FiiO FH1 Dual Hybrid IEM-- Smooth, Warm And Uber Comfortable

Pros - Sound quality, build quality, overall design, tonal balance, fit, comfort, value, balanced and SE cables, accessories

Cons - Sub bass can mask the upper mid-range and lower treble on bassy tracks

Picture are default 1200 x 800 resolution - click to view larger images.

INTRODUCTION
FiiO's roll with affordable hybrid IEMs continues with the third in the F series (following the release of the F9 and F9 Pro) – the new FH1. When I reviewed the F9 and F9 Pro recently, they were variations on a similar theme, with extremely similar overall signatures, and the main changes being both cosmetic, and some slight variation in the upper mid-range and lower treble. While both received an extremely positive reception, there were calls for a similarly designed IEM, but with a little more bass emphasis – a slightly warmer F9 if you will. FiiO of course were already a step ahead (the FH1 had been planned for some time), and hit the market in December 2017.

So what has changed with the FH1, and how does the tuning differ from their F9 triple hybrids?  Lets put FiiO's FH1 through it's paces.

ABOUT FIIO

By now, most Head-Fi members should know about the FiiO Electronics Company.  If you don’t, here’s a very short summary.

FiiO was first founded in 2007.  Their first offerings were some extremely low cost portable amplifiers – which were sometimes critiqued by some seasoned Head-Fiers as being low budget “toys”.  But FiiO has spent a lot of time with the community here, and continued to listen to their potential buyers, adopt our ideas, and grow their product range.  They debuted their first DAP (the X3) in 2013, and despite some early hiccups with developing the UI, have worked with their customer base to continually develop the firmware for a better user experience. The X3 was followed by the X5, X1, X7 and most of these DAPs are now into their 2nd or even 3rd generations.

They've also developed new cables, desktop and portable amplifiers, DACs, ear-buds and earphones. FiiO’s products have followed a very simple formula since 2007 – affordable, stylish, well built, functional, measuring well, and most importantly sounding good.

DISCLAIMER

The FiiO FH1 IEM that I’m reviewing today was provided to me gratis as a review sample. Although I have made it clear to FiiO on many occasions  that I still regard any product they send me as their sole property and available for return any time at their request, they have told me that the product is mine to do with as I see fit. So I thank them for the ability to continue use of the FiiO FH1 for follow up comparisons. I do not make any financial gain from this review – it is has been written simply as my way of providing feedback both to the Head-Fi community and also FiiO themselves.

I have now had the FiiO FH1 IEM for 5 weeks. The retail price at time of review is ~ USD 75.

PREAMBLE - 'ABOUT ME'. (or a base-line for interpreting my thoughts and bias)

Spoiler: Click here for a summary of my known preferences and bias

I'm a 50 year old music lover. I don't say audiophile – I just love my music. Over the last couple of years, I have slowly changed from cheaper listening set-ups to my current set-up. I vary my listening from portables (mostly now from the FiiO X5iii, X7ii and iPhone SE) to my desk-top's set-up (PC > USB > iFi iDSD). My main full sized headphones at the time of writing are the Sennheiser HD800S, SennheiserHD600 & HD630VB, MS Pro and AKG K553. Most of my portable listening is done with IEMs, and it has mainly been (for pleasure) with my own personally owned IEMs - the Jays q-Jays, Alclair Curve2 and LZ Big Dipper. A full list of the gear I have owned (past and present is listed in my Head-Fi profile).

I have very eclectic music tastes listening to a variety from classical/opera and jazz, to grunge and general rock. I listen to a lot of blues, jazz, folk music, classic rock, indie and alternative rock. I am particularly fond of female vocals. I generally tend toward cans that are relatively neutral/balanced, but I do have a fondness for clarity, and suspect I might have slight ‘treble-head’ preferences. I am not overly treble sensitive, and in the past have really enjoyed headphones like the K701, SR325i, and of course the T1 and DT880. I have a specific sensitivity to the 2-3 kHz frequency area (most humans do) but my sensitivity is particularly strong, and I tend to like a relatively flat mid-range with slight elevation in the upper-mids around this area.

