So when taking that into account, yes, the F9 Pro does hold quite a lot of value. We were very impressed with the F9 Pro’s sound. This is an interesting progression of the F9 and certainly a step in the right direction while … Comparison Tools. On the actual shell, close to the MMCX connection, they’ve added a little red marker to indicate right, whereas the other shell has a blue marker to indicate left. Both cables are thin and not at all tangle-proof, but they do their job. Fiio also added a new little left and right markings in the form of red and blue markers. Comfort: 10 / 10, Sound The one uniting factor — apart from the triple drivers (2 balanced and 1 armature) setup — of the 1More Triple Drivers and FiiO F9 pro are the box contents of the IEMs. Thus, the below sonic impressions are based on the F9 Pro with the Spiral Dot eartips. Seems durable: YES Basic Rating: 8.8, Bonus points Dynamic （13.6 mm） Dynamic （11 mm） Dynamic （9.2 mm） Frequency Response: 15Hz~40kHz: 15Hz~40kHz: 20Hz~40kHz: 15Hz~20kHz: 20Hz~20kHz: Sensitivity: 106 dB/mW: 106 dB/mW: 102 dB/mW: 98 dB/mW: 97 dB/mW: … It seems like we’re seeing more and more included fit options with IEMs; it seems like an arms race, and we can’t help but wonder where it can go from here. Still, the F9 Pro delivers what we’d classify as an “audiophile” sound for less than many “consumer” headphones. 1. Think of it like this – for me, roasted lamb lamb is delicious. And there also correspond with newly-added coloured rings on the cable, Pretty darn neat! The F9 PRO has been certified by the Japan Audio Society to be “Hi-Res Audio” capable. It’s a bit of a Catch-22: the rich bass response and resolution of the F9 Pro encouraged us to turn the volume up higher, but the upper treble peak made us dial it back. Unfortunately, things don’t seem to have changed with the F9 Pro. Sensitivity: 106 dB/mW. Its large dynamic drivers produce punchy, controlled, clear, bass with very deep extension; the F9 Pro is one of those headphones that provides impressive bass without sacrificing the rest of the frequency range. 1 dynamic and 2 balanced armature drivers. The F9 Pro sets a new bar for bundled accessories. FiiO Electronics Technology: Sound: Sensitivity: 106 dB/mW Frequency response: 15Hz ~ 40kHz Impedance: 28 Ω Noise isolation: 26 dB: Connectivity: 3.5 millimetres TRRS 2.5 millimetres Balanced cable: Website: www.fiio.com.cn In any case, you’re essentially guaranteed a good fit with the F9 Pro. FiiO never ceases to amaze me, few months ago I was testing their new flagship IEM: the F9, a few months later their new F9 PRO flagship and now they done it again with the FH5. As we can see from the graph, the F9 Pro’s frequency response is pretty much identical to that of the regular F9 withing the bass region all the way through the mids. The final rating, however, grants bonus points for any extra features and specs that aren’t quite as common, and is a great way to judge the product as a complete package. Where the F5 had a pretty poor connection, the regular F9’s just seemed too secure, which meant that swapping cables required quite a lot of effort. Contacted SpinFit, they said it's CP360 that fit most FiiO earphones good. The F9 PRO has been certified by the Japan Audio Society to be "Hi-Res Audio" capable. A mostly black coloured box proudly displays an image of the F9 Pro on the front, along with the … So, at a $40 higher MSRP compared to the regular F9, does the F9 Pro hold a higher bang-for-buck value? All Rights Reserved. Most notably is the fact that we now get a total of 12 pairs of eartips, whereas the regular F9 only came with 6. Another change to the cable is that it now has a beefier right-angled plug which also features a more robust strain relief. The FiiO F9 Pro is a revision of the existing F9 IEM and will sell at a slightly higher price of $139.99. Aircraft adapter: – On my FiiO F9's they have totally changed the sound signature, emphasizing mid-bass way too much, the V-shaped F9's not taking this well. As such, we have a basic rating, as well as a final rating. Anyway – suggest you change the review – and take out the bit about frequency response, as … The F9 Pro’s design is slightly different to that of the regular F9. At under $140, the Fiio F9 Pro is more than just a good affordable headphone, it’s also technically impressive when compared to headphones we’ve reviewed at significantly higher price points. 