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FiiO FP3 overview
The FiiO FP3 wired earbuds are an entry-level reply to a luxury-bracket query: “what if in-ear screens weren’t boomy, tinny little noise packing containers?” In a market sadly outlined by 10 a penny bass-boosted earbuds and wi-fi gym-friendly noise fodder, the place’s the love for individuals who simply wish to take heed to music effectively?
Nice-sounding in-ears usually come at a premium, notably the place cleverer and cleverer design is critical to get essentially the most out of one thing so small. On the excessive finish of the value scale, you’ll discover audiophile-grade in-ears that dwarf your present financial savings steadiness. Enter FiiO, whose in-house R&D has dramatically Aragorn-ed the doorways large open to cheap audio constancy in the best-in-class wired earbud market.
At first look, the FiiO FP3 wired earbuds are strikingly distinguished. A curvy plastic physique (3D-printed, then polished and UV-coated) is adorned with a branded faceplate coin of rosewood or black walnut – it’s giving ‘government saloon inside’, however by no means in a foul means.
This enjoyable design, consider it or not, isn’t the star of the present right here. As an alternative, it’s FiiO’s internally developed 14.5mm planar drivers, which promise higher precision, decrease distortion and prolonged frequency response amongst different micro advantages befitting the drivers’ micro measurement. Planar drivers are successful total for his or her soundstage-y, extremely responsive attributes, however FiiO’s completed one thing particularly outstanding in designing some extremely succesful drivers for IEMs that are available in underneath $100. Extra on sound shortly, although; first, let’s attempt them on.
The FiiO FP3 earbuds are wired, with an around-the-ear design. The wire in query is a four-strand braided affair, which splits into two units of twisted pairs connecting to the buds by the use of a two-prong plug-in terminal. It’s so, so cool {that a} pair of in-ears this low-cost options detachable wires as commonplace, not within the least for eliminating the most important concern haunting inexpensive wired earbuds – damaged inner wires.
The FP3s’ wrap-over put on model is enjoyable, practical and truly fairly comfy. Some clear warmth shrink tubing covers the braided wires for the primary few inches from the tip connector, so there’s no disagreeable rub behind the ears. When you get the buds themselves sitting accurately, you’ll begin to really feel such as you’re sporting nothin’ in any respect (nothin’ in any respect, nothin’ in any respect, nothin’ in any respect…) – however not for altogether lengthy, sadly.
A slight, however nonetheless aggravating, burn creeps in earlier than lengthy, even when switched right down to the smallest measurement of ear ideas equipped with the FP3s. Whereas my undersized ear canals won’t be within the eightieth percentile, it’s nonetheless incumbent upon me to report this slight comfort-related misfortune. And misfortune is the phrase, as a result of it’s an actual disgrace that the FP3s don’t sit in addition to they may do for lengthy listening classes. Why? As a result of they’re Really Actually Fairly Good, Actually.
The very first thing that strikes me concerning the sound high quality of the FP3 IEMs is their outstanding three-dimensionality. The place lesser earbuds unceremoniously cram you into an airing cabinet together with your favourite band, the FP3s provide you with a large corridor; the playful guitarry preparations of Maps & Atlas’ Beware and Be Grateful breathe freely, whereas Them Crooked Vultures’ roomy manufacturing sprawls out forward.
That three-dimensionality presents not simply with stereo picture, but in addition dynamically. The toms in Sally Oldfield’s Blue Water (a secret Nineteen Eighties groover your DJ good friend would kill to learn about) ping and bounce with pleasant depth and sense of place.
The most important bugbear I’ve with most inexpensive earbuds is their method to treble. Different critiques have reported an over-present sparkle, and even some harshness, with respect to the FP3s’ treble response, however I’m overjoyed to report that this couldn’t be farther from my very own expertise. As an alternative, I discovered a remarkably well-tamed high-end, with a softness you’d usually anticipate finding in mid-sized speaker drivers.