I have extensively tested myself (ABX) and I find aac256 or higher to be completely transparent. I do use exclusively red-book 16/44.1 if space is not an issue. All of my music is legally purchased (mostly CD – the rest FLAC purchased on-line). I tend to be sceptical about audiophile ‘claims’, don’t generally believe in burn-in, have never heard a difference with different cables (unless it was volume or impedance related), and would rather test myself blind on perceived differences. I am not a ‘golden eared listener’. I suffer from mild tinnitus, and at 50, my hearing is less than perfect (it only extends to around 14 kHz nowadays). My usual listening level is around 65-75 dB.

For the purposes of this review - I used the FiiO FH1 straight from the headphone-out socket of many of my portables, but predominantly the X5iii, X3iii, X7ii and my iPhone. I did not generally further amp them (I did test them with my Q1ii, A5, and E17K), as IMO they do not benefit greatly from additional amplification (YMMV and it may depend on your source). In the time I have spent with the FiiO FH1, I have noticed no change to the overall sonic presentation (break-in). Time spent now with the FH1 would be approximately 35-40 hours.

This is a purely subjective review - my gear, my ears, and my experience. Please take it all with a grain of salt - especially if it does not match your own experience.

THE REVIEW

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES
The FiiO FH1 arrived in an approximately 110mm x 165mm x 53mm retail box with a picture of the FH1 on the front cover.  Its essentially the same sized box as on the F9 and F9 Pro. Inside the retail outer is a black box and lid – simply adorned with the FiiO logo.

Inside you get a black glossy Pelican case, the FH1 in a cut-out foam enclosure, 2 sets of silicone tips and an extra cable (this one balanced) .

Retail box	Inside the box

The storage case is very similar to the Dunu Pelican type cases, has internal measurements of ~ 98mm x 58mm and approx 34mm deep. It is rigid with felt like internal padding and provides pretty good protection as well as storage.  Because of it's size, its more suited to jacket pocket than pants pocket use.

All the accessories	Tip Selection

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
(From FiiO's packaging / website)

Model	FiiO FH1 Pro
Approx price	$75 USD
Type	Dual Driver Hybrid
Driver DD	1 x 10mm Titanium DD
Driver BA	1 x Knowles 33518 BA
Freq Range	20Hz – 40kHz
Impedance	26Ω
Sensitivity	106 dB /mW
Cables	1.2m, replaceable (MMCX) x 2 (balanced and SE)
Jack	3.5mm gold plated right angled
Weight	21g with default cable
Casing material	Polycarbonate shell with brass nozzles

FREQUENCY GRAPH

The graphs I use are generated using the Vibro Veritas coupler and ARTA software. Ken Ball (ALO/Campfire) graciously provided me with measurement data which I have used to recalibrate my Veritas so that it mimics an IEC 711 measurement standard (Ken uses two separate BK ear simulators, we measured the same set of IEMs, and I built my calibration curve from shared data). I do not claim that this data is 100% accurate, but it is very consistent, and is as close as I can get to the IEC 711 standard on my budget.

I do not claim that the measurements are in any way more accurate than anyone else's, but they have been proven to be consistent and I think they should be enough to give a reasonable idea of response - especially if you've followed any of my other reviews. When measuring I always use crystal foam tips (so medium bore opening) - and the reason I use them is for very consistent seal and placement depth in the coupler. I use the same amp (E11K) for all my measurements - and output is under 1 ohm.

The graphs are provided merely as a point of discussion, and later in the review I've included comparisons to other IEMs for similar reference.  I've also included a quick comparison graph with the F9 and F9 Pro for interest sake.

Default freq chart and channel matching	FH1 vs F9 and F9 Pro

My quick sonic impression of the FiiO FH1 – written well before I measured:

• Bass is enhanced slightly over both the F9 and F9 Pro, but it is mostly in the sub-bass region.  It also appears bassier than both of its siblings principally because of the lower amplitude in the upper mid-range and treble regions.  Extension is very good and there is audible rumble.
  

