Fiio FH11 Review
-1 DD + 1 BA Driver Arrangement.
-Impedance: 24Ω@1kHz.
-Sensitivity: 111dB/Vrms.
-Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz.
-Connector Type: 0.78mm 2-pin connectors.
-Termination Plug: 3.5mm.
Build
There is nothing to criticise. The fit is average, the shells and cable are very sturdy. Standard three sizes of tips come in the box. The 2pin connector is too stiff (getting softer).
There is no problem with comfort in general because the shells are small.
Sound
Easy to drive even for phone out.
V-shape + vocal boost. To be honest, this headphone is technically very good. Instrument separation, soundstage, positioning are good for the price. Resolution is not good at every frequency, but good overall. Detail reproduction is very good for the price. So what’s the problem? Tone. Honestly, the treble annoyed me. There’s almost nothing in the way of instruments. They’re empty and undetailed.
Lower and upper frequencies are in the foreground and vocals are next to them. Instruments? So-so. Small roll-offs and faint timbres. The resolution of the lower mids is terrible. In parallel, the resolution of the lower frequencies is below average. Towards the treble, the resolution gets better.
Bass
The volume is well balanced. Subbass and midbass are in balance. But details and texture are weak. There is something that adds pressure to the mids. Low frequencies are not bad overall. In fact good for hiphop and edm
Mid
Like surface of the moon. The vocals are good, but the instruments are not descriptive enough. There’s a lack of absorbed detail. Despite this, violin is good, I wish I could say the same for guitar. In short, they barely reach average.
Treble
Things aren’t so bad in this part. The resolution here completes sound of the Fh11. But it also adds a metallic timbre to the sound. It adds an tiring brightness. The overall effect is unfavourable, although the vocal lift works well. The good thing is that the amount of extension is quite good. As a result, there is a lot of sibilant sound, I don’t like it at all.
Comparison
Kiwi Cadenza ($35 1dd) vs Fiio Fh11 ($50 1dd+1ba)
Fiio FH11 Review
First of all, the Cadenza is a more power-hungry iem than the FH11. When listened to with the phone output, the FH11 sounds much more resolution. This situation changes in the opposite direction when a powerful amplifier is in play. At similar volume levels with a good source, the Cadenza not only offers better resolution but also gives more detail. However, if you listen to music with the phone output, the Fh11 would be a better choice.
The lower frequencies are much cleaner and textured on the Cadenza. Fh11 shows a slightly better rumble in this area. In the mid-frequency range, the Cadenza has a good synergy between instruments and vocals. Fh11 is weak in this range. The Cadenza has a more rich sound, but it’s a bit thinner at some points. Cadenza also reproduces more microdetails with power.
Fiio FH11 Review
When it comes to treble, the Fh11 wins here. Compared to the Cadenza’s upper frequencies that need power to show up, the Fh11 is easily extended. Here the Fh11 gives us much bells and whistles. Unfortunately, winning is not always good. The fh11 is a much more tiring iem and the “extension” advantage doesn’t make the Cadenza boring. Finally, the resolution of female vocals is slightly better on the Fh11.
Final words: I think the only thing wrong with the Fh11 is the price. For comparison the Cadenza might be a bit unfair because it’s almost perfect. But let’s not forget that it’s 35 dollars vs 50 dollars. If the FH11 was priced at $30, it would be a headphone to rave about.
