FiiO FH7 Hybrid IEMs - Has FiiO just out-done $1000+ IEMs for under $500?

I'm hearing detail from FiiO's new FH7 that I'm used to getting from far more expensive flagships. But does that mean they conquer all? Not quite.
Tracks from the #82 playlist that I use:
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat - Jeff Beck
Hollow Talk - Choir Of Young Believers
Oye Como Va - Santana
Angel (2006 Digital Remaster) - Massive Attack
Hey Lion - Sofi Tukker
When I Get My Hands On You - The New Basement Tapes
Old Man (2009 Remaster) - Neil Young
Arlington - The Wailin' Jennys
Beirut - Ibrahim Maalouf
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[@taidee]

I’ve got to agree with others here, your pulling the sound clips of songs you’re talking about on your analysis really clarifies your statement. Great job man.

[@Alino17]

Thank you. Insightful very good review. I had the Fh7 today and great as it sounds to me I am hearing almost all the characteristics you covered.

[@tomcruz3774]

Thank you for the great review! I like the comparisons with other headphones with specific tracks. I straight up replayed the video and let all the ads play lol

[@merouby]

Love how you play samples of the songs you quote - helps understand what you mean

[@daanishafzal5171]

Really like how u overlay the songs with the relevant parts! Great stuff

[@Shozimus]

Thanks for the review, will have a chance to listen to them, next week. Fiio is getting big this year. The new Q5S + the THX AAA module. FH7, M11 all in a reasonable price. Keep up Your work - thanks to reviews like this navigating trought audio stuff it's just a lot more simple :)

[@mrulesoul]

Absolute love for FH7. Best money I ever spent on an IEM, and I have had quite a few on my journey to find the sound sig I love. These are worth their weight in gold.

[@dilip_1997]

how do they sound with a dac and mobile phone ,does a dap make it much better

[@willyvlyminck201]

mrulesoul They might have the best fit? Do you have other FiiO models? I am in still in doubt between the FH5 / FH7

[@coreyfreeman6226]

@@willyvlyminck201 FH7 leaves the 5 in the dust.if u have the money.buy them

[@noahandky3019]

I agree. I was hesitant on spending that kind of loot for IEM's but after listening to them after 20 minutes, I wish I had pulled the trigger on these sooner. Absolutely amazing. These could possibly be endgame for alot of people.

[@Infinite_echoes452]

@@coreyfreeman6226 what about Polaris v2

[@ivankovac77]

Great review as always! Thank you so much

[@jonberg469]

Thank you for finally posting this. I can sleep in peace now.

[@obiw17]

That was such an awesome and detailed review. Just subbed for the fact that you did it so well. I'll check your other reviews too

[@Currawong]

Cheers!

[@burningdinosaurs801]

Looking forward to see more!Very cool, thanks

[@sunnysunshine9016]

Thanks for the review. It is as you said in your review. Spot on. The red filter and spinfits are the perfect combo. Because others fliters are just too fatiguing to listen to (Treble just hurt to listen) . However just want to say that after using the FH7 over 50 hours, they sounded better and less harsh. (Using mostly Sony ZX300) and DAC.

[@serafinvalencia2618]

I'm excited for my AM3D module to arrive next week, I ordered a 4.4 balanced cable from FiiO for my SE846 in preparation, this is gonna be FiiO's year.

[@artemisXsidecross]

Appreciated the comment made by Currawong concerning the differentiation of a recording as compared to what an iem is doing.

[@afrog2666]

WHAT? There`s a difference between recordings and headphones and speakers??? :o mind... bloooown...

[@artemisXsidecross]

@@afrog2666 My point is how something is recorded supersedes to what an iem, headphone, or speaker reproduces.

[@yellowblueua]

Thank you very much for this detailed review and explanation!

[@aaronpaulbernas4097]

My FH7 just arrived at home and im still at work and i cant wait to get home.

[@ahmadhusaini8420]

Just leave

[@dynamic-audio]

Have you could compare vs other high end in ear like xelento or andromeda?

[@aaronpaulbernas4097]

@@dynamic-audio to andromeda yes. Very very close.

[@artemisXsidecross]

Excellent review and my appreciation to Brooks too; thank you both.

[@kurthertel4299]

Looking forward to your review of the fa9s, especially vis a vis the fh7. I am considering both to pair with my m11 pro that my son bought me for Xmas (yeah, I think I will keep him). Or maybe even going cheap with the fh5s. The m11 pro is good enough to highlight the deficiencies of my existing iems which are all pretty cheap and/or old. Thanks for all of your efforts Amos. Cheers, mate.

