Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by ezekiel_77

Review: FiiO FA9

ezekiel_77 — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 08:05:23 +0800

What, another flagship? In audio, to quote from Talladega Nights, “If you ain’t first, you’re last.” FiiO hopes to lead the pack with their brand-new IEMs, promising to be more than just a pretty face(plate).

To have staying power, take a cue from international superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. A genuine crossover success story from rasslin’ to acting to an inexplicable singing gig in Moana, he has done it all, save for “Dancing with the Stars” when his star power wanes, lol. His recipe for success is simple, just be the hardest worker in the room.

FiiO’s humble beginnings in 2007 started with desktop speakers and amplifiers, before crossing over to portable audio full-time in 2011. Since then, their repertoire has expanded to DACs, DAPs, IEMs, Bluetooth gadgetry and cables, basically the entire audio chain. Today, FiiO is a humble, hungry company that holds two major launch events a year to showcase their latest innovations, like Q from James Bond.

Undoubtedly one of the hardest-working companies in recent memory, FiiO shows no signs of stopping. As a hobbyist keeping track of them since their early days, it’s like watching a child progress to young adulthood amidst the blood, sweat, and many tears. FiiO rolls with the punches and trudges on as one of the premier go-to brands in portable audio.

[attachmentid=10734630]

Long-time followers (or just me?) would be aware of FiiO’s three-pronged attack in the IEM sphere. They have the FD series for dynamic driver IEMs, FH for hybrids and FA for balanced armatures. Today we look at the FA9, their new flagship from the FA lineup, featuring 6 Knowles BAs and a 4-way crossover packed in a 3D-printed shell.

But like an irritating salesman, that’s not all, folks. Debuting in the FA9 are two new technologies commonly seen in higher-end IEMs.
-Thanks to FiiO’s electronic crossover technology, at each earpiece are three switches that allow the user to adjust FA9’s impedance, treble, and bass/mids.
An ultra-long 80.6mm sound tube for the bass drivers that act as a low-pass filter to isolate unwanted mids and treble frequencies, resulting in a clean and detailed bass.
-Available in black or clear colors, the FA9 is currently sold on Amazon. How much are you willing to pay for monochromic goodness? A thousand? Two? Don’t answer yet, click on the link to find out. Many thanks to Sunny of FiiO for the samples of FA9 and LC-RE, without which this review would not be possible.

Equipment Used:

DAP

FiiO M15

IEMs

FiiO FA9
FiiO FH7

Albums
Amber Rubarth – Sessions From The 17th Ward
Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
Lana Del Rey – Born To Die
Miles Davis – Kind Of Blue
Taylor Swift – Folklore
The Eagles – Hell Freezes Over
The Weeknd – Starboy

Technical Specifications
Frequency Response: 15Hz – 40kHz
Drivers: 6 Balanced Armatures (Knowles SWFK-31736, EJ-33877, HODVTEC-31618)
Impedance: 16~32Ω @ 1KHz
Sensitivity: 110/113dB @ 1mW
Maximum Input Power: 100mW
Cable Connectors: 3.5mm headphone jack, expanded MMCX connectors
Cable Length: 120cm
Unit Weight: ~6.2g

[attachmentid=10734631]

Packaging and Accessories
If you’ve followed FiiO’s evolution in upper-tier IEMs, you’d know that they are stellar examples of packaging excellence. From the FH5 to FA7 to FH7 to this, the box and packaging are so impressive and complete, it’s almost like they’re compensating for something. They’re not, by the way. Like a shampoo ad, they’re head and shoulders above the competition in this area.

FA9’s packaging mirrors FH7’s in many ways. The thick cardboard sleeve, enclosing the thick cardboard box, and a jackpot’s worth of accessories, some that you’ll only use once or not at all because of the astonishing variety. The accessory set is identical to FH7 too, down to the cable, ear tip selection, and leatherette HB3 carry case. In full, this is what you receive, besides a smirk on your face.

FiiO LC-3.5C cable
FiiO HB3 leatherette case
3 pairs SpinFit CP145 ear tips (S,M,L)
3 pairs Balanced silicone ear tips (S,M,L)
3 pairs Vocal silicone ear tips (S,M,L)
3 pairs Bass silicone ear tips (S,M,L)
2 pairs foam ear tips (M)
1 pair double-flange silicone ear tips (M)
Cloth pouch
Cleaning brush
SK-01 Magnetic cable organizer

Design and Build Quality
Each of FA9’s earpieces contain six BA drivers, a crossover unit, internal wiring, and the infamous 80.6mm bass tube. Not to mention the switches on the surface too, so the shells are medium-sized because there is simply a lot going on. It takes a certain skill and a ridiculous amount of OCD to arrange them as neatly as they did inside the FA9. This ain’t stuffing a turkey my friend. In fact I’m surprised the shells aren’t larger, frankly.

The earpieces are made from 3D-printed, medical-grade resin, and are transparent so that you can admire the excruciatingly-arranged internals. You wonder about the amount of shed tears, lost sleep, shot eyes, and pulled nerves while assembling this miniature technological marvel. But was it worth it? Yes indeedy.

Completing the shells are diamond-cut faceplates with jaw-dropping, hypnotic qualities, like the Hypnotoad from Futurama. Depending on your viewing angle, the faceplate might look like packed prisms, or a fleet of Mercedes logos, reflecting light as you turn. Spellbinding.

Nothing is objectively, universally beautiful (save for maybe Scarlett Johansson), but FA9 gives a good go at it with their sensational design and build quality.

[attachmentid=10734632]

Cables
The stock cable provided with the FA7 is the LC-3.5C, in single-ended 3.5mm with an L-shaped plug. The cable is made up of 8 strands of monocrystalline silver-plated copper with a high wire count, resulting in high transmissibility and minimal signal loss. This translates to a clean and clear sound. You won’t have to worry about subpar stock cables out of the box with this one.

However, if you’re itching to try something new and expensive (because why not), FiiO’s flagship upgrade cable, the LC-RE, is waiting in the wings to empty your wallet and soul. Again, because why not.

FiiO LC-RE
The LC-RE is an indulgent beast, a hybrid cable that reminds us of the finer things in life, like oysters, caviar and wines with names we can’t pronounce. Three types of wires go into the making of this cable – Furukawa monocrystalline copper, gold-plated monocrystalline copper, and pure silver. Gold, silver and copper, like the Olympic podium of cables.

These materials undergo ultra-high temperature continuous casting and Litz Type 2 wiring to lessen resistance and improve signal transmission. The wires are also individually insulated to reduce skin and proximity effects. For cables, all effort goes toward signal purity no matter what metals are used. Great looks are just a fortunate side effect, lol.

[attachmentid=10734633]

And in a first for FiiO, the LC-RE introduces a swappable plug system, so you can switch between 2.5mm, 3.5mm or 4.4mm plugs to match with any DAP in your collection. The swivel-lock mechanism is easy to apply and greatly increases the usability of the cable. For improvement, I’d prefer if the cable came with a pouch, since it’s quite easy to lose the plugs.

The LC-RE is well-built, with the tri-color wires immensely pretty to look at. The cable is soft and supple, and handles superbly. Memory effect is minimal, as is kinking. Wearing the cable is extremely comfortable too, thanks to the gently curved ear guides at the connector end, without the use of memory wires.

Sound-wise, the LC-RE captures the essence of a hi-fi sound. The tone is rendered sweeter throughout, while note edges are given a rounded finish. Clarity is not affected and the details are very well present. This coloration matches well with the FA9, which already has an incredible sound to begin with.

The LC-RE upgrades the technical attributes of FA9 too, providing a more expansive soundstage with sharper imaging. Paired with FA9, the presentation is more relaxed and organic, yet manages to remain massively detailed. It’s a first-class cable that comes at a first-class price. I’d recommend it ifever you’d like to indulge.

[attachmentid=10734635]

Fit, Comfort and Isolation
If it fits, I sits, and the FA9 fits exceedingly well. FA9 comes from FiiO’s long line of perfectly crafted resin shells that resemble custom IEMs, also evident in the FA7 previously. The shape of the earpiece is no guesswork, but garnered from a large database of scanned ear anatomies from their customer base. So every earpiece is meticulously and precisely crafted.

Every curve and crevice of the earpiece has an intended purpose and an expected result: a fit so comfortable that I achieved zen. If you Google about it, it’s mostly about still bodies of water, yin/yang symbols and stacking smooth rocks. Exactly right, my friend.

Interestingly, sound isolation is just average. I thought an all-resin enclosure with no vent would block off most outside noise, but nope. I can hear one kid watching YouTube and the other hacking away in Minecraft. In real world use, the FA9 was able to reduce irritating engine hums and fan whirrs, so it’s not all bad.

[attachmentid=10734636]

Sound Quality
Simplifying the nozzle filter approach in the FH7 even further, the FA9 allows you the luxury of altering the sound signature courtesy of three switches in each earpiece. Marketing spiel would have you believe that getting the FA9 is like getting four IEMs in one, but before we get ahead of ourselves, here are what the switches do.
S1 switch up: lower impedance and higher sensitivity, ideal to be driven from low-powered sources like cellphones.
S1 switch down: higher impedance, meant to be driven with proper DAPs, or what I decree as FA9’s proper sound.
S2 switch up: treble boost, or the super sizzle switch. Watch out for your ears, I’d say.
S2 switch down: normal treble. No shame in choosing this. We’re not masochists.
S3 switch up: normal bass with mids emphasis. Mids are pushed slightly forward.
S3 switch down: bass boost, or the boom boom switch. Mids rightfully take a back seat.
There’s a learning curve to the switch system. Note how the switches for enhancing treble and bass go opposite ways, so it’s not intuitive or user-friendly for casual listeners. To make matters worse, the official FA9 website provides confusing documentation, because the words do not match up with the diagrams. So I prefer to use ‘up’ and ‘down’ to clear up the muddle.

Learning the Switches
S1 is an impedance switch, while S2 and S3 directly affect the frequency graph.
S1 up is intended for cellphone use, but the sound rendered is forward and aggressive with a congested head-stage and noisy background. I avoid this like a disease. S1 down has a natural tone, and is much more spacious. Plus, I use a DAP all the time anyway, so S1 up is practically useless for me.

S2 up boosts treble to the point of harshness, and trust me S2 down has enough treble quantity for everyone. Transients remain just as fast, and the tone is much more agreeable. S3 up provides a clean, even bass response, and does wonders for the mids, but can sometimes lack punch. S3 down is great for sub-bass thump and low end extension, until you notice the high noise floor.

[attachmentid=10734637]

Overall Sound Signature
The FA9 is highly versatile, and depending on the switch positions, the sound signatures can vary from:
Neutral (S1 down/S2 down/S3 up)
Neutral-warm (down/down/down)
Neutral-bright (down/up/up), and
V-shaped (down/up/down)
I much prefer the first two over the others. The fabulous (or frustrating) bit is, it’s easy to switch sound profiles, so you can change to your heart’s content until you find a favourite, or adapt to the music as you play. There’s no right or wrong in this.

Curiously, no matter the switch positions, the FA9 sound is a tale of two halves. The bass up to the centre mids are dedicated to an organic and sweet sound. Notes are juicier, and flow smoothly from one to the next, with little regard for dynamics and air. From the upper mids to the treble, the signature is technically-focused, delivering clarity and speed in equal measure.

Listening Conditions
Critical listening was done after 100 hours of burn-in. I know BAs don’t require burn-in per se, but what about those convoluted, labyrinthine sound tubes? Who knows what’s going on in their heads? Who’s going to show them who’s boss? I am, that’s who. I play with tubes for a living! The chief listening chain is FiiO’s M15 player, stock cable and included SpinFit CP145 ear tips.

[attachmentid=10734638]

Bass
Gotta say, I’ve never encountered an instance where having long tubes is a compliment. Anatomically-speaking, enhanced tubing brings the wows at first, but regular-sized tubes are perfectly fine and functional. Try not to get distracted here lol. So how does the much-purported long sound tubes affect FA9’s bass?

True to their word, the bass conveys warmth and weight cleanly, without bleeding into the mids. The sub-bass shows brilliant extension, audible in the lowest regions and just enough to be physically imposing. With the bass switch on, FA9’s sub-bass positively growls, lending some menacing authority to bassline-heavy tracks like The Weeknd’s Starboy and Kendrick Lamar’s All the Stars.

The focal point is the midbass, providing much of the signature’s lushness and body, coupled with a pleasing tone. Mission accomplished? At first listen, nothing is missed. Notes bloom and decay beautifully, albeit with a hasty, plasticky timbre typical of BA drivers. More importantly, the bass weight doesn’t come at the price of congestion, making good use of space while sounding full-bodied.

Upon closer scrutiny, cracks start to show. The background is not entirely dark, with residual haziness affecting note definition. Resolution is likewise lessened, making it hard to appreciate layering, despite having excellent note texture. This is why I like the bass switch off, to keep the stage as clean as possible. But doing so removes some bass impact and slam, taking fun out of the equation. While FA9 does some marvelous things with the bass, you’ll have to choose between fun and dynamic or clean and detailed. Can’t have both.

[attachmentid=10734639]

Mids
An English teacher once said, most writing assignments are like eating fish. The head and tail, or the beginning and the end, are mostly for show; while the body, or the middle, is everything. The FA9’s mids encapsulate that lesson, filling the signature with supreme importance. It’s a big meaty fish, and there’s nothing fishy about the execution. I’ll stop with the puns.

Affluent both ways, the mids are rich in detail and tone, maintaining a balance that’s intricate and delicate. The journey to greatness starts with a road bump. There’s a slight dip in the lower mids to accentuate the clean separation from the bass, and while the thought is appreciated, male vocals sound nasally and half-baked. From that point on though, they become a delight to savor and enjoy.

Neutrally located with just the right amount of thickness, the center to upper mids are smooth as luxurious silk. The tone is enchanting, while instrument timbre is natural as ever. Be it strings, guitars or female vocals, prepare to be overwhelmed by the sweet caresses of FA9’s musical masterclass. For more magic, turning off the bass switch pushes the mids slightly forward, enabling an intimate concert made for one.

The congruent, immersive musicality comes with compromises in airiness, speed and dynamics, although this considerably improves towards the upper mids region, where clarity is at its superb best. Here, like shards of crystal, the sound is pristine and transparent. Notes are sharply defined with bountiful air in-between, providing welcome contrast to the mellow lower regions. Taken together, the mids are a formidable flexercise of flow, fluidity and finesse.

