Recently I reviewed the first IEM of my life which is Moondrop starfield. That was an awesome experience and I thought that IEM can be a good replacement for premium In-ear earphones. Moondrop Starfield used a Carbon Nanotube diaphragm- 10mm Dual cavity dynamic driver which produced an excellent sound.
That IEM costs almost $110 which is very cheaper compared to many premium earphones. Today I am going to review another IEM which is FiiO FD1 Single Dynamic IEMs that costs $60. Of course, they are cheaper and I appreciate that but it doesn't mean anyone should buy them only because they are cheaper. when you buy any audio gear you expect a good listening experience. So without delay let's review FiiO FD1 Single Dynamic IEM.
Pros:
Cons:
Sound
Build
Comfort
Value
Bottom Line:
Many Chinese manufacturers give cheaper alternatives with good performance and FiiO is no exception. Let's start with the positives. The bass is good. treble is also impressive. I did observe very little listening fatigue while testing FD1.
The soundstage is also good. The most important pro I observed here is that FD1 is a complete value for the money IEM. Check the accessories they included in package then you will be agreed with me. Despite all these positive things, I am not convinced with the overall audio performance. It is a good option for casual listening but it doesn't serve the purpose that you expect from any IEMs. The overall rating for these IEMs is 7 out of 10.
How is the Design and Build Quality of FiiO FD1?
In a package, I got FD1 Dynamic driver wired IEM along with 3 types of ear tips. Balanced eartips with small, Medium, and Large size pairs mean I got a total of 6 balanced eartips. I also got 3 pairs of Bass eartips and 2 memory foam eartips. A carrying case is included in the package is quite good. I didn't expect so many things at such a cheaper price. So it was a pleasant surprise for me.
The wire that connected with IEM is surprisingly good. I didn't even get such a good quality wire with moondrop starfield which is almost doubled in price as FD1. on the earphones there was a logo of the manufacturers. You can get the 2 color options here. one is black and another is blue.
The cable is detachable and it can connect with a 2 pin connecter. FD1 is very lightweight. Just 4.5g for a single unit. Though they have provided many types of eartips I think isolation is below expectations. I guess there is room for improvement in design.
The overall rating for the design is 7.5 - 8 out of 10. The reason I cut the marks is average isolation which is the important quality every IEM should have.
How is the Sound Performance of FiiO FD1?
Let's start with the frequency response. It's 10Hz-40kHz wired IEMs with 32Ξ© impedance. The lower side (Bass) is pretty impressive considering the price. Though I found that they have emphasized in the mid-bass range. For these types of low-end IEM models, you need to think from a different point of view.
You might be expecting neutral mids because you are buying IEM but this isn't true in this case. Mids aren't neutral. It looks that mids are affected because of the alteration in Bass and treble's area.
Highs are comparatively good. I experienced less listening fatigue even after many hours of listening. another positive point about audio is its impressive soundstage. It's surprisingly good in this area. wide soundstage and deep bass was a nice combination for casual listening.
Though I wouldn't recommend them to monitor the audio. They are good for only casual listening. If you are a Bass lover who is looking for a cheaper option, then Fiio FD1 can be a great choice. Beryllium diaphragm combined with a two-way magnetic circuit helps to improve bass.
For casual listening it's ok but to monitor the audio seriously you should search for a better option. Though Moondrop starfield costs $110 it is better than FD1.
Whatβs in the box?
- FD1 Wired IEM's
- Balanced eartips (Large 2, Medium 2, Small 2)
- Bass Eartips: (Large 2, Medium 2, Small 2)
- Memory Foam Eartips: 2
- Carrying case
Who should get FiiO FD1 ?
- It's good for general listener
