FiiO FD5 "Flagship" and it really is. Love this IEM!

This review is about the FiiO FD5 "Flagship" IEM.
I buy all my stuff with my own money. Any links I provide do not pay me, just making it easier for you.
You can also find written reviews here audioaddicted.com
If your in a "supportive" mood: / electromod
Product Link: amzn.to/3kbwo1e (using these links help me fund this channel, thanks!)
My current favorites in order:
1. Thieaudio Monarch - www.linsoul.com/collections/t...
2. FiiO FD5 - amzn.to/3auqvbk
3. Sennheiser HD 800 S - amzn.to/2NZHj2l
This channel is all about audio gear and tech gadgets. Well mostly audio but I love technology products in general. So you may see that here also. I like to cover Amplifiers, In Ear Monitors or IEM's, Headphones, DAC's, Speakers, DAP's use and modification. Thanks for stopping by!

[@HiFiGOAudio]

FiiO nailed the single DD department with these, outstanding pair. Thanks for your review.

[@msteele0]

The Monarch and FD5 are my current favs. Great to hear you love these. Great IEMs!

[@ERASTONES-ou3rw]

hi, is fd5 more fun than the monarch?

[@j1nftw1n]

How does the soundstage of the monarch compare to the FD5?

[@alexandrosacholos746]

Very very very.... informative and objective review.... If (hypothetically speaking) I wasn't able to watch the video and just listened by ear to your description I would imagine that you were talking about ISN H40 which I own for about a year now and keep coming back to it.... And because of this I am thinking of buying FD5 as well.....to be honest I was puzzled last week between EST 112 & FD5 (purchased finally the DUNUS..) But...i can not certainly pass that easy (at least) any chance of a big/bombastic wall of transparent sound and stage as well.... cause that's seems the case here.... Congrats... You are among my favorite reviewers for sure..... BTW..... I am "Alexandros A" at head-fi.

[@jbecks35]

That song, "The Trappings" is my favorite test track now, thanks.

[@mrfrosty3]

I think Final Audio invented the yellow mmcx connector removing tool, I got one with my E5000. I believe Dunu started the swappable plug thing, Thieaudio and Moondrop also do it. I have a Dunu IEM and use the swappable ends a lot with portable devices that use 4.4mm and others that use 2.5mm, so much easier than swapping cables and borrowing them off other IEMs. I love the design of these FD5s, they have a kind of art deco look to my eye. These are high on my want list but I just bought a few sets and haven't spent enough time with them. I think you mentioned that YoYo Ma song before and I'm glad you did, thats a great album!

[@mobilepsycho]

I have had mine since March 2021. Excellent design/build. More importantly the sound is very full and loud. I prefer more bass and it does a pretty good job. Might not be the best for this however they hold up their own. I drive them wireless through the UTWS3 bluetooth amplifiers.

[@missionnad1]

I have Shure SE535 and Ultimate Ears Triple Fi10 , love them 😁😊

[@Queenweezy]

I just bought them for $190 for Black Friday sale😊

[@jaye7679]

I thought the Sennheiser IE300's were good, these are a step up at roughly the same price. You gotta try them in person .. amazing product :)

[@AbalMarius]

Iteresting what tips have you used with fd5 ? Is it good with wide bore? I found in one of your review you use wide bore as these didn't change the sound. I agree with that as these are my favorite. So used original or something like spiral dots?

[@electromod6369]

I like spiral DOTs but I used the tips that came with them. Yes wide bore.

[@Chriskeon75]

Great review, BTW that yellow tool is MMCX removal, not for the tube

[@electromod6369]

Lol, really? Thanks for the info, that makes much more sense as it did not work at all for the sound tubes.

[@versaleyang]

@@electromod6369 While it is nice that the tool is included, the shape of the IEM around the connector makes removing using the tool unpractical. But since you can swap the connector, I see no reason to remove the MMCX connector anyhow, they are fragile and prone to break after a dozen disconnects, everyone hates MMCX lol.