[attachmentid=10734640]

Treble
I have a terrible inclination, even a fascination with procrastination, but can’t wait to tell you how amazing the treble is. Where the complex mids might take time to digest, the treble is more straightforward ie. plenty. Treble aficionados should tread carefully, for even the normal treble setting has more than enough zing and shine to spare.

Continuing the work of the upper mids, FA9’s treble shows remarkable extension and technical finesse on a bedrock of tonal accuracy. There is much vibrancy and liveliness to be had, where notes are rendered with skilful speed, clear-cut definition and a playful sparkle. Perhaps most vitally, they finish off with a rounded decay that does wonders for realism, negating a potential metallic aftertaste.

Treat (or torture) your ears to the first minute of Pink Floyd’s Time to get a taste of the treble limits. Epitomized by a 6kHz to 8kHz spike, the normal treble setting already ventures towards sibilant borders for me. With the treble switch on, or extra crispy mode, notes are even sharper and airier, but most ears won’t appreciate the ringing, pummelling and metallic zing that is to follow.

For the most part though, FA9’s treble is a journey of discovery, unearthing multitude layers of musical information, while staying clear of unfriendly hazards. Equal parts fun and scientific, it gets pretty addictive.

Soundstage and imaging
Today we don our space suits and funky boots (or if you’re Chinese, time to buy a lottery ticket of your lucky numbers), because after umpteen tries, FiiO has finally hit the ball out of the park. The soundstage provides something to write home about, and it’s positively large, probably a first for FiiO transducers that tend to prefer the intimate side of things.

It took a global pandemic, but now, distance is king. And FA9 boasts excellent dimensions in height, depth, and especially width, whatever your switch settings. The spaciousness provides breathing space even in the maximum bass or mid-forward settings, simply because there’s plenty of room to go around. The non-aggressive, relaxed approach also helps create the out-of-head experience.

Imaging and separation is fine across all three axes, but the last bit of holographic precision is marred by the hazy background in the lower regions, where bass layers can congeal into audio goop once things get too hot and heavy. The lack of black space and air hampers dynamics and spatial recognition too, but thankfully the problem is corrected from the mids upwards.

[attachmentid=10734641]

Comparisons

FiiO FH7
And now we have a totally titanic, titan vs titan tournament. FH7 is the king of the hybrids in FiiO’s stable, and has been a regular recommendation for a good IEM in the $500 region. FA9 will hope to be the usurper. They differ vastly in presentation, with FH7 being clinical, aggressive and forward, more a W-shape. In contrast FA9 is relaxed and euphonic, neutral-warm with some zing in the treble.

FH7 annihilates the FA9 in the bass, with the beryllium-coated DD shining through with excellent quality, rumble, slam and to-die-for timbre. The FA9’s matter-of-fact bass is no match for the natural, speaker-like boom the FH7 is capable of, not even close. From here on though, the FA9 has the upper hand, boasting a better tonal balance and more accurate timbre for mids and treble.

FA9’s magic is weaved in sheer musicality and immersion factor while being no slouch in technical ability. Listening to FA9, It’s easy to sink into the music, enveloped in joyful sound. FH7 hopes to sustain your interest by wowing you all the way with its details, airiness and dynamism. FH7’s Achilles’ heel however, is its metallic timbre. Note edges are grainy and sharp, detracting from the listening experience.

FA9 has one card left to play. Its wider and deeper soundstage dwarfs the FH7 in size, providing an epic scope to further enhance listening enjoyment. FH7 might have the edge in separation and imaging, but we know the fight is over. FA9 stands tall and proud as the finest IEM FiiO has produced, and is an easy recommendation unless you really, really like bass.

[attachmentid=10734643]

Final Words
Like a cement mixer, FiiO churns and churns, putting out product after product, and laying down the foundations of portable audio brick by brick. Their release schedule is staggering, making sure the audio chain is well-represented, providing alternatives to alternatives. Their ascent to greatness will probably not stop until a skyscraper stands before you. And then they’d add more floors.

Right now, their star is the FA9, cementing (ahem) its status as the most accomplished transducer they’ve released so far. The FA9 possesses a tuning that is hard to ignore, combining a mesmerizing tone with captivating detail, pulling the listener in for second, third and fourth listens. The icing on the cake is the versatile switch system, making it a multi-genre master. Can you say four IEMs in one?

FiiO hopes that, with continued innovations and technical wizardry, their legacy as one of the most prolific audio companies will be cemented (heh). The FA9 is their crowning achievement in IEMs, the culmination of all their knowledge condensed into one product. Even if you take away the gadgetry and gimmicks, you are left with a stunning sound signature. And as they say in audio, a great tuning is eternal.

[SOLD] BGVP DM8 brand new sealed

ezekiel_77 — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 18:07:44 +0800

Item(s): BGVP DM8

Package includes: original box and all accessories. Box is sealed and unopened.

Price: RM1000, originally USD340 (~RM1400) from AliExpress

Warranty: 1 year

Dealing method: Poslaju/J&T

Contact method/details: pm

Item(s) conditions: brand new

Picture:
[attachmentid=10723790][attachmentid=10723791][attachmentid=10723792]

Reason for sale: bought at USD340 from AliExpress on release, intended as a gift but did not work out. If you buy from AE there's a 2-week wait time not including shipping time.

SOLD Samsung Galaxy A21s 64GB BRAND NEW SEALED

ezekiel_77 — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 09:10:06 +0800

Item(s): Samsung Galaxy A21s, white/64GB

Package includes: Includes original box and all accessories, sealed.

Price: SOLD slight nego

Warranty: Samsung original warranty 1 year

Dealing method: Poslaju

Location: Ipoh

Contact method/details: PM

Item(s) conditions: Brand new, sealed.

Picture:
[attachmentid=10619912][attachmentid=10619913][attachmentid=10619914]

Reason for sale: Unused gift.

[SOLD] Sennheiser HD660S mint condition

ezekiel_77 — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 08:13:09 +0800

Item(s): Sennheiser HD660S

Package includes: Original box and all accessories. Original receipt provided.

Price: SOLD

Warranty: Until Feb 2021

Dealing method: Poslaju only

Contact method/details: PM

Item(s) conditions: Absolutely mint. Less than 20 hours usage.

Picture:
[attachmentid=10555552][attachmentid=10555553]
[attachmentid=10555555][attachmentid=10555556]
[attachmentid=10555557][attachmentid=10555558]
[attachmentid=10555560][attachmentid=10555561]
[attachmentid=10555562][attachmentid=10555563]

Reason for sale: Letting go because of low usage. To my ears, the 660S sounds better than Hd600, 650 and 6XX after an audition in KLIAV. Has the detail and neutrality of 600 combined with the sweet mids of 650. Best of both worlds. But eventually I preferred Hifiman sound haha.

WTS (interest check) Sennheiser HD660S

ezekiel_77 — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 18:25:02 +0800

Item(s): Sennheiser HD660S

Package includes: Original box and all accessories.

Price: RM1500

Warranty: nil

Dealing method: Poslaju

Contact method/details: pm

Item(s) conditions: Excellent condition

Picture: pm

Reason for sale: Interest check.

SOLD Monoprice Monolith M300

ezekiel_77 — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 18:00:26 +0800

Item(s): Monoprice Monolith M300

Package includes: Original packaging and full accessory set EXCEPT one broken plastic earhook. Sorry about that.

Price: SOLD. Originally USD150, so you're getting more than SOLD% off retail.

Warranty:

Dealing method: Poslaju

Contact method/details: PM

Item(s) conditions: Excellent condition, except for one broken earhook mentioned.

Picture:
[attachmentid=10470605][attachmentid=10470606]
[attachmentid=10470607][attachmentid=10470608]
[attachmentid=10470609]

Reason for sale: Decluttering.

Selling an excellent condition planar magnetic IEM from Monoprice. Crazy big soundstage and a nice warm signature. Selling because I'm moving on to other gears.

Review: FiiO FH7

ezekiel_77 — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 01:07:44 +0800

Through the years, we watched as fledgling company FiiO grow from seed to sprout to splendour. Today we look at their finest earphones, the FH7, another touchstone in their meteoric rise as one of the go-to brands in portable audio.

I grew up on a steady diet of rice, ramen, and kung fu movies. Like any good Jacky Chan flick, the protagonist has to go through increasingly arduous tasks and opponents before saving the village/getting the girl/winning battle of the bands. The payoff is meeting the final boss and delivering sweet, eternal justice via the Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique.

Without exaggerating, FiiO are the wunderkinds of portable Hi-Fi. Entering the in-ear monitor (IEM) market via rehashed Dunu earphones in 2015 (check out my ancient review), they’ve gone from strength to strength, perfecting the craft of manufacturing their own IEMs to great response. The FH5 remains my benchmark for $300 IEMs until today.

[attachmentid=10348154]
Nowt to do with Brit flair, but I love the colors, guv'nor.

FiiO were basically throwing their henchmen IEMs at me before the ultimate showdown. In what is my sixth FiiO in-ear review, the mighty FH7 awaits at the top of the mountain. Positioned a tier above FH5, FiiO’s fascinating, flamboyant flagship is a hybrid monitor combining 4 Knowles balanced armatures (BAs) and a delicious-sounding 13.6mm beryllium-coated dynamic driver (DD).

Not content with having the most drivers in a FiiO IEM to date, the FH7 has other tricks up its sleeve. New to FiiO are changeable sound filters, to alter the sound signature when the mood hits. The S.Turbo sound tubes make a return, acoustically-tuned to coax more performance out of the DD. FiiO says they were inspired by turbine designs, but I say it looks like the snail from Turbo.

The housing boasts a full metal shell, dubbed the TriShell, a rigid 3-point structure that reduces resonance and distortion. Add to that an all-new complex crossover design, improved stock cable, Hi-Res Audio certification, and you can see why the FH7 is armed to the hilt and ready to rumble.

The FH7 ventures out of the $300-and-below comfort zone and is their priciest IEM yet. It is currently available from Amazon. I would like to thank Sunny of FiiO for the review sample, and her patience in making this review possible.

This review was first featured in Headphonesty.

Equipment Used:

DAP

Sony NW-WM1A “K” Modded, FW 2.0

IEMs

FiiO FH7
FiiO FA7
FiiO FH5

Albums

Amber Rubarth – Sessions From The 17th Ward
Diana Krall – When I Look Into Your Eyes
Ed Sheeran – Divide
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Journey – The Essential
Miles Davis – Kind Of Blue
Moby – Play
Taylor Swift – Reputation
Tears For Fears – Songs From The Big Chair
Toto – Greatest Hits: 40 Trips Around The Sun

[attachmentid=10348155]
The annual “March of the Ear Tips” got off to a great start despite poor weather.

Packaging and Accessories

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, just flex it. FiiO’s finest IEMs share nearly identical packaging and accessory set with the FH5 and FA7, with just a few updates to hit home its flagship, “I’m better than you, nyeh nyeh” status. First off, the amount of ear tips provided are staggering. A total of 15 pairs are at your perusal headlined by the SpinFit CP145. You’re sure to find one that suits you best.

The carry case is also updated. This time around you get the FiiO HB3, a synthetic leather case in smart peacock blue. A semi-hard case with velveteen lining and a magnetic clasp, it provides ample room and protection for the FH7. The most notable inclusion is a capsule housing the FH7’s sound filter system, screw-on color-coded dampeners applied at the nozzles to fine-tune your preferred signature.

Here’s a rundown of the accessory set, and it’s quite a mouthful.

FiiO LC-3.5C cable
FiiO HB3 case
3 pairs sound filters (black, green, red) with capsule case
3 pairs SpinFit CP145 ear tips (S,M,L)
3 pairs Balanced silicone ear tips (S,M,L)
3 pairs Vocal silicone ear tips (S,M,L)
3 pairs Bass silicone ear tips (S,M,L)
2 pairs foam ear tips (M)
1 pair double-flange silicone ear tips (M)
Cloth pouch
Cleaning brush
Cable organizer

This is simply one of the most remarkable and complete accessory sets I’ve seen. FiiO really went for the jugular in this one, including everything plus two kitchen sinks. I tip my hat to you, if I had one.

[attachmentid=10348156]
The summer workout regime resulted in a tan, bigger muscles and a longer, um, appendage.

Design and Build Quality

Beauty is in the eye of the tiger. What? Risin’ up and back on the street, FH7 takes the existing FH5 design and imparts further wisdom and fine-tuning. The housing is once again built with CNC-machined aerospace-grade aluminium-magnesium alloy to impress your mates. The shells are now slightly bigger to fit more drivers, while the nozzles are longer, addressing an age-old complaint about FH5’s poor fit.

The FH7’s faceplate features a wave motif, which according to marketing, implies ferocity and dominance, showing you who’s boss. The result is a striking, captivating design decked out in black and gold, the color combo of winners. The build quality is unmistakably impressive too, with a rigidity that can withstand the rigors of daily usage, and a stunningly smooth finish you can hold and admire for hours. FiiO habitually excels in design and build quality, and the FH7 is a fitting testament to the fact.

[attachmentid=10348157]
Hang on, is that an ovary on the box?

Cables

The stock cable provided with the FH7 is actually the LC-3.5C, the single-ended 3.5mm version of the LC-4.4C that I have covered in my FA7 review. It’s a lovingly-made 8-wire silver-plated copper cable with good ergonomics and sound properties, and is already a competent enough cable to pair with the FH7 without having a formal FOMO attack.

However, if one day the itch to get something new overwhelms you (and it’s a very, very familiar feeling), do consider what FiiO considers its next upgrade, the LC-D series. Sunny was kind enough to send me the LC-4.4D balanced cable to be used with my Sony audio player.

The LC-4.4D is proudly made with 4 strands of monocrystalline pure silver, chosen for its high electrical and thermal conductivity. Also because it looks cool. Each strand consists of 7 bundles of 8 Litz silver wires insulated by DuPont sheaths. Litz is a wiring pattern that distributes current equally among the wires, reducing resistance. Theoretically, less resistance translates to better conductivity and sound quality.

The LC-4.4D is well-built and pleasing to the eye. The gentle shimmer of the silver wires and matte silver Y-split and 4.4mm jack go well together, while the color-coded MMCX connectors is a helpful touch. The cable is soft and flexible and makes for easy handling. The only thing I didn’t enjoy about the cable is the loose braiding in places, which messes up the brilliant aesthetics of the cable.