[@nickpelayo3172]

Fiio is knocking it out of the park this year. M11, FH7, and soon the M5 seems like a great way to start this year. I have heard rumors of a new DAP that might have switchable amps but good job Fiio

[@iluvj00]

I just ordered the m5 from aliexpress but it's gonna take like 2 months to get here. I live in the middle of Brazil

[@nickpelayo3172]

@@iluvj00 dang man that sucks

[@iluvj00]

@@nickpelayo3172 yeah man, I ordered the tfz t2 galaxy on July 20th and the package is at the sorting center since the 25th. Damn Chinese sorting centers being lazy, I paid extra 15 bucks for faster delivery. It says it will arrive from August 16th to September 8th.

[@k-doggy1762]

OMG they're huge! Can't imagine how much they must stick out on the ear.

[@Currawong]

Not that much. I just realised I should have included a shot of them inserted.

[@ThePlatonas]

great review! have you tried the Final Audio B3? they seem to be their equivalent, with a better looking graph measurement

[@drivefive]

I am about to decide between the FH5 and FA7. I like it a little bit V-shaped. Which one would you recommend me? Thanks for your very detailed Videos!

[@chaseroyell7227]

Great video!

[@caseycjc1890]

I bought these and your review is spot on. I went with the red grills too with the large spinfits.

[@dilip_1997]

how do they sound with a dap and mobile phone ,does a dap make it much better

[@Herbus2142]

@@dilip_1997 My father bought a pack FH7 with Fiio M11. They sound great, I've used great IEM in the past and these are awesome. I have not listened to them without a DAP, I ordered both as well so I will try to compare them with and without a good DAP. I think it makes a difference but I will try to check if there really is a difference.

[@dilip_1997]

@@Herbus2142 thx ,waiting for ur response!!

[@Herbus2142]

@@dilip_1997 Okay so it's been less than an hour since I've received FH7 and the M11. M11 gives a lot more punch and texture to the sound than my laptop. I think it will be the same with a phone(probably even worse since my phone only has a usb-c port, so the dac is very tiny and shitty). If you don't have a phone with a jack I would recommend getting a DAC/DAP to connect it to the FH7. Now to decide whether to buy both directly or to buy the FH7 and choose a different DAP is up to you. But I think you need at least a dedicated DAC if you are playing from your phone. There are decent ones in the 150$ range. There was a sale in my country for the M11/FH7 so it was very interesting to take them I would advise you to check black friday/christmas sales if there is something.

[@dilip_1997]

@@Herbus2142 thx alot

[@paulosilva8200]

Your review on this was good

[@nyx.r7]

@Currawong, how would you compare FH7 with Campfire Vega ? Especially in bass department which one has better lows ? thanks

[@bbfoto7248]

@Currawong I'd really like to see you compare these to the AKG N5005. The sound of the N5005 are very tip-dependent, but once you find the right tips for a good seal & comfort, plus a balanced sound, OH MY! I'm a drummer & saxophonist, and the accuracy of these instruments is stellar with the N5005. The articulation, airiness, and deep bass of my kick drums are perfectly reproduced, along with the snare, and tom toms. Same for the shimmer, detail, and decay of cymbals...EXCELLENT. I found that narrow-bore tips combined with the "Reference" filters gave the best overall performance in all regards. And when these go on sale, they are the same price or even less than the FiiOs. The only issue for me is that the ear tubes could be a bit longer, and they are a bit too large of a diameter for my inner ear canals. But if you can get a good fit and seal, these will not disappoint!

[@manardh7387]

These must be worth the money. It's nice to use a orchestra type of reference for the reason mentioned. Then all the hall sound can be used to sense any peculiarities of spectrum reproduction. These small groups get mic'd and mixed with a propensity to exacerbate in certain areas.

[@robinenbernhard]

I got this one to got yesterday with fiio q1 mk2 after 14km walk and 2 hour train ride with my BMD and i love the sound with tidal hifi. I use tip one size fit all donno the name that one with red gril. I just wish cable was dark color

[@dietznutz1]

Try Amazon music HD you get 24 192khz flacs and the app is so much better

[@benclayton-wolfindale9444]

I have the FH7s and they are awesome all round, from aesthetics to comfort to sound quality. Insanely great value for money when compared to IEMs I've had which have cost much more - such as the Shure SE846, Andromeda and Solaris. They just do everything right for me.

