Joined in 2023 
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63 About this deal
Founded in 2007, FiiO went from being a small, chi-fi outsider, to one of the biggest companies in the audiophile world. IEM, headphone amps, DACs, and obviously DAPs, they did it all and did it well. So much that when a new player comes out, it usually becomes the benchmark that other brands have to refer to, like the FiiO M11 or the Q3. Still, FiiO promises “deep bass thanks to the bass-enhancing acoustic flute design + large dynamic driver”, something I find hard to believe but, who knows, that wouldn’t be the first time the brand surprises me… in a good way! The FiiO Series The FD3 comes attached with a pair of medium balanced ear tips, so there are just small and large balanced ear tips, while there are small, medium, and large ear tips on both the cards that are labeled as Bass and Vocal. There are also 2 pairs of medium memory foam ear tips. I’ve been using these with KA3 and BTR3K dongles, along with the paid version of Wavelet. I also bought the 4.4mm specific cable. Might get the 2pin adaptor for my other cables to try them out. The ear loop doesn’t go around my ear at the right place, so maybe a short extension adaptor might help here. I used Foam tips from the start to get seals as my ear canals are large. I’m not into reference IEMs, and I like bass.
Disclaimer: the FiiO FF3 was sent to us free of charge by the brand , in exchange for our honest opinion. About FiiO
Synergy
FiiO FD3 features an acoustic prism in the front cavity. It is fitted close to the front end of the cavity. This helps in precisely controlling the sound waves travel inside the cavity, reducing high-frequency response, and provides an overall sound wave diffusion. It also helps in reducing the distortion in the output and enables the pair to produce a clean output. The lower treble region offers a good sense of clarity and definition when I do listen to instruments such like snare drums or violins that do also sounds crisp and lively, while the extension is on a moderate level. The FD3/FD3 Pro benefits from the numerous advantages of FiiO's new dynamic driver. The diaphragm is made of Diamond-Like Carbon(DLC) which is both impressively rigid and helps The swing from what it normally was intended to sound like vs what it sounds like with a boost of power behind it and some active Bass/Treble EQ active, is staggering. It has high rigidness, high electrical resistivity, and ultra-small friction coefficient. When applied to the diaphragm of acoustic earphones, the high rigidness helps to effectively reduce the segmentation movement during vibration, while the ultra-small friction coefficient results in ultra-high transient response. The high electrical resistivity controls sound performance with low distortion, instead of raising extra vibration and distortion when the signal transmission halts. To sum up, this type of DLC material is fast, accurate with less vibration when being applied to the diaphragm of earphones.
Founded in 2007, FiiO is one of the most famous audiophile manufacturers nowadays, thanks to an extensive range of (usually) affordable but (mostly) excellent products. IEM, headphone amps, DACs, and obviously DAPs, they did it all and did it well. So much so that when a new player comes out, it usually becomes the benchmark that other brands have to refer to, like the new FiiO M11S or the small and mighty FiiO E10K-TC. The FiiO FD11 comes with a scarce bundle, reminiscent of its entry-level positioning. In the box, you get: The midrange of the FiiO FD3 has a mildly warmish tonality with a pretty transparent, airy and lively character. The sense of transparency and airiness in this area is quite impressive when I do listen to vocals or instruments. It is not a detail monster, however it offers a good level of resolution for an In-Ear Monitor at this price range that makes it to a real bargain.