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The sides of the box are entirely blank, whereas the rear only has the name of the product, it’s description, and the model number of the Knowles driver that was employed. Add too much, though, and you totally lose the flavour of the meat. As a result, the FiiO F9 Pro was born. This means that the F9 PRO is capable of a frequency response up to 40kHz, which can fully reproduce the audio and give you a natural and life-like listening experience that truly lets you listen to the music the way the artists wanted it to sound. Thus, the F9 Pro’s sound has arguably the more widely accepted “enjoyable” sound. Recently, they released their flagship balanced armature IEM the FA9, then the overachieving entry-level IEM, FD1, and now they have come to us with their latest launch the FH3.. F9 Pro: F9: F5: F3: F1: General Specifications: Type: 1 dynamic and 2 balanced. With the F9 Pro, we think Fiio has made a grand entrance into the market of audiophile/enthusiast headphones. It’s still a really stiff connection, which actually prompted yours truly to have to use a pair of pliers to grip the cable securely enough in order to be able to apply enough force to disconnect the cable from the shell. Battery life above 8 hours: – Price: USD 260 vs USD 140: IEM Type: Quad Driver Hybrid vs Triple Driver Hybrid: Cable Quality: F9 Pro includes a balanced and single ended (mobile on cable controls). The thing is, though, that the F9 Pro isn’t obnoxious. With excellent design and comfort, tons of accessories, and seriously good (if a little sharp) sound, the Fiio F9 Pro gets our strong recommendation. More than 3 pairs of eartips included: YES I would not be shocked if at this very moment they are already tinkering with a new flagship IEM, FiiO is on fire and I like that. FA7 has the same sparkle and zing, it just doesn’t emphasize this area. For the Pro version, Fiio have swapped out the dual BA-driver in favour of a Knowles TWFK-30017-000 driver (which is still a dual BA-driver). It will continue to be sold alongside the F9. The F9 Pro has an impedance of 28 ohms and a relatively high sensitivity of 106 dB/mW, making it easy to drive out of any device we used for testing, but surprisingly it did not hiss when used with our most powerful headphone amplifier. Frequency response: 15 Hz ~ 40 kHz 4. FH5’s cable is single ended only, but vastly superior build quality. Isolation: 7 / 10 2, AK4499 DAC，4.4mm Balance Output. Inside its aluminum housing are three discrete drivers — a 9.2mm dynamic for bass frequencies and two balanced armature drivers for midrange and treble. iLounge © 2001 – 2020. Whereas both the regular F9 and F5 shipped with Fiio’s HB1 waterproof case included in the packaging, the F9 Pro has both the HB1 case as well as a soft carrying/storage pouch which is much more compact than the HB1. Another new inclusion is an additional storage/carrying case. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Now, pretty much everyone was wondering if (or perhaps hoping) that the updated driver configuration would get rid of the treble spike that plagued the regular F9. To be perfectly frank, the M7P doesn’t stand a chance against the F9 Pro. Bluetooth connection quality: – In listening to the F9 Pro and comparing it to the regular F9, the increased upper mids is apparent. Of course, the way we enjoy music is entirely subjective. The F9 Pro’s Frequency response, according to Fiio, is in the “Hi-Res Audio” range of 15 Hz to 40 kHz. As such, if you prefer a neutral signature, the F9 Pro probably won’t appeal to you. But, other than that, the rest of the accessories remain the same. Driver configuration: Triple hybrid (9.2mm Dynamic driver + 2 Balanced Armature drivers) 3. Quality control: 9 / 10 This gives the Pro version a bit more attack and presence to vocals and string instruments. Of course you will forgo the HB1’s waterproof capability if opting for the soft case. The F9 Pro are available in just one color — matte titanium gray — which looks great on its wavy aluminum housing. From that perspective, the Pro doesn’t quite match the same bang-for-buck value as the regular F9. 3, Support MQA 4, Customised THAAA AMP 5,USB DAC support up to 768kHz/32b decoding (DSD512 support) If you have the F9, go straight to balanced and don’t look back.” Well unless you’re using a source with massive impedance difference, then there is no measurable change in frequency response. Fiio UTWS3 MMCX; FIIO BTA30; Fiio Q3; Fiio BTR5; Fiio FH1s; Fiio FD1; FIIO LC-BT2(0.78 2pin) FIIO LC-BT2(mmcx connector) Fiio M3 pro; Fiio BTR3K; Fiio FA9; Fiio LC-RE 2 MMCX; Fiio LC-RE 0.78 2pin; Fiio LS-2.5D; Fiio LS-3.5D; Fiio LS-4.4D; Fiio LT-TC1; SoundMagic . In real-world testing, we did have to push up the volume a bit more on the F9 Pro compared to the FH5. Heck, it couldn’t measure up to the regular F9 for that matter. Some people don’t like the short cycles in terms of product releases, but seeing a company … It’s only in the Upper mids that we start to see that the F9 Pro has a bit more presence. The F9 Pro has an impedance of 28 ohms and a relatively high sensitivity of 106 dB/mW, making it easy to drive out of any device we used for testing, but surprisingly it did not hiss when used with our most powerful headphone amplifier. 