[@Z3l0S]

how do they compare to solaris ???

[@MrThemarty915]

Ben Clayton-Wolfindale how compared with they flagship iem’s?

[@dilip_1997]

Should I get these or the se846 ?

[@geekaboo14]

@@dilip_1997 get these, I have both se846 and these and these triumph the se846's in almost every way.

[@redbull2007]

Hope you will do review also on Fearless Audio S8F.

[@caseycjc1890]

I read Twisters review and he said he found the treble filters really opened up the music. So I decided to give it a try and was really pleased. Using the reference tips I found the signature much more airy and extension was way better. Bass remained punchy and the treble was beautifully presented. Thought I'd share his findings as it really improved the listening experience for me. :)

[@Alino17]

I still have to change any filter. Though I love punchy bass, reference black filters already make FH7 shine with my cherished acoustic jazz. Drums and cymbals show impressive balanced warmness and micro details. I love drums and percussions with this earphones.

[@dynamic-audio]

Excuse me. Do you think fh7 has the same level of details and soundstage of beyerdynamic xelento?

[@dilip_1997]

DID u find the answer?

[@skengasaurus]

6:30 Thank you so much for explaining this and making the observation in the first place. I was questioning what these filters even did - the effect was that unnoticeable. Tip material, seal and inner diameter is what I'll stick with as a dominant tuning method. It's also comforting (though I know this has nothing to do with technical inferences) to hear someone call these and the Utopias too bright, and that it's not necessarily that I prefer a SS where I'm missing out on a ton of detail.

[@incognito8219]

Jazz at the pawn shop, really dropped a dime there Mr currawong

[@Cripple2588]

How do they compare bass-wise to the FH5? I own an LCD-i3 and a Flare Audio Flares Gold and I'm looking for something in between the 2 that is fun, warm sounding, with a good sense of space/soundstage, and just has that rumbe and hit for hip-hop, but is also good-ish with instrumentals/orchestral music and vocals that have a little heft/weight behind them. I have the opportunity to get one or the other, but no opportunity to demo before I buy and even less chance of returning them because I am bedridden. Any help ANYONE could provide, I would greatly appreciate it.

[@babuenbarr1707]

im looking into getting either these or moondrop s8, the deciding factor is the soundstage and imaging. whichever is more accurate i would buy, im basically looking them for gaming but i will still be using them for music and movies and such, and both of these earphones have good soundstage and imaging so im stuck on what would be "better"

[@swampdweller.5935]

Thank you.

[@zcreto]

Im keen on these and still waiting on reviews on fd5 which is an overall bettee iem?

[@chansmusic2969]

Hey, I'm thinking buying this or a second handed Sony ier m7 for around the same price. For sound wise do you think the fiio performs better? I'm looking for a neutral iem with a little more touch of bass. I tried the fiio fh7 with silicone tips but I don't know how they would perform with filters and different tips.

[@Vamp898]

I owned the FA9 and decided for the IER-M9 because they have been better in pretty much every aspect you can think of. The FH7 play in the league of the XBA-Z5 imho, the M7 is a different league

[@progbl]

Any chance of comparing them to S8F? I have S8F and as far as I picked up FH7 should have more treble which I'd like.

[@endrizo]

That peak in 2k eq curve ..is oooowww...you have to tame that.

[@endrizo]

@@humanbass its very annoying for me.

[@NarciisJr]

i’m undecided between these or se846. Isolation is key for me and these are kind of semi open in that regard? I can buy the se846 for 600€

[@johnbrav9025]

This can eat 100mw power i saw the specs. I have a nother one iem which can eat 50 mw. Very loud. So the fiio can sound duble loudness than the my other because the 100mw?

[@roman445]

How did you manage to detach the cables? I've never touched mine, cause it's said the connectors are very tough.

[@Currawong]

I pinch the plugs with the tips of my fingers pushing against the body of the IEM.

[@aomanchutube]

One of the things that tickles me silly about how expensive these things are is that they are pointing the exit of the sound hole straight into one of the bends of the inner ear. It happens to be the bend at the transition between cartilage and bone. Ideally this would not actually hit the bone, and I assume they don't since so many people want them, but at best, these can hurt, and at worst, these can have weird volume changes as you move your jaw or walk.

[@ephektz]

They are very comfortable, and I have experienced none of the possible issues you describe.

