FiiO FH3 In Ear Monitors

The FiiO FH3 is a hybrid in-ear monitor with three drivers per side: a 10mm beryllium-plated dynamic driver for bass and two Knowles balanced armatures for the mids and treble. FiiO’s patented S.TURBO sound tube and balanced pressure relief, a precision-machined aluminium-magnesium shell and a high-purity monocrystalline silver-plated copper cable make it, in FiiO’s words, a classic reborn. It’s Hi-Res Audio certified and, at 24Ω and 114dB/mW, easy to drive from a phone or portable player.

Three drivers, each with a job

A physical and electronic three-way crossover divides the music between the drivers, so bass, mids and treble blend without getting in each other’s way:

The treble driver sits near the opening of the sound tube, closer to your ear than in a typical design. That reduces unwanted treble reflections, so less high-frequency detail is lost on the way to your ear.

Beryllium-plated bass with S.TURBO

FiiO chose the beryllium-plated diaphragm for its acoustic properties: it is light and thin but extremely stiff, so bass is powerful, responsive and dynamic. FiiO’s patented S.TURBO acoustic design (patent ZL 2018 2 1141627.9) gets even more from it. Its longer, smoother, turbine-inspired sound tube, 41.5mm long, filters unwanted high frequencies from the dynamic driver with an effective roll-off of about 32dB, for deeper, harder-hitting bass.

Balanced pressure relief

FiiO’s patented balanced pressure relief technology keeps the air pressure in the front and rear chambers balanced. Music dynamics stay undistorted, for what FiiO calls stress-free listening.

A better cable in the box

The included high-purity monocrystalline silver-plated copper cable was chosen for its fidelity and ability to resolve detail, and FiiO says it’s noticeably better than a typical earphone cable. It has four strands of 96 wires, gold-plated plugs, a 3.5mm jack and FiiO’s expanded MMCX connectors, and is about 1.2m long.

Third-generation FH design, machined from aerospace alloy

The shell is aerospace-grade aluminium-magnesium alloy, made to tight tolerances on 5-axis CNC machines: 23 tool bits and 4,340 finish-milling cuts. It continues the FH series’ design language with a refined water-ripple faceplate that is strong as well as elegant. FiiO shaped it using data from thousands of ears and more than 10 rounds of trials, for a comfortable over-ear fit.

Plenty of tips for the right fit

11 pairs of ear tips in four types and several sizes let you find the most comfortable fit and the best seal, which matters for both comfort and sound. There are two carry cases, one soft and one hard, and a brush for cleaning the tips.

Good to know

• The MMCX connectors mean you can upgrade the cable, for example to FiiO’s LC-RC with swappable plugs, including 4.4mm balanced.
• Want them wireless? FiiO’s UTWS5 Bluetooth ear hooks come in an MMCX version.
• Spare or different tips: FiiO HS18 ear tips.
• In the box: FH3 earphones, 1.2m silver-plated copper cable, 11 pairs of ear tips, soft and hard carry cases and a tip brush.