• Lower mid-range is reasonably linear, with a light recession. Both male and female vocals are well represented and sound quite natural. Upper mid-range is emphasised, and reaches a peak in the presence area. Female vocals have a a very good sense of euphony, and there is good cohesion and transition from lower to upper mid-range.
  

• Lower treble extension is good, but it is definitely lower in overall amplitude from the F9 series, and there are small peaks at both 7 and 9-10 kHz.  Both of these are relatively benign – especially compared to its siblings.
  

• The overall signature is one of very nice overall balance, but with a warm tonality due to the enhanced sub-bass and lower treble.
  

• Channel matching is extremely good on the pair I have – very good in the mid-range and treble, with the dynamic drivers slightly out (its not noticeable with music).

BUILD

The FiiO FH1 (like the F9 series) is beautifully built and seeing what FiiO can do at this early stage in overall development really does make me question how so many other companies struggle to get ergonomic design right. The main body is a polycarbonate polished glossy plastic, with a nano-thermal exterior coating which is supposed to be very skin friendly.  The external face has an ABS electroplated silver decorative inlay, and the nozzle is brass (extending to the internal drivers).  FiiO tells us that the brass has higher density than aluminium, which produces a more natural sound. The outer shell is available in 4 colours – black, blue, red and green. The entire shell is beautifully rounded and sized to perfection (very ergonomic)

External face view	Front view

The FH1 measures ~ 20mm across with a total height (including cable exit) of 17mm, and depth of 12mm. The nozzle is angled forward and extends ~ 7mm from the main body (so relatively shallow fitting).  It is ~ 5mm in diameter with a generous lip and mesh protective cover.

Rear view	Internal face view

On the internal face of each unit are two ventilation ports and a L or R designator.  The cable exit uses an MMCX connector and this is situated on top of the main body, and naturally forward. The connectors are tight, and although they do not sit quite flush with the main body, they still feel very sturdy.  There is a small red or blue marking on shell next to the MMCX socket (makes IDing left or right very easy), and the angle of the cable exit allows other after-market cables to be substituted easily.

The FH1 comes with two included cables – a standard 3.5mm stereo which has in-line mic, volume and playback controls, and also 2.5mm balanced cable option.  Both cables have a hard rubber / moulded plastic housing for the MMCX connector which then joins to preformed flexible ear-hooks which are extremely comfortable and keep the IEM in place brilliantly (I love this design).  On the MMCX mating collar are either red or blue markings which makes determining left or right very easy, and there is also knurling to the cable ends to make grip easier for removal.

Ear guides and connectors	SE mic, control unit and y-split	3.5mm right angle jack

The SE cable has a control unit on the right side which hangs just about equal with my jaw if worn cable down (so ideal height for the mic). The on-cable controls are designed to work with  Android devices and do so brilliantly with FiiO's X1ii, X3iii, X5iii and X711 devices, allowing play/pause (one push), next track (two pushes), and previous track (three pushes). The volume control rocker also works. The microphone is crystal clear for calls (with my iPhone SE), as is the audio. I also tried the FH1 with my wife's Galaxy, and everything worked as it should.

Below this (about mid-chest) is a small tubular y-split with good relief below the split, but no relief above it.  Y splits tend to be a little more forgiving in terms of wear, so no real issues with this.  The jack is gold plated, 4 pole (for the in-line controls) and right angled.  It has a small shoulder which allows perfect mating to my iPhone without having to worry about the case being an issue. It also has very good strain relief. The balanced cable is a very soft and pliable twisted pair, and FiiO tells us it is silver plated OFC.   There are the same formed ear-loops and this time a 2.5mm balanced jack.

Balanced cable y-split	Balanced cable jack	Connectors

Both cables have a rubber cable tie intact with the cable – the same as that used on their other IEMs and pretty much all of Dunu's releases now. This is a really simple mechanism that is unobtrusive - but means that whenever it's time to store the IEMs, the cable is always tidily looped. This remains one of the most simple, yet practical, methods of cable ties I have ever seen.