[@Jas7520]

Any plans on reviewing the Audio-GD R27? Can't seem to find much about it anywhere, it's brand new. R8+M9 in a box is a cool way to get the most of the AGD house sound

[@Currawong]

I think it was only released very recently.

[@Jas7520]

@@Currawong I hope you can get your hands on a unit, maybe Kingwa would be interested in getting some reviews out there

[@ViaRosalesVlogs]

this or blessing 2? thanks man!

[@farbschlachterei]

Very, very, very first time in my life I'm listen to someone who's turning about 20 minutes a single IEM within his fingers 😂😂😂 But hey. The content rulez. Thx for that! I like cable shape. Shure uses even on their expensive IEM kind of wire you can bend into shape, which is not really lasting for long.

[@paulosilva8200]

Good point.

[@LeJohnz]

Campfire Audio's Solaris have been my dream IEM thus far and have been saving money for it, however, you made some interesting jabs between the two. Overall, ignoring their prices, which of the two are better? Could you make a comparison video?

[@k-doggy1762]

I got the FA7 and had the FH5 before that briefly. They're ok, certainly not at the level some reviewers rave about so I doubt the FH7 could really compete with Solaris. I'm comparing them at CanJam London in July so will be able to make an informed decision.

[@LeJohnz]

@@k-doggy1762 Thank you for your input! Please let me know when you've reached a conclusion.

[@dynamic-audio]

I am waitting for that comparisson.... hehe

[@LuboAck]

K - Doggy aaaaand?

[@raksh9]

How would these compare with Shure SE535s? The only IEM's of this shell shape I've tried are from Noble Audio, and they stuck out like lumps and didn't get a good seal at all. I think I have pretty small ears, and the Shures fit me well with a firm seal using small tips. How does the sound quality compare, do you think? I have the red version and listen mainly to ambient, soundscapes, jazz and some classical and metal. Edit: I just tried these and they fit surprisingly well! Even with the larger silicone tips, they are comfortable and have a good seal. The soundstage is huge in these things, definitely wider than the Shure SE535s. Sound quality is a big step up. Isolation is NOT anywhere near as good, these aren't going to block out airplane or loud machinery or even a daily commute. The Shures are kings of isolation. But in a semi quiet environment, relaxing somewhere, I can see these being great. Edited again: I tried the FH7s next to the FA7s, and the difference is very noticeable. You mentioned how the FA7s seems muffled by comparison, I totally agree. FH7 has wider soundstage and instrument separation, and more clarity. The price jump is worth it, I think.

[@luithbert]

I have the Shures as well and just ordered the FH7. Good to read that hey sound better than the Shures.

[@-Ambos-]

Do you have a cable recommendation for the fh7? I think I should get some balanced ones but I dont know which ones

[@Currawong]

I like FiiO's own LC-RE cable, as it has interchangeable plugs. It's quite expensive though, relative to the cost of the FH7. Though, if you get other IEMs in the future it'll be usable with them.

[@n3lls81]

It's Fiio's year

[@MrThemarty915]

Very interesting review! I was wondering if you had tried the final audio e tips with these to see if the brightness of the treble was reduced. These Fh7 are sensitive to the source in terms of picking up background noise? I have a dx120 and I would like to use the fh7 with a balanced cable. Finally, on the cable, which one would you recommend to use? Regards from Perú.

[@Currawong]

I don't recall them being very sensitive. Any modern DAP with a low output impedance should be fine with them, including when it comes to hiss.

[@gabrielcolaco1094]

Are these worth $200 more than the FH5s? Do they sound $200 better? Thanks.

[@ndrwyeo5765]

which iem do u suggest a the price range 500 usd?

[@davidiossi8358]

I have Shuoer09 Tapes, and a change in cables 16 core made a huge change. Using Spinfit and and still looking for a good DAC/AMP For my new iPad Pro 2020. Any suggestions?

[@mundohifioz6059]

Q5s

[@Infinite_echoes452]

should i get fh7 or campfire audio Polaris 2

[@rohanhall1642]

I just got these iems today in the mail and when I plugged them into my pc I had like this static noise. Do I need like a dac or amp? How do I fix this and what would you recommend cause I can’t find any help online

[@MrGrosMamouth]

Rohan Mitchell sure is a poor noise signal, you would need a dac and an amp. IEMs are super sensitive, so you jeed a clean source. I prefer using a portable one so the power isolation is better. Fiio has some good things check them out. If you are willing to buy an expensive set of headphones, you must buy a proper dac and amp, otherwise it would be like buying an expensive car but cheaping out on gas.

