Technical Performance
The FiiO FH5 has a nice sound stage for the money, but when you listen to it for some time, you realize that the width is not great. Is it fair to expect it to be immensely wide? No it’s not, but just don’t expect a very wide staging. Depth-wise things are better, the separation is good but not very sharp, and the transparency level is pretty nice.
Background darkness could’ve been better to me as it sometimes plays it “dirty”. It’s not easy to focus on that one particular instrument or a back vocal with that background. It’s not bad, but I think they can improve that aspect. The IEM layers the sound very well which is quite impressive for that price level. At the same time I absolutely liked its timbre and tonality. It’s really good.
Tips
I already mentioned the bass tips in this review, and they aren’t my favorites for this IEM. The bass gets overpowering at times with them. The vocal tips provide a nice seal and they generate even more accentuated upper mids.
However the mids get cleaner overall, as they can shine a little bit better with those tips. Otherwise it’s almost the same as the balanced tips, which are my favorites. I certainly recommend you the balanced tips supplied in the package as they give the best possible sound for the FH5.
Comparisons
vs. FiiO F9 Pro: The FiiO F9 Pro is nowhere near the FH5 in terms of whatever you choose to compare. The FH5 fits better, it’s built better and it sounds better.
vs. iBasso IT03: To be direct and straightforward, I think the FH5 is FiiO’s IT03, if you see what I mean. They cost almost the same and they both have a good fit, while the iBasso is a little better in that regard. They both give relatively strong sub bass, while having a lesser mid bass. I think the FH5 has a better tone with a better mid performance overall. The iBasso has a better control and background, but the FH5 has a better stage to me. Overall it’s a tie, and it would depend on your taste and market availability.
FiiO FH5
vs. iBasso IT04: the FH5 has the same driver configuration as the IT04, they sound quite different though. The FH5 has a thicker sound with a bigger note size but it has an overpowering sub bass which is not suitable for certain genres. The IT04 has a more quality bass performance and it also has cleaner mids with more resolution, but it presents thinner notes. They both have a similar staging, while the FH5 gives just a notch wider performance.
I found that the timbre of the FH5 is slightly better, but the IT04 is more transparent with better instrumental separation. I also think that the IT04 has a better craftsmanship. Overall the IT04 is the better IEM, which is not a surprise when you check its price. I should say that the FH5 is on the level of the IT03, while iBasso stepped up their game with the IT04.
vs. Campfire Polaris: The Polaris has a weird bass presentation which feels disconnected from the whole sound. The FH5 does a better job here and sounds more complete. The FH5 also has a better control and slightly better separation. They both fit very well and they both are quite robust. But in terms of pure sound and price/performance, the FH5 is the clear winner.
vs. Lear LCM-Turbo: The Lear LCM-Turbo is a very cheap custom monitor, probably the cheapest you can find. It has a big bass with a good punch and rumble with a very nice layering. The FH5 has similar characteristics, but I think the Turbo has a better mid bass which gives it a nice body in the mids. It also has a bigger sound stage. What FiiO does well is the separation, overall resolution and more transparent mids, but the Turbo can get better in those areas with a pure silver cable. The Turbo is also the more coherent IEM as it connects frequencies seemless, unlike the FH5.
vs. Kinera IDUN: The IDUN is one of the best monitors you can get for the price. It sounds more open and cleaner compared to the FH5. It has a similar sound stage and transparency level, but the FiiO has a better bass. I’m not sure everyone would find that strong sub bass pleasing. The FH5 is slightly better in every aspect but it’s a close call. It depends on your preferences as the FH5 is warmer with a more organic sound. The Kinera fits me better and of course it is also cheaper.
vs. LZ A5: The LZ sounds more aggressive at times, it’s thinner and has an even bigger mid bass dip. The signature overall is brighter in comparison. The FH5 has better bass, mids and treble, a notch wider and taller stage with a better fit and build quality. The FH5 is a no brainer in this comparison.
FiiO FH5
Summary
The guys at FiiO know how to improve themselves in this very crowded IEM market. They get better with each new product release, and they have finally presented a product which can be regarded as a serious in ear for audiophiles. They can still iron out some things, such as the mid bass deficiency, overall transparency level and treble extension.
This is blatantly FiiO’s best earphone they ever created. I still think there’s much more to come though. The new FH7 model is on its way with very nice design details as well. FiiO definitely takes this business seriously. They’ll try to provide even better value to this market, which would of course be very desirable for enthusiasts like us.