FIT / COMFORT / ISOLATION

I'll start with the easy one (isolation), and we can then look at fit and comfort. Isolation will be a little dependent on tip selection, and if you get a good seal, it is definitely above average for a hybrid with a dynamic driver.  It is pretty good for most situations, and I thought it was pretty good for even some forms of public transport, although I'd probably go to an all BA set-up for air travel. The FH1 are designed to be worn cable up. Fit and comfort is exemplary – especially with the formed loops.

Most tips fit pretty well	And the FH1 is extremely comfortable

I have one ear canal slightly different to the other one (my right is very slightly smaller) - so I tend to find that usually single silicon flanges don't seal overly well. This is often even more of an issue with shallow fitting IEMs. Because the FH1 has a very nice nozzle lip (the brass nozzle is excellent), I had no issues fitting any of my tips, and had great success with Ostry’s blue and black tuning tips, Sony Isolation tips, Spin-fits, and also Spiral Dots. The included tips were also pretty good, but I settled with what suits me best, and in the end I've been using either stretched Shure  Olives or Symbio Mandarins.

The FiiO FH1 sits nicely flush with my outer ear, and is extremely comfortable to lie down with. I've slept with them often over the last few weeks, and have had no discomfort on waking.  The combo of the in-line controls with a FiiO DAP makes them brilliant for late night.

So how do they sound?

SOUND QUALITY

The following is what I hear from the FiiO FH1. YMMV – and probably will – as my tastes are likely different to yours (read the preamble I gave earlier for a baseline). Most of the testing at this point (unless otherwise stated) was done with my X7ii, no EQ, and Shure Olive tips. I used the X7ii simply because paired they not only gave me a very transparent window to the music with low impedance, and more than enough power – but also allowed me to use the balanced option. There was no EQ engaged.

For the record – on most tracks, the volume level on the X7ii (paired with AM3a) was around 30-35 Balanced or 45-50/120 Single Ended (on low gain) which was giving me an average SPL around 65-75 dB. Tracks used were across a variety of genres – and can be viewed in this list http://www.head-fi.org/a/brookos-test-tracks.

Relativities

• Sub-bass – good extension, nice audible rumble, in balance with the rest of the  spectrum but does tend to be slightly emphasised.
  

• Mid-bass – slightly elevated almost like an HD600. Sounds natural and gives good impact without masking the mid-range.
  

• Lower mid-range – slightly recessed compared to bass and upper treble, but not enough to make vocals distant. Male and female vocal fundamentals are very good – rich and full.
  

• Upper mid-range – elevated compared to lower mid-range, and there is a very even rise from 1 kHz to the first peak at just over 2kHz. Cohesive transition from lower to upper-mids, and very good euphony for female vocals.
  

• Lower treble has a nice overall balance throughout, and small peaks at ~7 and 9-10 kHz. The 7 kHz gives good clarity with cymbal strikes, and the subsequent decay is quite dependent on your music.  If there is anything bass dominant (i.e. a lot of bass guitar), there can be an element of masking.  Its not extreme though, and there is actually quite nice detail through the lower treble area.
  

• Upper treble rolls extends quite well with some decent “air”, but is pretty difficult to capture properly on my budget measurements set-up.

Resolution / Detail / Clarity

• Clarity overall is quite decent. Upper-mids and lower treble have enough emphasis to give guitars bite and definition. Micro details are quite evident as long as there isn't a strong bass line (masking).
  

• Cymbal hits have a good clarity and presence but unlike the F9 series, they aren't high-lighted as much, and tend to sit a little back in the mix.

Sound-stage, Imaging

• Directional queues are quite good – clean and clear without being over emphasised. Presentation of stage is just on the periphery of my head space with binaural tracks, but the violin in Tundra does project beyond that (so good emphasis on width).
  

• I also played Lakme's “Flower Duet” - an excellent recording which has the two sopranos (Netrebko and Garanca) moving to the rear of the stage at the end of the song, and continuing the last chorus from there. The FH1 captured the transition quite well – which shows a nice presentation of stage depth.
  