As for sound quality, the LC-4.4D conveys an excellent black background, in a faithful rendition of “Tarry, Tarry Night”. Thanks to the solid, clean blackground (sic), details jump out from across the spectrum, compared to the stock LC-3.5C cable. Bass is tighter and more controlled while treble sounds less grainy when switching back and forth.

Perhaps the biggest upgrade in terms of sound is the bigger soundstage and better imaging accuracy. The LC-4.4D accommodates a coherent, effortless sound, while handling complex passages with great aplomb. Available on Amazon, it’s one of the cheapest pure silver cables I’ve had the pleasure of trying, and an easy recommendation.

[attachmentid=10348158]
The waves are making you sleepy… now give me your wallet.

Fit, Isolation and Comfort

I’m not a fan of sticking metal objects into orifices, but after the FH5 I became a convert. The FH7, albeit with a bigger shell, fits comfortably, with its sleek, smooth edges and contours caressing my inner ears as I slid them in. Being all-metal they’re quite bulky, and for the FH7 to sit and seal properly, you’d need the right tips to do the job. Otherwise you’d be jammin’ until the break of dawn like Stevie Wonder.

Before we talk about tweaking FH7’s sound via ear tips, they have to sit in your ears first. The double-flange ear tips did the job best for me. While not the most pleasing in terms of looks (God I wanted so much to like the SpinFits), they provided a very safe and secure seal, evoking a level of comfort akin to rolling around in a field of fluffy rabbits.

Regrettably, sound isolation is below average, because of two vents on each earpiece. The vents, as explained by FiiO, attempt to relieve air pressure buildup in the eardrums, granting better listening comfort. In real world use, you can’t take the FH7 on your daily commute, because the outside noise distracts from the listening experience.

[attachmentid=10348159]
These tiny microphones make excellent spy accessories. Available in 3 colors!

Sound Quality

You know how there are three Jokers, apparently? Me neither. The FH7 does, however, come with three filters to fine tune your sound signature. Add that to the myriad of tips given, and the ability to change cables. Depending on perspective, you have either a dream or nightmare scenario when deciding on your final FH7 sound. Minimalism, this is not.

Overall Sound SIgnature

The FH7, like many first-timer flagships, has neutrality in its blood, with equal emphasis on bass, mids and treble. The bass slams powerfully, but cleans up after itself hurriedly. The mids are detail-focused, with a tinge of brightness due to a rise in the upper mids. The treble is smack in the middle of Sparkleland. The end result is an energetic, all-rounder signature that fits most sonic palettes.

The sound filters aren’t for show, and they do alter the sound signature. The filters introduce dampening effects, but the base signature is largely intact, sort of like Heidi Klum in different Halloween costumes. The red bass-focused filter attenuates the treble and introduces a calmer, smoother signature; while the green treble-focused filter does the opposite by reducing sub-bass thump.

My favourite is the black balanced filter, which has sub-bass and treble in optimum amounts, while sounding fun and transparent at the same time. It’s all of the sound quality with no obvious compromise, and will be the signature I write about in this review.

Critical listening was done after 100 hours of burn-in, balancing between priming the dynamic driver and holding off beryllium poisoning. I kid, I kid. Burn-in resulted in a darker background, with the core signature intact. I believe I’m immune to beryllium compounds too. The main review rig is Sony’s NW-WM1A Walkman, using the LC-4.4D cable and stock double-flange ear tips.

[attachmentid=10348160]
Two earpieces ventured to the wild outdoors. Only one survived to tell the tale.

Bass

The beryllium-plated dynamic driver sort of markets itself with garish neon lights. The light and rigid metal is famed for its flexibility and ability to reproduce a quick and taut bass, and is often name-dropped in mega-expensive headphones like the Focal Utopia. If you want to make an audiophile sit up, shout in his ears “beryllium drivers!”

While I’m not claiming that you can recreate the Focal Utopia experience here, FH7’s bass is pleasingly implemented. The sub-bass is hearty and full, with impressive extension down low, and a head-rattling thump. Note attacks are on-point, with a visceral rumble and clean decay, showcasing impressive discipline amidst the fun.

Into the midbass, notes sound grand, full and natural, with a precise and realistic tone. Best of all, impact and slam are plentiful. It has a more lingering decay than the sub-bass, so snare drums and bass guitars have more meat on their bones. The entire bass spectrum is highlighted by incredible background cleanness, lending some spectacular dynamics. Like fitting into skinny jeans from your teenage years, the bass experience is just tight, tight, tight.

Mids

Sometimes you breathe into a mirror before wiping it to create the impression that there is a difference before and after cleaning. Such trickery is not needed in the FH7, which, like a good spray of Windex, provides a clear window into the mids. These mids are articulate, with a proud emphasis on detail and transparency.

Notes do have good thickness to them, while texture is readily palpable from attack to decay. The lower mids are neutral in note size and tone, with a steady rise as we move towards the upper mids. Female vocals and brass instruments sound their best, while strings and pianos perform just above the passing mark in terms of realism and engagement level.

The mids will never be accused of lacking air or details, but I wish for better musical flow, smoothness and soul in exchange for all that detail. They tend to be grainy too, and this makes it hard to get emotionally involved, while disturbing some sensitive ears. At worst, the timbre has a shiny, metallic tinge, with a bright skew. Technically astute yes, but the soullessness of the mids might be a deal-breaker for some.

[attachmentid=10348161]
In ancient Rome, the finest IEMs are put on a pedestal and fed grapes.

Treble

Ironically, the treble shines with the same attributes that made the mids falter. A bright, exciting tone, well-defined notes, a magnitude of air and details galore bring the treble to a higher plane, figuratively. It’s a given that FH7 wants to wow you with technical adroitness above all else, and sure enough the treble here is spectacularly extended with massive reach.

Notes ring clear and true, undeniably bringing you ever so close to the source of the music. Here, the metallic timbre bothered me less because, well a lot of treble-centric instruments have metal in them anyway! Cymbals, bells, hi-hats and the first 30 seconds of Pink Floyd’s Time sound suitably vibrant and alive, even life-threatening.

Of course, with all this treble excitement, there is always the odd sibilance or two. The FH7 can be revealing in less friendly ways, and the treble gets tizzy and hot. The bass-centric red filter provides an easy fix for this, but for me, the default treble is like an addictive drug I don’t want to wean out of. Be wary, since what’s rewarding for one is perilous for another.

[attachmentid=10348162]
We might have overdressed for board games night again!

Soundstage and Imaging

FiiO’s IEMs always gave me the impression that they will go the extra mile for tuning excellence, but take a relaxed step back when it comes to soundstage and imaging capability. The FH5 and FA7 were noted for having, well, not so notable stage sizes and average separation/imaging. It’s far from bad, just unremarkable.

You can’t have an epic boss battle in an enclosed space, so the FH7 is an encouraging step in the correct direction. This is the most expansive (and expensive lol) IEM I’ve heard from them yet, with very good width and depth, and some height thrown in. Instruments and vocals diffuse out in front and around you in a realistic, from-the-front-row manner.

I think I’ve harped on all review about the elegantly dark background, which leads to better-heard transients, and here, imaging supremacy. Every element of the music is clearly and cleanly demarcated, with enough room to shine, and air to breathe. This is one sequel worth waiting for, unlike the new Star Wars stuff. FiiO really tried their darndest here.

[attachmentid=10348163]
The feeling you get when you visit a hipster cafe that looks like every other hipster cafe.

Comparisons

FiiO FA7

To put it nicely, they’re too dissimilar to be compared, because of divergent signatures. FA7 appeals to the warm, thick and brothy chicken soup lover in us, while FH7 is sparkling water. Different foods for different moods. Getting back to audio lingo, FH7 is an all-rounder with a neutral signature, while FA7 is a warm IEM best suited for slow-tempo tracks, more a genre specialist.

Although tonally rich and beautiful, FA7’s massively-elevated midbass and lower mids are tenacious enough to engulf the entire spectrum, leading to a congested, overwhelming listen when tackling faster tracks and EDM. The FA7 mids edge out the FH7 in tone and timbre, but if we compare the technical attributes of both, the FH7 pulls ahead effortlessly.

The FH7 features better extension both ends, with a leaner, tighter bass, more articulate mids and brighter, well-textured treble. Details are better conveyed while separation and layering are a tier above, at least. The FH7 accomplishes this while maintaining balance and coherence throughout, with plenty of fuel left in the tank or getting back to food analogies, plenty of food left in the fridge.

Unless your entire catalogue of music consists of Diana Krall, Holly Cole and their ilk, the FH7 is a far better bet as a more competent and pleasing IEM.

[attachmentid=10348164]
Don’t mate with the zebra, he’s bad news.

FiiO FH5

The FH5 was released as a statement of intent from FiiO, that they were ready to play with the big boys in the IEM sphere. A few years later, I would say it is mission accomplished, because FH5 is still whispered when people ask for mid-tier IEM suggestions. I still recommend them as my favourites below $300.

No longer an up-and-coming company, FiiO are now expected to deliver great products all day everyday. The heir-apparent FH7 is positioned as a direct upgrade to the FH5, although at a significantly higher price tag. The obvious question, then, is should you get the FH7 if you already own the FH5? Let’s find out.

Not surprisingly, their signatures are similar, with a few slight differences. For those complaining that the FH5 had too much sub-bass and scooped-out midbass/lower mids, you have reason to rejoice. The FH7 is better balanced in the bass regions and does not lack any way in punch. Notes hit faster and cleaner, with surgical precision and no bleed (good for both audio and surgeries).

The mids sound nearly alike for both FH5 and FH7, in that they are both technically competent, a bit grainy, and found wanting in euphony and emotion. The treble for FH7 is crisper and more textural, with better definition and sparkle from attack to decay. It can get sibilant (unless you use the red filters), so tread with caution.

The FH7 performs like a FH5 with more polish. The good thing is FH5 is already an accomplished IEM to begin with, so we’re not just polishing turds here. The FH7 betters the FH5 in detail levels, soundstage size, layering ability, imaging accuracy and dynamism. You can hear the extra resolution (and dollars) in note texture, and the immaculately black background.

So to the casual fan, no, I don’t think existing FH5 owners need the upgrade. But for audiophile junkies like you and I, hell yeah, sell the FH5 and don’t look back. The FH7 has enough firepower to address all your sonic wants and needs. Long live the new king!

[attachmentid=10348165]
FiiO’s fabulous, formidable flagship feels funky fresh.

Final Words

Traditionally, IEMs price tiers were easy. Budget-fi was $100 and below, the heated mid-tier battleground was at $300 thereabouts, while the holy grail of summit-fi starts from $1000. The $500 price tier was no-man’s-land, too expensive to be value for money, and too cheap for high rollers to consider. I’m offended too lol.

Today, established mid-fi Chinese brands like iBasso and Fearless Audio are refining their products and dipping their toes into this “upper mid-fi” category, daring their followers to take a leap of faith with them and well, spend more. Hopefully we get to see true innovation instead of yet another cash grab exercise.

FiiO’s FH7 too shines a bacon, I mean beacon, for others to follow in this price range. What makes the FH7 so special is its exciting, all-rounder tuning guided by two tenets. They are, to extract the most intricate detail possible, and to provide an unfettered fun factor. The FH7 gives every genre a good go and for all intents and purposes, succeeds.

With years of experience behind them, FiiO has fine-tuned their craft to deliver what is probably the total package. There’s nothing to fault in the build, cable and accessories, but vitally, the sound quality is up there as well. The FH7 is certainly their finest IEM to date. With steady, experienced hands manning FiiO’s ship, their best is yet to come.

[SOLD]Amazon Kindle Fire 7 5th Gen with free gifts

ezekiel_77 — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 13:26:22 +0800

Item(s): Amazon Kindle Fire 7 5th Generation (blue). Product page here https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018Y227MY/

Package includes: Tablet, charge cable, FREE 1 flip cover and 1 Bluetooth keyboard+leatherette case

Price: SOLD
Tablet originally USD50, flip cover USD25, BT keyboard/case RM80.

Warranty: 1 week personal

Dealing method: Poslaju

Contact method/details: pm

Item(s) conditions: Excellent. Used less than 50 hours and charged less than 20 times.

Picture:
[attachmentid=10317717]
[attachmentid=10317718]
[attachmentid=10317719]
[attachmentid=10317721]
[attachmentid=10317722]
[attachmentid=10317723]

Reason for sale: Prefer full-sized laptop.

I'm selling a Kindle Fire with 7-inch IPS touchscreen, Quad-core 1.3GHz processor, 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage. Has WiFi, VGA front camera and 2MP rear camera. No 4G. Ordered in mid-2017 but used less than 50 hours total. Condition is superb and like new despite the age. Kept in drawer when not in use. Always in case.

Inclused FREE are 2 cases, one is an original flip case from Amazon. Another is a faux-leather case with Bluetooth keyboard which I bought last year from Lelong.my for RM80. Both are in pristine condition as well.

Given the low specs it's a great backup or for your kid to watch YouTube with.

[SOLD] 64 Audio tia Fourte

ezekiel_77 — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 20:27:24 +0800

Item(s): 64 Audio tia Fourte (not B-stock)

Package includes: original box and all accessories.

Price: SOLD. Originally priced at USD3599. Buying it locally will set you back at least 16k.

Warranty: Personal 1 week. Unit's over a year old.

Dealing method: Poslaju

Location: Ipoh

Contact method/details: PM

Item(s) conditions: Excellent, aesthetically perfect.

Picture:
[attachmentid=10313166]
[attachmentid=10313168]
[attachmentid=10313170]
[attachmentid=10313171]

Reason for sale: Moving on.

I'm selling one of the most well-known flagships today, the venerable tia Fourté from 64 Audio. This is the IEM that started the crazy flagship price war that's going on today, so you have a bit of history. It boasts the most detailed treble and biggest soundstage I've ever heard in an IEM. Combine that with a dynamic, strong bass, and ultra-clear mids, and the sound will leave you speechless. Letting go because I'm an IEM addict, and I'd like to try other IEMs, so this has to go.

Review: FiiO FA7

ezekiel_77 — Wed, 29 May 2019 18:52:02 +0800

FiiO keeps moving on up. The new 4-driver FA7 is not only their most comfortable earphone to date, it also showcases their utmost skill in tuning and manages to sound new and fresh despite the brand’s already full roster of in-ear monitors to choose from.

