FiiO FH3 IEMs -- A Hybrid Bargain

Thanks to FiiO for giving me a pair for review.
Music mentioned: (Artist - Album - Track)
David Chesky - Jazz in the New Harmonic
Miles Davis - Doo-Bop - Mystery
SEED Ensemble - Driftglass - Mirrors
Marc Ribot - Y Los Cubanos Postizos - Aurora en Pekin
Merge of Equals - Intoxicating - Clear Blue Sky
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[@mirzarazwan07]

That what I wanted from FiiO, they are really doing a great job because most of the consumers are looking forward to these premium inexpensive things . and of course, you are a very good reviewer. love from Bangladesh ❤👌

[@Rashomon00]

These are my current go-to! Thanks for the video!

[@ngrinshift4383]

Are you still using these? If you are, what do you think now? I got these around January. They sound good but honestly not as good as I expected. That being said and being these have been so we'll received I haven't replaced them...yet. I'm currently looking at Dunu's EST 112 (triple-brid) IEM slated for 3/22/21 release. Not entirely sure however. 🤔

[@Assimilator702]

@@ngrinshift4383 I’ve had the FH3 since Sep 2020 and I haven’t felt the need to buy anything new. The slight lack of detail that I didn’t notice doesn’t bother me at all and I know I’m enjoying my music library at a very high level. I can switch to my FH3 from a flagship headphone from HIFIMAN, Focal or Sennheiser and I enjoy my music just fine.

[@JustEric1]

I've found the combination of the FH3 with spiral dots and the ifi hip dac gives a nice balance of slightly emphasized bass from the large bore tips with tamed highs from the warmth that the ifi is known for. Great all around performer for the price. Nice review.

[@razetw]

When my fh3 arrive ill be curious to see what sounds different out of my HipDAC and blon-03s. Do you use balanced?

[@deadline7610]

I now have the FH3 , my ifi hip Dac has been around for a bit but was wondering the bore size for the spiral dots. Is it the CP100 4.5-5mm for the FH3's ? Thanks

[@Assimilator702]

@@deadline7610 I use the grey/red tips that ship with the FH3. Those look to be a 4.5 mm bore.

[@emjay9733]

So… you like them 😂

[@relaxingsounds8354]

I Just bought my first Dac Fiio M6 I just cant decide which IEM should I get. F9 Pro looks more confortable for a long time fit, But FH3 seens to have best construction and better sound. I do love trebles, and high vocals, but still love do keep the imaging. Which one should be my best options?

[@bigjt37]

You know Currawong, that is something that isn't talked about much, right? Is the tuning and/or regarding the mastering of the music. It is odd, that rap isn't mastered with all that much bass or subbass. Good review. Enjoyed it. 👍🏼

[@Assimilator702]

Most sub bass is either removed in mastering the reason given by mastering techs is most systems can’t handle true sub bass or it was never there in the original mixes. It’s odd considering most people into car audio listen to rap to show off their subwoofer systems.

[@prabinpaudel5572]

Hope you review tinhifi p2 when it releases. It'd be great if you bring in tin p1 along. :)

[@gabrielcolaco1094]

Is this an upgrade in any way over the FH5s? Nice review and I really like hearing your opinion on some budget/mid-fi stuff, keep it up!

[@SaltyDerps]

Fh5 have a bit more bass but the fh3 have overall better mids and highs, its more detailed without beijg silibant

[@hyroproto4364]

if you want the best budget/mid-fi iem reviews. You gotta go to BadguyGoodAudioReviews

[@Farazao]

Great review! Would you mind sharing how does these compare to fh5 and fh7 in terms of sound quality?

[@Currawong]

Will do soon

[@Farazao]

@@Currawong thank you!

[@Currawong]

@Fach Yutuob They are definitely more entertaining to listen to music with.

[@kael13]

Had mine for a couple months and love them, but I do agree that the soundstage is a little narrow. That said, I don't have any modern IEMs to compare them to. Otherwise, they're really good! Can't wait to see what comes in the next couple of years. I've had my eyes on the Thieaudio Clairvoyance but I don't think my enthusiasm:budget ratio aligns quite yet.

[@rafaelroman3393]

Want soundstage buy a 2 chanel stereo sistem

[@razetw]

That multi hundred jump to clairvoyance or monarchs is a scary leap of faith on the wallet. They say spend 75% of your end game budget on headphone/iem and rest on gear.... But my brain thinks the better gear is tangible return on investment vs all in on one iem/can. So tough!

[@shovon64]

Can you please review ISN H40?

[@amanieux]

how does it compare with the $97 bqeyz spring 1?thanks

[@rezanugraha1088]

how do you compare this to kinera idun?

[@x-techgaming]

It ALWAYS seems like, when I find an IEM that people say has a big, wide soundstage compared to an IEM I want to upgrade from, a short time later I'll find someone who says the soundstage of those is not so big lol..

[@Currawong]

The secret is... IEMs don't have a soundstage! They can't really, as they bypass the pinna of your ear, which helps your brain detect the location of sounds. What people really call a "soundstage" is a bit of a trick from how loud different frequencies are, which will vary depending on the music you listen to.