I’m already looking forward to the FH7.
Long time listener
This doesn’t make much sense to me:
“The lower mids are slightly recessed while the upper mids are quite accentuated [… ] instruments sound a little warm and slightly dark…”
How on earth do you get instruments that sound warm and dark with an upper midrange that is highly accentuated? I’ve never heard that before. An accentuated upper midrange tends to make everything sound uncomfortably bright and hard.
Berkhan
Hi,
Brightness and emphasis are not the same thing.
Lee
Hi Sir, I need some advice for oriolus forsteni or fh5, if i use phone as my source, which will u pick?
Berkhan
Forsteni
Lee
Thank you =) waiting for ibasso it01s and it04w review.
Writer
Thanks for a great review! Been using the Final e5000 for several months now and have been looking for an additional pair that could be a little brighter at the high end. This could be it… I must have gone through a dozen FH5 reviews and they all seem consistently positive. I enjoy reading to your interpretations of your experience with each of your reviews.
Berkhan
Thank you very much.
Lance
Hi there! I’m considering the several earphones. I’m looking for something that provides intimate soundstage, punchy bass and more importantly a fun and engaging sound. My main genres are pop, acoustics and rap.
1) Fiio Fh5
2) BGVP dm6
3) Oriolus finschi
Thanks!
Berkhan
Sounds like the FH5 will suit you well. I haven’t listened to the Finschi yet but people who have say that it’s very good. I don’t know about the DM6.
Lance
Hi there! Would you recommend the Fiio Fh5 or Shozy BG ?
Berkhan
BG 🙂
Marco Angel De La Torre Camacho
Hi here!
have you tried to remove the protective mesh, some says it balances the sound more in the mids and highs
Berkhan
No I did not try that.
Michael Hoopes
I actually had to use the L bass tips due to the FH5’s shallow insertion depth; they were the only tips wide enough to maintain a seal with my ears. I also increased the insertion depth by adding 1.5 mm section o-rings (McMaster-Carr dash number 117N141) at the base of the nozzle. I generally use EQ, so I was able to decrease some of that mid-bass warmth and the upper-midrange peak. And yes, the extension is still there, but it doesn’t sound unnatural to me.
Berkhan
Good for you. If you balanced it out via EQ, there shouldn’t be much of a problem.
juan luis Quiroz guevara
How compared with the oriolus forsteni and the new finschi?
Regards,
Juan Luis.
Berkhan
I will review the Finschi soon.
As for the Forsteni, check out my IEM List: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/iem-score-list-constantly-up-to-date.815852/
Juan Luis Quiroz
The performance of the Finschi can rival the fh5?
Berkhan
They’re very different IEMs.
It can or can’t rival the FH5 depending on your personal preferences.
Björn
Hi, are these a suitable upgrade if I really enjoyed 1Mores quad driver?
Samuel
Hi, I’ve been looking for some new earphone ever since I lost my Shure SE215 and I’ve been eyeing FiiO FH5.
I was pretty happy with how the SE215 sound, except on the less powerful bass it offered, which is pretty understandable why.
I would ask if FiiO FH5 would probably satisfied me looking at my sound preference. I wish i can audition it somewhere but i can’t.
If not, is there any other iem recommended?
Berkhan
If you like the SE215 than you’ll love the FH5.
Bulent
I live in Istanbul, and my FiiO FH5 is broke down. Do you have any idea how I can make it repaired. Thank you for you help.
Berkhan
Hi Bülent,
I’ve sent you an e-mail for this.
Ozan
I’m using Ibasso IT-01 and i like them but i want to upgrade do you think FH5 is a good choice for mostly rap and edm?
BOUGARD David
Bonjour Berkhan,
Tout d’abords merci pour vos analyses toujours complètes. J’ai la chance d’obtenir le HIDIZS ap80 pro X spécial édition. J’hésite maintenant entre plusieurs IEM : Voici ma sélection (Je recherche surtout la restitution fidèle de l’auteur, en sachant que mes fichiers sont du DSD, dsf, Flac 24/192)…..
Hidizs MD4
Sennheiser IE 300
FiiO FH5
FIIO FD5
FiiO FA7S
…. Ou alors une suggestion ? (Pas plus de 300 EUROS)
MERCI A L’AVANCE !