Fit
FiiO have managed to provide a flush fit to their customers last time around and the FH7 is no different. In fact, I personally think that the fit is even better with the flagship. The protruded sockets work very well for a more comfortable fit since they don’t interfere with you ears. Secondly, the longer nozzles give you the possibility to achieve a better fit, and they also increase the probability to have a good result with different tips.
Since FiiO supplies almost every type of tips in the box, I’m sure you will find a good fit no matter what type of ears you have. Therefore I think the FH7 is more successful and comfortable in terms of fit over the previous FH5. It disappears from my ears and I can use them for a long session easily. Great job.
Sound
If you like to play around with nozzles and tips, the new flagship from FiiO is excellent to work with. To be honest, I personally don’t like this concept to begin with, but I will try to reflect the differences as much as I can for you to have a basic idea about the IEM. However, I will evaluate the FH7’s sound with the standard setup first. After my general impressions, I will talk about the other tips and nozzles. Let’s start with the FH7’s standard setup and see if it can perform well.
Before I dive into the spectrum, I would say that the FH7 sounds more balanced, transparent, neutral and “flat” per se, compared to the FH5. To me the FH5’s sound wasn’t balanced enough and sometimes subbass felt “too big” or too strong to say the least, and the FH7 immediately solves the problem. If you remember my latest articles, I mentioned that hybrid IEMs nowadays sound more balanced and cohesive, just like the Oriveti’s OH300 and OH500. FiiO have managed exactly that, and it’s something that I hope more companies can achieve.
Reference nozzles and balanced tips were used for sound evaluation.
FiiO FH7
Bass
The bass response is certainly improved with the FH7 in terms of control, refinement and texture. This is a much better and natural bass performance to me versus the FH5, and that provides other frequencies more fresh air to perform. This is all because of this refined bass response. The new 13,6mm driver has more authority and power to produce the bass kicks and notes effortlessly. Hence, you have more control and refinement in this area. Subbass is much more under control and the midbass is at the right level. This might have something to do with their “S.Turbo V2.0” acoustic bore system, which is improved over the FH5.
So the size of the new driver shouldn’t make you think that the FH7 has more bass. It doesn’t, in terms of quantity. But the quality of the new driver is easily distinguishable upon first listen. The lows reach deeper, they’re more resolving and detailed with a much greater layering. When asked for, this driver has some kick and rumble for you to satisfy your need in terms of overall bass performance. The bass quantity and character changes with different filters and tips, but more on that later on.
Mids
The mids of the new FH7 sounds quite transparent and resolving, and it actually is the best FiiO IEM ever in terms of that. If you recall, I mentioned that the FH5’s mids are slightly recessed. That’s not the case with the FH7 and it instead gives you more accentuated and distinctive mids. FiiO is pretty generous in mids this time around, and I personally loved this new approach they’ve taken with the FH7.
However the biggest improvement in this area is the resolution and transparency. I guess the new driver configuration has paid off here. For me, this development in resolution alone is enough for me to choose the FH7, over the FH5. The mids are more open and crispy, sounding very clean and transparent. With this IEM, I think FiiO have simply stepped up their game.
The tonality-side is pretty strong as well. Now the mids are not too dark and thick and they have good energy together with nice timbre. Mids have good detail, air and clarity altogether. This is the presentation that I’ve been looking for from FiiO. With the FH5, vocals were better than the instruments. But the FH7 performs great in vocals and instruments together this time, with a truer tonality and dynamism. That makes the FH7 much more successful overall in mid performance.
FiiO FH7
The review continues on PAGE 3 by clicking here using the page numbers below
Dennis_Hawks
Great review of very good sounding earphones!
I myself am using the green filters and JVC Spiral Dots++ ML size and FiiO X7MkI+AM3.
Need to buy the balanced cable FiiO 2.5D.
Berkhan
Nice setup, enjoy.
Törehan Türel
Hi Berkhan,
You didnot mention bass perfomance comparisons with it04 and OH500. Can you compare?