I love music; it’s why I’m here. That’s the understatement of the year. In my youth I was compelled to share the music I loved—and I’m showing my age here—by making cassette mixtapes. Who among us hasn’t shared our futile expressions of love via the media of song, only to be spurned by the object of our affections because she’s already dating a dude named Chad?!

I digress. At least I got to keep the mixtape, which contains my entire outlook on life at that moment captured in song. It’s my personal greatest hits and nobody can touch that. FiiO, from the looks of it, seems to be compiling what surely is their greatest hits collection. They have an expanding catalog, nay an entire ecosystem of portable audio slowly unfolding upon the unsuspecting world.

[attachmentid=10255793]

From digital audio players (DAPs), portable amplifiers, cables, in-ear monitors (IEMs), and even IEM cases, FiiO has got you covered. Their latest line of products is a multi-pronged attack on our pockets, ears, and consciousness. Each new release has been greeted with more fanfare than the last. If we believed in such a thing as an ‘endgame,’ it would appear that this is where FiiO is headed (note that most grizzled audioheads do not believe in such fairytale nonsense as perfect components). As FiiO aims for perfection, we share the spoils: great-sounding products built to last.

Today we take a look at the flagship of their balanced armature (BA) lineup of IEMs: the FA7. Positioned as the cousin to the extremely well-received FH5, the FA7 is similar in price and design, but entirely different in build, in-house technologies, drivers, and sound. Meaning FiiO wants you to buy both, lol.

The FA7 features four Knowles BAs—1 bass, 1 mid, and 2 treble—configured with a four-way crossover and housed in a 3D-printed, medical-grade resin shell. If this sounds like how custom IEMs (CIEMs) are constructed, well yeah that’s pretty much it. But FiiO, being FiiO, flexes their mass-producing muscles as no boutique CIEM company can, allowing more people to enjoy their stuff while paying less.

Once again, a big thank you to Lily of FiiO for the review sample and her patience in this particular case. The FA7 retails for $299.99 and is available in either blue/red with clear shells or silver with smoke shells, via their official website and Amazon.

This article was first published in Headphonesty.

Equipment Used:

DAP
Sony NW-WM1A “K” Modded, FW 2.0

IEMs
FiiO FA7
FiiO FH5
FiiO FH1

Albums Listened
Aaron Neville – Warm Your Heart
Art Pepper – Modern Jazz Classics
Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
Diana Krall – From This Moment On
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
John Mayer – Continuum
Macy Gray – Stripped
Meiko – Playing Favorites
Michael Jackson – The Essential
The Weeknd – Starboy

Packaging and Accessories

Unlike some vital parts of my anatomy, I’ll keep this short. The FA7 packaging is nearly identical to that of the FH5 and hard to tell apart without close scrutiny, sort of like the Hemsworth brothers. The two FiiO models share the same black box with different artwork, the same brilliant case, 3.5mm cable, and throwaway accessories like the cloth pouch and cleaning tool. But one important change is in the updated ear tips.

[attachmentid=10255794]

The three sets of silicone ear tips are still there for bassy, vocal-centric, and balanced sound in small, medium and large sizes. Ditto the three pairs of medium-sized foam tips. Responding to complaints that the FH5 had short nozzles that prevented a good seal, FiiO included a pair of silicone double-flanged ear tips for extra-deep insertion. Oh behave. So that’s a lucky total of 13 pairs of ear tips at your perusal or disposal.

Design and Build Quality

FA7’s design language is “inspired by nature,” with a fluid, contiguous shell and faceplate motif drawing inspiration from gentle streams, turbulent waves, or taking a whizz by the road. It is, though, undoubtedly pleasing to the eye. I could stare at the faceplates for hours; they carry a hypnotic quality like watching hot dogs cook on a roller.

As for the build, FiiO is pretty proud of its materials and 3D-printing technology. The earpieces are made of German high-transparency, skin-friendly resin and come with EU IIA medical device (!) certification. The resin is resistant to discoloration too, implying that the FA7 will maintain its clean, transparent looks for years to come.

FiiO collaborated with 3D printing specialists HeyGears, using industrial-grade printers with digital light processing (DLP) technology and a printing resolution of up to 25um. Each earpiece is precision-printed for 60 minutes, promising consistent sound between different pairs of FA7 and ensuring that unit variances are minimized. This is the part not inspired by nature. For the common folk (which includes me), the FA7 is a well-designed and well-built piece of work that hopefully withstands the tests of time and grime.

Cables

The stock cable LC-3.5B is identical to that of the FH5: a sheathed, monocrystalline silver-plated copper cable which comes in a double-barreled design. The build quality and attention to detail are—of course—impeccable, and the cable handles quite well, if just a bit on the heavy side. Do you believe in making small concessions for big sound quality? I do.

[attachmentid=10255795]

It’s a well-thought-out cable that is not only durable but sounds better than most other bundled stock cables on the market. FiiO is quietly making headway in the cable department, with the R&D department tinkering and releasing new cables around the same time as new IEMs.

FiiO LC-4.4C

Naturally, I asked Lily to provide their latest and greatest cable to see if it’s a good match for the FA7. She was kind enough to provide the LC-4.4C balanced cable for my Sony WM1A.

[attachmentid=10255796]

The cable comes with a 4.4mm 5-pole jack to take full advantage of the balanced output. The increasingly popular 4.4mm jack is rightfully the new hotness and works with any music player with a 4.4mm socket, notably Hiby’s R6 Pro, Cayin’s N8, Lotoo’s PAW Gold Touch, and FiiO’s own magnificent M11, just to name a few.

Let’s talk about this baby. The LC-4.4C is made of 8 strands of high-purity monocrystalline silver-plated copper. Each individual strand contains 19 wires, and is lovingly sheathed with transparent thermoplastic urethane (TPU) imported from Germany, before being hand-woven to complete the cable. FiiO likes collaborating with Germans, eh? First the resin, now the TPU sheathing.

There is meticulous attention to detail. I like how the MMCX connectors are marked red for right and blue for left, making them easy to recognize and plug in. The matching matte silver 4.4mm jack, Y-split and chin slider are aesthetically pleasing too, looking marvelous alongside the transparent white cable. It’s built to please the eyes and ears and wallet.

My only complaint is that the hand-weaving might be a bit suspect. I prefer tighter, more disciplined braids; but then again, the loose weaves might have contributed to the superb comfort and handling of this cable. It is infinitely more posable and flexible than the stock LC-3.5B cable and lighter too, so I’ll let the one complaint slide.

As for the sound properties, the LC-4.4C is a step up from LC-3.5B. Not only does it convey more detail and higher resolution across the spectrum, it does so without sacrificing the FA7’s superior mids tone and timbre, a highlight for this IEM. The LC-4.4C conveys an effortless, roomy presentation, sounding more technically sound and spacious but never in-your-face and aggressive. He’s friendly!

The cable is available in 3 variants, depending on the jack for your music player. LC-2.5C is for 2.5mm balanced players, LC-3.5C is for regular players and most mobile phones (except Apple, boo), and the LC-4.4C which I have just reviewed. They are priced at $59.99 and are available via Amazon or AliExpress.

Fit, Isolation and Comfort

I thought FH5 was comfortable, but the FA7 is really something else: a different beast and feast. The compact shell design slides right in and fits snugly, subsequently disappearing into my ears like the emperor’s new (nude) clothes. I could insert them all the way into my canals and lie on the side while listening. This level of world-ending, mind-bending comfort approaches that of custom IEMs. They’re that good!

[attachmentid=10255797]

Thanks to the long nozzles, all ear tips provided by FiiO seal quite well. As for isolation, with the double-flanged ear tips and the deep insertion, I was able to attain the sense of tranquility and peace that can only be achieved by reaching a mountain’s summit, wandering into a soundproof chamber, or being completely deaf. The music and I are one and inseparable from the other.

That is an exaggeration of course, but not far from the truth. With much kudos to the updated design, FA7 easily isolates 80-90% of outside noise provided you use the included double-flanged ear tips and go really, really deep! Like deep-sea diving for, uh, fresh seafood.

Sound Quality

The FA7 is but a drop in the ocean of many budget-minded IEMs. It’s true they have the pedigree, know-how, experience and research department to shine, but we are dealing with a fickle market which embraces new shiny things on a monthly basis. Will this drop cause a ripple or just disappear after running its course? Let’s find out how they sound.

Overall Sound Signature

When looking lost in a foreign land, people tend to approach and help. Touched, you make it a point to be just as courteous back home because what the world needs now is love, sweet love. Of course, all that love stuff is forgotten when someone abruptly cuts into your lane and you curse inwardly. Ah well. Just remember your time on vacation and the warmth you felt. The FA7 sound, too, is warm and inviting. It has an elevated midbass and lower mids for a full-bodied, meaty sound.

[attachmentid=10255798]

Before the signature becomes too rich and syrupy (think drinking pure honey, lol), there is a lower treble bump for some airiness and spaciousness, essentially making this an L-shaped signature. So we have a warm-tinged monitor that’s useful for extended, relaxed listens, but balanced with good levels of detail, resolution, and crispy note texture to spice things up in the bedroom. Yes.

If you’re too tied up to finish the rest of the review, let me just say this: the mids are superb stuff. Or in broken Italian: primo grado.

Listening Conditions

Critical listening was done after 50 hours of burn-in. It’s a formality more than an attempt to affect sound quality, frankly, since BA-based IEMs should sound as good as they are out of the box. This is to keep burn-in enthusiasts quiet, ok? Lol.

The main review rig was Sony’s NW-WM1A Walkman modded by Project K with the stock cable. The ear tips of choice were the double-flanged silicone tips, which gave me not only the best fit, but near-perfect seal and isolation.

Bass

I’m writing this during Mother’s Day, so it’ll be a bit sappy. Imagine you alone in the universe, fending off the world on your own. You yearn to be a kid again, safe in the arms of your mother. Like any mom, she tucks you in when you sleep so you don’t catch a cold. And like the horrible kid you’ve always been, you kick away the blanket after a while. Even in unconsciousness, you defy her, lol.

FiiO’s FA7 wraps the signature in a warm blanket. Whatever the weather, you ain’t gonna catch that cold! The sub-bass and midbass are generously enhanced, providing warmth like a bowl of chicken soup. Extension is fine with rumble that is easily felt, and all things bass are executed admirably. There are good impact and note body, with tonal richness, smoothness, and authority available in spades.

[attachmentid=10255799]

However, the gooey richness sacrifices other aspects of the bass, like a love that’s welcoming, but suffocating. Notes are thick and dense, with a slow, plodding decay. Speed is suspect and the bass lines linger past their welcome, affecting layering and bleeding into the mids sometimes. Details suffer too, with rounded-off note edges that mimic crushing blows via mittens.

Of course, the FA7 bass sets off with the best intentions, providing a smooth, buttery bass that doesn’t lack on impact, even if it suffers in technical ability. Accept it with open arms for what it is: a bass only a mother would love.

Mids

Like peering and leering into the irises of your one true love (or loves, who am I to judge), FA7’s mids aim for the heart and soul. The tone and timbre of the mids are spot-on, sounding natural as ever. It carries over much of the qualities of the bass with one key change: it dials back the thickness and haze, reaping instant rewards in the process.

The bass warmth carries over to the lower mids splendidly. Male vocals and string instruments have a keen presence, sounding inviting, rich, and fully-formed. Guitars and pianos sound strikingly accurate, with note density balanced by a quick decay. Upper mids are euphonic and airy, rendering female vocals and emotional rollercoasters effortlessly without evidence of grain.

[attachmentid=10255800]

Notes are neutrally-placed, with transitions velvety smooth and oh so fluid. The FA7 eschews any need to show-off in favor of pure, unadulterated organicism and musicality. Each note is coherent, evenly shaped and lovingly sculpted, being richly-layered and wonderfully-textured, yet not lacking in detail.

My only nitpick is the overall speed and resolution of the mids; there is some smudging if tracks are too fast and demanding. But the tuning and timbre give a graceful naturalness to the tuning of these accomplished mids and are enough to win me over. These lovey-dovey mids are meant to soothe the aching soul.

Treble

At this point, you’re probably aware that the FA7 signature is akin to a gentle breeze, with a non-aggressive, harmonious approach to rendering music. The treble continues the zephyr-like serenity, with a slight lower treble bump so it isn’t too bogged down by the overall warmth of the signature.

The treble makes its presence felt non-threateningly and non-confrontationally: not unlike a diplomat in times of peace, fostering relations through goodwill and maybe a few drinks. It rises early, at the lower treble, bringing some attention and crispness to cymbals and percussion. It evens out the further up we go, integrating with the rest of the signature seamlessly.

It lacks some extension at the upper treble but allows enough air to permeate the signature. Up here, the notes are smooth, rounded, and forgiving, never approaching the sibilance zone and providing just a hint of sparkle to stay exciting. Its boisterous, swashbuckling days might be in the past, but the steady reliability of a safe, tuneful treble will satisfy most.

[attachmentid=10255801]

Soundstage and Imaging

Now, the trouble with a warm, smooth, and coherent signature is that soundstage dimensions and imaging capability almost always take a hit. It’s not a massive hit per se, but the spatial qualities will never be the highlight of the FA7, not when the tuning takes front and centrestage.

Here, the FA7 displays a good amount of width, with an accomplished left to right differentiation. You’ll have no problem picturing the instruments and vocalists laid out in front of you, like those hipster photographs with the contents of someone’s pockets or messenger bag arranged meticulously on a table. Each element occupies its own unique space, separated by adequate black space in between.

For depth, height, and front-to-back layering, however, the FA7 is average at best. The warm air injected by the elevated midbass and overall thick notation congests things somewhat. You won’t have a window-clear picture of, say, a full orchestra performing because the separation and imaging are simply not at that level. Simpler arrangements, sure, but the FA7’s greatest strengths lie elsewhere.

Comparisons

FiiO FH1

I’m bringing the whole family in. The FH1 ushered in a watershed moment for FiiO hybrids, with exquisite attention to detail across aesthetics, comfort, and sound regardless of price. The FH1 marked the first time I was genuinely interested in FiiO IEMs and my inaugural review with Headphonesty reflected that.