Tech Highlights
The FiiO FD3 comes with detachable cable that is made of 4 core High-Purity Monocrystalline Copper wire material. Although the design doesn't seem to be very ergonomic, the inner contour of the earbud ensures you get a secure fit that isn't uncomfortable even after extended usage. With each earbud coming in at under 7g, they're lightweight enough that your ears won't feel fatigued after extended listening sessions. Since the FD3 has a naturally tuned sub-bass response, the FD3 doesn’t need to have an emphasized mid-bass hump to create the illusion of more bass. This in turn allows the FD3 to have a relatively flat mid-bass tuning to ensure that the bass doesn’t get particularly bloomy. The FD3 Pro benefits from the numerous advantages of FiiO's new dynamic driver. The diaphragm is made of Diamond-Like Carbon(DLC) which is both impressively rigid and helps
The bass character of the FiiO FD3 is in general pretty soft, warmish, well-bodied and entertaining. It is able to produce a great sense of subbass depth, quantity with a fairly fast response and decay thanks to the well-adjusted 12mm diameter dynamic driver with a DLC Diaphragm. The tonality is nicely warm, bold and soft, while the level of control is pretty good when I do listen to songs like Bro Safari, UFO! “Drama”, Christian Reindl’s “Cernunnos” or Lorde’s “Royals”. The guys at FiiO know how to improve themselves in this very crowded IEM market. They get better with each new product release, such as the FH5 and FH7. This one is basically an improved version of the FH5, especially in terms of balance, bass control, staging, and stereo imaging. So if you’re wondering how it fares against the FH5, I would say it’s better in every aspect. ” The acoustic prism so effectively used in the flagship FD5 for great sound quality is also featured in the FD3 Pro. Like with the FD5, the acoustic prism system brings numerous benefits
Visual impressions
You get a frequency response of 10Hz - 40,000Hz, sound isolation up to 27dB, and sensitivity of 111dB. With a low 32-ohm impedance, you'll be able to drive the FD3 with any source, but you'll ideally need a portable DAC to make the sound come alive. I used Shanling's new UP5 and Helm's terrific Bolt to test the FD3. FiiO sent me a pair for review, and if I was a bit dubious at first, the FD5 ended up being as good as advertised. Here is an excerpt of that review:
Another day, another win for FiiO. Take a good, affordable, IEM, and take it to the higher ground. For the same price. That’s basically the story behind the FiiO FH3. […] The Bass is delightful, the vocals superb, and in this price range, there isn’t anything that really competes in terms of comfort/robustness/design.” The semi-open design of the FD3/FD3 Pro on FiiO's patented technology for balanced air pressure within brings several advantages. Not only does such a design lead to more natural sound. but it also effectively protects your hearing by balancing air pressure within the FD3/FD3 Pro leading to less pressure on your eardrums. This makes your listening experience less tiring and the sound less forced. One of the most glaring differences between the FD3 and the FD3 Pro is the cable. While we don’t have an FD3 Pro to compare, the cable that comes with the FD3 already feels well-made.A basic bundle that puts the FD11 more in line with the JD7 than the FD3 Pro. Additional accessories The faceplate of the monitor shell is one for sure one of the eye-catching highlights that the FiiO FD3 offers to the consumers. The faceplate design is based according to FiiO advertisings on the theme of “Curves”. It is made of a unique celluloid panel that has been covered with a special 2.5D film coating glass, which shows the FiiO brand logo on the top. The FiiO FD3 is the brand entry-level dynamic IEM. It sports the same 12mm DLC Beryllium coated driver found on the FD5, minus some premium features. But all in all, it’s a shoe-horned FD5, in a nicer box – in my opinion – and a smaller price. I really like the regular version, but if you’re interested in this model, get the pro version: for just a few dollars/euro more, you’ll get the premium cable, with exchangeable plugs. With most dynamic drivers, it’s typical to hear a roll-off, particularly with the sub-bass region. However, with the FD3, it isn’t as pronounced as I have come to expect. I think this is partly due to the frequency response rating of the FD3, where it starts at 10Hz, which allows it to roll off at a lower frequency than usual. Thanks to their ever evolving range of (usually) affordable but (mostly) excellent products. IEM, headphone amps, DACs, and obviously DAPs, they did it all and did it well. So much that when a new player/amp/IEM comes out, they usually become the benchmark that other brands have to refer to, like the mighty FiiO M17 , the FiiO Q7 or even the good old E10K-TC.
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