[dhruvmeena96]

@JamesFiiO @FiiO

I have this question bugging me for a time now

Fiio FA1 has same driver as custom art FIBAE 1
(Knowles 33357)?
Or is it a different variant number with same model number.

Well, I have FIBAE 1 and that blows me away with sound quality and pure extension while sounding neutral.
Etymotic ER4SR + subbass + treble extension = FIBAE 1

What sort of expectation should I have with FA1

Well one more thing you forgot to market
I asked Knowles about 33357 driver

They said it is flat impedance, flat phase no delay driver with very strict requirement.

 

[sidecross]

Fiio in their add said "specially customized balanced armature driver'....

https://www.fiio.com/fa1

What would that mean or is it only marketing jargon?

 

[Richsvt]

I am waiting on delivery of the FA1. Really interested in hearing how they implemented the single BA. Had the CA Comet and while I liked the sound, couldn't get a good fit. Will be interested in seeing how this stacks up to single DDs like the TFZ Queen (which I love) and the IT01.

 

[sidecross]

I am waiting on delivery of the FA1. Really interested in hearing how they implemented the single BA. Had the CA Comet and while I liked the sound, couldn't get a good fit. Will be interested in seeing how this stacks up to single DDs like the TFZ Queen (which I love) and the IT01.

Would welcome your comment.

 

[dhruvmeena96]

Fiio in their add said "specially customized balanced armature driver'....

https://www.fiio.com/fa1

What would that mean or is it only marketing jargon?

@JamesFiiO

OK, the advertisement 33357 has different variant number than mine
Mine is 5.6ohm impedance

Fiio has 15ohms

So I think Fiio ED is different

Well, it is not an ED(the 33357), but a bespoke driver

Mass production
1000pc
Per unit 70$

That is crazy for a full range

Plus all the specs can be customised

So it is not a jargon
@sidecross

What I meant is Fiio should be more transparent about good things instead of marketing for layman(which is also good)

I meant to say, that this 33357 is amazing driver. Leagues above ED and FED

 

[JamesFiiO]

some information from our engineer: the full model name of the driver in FA1 is ED33357, it is based on ED29689 which used in ER4 series. the 33357 and 29689 all belong to ED family in Knowles. we are not sure what is the driver used in FIBAE 1 .

 

[dhruvmeena96]

some information from our engineer: the full model name of the driver in FA1 is ED33357, it is based on ED29689 which used in ER4 series. the 33357 and 29689 all belong to ED family in Knowles. we are not sure what is the driver used in FIBAE 1 .

As I got the feeling this thread absolutely needs more measurements from unknown quality here you go: http://blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?blogId=gre_nada&logNo=221002961385

Jokes aside, the other measurements on the side seem to be pretty much in line with what one would expect from a 711/60318-4 setup. I sadly don't speak Korean, but there are a few mentions of speakerphone who is known to produce accurate measurements. Maybe someone can clear up if there is some sort of affiliation that speakerphone is responsible for those measurements.

As a last resort I'm sure @piotrus-g will jump in if the measurements are to far off.

Mind that the grey curves are the uncompensated measurements. Red and blue are the diffuse filed compensated results.

Also the impedance response is show which is essentially flat - what a surprise

On a side note: the photos in the review give a nice view on the internals. The special Fibae driver seems to be fabricated by Knowles. It's called Knowles 33357 and shared by Fibae 1 and 2. The Fibae 2 has got an additional Knowles CI 22955 that will be responsible for the lower frequencies, I assume.

you can check review

i also cross checked with knowles

they told me that it is ED class driver but doesnt have ED name because it is a superior driver
It is a custom series driver nomenclature in 3rd gen of driver series

like ED09xxx and ED29689
There is ED30371 which is in ED 3rd gen

And ED33357 is custom series.
One ED33357 can be different than other but they all are flat impedance flat phase superior driver with extreme critical damping and Error Tolerance level of 5% compared to 10% on other driver. They have very specific variant numbering

Its a huge upgrade, but when i see this driver on 100$ price mark, it shocks me
as single driver is 60$ each and mass ordering can take most to most 10$ to 20$ off.
Which still gets 120$ to 80$ on drivers itself

and then all the crazy work on before tuning(details send to knowles) and after tuning.

Kudos. This is a great step forward

plus the quote is from other thread

and i have FIBAE 1, so i know that
plus i have some building experience in Hearing Aids and IEM for fun and social service...thats why i know


great going Fiio. I also checked some other graph and it is looking way better than FA7 to me.

 

[JamesFiiO]

you can check review

i also cross checked with knowles

they told me that it is ED class driver but doesnt have ED name because it is a superior driver
It is a custom series driver nomenclature in 3rd gen of driver series

like ED09xxx and ED29689
There is ED30371 which is in ED 3rd gen

And ED33357 is custom series.
One ED33357 can be different than other but they all are flat impedance flat phase superior driver with extreme critical damping and Error Tolerance level of 5% compared to 10% on other driver. They have very specific variant numbering

Its a huge upgrade, but when i see this driver on 100$ price mark, it shocks me
as single driver is 60$ each and mass ordering can take most to most 10$ to 20$ off.
Which still gets 120$ to 80$ on drivers itself

and then all the crazy work on before tuning(details send to knowles) and after tuning.

Kudos. This is a great step forward

plus the quote is from other thread

and i have FIBAE 1, so i know that
plus i have some building experience in Hearing Aids and IEM for fun and social service...thats why i know


great going Fiio. I also checked some other graph and it is looking way better than FA7 to me.

We need time to double check with Knowles cause everyone is in holiday now.

 

[dhruvmeena96]

We need time to double check with Knowles cause everyone is in holiday now.

well you dont need too
i confirmed the variant name is different on my FIBAE 1 compared to image on your website(The BA name)
some internal specs are different.

but if you need, then you can do that

Both of them are completely different driver with same model name but different variant name
i am sorry for causing some misunderstanding

but 33357 series are greatest BA driver(Greatest i have heard from single driver)
and now i have very high expectation of Fiio FA1, even higher than Fiio FA7

 

[Blazer39]

tin audio T3 is getting lots of hype too these days, gonna be hard decide between FA1 and T3.

 

[kordal]

Bass is not too small in FA1?

 

[dhruvmeena96]

tin audio T3 is getting lots of hype too these days, gonna be hard decide between FA1 and T3.

T2 bass, T3 and T3 pro are releasing
Lets see how Fiio compares to them

 

[JamesFiiO]

tin audio T3 is getting lots of hype too these days, gonna be hard decide between FA1 and T3.

the best option maybe buy two

 

[dhruvmeena96]

the best option maybe buy two

LOL
Answer of the year

 

[kordal]

@JamesFiiO why shipping cost is 21 USD on FiiO AliExpress? :/ It was free a few days ago