So where does the FA7 stand alongside FH1? The simple answer is head and shoulders above. Sharing similar lush, organic, and warm characteristics, FA7 nonetheless stands out in sheer technical superiority. Notes have much better definition, shape, and differentiation, while music effortlessly flows together, creating an easygoing, coherent atmosphere that is praiseworthy.

In comparison, FH1 sounds slower and bloated. It has less end-to-end extension and there is a definite lack of air, space, and spatial definition when listened to back-to-back. While it’s no slouch in musicianship, the FH1 falls apart on critical listening. Obviously, you have to keep in mind that FH1 is priced at a quarter of FA7, but it’s easy to see FA7 winning this.

FiiO FH5

The universe is filled with tough questions, and one most often asked is whether to get the evergreen FH5 or the brand spanking new FA7 if you had $300 lying around. I reviewed the FH5 very favorably not too long ago. In truth, they are different enough to own both, but you don’t want to hear that, you want a duel with blood!

[attachmentid=10255804]

The FH5 takes on a more vibrant and aggressive approach, with airy and detailed mids anchored by deep, delicious sub-bass and a crystalline treble with enough sparkle to spare. It’s fun and wows at first listen, and to this day remains my benchmark for its price range. The FA7 may not be able to usurp it, but it takes another approach.

Compared side-by-side, the FA7 sounds warmer, more musical and fluid overall, with a relaxed, laidback presentation like easing into your favorite lounge chair. The signature is more evenly dispersed, with less sub-bass thump and treble brightness, and wetter, more luscious mids that enchant in their own way.

Technically, they are pretty even in terms of extension and note definition. I much prefer the naturalness of the FH5’s bass (thanks to the dynamic driver), but am equally smitten by the organic and buttery mids of the FA7. Soundstage dimensions are similar, with both having adequately wide stages, but FH5 is airier with better separation.

So in truth, different strokes for different blokes. FH5, being so adept at modern genres, is definitely more dynamic, engaging and something to show off to your friends. FA7 is more coherent, reserved and refined, favoring vocal-centric music and jazz. If pushed for an answer while dangled at the side of a building, I’d choose the FH5, but I would be equally happy with either.

Final Words

Following up a classic is a monumental task. The Beatles did it, releasing Sgt Pepper after the zenith of Revolver, but then they’re superhuman. Radiohead followed-up OK Computer with a 180-degree turn and churned out Kid A to confused folks. Coming up with the sequel to Pet Sounds nearly broke Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. It wasn’t for the faint of heart.

FiiO might not be in the same league as those musical legends, but they have a legacy to protect and a legion of well-regarded products to succeed. FiiO risk being redundant with FA7’s release, especially so close after the crowd favorite FH5. With the same driver count and similar price tier, why bother? What more could it possibly offer?

[attachmentid=10255802]

But FiiO is adamant and march to the beat of their own bum. The FA7 can be described as an evolution of the FH5, taking into account the various issues of the older model and coming out with improvements across the board. This is, bar none, FiiO’s most comfortable and best-fitting IEM to date. The looks, accessory set, and build quality are as good as ever, which leaves only one thing left to judge: the sound.

Thankfully, FiiO has some serious tuning chops and, for the most part, know what they’re doing. For those who thought the FH5 too aggressive, or too youthful (sound signatures according to age, why not?), FA7 is the answer, featuring a warm, inviting signature that is as accessible as it is pleasurable. It’s a wonderfully mature tuning that has less wow factor, but grows on you with each listen.

Would I recommend it? Yes, it has too many merits of its own to ignore. In particular, the highly impressive mids tuning is simply awe-inspiring at any price. The FA7 is another stepping stone in FiiO’s evolution to be a portable audio juggernaut, and from where I stand, the best is yet to come.

[SOLD] Venture Electronics BIE (Bonus in-ear)

ezekiel_77 — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 09:46:06 +0800

Item(s): VE BIE

Package includes: cloth zippered case, eartips, BIE.

Price: SOLD

Dealing method: Poslaju

Contact method/details: pm

Item(s) conditions: Brand new

Picture:
[attachmentid=10180011]

Reason for sale: Extra unit

For interest check is the newest IEM from Venture Electronics, the BIE. Great sound great value, available only in small batches when Lee announces on Facebook (currently unavailable). Selling because I bought an extra unit. Price is USD25 originally with shipping, so no haggling please.

[Withdrawn] Audeze LCD-X (2016)

ezekiel_77 — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 10:14:25 +0800

Item(s): Audeze LCD-X 2016 edition

Package includes: Original box with full accessories.

Price: Withdrawn. Originally USD1799 bought from a dealer.

Warranty: Expired

Dealing method: Poslaju

Location: Ipoh

Contact method/details: PM

Item(s) conditions: Very good and well-maintained. Pads have aged but were cleaned up and taped to the headphone.

Picture:
[attachmentid=10174709]

Reason for sale: Underused. I normally pick up HD800S for my headphone sessions.

Acoustune Instagram Photo Contest

ezekiel_77 — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 23:31:44 +0800

[attachmentid=10130721]

Acoustune Instagram Photo Contest

Enter for a chance to win an IEM HS1004!

How to enter:

1. Follow @acoustune_my on Instagram

2. Snap and post a photo with any Acoustune product.

*photo with your own Acoustune or taken using demo unit in authorized retailers Jaben, Stars Picker and Centre Circle is acceptable.

3. Be sure to hashtag #acoustunexmas

*Make sure your account is a public account.

Contest ends on 21 Dec 2018.

2 winners will be chosen and notified via Instagram on 24 Dec.

Terms:

Applicants in Malaysia only.
Limited one post per person.

Review: FiiO BTR3

ezekiel_77 — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 02:21:37 +0800

Introduction

Magic. Sorcery. Bluetooth. Man always feared what they cannot comprehend, and delivering invisible rays of music to my ears is as foreign as it gets. So what’s stopping an evil genius from misusing these invisible rays to deliver death? Wait, a microwave you say? For cooking, no one thought about killing? Just me then? Hmm!

While my faith in humanity is restored, I like the idea of a wired audio signal delivered via good conductors, like expensive silver wires, because then I know the sound ain’t going anywhere else. Wireless audio paraphernalia were for tech nuts and exercise nuts. But as more armchair audiophiles grow heavier and need to shed some pounds, well, necessity is the mother of great audio quality.

Flagship digital audio players (DAPs) and smartphones are getting larger and heavier, burdening pockets until a solution is found. Enter the FiiO BTR3, a Bluetooth receiver and amplifier, now in its third iteration (I must have fallen asleep for the first two). At 25g and just the size of a thumb, it turns your portable setup into a lightweight solution, so you carry just the BTR3 and earphones, and stay active while your DAP/smartphone rests nearby.

The BTR3 also carries a slew of secondary functions. It receives calls with Qualcomm’s cVc noise cancellation technology. It converts car and computer speakers to Bluetooth receivers, playing music wirelessly from your smartphone or Bluetooth-enabled DAP. It can also be used as an external DAC (digital-to-analog converter) for your laptop or computer, instantly improving sound quality via its dedicated AK4376A DAC chip.

[attachmentid=10079027]

The best part is, sound quality for Bluetooth audio is at its unquestionable peak as of now. The BTR3 supports the widest range of wireless audio codecs, from the vanilla SBC, to CD-quality aptX, to the mighty high-resolution audio-capable LDAC. We used to be satisfied if a Bluetooth setup produces contiguous sound that doesn’t break up, and now at long last we have fidelity!

I'd like to thank Lily from FiiO for the review sample. The BTR3 retails for RM349 and is currently available from E1. Embrace the future! Go wireless or end up like the Last Jedi! Why send a projection of your own body and soul to fight battles when remote controlled robots can do the same? Obviously Luke wasn’t friends with Tony Stark.

This article was first published in Headphonesty.

Equipment Used:
FiiO BTR3
Samsung Galaxy S9
Sony WM1A “K” Modded
FiiO FH5
Advanced AcousticWerkes W900
Empire Ears Legend X
Sennheiser HD800S

Albums Listened:
Amber Rubarth – Sessions from the 17th Ward
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
John Mayer – Continuum
Lorde – Pure Heroine
Michael Jackson – The Essential
The Police – Synchronicity
Dozens of 320kbps MP3s from my smartphone

Packaging and Accessories

I hate to use a millennial term because it’s daylight theft and makes me sound like an old geezer, but the packaging of the BTR3 is stupendously basic. It’s a cardboard box with a photo of the BTR3 printed on top. Open it up and you get the BTR3, lanyard, USB to USB-C cable for charging or the external DAC function, warranty and a quickstart guide.

[attachmentid=10079028]

It wastes no time in telling you to throw away the box and start listening. Just don’t throw away the quickstart guide, it was my bible for the last few weeks while playing with this thing. You can wear the BTR3 two ways, either with the shirt clip, or with the lanyard. Being a person of advanced age and misplacing things everywhere, I much prefer the lanyard. Makes me look like a coach too, completing the geezer look.

Design and Build Quality

The monolithic shape of the BTR3 is timeless and honestly, critic-proof. Dressed in a glossy jet black, with a sand-blasted shirt clip, FiiO logos front and back, the design is classy and practical, delivering on all fronts. If you get fingerprint smudges on the glass surface of the BTR3, it’s your own fault. Glossy is as glossy does.

I’ve always been confused by the term “smashing”. It’s a compliment but at the same time it might incite violence. When I say the BTR3’s build quality is smashingly good, please don’t find a hard surface to smash it on. Just take my word for it. The BTR3’s metal and glass structure is solidly built despite its feather-light weight, and inspires beaming confidence.

Pairing and Connectivity

With quickstart guide (in 200 languages) in hand, you can connect and listen in no time. Turning the BTR3 on for the first time will automatically enter pairing mode (FiiO logo flashes blue and red). Every time you turn the BTR3 on it will automatically pair with the last used device. To pair with another device subsequently, just press the ‘A’ button for 5 seconds to enter pairing mode at any time. For the uninitiated, the final setup looks like this.

[attachmentid=10079029]

Audio source (phone/DAP) > paired wirelessly with Bluetooth > FiiO BTR3 > cable > transducer (IEM/headphones/speakers)

Granted, this is not a fully wireless setup. But if you get creative, the BTR3 to transducer chain can be made as lightweight as possible. For example, a short IEM cable with the BTR3 clipped to your collar. Or for headphones, a tiny cable to connect to the BTR3 so you can clip it on your cap. You gotta be imaginative. But if you're old school like this geezer, the setup looks like the one above.

To pair, make sure BTR3 is in pairing mode (flashing red/blue) while your source’s Bluetooth is turned on. The BTR3 will appear on your source as, well, FiiO BTR3. No passwords, nothing. Click and pair and get listening. While music is playing the FiiO logo flashes according to the colour of the codec. If you're using Android Oreo and above chances are it's LDAC with the logo flashing white. Keep it that way yeah?

[attachmentid=10079030]

Both my sources, the Galaxy S9 and Sony WM1A, paired with the BTR3 with the minimum of fuss. The quick pairing is thanks to the Qualcomm CR8675 Bluetooth 4.2 chip. If Bluetooth pairing proves too slow for your speed demon tendencies, NFC will do the trick. Took literally one second for the BTR3 to pair with my Sony this way. Breathless yet?

Fast pairing isn’t worth a cent if the signal drops at the slightest provocation. To test the signal strength I did some chores while my phone sits in the middle of the house. You’re welcome, wifey. While toiling around the toilets, the signal remained clear and uninterrupted at 20 feet if separated by one or two walls, and a jaw-dropping 40 feet if maintaining line of sight with the BTR3. Any longer, I’d have to get a new house.

[attachmentid=10079031]

Functionality and Battery Life

Let’s get our hands dirty with the BTR3’s primary function. The Qualcomm chip is capable of transmitting 24 yummy bits of audio information. It has the widest audio codec support known to man. When they say the whole gamut of codecs are covered, they mean it. AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX Low Latency, aptX HD, LDAC, and LHDC. Every. Single. One.

The BTR3 will display the codec used via colour-coding of the front FiiO logo. You can choose audio output prioritising performance (SBC/blue/boo), sound quality (LDAC/white/yay) or somewhere in between (aptX/pink/meh). Again, the codec support is kind of a big deal. This being an audio enthusiasts’ hideout, I accept nothing but the FiiO logo flashing the reassuring LDAC white, naturally.

Using the BTR3 is a joy. Not lugging the heavy smartphone or DAP around while I listen to hi-res music has been a hitherto unknown pleasure. The BTR3 has enough juice for a rip-roaring party for one, with all my in-ear monitors (IEMs) tested sounding sufficiently good. Best of all, the noise floor is astoundingly low with no hiss detected with them.

Just for kicks, although the BTR3 is designed to drive headphones up to 100Ω, I went ahead and tried the Sennheiser HD800S (rated at 300Ω), because YOLO. To my surprise, the BTR3 could power them below maximum volume with juice to spare! While the BTR3 won’t fulfil the 800S’ full potential (the tone was good but the soundstage awfully tiny), nice to know it has some driving muscle. Now flex.

Rounding out the other functions, answering calls with the BTR3 is excellent with crystal-clear vocals. The external DAC function for laptops is foolproof, just plug and play (heh) without driver installation. Using the BTR3 as a receiver for ancient transducers worked for my computer speakers and TV, with a 3.5mm.to 3.5mm audio cable (not provided though).

Sadly, I couldn’t do the same with my car as the stereo system doesn’t have a 3.5mm socket. Unless, you know, someone could sponsor a new car? I tried. As a bonus, streaming videos produce no lag between video and audio. Besides telemarketers (who deserve a class all on their own), there is nothing more irritating than out-of-sync audio, so BTR3 is safe here.

As for battery life, the BTR3 is power-packed, like a calorie-filled energy bar. It’s a teensy weensy 300mAh battery, but allowed LDAC playback for a full workday. That’s 9 hours with some leftover power for the ride home. Honestly I didn’t try the other codecs because LDAC or bust. I bet AAC or SBC can go more than 10 hours as advertised, but would you want to listen to worse stuff, for longer?!

Before we go any further, I have to say that updating the firmware is a pain in the gonads. First up, finding the file itself involved Googling. Clicking FiiO’s firmware download section leads to its forums, so imagine the bitter pill of searching thread by thread. Lastly, take a look at the mind-boggling instructions here. The BTR3’s display is off throughout the update and involves lots of praying. I was successful in my third attempt, after much cussing, not praying.

