Specifications
For the nitpickers and nerdy one here, I’m giving the specs and technical sheets. For all the others, you can just go to the next page to see how the FiiO FD5 performs.
New beryllium coated DLC diaphragm
This new driver is said to deliver “extremely robust bass” and ‘excellent high-frequency resolution”.
To do so, FiiO introduces a whole new 12mm dynamic transducer, driven by a new N52 magnet able to output 1.5 Tesla. This driver, a new flagship for the brand, also gets a copper-clad aluminum voice coil provided by Daikoku. I never heard of them prior, but looking at how FiiO seems confident about that coil, I bet they are the Nichicon of copper wires.
The diaphragm gets the usual Diamond-like Coating for stiffness, combined with a whole new Beryllium coating. As it appears, the blend should “reduce unneeded vibration and appropriately damp sound for improved quality”. FiiO even provides a clear image, comparing a classic diaphragm to its one, to display how the FD5’s diaphragm behaves. Better of course, but there’s more to that.
Volcanic design + front acoustic prism
In fact, upfront and behind the driver, FiiO added two new technical gimmicks.
The new acoustic prism was added to address the delay that comes naturally between two sound waves. This conical device, placed upfront, close to the front-end driver, helps to eliminate high-frequency standing waves and enhances the overall sound wave diffusion. In a simpler way, think of it as a magnifying glass, for sound.
On the opposite side, we have the intriguing volcanic field, named like that because the plastic piece does the exact opposite process, reducing the sound pressure by “outing” any standing wave. This semi-open design reminds me of the Beyerdynamic approach on their DT series, relieving air pressure for long listening sessions.
An IEM that sounds “wonderfully pleasant, relaxed and natural”. We’ll have to check it out.
Full specs are below but the article continues on Page Four, after the click here
Full specs
- Type: IEM
- Style: Dynamic Driver
- Drivers: 12mm Beryllium coated DLC diaphragm
- Socket: MMCX + swappable termination
- Cable: High-purity monocrystalline silver-plated copper
- Shell: Stainless steel
- Frequency Response: 10Hz- 40kHz
- Impedance: 24 ohms
- Sensitivity: 109dB
- Sound Isolation (up to): meh
- Cable length: 120cm
- Price: $299
The article continues on Page Four, after the click here
Paus
I’m listening to these right now, they are exceptional for someone like me who likes to listen to a wide range of genres, and love hearing details. They are clear and open, reminds me of a DT880 somewhat except with better bass. It really blows many other IEMs out of the water.
Dupo
FD5 is an Inears with placebo effect, yes, placebo. Will you be wondering what I mean? It comes to you with a more or less pro box, with a nice case, tool, a braided cable, and some iem that seem more designed by a master jeweler than by an engineer.
So you open the box and wow! For 200 dollars it’s not bad at all.
But you start riding and it turns out that putting on and removing the rubber bands is almost an exercise of not breaking them. You put your device in your pocket and you feel like that braided cable is going to break soon so close to the miniplug. The case there is no way to install the headphones without folding them all, it is more beautiful but zero professional and with a design made by the seller’s grandmother, nothing practical.
And now comes the worst, the sound.
Since you think you are before the design and the brand of the moment, you think that what you are listening to has quality, because it has very clear mids and highs. But it turns out that you put on some KZ of 20 usd and they almost sound the same. You think the sound is good because you want to believe it, but it’s not like that. You hear a ghost of the reality, certain frequencies that cover the rest so the track reduces it to 40% of reality. But you don’t know, because you’re still in the placebo effect.
To this we must add that FIIO’s customer service is non-existent, they can’t do anything to help you if there is a problem, such as that mine had noises and was defective and they never accepted it and now they are in the trash box, 200 usd in recycling. It is a superb Chinese company, which has complaints everywhere for cloning technology and patents. Never FIIO again, never again!