Categories: Headphones

FiiO FH19 Review – Headfonia Reviews

Today, we look at the FiiO FH19 IEM, the company’s new flagship hybrid In-Ear Monitor with dynamic and balanced armature drivers. It costs $599 USD.

Disclaimer: The FiiO FH19 was sent to me by the company for this review. It does not need to be returned.

FiiO

If you haven’t heard of FiiO (somehow), check out their store here. At this point, FiiO hardly needs an introduction—they have established themselves as a major player in the portable and desktop audio market, with a diverse range of products. I admire their dedication to innovation and competitiveness across all their product lines. Their track record truly speaks for itself.

We recently posted a review of the latest FA19 IEM. You can check that out just below.

Other than that, we’ve reviewed dozens of FiiO gear over the years and you can check them out here.

FH19

The FiiO FH19 is FiiO’s new hybrid in-ear monitor, consisting of 2DD + 6 Knowles BA drivers. So this happens to be FIIO’s flagship hybrid model at the moment in terms of their semi-open-backed FH line.

In terms of its IEMs, FiiO keeps pushing and they release an awful lot of IEMs every year. It is a bit difficult to follow their release pace, to be honest, but this IEM represents the top-of-the-line for the FH series. Here are the main highlights for you:

Titanium/aluminium shells
Custom Knowles BA drivers
”Push-pull” dual dynamic drivers
Swappable nozzle filters
Silver cable with interchangeable audio jacks

Package

FiiO’s packaging exudes a premium feel and high-end presentation, complete with an array of accessories, including a luxurious carrying case with a leather/suede texture. I appreciate FiiO’s attention to detail in providing a high-quality case for their IEMs, especially since some more expensive models from other brands either lack a case or include a subpar one.

One standout feature is the interchangeable headphone jack, allowing users to switch between the classic 3.5mm jack and the 4.4mm balanced jack, depending on their source device. This is enabled by a new cable design that supports removable jacks, which I find both innovative and convenient. It’s refreshing to see FiiO opting for this unique solution instead of the usual adapters.

The package includes a generous assortment of 16 ear tips: 2 pairs of foam tips, 2 pairs of bi-flange tips, and 9 pairs of silicone tips categorized as “bass,” “vocal,” and “balanced.” Additionally, SpinFit tips are provided specifically for the flagship hybrid IEM.

Identifying the tips is easy thanks to their distinct colours—once you remember which colour corresponds to which type, you’re all set. FiiO has done an excellent job with the accessories, providing everything you might need, including an MMCX tool to make handling the detachable cable more convenient. The attention to detail is impressive, resulting in outstanding packaging and overall presentation.

Design and Build

The new FiiO FH19 reminded me of the previous FH models, but it’s also different in its own way. The titanium shells look and feel fantastic and it’s also very pleasing to hold in your hands. I think based on the titanium design, it should be a reliable item for extensive usage. The chassis is tooled with a 5-axis CNC machine. So everything is beautiful and complete, and the shells are simply fantastic.

FiiO deserves commendation for its distinct design language, especially when it comes to its monitors. The FH19, in particular, stands out with its unique aesthetic, making it an attractive choice for those who appreciate a natural and visually appealing design. That said, I find the FH9’s design to be sleeker and more refined.

Fit

The FiiO FH19 has an ergonomic design that suits most ear shapes. While it retains the round shape of previous models, this design offers a fuller and more complete fit, enhancing comfort for a universal IEM. The isolation is not the best of course, given the air vent for the DD and semi-open design, but it’s still good. Overall an excellent and very comfortable fit experience.

The supplied ear tips work very well. I opted for the silicone ones, even though I usually prefer foam tips because the IEM fits so well that I don’t need foam tips to achieve a secure fit. The silicone tips provide good isolation, but you can choose foam tips if you need even more isolation. SpinFit tips are also an option if you prefer them.

Page 2: Sound Quality

Page 3: Technical Performance, Comparisons, Conclusion

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