[attachmentid=10079032]

Sound Quality

The BTR3 has a dedicated AK4376A DAC with headphone amplifier to handle all audio output and flex audio muscle. For fear of describing the transducers’ sound instead of the BTR3’s and tarnishing my reputation forever, I tried several IEMs and cans with the BTR3 and looked for similarities to gauge its overall signature.

I don’t think burn-in applies here, so I skipped it. You can burn-in with a microwave if it suits you. Critical listening was done out of the box for instant fun and gratification. The main rig for review is Samsung Galaxy S9 > BTR3 > transducer of choice. I tried the BTR3 with the FiiO FH5, Empire Ears Legend X, AAW W900 and just because I can, the Sennheiser HD800S. I heard the BTR3 gasp at the last one.

Overall Sound Signature

The BTR3 has an overall warm presentation, with an emphasis on detail. It sounds a bit contradictory, like ice cream and broccoli, but bear with me. The bass is elevated for a warm, enveloping feel, while notes are meaty and pronounced. You won’t find a thin, nimble response here. At the same time, note texture is easily heard, especially at note decay, as the BTR3 lays out a wealth of information before fading into a jet-black background.

Another thing of note, the BTR3 has fun in mind. Even with its emphasis on detail, the signature is lively and natural. A vibrant, people-pleaser signature. It’s hard to dislike it unless you compare the BTR3 with a high-end DAP, which in all fairness, is unfair. The BTR3 provides baby steps to the wireless lifestyle for hard-headed, snot-nosed audiophiles like me. But does it succeed? Let’s dissect the sound.

Bass

The mighty bass anchors the signature down, and provides a firm base to expand the sound on, like a fulcrum. The mids and treble teeters and totters but doesn’t wander far, thanks to the steady foundation built upon the bass. It’s diligent, dependable and steady, like the leader of a ship. That’s how leadership is forged, captain.

The bass is mildly enhanced especially in the midbass region, giving off warmth and body. It’s well-rounded and full of character, like a proper Irish stout. Notes hit with authority and aplomb. And like the delicate foam on top, note decay gives off a smooth, gentle finish, never offensive, rounding off a satisfying bass. I need a drinky.

Of course, while everything is merry and jaunty from midbass to upper bass, I would have preferred more subbass extension and rumble, to really show them who’s boss. But from the wireless, Bluetoothy side of things, this is probably the best sound I’ve listened to yet. Drink up your stout, boy.

[attachmentid=10079033]

Mids

Ascending to the mids, the notes are clear and articulate, free from the clutches of the bountiful bass. Note detail is milked to the maximum here. From note attack to decay, you hear with utmost clarity the texture and timbre of each note, lovingly detailed, yet flowing seamlessly into one another. It’s a musicality to fall head-first into, and get giddy with excitement about.

Describing the tone of the mids, while detail and transparency is at a good level, they are not neutral or flat-tuned. Rather, notes have a coloured, sweet and euphonic finish, sounding natural and lively. Like Frampton, music comes alive! Instruments and vocals alike, the tuning highlights all that is good about music. Ever-so-slightly warm, but engaging and addicting almost to a personal level. Like a tidal wave of puppies.

I’ve always maintained that, for my sources, I like the tone to remain as neutral as possible, and let the transducers weave their magic with signatures, colourations and unicorn dust. But here, the mids tuning has me won over, with my IEMs and cans jiving and chiming with it, and changing for the better.

Treble

As the last puppy tails off into the sunset, the treble inherits some of its playfulness and liveliness. The lower and mid-treble display good amounts of detail and transparency, while verging on the safe side of brightness. I’ve listened to many FiiO products and most of them favour a smooth, sibilance-free treble that plays well with most listeners.

Once again, like the mids, note texture and timbre are given a first-class treatment. Cymbals sound realistic and no-nonsense, without added bells or whistles. Bells and whistles sound natural as well, with a melodious ringing free of tizziness and that nails-to-chalkboard sensation which makes you skip to the next track.

The highest registers are muted. I would have liked more treble air to flow freely, weaving its way in and out of the signature. It’s a personal preference really, but as it is, the BTR3 treble has just enough detail, counterbalanced with equal smoothness. Notes have just the right thickness, contrasted with a dollop of crunch and crisp. A good tuning beats end-to-end extension anyday.

Soundstage and Imaging

Remember the uh, fulcrumatic bass? The anchor of the signature and keeper of the music, he can get quite attached to things. The mids and treble are totally fine with this (Stockholm syndrome) and deliver the sound as a united whole. The soundstage however, feels caged in, and stutters and stammers, itching to be let loose.

The stage size is intimate at best. The elements of music never leave the perimeter of your head, although this can be transducer-dependent. Pair the BTR3 with an IEM known for a big soundstage and you can push the dimensions outward by a little. Most times however, you have to accept the average stage width, and barely-there depth and height.

It’s not all doom and gloom as I make it out to be. From a value standpoint, at USD79.99, barely any DAP or IEM would be able to produce a holographic, wide-open soundstage. It’s just generally accepted that at this price range, tonality and signature is prioritised over staging and imaging. Having said that, the left to right positional cues are rather good, aided by the vast black background. Just don’t expect sounds to pop out of your head.

[attachmentid=10079034]

Comparisons

Samsung Galaxy S9

I must apologise. This audiofool isn’t a techie at heart, and has no other Bluetooth receiver to compare with. Comparing it with a similar-priced DAP seems unfair, since I already have a preconceived bias that wired systems whups wireless. So I bring you the Galaxy S9 audio output as comparison, while providing one answer to the question, “does adding an external DAC improve sound quality?”

The Galaxy S9 is one of this year’s premier flagship phones, meaning it is the master of all trades and jack of none. If we look at spec sheets alone, everything is peachy and perfect, from top to bottom. The audio quality is likewise, a reliable performer. As one of the top performers for smartphone sound quality, the signature is neutral and clear, but almost to the point of sterility.

The BTR3 bass is meatier with more character, leaving the S9’s thinnish bass behind. S9’s mids bring precise notes, with plenty of detail and articulation, but BTR3’s lovely coloured mids sound more euphonic and natural. BTR3’s beautifully-textured treble make the S9’s sound grainy and thin in comparison. Soundstage size is similar, but BTR3’s impressive black background gives better imaging cues than S9. As an add-on to improve sound, the BTR3 proves its worth.

Final Words

At some point in life you begin to assess your wants and needs. Bluetooth audio is for me, something I do not indulge in day in, day out, as opposed to say, quality brunches. Be that as it may, the entry-level price point and widespread high resolution LDAC support from Android Oreo, might finally mean that the time to adopt Bluetooth is now.

The BTR3 is incredibly hard to fault for what it does: providing a strong, rarely-interrupted signal for your IEMs to enjoy on-the-go, while sounding simply superb. The sound quality rivals, even betters top phones; and is within touching distance of wired portable systems. Consider also the host of secondary functions that are only limited by your imagination. The future might have already arrived, so get on board and have fun.

.

ezekiel_77 — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 02:11:21 +0800

Duplicate pls delete

Review: FiiO FH5

ezekiel_77 — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 12:14:53 +0800

Introduction

I’ve seen the look in their eyes. Fearless, hungry, full of fire, staring directly at the sun and challenging all comers. Those in the shade can only admire the ferocity, audacity and borderline insanity. Like a raging bull charging to the fore, FiiO are marching towards immortality, bent on world conqueration, celebration and inebriation (in that order). Sorta like the movie 300, only on Xerxes’ winning side.

FiiO have come a long way since dipping their toes in the vast pool of in-ear monitors (IEMs) via the EX1 a few years ago, essentially a repackaged Dunu Titan 1. Since going out on their own and starting their own band, they have launched three IEM lines; the F series for dynamic drivers (DD), FA for balanced armatures (BAs), and FH for hybrids. Today we look at what is FiiO’s priciest and most ambitious IEM, the FH5.

Fresh off learning the ropes with their first hybrid, the FH1, where else to go but stuffing the IEMs with more and more drivers, before the inevitable purist approach by reducing the driver count? Before we get ahead of ourselves, the FH5 houses a total of 4 drivers, with 3 Knowles BAs handling the mids and treble; while a single 10mm polymer nanocomposite DD delivers the bass.

The FH5 proves to be a powerhouse of patented technology as well, with solid Trishell housing, S.Turbo sound tube design for visceral bass delivery, and three independent sound bores for bass, mids and treble. These drool-worthy new tech come together to evoke a sensational, sensory experience for the FH5, from sight to touch to hearing. We haven’t gone into IEM smell or taste yet, but who knows what the future might hold?

I would like to thank Lily of FiiO for the review sample, and her continued support for my reviews. The FH5 currently retails for USD269.99 and is available through their official website and Amazon.

This review was first published in Headphonesty.

[attachmentid=10035978]
Forged from the depths of fire and brimstone.

Equipment Used:

DAP
Sony NW-WM1A "K" Modded, FW 2.0

IEMs
FiiO FH5
FiiO FH1
iBasso IT03

Albums Listened
Aaron Neville – Warm Your Heart
Art Pepper – Modern Jazz Classics
Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
Diana Krall – From This Moment On
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Fleetwood Mac – Tango in the Night
Macy Gray – Stripped
Meiko – Playing Favorites
Michael Jackson – The Essential
The New Appalachians – From The Mountaintop

[attachmentid=10035980]
The big black box carries a startup company's promise, and some foam.

Packaging and Accessories

One of my favourite movie phrases come from Kingsman, a Colin Firth starrer about gentlemanly conduct, where he says (in between bashing bad guys really hard), “manners maketh man”. So, well, packaging maketh earphones. How you present yourself to someone new can mean the difference between a future lifelong partnership or being shown the door.

Since IEMs can’t really say “pardon me, miss”, a presentable appearance is the next best approximate. FiiO’s previous release FH1 had rudimentary packaging befitting an entry-level product, but here we see a huge step up. FH5’s packaging positively glows and demands attention. Not just a big box, like many life lessons we’ve learnt, it’s what inside that counts.

As you open the book-like casing, the FH5 stares back at you, a specimen of beauty and splendour, adorned with gold trim and matching cables. Nothing says “touch me” more than this. But easy tiger, we have more to uncover. Underneath, a host of eartips with different sound properties await, for vocal lovers, bass addicts, balanced nuts, and um, some foam tips for treble-haters perhaps.

As with the FH1, a lovely Pelican-like case is provided, only now in transparent as opposed to the glossy black of old. Something tells me FiiO couldn’t wait to show off the FH5 at every opportunity. I have already extolled my love for the case in the FH1 review, but let me repeat it in simplified form. I love it, adore it, and would trade less-familiar family members for it given half a chance.

As I start a third consecutive paragraph with the same word, rounding out the accessory set is a fabric zippered pouch and a cleaner tool. The pouch is more pocketable than the hard case but sans protection, I wouldn’t use it but then again that’s why we have options. The cleaner tool is for, well, ear gunk in the sound bores. Do keep your ears clean.

[attachmentid=10035987]
Some beardo said unboxing is therapeutic, so have at it.

Design and Build Quality

My, my. The FH5 looks marvelous. Even when compared to its predecessors, the FH5 stands out like a supermodel in a sea of girls-next-door. Inspired by fluid supercar designs, it has a sleek and aerodynamic shell, highlighted with grooves on the faceplate that look like either tiger claw scratches, or ruffled bed sheets.

For now, the FH5 is only available in titanium with gold trim, with probably more colour choices soon based on customer feedback. Titanium, okay, grey might not be everyone’s cup o’ tea, but the gold trim adds finesse to its looks, subtly telling you it has hidden depths. Taken as a whole, I love the design. It’s meant to trigger an emotional response, like “buy me now”. Is that an emotion? Ah yes. Lust.

The lust amplifies when you hold the FH5 in your hands. Made of CNC machined aluminium-magnesium alloy, FiiO’s patented Trishell design feels smooth and fluid to the touch, yet solid and sturdy. The term velvety metal does not make much sense, but I’m calling it exactly that. It’s sexy metal built to excite.

Speaking of build quality, the smooth finish and the machined edges inspire confidence. For now, the MMCX connectors cause no issues such as sound cuts or loose fits, and I hope they stay that way. Attaching cables to the FH5 let out a satisfying click, and the cables do not spin as freely in the socket as other MMCX connectors. Whether it will survive the apocalypse I cannot say, but if you threw these at someone I bet it will hurt.

Cables

A lot of thought (and copper) was put into the FH5’s stock cable. The result is a beautifully-braided and sheathed cable made of high-purity monocrystalline silver-plated copper. The build quality far surpasses any expectations of a stock cable, outdoing the previous FH1’s braided cables easily.

Like a photographer fawning over his favourite muse, the attention to detail is stunning. From the transparent connectors coded red and blue for easy differentiation, to the solidly-built 3.5mm jack, aesthetics play a big part in the cable’s allure. The cables behave fairly well too, with some memory retention but not so much as to irritate the user. My only complaints are the ear guides bend too much, and you do feel the weight of the cables. Otherwise it’s a winner chicken dinner.

[attachmentid=10035995]
The 4.4mm coiled and roasted to perfection.

Lily was kind enough to provide the LC-4.4B balanced cable for my Sony audio player. The cable is the exactly the same as stock, but with a 4.4mm 5-pole jack instead. The sound improvement going from single-ended to balanced playback in a Sony is obvious, with more apparent details, a blacker background, cleaner stage and better dynamics. Improvements vary for other players, but for Sony we go balanced every chance we get.

FiiO did not include a balanced cable in its packaging this time around, making them (also available in 2.5mm TRRS) a separate purchase. Some will balk at this decision, but at USD36.99 for this silver-plated copper cable, it’s one of the cheapest in the market for spectacular quality. To soften the blow, FiiO included a balanced cable free of charge for early birds, so they got your back, albeit temporarily.

Fit, Isolation and Comfort

Like a silk robe, an oversized tee or mid-2000s Jessica Alba, some IEMs when you first look at them, you just know they’ll fit you comfortably. The FH5 has this charming quality where you just want to put them in you at first sight. That sounded wrong. In more polite terms, the smooth, ergonomic finish ensures seamless and pain-free insertion, removal, and re-insertion for years on end. Ahhh damn.