• The applause section of the same track showed a very good sense of immersion (the sound of the audience flowing around me), and the natural tonality gave a nice sense of realism.  This usually indicates a nice sense of both width and depth balance.
  

• “Let it Rain” (Amanda Marshall) gave a nice 3 dimensional feel (the way it is miked) with good crispness of guitar and a lot of overall clarity. There was the usual sibilance with Amanda's vocals – and it should be there because its in the recording.  The interesting thing was that it was quite present in the opening bars, but quickly became more masked as the bass kicked in.

Strengths

• Overall tonality and reasonable (but warm) balance of the frequency range.
  

• Good sense of stage and imaging
  

• Very nice cohesion with lower and upper register vocals
  

• Great for both female and male vocals and with slightly more bass warmth to give a richness which might be absent in the F9 series.

Weaknesses

• The sub-bass might be a little too warm for some, and especially if you enjoy a little more detail in lower treble – it could produce some masking.

AMPLIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

The FiiO FH1 doesn’t need amplification for overall volume – and because its impedance isn't overly low, any source with an output impedance of less than 3-4 ohms (to meet damping requirements) should pair OK.

Great with any source	No extra amplification required

With my iPhone SE around 35-45% volume is more than enough with most tracks, and the FiiOs are generally at around 45-50/120 single ended. I tried the FH1 with the Q1ii, A5, and E17K, but noticed no real differences in dynamics. None of the amps seemed to be adding additional (compared to the non-amped DAPs).  The FH1 really is an easy IEM to get the best out of.

RESPONSE TO EQ?
Glad you asked.  There was two ways to tackle this, either dropping the sub-bass just a little bit (to avoid the masking) or raising the lower treble a little to overcome the added warmth.  I used the X7ii again, and first dropped the 31Hz slider by about 5 dB and then the 62Hz by around 4 dB and the 125Hz by about 2dB.  The rest I left alone.  The result was an immediate slight drop in the warmth of the bass guitar (Pearl Jam's “Elderly Woman BTCIAST”), and a lift in fidelity with the cymbals.  This is a signature I would likely gravitate more toward – but that’s simply my taste and preference.  The next step was to slightly raise the 4 kHz and 8 kHz sliders, and this was less noticeable.  Yes – it gave slightly more detail, but it was a worse result than simply taking a smidgen of bass out.

In reality though, I am very much OK with the default signature – but its nice to know that those wanting a little less warmth can do so easily and quickly.

BALANCED VS SINGLE ENDED
I measured these, and there was no difference with the X7ii's AM3a amplifier module apart from volume.  Even the slight change in impedance wasn't enough to change the overall frequency response. I'm not a great believer in the adage that balanced makes a huge difference. Yes, if the implementation is vastly different you can sometimes notice a difference, but more often than not the changes to cross-talk are already below the audible barrier, and most modern set-ups don't have crosstalk issues anyway. Its nice to have the option – but sonically I don't hear any benefits.  If you volume match properly, I doubt you will either.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER IEMS

These comparisons were all done with the X7ii, (no EQ) – and volume matched using a calibrated SPL meter and fixed 1kHz test tone first. It was a hard one to choose the comparisons, because the FH1 really does punch above its price range.  So in the end I chose to compare to some of the IEMs (mainly hybrids and a couple of multi-BAs) in considerably higher brackets. So I chose the F9 Pro, LZ A4, Brainwavz B400, Dunu's DN-2000, Aedle's ODS1, and my benchmark – the Alclair Curve.

FiiO FH1 (~USD 75) vs FiiO F9 Pro (~USD 139)

FiiO FH1 and FiiO F9 Pro	Comparative frequency response

We can make this one pretty short.  As far as build and design goes, the shape, comfort and cables are practically identical. The F9 Pro has the more permanent materials (alloy shell), but that doesn't really matter when they are worn.  The F9 Pro also has better overall accessories. Both are very easy to drive and come with balanced and SE cables.  Both also have similar isolation.

