We’ve looked at a lot of pricey audio products recently, but great products don’t have to cost a lot of money. Especially in the world of audio. Today, we’re looking at the Fiio FH11, a new pair of earphones that offer surprising sonics for their low cost of entry. At only $40, these earphones offer a hybrid, two-driver design, fully zinc shells that’s quite comfortable and exceptionally durable, and a replaceable cable so you can even upgrade them over time. They’re a solidly affordable pick for fans of boosted bass.
Specifications
- Current Price: $40 (Fiio - AliExpress)
- Wearing method: Around-the-ear IEM
- Driver: 10mm Carbon-based dynamic driver, custom balanced armature driver
- Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
- Impedance: 24 ohms @ 1kHz
- Sensitivity: 111dB/mW @ 1kHz
- Cable: 4 strands of 120 oxygen-free copper wires each
- Cable length: about 1.2m
- Single unit weight: about 10g
- Headphone connector: recessed 0.78mm 2-pin detachable cable
- Audio connector: high-quality 3.5mm gold-plated copper
Fiio FH11 - First Impressions and Key Features
The FH11 is an on-ramp to Fiio’s line-up. They’re an affordable introduction to the company’s design sensibilities and at only $40, make an effective case that Fiio is a brand worth investing in. The buds are comfortable, well-built, upgradeable, and have a mainstream-friendly U-shaped tuning that’s not shy on the bass.
The FH11 comes in a small, reflective silver box. There’s a picture of the earphones on the front and some details on the back, but it doesn’t over sell itself. Inside, the earpieces are on display in foam cutouts. A cardboard insert with “Accessories” hides two bags of silicone eartips (two sets of small, medium, and large) and the detachable cable. There’s no carrying case or bag included with this model.
The ear pieces are made of zinc alloy and feel very robust. Full metal shells at this price is great to see and adds durability and longevity to their lifespan. The shells are modeled in the form of a conch shell, and though I had my doubts, I found them to be quite comfortable. Though there are no wings or contours to hook the ear, the nozzles are a bit longer to secure in the ear canal. A few more tips with middle sizes would have been nice to see since its fit is so tip-dependent, but they fit well in my average-sized ears.
The included cable is very similar to the one we included with the FH1s and the Jade Audio JH3. It connects to the earbuds using a standard 0.78mm connection with heat shrink to form loose earhooks. It’s soft and pliable but doesn’t include any kind of chin cinch and has a tendency to tangle due to its thinness. It works well enough that upgrading is purely an option rather than a necessity. Fiio’s cables are almost always decent and this is no exception, even with its affordable pricing.
Inside those shells lie a combination of one dynamic driver and one balanced armature that split the frequency response. The dynamic driver is large at 10mm and use a carbon-based diaphragm for rigidity and speed. The balanced armature is a custom design and primarily handles the mids and highs, adding crispness and detail to the listening experience.
The FH11 also uses an interesting acoustic dampening system to channel sound and reduce distortion. There are two chambers behind each driver as well as an “acoustic flute” around the outer edge. Fiio claims that this system also improves bass extension and responsiveness.
Overall, the design, comfort, and construction all punch above its price point. Let’s get into sound.
Fiio FH11 - Listening Impressions
The FH11 is the second half of an equation it first introduced a month ago with the FD11. The FD11 features a similar design but utilized a single dynamic driver. Its focus was vocals (mids) for a natural, engaging listening experience. The FH11 shifts that focus to the bass, aiming to deliver both quantity and quality.
Fiio hit the mark with that focus. The FH11 delivers a lot of bass, both deep into the sub-bass rumble as well as into the mids for bass guitars, kicks, and synths. The low-end is very prominent, exceeding the popular Harman Target, so bass-heads will have a lot to enjoy here.
If we view these as an introduction to the Fiio line-up, however, it’s important to note that it’s not generally a bass-head brand. It embraces clarity and detail, so we’re not in Beats By Dre territory. There’s enough low-end to sound full, impactful, and fun but not so much that it sounds veiled and muddy like some mainstream sets can tend to. The quality of the bass is also decent, offering enough texture and speed that it feels like you’re getting a quality listening experience, not just boom and rumble.
The bass bleeds into the mids a bit, so vocals and dialogue sounds warm and extra-lush. This isn’t really a problem for a tuning like this and indeed is more of an expectation. When it comes to instruments and sound effects, they tend to sound a bit blunted; clear, but lacking a bit of edge that you might experience on the FD11, for example. Vocals sound good, in my opinion, and spoken word is perfectly clear and authoritative.
The treble is on the warmer side. As you can see in the graph above, there are some spikes from 2K onward to bring out detail and clarity. Cymbals can sometimes sound a bit sharp to my ear, but not always and really depends on the track. The timbre of the balanced armature adds a bit of crispness in the mids and highs, too, that works to the set’s benefit and balances out the bass with extra definition in the higher registers.
Soundstage and technicalities are only average. I didn’t find the FH11 to sound constrained but it’s not expansive either. Detail retrieval is fine, but doesn’t pull out the kind of fine details and definition you’ll find with higher-caliber sets. Compared to mainstream $40 earphones, however, I definitely think they’re a cut above. Whether you’re impressed or just satisfied at the price will really depend on where you’re shopping. Best Buy, Walmart, or Target? These are impressive in comparison. Leading Chi-Fi budget sets? They fall in line with about what you would expect at this price.
For gaming, these get the job done but are only average. I would have no hesitation throwing them in my bag and breaking them out on a lunch break or gap between classes to play some games. Turn on Windows Sonic or Dolby Atmos and they offer an engaging, immersive listening experience with enough positionality for competitive shooters. They won’t blow your socks off, but they work well enough, which is really all you can ask for at this price.
Overall Impressions and Final Thoughts
Overall, the Fiio FH11 succeeds in punching above its class for the money. It’s the yin to the FD11’s yang and does a good job of shifting the focus onto the lower register without completely giving up on detail and clarity. They’re bassy but well-balanced and a lot of fun. If you’re not looking for neutrality and instead just want something fun that has plenty of rumble and pound but leaves the veil at home, these are a good fit and should last well into the future with their zinc construction.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
