd and auto gears. Sleek and comfortable. The trifecta is a RWD car with twice the HP with a manual stick. Depending if you feel like going smooth or attacking all your curves, they are two different and valid driving experiences.

"Love Serenade" - Barry White
Since i said it had more controlled bass, i got to the bass king and listened to it E12 v Trifecta.

On the trifecta you get THE barry's voice, in all its glory. Deep voice, weighty notes, just hits right. On the E12 you "lose" that special sauce, making the sound less impactful. They are good, but they are a way less impactful. So for those who have a taste of bass, they are less than ideal, and instead they are more for the flat-frequencers.

"Get Down Saturday Night" - Oliver Cheatham
The E12 show again a great control and defition, technicalities are all there, FR again shows no preference and instead goes for a very even distribution. And again, the trifecta sprinkles all the notes with a very addicting weight.

Beethoven, no.9, 1.allegro ma non troppo, Joe Hisaishi
This is where the E12 more even out FR pays off the most, since the trifecta lack a bit in the heights, the E12 closes the gap and gets to have a more even out representation. I would say that if you like orchestral music, the E12 is a very very good choice.

To sum up my feelings, the E12 is a very safe bet on what to purchase in its price bracket. You won't get the TOTL experience, but this is a trustworthy and safe bet. Very reccomended if you want to get into this level of audio while preferring a safe all rounder.

TL;DR: E10 - Save up for the E12. E12 - Pricey but better than the E10

Overview/History
Hi all.

I've really been sitting on this review for a bit due to time and circumstances but I've managed to wrap up my thoughts over some entries from FiR Audio. This was actually received back on July 17th so it's been about a month but I made sure to take a lot of notes for this write up.

FiR Audio is known for their Frontier series IEMs (including the Neon 4, Krypton 5, Xenon 6 and Radon 6) that are in the multi-kilobuck range of pricing. Enter the new series of IEMs from FiR known as the Electron series which are both priced lower ($1,299 and $1,799 respectively).




*Images both directly from FiR Audio's website*

The FiR E10 and FiR E12 which are both single DD IEMs. What's the difference between the two? The numbers listed are based around the size of the driver with the E10 being a 10mm single DD and the E12 being a 12mm single DD. The dynamic driver here is called an 'electro-dynamic' driver.

Both the FiR E10 and E12 come with the new 'SwapX' technology (which allows for faceplate swapping), 'Tactile Bass' technology (which is a proprietary method for providing a rumbling sensation when bass notes hit), 'Atom Venting' (which is supposed to allow for widening of the soundstage, also found on the Frontier series),

Here's some specifications so you don't have to look yourself:

E10:

• Driver: Single 10mm Electro-Dynamic Driver with Tactile Bass
• Freq. Range: 20-20kHz
• Impedance: 16 ohms
• Isolation: -17db

E12:

• Driver: Single 12mm Electro-Dynamic Driver with Tactile Bass
• Freq. Range: 20-20kHz
• Impedance: 16 ohms
• Isolation: -17db

Disclaimers: I received the FiR E10 and FiR E12 as part of a tour. I would like to thank @Sebastien Chiu for allowing me to participate and listen to both of them. I was not given any directions or told to write about anything in particular and this review is all of my own opinion.

Build Quality, Comfort and Accessories
Photo dump time!









As this was part of a tour, I did not receive a full box so I can't document the full unboxing experience. They did come in a very nice and classy carrying case, though.









Both the E10 and E12 are extremely comfortable sized IEMs with the E10 being more understated in it's design while the E12 is absolutely gorgeous. I would say the shell on the E12 is amongst some of the best looking I've ever handled. Hence the gloves! (I also feel like you probably don't want to see my hands, so there's that)



They both are 2-pin IEMs (I believe the Frontier series is a proprietary cable system) and the cables received were very nice so I didn't feel a need to try any different cables on them.





Tip Rolling

Stock tips were very solid; I enjoyed them and their fit a lot better than standard stock tips. However, I still enjoy my workhorse tips and I did do a little bit of tip rolling to try and help out with my experience with the E10 and E12.





I did not do a lot of tip rolling in this case (or at least not enough to get a full picture) so most of my time was spent between the Spinfit W1, stock tips, Final Type E Clear/Reds and the Dunu S&S.