Sonically the two are quite similar, but where the F9 Pro is a little cooler and drier in the top end, the FH1 is more on the warm and lush side.  Both have very rich bass response, and extremely good transition from lower to upper mids. Technically the F9 Pro is a little more resolving, but its not a huge difference, and if you do take a little bass quantity out of the FH1 via EQ, I was surprised to find that I liked the overall tonality a little better.  Both are outstanding value.

FiiO FH1 (~USD 75) vs LZ A4 (~USD 200)

FiiO FH1 and LZ A4	Comparative frequency response

The LZ A4 is a triple hybrid IEM which is tunable via changing front and rear filters.  It's black and pink filter combo comes closest to the FH1, so this is what I used for the comparison.  The LZ A4 has the better use of permanent materials, has more overall accessories, and is tunable. The FH1 has the balanced cable choice, the far more ergonomic design, and is less than half the price.  The FH1 does isolate better and is a little easier to drive.

Sonically – both are incredibly good IEMs with good balance despite their mild U shaped default frequencies. Despite the measurably fractionally fuller bass on the LZA4, it is the FH1 which does sound a little richer (especially through the mid-range), and slightly more tonally correct. The LZA4 has the slightest bit more upper end energy comparatively and does sound a little brighter as a result.  Both are incredibly good IEMs, and the choice here is whether the LZA4's tuning options (which are excellent) trump the more comfortable ergonomics and lower price of the FH1.  For me personally, the FH1's comfort ultimately wins out, although it would be a different story if the A4 was in a fully ergonomic chassis.

FiiO FH1 (~USD 75) vs Brainwavz B400 (~USD 180-220)

FiiO FH1 and Brainwavz B400	Comparative frequency response

Brainwavz came from nowhere with the B400, and knocked it out of the park IMO.  A quad BA in a very ergonomic housing, and spectacular tuning.  Compared to the FH1, I'd call design and ergonomics a tie, and both come with balanced and single-ended cables. The B400 has better isolation.

The difference here is in the drivers and the tuning.  Both are clear, smooth and rich monitors, but it is the presentation which is slightly different.  The FH1's dynamic driver moves more air, and provides more impact and slam with its bass, where the B400 has more speed and agility. The FH1 is a little smoother and warmer in its vocal delivery, but is also a little more coloured (in a good way) with female vocals.  Both have very good lower to upper mid transitions and are very coherent. This one is a rally hard one to call and ultimately depends on your preference for bass presentation.  But it shows just how good the FH1 is – especially considering the price difference

FiiO FH1 (~USD 75) vs Aedle ODS1 (~USD 360)

FiiO FH1 and Aedle ODS1	Comparative frequency response

The ODS1 is (like the FH1) a dual driver hybrid, but there are some big differences in the overall design.  Both are ergonomic and extremely comfortable, but with the ODS1's short lipless nozzles, you may have to do some serious tip rolling to find something suitable.  The ODS1  has the more luxurious build/design but ultimately the FH1 has the better (IMO) cables, and of course comes with the balanced option.

Sonically the FH1 and ODS1 both have similarly shaped curves, similar bumps in the mid-range, and similar treble peaks.  The difference is in the bass where the ODS1 has at least 5-6 dB more bass.  Consequently the ODS1 is an overly warm monitor with too much bass emphasis, and subsequent problems with masking of other frequencies. The ironic thing here is that if the ODS1 had been closer to the FH1's bass tuning, it would be a much more popular IEM (at least on these forums).  If I EQ (E17K) the ODS1's bass out to match the FH1, the ODS1 really sings.  This is a no contest though – the FH1 handily trumps the much more expensive monitor.

FiiO FH1 (~USD 75) vs Dunu DN2000 (~USD 240)

FiiO FH1 and Dunu DN-2000	Comparative frequency response

The Dunu DN2000 another triple driver hybrid, which was one of the more popular triple hybrids when they were beginning to come into vogue. It is a cartridge design with a fixed cable and copious accessories. In terms of build materials, the DN2000 has the more permanent materials, but the FH1 pulls ahead with superior ergonomics, comfort, and of course the detachable cables.

