Review: Fiio EH3 NC – Economy Class

Noise cancellation:

So does the EH3 NC live up to the ‘NC’ that it sports in its name? The EH3 NC employs an ADI noise-cancelling DSP chip that uses 4 microphones in a 2-way feedforward implementation to actively reverse external noises through ‘destructive interference’, which Fiio claims is able to attenuate noise by 30+/-5dB. Noise cancellation technology generally works best for constant, low droning sounds such as aircraft noise or air conditioning, and the EH3 NC is no different in this regard. Switch-on the ANC toggle, and you can audibly hear a low-level hiss from the active noise cancellation system. It isn’t so much a problem if you have music or movies playing, but it’s quite noticeable otherwise. The EH3 NC’s do a reasonable job of reducing the roar of a 737’s engines, which is pretty important for someone who travels via air at least twice a week. However, with ANC on, you’ll still be able to very clearly hear announcements over an aircraft’s PA system or general conversation in an office setting. 

Fiio EH3 NC

The noise cancellation is considerably less effective than both the active noise cancellation of the Sennheiser PXC550 and slightly less effective than the passive isolation of the Etymotic ER4XR, which are my two travel ‘go-to’ listening options. The passive isolation of the EH3 NC’s is only fair when ANC is turned off, which is probably a large contributor to its overall middling noise-reducing performance. 

Net-net: the EH3 NC does a ‘fair’ job of reducing some low, steady background noises but don’t expect to be magically whisked away to a cone of silence. It’s of most benefit if you’re a frequent air traveller, but it’s more of a nice extra feature than the main selling-feature of the EH3 NC’s. There is one main reason for keeping the ANC switched ‘off’ however – the EH3 NC’s sound much, much better that way. 

Fiio EH3 NC

Sound quality:

And for the most important question of all – how does the EH3 NC sound? Well, generally pretty good with ANC off, and generally poor with ANC switched-on. The difference is stark. So for that reason, I kept ANC on the EH3 NC’s firmly switched ‘off’ apart from air travel. Sound quality (unless described otherwise) will be described using Bluetooth, streaming lossless sources via LDAC.

The EH3 NC has an airy and open sound, with a slight mid-bass emphasis and decently extended treble. While it’s not as outwardly warm as other consumer-friendly headphones, the EH3 NC is by no means bright, but it also isn’t exactly the last word in transparency. Vocals are slightly pushed-back into the mix on Beck’s ‘Guess I’m Doing Fine’ and the upper octave has a slight veil across it, meaning the guitars don’t sound like they’re ‘right there’ like they will on a more revealing set of headphones. The Lemonhead’s cover of ‘Round Here’ also reveals the EH3 NC to have a more gentle approach to delivering acoustic and vocal detail. Overall, this tuning makes for a pleasantly non-aggressive voicing that leaves some room for excitement and nuance, while never venturing into fatiguing territory. 

The EH3 NC has genuine left/right sound stage width that’s impressive for a closed-back pair of headphones, but there’s no sense of depth forwards or backwards. The EH3 NC is able to place super-realistic water droplet effects neatly into clearly defined spaces, along with impressive percussion impact in Fluid by Yosi Horikawa. The title track from Halo: Combat Evolved is really enjoyable on the EH3 NC, with a big sense of space and eerie reverb on the vocals as well as nice texture on the strings and percussion. 

Fiio EH3 NC

Aphex Twin’s produk 29 [101] reveals that those 45mm drivers are able to deliver prodigious quantities of bass when called upon. While it hits hard, it doesn’t exactly hit quickly. When the same track is played via the Audeze Mobius, there’s far greater attack and tautness in the delivery of the low notes. Sure, the Mobius has a very different approach in making sound being planar magnetics, but being another pair of wireless headphones under $500 it does make for an interesting reference point. 

Andy’s Chest by Lou Reed is another great reference point for testing bass delivery – the bass guitar can venture into ‘one-note’ boominess on headphones with poorly-controlled bass. It’s a fun, but somewhat loose experience on the EH3 NC. Switch-on ANC however, and it turns to absolute mush. The DSP of the EH3 NC’s noise cancellation changes their frequency response markedly – mid-bass becomes a bloated mess, bleeding into the lower mid-range which in turn receives a strange ‘boxy’ resonance, and the imaging turns into two left/right ‘blobs’ rather than distinct instrumental tracks. On Weezer’s cover of ‘Everybody Wants to Rule The World’, the bass nearly clips with ANC engaged. 

Comparisons:

• The Sennheiser PXC550 is more linear top-to-bottom than the EH3 NC. It’s ultimately more resolving than the Fiio, but has a more neutral and intimate delivery that’s a little less engaging. The Sennheiser makes for a better commuting pair of headphones, gripping snugly to your head and offering better all-round isolation from the outside world. 
• As well as having starkly better noise cancellation, the Bose 700 has an ‘in-your-face’ signature that delivers noticeable more clarity and detail that gives the impression of it being more exciting to listen to. These are actually kinda fun. 
• The Sony WH1000XM3 on the other hand deals-out a rich, warm mid-bass-centric tone compared to the EH3 NC, but it lacks the airiness of the Fiio, and feels less light-of-foot. The Sony’s noise-cancellation skills are unquestionably stronger hwever. 
• The Audeze Mobius (set in ‘flat’ mode, my preferred DSP setting for it) has better-extended bass and treble, with far more speed and ultimately gives you a more detailed and resolving listen. I find the Mobius to be pretty awkward on the head – the heavy earcups tend to droop, and don’t balance any of the weight on your head meaning the headband is doing all the work. While I prefer their audio signature the Fiio, they’re too clunky to make a good commuting pair of headphones. 

Check out our conclusions and final verdict on the Fiio EH3 NC over at page 5