Spinfit W1: Actually, one of the better combinations as the W1 helped try to elevate the mid-range a bit for me. But, the bass took a bit of a hit and felt like the E10/E12 lost some of it's bass characteristics that actually made them feel special.
Final Type E - Clear/Red: The Type E are my favorite tips both from a fit/comfort level as well as what they do to the sound signature. These worked really well together with keeping bass notes the same as stock but really felt like they opened up the mids/highs a bit.
Dunu S&S: These worked OK together but wasn't as great of a combination as the W1 or the Type E Clear/Red.

Sound
How do the E10/E12 sound?

E10:



E12:



I am all for experimental tuning. I love to see companies not try to be safe. That being said, my experience with the E10 was middling at best and it felt like it was missing something that would make it special.

On the other hand, the E12 brought a lot more to the table (because of the bigger size maybe?) with it's bass weight/emphasis and overall technicalities. If I was going to make any suggestions, it would be to just save up for the E12 if you're interested or you can get the E10 on sale. Once you have the E10 in hand, listen to it and then sell it and save up for the E12.

I'm being a bit harsh on the E10 but I'm skewed a bit because of the price vs performance vs special sauce ratio that I just don't think it hits while it's larger brother does in some ways.

Gear Tested On: Primarily streamed music via either dedicated Streamer, Laptop or Phone
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Abigail Pro
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Shanling Onyx XI1
Streamed Music Chain Workstation: Laptop -> JDS Labs Element 3 MK2 (Boosted)
Streamed Music chain: WiiM Mini -> JDS Labs Atom DAC+ -> JDS Labs OL Switcher -> Geshelli Labs Archel 3 Pro

*My Audio Preference and Score Disclaimer*: To preface my breakdown, here's my sound preference. I tend to prefer warmer sound. I enjoy good sub-bass extension with enough mid-bass to feel the music. I prefer more fuller sounding mids to match my library. My preference is for smooth treble extension; while I'm not treble sensitive, I'd probably lean more towards 'safer' treble tuning for longer listening. I also tend to listen at either medium to louder listening volumes (reasonably loud).

In addition, all scores listed below are typically (unless otherwise stated) rated/scored as it relates to it's peers in the same price group.

Lows/Bass: Both the E10 and E12 have a special design choice that is tuned to provide excellent bass performance.

In one of those IEMs, that technology succeeded in a way that really was exciting to listen to. The other, however, felt like it was missing impact, note weight, and power.

I had listened to the E10 first. While the E10 has a lot of detail in it's bass/lows presentation, it sounded and felt super hollow. The E10, from the very first song I listened to, felt like it was trying too hard to make up for the sheer size difference between the 10mm and the 12mm driver size. It was a complete miss for me.

On the other hand, the E12 has some of the most punchy and impactful bass I've heard in an IEM. There's something special with how detailed yet warm those bass notes are. I think the E12's bass was very impressive especially with consideration that it's just one single DD providing this amount of slam that I believe could satisfy bassheads.

It does beg the question here.



Neither of them have any bass bleed even with how bass boosted they are and that's likely due to the excellent technology that's gone into them.

E10 Bass Score: 6.5/10 - TL;DR: Detailed, impactful but it feels like it's missing a lot of character in the bass notes
E12 Bass Score: 9/10 - TL;DR: Punchy, warm, detailed, impactful - this is some badass bass performance

Mids: The mids for both the E10 and E12 are where I do have a bit of an issue with.

The E10 gets my biggest ire here with how uneven the mids sound. There's a shouty/lean presentation to them where it sounds like the vocals are boosted and then suddenly muted for a split second. Male vocals are very thin sounding which works well for details but lacks the musicality I would have expected.

Female vocals are typically fine and airy but tend to have a slight unevenness to them where notes will sometimes sound blunted one second and then OK the next.

Instruments are fine, though, so the E10 would work well with more instrument laden tracks or artists.

For the E12, I think they handle that scoop/dip a bit better overall but still sounded lean/borderline shouty at times. I think any male centric vocal library will be very revealing to my issues with the mids while female heavy vocals will likely be less of a concern.

I would pick the E12 in either case (common theme here). You're getting a better mids presentation with my speculation that the size of the driver handling the mids makes up for it.

E10 Mids Score: 5/10 - TL;DR: Thin, some instruments pop out well but overall sounds shouty/lean despite
E12 Mids Score: 7/10 - TL;DR: Mids are still scooped, thin at times. Detailed but thin and borderline shouty.