The amorphous shape of the FH5 adheres nicely to my ear contours, and my ears thank them for the supreme comfort. Isolation is below average as I hear a lot of outside noise coming in, so these are not reliable for your daily commute. Where the FH5 falters is the short length of the nozzles. preventing a strong enough seal to stay in your ears. Finding the right set of eartips to solve this conundrum can prove exhausting.

I tried all the stock tips (not those stock tips, otherwise I’d be owning companies instead of writing reviews lol), and none gave the seal that I craved, much less the amazing sound I know the FH5 is capable of. Switching to JVC Spiral Dots made things worse, as the FH5 started falling off my ears. Spinfits fit wonderfully, but sound quality took a dive as the soundstage became congested.

Finally, the perfect match for me came via Symbio eartips by MandarinEs, a foam-filled silicon that anchored the FH5 well. As for sound, detail levels remain high as treble is not sucked out, while the soundstage is relaxed and wonderfully spaced out. This is it. I can’t help but think the problem could be avoided if the FH5 had longer nozzles for a more secure fit.

[attachmentid=10035996]
Don't try this at home. They're not waterproof!

Sound Quality

In the interest of conformity and sheepism, critical listening was done after 100 hours of burning in. I like to give all IEMs with DDs a thorough workout, whether they need it or not. After 100 hours, generally the notes seemed to have tightened up with more focus, but this could be just a placebo, since I’d really like something in return for those 100 hours, y’know? The main setup used was Sony WM1A "K" Modded (low gain and Direct Source on) > LC-4.4B cable > FH5.

Overall Sound Signature

The FH5 follows a balanced signature overall. I hesitate to call it neutral, as it conjures images of stiff upper lip audiophiles listening critically to a flat, boring tuning and jotting down notes fervently. Lest we forget, FiiO’s grammatically unquestionable motto is, “Born for music and happy”. This spirit encapsulates the FiiO experience, you’re here to let your hair down and get down to the music. And the happy.

The FH5 has a people-friendly tuning. Like the peacemaker of IEMs, it goes out of its way not to offend anyone with its sound signature. In many ways it resembles the preferred Chinese tuning which goes something like “strong bass that does not overpower, sweet mids with emphasis on vocals, and a smooth yet detailed treble”. Don’t ask me where I got that quote from. So the FH5 is really a mild W-shaped signature.

And that is the blueprint with which FH5 follows successfully. The bass, mids and treble operate in tandem to provide the absolute optimally-tuned signature possible. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Individually, I can nitpick here and there, but together, it’s hard to fault the signature at all. It’s natural, euphonic, coherent, and easy to listen to, like sitting in your favourite recliner with a hot mama. I mean cuppa.

Bass

In the beginning, there was nothing. And then, there was coffee. Black, concentrated, strong and bitter, and not for general consumption as people had palpitations and throbbing headaches. Weaklings, sheesh. So in the interest of getting more people to accept the idea of coffee, we add milk and sugar, introduce changes to its taste and texture.

The FH5’s bass is as mainstream-focused as they come. The bass is gently lifted to provide some body and warmth to the lower end, but never too much to encroach into the mids, sort of like a milky latte. The subbass extends low and surprises with flights of viscerality and rumble when I least expected… it’s good quality!

The midbass is cleaner and leaner, with well-rounded, organic notes and a quick decay. While I wish for more bite and a few db more of it (closet basshead alert), it’s well-balanced on the whole. You will not accuse the midbass of lacking texture or speed, and it just has enough body for some punch and impact. Bass is not the star of the show but plays a big part in the signature. A team player, big-picture bass if you will.

[attachmentid=10036005]
You can tell these IEMs have lush mids.

Mids

The FH5 mids would likely bask in the limelight and adulation of centre stage. They can be summed up in one word oft-used by Gordon Ramsay: stunning. They are forwardly-placed, and the highlights easily heard. Not only are the mids strikingly detailed and intricately textured, instruments have a natural euphony aided by a touch of warmth and note body.

The mids are so well-balanced, almost as if, when faced with a barrage of tuning choices, they manage to take the middle road at every turn. Smooth or detailed? Both. Thick or airy? Both again, please. Round or textured? Natural or clear? Warm or bright? All of the above. It’s an ingenious balancing act accomplished by one of the best mids in this price tier.

It is worth noting that FH5 was probably crafted especially for female vocals. They are emotive and rich, yet articulate and clear, from a haunting whisper to the vibrato of a soprano, rendered commandingly and confidently, and easily worth the price of admission. Male vocals are a touch behind (don’t touch their behinds!), as the flatter midbass to lower mids obligates a drier, throatier male voice. Ah well, can’t have it all.

Treble

Treble treble, toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble… crafting the perfect treble is a painstaking process. As everyone’s treble tolerance varies, what constitutes a great sounding treble to one might be ear-piercing ice picks for another. One man’s meat is another man’s sleep tonic.

Continuing from the clear and balanced mids, the treble takes on an intricate duality of smoothness and excitement as well. It’s a steady rise to the top, with a tastefully elevated lower treble for a bit of zing. The Lord of Sparkles is merciful on this one, as the intensity peaks just before mid-treble and gently rolls off before hitting the sibilance zone.

As a result, cymbals and hi-hats sound irresistibly crispy and tight, while the nick-of-time treble peak provides just enough air to breathe around the whole spectrum. The treble is energy and forgiveness in equal measure, another people-pleasing part of the signature, and one where I can’t find fault with other than the last bit of extension at the very top.

[attachmentid=10036006]
Sneaked into a Roman bath for this one. Enjoyed the views.

Soundstage and Imaging

The unflappable tuning gives way to the flappable soundstage. The stage presentation is more intimate than vast, more up-close than detached. Getting taken over by the music is one of the FH5’s selling points, so as expected, the stage dimensions are pretty modest. Soundstage width is better than its depth, while height is a pleasant surprise, but the sound doesn’t really leave the orbit around your head.

The good news is, imaging fares better. Aided by the quick and detailed notes, swift decay and abundant air, the stage is neat and tidy, which always leads to great imaging. Sure enough, positional cues are readily defined on all axes, even holographic in some instances. Up to a point however, as the small soundstage means ultimately if a track is too complicated the stage gets congested.

Remember when a blindfolded Luke Skywalker deflected blaster shots from a drone with his lightsaber? The FH5 achieves much of that precision, but don’t bet your life on it. If just two more trigger-happy drones find their way to Luke, that’s it. So while the soundstage is the weak link of the FH5, the impeccable tuning more than makes up for it.

[attachmentid=10036007]
Adrift in the sands of time. It's a bathroom tile.

Comparisons

FiiO FH1

The FH1 was FiiO’s first foray into hybrid IEMs. Based on price alone, the FH5 is already the winner. Moving on… hang on you want more? If I were to use a word to describe the FH1 sound it’s lush. For FH5 it’s euphonic. I was about to say sprightly but apparently that word is reserved for the elderly.

The FH1 has a boomier, looser bass. It’s well-rounded but lacks texture and refinement of the FH5. The FH5 with its subbass emphasis sounds clean and disciplined, yet with fun factor cheerfully intact. Mids are the highlight for both monitors, with FH1 sounding thicker and smoother, and FH5 sounding more linear, airy and detailed. FH1 edges out FH5 in male vocals, but for everything else, FH5 takes the throne.

The FH5 treble makes FH1 sound subdued and not trying hard enough. Both are free of harshness, but FH5 gets some excitement out of the signature while FH1 stays home. For soundstage presentation, even with both veering on the intimate, FH5 has a larger playground while FH1 is nearly in-your-head. Imaging and separation is better layered, airier and more precise on the FH5.

All in all, FH1 is the easygoing chap while FH5 goes to the gym three times a week. Their signatures might be different, but objectively, FH5 carries more detail, has better note texture and tightness, is more extended both ends, and does well with most genres. It’s also more than three times the price, so only you can judge from a value standpoint.

iBasso IT03

Fresh off pounding the FH1 into submission, a wild IT03 calls to FH5, “why don’t you pick on someone your own size?” iBasso’s IT03 is a darling of the sub-USD300 range, where many good hybrids reside. For FH5 to enter this exclusive club, he knows this fight is unavoidable. Ding ding!

As they size up one another, it’s obvious IT03’s signature follows many hybrids, the classic V-shape. The bass is meaty and fleshy, with more emphasis on midbass and a superb natural bloom. It’s a bass very hard to resist. FH5 has more subbass presence but is otherwise flatter, the midbass scoop robs it of some body but in return the FH5 has a more detailed and textured bass.

For mids though, the FH5 starts pounding away. Air? Euphony? Natural timbre? Note richness and an altogether engrossing experience? Check and check. The IT03 cowers behind, with thinner note size and noticeable recession compared to the bass. IT03 takes bass, but mids is all FH5.

They go neck and neck and blow for blow in treble. IT03 is exciting, clear and sparkly, but flirts with sibilance thanks to a mid-treble peak. FH5 stays on the safe side, with a bit less energy, but notes hit cleaner and smoother. IT03’s time to shine (and sparkle) comes via its impressive stage size, which dwarfs the FH5 in all dimensions with ample amounts of air and dynamism. The FH5 is more condensed but has more precise imagery.

As the battle grinds to a halt, there is no clear winner. FH5 is the obvious favourite for midheads and a more level, linear signature, but IT03 is one of the stalwarts of a well-executed V-shape, with an uber-fun bass, thrilling treble, and a large soundstage. FH5 is more for the ears while IT03 is for the feet (and the bopping head).

[attachmentid=10036008]
Took the words sweet signature too literally.

Final Words

Reviewing the FH5, I was reminded of an Aesop fable. As a father struggles to stifle his children from continually fighting and arguing, he brought out a tree branch for each of his offspring and instructed them to break the stick in two. It was of course an easy task. The father then tied a bundle of sticks together and asked them to break the bundle, which proved impossible. Lesson being, there is strength in unity.

Note to newbies. Aesop is not an audio brand.

The greatest strength of the FH5 lies in its united tuning. Taken together the signature simply sings, and you forgive any shortcoming it might have. I’ve thrown rock (not rocks), jazz, soul, EDM, pop and folk at it, and FH5 handles them magnificently as a coherent juggernaut. There are weaknesses, for example upper bass wouldn’t last 5 seconds in a fistfight, but the musical experience that FH5 provides easily compensates for them.

At this price level, inevitably you start harbouring expectations, almost like returns to an investment. The FH5 has enough charm to win me, and possibly many others, over. It stands toe to toe with any and all hybrids in its price range, and in my opinion is among the best-tuned. The evergreens like DN-2000J, FLC8S and LZ-A4 better take notice, this division just got spicier.

Based on its strengths, the FH5 is almost a statement product from FiiO just to show how far they've come. This is, if I've not made myself clear earlier, FiiO’s greatest IEM. And what's more chilling is, this is merely the beginning. It's only their second hybrid IEM, and we've not yet heard from their BA line yet. FiiO IEMs have always been value-for-money propositions, and as they climb up the food chain, I await with bated (and smelly) breath their next release. But for now, you already have the FH5 for maximum enjoyment.

[SOLD] OPPO A3S Purple BRAND NEW SEALED

ezekiel_77 — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 11:30:04 +0800

Item(s): OPPO A3S Purple

Product page: https://www.oppo.com/my/smartphone-a3s

Package includes: Micro USB cable, charger, earphones, SIM ejector tool, silicon case, documentation.

Price: SOLD (20% off original retail price RM599)

Warranty: 1 year OPPO Malaysia warranty (not yet registered)

Dealing method: Poslaju

Location of seller: Ipoh

Contact method/details: PM

Age of item: BRAND NEW SEALED

Item(s) conditions: BRAND NEW SEALED

Picture:
[attachmentid=9992954]
[attachmentid=9992956]
[attachmentid=9992967]

Reason for sale: Maxis One Plan bundled phone. Already have main and backup phone.

[Review] FiiO FH1 - The Tunesmith's Wistful Dream

ezekiel_77 — Thu, 24 May 2018 11:19:51 +0800

Introduction

There's a guy here who owns the 64 Audio Fourte, Astell&Kern SP1000, and Effect Audio Horus. I should know, I peeked at his inventory many times. Last year, another user bought the Empire Ears Zeus, AK380, and PWAudio 1960s in one painful sitting. Summit-fi "it" items change from year to year, but there's always a ready market for them. Some Headfiers are no-nonsense, starting and ending at the pinnacle, never looking down. I should probably be asking them how they make money rather than spend time writing reviews, but here we are.

What the summit-fiers might not know is, there is a vibrant budget-fi scene bubbling underneath, with quick-and-dirty DAPs and IEMs (ok not that dirty) that get the job done at a fraction of summit-fi price tags. More and more their voices are heard, but FiiO has always been at the forefront of this movement. They have a ubiquitous presence here, being a value-for-the-dollar brand for portables, and with an extensive product range that would make boutique makers green with envy.

FiiO has recently taken their IEMs very seriously, and are now knee-deep in hybrids. Their F-series (which stands for FiiO and not, you know) has been successful with the range-topping F9 Pro, which has a detail-oriented sound. Today we'll be looking the first IEM of another, hopefully more fun-oriented series, the FH1. The FH1 is a dual-driver hybrid monitor with a 10mm titanium daphragm dynamic driver for the bass region, and a Knowles BA driver handling the mids and highs. It currently retails for RM359 and is available here https://my.e1personalaudio.com/collections/...oducts/fiio-fh1. The official product page is here http://fiio.net/en/products/81.

I would like to thank Lily of FiiO for the review sample, and the opportunity to review this monitor despite my limited experience.

[attachmentid=9819286]

Equipment Used:

DAP
-Sony NW-WM1A "K" Modded, FW 2.0

IEMs
-FiiO FH1
-FiiO EX1 2nd Generation
-VSonic GR07 37th Anniversary Edition
-KZ ZS10

Albums Listened:
Amber Rubarth – Sessions from the 17th Ward
Art Pepper – Modern Jazz Classics
Beck – Sea Change
Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
Ed Sheeran – Divide
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Macy Gray – Stripped
Of Monsters and Men – My Head is an Animal
Radiohead – OK Computer
Sade – Soldier of Love
Taylor Swift – Reputation

Packaging and Accessories

To me, good product packaging should either be extravagant, or with understated class. Despite the budget-fi price tag, FiiO managed to keep things dignified. A matte-black cardboard box invites you to open them up and give their goods a look. Mmm. The all-black waterproof hardcase provided resembles a mini-Pelican. There's some padding inside to keep your IEMs snug, and just enough room for the FH1 and its two cables. It's sturdily built and inspires confidence, in fact, they're so good I've bought a few separately for my other IEMs. As mentioned, you get two sets of cables, a 3.5mm single-ended cable with microphone and in-line controls, and a clearly superior braided 2.5mm balanced cable, meant to be paired with FiiO DAPs no doubt. Rounding off the accessory set are two sets of silicon eartips in three sizes (S, M and L); all-black tips confer a balanced sound, whereas red-stemmed tips provide more bass.

