FiiO JD3 Review

Sound performances

My main sources were the FiiO KA3 / ddHiFi TC35C / Khadas Tea. Trusted sources from trusted brands that I used extensively for the past months.

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

Overall signature

So, what can you expect from the $15.19 USD FiiO JD3, sonically speaking?

First and foremost, FiiO didn’t lie when they advertised “thunderous bass”. Even paired with the small ddHiFi TC35C, the small JD3 impressed me with its impactful sound. Dynamic range is way above what I expected, and if those IEM were definitely not linear, the lows never seemed to crush the rest of the spectrum.

Paired with a good source, I was impressed by how full the JD3 sounded, giving me that toe-tapping bass, with no audible distortion. Of course, everything isn’t perfect, and treble was a bit behind in terms of sharpness, especially with bad mixes, where some notes I was used to, were not heard this time.

Thankfully, on well-produced tracks like Rock You from Dirty Loops, the IEM displays nicely controlled bass response and impact. For a sole-driver, the result is compelling, helped by the tight-seal offered by the straight-insert design, and techno-lovers, like me, with limited budget will be hard-pressed to find an IEM as dynamic as this one – under 20 bucks.

FiiO being FiiO, voices were given a lot of love and attention, and I was impressed by how natural the mid-range came out. The JD3 didn’t exhibit, any obvious flaw in this frequency range, and the punchy mid-range blended well with the powerful lows. Add to that a baffling wide soundstage (certainly helped by the semi-open design) and you get a very potent IEM?

Sure, they can’t match the bigger FD3 in terms of resolution and clarity, but for a neophyte or someone that only need a spare set, this is a definitive upgrade to something like the AirPods (not pro) or some earbuds

Of course, perfection isn’t of this world – at least for now – and there are still a few issues that should be addressed: highs can be a bit too harsh sometimes, and depending on the source you’ll pair, they may sound a bit artificial. That’s not an issue most of the time, but on bad recordings, you may have to lower the 8kHz on your EQ, to tone everything down.

Add a potent source like the iBasso DC05 and the FiiO JD3 opens up really nicely. Mids are sharper and lows gain even more weight, without infringing on the voices. The transition between low, mids, and highs is usually seamless, but as I said before, the treble can sometimes work solo, before blending back with everyone. 

As you might expect, paired with the FiiO KA3 (another Jade product) the end result is almost spectacular. I listened to classic tracks like Hysterias from SebastiAn, or vocal one like La Jeune Fille en Feu from Par One and that confirmed my first impression: if bass remains one of the best features of the JD3, there’s more than meet the…ear? I also tried complex tracks like Crash Landing from Illangelo which highlights the ear’s impressive dynamic range. Plugged into my MacBook Air headphone port, the result was not as good, but the fun factor remained: for a quick trip, this is the perfect pair.

A very nice surprise, once again, from the Chinese brand.

Tonality

Highs: recessed top, but good otherwise. High-frequencies extension isn’t great, that’s a fact. But, thanks to that, the FiiO JD3 are one of the most forgiving IEM I reviewed those past months, allowing me to enjoy some tracks that I completely ditched from my “audiophile playlist – hello Pink and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Fun over fidelity.

Good test-track:  The Look Of love – Dusty Springfield

Mediums: wide and quick. As usual with FiiO, mids are superb and provide a good, balanced presentation. Voices, especially women singers, really benefit from the brand’s field expertise and even seasoned audiophile might be surprised by what the JD3 achieved here. Proof that V-shaped IEM doesn’t mean bad mids, quite the contrary!

Good test-track: Plastic Love – Mariya Takeuchi

Bass: solid bass and deep rumble. Bass is the real feat here. Deep, well-defined, impactful, and the more you push, the more you’re rewarded. It’s deeply addictive, with powerful kicks and good definition from top to bottom, even more, if you can use a good source!

Good test-track : Peur des filles – L’impératrice

Conclusion

The FiiO JD3 is the perfect expendable IEM: light, easy to wear, and super sturdy. But, to that, you can add two nice features: impressive sound and a $19 MRSP. In fact, for this price, I dare you to find an IEM sounding as wide, and as impactful, even in the deeper chi-fi world.

Sure, it won’t replace your FD3, but that was never the goal. The idea here is to offer a proper alternative to your entry-level earbuds, with true audiophile rendering. And, for me, FiiO succeeded, and this is an IEM that I could confidently advise a newcomer to get, with no afterthoughts.

Impressive job FiiO, as usual.

Page 1: About the brand, design and build quality

Page 2: Bundle, specifications

Page 3: Sound Performances