Sonically these two are variations on a very similar theme. Both have extremely similar bass quantity and quality, and the main difference between the two is in the FH1's more forward presentation of vocals (particularly female) and the slightly brighter top end. Its been a while since I last listened to the DN-2000 and it was relatively easy to fall in love with its signature all over again (especially with acoustic music), but while I was ABing, the thought that kept occurring was how well the FH1 was presenting the same tracks. The DN-2000 might have the slightest bit more resolution in the lower treble, but for a third of the price and better ergonomics, my choice would be easy.

FiiO FH1 (~USD 75) vs Alclair Curve (~USD 249)

FiiO FH1 and Alclair Curve	Comparative frequency response

To finish with, what happens when I put the FH1 against one of my favourites in the sub $250 bracket? The Alclair Curve is a dual BA and the most ergonomic IEM I own. Both IEMs have very good build quality – with the FH1's shell being carbonate vs the acrylic compound shell of the Curve. Both have replaceable cables.  Both have exceptional comfort. The FH1 of course has the balanced cable option – the Curve isolates better.

Sonically these two have quite similar overall signatures, with the main difference being the bass. Where the FH1 is warm and rich, the Curve is a little more on the cool and lean side, very quick, but definitely not a rich tonality like the FH1. What did surprise me was how much I was beginning to like the FH1's default signature (it was growing on me), so I gave the Curve a little bass boost and was mazed at how much it added to some tracks (using the Q1ii's hardware EQ was a present revelation). This one comes down to how you prefer your tonality (lush and warm vs cool and lean), and I quite like both.  The FH1 won't supplant the Curve, but it has given me some food for thought on just how good it  performs.

VALUE

By now you'll already know where I see the strengths of the FH1, and as with both the F9 and F9 Pro, the massive strength is in perceived value.  At $75 I can't think of too many IEMs which I would put on an equal footing for what FiiO is offering in terms of build, ergonomics and sonic signature.  I would predict that the FH1 is going to become incredibly popular in a very short time.  The fact that it can hang with, and in some cases beat, a variety of higher cost IEMs speaks volumes about its value proposition.

FiiO FH1 – SUMMARY

I was a little wary coming into this review – especially with the positive reaction I had from the F9 Pro.  I was expecting the FH1 to be an IEM tuned with much heavier bass, relinquishing the balance of the F9 in favour of a much more “consumer friendly” signature. The FH1 does have more bass warmth, but in many ways it is also a mature tuning, and I think FiiO really understands the idea of balance.

The FH1 combines good build and design, fantastic ergonomics, and still maintains the inclusion of dual cables (balanced and SE). Gone is the treble spikes of the F9 series – replaced instead by a mellow but still well extended treble. Added is a dollop more sub-bass, and although it can mask some of the finer details (if you have a track with a lot of sub or mid bass), its at the same time not overdone like some of the cheaper consumer oriented monitors.

If you do find them a touch warm, simply drop the sub and mid-bass down a couple of notches with EQ, and the resultant signature is (for my tastes) simply sublime.

At USD 75.00, the FH1 is a real bargain, and I would absolutely recommend them, especially to those who like a touch of bass warmth with their music. I put these through my new objective ranking calculation module, and unsurprisingly they scored incredibly well.

My thanks once again to Lily and the team at FiiO for their continued faith in me as a reviewer.

Scoring Chart

Headphones	FiiO FH1			(out of 10)
	My Score	Out Of	Weighting	Weighted Score
Accessories	7	10	5.00%	0.35
Build	8.5	10	10.00%	0.85
Design	9.5	10	5.00%	0.475
Fit/Comfort	9.5	10	15.00%	1.425
Sound Quality
Bass Quality	8	10	8.00%	0.64
Mid-range Quality	9	10	8.00%	0.72
Treble Quality	8	10	8.00%	0.64
Overall Tonality	7.5	10	8.00%	0.60
Clarity	7	10	8.00%	0.56
Stage/Imaging	7	10	8.00%	0.56
Value	10	10	17.00%	1.7
TOTALS	91	110	100.00%	8.52