Fiio FH5s Quad-Driver Hybrid In-Ear Monitors (Black)

I spent more time testing the FiiO FH5s than any other set of in-ear monitors to date, which is also why there is an extra page in total and two pages of results and discussion. There was a lot to test, especially with the custom tuning options through the three sound-tuning switches in each of the...

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  Extremely customizable IEMs, Tunable frequency response to favor bass, mids, or highs with built-in sound-tuning switches, Genre-favoring ear tips included in the box, which work fairly well, too, Good bass response with energy and retained detail, Excellent soundstage in the lows and mids courtesy...

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  200-hour burn-in recommended by FiiO should have been done at the factory, Mediocre treble response at the best of times, Inconsistency between channels and tuning, Some clarity loss in other regions when using the sound-tuning switches

The FH5s in-ear monitors from Chinese manufacturer FiiO are a hybrid quad-driver system that has an integrated sound control in the form of three separate switches for the bass, mid-range and treble for individual adjustment to your own listening habits.

is a company I’ve just been starting to dive into after years of hearing buzz about them. Their FH5s IEMs sit in the middle of their price range at $269, which, as I always note, is a very saturated, competitive price range in the market right now.

Fantastic product for the price. Clear audio even in loud environments.

The two side of the same coin, a long term review About me: I'm a sucker for technical aspect, for me things like separation and imaging is more important than the tuning itself. I'm an open minded person, bassy earphone or treble heavy IEM is good for me as long as technical aspects are good and i...

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  - tonal weight is better than the regular FH5S (which was too thin), - scalable to source, different in cable and eartips are easily noticeable, - wide soundstage, decent depth, - good separation and imaging, - Transparent sounding earphone, - nice treble extension, - very good bass response and...

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  - unforgiving, - treble will be too shouty for some, - after 6 months of usage, I think tonal weight is still not enough or maybe the sound change because of long time usage idk, - lack of texture on the treble region because it was too airy, It will cost you money for the pro version.

I was expecting a decent sounding device. I bought the FH5s as a wired and like brand device for the FIIO M9 that I picked up earlier this year, expecting some improvement in the sound.

Picked these up yesterday and matched them with my Sony N507 DAP and all I can say is, WOW! Incredibly rich and highly resolving. The detail on these is just extraordinary and, to me, hugely satisfying. Everything is there and supported by a great bass and strong mid-range.

These are my first balanced iems and am very impressed with their sound quality. There are adjustable switches to increase bass mid and treble, I have used bass mid up and treble down, matched to my sony 507 walkman via 4.4mm the sound is crisp and clear.

top quality iem type earphones imo. better than my focals or my oppos. only real complaint is i didnt get a mmcx clip with mine for some reason. love the 3 different gold plated jacks and secure way theey lock in. nice case too and lots of tips.

I know this review reads more like a diary excerpt than your standard formatted review but the FH5s is so close to being what the marketing says it is and as a reviewer it is all about what was included in the package. I am gonna tell you folks.

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  - Balanced tuning, - Precise and transparent yet musical and engaging, - Reference bass performance, - Highly dynamic, - Excellent midrange quality, - Excellent head stage, - Brutally honest, - Detailed yet not analytical, - Tuning switches, - Very comfortable and lightweight, - Cable with...

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  - Requires massive burn in, - Highly exposing, - Treble timbre slightly lagging behind, - Not suitable for poor quality material, - Requires dedicated dac/amp or player, - May not suit laid back listeners, - Semi open design will not isolate well, Treble cause of contention has BA timbre for treble...