[@JP-zh6ss]

Those iems are fantastic, yes the trebble was a bit harsh at first but all that went away after breakin and now they sound awesome no matter what filter or tips are used. The cable is great, high quality and stays is place behin the ears, i got the 4.4 balanced which sound even better on my Fiio M11 Pro PAD. Possibly 3000$ iems wound sound better (i wouldn't know and don't much care) but I can tell you that my 1000$+ Beyer Dynamis Xelento don't sound as good as these. That review was unnecessarily long. Also unfair to the CA Polaris which are actually really really good and a lot of fun.

[@heebbi]

Can you review the tin P1?

[@endrizo]

How does these fiios compare to the well known shure se535 ? Thanks

[@benclayton-wolfindale9444]

They kick the ass of the SE846, this much I know.

[@TalesOfGod]

Being realistic, you have to look at every IEM for what they are and who they are marketed for. Each one has their strengths and weaknesses, anybody that says that any IEM is perfect is a fool. Knowing that, you have to be able to identify what you want in an IEM and choose something that is the best for that. In general, the Shure SE535 is a fine choice for most people. The Shure SE535 give a good balance of what you would expect from both the SE215 and 425. The Shure models are known for having fantastic build quality but whether that sound is good for you or not is up to your tastes and as such, is subjective. For example, some people love the Shure SE-215 but hate the sound of the 315. I know several people that have been using the SE-215 for almost a decade with no issues so that is a testament of the build quality. The same could be said of the others to what I understand. I would say that the Sony MDR-7550 (Ex800st), Sony EX-1000 and the Etymotic ER4SR IEMs do a much better job than anything that Fiio or Shure has to offer at any price point for sound but in the end, that is just my opinion and it might not fit your tastes (especially as you can't use the Sony ones outside). They all have flaws but sound wise, they are second to none in this category.

[@mariusarhire7463]

Can someone here please tell me how these earphones compare with Shure SE535 and Sony IER M7. Thank you

[@bogdantirea6085]

II have FH3 FH5 FH7 and a FIIOM11PRO for output. I listened FH9 in a showroom on that M11PRO. FH9 are too bright - for metal music, so i don't have them. FH3 are some how the less bright but are good on long term. They are fast and they have bass enough. FH5 are brighter, fast and detailed but joyful to listen. The low portion is enough, no more and no less. BUT FH7 .... are almost godly !!! First are very detailed and of course subtle - i cannot be happier. The treble define better the fast bass of the earphones - the part of drums. The premium is the way of treble making the cymbal, pan and the rest of them sound ! They are very detailed, subtle and pleasant ! A DRAWBACK: they are very sensitive ! Before connection check the volume ! Or they can break !

[@vitekzeman8119]

Hello, choosing between the FH9 and FH7. Listening primary to metalcore, rock. You say that the FH9 are too bright for these genres? FH7 would be better? Thanks a lot :)

[@cesarromero7495]

Campfire Audio Comet or Fiio Fh7? thnkans!

[@geekaboo14]

I've heard that the fh7's are just as good and inf some circumstances better than the andromeda's so they are probably leagues better than the comets

[@willyvlyminck201]

The price range doesn’t say it all because this depend on production location, marketing budget etc.

[@caseycjc1890]

First Bill Evans now Jeff Beck! Our taste in music appears to be quite similiar. Did you try taking the grills off the nozzle? BTW, your reviews are really imformative and descriptive.

[@Currawong]

I did take the grills off, but I didn't feel it made a significant enough difference. Also, because the design, if you got earwax in the IEMs, you wouldn't be able to get it out, so taking it off isn't a good idea.

[@tc6953]

Is this number 82 Playlist on Spotify?

[@MrSiddthecampionite]

I want to know too?

[@yogiwp_]

How do these perform in a (very) busy song, lots of instruments?

[@geekaboo14]

Surprisingly amazing

[@timlin6973]

Personally, I like the blessing 2 better because of the mids-high emphasis, insanely good resolution, and tonality. However, the fh7 has better bass and overall more v shaped tuning.

[@sleepyrhythms6668]

Any idea how to fix loose mmcx connectors? Surely they got looser every time you took them off the cable

[@Damien_N]

MMCX has an unfortunately low service life - something in the range of 200-300 insertions.