[@x-techgaming]

@@Currawong My FH3 came in today. They are...life-changingly good for $129 lol. Everything sounds real, and everything is enjoyable. The definition/texture, uncolored presentation and note weight are just beautiful. Very much reminds me of the time I demo'd HE6 and LCD-3. The treble is a bit much, so it gets rough with rock/metal/etc.

[@razetw]

@@x-techgaming tip roll can tame the highs if you don't want to software eq. Ez fix

[@hyroproto4364]

You gotta review the Blon-03.. I know you don't like to review budget stuff much... But the Blon is an exeption... Under $40...they got lucky & captured lightning in a bottle..

[@abhinilbose24]

I received my FH3 today, loving it a lot. but there is noticeable driver flex when wearing and removing it and also if I move it a bit or push it while wearing or if I move my mouth or chew. I am a bit worried about this driver flex causing damage to the IEM. Can you put some light on this?

[@Currawong]

I've never heard of driver flex causing failure., so you should be ok. Eating when listening though... you're going to hear your chewing noise more than anything.

[@abhinilbose24]

@@Currawong Thanks for the reply, did you experience any driver flex in your unit? Some are saying they did experience but some are saying they didn't, thinking of bad QC here.

[@Currawong]

I haven't in mine. I forgot to check if they are vented anywhere that could be blocked though.

[@abhinilbose24]

@@Currawong Yes they have 2 little vents, but they must not be blocked, I just got them yesterday, unless there is defects.

[@HerreDePerre]

@Fach Yutuob I’m no expert but I believe driver flex is when the driver in the IEM makes cracking noise when you push the IEM in your ear. That is because of the pressure building up inside your ear canals when you push them in.

[@Cooliewhistles]

Do flagship-ish IEMS blow these away, or are we talking marginal improvements beyond this point? Trying to find at what price point that the significant diminishing returns kicks in

[@Currawong]

In terms of technical ability, most definitely. In terms of entertainment value... that's another question entirely.

[@Cooliewhistles]

@@Currawong interesting! thank u!

[@heyitsikmal]

Had it. Love it. It doesn't have any wow factor imo. overall its a good iem. :)

[@muhammadmuhibnullah9854]

I agree, I just got mine and I'm probably gonna return them. Maybe I'm spoiled by my Beyer dynamic dt 177x go overears that are $450.

[@rudy24286]

FH7 gang 😤

[@InvisibleIink]

Mine came with Zero bass. Suspect it was defective. From now on I'm sticking to single driver configurations.

[@kristianferter3697]

What do you mean zero bass how much bass should they have, i just bought them as my first IEMs and they have way less bass than Airpods (just for reference)

[@InvisibleIink]

@@kristianferter3697 I found a good combination of power and EQ/DSP, along with better sealing tips "fixed" mine to my satisfaction. Now I'm eyeing the newly-released FD1... The fun never ends

[@kristianferter3697]

@@InvisibleIink Thank a lot mate

[@Assimilator702]

@@InvisibleIink Try the Jade Audio EA1 and EA3. They’re better than the Fiio versions and cheaper.

[@shahkhan110]

Nice review. I havnt seen chifi famous iems review Tin audio T2, T3 or Blon BL03, o5 etc. Please review budget iems as well for your poor viewers....:-)

[@Currawong]

Budget IEMs have been covered by so many other people, I'd rather do things that other people are not, when I am able to.

[@kevinholmes9982]

03 is good if you buy a new cable. Huge warm bass. Probably worth it. Tin T2 compliments it well bc it's so mids focused compared to recessed mids and huge bass in blon 03. They're kinda polar opposites imo.

[@iplaydrunk9979]

This pretty much makes fh5 redundant

[@Assimilator702]

Good to hear another person confirming this. I was considering the FH5 but I love the FH3 so much it would be a redundant purchase considering the price. Under $100 I’ll “try” an iem. $240 to $300 bracket not so much.

[@jownbey]

I really want the sound of my fh7 in an iem i wouldnt feel scared to work out with

[@mignuscarlsen5613]

How is it

[@Assimilator702]

Try the Jade Audio EA3. It’s close and it’s in a plastic shell for $50. Jade Audio EA1 for $30 is an even better value and an AMAZING tuning. Fiio knows how to implement and tune those berrylium plated DD.

[@pleaseleave5840]

People are telling me this sounds better than the FH7, smh.

[@Currawong]

Sometimes more refinement does not translate to more enjoyment.

[@goldpieceleo]

Cheap IEMs aren't his thing and aren't that good then asked for a couple of dollars a month at the end of the video. Haha!

[@goldpieceleo]

@Fach Yutuob yeah he should buy his own item and not ask people for money.

[@HerreDePerre]

@@goldpieceleo he can ask for money. It’s your choice if you want to actually give it.

[@marsoblivi0n945]

@@HerreDePerre exactly the guy provides and honest service. It’s not like he’s some scammer like the taints. Which then people don’t cares