FiiO Balanced Armature IEMs Discussion & Impressions Thread

[Guy Fawkes]

In the end I wanted to pull the trigger on the FA9 first. However I can consider myself NOT satisfied, I find them boring and poor dynamics, therefore they will come back to the sender.

Now I have pulled the trigger on the FA7s, but I don't have high expectations, coming from DD IEM I am afraid that I am just deluding myself to find an all BA that can give me good satisfactions. Also by reading the various reviews on the web, the FA7s is almost torn to pieces.

But since I'm a stubborn .... i want to bang my head to realize it

 

[lgcubana]

In the end I wanted to pull the trigger on the FA9 first. However I can consider myself NOT satisfied, I find them boring and poor dynamics, therefore they will come back to the sender.

Now I have pulled the trigger on the FA7s, but I don't have high expectations, coming from DD IEM I am afraid that I am just deluding myself to find an all BA that can give me good satisfactions. Also by reading the various reviews on the web, the FA7s is almost torn to pieces.

But since I'm a stubborn .... i want to bang my head to realize it

If you’re enamored of the low end response of a DD, an all BA is probably not going to get you there, in this price tier. Maybe look into a hybrid, like the Xenn Mangird Tea II
or
If your only issue with the FD5 is the mid bass, then look into a parametric EQ, to make the appropriate cut(s)

 

[PROblemdetected]

In the end I wanted to pull the trigger on the FA9 first. However I can consider myself NOT satisfied, I find them boring and poor dynamics, therefore they will come back to the sender.

Now I have pulled the trigger on the FA7s, but I don't have high expectations, coming from DD IEM I am afraid that I am just deluding myself to find an all BA that can give me good satisfactions. Also by reading the various reviews on the web, the FA7s is almost torn to pieces.

But since I'm a stubborn .... i want to bang my head to realize it

DD and BA are going to give you different technicalities.

I recently purchased a DUNU ZEN PRO, a magnificent DD, with a near FR. Maybe the naturality of the DUNU is better, but layering and technicalities are on the FiiO side. And it cost less...

Anyways, I think is more importante the tuning than the cost or drivers.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

If you’re enamored of the low end response of a DD, an all BA is probably not going to get you there, in this price tier. Maybe look into a hybrid, like the Xenn Mangird Tea II
or
If your only issue with the FD5 is the mid bass, then look into a parametric EQ, to make the appropriate cut(s)

The problem here is not the low end, I feel that the low end of the FA9 is very nice and organic, deep and well layered, in some ways better than any DD IEM out there, on the contrary the low end of the DD, is much more than impact and slow that works well with most genres. The FD5 performs very well in this respect and perhaps too much for my taste, too bloated and V-shaped, I much prefer the more neutral tuning of my Jasper.

Hybrids for the moment I'm not taking them into consideration, what I'm looking for is layering and micro details across the board, that's why I'm focusing on full BA

 

[Guy Fawkes]

DD and BA are going to give you different technicalities.

I recently purchased a DUNU ZEN PRO, a magnificent DD, with a near FR. Maybe the naturality of the DUNU is better, but layering and technicalities are on the FiiO side. And it cost less...

Anyways, I think is more importante the tuning than the cost or drivers.

Tuning is certainly important but it is proven that a BA driver offers better details and layering than a DD driver and this is what I am looking for, so I am not considering hybrids.

I hope the tuning of the FA7S is more satisfying, the FA9 is very good the midrange is a show, but for some reason it doesn't work with the music genre I listen to.

The FA7S probably won't deviate much however I'm still curious to try it out

 

[o0genesis0o]

it is proven that a BA driver offers better details and layering than a DD driver and this is what I am looking for, so I am not considering hybrids.

I'm not so sure about that, mate

FA7s is surprisingly competitive in terms of details and imaging, though. If FD5 annoys you, maybe FA7s is the right one for you. Its tuning is quite unusual comparing to Harman-inspired stuffs.

 

[ivari]

I wrote it several times and I will do it again.
This is a great earphone that for some strange reason is underated and don't get the attention it deserves.

I just got the Fa7s and wanted to comment on how wonderful they are. I agree - they are underrated and don't seem to get the attention they deserve.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

I just got the Fa7s and wanted to comment on how wonderful they are. I agree - they are underrated and don't seem to get the attention they deserve.

Unfortunately for me they were a disappointment, I tried to like them but the only positive thing was only the high end, I didn't like the lows and mids at all, typical ugly BA tone too similar to the FA7 I owned years ago.

I ran them A/B against the FA9 I was testing at the same time and the FA7S absolutely didn't compare and at the same price (the current price of the FA9s is similar to the FA7S) the FA9s are head and shoulders above.

The first pair I got of the FA9 I didn't like, I think they had a tuning problem, but the second one I got made me really understand what was magical about these earphones.

Pity though because the design of the FA7S is really nice, similar to the FD5 but more beautiful

For me the FA9 are the best sounding FiiO earphones.

 

[ivari]

Unfortunately for me they were a disappointment, I tried to like them but the only positive thing was only the high end, I didn't like the lows and mids at all, typical ugly BA tone too similar to the FA7 I owned years ago.

I ran them A/B against the FA9 I was testing at the same time and the FA7S absolutely didn't compare and at the same price (the current price of the FA9s is similar to the FA7S) the FA9s are head and shoulders above.

The first pair I got of the FA9 I didn't like, I think they had a tuning problem, but the second one I got made me really understand what was magical about these earphones.

Pity though because the design of the FA7S is really nice, similar to the FD5 but more beautiful

For me the FA9 are the best sounding FiiO earphones.

Thank you for your input. Do you mind commenting on the sound quality differences between the two from your perception? Ie, what is it about the FA9 that you enjoy and how does it differ from the Fa7s? Thank you for sharing!