[@benclayton-wolfindale9444]

Don't do that then

[@kasyfizamzam]

Compared to IER M7, it is better?

[@Kentololable]

Damn, finally. Now I can be sad I bought FH5's.

[@Halomaster4ever]

Something to get in the future :D

[@Kentololable]

@@Halomaster4ever yeeah... when I get the budget.

[@SilverLakeKingdom]

@Zephir2000 That what I hear also, Fh5 got better base than fh7. There is always Craigslist and eBay buddy, sell fh5 and add a couple of hundred dollars and buy yourself fh7. Lastly, there will be always something better in the future no need to feel sad, you live today then enjoy what you have today.

[@afrog2666]

If you like them, it`s nothing to be sad about..

[@afrog2666]

@Zephir2000 Just had a stroke reading that..

[@willyvlyminck201]

What is the difference with FH5 apart from their 200 Euro price difference?

[@rashiquebinnasir9528]

What's that song by Sophie Tucker?

[@Currawong]

Hey Lion.

[@sebastianalleyne1073]

Some people like Zeos and people on Head-Fi said the FH7's are equal to or surpass the Andromeda's. What do you think about this?

[@Currawong]

The bass driver set-up is excellent with the FH7s, but the treble isn't as refined as what Ken has managed with his custom chamber. Then there's the mids, which are very forward, which is not to everyone's tastes.

[@sebastianalleyne1073]

@@Currawong Thanks for your thoughts

[@raulmunoz4587]

These or Shure SE846 ?

[@jwglista]

Where can one purchase cables for these with 4.4 mm pentacon termination?

[@iluvj00]

Aliexpress?

[@SoundWaveTrax]

But wouldn't the wonky\fun sound signature be the means by which these IEMs would fake details or exaggerate them? I get this kind of impression with much cheaper IEMs vs IEMs that are world renowned to be accurate eutral like the Etymotic ER4XR. Neutral stuff tends to sound more boring and less in your face but at the end of the day more transparent and correct. I don't usually enjoy fun sounding headphones for long because they tend to be fatiguing.

[@Currawong]

That can be the case sometimes, but usually it's excessive treble giving that impression. The detail I listen for is usually much more subtle, such as the texture of notes, which can't be faked by EQ. It's very noticeable in the bass, when you can hear detail in the base notes of tracks you hadn't noticed before. Bass detail seems to be a rarer thing.

[@GamersInkInfo]

These or the Atlas, please help, IDK if I should return and grab the Atlas. ??? You Rock your content it awesome.

[@Currawong]

Are you enjoying the FH7? The Atlas is very V-shaped in sound, not like the more "W" shape (ie: less mid-forward) than the FH7.

[@djhmax09]

Did you try removing the screen in the filters? Heard they improve a little

[@Currawong]

I did. I didn't feel it made as much difference as it had with the FH5. Also, it'd be a very bad idea to let wax get into the FH7, as it would get deep inside and not be removable.

[@benclayton-wolfindale9444]

Yeah, there is zero need to do this. Modding madness for the sake of it

[@AramKocharyan]

Any comparison to the BGVP DM7?

[@Marian1st.]

How do they compare to iSine20 ?

[@willyvlyminck201]

Anyone can compare with the Stagedivers 2-3-4 ?

[@KoolKid2K4]

I currently use fiio9 pro with fiio x7 ii, will i get far superior audio quality with these earphones?

[@geoffk6375]

Great review. Did you burn them in?

[@Currawong]

Yes. I usually leave IEMs running for a few days after I unbox them.

[@geoffk6375]

@@Currawong cheers, i have a pair of these and the m11 and I agree with the treble. I'll change the to the bass tips, i love the sound of them both.

[@kimjongun5879]

Currawong how do you do it?

[@geoffk6375]

@@kimjongun5879 I've just left my to play for ten hours a day for 4 days so far aswell as my actual listening to music😁

[@dadanardi5541]

how's the sound with balanced connection? also the sound character, is there any headphones that is similar to fh7?

[@Currawong]

The only difference a balanced connection will have will depend on the individual device. For example, the M11 has different circuits for balanced and SE outputs, so it will sound subtly different. There's a misunderstanding by many that balanced outputs have some kind of magical sonic properties. Of course, if you're using a DAP with a balanced output, you'll get the most out of it using that output.

[@Currawong]

I forgot to add -- headphones like the FH7 -- maybe the Audeze LCD-XC? They are similarly quite mid-forward.