Treble: The treble is inoffensive in both the E10 and the E12. Both have a predomintantly smooth delivery of the highs. To my ears, both are not sibilant at all.

That being said, both can be a bit dry with the E10 coming off as borderline too safe. Some tracks can sound appropriately airy and then the next track will sound a few steps forward/closer.

I think the E12, again, handles the treble/highs a bit better with a bit more energy in it's presentation. There were a few tracks where I was expecting it have that extra bit of sparkle and I didn't fully get it. But, that was less of a concern than what I encountered with the E10.

E10 Treble Score: 7/10 - TL;DR: It's not sibilant, inoffensive, smooth albeit situationally airy and then not in some aspects
E12 Treble Score: 7.5/10 - TL;DR: Good but both airy in some elements and then not; not sibilant or difficult to listen but more confusing and uneven sounding.



Detail, Separation, Imaging, Overall Timbre, Etc.: With considerations of both of these IEMs being single DD, I was pleasantly surprised by how much detail and separation I was able to perceive in both sets.

The E10 isn't lacking here, for a change, with details and separation being on par with it's older brother. I don't think it's quite as expansive/wide sounding as the E12 but it's no slouch.

The E12 has just a smidge wider (both horizontal and vertical) soundstage than the E10 but both are surprisingly capable.

E10 Technicalities Score: 8/10 - TL;DR: Good details, very open and detail oriented.
E12 Technicalities Score: 8/10 - TL;DR: Great details, great soundstage and separation for a 1DD. Very solid.

Library Hit List: For the most part, I found that female centric tracks or tracks with a lot of busy instruments worked decently.

Fleetwood Mac - Rumors
Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
Florence & The Machine - Dog Days are Over
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Holly Cole Trio - I Can See Clearly Now
Guns & Roses - Sweet Child o' Mine

These are tracks where I think it works out well enough. The E10/E12 may shine better with your library - they worked for some of mine and then not for others.

Other Things to be aware of:
I think this is a case of YMMV; where I found the E10/E12 to be less than favorable, I think there are lot of fans for both.

I would also argue that this could be a case where source rolling would help out as I found that I enjoyed both (a bit more) on the Shanling Onyx XI1 more than on my JDS Element 3. The Shanling also has a tendency to warm up the music a bit while the Element 3 is very transparent and a bit more revealing of the perceived flaws that I found.

Both are easy to drive and I had no issues/concerns.

Conclusion:
This review is a long time coming (as it's been a few weeks since I've listened to both) and I was disappointed in my experience with the E10. I just don't think it's worth the price of admission and, if I was going to make any recommendations, it would be to save up over the E10 and pick up the E12.

With the E12, I think you get an extremely enjoyable bass experience with 1DD hitting way above what you would expect a single driver is capable of. To my ears, though, I didn't enjoy the mids/treble nearly as much as I enjoyed the bass. Where it's not for me, it may be for you and I would recommend demoing both (or just skip the E10) to see if this could be your single DD end game.



E10 Special Sauce/Personal Bias Score: 3/10 - TL;DR: Just save up for the bigger brother
E12 Special Sauce/Personal Bias Score: 6/10 - TL;DR: Very pricey; I don't know if I could justify the $1800 price tag for just that great bass (as great as it is)

What's interesting is that while I may not like the Electron series, I love the FiR Audio Radon 6 and would easily put that in my end game based off of an early listen. I believe I'm on the Watercooler tour for that so I'm in danger of really becoming obsessed with how awesome that sounded to me.

Which, I think, brings me to a small disclaimer: Audio is subjective. This is a very subjective hobby. So, again, while this may not be for me and my ears, they may be for yours!

I'm super happy that I've been able to participate in both tours and meet ups and enjoy some amazing products (even if they're not all for me) and some things have really impressed me. I would even go so far to say that being able to listen to some other flagships/high end products has helped me create more of a baseline (i.e. Elysian Diva 2023, Elysian Annihilator 2023 - which, spoiler alert, those are both easily some of the best I've ever heard for completely different reasons).

So, that brings me to the final weighted scores:

E10 Final Weighted Score: 5.9/10 - Not for me
E12 Final Weighted Score: 7.5/10 - Better but where they're not my end game, they may be yours!

Thanks for reading!