Fosi Audio i5 Planar Magnetic Headphones Now Live on Kickstarter – Loved at CanJam, Ready for You!

[Fosi Audio]

Hello all,

Thank you for your continued attention to the Fosi Audio i5 planar headphones.

Recently, several reviewers pointed out that the Velcro-mounted earpads on the i5 may cause sound leakage, which in turn affects sub-bass performance—a concern that has been reflected in certain frequency response measurements.

When designing the i5, we deliberately took a unique tuning approach, exercising a degree of restraint in the sub-bass region. However, after receiving a large volume of strong user feedback, we knew we had to take action.

Over the past 10 days, our engineering team has tested and validated nearly five different sub-bass optimization solutions. After multiple rounds of prototyping and measurement, we’ve successfully identified an effective and stable fix.

Below is the latest frequency response measurement of the optimized version:

We promise:
•All upcoming crowdfunding shipments and future retail units will include the improved design.
•All current Kickstarter backers will automatically receive the optimized version—no action is needed.
•We will continue collecting feedback from users and reviewers. As long as you’re speaking, we’ll be listening—and improving.

We sincerely thank every reviewer and supporter who has shared honest feedback. Your voices are what drive the i5 to become a better product. At Fosi Audio, we firmly believe: Listening is the first step to better sound.

 

[WaveTheory]

I was able to get some more information from Fosi through email correspondence. Here is a summary of what I was told:

Kickstarter backers will have the option as to which sound signature they want when the Kickstarter campaign ends. Further, they will be extending the Kickstarter campaign due to the signature change, but have not yet determined for how long. They likely will announce the length of extension on this thread (that's my guess - I'm sure it will be somewhere, though).

Fosi also said they will send me the updated unit for review when a batch of them is complete - which they estimate will be May 30. That means I will likely receive a unit sometime in June.

Stay tuned!

 

[AetherDrive]

I was able to get some more information from Fosi through email correspondence. Here is a summary of what I was told:

Kickstarter backers will have the option as to which sound signature they want when the Kickstarter campaign ends. Further, they will be extending the Kickstarter campaign due to the signature change, but have not yet determined for how long. They likely will announce the length of extension on this thread (that's my guess - I'm sure it will be somewhere, though).

Fosi also said they will send me the updated unit for review when a batch of them is complete - which they estimate will be May 30. That means I will likely receive a unit sometime in June.

Stay tuned!

Thanks for the update, looking forward to the revised review. It's definitely a bold move to pivot this quickly but since they are offering both tunings, I can't help but applaud their effort at listening to critique and making a change this close to launch time.

 

[RAQemUP]

If they are going to have 2 tunings for the same model, they will need to at least designate a v1 (original tuning) and v2 (extended bass tuning) moniker to know what people are getting.

 

[Tecnologoto]

I was able to get some more information from Fosi through email correspondence. Here is a summary of what I was told:

Kickstarter backers will have the option as to which sound signature they want when the Kickstarter campaign ends. Further, they will be extending the Kickstarter campaign due to the signature change, but have not yet determined for how long. They likely will announce the length of extension on this thread (that's my guess - I'm sure it will be somewhere, though).

Fosi also said they will send me the updated unit for review when a batch of them is complete - which they estimate will be May 30. That means I will likely receive a unit sometime in June.

Stay tuned!

I'm thinking about cancelling it. It seems that Fosi doesn't trust in their own product. What is this about having two versions of the same product? It should be the best of one, not two in half

 

[GREQ]

I'm thinking about cancelling it. It seems that Fosi doesn't trust in their own product. What is this about having two versions of the same product? It should be the best of one, not two in half

And yet when IEM companies offer multiple nozzles for different tunings people go wild

 

[MillionAntz]

I'm thinking about cancelling it. It seems that Fosi doesn't trust in their own product. What is this about having two versions of the same product? It should be the best of one, not two in half

Fosi listened to feedback and made adjustments to the tuning prior to release and you’re upset? They even let backers decide whether they want the original or revised tuning yet that equates to they don’t trust their product? Lol. People on the internet are wild these days

 

[Tecnologoto]

And yet when IEM companies offer multiple nozzles for different tunings people go wild

Maybe that's why the big kit includes another pair of non perfored pads? Just saying

 

[GREQ]

Maybe that's why the big kit includes another pair of non perfored pads? Just saying

Could be right.
It's a bit odd that none of the reviewers including myself received both sets of pads, but from what I understand, the new linear bass tuning isn't caused by a new/different pad, but a new part in the headphone.

 

[Tecnologoto]

Could be right.
It's a bit odd that none of the reviewers including myself received both sets of pads, but from what I understand, the new linear bass tuning isn't caused by a new/different pad, but a new part in the headphone.

They sealed a gap between the driver and the plastic. It seems the Velcro didn't really affect it. That's what I know.

And yes, Fosi could have sent you the other pair of pads, so all of you could have given a more complete feedback about what Fosi offers...

 

[andrewchoppa]

Hello all,

Thank you for your continued attention to the Fosi Audio i5 planar headphones.