[@h_enrix_92]

Fiio FD5 or Fearless S8Z? I can't decide between those two. Which has more energetic treble and alive mids?

[@RyanRos_33]

Looks like a really nice-looking(and sounding) iem. Btw, how does this compare to Mangird Tea?

[@electromod6369]

For me personally it's better. I liked the Mangird but it just didn't "wow: me like so many others.

[@Mariokw]

Hi, what about Kbear Believe compared to the FD5? Cheers

[@suntanglory]

Try and get the fd3 as well, most reviews says is as good if not better than fd5.... Would be nice to hear your view on how it compares to fd5. Thanks.

[@fiendishshape]

Man, I both love and hate the FD5. The uneven upper mids & treble come off really harsh on certain songs but then they sound incredible on others. They're so close to perfect

[@jaye7679]

yeah I agree, the 500Hz to 1K is a bit high, but you just need to use an equalizer to lower those frequencies a bit and then they are pretty much perfect.

[@kmwong1786]

How do they compare to Final Audio A4000?

[@SanSanychchannel]

I have got FD5. This headphones is exellend. Kinera Norn I didn't like , FD5 liked it more.

[@jaschaaon]

I prefer Fiio FD5 vs FH3. A huge way better. Mid / Highs / Dynamic ist excellent. It's unbelivable what's possible with in ear monitors.. Thumb up🤟🏾💸🌴

[@j1nftw1n]

They are amazing, they sound better than my hd560s and sundaras

[@SugaFree2387]

Are Monarchs a big upgrade over FD5?

[@jbecks35]

Never bought a fiio but these look good. I wonder how these compare to blessing 2 dusk. Haven't found one negative review for blessing 2.

[@electromod6369]

I haven't heard them but I hear they are great also.

[@dietznutz1]

I'm gonna save up a little more and get some FH7s

[@boboiboy9350]

Man, thanks for the review. I love FD5 when I had a chance to demo once. It felt really really good with the heft and solidly built. Unfortunately, could compare this side by side with my Oxygen. But I do agree FD5 bass felt more ballsy than Oxygen is. Oxygen is more on the neutral side relatively speaking. Damn cant help it but I felt the stock cable on the Tanchjim holds Oxygen way way back than it should be. I hope you had that chance to hear the Oxygen with other nicer cable before selling them. But if you did, then I think I respect your opinion much more than before. Need to compare them again after the covid

[@takemikazuchi321]

so this beats the Mangird Tea , ISN H40 and Moondrop Blessing 2?

[@kurthertel4299]

I can't answer your q, as I haven't heard the referenced sets, but I intend to get the blessing 2 as a complement to the fd5.

[@chowonmin]

hello!! which do you prefer fh3 or fd5??

[@electromod6369]

FD5 is wayyy better

[@arthurcrosby5755]

Thank you for a nice review. I looked at your Fii0 FH3 review because I was thinking of buying them. Your comments have made me think twice. From your observations the FD5 sound really good. Of course they are also more than twice the price. The Fii0 FH5 are a little less expensive. Have you tried the FH5? If the FD5’s are so much better, I may wait till I think I can afford them, rather than spend money on the FH3 and be dissatisfied. Keep up your good work with these reviews.

[@electromod6369]

I have not heard the FH5. Yes this can be an expensive hobby and it seems there is always something "better" coming out. Please remember this is all based on "my taste". You could order from Amazon Prime and if you don't like them send them back.

[@Winter-gm2nz]

Hi sir. Fiio fd5 or isn h40?

[@alexandrosacholos746]

If I had to describe how ISN H40 sounds like it would exactly like this review.. I own them about a year now and they just keep surprising me.... Big weighty and transparent sound as well... A difficult combo action to achieve.. Because of this review I am gonna buy FD5 as well.....