1/4” adapter included: – Protective case: YES, Build Premium cables: YES Interestingly enough, though, is that Fiio published the exact same frequency response graph, impedance, THD, and SNR figures for both the regular and the Pro version of the F9. drivers (knowles TWFK-30017-000) 1 dynamic and 2 balanced armature drivers. Erm, somewhat. The Fiio F9 Pro has well balanced sound signature with a mildly recessed midrange, which sounds warmer then neutral. Relatively balanced signature: YES Just as I thought that the F9 could’ve been better in some ways, there came the FiiO F9 Pro. Fiio have also taken it upon themselves to advertise the fact that the F9 Pro features a Knowles BA-driver package. I was surprised at the performance of the FD1 and given the FH3 is meant to be the successor to the F9 Pro … This means that the F9 PRO is capable of a frequency response up to 40kHz, which can fully reproduce the audio and give you a natural and life-like listening experience that truly lets you listen to the music the way the artists wanted it to sound. Where these sounds on the regular F9 can be a little recessed, the Pro brings them more forward, giving them a touch better clarity. Treble. armature drivers (knowles TWFK-30017-000) 1 dynamic and 2 balanced . FiiO LC-BT2 Neckband MMCX Bluetooth 5.0 Earphone Cable with aptX LL/LDAC, 24H Playtime, Microphone and Remote for FiiO/Shure SE215 SE315 SE425 SE535 (MMCX) 4.3 out of … You get better imaging and separation, better staging and better frequency response. Microphonics: 9 / 10 Fiio FD5. In the box are two storage cases — one soft pouch and one pelican-style hard case. The F9-series is based on a triple-hybrid design, consisting of both a dynamic driver, as well as a dual BA-driver package. The black FiiO F9 are a pair of high-resolution in-ear monitors that utilize a hybrid driver design with a single 9.2mm dynamic driver and two balanced-armature drivers, which combine to provide a frequency response of 15 Hz to 40 kHz. Included Accessories Packaging. ‘Invite to Edit’ feature added to Adobe Fresco, Illustrator and Photoshop, LectroSound ASM1023-WE Sleep & Relax Soothing Noise Machine is 60% Off, Acquire a Cute ‘Kitty Ears’ Gaming Look with the Razer Kraken Kitty, Now 15% Off, US Spotify users get live Lyrics Beta Testing, Wistron promises ‘Back to Production’ status on India factory, VANKYO Performance V600 Native 1080P LED HDMI Projector is 32% Off, Get $21 off on the Razer BlackWidow V3 mechanical gaming keyboard, Qualcomm unleashes 5G modem with 10-gigabit capabilities. But current F9 owners really shouldn’t feel obliged to “upgrade”. Use of exotic materials: – F9 SE. They are reasonable quality for the price. Compared to a far more neutral set of IEMs like the HiFiMAN RE-400, the F9 Pro’s v-shaped signature does become apparent. This was supposedly done to “refine” the F9’s sound signature (hence the Pro moniker). arguably the biggest flaw with the regular F9 was a pretty dramatic treble spike at around 7kHz. Relative value: 9 / 10 Small size: 9 / 10 As such, Fiio have produced the F9 Pro, a continuation of original utilising the same triple hybrid driver setup but with improved balanced armature high-frequency drivers. Volume/remote controls: YES Unfortunately this does not seem to be the case, but the severity of the spike was indeed reduced, and it has also been shifted to roughly the 8kHz mark. Sony don’t publish full specs, so can’t really comment on that one. 1 dynamic and 2 balanced armature. FA7 vs F9 PRO. It should also be noted that the F9 Pro’s frequency response will be altered depending on which eartips are used (as is the case with all IEMs). The company has almost always had a small selection of in-ear monitors on offer as well, but those IEMs have never been what Fiio is really known for. These vary in shape and material, and each provides a slightly different sound signature; after some experimentation, we seemed to get the best mix of comfort, isolation, and bass response out of the clear spherical-shaped tips. Final Rating: 9.5. Once again we have to thank Brooko on Head-Fi for publishing the below frequency response graph which showcases the differences in the frequency response between the regular F9 and that of the F9 Pro. The Fiio F9 Pro is technically dense for an IEM in its price range. b. Frequencies: The bass of the Fiio F9 Pro sounds quite natural in its presentation with a good amount of impact and rumble when it called for. All IEMs in Fiio’s F series feature this hybrid triple-driver configuration, but what sets the F9 Pro apart is the inclusion of Knowles balanced armature drivers; Knowles is the best-known manufacturer of BA drivers, and their products are often found in far more expensive headphones. The F9 employ MMCX connectors and feature two interchangeable cables. Or, perhaps this might be due to additional acoustic dampening instead. Weight: 21g. Of course, the reason for the higher price as compared to the regular F9 is because of the additional accessories and change in configuration of the BA-drivers. Dunu Falcon-C sounds a bit more airy than Fiio F9 Pro. Of course, this meal won’t be to everyone’s taste, so, objectively, just like the signature of the F9 and F9 Pro, not everyone will agree with it. Accessories Competitive price-point: YES FiiO F9 vs FiiO F9Pro - F9Pro is the bigger brother of F9, with improved Knowles Drivers, although they are almost double F9's price. armature drivers. These have a good seal, albeit sometimes tricky to get right. Perhaps the biggest question on everyone’s lips is whether or not the driver change has indeed resulted in an improved sonic performance. When comparing the regular to the Pro version, though, it was clear that the F9 Pro was a bit more power hungry than the regular F9, suggesting that, despite Fiio publishing the same impedance and sensitivity figures for both iteration, in reality the F9 Pro either has a higher impedance, a lower sensitivity, or a combination of both. All-in-all FA7 has a wider frequency response and a faster presentation. A guide to reading frequency response graphs of headphones and IEMs. At this price, the F9 Pro is in direct competition with, for example, the MEE Audio M7P. Demo units courtesy of: Frequency Response measurements and graphs for In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) and earphones. On similar sources (FiiO X5ii and Sony W1MZ) the FH5 was also more lively and dynamic sounding than the F9 Pro. Fiio also said that, with the F9 Pro, they would have changed the stiffness of the MMCX connection. So no, the spike is not gone, but it definitely is reduced. Its lack of neutrality doesn’t come across as being a particularly troublesome character trait, but rather just a tasteful flavouring. But then again, the same rules apply for the F9 Pro as those that applied for the regular F9 – with a little EQ work you can almost entirely get rid of the “colouration”. The neutrality of the RE-400 just sound more natural, and never do you get the sense that one part of the frequency spectrum is trying to compete with another. But, add a little bit of a mint sauce, and it’s a friggin’ amazing meal. Frequency response: 15 Hz ~ 40 kHz. How premium the case looks and feels: 8 / 10 Frequency response 15Hz ~ 40kHz; Sensitivity 106 dB/mW; The detachable MMCX connectors are a nice touch, especially for those who want to experiment with balanced sound (see: Fiio’s X3 MkIII DAP), though in testing ours did work themselves loose on occasion, causing sound to cut out until we fixed the connection. The only differences here lies with the cable, the colour of the shell, a newly-added left and right marking, and one of the internal components. Cable management: YES Impedance: 28Ω 2. But, if you’re looking for a something that just has a bit more flavour than neutral, the F9 Pro’s signature may very well be right up your alley. You get so many accessories with the earphones that you can donate some to your family and friends. Interchangeable filter system: – It is a quite dynamic sounding IEM with one of best resolution levels in this price range. The Fiio F9 Pro sounds slightly warmer and fuller at the midrange, which makes its vocal presentation more intimate. I have the FiiO and the F9 measures exactly the same frequency response on both balanced and single-ended. It seems like FiiO has been churning out products almost every month, not that I’m complaining. Surely if one of the drivers are changed there should be a change to at least one of those parameters (especially the frequency response graph). IEM Graph Comparison Tool. FiiO certainly knows how to make bang for buck products as we know them for a long time now. The midrange on the F9 Pro is rich, exhibiting higher foreground and background resolutions contributing to its musicality. This year, we’ve reviewed samples from most of Fiio’s broad product offering — DACs, amplifiers, and dedicated audio players. The hard case is great, but it’s clearly bigger than it needs to be for just the IEMs; a little bigger, and it could have held one of Fiio’s smaller DAPs as well. We still get both a 3.5mm (1/8-inch) single ended cable within in-line remote and mic, as well as a 2.5mm balanced option. Removable cables: YES Instrument separation: 9 / 10 Hiss: 8 / 10, Portability The F9 Pro’s cable is better, though, as the added texture does allow you to grip it more easily. The slight design change of the shell does seem to make it sit a little more securely in the ear, but the main reason for the change was so that the shell could accommodate a larger number of aftermarket cables. Well, actually, Fiio decided to make a few design changes to the regular F9, which means that, whilst the F9 Pro’s design is slightly different to the initial batch of regular F9s, it’s design is almost identical to that of the subsequently updated version of the regular F9. Apt-X: – You have entered an incorrect email address! The F9 Pro’s highs can be harsh at higher volumes, however, leading us to believe that there is a peak in its upper treble frequency response. I don't want to burst anyone's bubble - but I can show (via measurements) that with the F9 Pro, there is no frequency change when volume matched (so chances are it was a volume difference you heard). Truth to be told, there is a big gap between the two.