[@raresblidar7721]

Now, I’m not an experienced audiophile by any means. I had the FH7 for 6 months and their treble made my ears hurt regardless of which source (Fiio m11, ibasso dx220, LG v40) and cable(Fiio pure silver, the stock cable, or Fiio’s B line) I used. I’ve had the FH5 for a week and to me they don’t have the same problem in the treble, imaging is better and overall they sound smoother than the FH7. The bass sounds a bit bloated with the stock config, but overall I’d take the FH5 as a daily IEM. :)

[@narcisbogdan6675]

What player do you use? Need smth special to drive them or a phone (i.e. S10..) is fine?

[@Currawong]

I haven't tried them out of any phones (I use iOS) so as long as whatever you use has a low output impedance (so you don't get changes to the frequency response) it should be fine.

[@ionescugeorge2003]

You will be able to drive them, but they will sound far from what you would get even out of a Fiio BTR3.

[@-Ambos-]

Would you suggest to get a balanced cable for them?

[@Currawong]

If the device you're using them with has a balanced output, then yes, as that will be more optimum with that device (eg: The BTR-5). If not, no.

[@-Ambos-]

@@Currawong thank you for your advice. I want to get a singxer sa--1. Since it has a balanced output i wondered If it is worth it to get balanced ones for my in ears. Btw your singxer video ist great. Greetings from Germany

[@dilip_1997]

how do they sound with a dac and mobile phone ,does a dap make it much better

[@Currawong]

DAPs are designed to play music. Phones are mostly designed to do everything else, so DAPs in general tend to perform better. I haven't tried the audio-oriented LG phones yet though.

[@dilip_1997]

@@Currawong will the difference be huge ,I got the fh7 with s9+ ,it sounds good not extraordinary, so was wondering if a dap would make it better like the ibasso dx160, thx for your reply!!!

[@NiohNiohYT]

Impedance of earphones with different drivers (especially hybrid with dynamic and BA) is not actually "flat" across the board. Every driver has it's own impedance. This is sort of "flaw" and many manufacturers are trying to avoid this (64 audio as of now most successful). Anyways, impedance difference in cable in such rare cases does not affect each driver equally. So lower the impedance of cable more it will affect say high freq BA driver than it will affect dynamic bass driver (made up example!). So lower the impedance of cable, the "brighter" and "thinner" sound will appear simply due to that high freq driver being louder more so than higher impedance bass driver (no quality changes or anything, it's just slight volume difference due to impedance). Nothing to do with mystic vibranium in cable. It's simple as that. And this is *only* true if it's multi-driver (usually hybrid) IEM of very different impedance drivers, and have two very different cables. Other than that slight volume difference per driver due to impedance difference, which can actually alter sound in such occasions, there is no actual audio *quality* changes, even tho it might trick you, for example louder the low impedance high freq driver is, more perception of detail and clarity you have.

[@netog8441]

Exactly... Well explained... I had this discussion un another audio thread... I'm an Electronics Engineer.

[@Currawong]

There is also the potential issue of crosstalk in cables, and the plugs. Some weird issues that came up with the Hugo 2 and soundstage turned out to be an issue with connectors and crosstalk. Construction and plug quality seem to be of some importance.

[@NiohNiohYT]

@@tomcruz7177 I did. Did you read my comment? Cable might make your earphones sound different for the reasons I explained. There are some other factors also. Crosstalk as Amos mentioned, shouldn't be much of an issue unless you have some particularly bad cable, but in theory exists (basically when twisted in a particular way without shielding one signal can interfere with other), plug and connector quality might affect "sound" in a way. For example my old Senn IE80 didn't have gold plated plug, it got oxidized after 3 years and I had noise (especially while rotating jack inside my player) which gave me perception of less clarity (even tho it was just slight noise added). Any interference to signal is pretty much impossible for such short cable that has any cheap shielding, so no factors there. Also stiffness of the cable (due to coating) might affect microphonic noise. If cable is flexible and soft you will hear less noise from physical contact, for example cable rubbing against your jacket. Other than potential noise (extremely rare and almost irrelevant, usually inaudible and even immeasurable) and different impedance (which might affect specific drivers more than the others in multi-driver/hybrid earphones) there is *nothing* in cable that can alter sound quality. Doesn't matter if it's copper wire, or crystal silver cable directly extracted from black hole's core and washed in the blood of 3 virgins. If it's not noise (usually due to really bad cable) it's either cos of stuff I explained or you are placebo driven person cos you want to believe it changed sound.