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Thank you for your input. Do you mind commenting on the sound quality differences between the two from your perception? Ie, what is it about the FA9 that you enjoy and how does it differ from the Fa7s? Thank you for sharing!

English is not my native language and I'm not a reviewer so I'll try to experiment as I can.

As I said for a period of time I have owned both the FA7S and FA9 IEMs and had the opportunity to A/B compare them to form my own opinion.

What made me decide to keep the FA9 the most is its fantastic mid band where the FA7S can't compete, the FA9 offers that detail and texture that only a high-end BA can give, thus achieving an insane focus that makes me concentrate really about what I'm hearing and i love it for my electronic music, both are recessed in the upper mids but the FA7S is more so.

About the low end the FA7S is louder but much less controlled, at high volumes the FA7S gets easily distorted and early sounds its awful BA tone while the FA9 hits deeper and behaves more like a DD bass as far as bass is concerned. its ability to keep distortion very low while giving you more layering.

however by deactivating the bass limiter via the switches on the back, in addition to consistency you also get an excellent presence, however at the expense of the mid band which retreats a little but beats really hard.

As for the high end, it's perhaps the only aspect of the FA7S that I appreciated, right amount, very airy but never sibilant.

In contrast the FA9 reaches high octaves but becomes slightly sibilant at times but still controlled with the right source.

I think the FA9 is source dependent, I use the FA9 with the Mojo 2 and I think this really gets the most out of this IEM, I think it loses a bit to other sources I have however it does proved to be still more than a step ahead of the FA7S with all sources.

I believe the fully enclosed design of the FA9 works better than the vented design of the FA7S

The ending was that I returned the FA7S back and never wanted to hear from them again

 

[PROblemdetected]

English is not my native language and I'm not a reviewer so I'll try to experiment as I can.

As I said for a period of time I have owned both the FA7S and FA9 IEMs and had the opportunity to A/B compare them to form my own opinion.

What made me decide to keep the FA9 the most is its fantastic mid band where the FA7S can't compete, the FA9 offers that detail and texture that only a high-end BA can give, thus achieving an insane focus that makes me concentrate really about what I'm hearing and i love it for my electronic music, both are recessed in the upper mids but the FA7S is more so.

About the low end the FA7S is louder but much less controlled, at high volumes the FA7S gets easily distorted and early sounds its awful BA tone while the FA9 hits deeper and behaves more like a DD bass as far as bass is concerned. its ability to keep distortion very low while giving you more layering.

however by deactivating the bass limiter via the switches on the back, in addition to consistency you also get an excellent presence, however at the expense of the mid band which retreats a little but beats really hard.

As for the high end, it's perhaps the only aspect of the FA7S that I appreciated, right amount, very airy but never sibilant.

In contrast the FA9 reaches high octaves but becomes slightly sibilant at times but still controlled with the right source.

I think the FA9 is source dependent, I use the FA9 with the Mojo 2 and I think this really gets the most out of this IEM, I think it loses a bit to other sources I have however it does proved to be still more than a step ahead of the FA7S with all sources.

I believe the fully enclosed design of the FA9 works better than the vented design of the FA7S

The ending was that I returned the FA7S back and never wanted to hear from them again

Cant be agree with you, maybe your fa7s were damaged...

FA9 is a midcentric ba iem, thats the only point wich I could understand your explanations... But FA7s is a more relaxing an pleasing presentation of music.

Talking about tone, source dependant or distorsion on ba-iems always remember the times that KZ owned all reviewers talking about EST and BA tones... a couple of months later we discovered that this drivers are not connected hahaha. I really doubt about golden ears, sorry.

So, you like the fa9? Thats nice for you if you want a vocal-in-da-face earphone, but Ive tried all the FiiOs on the market (expect FD7) and for me, FA7s is one of the best. And the bass is just perfect, compared to my DUNU ZEN PRO I can assure you its on the same level of performance.

FA9 got an strange presentation to me taste, putting the voices over all the tones... That's why I dont keep it, dont sound natural to me, not for the tone, its more for over-expose scene.

 

[frkasper]

Purchased a FA7S myself in the last BF. It is an interesting yet tricky IEM.

Coming from the FD5, FD7, FH7S and FH9.

 

[GroovyAudio]

Purchased a FA7S myself on the 11-11. It is an interesting yet tricky IEM.

Coming from the FD5, FD7, FH7S and FH9.

Congrats! If you would like to share some opinions about FA7S since nobody is really talking about them anymore. At one point I wanted to pull the trigger myself but I bought the JD7 instead and sold my FD5. Now I'm waiting for FA19 to launch and don't see the point buying FA7S.

 

[frkasper]

If you would like to share some opinions about FA7S since nobody is really talking about them anymore.

Sure. It is a complicated tuning for me, as I consider myself a basshead when it comes to IEMs. I'm using the FA7S as I type, btw. To me, this has a neutral-bright signature. The FD5 is way more engaging than this set. BA bass can be very boring sometimes. On the good side, imaging is spectacular on this set.

The FA7S has taught me more about how our hearing adapts than anything else I have been reading/watching lately. First impression was: "boring A.F.". But persisted. Spent the last 2 weeks wearing them. Last night, pulled the FH9 from the case and it sounded muddy and boomy.

If one is collecting IEMs with different sound signatures, this might be worth to look at. But very tricky to recommend indeed. I'm keeping it though.

Now I'm waiting for FA19 to launch...

I also look forward to the FA19.

 

[ivari]

Glad to see more discussion regarding FA7S. I continue to enjoy mine and have changed the tips to Spinfit 100 XL. I enjoyed the stock balanced tips but I needed a bigger size.

Please see the wonderful FA7S review by @Ichos - my experience has closely mirrored the impressions in the review.