FiiO continues to surprise us with a wide array of high-quality portable audio components at reasonable prices. Some of their recent introductions include the M23 DAP, K17 / K9 Pro DAC-AMPS, R9 Desktop Streamer, FT5 Headphones, FW3 TWS earbuds, and FH7S IEMs. However, the Chinese company now has introduced a new flagship Hybrid IEM, the FH19 for $599.
This is an interesting product introduction as FiiO recently introduced another flagship IEM just a few months ago, the more expensive FA19 IEMs ($999). With that in mind, let’s find out what FH19 has to offer (FA19/FH19 spec comparison later in this article).
FiiO FH19 Key Features
Heavy-Duty Construction: The FiiO FH19 incorporates a Titanium midframe and a 700 series aluminum shell. This combination provides durability, corrosion resistance, and a stylish appearance that will last, while still providing wearing comfort.
Tech Note: 7000 series aluminum alloy is used in aircraft construction.
Driver Configuration: The FiiO FH19 features a dual-dynamic and six-balanced-armature driver configuration.
FiiO’s Engineering Team has worked closely with Tokyo Onkyo Co. Ltd in Japan to develop a new Push-pull Dual Dynamic Driver unit to handle the bass range.
This driver features enhanced low-frequency extension, cohesion, and speed. The mid-to-high frequencies are handled by specially customized Knowles-enhanced midrange Balanced Armature (BA) drivers, which achieve greater sound energy density that doesn’t sacrifice detail.
The Push-pull Dual Dynamic Driver incorporates two 13.7mm high-magnetic dynamic drivers with PU+DLC composite diaphragms, arranged in an opposing configuration. When the diaphragms move back and forth, the movement direction of the two dynamic drivers remains consistent, ensuring phase consistency and doubling the driving force, with the diaphragms supporting air damping to each other.
Compared to typical dynamic drivers, push-pull dual dynamic drivers require only half the amplitude to achieve the target sound pressure level. This results in smaller diaphragm displacement, significantly improving linear driving performance and further reducing intermodulation distortion, allowing the driver unit to deliver cleaner sound.
Semi-open Design: The FH19 has a semi-open design that has been tuned to combine with FiiO’s front and rear cavity balanced pressure relief technology. This results in a more natural with a wide soundstage.
This design balances the internal air pressure, eliminating the feeling of pressure on the eardrum, and ensuring long periods of listening without fatigue.
The FH19 has a Titanium mid-frame and a shell fashioned from 7000 Series Aerospace Aluminium — This supports a strong and lightweight pair of IEMs.
Suspended Voice Coil: The FIIO FH19 utilizes a suspended voice coil. The voice coil leads are routed directly from the center hole beneath the diaphragm. This allows them to float within the gap.
This eliminates unnecessary contact and avoids additional adhesive load. Compared to some conventional diaphragms, this voice coil design ensures uniform and smooth diaphragm movement and minimizes interference.
Four-way Acoustic Design: The FH19 incorporates a precisely controlled four-way crossover design. For the low frequencies, custom Push-pull Dual-dynamic Driver units are employed, and a ‘turbine low-frequency boost technology’ is used for physical low-pass filtering, resulting in a relaxed yet natural bass.
For the mid-frequencies, the FH19 introduces a ‘3+1 Semi-open’ acoustic layout of Balanced Armatures. This is complemented by a newly designed resonant cavity, allowing for two separately managed mid-frequency zones. For high frequencies, the FH19 has a coaxial design with an acoustic guide.
Rubycon Audiophile-grade Film Crossover Capacitors: The FH19 employs the same high-precision audiophile-grade film crossover capacitors as those found in its FA19 BA IEMs. Whereas typical resistors used for crossovers can have an error tolerance of around 1%, the FH19’s resistors have an impressively low error tolerance of just 0.1%.
Compared to ordinary ceramic capacitors, the FH19 not only attains more accurate crossover points but also features enhanced high-frequency resolution without sacrificing finesse.