[@j1nftw1n]

@@alexandrosacholos746 did you go thru with the purchase? I love mg FD5s and would love to know what else are comparable to them.

[@pauper70]

I was pretending to buy hifiman sundara but after see this review im in the midle of the street dont no what to do. Can you help me?

[@electromod6369]

Wow, two completely different audio devices. If the Hifiman was an IEM I would say FiiO FD5 because of the bass.

[@AbalMarius]

Have sundara and thinking to ged fd5. Planars are planars it is amazingly good headphones but they need a little bit of added bas quantity. Then their sound gives so much pleasure, also they really need good amp with 2 w at least for them to fully sound. Fd 5 will not need this so good choice but they are not open back planars also so will be different sound.

[@versaleyang]

I have both and the Sundara (2020) has better mids, slightly sharper treble and less subbass but it's planar so it has that planar speed and planar timbre also more details more clinical. The FD5 can compete with soundstage and imaging though since it's semi open, it sounds like an average soundstaged over ear headphone and is more fun to listen to since it's close to the harman curve. Since I got the FD5 I mostly listen on them now instead of my Sundara or even my Arya, they are really amazing for this price. Edit: They are also way easier to drive than the Sundara, Sundara needs mid gain 1 o'clock on my A90 while the FD5 only needs low gain 9-10 o'clock for the same volume, they work fine on my smartphone and my FiiO M11Pro with a lot of headroom to spare.

[@AbalMarius]

@@versaleyang this is really nice comparison as there is no way to get such info elswere what you give. I also have 2020 sundara with topping only a50s and i like it a lot for the reasons you have mentioned related to planars. So compared to sundara dont you feel fd5 has higher quantity of treble as this is the only thing i worry. Some say it has too much treble especially with original cable. I like treble but afraid it could be too sibilant. For example sundara treble for me is very good level with neutral bright tuning. I am thinking of buying fd5 but want to get as much info before. Also i like sundara speedy punchy and not bloated planar bass. Do you feel fd5 has good speed amd punch and controlled bass? Not boomy or bleeding to mids? Thank a lot

[@versaleyang]

@@AbalMarius The FD5 is surprisingly speedy, thanks to it's DLC and Beryllium coated driver I would assume. Planar is still speedier but the bass is still tight and textured yet with slam that only a DD will give you. Sundara lacks subbass so in terms of bass quality I would give it to the FD5. It does not bleed into the mids and make it sound bloated at all, again I think the speed of the driver makes a difference here to keep the bass bleed away from the lower mids. As with treble, yes the FD5 out of the box can sound a bit peaky at times, however burning them in for around 50-100 hours will tame that treble a bit, the biggest difference is to use foam tips to soften that treble harshness further and the treble sounds a lot like the Sundara then. Another tip is to cut a 1mm O ring from any old or unused silicon tips' end and put it as an extra gap, there is a word for it but I can't remember what it's called. It will put the driver a bit further away from your ear canal and further soften the treble while giving you slightly more soundstage, I would recommend this simple mod for the FD5. This mod also eliminates another problem with the FD5 for some people is that around the connectors the edges are pretty sharp, some people will smaller ears, the edges will touch their Antihelix and cause pain, by extending the insertion by 1mm that edge will not be touching your skin hence making it more comfortable.

[@ammar5400]

They have many treble peaks, which I can’t stand. Anyway, like how Fiio produces more budget DD iems, there are not a lot of DDs in the market.

[@mattialemboluscari8774]

No no man, there are a LOT of em, I could throw in 27 names ATLEAST

[@uglyfate1326]

FiiO FD5 vs Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk?

[@electromod6369]

Have not heard that one. So I can't comment

[@mrfrosty3]

Is that the one Crinacle helped tune so its like the B2 with more bass?

[@uglyfate1326]

@@mrfrosty3 Yes. They are both tuned pretty close to Harman curve, but i heard that FD5 has better stage and more highs in general. It would be interesting to compare them face to face.