Just wanted to give a little heads up about my experience with the FH3s.
Bought my pair on March 23rd and just a couple weeks ago the DD either died or is damaged because it sounds like the bass has been removed significantly to the point where low freqs are only reproduced on the left and is super weird to listen to.
I never really do RMAs or manufacturer returns because of the wait time but i did contact FiiO and they were open to replace them if i sent out the damaged ones back, instead i just bought a pair of Arias with 1 day prime shipping and have been enjoying them ever since.
I really liked the FH3s while they lasted but i would much rather my IEMs last more than a couple of months.
Less bass and slightly smaller soundstage. With the FH3s i was able to tell that the highs sounded a little metalicky (?) if thats a word probably because of the BAs which i dont hear in the aria.
Overall, iām probably gonna end up RMAing the FH3s or buying a second pair because the FH3s are truly a good IEM in my mind, just thought that QA would be a little better since i bought it roughly 8 months after release.
It is not just the midbass, there is a lot that is just more in quantity on the FD3 vs the FH3. The FD3 defiantly has a much more defined V-shape to itās sound with more of the bass energy carrying into the lower mids and a much more dramatic rise starting later then the FH3 into the upper mids/treble.
If these 2 IEMs were boxers then the FH3 would be a technical out boxer throwing precise blows and the FH3 would be a slugger of an in boxer just beating opponents with brute force.
Just a little follow up to this, i sent out my FH3s to FiiO on the 5th and today (14th) my replacement was delivered. Hearing them again when theyāre fully working really puts a smile on my face, compared to the Aria for the type of music i listen to, no competitionā¦ at all.
Customer Support wise FiiO really made a good first-impression with me about warranty, they sent me out an address in California to ship them out and a day after they were delivered i got a tracking number and an email saying my replacement would be shipped out the following day. Amazing stuff.
I listen to mostly fast-paced EDM being mostly harder styles like hardcore, some hardstyle here and there and some chiptunes for nostalgia. The amount of clarity it offers when a ton of stuff is going on is insane and miles above the Aria, and the bass which works oh so well with hardstyle kicks and hardcore basslines. Amazing IEM and im glad i can listen to them again.
I am no longer using Hiby Music app for my iem FiiO FH3. Iām using UAPP now + phone + FiiO Q3 dac-amp. With bit perfect mode (no EQ at all), the sound just gets better. I also off bass boost on Q3. The bass mid and treble, everything just perfect for me. I donāt know what else to ask. I just did tips rolling too, bought Deep Mount Radius (size XS) as per @Rikudou_Goku recommendation. It is very comfortable to my small ears, sounds good too. I also use 4.4 balanced copper cable, which enhances the soundstage and dynamics. This FH3 is really a good all rounder. This is my only iem other than Tin Hifi T5, which is inferior
As far as I could discern, there are only two to three things holding the mmcx port in place: a small amount of adhesive (CA glue, I think) under the port within its slot and a small internal faceplate extrusion which theoretically locks the port from being able to be pulled out of the socket once both are in place. The faceplate itself is also fastened in place with some strong jell-like adhesive.
Since the mmcx connection is so tight on this IEM, if the port was not properly secured into place with an appropriate amount/ strength adhesive and the faceplate adhesive were not strong enough to hold it alone, one could simply end up being able to rotate the entire port within its slot on purpose or on accident which would simultaneously pull on the internal wires and have the effect of pushing the faceplate away from the locking position. One could notice the physical effects of this as a somewhat āwigglyā mmcx cable connection (which is actually port wiggle), a slight rise in the position of the faceplate, and even some exposed faceplate adhesive (which just ends up getting smudged away over time).
In this case a proper amount/ strength adhesive just holding the faceplate in place could permit the port to be fastened strong enough for the iem to still work but with potential auditory issues on the left and or right channels (since the internal wires are being jostled). If the faceplate adhesive was not adequate to begin with or enough of it has come off over time then an owner could end up on purpose or on accident being able to rotate the entire socket in place and destroy one or two of the internal port connections. If both are destroyed then the port can come out. Thus explaining some of the online reviews for the FH3 Left/Right Channel imperfections/ imbalances, as well as entire ports being ripped out on accident.