[@NiohNiohYT]

@@tomcruz7177 Why don't you read what I wrote?

[@NiohNiohYT]

@@tomcruz7177 Why don't you read my comment?

[@keithb5612]

How do the Fiio FH7 compare to the Sennheiser ie80 earphones.? Many thanks

[@MyOldNameWasTaken]

I would also like to know as my ie80s were crushed by accident and I was considering buying some in ears from a different company. right now i'm leaning towards some Chi-Fi branded ones called tin p1

[@ionescugeorge2003]

Ie80 is crap compaired to my Fiio FH5, like way way lower end. FH7 is an astronomicla jump over FH5, so i own both now. You will not believe the evolution of the iem market, it's almost incredible what FH7 do, not just for the money.

[@dynamic-audio]

@@ionescugeorge2003 excuse me and have you could compare fh7 vs xelento or andromeda?

[@ionescugeorge2003]

@@dynamic-audio i did't test those. All i cna tell you is that FH7 is worth every penny and is a pretty allrounder headphone.

[@geekaboo14]

Ie80's sound muffled in comparison to the fh7's

[@jgectalapatra]

How is it compare to the legendary Shure Se846?

[@twoneil]

Shubhrakamal Talapatra I still prefer the mids of se846. Soundstage feels wider for FH7, more separation than the 'in your head' sound of shure. After 4 years, my se846 had to retire from a broken plug. The FH7 is a welcome change. Both are excellent, with different sound signature.

[@dilip_1997]

@@twoneil which would you choose though ? ,at the same price

[@geekaboo14]

@@dilip_1997 fh7, I own both and the fh7's win my heart over the se846

[@dilip_1997]

@@geekaboo14 how do they sound with a dac and mobile phone ,does a dap make it much better,by how much?

[@geekaboo14]

@@dilip_1997 yeah there is a slight improvement, maybe more instrument separation and more soundstage bit that's about it

[@genysmenrunner1677]

I have a sennheiser momentum true wireless. I know there are iem vs wireless but anyones knows is this sound way better? How the fh7 compares to campfire polaris 1 or 2? Thanks

[@Currawong]

Did you see my Polaris 2 review? kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJfPdZSanrhpmJo

[@FriedEgg101]

I love my FH5 so I was very curious to hear about these. Nice review. I really want them, but I don't feel the need to rush out and buy them. They're not even on amazon uk yet. The FH5 are £229 on amazon, so I wonder what the FH7 will cost.

[@lisagreen779]

They are in the uk at £450 in a couple of places but agree not on Amazon yet.

[@FriedEgg101]

@@lisagreen779 £450? Ouch! I shouldn't be surprised I suppose. It's good to know there's an upgrade from the FH5 at least. Thanks

[@njj42]

I use the FH5 as my daily drivers. Heard the FH7 from my local store and for the huge jump in price, I don't find it worth upgrading to. What I first noticed is the soundstage being pretty big and accurate. Bass and trebles are slightly more refined. Other than those stuff, the FH7 is quite similar to FH5, like currawong said in the video.

[@hkhudadad]

@@njj42 I disagree, had the FH5 for half a year and bought the FH7 two weeks ago and the difference is big, bass is much better tuned, huge stage, better imaging, luckily not in your face mids, much better highs and finally better fit and isolation, also the cable is of higher quality, you get more aceessories and a really nice case, it's a bargain for 450

[@IISocratesII]

@@FriedEgg101 You can get them directly from FiiO via Aliexpress, £380

[@Strravigor]

how would you compare to campfire Andromeda or solaris ? ​

[@Currawong]

In short, the RH7 is more exciting and dynamic, but the Andromeda is more evenly tuned. The Solaris I talked about a bit in the video.

[@Strravigor]

thanks, you say it s comparable in terms of general quality even if they are half price of the Andromeda ? @@Currawong

[@MrPigeonaids]

i heard they sound better without the screen

[@Currawong]

Someone else asked that too, and I forgot to mention that I'd tried it. There was possibly a tiny improvement, but not as much as I'd noticed with the FH5. Also, I was reluctant to leave it off, as if earwax got in there, it would fall in quite deep, and that wouldn't be good. If I got it in the nozzle of the treble BA, that'd be quite bad too.

[@funkow]

Is it possible to gett your playlist?