S.Turbo Patented Acoustic Design: FiiO’s patented S. Turbo design ingeniously leverages sound wave guidance properties, enhancing bass performance through a turbine-shaped structure. The result is deep and vibrant bass. Additionally, the design filters out excess mid-to-high frequencies from the FH19’s dynamic drivers, ensuring smooth transitions between the low and mid-high frequencies. The result is a more powerful and robust sound.
Swappable Audio Filters: The FH19 comes with three pairs of swappable audio filters. Each filter has different internal damping and mesh density, allowing you to adjust the sound profile of the FH19, according to your personal preference.
- The Red audio filter enhances low frequencies for better bass.
- The Black audio filter provides a balanced sound that is clear and transparent.
- The Green audio filter supports refined and detailed treble.
High-end Cable: The FH19 comes supplied with a high-purity pure silver cable, consisting of 8 strands of 28 wires each for a total of 224 wires.
Each individual wire is independently insulated, and the cable is twisted using a Litz structure. The cable sheath is made from transparent TPU; effectively preventing yellowing due to prolonged use and stiffening of the cable due to use in low-temperature environments.
Swappable Plugs: The FiiO FH19 comes with two twist-lock swappable jack plugs — 1 x 3.5mm single-ended, and 1 x 4.4mm balanced — ensuring the IEMs can be used with a wide range of audio devices including, Digital Audio Players (DAPs), Headphone Amplifiers, PCs, and more.
To ensure the best fit and listening experience, the FH19 is also supplied with 22 pairs of ear tips — including SpinFit, Foam, Balanced, and Dual Flange — in a variety of sizes.
FiiO FH19 vs. FA19
| FH19 | FA19 | |
| Price | $599 | $999 |
| Earphone Type | 8 Dynamic-Balanced Armature Hybrid | 10 Balanced Armature |
| Wearing Style | In-ear Monitors | In-ear and Around The Ear |
| Drivers Per Ear | 2 x Push-pull Dynamic 4 x Custom Knowles Enhanced Mid-frequency Balanced Armature 2 x Knowles SWFK Treble Balanced Armature | 4 x custom Knowles bass BA drivers, 2 x Knowles ED mid BA drivers 4 x Knowles SWFK treble BA drivers |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz — 40kHz | 20Hz — 40kHz |
| Impedance | 16Ω @ 1kHz | 10Ω @ 1kHz |
| Sensitivity | 109dB/mW@1kHz | 106dB/mW@1kHz |
| Cable | 8 Strands (Totalling 224 Wires) of High-purity Silver | 8 Strands (Totalling 224 Wires) of High-purity Silver |
| Cable Length | 1.2M | 1.2M |
| Earphone Connector | Expanded MMCX | Expanded MMCX |
| Audio Plug | 3.5mm & 4.4mm (Straight Twist-lock Swappable) | Straight Twist-lock Swappable |
Initial Impressions
FiiO continues to innovate and surprise up with great products that deliver the goods across a variety of price points to meet consumer needs.
What I find interesting about the FH19 is that it follows the release of the FA19 by only a few months, but both seem to be considered flagship products. However, the newer FH19 is just a little over half the price of the FA19 which makes it a real bargain for those looking for high-end IEM performance.
Price & Availability
The FiiO FH19 will be available now for $599 at Amazon (£549 / €649).
For more information: fiio.com/fh19
Related Reading
Asa
August 6, 2024 at 3:49 pm
I’m looking for some wired IEMs that are well built, have audiophile sound, but also include a mic…does such a thing exist, or am I better off getting something like these and then an inexpensive version for doing calls? Thanks.
Ian White
August 12, 2024 at 1:33 pm
Asa,
The 1More wired IEMs are relatively inexpensive and good at both. The FiiO FH19 are designed for music listening with higher end sources. I think the popularity of wireless earbuds that can handle phone calls rather well, has forced manufacturers of wired IEMs to drop that feature.
Best,
Ian White