In my case, the left piece port had already become wiggly enough because no adhesive was holding it down in its socket, the faceplate had already risen enough because the port was wiggling it out of position as the cable was rotated, and enough of the faceplate adhesive had already been smudged off, that I could just use my fingernail to pry the faceplate off.
Fiio could either have used screws or used more/better adhesive, in any case locked the mmcx port into place a little better and or not have implemented such a strong mmcx connection, these issues could have been prevented, this should not be an issue with a $100+ IEM.
Sooo - Iām coming late-ish to the FH3 party, but seriously glad I got them. Finally got the right seal - didnāt at first with sf145s but went back to them tip rolling and now I do. Not sure why but maybe I picked up a different pair out of the ziplock bag - still now it works, so Iām good. The comfort of the fit on these is really good, I mean seriously good, so good I get to the point where I forget I have anything in my ears. (Probably also influenced by the fact that the Teas do sit deep.) I love the build and the metal shells, feel solid but not too heavy.
I bought a set of Legacy 2s before the FH3s arrived, which is a pity as the L2s are now redundant. At the time I thought the L2s were good (and they still are), but to my ears and for my library the FH3s take it up another level. On listening to the FH3s and then back to the L2s, the L2s now just sound a bit āthinā in comparison. I donāt know what pixie dust FiiO used in the FH3s but thereās something about the bass that is addictive but at the same time doesnāt overwhelm. Itās got a āweightā that the L2s just canāt seem to get close to. By the way, I put words in quotes as I really struggle with trying to describe what I hear - so bear with me.
Iām still on the journey of trying to find the sound that hits the spot for me, but in the FH3s it was a bit of a light bulb moment as it feels like I have hit on a particular signature that really works well for me. I feel like Iāve now got a benchmark that I can really relate to.
You should have bought FiiO FD3 instead. Few people prefer that over FH3. Anyway, congratulations on your purchase. It is amazing when audio stuff sounds better and better. I canāt imagine how $2000 iem can sound. Will try it one day.
My setup is phone+UAPP (bitperfect mode) +FiiO Q3 +FiiO FH3 +4.4 copper cable.
I did tips rolling last week, Radius Deep Mount is the best sounding, fit and comfortable for me. Based on @Rikudou_Goku recommendation. But some songs give a little harshy treble. So I put face mask filter on iem nozzle .
After that is stock tips white-grey. I got another stock tips from iem Tin Hifi T5, also good. It looks like Sony Hybrid tips.
Now Iām waiting SpinFit CP100 to arrive. Very cheap in AliExpress
UPDATE: Radius deep mount tips sounds better than SpinFit CP100. Cp100 sounds a bit congested/ muddy. Maybe due to its soft core. RDM gives best transparency, accuracy, nice sub bass and treble extension, and isolation. RDM mushroom shape locks inside ear canal.
At first I thought CP100 has better fit and comfort, but I was wrong. 3-5 hours RDM is comfortable, while CP100 feels very slightly āsomething insideā canal. Not like Foam tips though (expanding feel).
Got my first new IEM in a long time in the form of the Timeless. I set these aside and didnāt listen to them at all for the first day or so that those were here, didnāt want to do any comparisons so I could give the Timeless a good shot entirely on its own. I really enjoy them.
I put these back in tonight, did a quick swap from one set to the other. Oof. These still win. By enough that I now regret even getting the Timeless. Itās a damn good set but if I want to swap from my headphones to an IEM I have no reason to go for those instead of these.
Iāve been doing a lot of research into endgame IEMs, given my success here, maybe I should be looking at Fiio flagships instead of everywhere else.
This set is just way more visceral in its delivery, slams harder, sparkles more up top, stuff like that. Planar is kinda clean and inoffensive across the board, which I like, as thatās what my headphones are, but when I want a change up these bring the impact in a way that the Timeless simply canāt touch. Since I listen to really aggressive music this delivery tends to compliment it.
FiiO FD3/FD3 Pro