Overview FiiO FH5 and FiiO FA1 - compare hybrid and armature headphones Chinese brand

Table of contents

• Characteristics
• Equipment
• Appearance and ergonomics
• Sound
• Summary

Characteristics

FiiO FA1

FiiO FH5

Equipment

FA1 came to us in a hard plastic case. This case is suitable for carrying in a backpack clogged - with headphones just did not happen. And yet it is nice snaps.

The test sample did not come fully equipped. According to information from the manufacturer, except in the case study package is a set of ear pads and brushes for cleaning bowls.

FH5 come to the editor in a big box. Includes earphones, carrying case, soft case, cleaning brush and stand with ear pads resembling patch panel modular synthesizer. The solution is interesting and amateur music technology instantly captivating.

Immediately explain why so much: three sets of aid in equalization - emphasize bass frequencies, in which the vocal sound, or adjust the sound volume level for the most in the entire range. In the fourth set - foam ear cushions that provide the most dense headphones fit. All sets, except the last one, different in size.

In addition to a hard carrying case included FH5 have a soft case with a zipper.

Appearance and ergonomics

FiiO FA1

Bowls FA1 pleasant to the touch and perfect lie in the lower cavity of the ear. Universal headphone does not happen, and not the fact that this model is suitable exactly for you. Inserts printed the 3D-printer, and are made of medical epoxy resin - in the case you can see the emitter and the contacts and not a single bubble. It looks great.

BTE near the bowls do not remember the shape of the body, but to cope with its role perfectly: hold the device in his ear tighter and eliminate the rustling sounds.

The cable is thin and glossy twisted pigtail. The elements are not confused, they can pull the rubber strap.

Each earpiece is connected to the cable-MMCX connector - which means that it can be replaced. Tight connection, and remove the headset is not so easy - from the cup cord accidentally fly.

Mini-jack-plug made of plastic, but the corner - it is theoretically subject to wear, but it looks like he will last long.

FiiO FH5

Here bowl slightly larger and opaque - affects the presence of four emitters, in particular dynamic, which is slightly more reinforcing.

The device sits ears as tightly - it seems that without BTE bowl would have never dropped out, and they are no matter what do not press and do not cause discomfort.

The cable is thicker, but no less pleasant to the touch. And also with a strap, but with velcro.

Bowl with a cable connected by the same MMCX-interface. But the mini-jack-plug metal - not exactly pereb'ete.

Sound

The different dynamic, reinforcing and hybrid headphones

Most headphones on the market - dynamic. This means that they are arranged in the same way as the column, but much smaller in size. Emitters such headphones are the dynamics of a voice coil and the diaphragm with the magnet. This type of speaker is rich frequency response, but other types of plays Headphone the authenticity and purity of sound due to distortions arising during the passage of sound through membrane.

The emitters based reinforcing headphone is U-shaped movable ferromagnetic armature, which acts on the membrane. Influence of membrane on the sound is minimal - it is accurate, nyuansny and higher volume capacity than the dynamic emitters. Therefore, reinforcing the technology used in the manufacture of hearing aids and stage monitor headphones for musicians. In such devices there are also disadvantages: a relatively scarce frequency range and frequent depression baseman in the mix. To make the sound more rich and balanced, manufacturers are improving emitters, turning them into broadband, making housing more voluminous (themselves armature drivers are very petite) or set earphones emitters operating at different bands.

Sit on two chairs trying to manufacturers of hybrid headphones that for medium and high frequencies correspond reinforcing emitters with clear sound, and for a solid bass - Traditional speaker.

FA1 - headphones with one reinforcing the emitter and FH5 - hybrid with three reinforcing responsible for mid and high frequencies, and a dynamic, outstanding bass. Both models were tested with a laptop and a smartphone without an external DAC, as well as the player FiiO M6.

FiiO FA1

FA1 no different canonical reinforcing sound - despite the presence in each earpiece of the radiator, to swear on the AFC is not necessary. Issued by the sound seems to be balanced, but with a slight emphasis on the treble and upper middle. Pleases study and width of the stage - nothing extraordinary in most of the tracks you will not hear, but in songs with thoughtful and innovative pan the music is really interesting watch. Bass there, and quite loud and readable.

Headphones performed well with all devices, but the source bit rate or a change in them is felt. This means that it makes sense to use them as an ordinary smartphone and strimingovymi services and a Hi-Fi-player tracks and lossless-format.

Headphones have good sound insulation - thanks to tight fit and the stock volume. He is simply huge and, in my opinion, even more than necessary. Personally, I was comfortable to listen to music at a volume of 50 to 80%.

FiiO FH5

On stage FH5 testing, it became clear that not enough of the previous model. Expectedly distinguished bass woofers: them here as much as we can assume from the headphones with a claim to a more or less flat frequency response graph. Overweight bass in there, but what has to swing, swings: the sub-bass region is bright, loud and read. Slightly higher in the lower middle, there is little slack, which is not critical, but it is noticeable. Ear pads the sound of impact, but not a decisive way - perhaps over the years you start to use the nozzle of any of sets as a spare.

Each earpiece kit is installed emitters: dynamic woofer, midrange reinforcement Knowles ED-30262 and two tweeter TFWK-31082. For each band allocated its own air bleed, one of which precedes the spiral channel filter frequencies above a certain part of the range.

Apart from a small dip in the middle of the bottom in FH5 neatly clipped the top - this is a widespread solution for producers who want to achieve in their models of soft, versatile and "musical" sound. I do not see any disadvantages to this approach, but perhaps some expressive tracks may lose some share conceived by the author field.

The scene is deeply and extensively elaborated that considering the accuracy of the sound reinforcement emitters, making auditory picture more believable.

FH5 also excels with a smartphone and a laptop, but in testing it becomes clear that the headphones are too good for the untrained devices. Strange use them with anything, if you know what they can do with the Hi-Fi-player and tracks with high bitrates.

Sound insulation and stock volume FH5 and FA1 are identical - you can even listen to music in the company of the builders, asphalt crushing hammers.

Summary

FA1 - reinforced model with not the reinforcing sound. Here, cool design, comfortable fit and the price is good consumer headphones. FA1 makes sense to use with Hi-Fi-sources, but it is possible with a smartphone without a serious DAC. If you are afraid of typical odnodrayvernyh reinforcing headphones lack of bass, here on this nuance FiiO almost managed to get rid of. Mix a full, balanced sound. Price FiiO FA1 stores - about 8000 rubles.

Go to page FiiO FA1

FH5 - the most expensive model FiiO hybrid device. Instead of reinforcing the broadband emitters are installed a set of different frequency drivers, including dynamic, outstanding bass. In the headphone is not entirely objective, but a pleasant sound. Because of the relatively high cost of the headphones for the consumer and FH5 potential serious audiophile headphones can be considered entry-level and more logical to use a good source. Price - about 21 000 rubles.

Go to page FiiO FH5

Both models are not speaking, they do not have Bluetooth-interface and microphone. They are made primarily for listening to music, not podcasts or telephone conversations.

And yet both models - with co-channel and deep planting. Universal headphone does not happen for no sound characteristics, much less on the ergonomics, so we advise to try and listen before you buy. Shops, provides such an opportunity, there list FiiO authorized dealers.