Berkhan
The FH7 has better bass than the IT04 since it has a better midbass performance. The OH500 is very good in that regard but the FH7 is slightly leaner whereas the OH500 has a fuller bass with more authority.
Noel
Hello,
Would you be able to give a comparison between this and Fearless S8Fs?
Thank you!
Berkhan
I don’t have the S8F, sorry.
LLK
May I just in my humble opinion state that Berkhan’s writing has improved so so much in the time he has been writing for headfonia? This was honestly one tasteful read!
This site has always been my most trusted review site and its great when you guys finally review headphones I secretly want to buy. Like you guys are the reason why I got a well-informed headstart into the audio game ( and because I never will have money for drugs or alcohol :p ) and its just reviews like these that are going to cost me another 500 quid even though strictly speaking I dont need them.
Thanks again for this great review!
Berkhan
Many thanks for your kind words. We’re trying our best to improve in each article and it’s good to see people recognizing that.
Well, for 450$, this is one bloody good IEM.
Dilip vishwanath
Can u compare the s8f and the fh7 ,dont know which to get ? I’ll be upgrading from the beyerdynamic dx160ie
Berkhan
I have no idea, sorry.
Johann
heavily considering upgrading to this, it04 or dm7 from it01s. Which one would you recommend pairing with a fiio m11?
Al F
Nothing sounds mid-fi about these and as a matter they sound better than some $1000+ IEMs.
Dilip Vishwanath
hi,will i get good performance out of mobile phones like the s9+ or should i get a dap ??,can u tell how much of a difference would i expect?
Alex
Difficult to say. On S8 with bass filters FH7 offers quite good performance. Don’t know about s9+.
But only on good dac+amp you get from FH7 the most. I use Shanling M5s (good bass and resolution – sound is slow but deep and clean) and considering Fiio Q5 or M11 ( they are more engaging and dynamic) . You can always upgrade later.
Maarten
Is it worth it to get Fiio’s LC-4.4D upgradecable or would you recommend others (also using the WM1a as a source)?
Berkhan
It’s up to you to decide if you want to spend money on a cable. Try it and see if it makes a difference for you.
Mike
Man your review seems nice but please cut the crap.
We all should have read the website.
Personally what I want to read is what isn’t on the website.
If you have to make a college essay that needs to be a certain amount of words minimum… at least make the important part in bulk or stand out. I literally skipped 80% of your text and I’m sure I missed some good info hidden in “rambling” for lack of better words.
Berkhan
I’m sorry, what?
Lieven
Reading, it’s not for everyone I guess…
Peter
would like to ask you for advice 😉 read few reviews from you and the question is 🙂 – Fh7/DK-3001 pro/DK-4001? any advice here? music listened to – mainly d’n’b, hip-hop, rock…..and another one, which one works best with smartphones pairing? i have also another 2 separate players, just asking to know…thanks
Berkhan
I’m afraid I don’t know the other IEMs you mentioned.
Justin
Regarding the sound field comparison between Fh7 and Fd5, could you please provide some comments? Currently, I own and really enjoy Fh7 with LC-RE cable listened by using DX160. However, I am looking for the other IEM which has wider soundstage similar to Xelento can be used for listening
symphony. Do you suggest to spend extra money to buy Fd5? Thanks for your professional reviews and comments.
Berkhan
Hello Justin. Unfortunely I’ve never tried the FD5 but Nano published his review so you can rely on that.
I can recommend the Shozy Black Hole for symphony listening myself.
Michael Mariñas
hi, i would to thank you guys for giving great reviews. i always read your articles first. im torn between fiio iems fh7,fa9 and fd5. all scored 4.1 in your readers scores. im more of a all rounder music person with a hint of bass. rock,pop, acoustic, rnb, techno. can you reco me a good choice between the 3? thank you and keep up the good work guys.
Berkhan
Hi Michael,
Thank you for the kind words. As the above comment, I can’t comment on the FD5, but I think for you favorite genres the FH7 is a very good choice.