Custom Art FIBAE 5 Review

Packaging

The new FIBAE 5 arrives in a small cardboard box with a CA brand name wrapped around it. Inside you find the CA carrying zipper case which is rather large for easily storing and neatly packing your monitors.

Apart from the IEMs and the cable, you get a wax pick tool and ear tips in 5 sizes. The tips are of good quality, but I used my tips most of the time since I think CA can provide better tips by collaborating with different brands. Overall the packaging is OK though it could’ve been a bit better.

There are also two bass port filters with the installation tool inside. These filters are aimed to tweak the sound a bit, which I’ll explain in the sound section.

Design & Build Quality

The FIBAE 5 came in the universal version and it’s the same as the 7U. I haven’t had any extensive experience with their models before, apart from listening to a couple of models for a brief period. But all of their models look very small, and it’s also the case with my experience with the FIBAE 7U and FIBAE 5.

It’s very small with a great fit and the perfect seal for a universal monitor. Build quality-wise there’s nothing negative to report about. The canals with the dual tube system are perfectly built, and the edges of the chassis are soft and round. The face plate closing is perfect and there overall isn’t any mistake visible. The 2-pin connector sits perfectly flush (even too flush if you will) with the body and there are no imperfections at all.

CA chose to go with a pink colour scheme on the faceplates, and the shell is a 3D printed black as usual. Of course, the choice of colour is subject to personal preference. I suppose it adds up since this is a bassy and fun-oriented model, and at certain lighting conditions it looks great and energetic.

Fit

Comfort-wise these are great. Custom Art’s monitors are always small in body and with nicely angled canal nozzles, they effortlessly disappear into your ear where they deliver the perfect seal. The comfort is top-notch and you can easily wear the FIBAE 5 for hours without having to take them out or feeling any pain afterwards.

Apart from my custom monitors, this is one of the most comfortable monitors I’ve ever worn, if not the most. I don’t think you can get a better fit from a universal IEM.

Cable

Cable-wise the FIBAE 5 comes with an 8-core SPC cable. Not sure which brand is the provider, but it’s high-quality with good tensile strength and softness. It’s quite ergonomic and I haven’t had any discomforting microphonics.

The build quality seems good. The cable’s Y-splitter, chin lock, 2-pin connectors and 3.5mm plug all look very nice. You can choose the 2.5mm or 4.4mm balanced version from the ordering page of Custom Art. Just leave a note there at the checkout.

Sound-wise I have not felt the need to try any other cable with the FIBAE 5 and I’m quite happy with the performance.

Sound

According to CA; “FIBAE 5 presents a modern approach tuning with an increased bass and highs quantity keeping the overall balance. Our Pressure Optimizing Design (P.O.D.) normalizes the pressure in front of the Dynamic Driver, which expands the soundstage and enhances the musical image.”

Overall, the new FIBAE 5 is simply just like what CA is telling us. It has lots of bass, good mid-range with good tonality, and energetic, crisp treble. It sounds full, warm, and spacious at the same time. The new FIBAE 5 is quite musical and fun, though it still has good technical qualities.

Warm & Engaging

If you’re looking for engagement, warmth and dynamism, the new FIBAE 5 is a good choice below the high-end IEMs category. The IEM has fabulous dynamism and fullness, with good stereo imaging, and good tonality. The tonality aspect is one of the strongest features of the FIBAE 5, 

The FIBAE 5 isn’t a flat-tuned or neutral monitor whatsoever, and you get a full-bodied type of sound, with smooth, natural mids and a bit more forward treble. The FIBAE 5 is overall more forward-sounding in the bass & treble, giving it a fun signature, yet it is quite musical and pleasant to the ears at the same time.

From bass to mids to treble, the FIBAE 5 shows a great body. The bass impact is very strong, the lower mids are very smooth, and the upper mid-range area, together with the treble, is a bit bright. With an articulating top-end sparkle and great impact & rumble in the bass region, it’s an engaging and dynamic monitor.

The FIBAE 7U has similar qualities, it’s also dynamic and engaging, but it does that differently. So overall Custom Art continues with its house sound but just differently. The bass quality & quantity in particular are very impressive with great decay. That helps greatly in providing a fun and engaging presentation.

Page 1: Intro and About the IEM
Page 3: More on Sound Quality
Page 4: Comparisons & Conclusion
4.4/5 - (74 votes)
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A keen audiophile and hobby photographer, Berkhan is after absolute perfection. Whether it is a full-frame camera or a custom in-ear, his standpoint persists. He tries to keep his photography enthusiasm at the same level as audio. Sometimes photography wins, sometimes his love for music takes over and he puts that camera aside. Simplistic expressions of sound in his reviews are the way to go for him. He enjoys a fine single malt along with his favourite Jazz recordings.

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