Design, Build Quality and Cables

The FH1 is available in 4 colours which were rolled out gradually, starting with black, then blue, red and green. The colours won't elevate you to geek god status, but look quite alright. They are going for a classy outlook after all. The chrome trim, glossy nano-coated plastic housing, brass nozzles, all point to a sleek and understated design which I fully agree with. Build quality is solid and looks to stand the test of time, bar the MMCX connectors where the jury is still out. According to the HeadFi thread, the black FH1 had a few teething issues like the sound cutting out from one channel, likely due to the MMCX connectors. I am however glad to report that my blue unit has not run into any blue-ball issues after four months of use.

As mentioned, two detachable cables are provided. The standard 3.5mm cable is basic, with microphone and in-line controls for volume, play/pause, and next/previous track. The angled jack, cable wrap and strain reliefs are nicely made, and while the rubberised cable has a good hand-feel, I can't help but think a hard yank or minor accident will put an end to it. FiiO obviously put in more man-hours for the 2.5mm balanced cable. The cable is upgraded, using silver-plated copper in a 4-wire braid. It looks premium, especially next to the (poorer) standard. Build quality is a veritable step up, as is sound quality. Using an adapter to pair with my Sony DAP (which has 4.4mm balanced out), the sound benefits from more background black space, leading to better differentiation of instruments/vocals, more apparent detail, and a more spacious presentation. If you have a DAP with balanced out, by all means, use the 2.5mm cable and never look back.

Fit, Isolation and Comfort

It's no secret that I love bean-shaped IEMs, so there is certainly bias on my part. I've used and loved the SE846, Pinnacle P1, SM64, Galaxy V1 and the shape largely agrees with my ears. Its comfort and ergonomics are second to none (barring customs), and the best part is I can lie on my side while listening. Why? Because my kids love funny postures and orientations when asleep, largely banishing me to the edge of the bed. Same story for the FH1, I love the fit and comfort, absolutely nothing to fault. Isolation is average, you hear some outside noise unless you crank the volume to unhealthy levels, but this is more or less a given with universals.

[attachmentid=9819287]

Overall Signature

Critical listening was done after 100 hours of burning in. It wasn't recommended by anyone I just thought the titanium dynamic driver could use some exercise. The good news is the sound didn't change before and after burn-in, so you can thank me and save 100 hours. The main setup used was Sony WM1A "K" Modded (low gain and Direct Source on) > 4.4mm to 2.5mm adapter > balanced stock cable > FH1. My favourite eartips for FH1 are the Mandarines Symbio N, which provide excellent bass response and detail levels. Stock all-black tips come a close second, giving me a nice balanced sound with better comfort levels than the Symbios which tend to put weight on the ear canals after an hour of use. Spinfits improve on comfort, but bass tends to be overwhelming and fuzzy, so it's back to Symbios. I'm not a big fan of the red-stemmed bassy stock tips either.

The FH1 is a warm monitor, with abundant bass which sometimes impede into the mids, while the mids hold their own with a deftly natural tone that's a joy to listen to. I've noted some shrill, brittle treble in past FiiO IEMs, but not in this case. The treble is pleasant and smooth, with some shimmer for excitement. I've played recordings of various quality with them, and the FH1 veers on the forgiving side. No ear-splitting treble to be found here, good news for those who found the F9 Pro too detailed. While warm/smooth IEMs are a dime a dozen nowadays, what FiiO has accomplished with the FH1 is remarkable. The mids and treble tuning are very coherent and among the best I've heard in this price range. It is not shackled by the need to unearth every detail in the recording, nor does it aspire to give you headphone-like, out-of-head spaciousness. What it does achieve is a natural timbre and tone that skews towards realism. That is the FH1's claim to fame in this cut-throat sub-USD100 hybrid category. The bass is the troublemaker here, and I'll talk about it very soon.

Bass

Oh, here we are. The FH1 has what I call a working class bass. The working class knows there is no shortcut to success, and to earn more, you have to do more than your share of work. See where I'm getting at? The FH1 bass pounds and grinds like its next paycheck depends on it. It's not a beautiful, light-footed, fluttery bass, with air for miles. It believes that more work will get done with an excess of power and grunt, and is not afraid to get down and dirty. For the most part, it's a load of fun. The subbass goes down to rumbly, satisfying, head-throbbing levels; moving wafts of air to the listener's ear. The midbass is undoubtedly raised as well, with a keen sense of rhythm. The notes are thick, impactful, well-rounded and warm, but on the flipside lacks detail, texture and speed. So on tracks busy with detail and layers, where speed is a must, it plods through and congests the stage. It's also guilty of encroaching into the lower mids unapologetically at times. Gritty work... is not pretty. What you have is an unmistakably dynamic driver bass, that is proudly showing off of its status as the workhorse of the signature, the driving force. It's a sight for sore eyes, but it gets the job done. And mostly in excess.

Mids

Opposites attract, and the beautiful, angelic mids somehow finds its way next to the plucky, devil-may-care bass. It's like when you see in tabloids how a stunning model walks hand-in-hand with someone dressed like a greasy hobo. Stunning. The lower mids inherit some power from the midbass, lending note richness and warm euphony to cellos, bass guitars, and male vocals. They sound meaty, each note gorgeously fleshed out from attack to decay. The highlight however, is the centre to upper mids. They straddle (heh) a fine balance between detail and organicity, sounding alive and realistic. Note weight is average, not too limber and wispy, and never too bogged down, with trace amounts of air around each note. When not intruded by the bass, the mids are positioned slightly forward, asking for your polite attention to focus on every note as it is rendered. Its timbre is lifelike in essence and accomplished in note texture. Truly wonderful. Female vocals, woodwinds, strings, every instrument that desires the the centre-stage is a delight to listen to. Weaknesses? If the mids were airier to better define each note, it would be splendid.

Treble

A monumental undertaking is often tasked to able and dependable hands, one whose work is valued for its consistency. Kinda like Thor. Treble extension is not stellar, the signature lacks some much-needed air in the upper treble region. Treble speed might also be a weakness, it won't be able to keep up with faster, demanding tracks. But what FH1 accomplishes with what it's given is quite commendable. The treble is the stable rock of the signature. It is even, totally devoid of harshness or peaks, and smooth as buttered silk. Continuing upwards from the mids, notes are again average in size and thickness, veering towards naturalness over detail levels. As for tone, there is nothing to fault, just a realistic tone all day and night. Position-wise they take a back seat to the mids and bass, but makes its presence felt with a nice shimmer and excellent note decay. Cymbals and hi-hats, among others benefit from this and do not suffer from any graininess or tizziness. Sacrificing a bit of dynamism and excitement, the treble serves the warm and smooth signature as a whole, sounding astoundingly coherent as a result.

Soundstage and Imaging

The FH1 has good width, and correspondingly, left to right separation is very capable. Centre imaging is positive as well, vocalists take centre stage and command your attention. Listening to binaural albums like Amber Rubarth's Sessions from the 17th Ward, I was taken aback by some height thrown in for good measure. So far, so good. Where it stumbles is in soundstage depth, layering and instrument positioning on the Z-axis is lacking. There is just enough depth to discern some positional cues from front to back, and not having the music slice across my head is always welcome. Most of the imaging cues are from left to right, some above and below ear level, but rarely in front of and behind the ears. As for separation, overall the stage is clean, with enough black spaces in between instruments. However sometimes the bass rears its head and congests the stage, throwing its bass weight around like a hefty guy in an all-you-can-eat.

[attachmentid=9819311]

Comparisons

KZ ZS10

KZ brought some big (budget) guns to join the driver wars. Steadily increasing their driver count and prices, they hope to be considered more than just a cut-and-paste brand. The ZS10 is a 4BA + 1DD hybrid for your consideration. Right off the bat, the presentation is different, with the ZS10 more V-shaped. Vocals are recessed compared to FH1, with notes sounding thinner and colder. Even then, FH1 extracts more detail and texture in each note, while sounding rich and lush, conveying great depths of emotion. ZS10 aims for a brighter, more exciting signature, however the treble sounds unnatural and brittle compared to the smooth and winsome FH1. As for bass, both have their qualities, with FH1 subbass-focused while ZS10 brings more midbass. As a result, FH1 is more visceral and rumbly, while the ZS10 midbass is bloomier and sometimes more distracting to the overall signature. For soundstage properties, FH1 is wider, but ZS10 surprises by being a touch deeper. Imaging ability is similar. Signature-wise, ZS10 is somewhat incoherent, with the thick warm bass contrasted with the thin mids and treble, a typical hybrid tuning. FH1 keeps it all together in an immersive musical experience. All in all, FH1 is in another league, but I do hope KZ continue to improve and innovate, because I love their prices.

FiiO EX1 2nd Generation

The EX1ii is my favourite FiiO IEM previously with an airy, open, earbud-like sound. Given its age it can still teach other IEMs a thing or two in this price range. Starting with its greatest strength, the soundstage, separation and imaging ability greatly surpasses that of FH1. Given its vented build it's no surprise that EX1ii has far more width, depth and air around every instrument. It's like a relaxing breeze interrupted by music. FH1 claws back to contention with its midrange supremacy, easily besting the EX1ii in tone, timbre, euphony and texture. FH1 has a better-balanced, more natural treble as well, while EX1ii is prone to unnatural peaks and occasional sibilance. Bass has FH1 delivering gut-busting subbass goodness, while EX1ii relies on punch and impact more heard than felt. The EX1ii has tighter notes and quicker decay, delivering a more exciting and dynamic sound, compared to FH1's inviting tone and comparatively intimate presentation. They complement each other well, but I tend to reach for FH1 more.

VSonic GR07 37th Anniversary Edition

Ever since I was a wee lad, the GR07 has been the go-to for a reference signature on a budget. Little has changed since then, and after about 200 iterations, they arrive at the 37th Anniversary Edition (GR07AE). I'm glad to say it's my favourite variant, with a warmer, musical presentation compared to the classic GR07 while taming the infamous shrilly treble. The GR07AE has a balanced signature. Compared to FH1, it has tighter, quicker bass in lesser quantity, making the FH1 bass sound slow and fuzzy. The mids are neutrally-placed, with leaner and meaner notes. They render more detail than FH1, opting for a reference-like tuning, but still no match for the sheer realism and emotion FH1 is capable of. The GR07AE highs are nowhere as dangerous as GR07 classic, but is noticeably brighter and more jagged-edged than FH1. Where FH1 is in no danger at all of sibilance, GR07AE does veer on the border a bit. Soundstage presentation is more alike for both monitors, relying on width and left-right separation to convey space. GR07AE's leaner notes mean the signature is airier, and edges ahead in separation/imaging. Where GR07AE falters is in the sheer absence of depth, with most of the music residing in my brain. I would say that both IEMs are again complementary, offering options for critical listening, and kicking back to relax.

[attachmentid=9819313]

Final Words

Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by a multitude of budget-fi choices. There are more picks in the sub-USD100 category than you can shake your spear at. Sailing on a sea of indecision, the FiiO FH1 provides a package worthy of your attention. Consider the robust build quality, timeless design, fantastic ergonomics, two included cables and generous accessories (really, the hardcase is so good it's no joke). Add that to an accessible signature that gets the fundamentals correct: properly tuned mids, smooth inoffensive treble, borderline basshead lows that pull in the crowds, and coherence rarely seen in hybrids at this level. FiiO did a damn fine job, and still managed to keep the price at a very respectable USD75. Applause, applause.

[SOLD] PW Audio No.5 IEM cable

ezekiel_77 — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 18:51:32 +0800

Item(s): PW Audio No.5 OCC litz copper cable in 2-pin (for CIEMs), 4.4mm balanced TRRRS jack (for Sony WM series DAPs) configuration.

Package includes: Cable, original pouch and box.

Price: SOLD

Warranty: Nil

Dealing method: Poslaju

Contact method/details: pm

Item(s) conditions: Excellent, no oxidation whatsoever.

Pictures:

[attachmentid=9650752]
[attachmentid=9650821]
[attachmentid=9650822]
[attachmentid=9650824]

Reason for sale: Moving on

Hi folks. Up for sale is an excellent condition, OCC litz copper cable from PW Audio with the following specs:
-4 wire
-4 feet
-pre-formed earguides, no memory wire
-2-pin connectors
-Straight 4.4mm TRRRS jack from Nobunaga Labs

Purchased from Music Sanctuary originally in 3.5mm TRS and later reterminated to 4.4mm balanced. I can provide the original PW Audio 3.5mm jack if needed.

Originally SGD229, letting go for SOLD. You pay shipping. Price is fair and firm. No trades please.

Sound-wise, I call the No.5 the "Timbrenator" bcos of its positive effects on instrument timbre. Also has a smooth and relaxing signature without bloated bass. Review here http://theheadphonelist.com/pw-audio-no-5/

Do send a pm if you're interested.

[SOLD] Norne Therium pure silver IEM cable

ezekiel_77 — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 15:08:57 +0800

Item(s): Norne Therium 4-feet pure silver IEM cable with 2-pin connectors for CIEMs and 90-degree 3.5mm single ended jack.

Package includes: Cable only

Price: SOLD

Warranty: Nil

Dealing method: Poslaju

Contact method/details: pm

Item(s) conditions: Very good condition

Picture:
[attachmentid=9635281]
[attachmentid=9635319]
[attachmentid=9635320]
[attachmentid=9635329]
[attachmentid=9635345]

Reason for sale: Moving on

Up for sale is a good condition, pure silver OCC litz cable from Norne Audio with the following custom options:
-4 wire
-4 feet (+USD10 option)
-Eidolic 2-pin
-Right angle 3.5mm TRS (+USD5 option)
-Hand-lathed pure titanium splitter (+USD80 option)

The price of the original cable is USD380. Letting go for SOLD. Price is fair and firm. You pay shipping. No trades.