FiiO FF3 – Review

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Sound performance

My main sources were: FiiO KA3 / iBasso DX320 / ddHiFi TC44C, and trusted sources from trusted brands that I used extensively for the past months.

Files were played from either Apple Music / Spotify or my own music library. Some tracks will be highlighted, just so you can try them at home too!

Overall signature

Truth be told, I was very, very curious to see (or hear) if any or all of the statements advertised by the brand would come to life, as soon as I plug the FiiO FF3 in my ears. There is no real competition in this segment, so FiiO could have been lenient, and just deliver a correct-sounding earbud, that would sound terrific compared to your old EarPods… but that was not the case, and the FF3 is, by far, the best earbuds I tried, period.

In essence, earbuds are notoriously known for their lack of low-end. But, that doesn’t seem to apply to the FF3, which constantly delivered hard-hitting subs and low-mids, even when just paired with the little KA3. Sure, a true IEM like the FD5 will output deeper bass, thanks to tight isolation, even though, the little earbud constantly surprised me, be it Jazz, Electro, or even Classical music.

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It’s quite different from the FD7 I reviewed last time. If both share a massively wide dynamic driver, the FF3 seemed more natural with its open design, while the FD7 sounded better on… everything else. Okay, to be fair, that was to be expected, but sometimes, magic happens.

Still, even if shyer, the bass remained full and engaging, going deep enough to give you the same morning kick as a cup of coffee. The rumble, the body, the power, all of those are there, never crossing the sidelines, so you can enjoy every little nuance of the sound. Layering was even more impressive, and electro/pop tracks like Bridged by a Lightwave – DeadMau5, outlined the resolution and clarity of those ears, in the best possible way. 

Even if I still prefer the latest FDx models, in silent environments, the FiiO FF3 was blissful to listen to. Powerful mids, good impact, natural voices, and excellent clarity from top to bottom, topped by a nice level of finesse, and you could almost forget that you’re wearing round, old-school, earphones.

Compared to the JH3 and JD3, I was even more surprised by myself, favoring the FF3 when listening to their head-to-head. Why? Because, thanks to its open design, the soundstage always seems wider and, even if you’re not into earbuds – personally I’m not – I’m sure most listeners will prefer this kind of presentation. 

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In parallel to this review, I got a pair of AirPods Pro 2 coming with Dolby Atmos support when paired with Apple Music and did some quick comparisons with the FF3. If the Apple one’s enjoy the superb binaural effects, the FiiO’s constantly sounded more open, yet less incisive, the AirPods benefitting from the insane CPU embedded inside. 

That said if your main focus is realism and openness, once again the FiiO FF3 nailed it. It delivers crisp details and small notes without overloading your ears. And, if FiiO puts a little more emphasis on voices, the brand also pushes a good level of aeration, layering, and more simply, performances.  

It’s a great all-rounder, one that can be used daily and still surprises you, when conditions are met. I tried them once outdoors and a small wind alone managed to completely blow everything above 5kHz and under 200Hz, leaving just the mids. So yeah, use them indoors or in a secluded environment only.

If you can do that, those are deeply impressive ears for the price!

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Tonality

Highs: higher and cleaner. Compared to the other model of the brand, the FiiO FF3 feels a tad more natural and less vibrant. There is no sibilant and you can confidently raise the volume never to encounter any harshness. The highs/super-highs difference didn’t strike me, but if you prefer highs over lows, you’ll hear a real difference/improvement.

Good test-track : Through and Through – Leaving Laurel

Mediums: rich and full. Exceptional soundstage and clean mids make for a very pleasant experience. As usual, FiiO’s done an excellent job in this regard: voices are bliss, and the earphone can fully immerse you, in just a few seconds. The most impressive sensation remaining is the 3D effect of those voices.

Good test-track: Money – Pink Floyd

Bass: deed and powerful. As usual,  the lows are the pillar of all the great things that happen upfront. In the right condition, those ears can go nearly as low as your usual DD IEM but can’t get the same level of depth, even plugged through the balanced output. Still, for earbuds, this is simply amazing.

Good test-track: Sacrifice – Sara Landry

Sensitivity / Hiss

Impedance is mild, sensitivity is relatively correct and isolation is poor, so yes, you better drive those IEMs with a good source. Paired with the ddHiFi TC44C I had to use the 4.4mm Pentaconn output to really get good bass, but with the FiiO M11S, I got plenty of power.

My top choice? If your budget has no limit, that’d be the FiiO M17, but more reasonably, go for the FiiO KA3 which not only matches the FiiO FF3 power craving but its signature too. 

And for the hiss, I encountered none with all my sources, Hurray!

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Conclusion

Is there a place for audiophile earbuds in 2022? I don’t know, but it seems like FiiO thinks differently. So differently that they even managed to make the FF3 not only good but great-sounding.

In fact, for the price, this is one hell of earbuds, matching and even outperforming similarly priced IEM, with crisp highs, lush mids, and… solid lows – who’d have expected that! Add to that great sound stage, a superb 316L stainless-steel shell and this is almost too good to be true.

But, like every earbud, the FiiO FF3 can’t overcome the format limit, offering weak isolation and limited comfort, even with the provided foams. That said, if you’re seeking an audiophile earphone, that isn’t an IEM, this is – by far – the best option available today. An oddball for sure, but a great one!

 

4.3/5 - (55 votes)
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A nerdy guy with a passion for audio and gadgets, he likes to combine his DAC and his swiss knife. Even after more than 10 years of experience, Nanotechnos still collects all gear he gets, even his first MPMAN MP3 player. He likes spreadsheets, technical specs and all this amazing(ly boring) numbers. But most of all, he loves music: electro, classical, dubstep, Debussy : the daily playlist.

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