New FiiO FX17

[paramac]

https://www.fiio-shop.de/FiiO-FX17/HL02611

New!!!
A comparison with the FA19 would be interesting, - Are they worth the extra cost?

I have the FA19 myself, and if the material is good, they sound good.
However, and this bothers me a bit, depending on the recording, they can sometimes be a bit harsh in the high frequencies, which can be unpleasant for my ears.

 

[Chris Johnson]

https://www.fiio-shop.de/FiiO-FX17/HL02611

New!!!
A comparison with the FA19 would be interesting, - Are they worth the extra cost?

I have the FA19 myself, and if the material is good, they sound good.
However, and this bothers me a bit, depending on the recording, they can sometimes be a bit harsh in the high frequencies, which can be unpleasant for my ears.

Sadly I’m sending mine back after only a short listen. Stunning sound in general but the dynamic driver distorts with ultra low frequency. Case in point, momentary lapse of reason by pink Floyd. No such issue with my Thieaudio Valhalla

 

[paramac]

Sadly I’m sending mine back after only a short listen. Stunning sound in general but the dynamic driver distorts with ultra low frequency. Case in point, momentary lapse of reason by pink Floyd. No such issue with my Thieaudio Valhalla

Unfortunately, that doesn't sound very positive. We'll have to wait until we get more feedback. Perhaps FiiO needs to improve this.
Okay, the Valhalla is certainly interesting, but it's also quite a bit more expensive.

 

[daijobudes]

Sadly I’m sending mine back after only a short listen. Stunning sound in general but the dynamic driver distorts with ultra low frequency. Case in point, momentary lapse of reason by pink Floyd. No such issue with my Thieaudio Valhalla

Which source and cable do you use with Valhalla? I’ve listened for 30-40 mins and been trying to get what for they charge 2000$ when Prestige LTD and Divinity V16 sounded a step above. Obviously to each their own, and most likely it’s dependent on source and amplification and cables.

 

[Pictus]

(...)Stunning sound in general but the dynamic driver distorts with ultra low frequency.(...)

At any volume level?

 

[andjar]

That's strange. I thought that Lithium- Magnesium DD should be pretty stiff. I was hoping for a fast ,lean bass.

 

[salla45]

https://www.fiio-shop.de/FiiO-FX17/HL02611

New!!!
A comparison with the FA19 would be interesting, - Are they worth the extra cost?

I have the FA19 myself, and if the material is good, they sound good.
However, and this bothers me a bit, depending on the recording, they can sometimes be a bit harsh in the high frequencies, which can be unpleasant for my ears.

I have the FA19, and am keen to compare too, to the FX17. I love the FA19's. I find comply foam tips, on the newer, side, are really obligatory to tame the uppers just enough. I find they pair really well with the humble little KA17. FX17 would be an unnecessary splurge (like the FA19's were somehow necessary, lol), but I'm keen to see if they are even better than the FA19, or just different. So many folks warned against the FX15 for their problematic treble, and FA19's are quite spicy, so.... interesting!

 

[paramac]

The FX17 would only be interesting if they stood out from the FA19 in a positive sense (homogeneity, less sibilance), otherwise they would actually just be more expensive due to higher technical and material expenditure.

 

[salla45]

The FX17 would only be interesting if they stood out from the FA19 in a positive sense (homogeneity, less sibilance), otherwise they would actually just be more expensive due to higher technical and material expenditure.

Yes, they might just be "different" to the FA19. I do think the FA19 are the best IEMs I've had or heard. Prior to them I had the FH7 which lasted me a good few years. I enjoyed them immensely, FA19 are just "more" (not only in price, lol); similar in sig, to my ears, but more clarity, more everything, more "hifi", shinier somehow if that makes sense? Like a picture with sharpness added, in a good way.

 

[Chris Johnson]

Which source and cable do you use with Valhalla? I’ve listened for 30-40 mins and been trying to get what for they charge 2000$ when Prestige LTD and Divinity V16 sounded a step above. Obviously to each their own, and most likely it’s dependent on source and amplification and cables.

Mainly Benchmark DAC and amp with stock cable and balanced plug. But the Valhalla sound awesome with anything. I have also the FA19, FH19, Monarc mk3, senn ie900, um mest mk3 custom, and none of these distort. .

 

[Tobit]

I absolutely cannot understand the bass issues. I have the FH19 and VE EXT for comparison. I've had the FX17 for about a week now. The FX17 has fantastic, precise bass. I can't detect any distortion at all. For me, the FX17 is the best headphone I've ever heard.

 

[Chris Johnson]

Mainly Benchmark DAC and amp with stock cable and balanced plug. But the Valhalla sound awesome with anything. I have also the FA19, FH19, Monarc mk3, senn ie900, um mest mk3 custom, and none of these distort.

I absolutely cannot understand the bass issues. I have the FH19 and VE EXT for comparison. I've had the FX17 for about a week now. The FX17 has fantastic, precise bass. I can't detect any distortion at all. For me, the FX17 is the best headphone I've ever heard.

Hmm. Have a listen to “A Momentary Lapse Of Reason” by Pink Floyd at reasonable volume. This was the album that uncovered the same deficiency with Focal Utopia MKII. If you don’t notice distortion then maybe I just got a faulty pair. I’d be interested to know.

 

[paramac]

It's a bit strange, if the FX17 has such an error then it should actually be reproducible with other tracks and not just limited to one.

 

[GroovyAudio]

I absolutely cannot understand the bass issues. I have the FH19 and VE EXT for comparison. I've had the FX17 for about a week now. The FX17 has fantastic, precise bass. I can't detect any distortion at all. For me, the FX17 is the best headphone I've ever heard.

How was the fit? Do they cause fatigue after wearing them for a while?

 

[Tobit]

I listened to the Pink Floyd album. I don't think the quality of this recording is suitable for judging high-end headphones. The FX17 simply demonstrates how poor this recording is. I had some issues with the fit of the FH19. I always felt a foreign object in the ear, and the fit was always short-lived. The FX17 fits perfectly. You can't feel it, despite the relatively heavy weight.