FiiO FH3 HiFi Earphones 3 Drivers (1 Dynamic + 2 Knowles BA), in-Ear Earphones High Resolution, Bass Sound, High Fidelity for Smartphone/PC/Tablet

This past year, I rediscovered iems after a 20 year absence from the scene. Things have changed a lot since the days of Circuit City and The Good Guys (okay, maybe more than a 20 year hiatus). I tested many options, noted below, so you can get a frame of reference.My favorite iem is the ikko OH10. I was drawn to its musical presentation of instruments which sound natural and full. The sub-bass rumble and defined highs made it an even more enjoyable listen.I flat-out don't like: Final 7200 (soulless, no energy, but very analytical), Legacy 3 (boomy bass, instruments sounded not-quite-right), YGF-ISS04 (just a mess).I could see how others might like these, but they sounded off to my ears - either too thin/tinny or fake/plasticky sounding: FD1, KXXS, Shozy CP3 and Form 1.1, T2+.I liked these, but they were not as "good" as the OH10: Yamaha EPH-200, Tape, FH5, JVC/Drop HA-FDX1.But I quickly tired of the heavy OH10s falling out of my ears, so tried to make a custom mold using radians. I made a mistake, clogged the tube filter, and was on the hunt for a replacement (since the OH10s have been out of stock at Amazon for a long time).The FH3s are less expensive, much lighter, have better ergonomics, a more solid cable, and come with better accessories. I enjoy the sound just slightly less than the OH10s, but they are on the same level. The FH3 bass is very good, but compared to the OH10, it is slightly boomy with just a bit less sub-bass rumble. Vocals are every-so-slightly more recessed and I hear a slight "grain" in the vocals. The vocals on the OH10 sound true, as if someone was simply singing next to me, but the FH3 sounds like a recording - a great recording, but still not the same experience. Treble on the OH10 gave me a slight problem at higher volumes, but the FH3 has the detail I'm looking for without any discomfort. The number of "wow" moments I have while listening to music is about the same as the OH10s. But take all this with a grain of salt since my OH10s are broken and I cannot do a side-by-side comparison. When it comes down to it, I have a slight preference for my memory of the OH10 sound, but what good are they if such a hassle to wear (tried lots of different tips, but not spinfits)? If possible, I suggest trying out the both OH10 and FH3; they are similar styles of headphones and both great options.But if you want to know the truth, you've got to follow the money. I'm keeping my FH3s and not waiting for the OH10s to come back in stock. The FH3 is a great iem - I would purchase it over any competitors under $300. I haven't tried anything over that price, but I doubt there is a magical "next echelon" of iems which exist just above $300, so I'm sure the FH3 would compete in the $300+ range as well.

My ears are meticulous when it comes to earbuds fitting. Most earbuds fall out of my ears or hurt after a while. Very few true wireless earbuds comfortably stay in my ears. I've gone through too many pairs to count at this point, and they all have issues. It's either comfort, Bluetooth connectivity issues, or terrible sound quality.I decided to go back to basics with a pair of wired earbuds. Specifically, I wanted IEMs as those are designed to be comfortable and have better sound quality than traditional earbuds. I narrowed down to a couple of different pairs from the Chi-fi market due to them leading the IEM industry. I went with FiiO because they have a well-known reputation and I'm not into the "waifu" aesthetics that so many other IEM companies use. I also wanted a pair of IEMs that had a detailed yet fun sound signature (slightly warm on the Harmon curve), were well-built and wouldn't have paint peeling/chipping issues and offered a series of accessories without me needing to use a converter to go from 2-pin to MMCX or vice versa.I landed on the FH3 after conducting research over a 3-week period. They're a little older, but they ticked all the boxes I wanted. They have a detailed yet fun sound signature, are made of non-painted aluminum, and rely on MMCX connector with FiiO offering tons of accessories (like their true wireless adapters).The sound quality of these is beyond that of every pair of true wireless earbuds I have tried including flagship models from Apple, Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, and Bang & Olufsen. The FH3 stick to the Harmon curve with a slight bump in the low spectrum. Music is vibrant with audible details in songs I haven't noticed. Bass is ample but does not bleed into the mids. The highs are recessed but still fit within a V-shaped curve.FiiO includes four different ear tip types with each one having 4 different sizes (except for the foam ones). The ear tips that worked best for me were the ones that came pre-installed. The bass and treble boosting tips did not create a seal in my ears and that is paramount of audio quality with IEMs. The foam tips created a nice seal, but they aren't comfortable for me. The round, black ear tips are comfortable and make a seal so well that I don't miss ANC.Despite their aluminum construction, I don't have issues wearing these all day. The IEMs nestle in my ears without moving. I can walk, eat, bend over, and lean without these moving or needing adjustment. The FH3 are stable even without me plugging in their wire.The included cable is high quality and doesn't have memory. It includes a metal 90 degree 3.5mm end that can't be swapped out. FiiO also includes a transparent plastic case. It's not waterproof like Pelican cases, still nice.The FH3 have become my daily drivers and I have FiiO's UTWS5 adapters on my list to buy next. I highly recommend these for anyone wanting a well-built pair of IEMS that offer exciting, detailed sound from a company withn established reputation.