Fiio’s entry-level offering is one of the best in the segment, and the reason for that is the brand’s focus on value. After testing nearly two dozen Fiio products over the past 18 months, I can safely say that the brand generally offers the best value in its target segment.
While hero products like the K9 Pro DAC and R7 all-in-one network streaming player do a great job of drawing attention to the brand, it’s budget-friendly in-ear headphones like the FH11 that lead the sales charts. The FH11 are hybrid in-ear headphones that use 10mm dynamic drivers combined with balanced armature drivers, and their design and affordability make them stand out—at just $54 on Amazon , the FH11 is Fiio’s most affordable yet One of the in-ear headphones.
Note: This review was completed through the review unit provided by Fiio. The brand had not seen the comments before publishing.
The design of the FH11 is interesting and doesn’t bear much resemblance to the rest of the brand’s IEM portfolio. Fiio calls the design a “bionic conch,” noting that it creates a “sense of flow” and improves sound quality. What I like is that the zinc alloy chassis looks great and the design looks more premium than the entry-level price tag.
The panel has a star pattern which looks elegant, my only issue with the design is that the panel smudges easily. As we all know, Fiio’s IEMs come with a ton of accessories, and the FH11 comes with six sets of earbuds – three sets of balanced earbuds and three sets of bass-focused earbuds. You should be able to find something that fits relatively easily.
The metal casing is obviously durable and has better build quality than most in-ears in this segment, but they are on the heavier side, weighing 10 grams each. This affects comfort, and while I didn’t have any issues wearing them, they do put pressure on the inner ear and that’s noticeable when used for extended periods of time. The design allows for excellent noise isolation, especially when you use a bass head.
Fiio hasn’t made many changes in terms of cables, you get a nice 4-strand braided cable with a 3.5mm jack on the end. The cable connects to the housing via a standard 2-pin connector with blue and red indicator lights (left and right).
With a sensitivity of 111dB and 24Ω, the FH11 can be easily driven from any source. That said, you’ll need a good adapter DAC to get the most out of these IEMs, and in my testing I paired them with Fiio’s KA5 and M15S audio players. Using a powerful sound source unlocks the potential of your sound, resulting in a more dynamic profile.
At this point, the FH11 is designed to deliver vibrant bass; if you want better resolution and imaging, you should consider the FD11. Both in-ear headphones share the same design and aesthetics, but they differ in terms of drivers and tuning. The FH11 uses custom 10mm carbon dynamic drivers (similar to the $200 FH15) that are lighter yet have high tensile strength, allowing them to deliver faster transients and less distortion.
This is evident in the sound; the FH11 has a raised bass shelf that gives it a unique sonic signature, with plenty of energy in the low-end that sometimes bleeds into the mids. The mids are a bit recessed, but you still get clarity at the high end of the frequency range, and vocals shine through. The treble is too bright at times, and you do hear some hiss.
Overall, the FH11 succeeds in producing an interesting sound that works well with many genres, and while what it lacks in technique, it more than makes up for with dynamism. If you want neutral sound with good resolution, then you won’t buy this in-ear headphone – if you want the best bass within your budget, then you will buy this in-ear headphone.
The FH11 has a solid design and great build quality, and you get an engaging sound that’s mostly bass-focused.