Recently, several reviewers pointed out that the Velcro-mounted earpads on the i5 may cause sound leakage, which in turn affects sub-bass performance—a concern that has been reflected in certain frequency response measurements.

When designing the i5, we deliberately took a unique tuning approach, exercising a degree of restraint in the sub-bass region. However, after receiving a large volume of strong user feedback, we knew we had to take action.

Over the past 10 days, our engineering team has tested and validated nearly five different sub-bass optimization solutions. After multiple rounds of prototyping and measurement, we’ve successfully identified an effective and stable fix.

Below is the latest frequency response measurement of the optimized version:



We promise:
•All upcoming crowdfunding shipments and future retail units will include the improved design.
•All current Kickstarter backers will automatically receive the optimized version—no action is needed.
•We will continue collecting feedback from users and reviewers. As long as you’re speaking, we’ll be listening—and improving.

We sincerely thank every reviewer and supporter who has shared honest feedback. Your voices are what drive the i5 to become a better product. At Fosi Audio, we firmly believe: Listening is the first step to better s

Hello all,

Thank you for your continued attention to the Fosi Audio i5 planar headphones.

Recently, several reviewers pointed out that the Velcro-mounted earpads on the i5 may cause sound leakage, which in turn affects sub-bass performance—a concern that has been reflected in certain frequency response measurements.

When designing the i5, we deliberately took a unique tuning approach, exercising a degree of restraint in the sub-bass region. However, after receiving a large volume of strong user feedback, we knew we had to take action.

Over the past 10 days, our engineering team has tested and validated nearly five different sub-bass optimization solutions. After multiple rounds of prototyping and measurement, we’ve successfully identified an effective and stable fix.

Below is the latest frequency response measurement of the optimized version:



We promise:
•All upcoming crowdfunding shipments and future retail units will include the improved design.
•All current Kickstarter backers will automatically receive the optimized version—no action is needed.
•We will continue collecting feedback from users and reviewers. As long as you’re speaking, we’ll be listening—and improving.

We sincerely thank every reviewer and supporter who has shared honest feedback. Your voices are what drive the i5 to become a better product. At Fosi Audio, we firmly believe: Listening is the first step to better sound.

Now THIS is the kind of company and attitude we need more of in this obsession, sorry I mean hobby!!!!Listened to and responded instantly to it's consumers and then acted on the feedback - well done Fosi - you have my utmost respect!!!!!

 

[Hal Rockwell]

Now THIS is the kind of company and attitude we need more of in this obsession, sorry I mean hobby!!!!Listened to and responded instantly to it's consumers and then acted on the feedback - well done Fiio - you have my utmost respect!!!!!

You mean "Fosi"

 

[Skeza]

Any idea when these will ship for the first early backers?

 

[koenvingerhoets]

Fosi listened to feedback and made adjustments to the tuning prior to release and you’re upset? They even let backers decide whether they want the original or revised tuning yet that equates to they don’t trust their product? Lol. People on the internet are wild these days

Agreed - happy to see they're listening.
I'm still holding to my pledge... a pity I only noticed the pre-release campaign here a few weeks ago.

If you have questions about Kickstarter itself, feel free to ask. I'm a superbacker with +500 projects supported.

 

[Fosi Audio]

Hello all Head-fiers, thank you again for your attention to the i5 planar headphones. We'd like to share some updates on the i5 project and some responses to some frequently asked questions we received.

1. Did you fix the sub-bass roll-off issue?

Yes, we did!
Our original intention with the i5 was to create a headphone that users could wear for long listening sessions and fully enjoy their music. That’s why we kept the sub-bass a bit relaxed to avoid listening fatigue. But after getting a lot of honest feedback from reviewers and users, we made some changes. The updated i5 now has noticeably better sub-bass, while still keeping its smooth and pleasant overall sound. We’ve already sent the improved version out for comparison testing. You can find those reviews soon on the internet.
Below is the comparison between the new and old frequency response curves:

2. What did you do to fix the sub-bass roll-off issue?

The sub-bass was weak because the Velcro earpads weren’t sealing well, which caused sound to leak. We added a small sound-isolating ring around the driver to fix the leak — that boosts the sub-bass in a big way.

3. Can you still swap the earpads?

Sure. The new ring doesn’t affect pad swapping, you can still change them when you receive them.


4. Which version will be the final version for the Kickstarter campaign?

We plan to implement the upgraded version in the mass production batch, including all orders placed through the current Kickstarter campaign. However, considering that many users value the playability and customization of their gear, we’re exploring the option of making the isolation ring removable. That means while the isolation ring will be pre-installed in the mass production units, users will have the freedom to remove it if they wish to explore different sound signatures, similar to how swapping ear pads can affect tuning.


5. How long is the warranty for the i5’s headband? Can it be replaced?

We offer a 24-month full warranty for the i5. The headband, made from genuine leather, is highly durable and not prone to damage—under normal use, it should last over 3 years. In the future, we will also make replacement parts such as the headband and earpads available for purchase, should users need them.

If you have more questions, feel free to drop them in the comments, we’re here and happy to help!