Nonetheless, there’s a presence and robustness to the highest finish, which shines notably brightly in opposition to the tough noisy competitors of the good city outside. Large Americana preparations corresponding to these of Andrew Hen’s Armchair Apocrypha nonetheless carry readability and weight, at the same time as grumbling bus engines and caterwauling children attempt to rob them of each. Listening to sparser coronary heart tuggers, like Blood from Pile’s album All Fiction, you possibly can hear the reedy, human high quality that these drivers possess, and which works wider wonders for stand-out folky vocals and something that includes strings.
The mid-range can often be a little bit listless, however this does seem like considerably by design. Certainly, Queens of the Stone Age’s Lullabies to Paralyze is reproduced with a barely incongruent cheerfulness, as some mid-scooping borrows urgency from ‘Little Sister’s guitars to feed the cymbals and kick as an alternative. Bass, although, is supple and structured, supported by some nifty (and proprietary) acoustic design within the buds. Tasteful is completely the phrase – a world away from so many energetic earbuds’ wubby flub.
As with virtually any set of in-ear screens, and even with the FP3s’ structured soundstage and punctiliously tweaked frequency response, you possibly can figuratively hear the partitions round your music. Regardless of this, the FP3s stay the broadest-sounding, least claustrophobic in-ears I’ve heard beneath $200.
These wired in-ear screens are little greater than they current themselves to be: excellently engineered finances IEMs, with phenomenal steadiness and dynamic tautness. There’s no on-device quantity controls, nor a microphone to take hands-free calls with – however as somebody who’s longed for a set of in-ears that do one factor effectively, I personally don’t miss these superfluous mod cons.
The FiiO FP3s in-ears, at $89.99 / £85.99 / AU$170 (approx.), are a incredible worth prospect for somebody who needs a little bit extra from their on-the-go listenings. On your cash, you get the IEMs, six units of silicone ear ideas and a fairly truthfully weird little plastic drawer through which to retailer them. What you additionally get, although, is a listening expertise no less than 5 instances extra useful.
FiiO FP3 overview: Worth and launch date
- $89.99 / £85.99 / AU$170 (approx.)
- Launched December, 2024
The FiiO FP3 in-ears are a outstanding entrant within the best earbud space, marrying audiophilic impulses with budget-level value factors. Certain, $89.99 / £85.99 / AU$170-ish won’t sound ‘finances’ for a pair of wired(!), passive(!) earphones, however if you see the eye-watering costs of the in-ear screens on which the FP3s had been clearly modeled, the appellation will make absolute sense.
These in-ear screens deliver some sensible driver design to a extremely accessible value level, and fill what’s truthfully fairly a big house in a market in any other case given to cumbersome, bass-heavy earbuds and weedy 10 a penny earphones. When you’ve ever felt let down by a gifted pair of Beats, or resented having to create space in your bag for a cumbersome pair of respectable hi-fi headphones, the FiiO FP3s are the tonic you’ve been ready for.
FiiO FP3 overview: Specs
|
Drivers |
14.5mm planar |
|
Weight |
0.23oz / 6.5g (per bud) |
|
Frequency vary |
10Hz-40kHz |
|
Impedance |
36 ohms @1kHz |
|
Connection |
Stereo 3.5mm |
|
Cable size |
1.2m |
|
Different options |
0.78mm two-pin removable earbud connectors; three units every treble and balanced silicone ear ideas; clear plastic storage drawer |
Must you purchase the FiiO FP3?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Options |
The FiiO FP3 are high-quality passive in-ear screens with extremely well-designed planar drivers, unpluggable earbud cables and a swappable jack connector. So, no energetic noise-canceling or built-in microphone right here. |
4/5 |
|
Sound high quality |
Unbelievable. The planar drivers are lightning-quick, extensively responsive and punctiliously tuned with an unbelievably three-dimensional soundstage for the value level. Nice in noisy environments. |
4.5/5 |
|
Design |
Sensible-looking, with a complicated wooden end and swanky braided wires. It’s only a disgrace they aren’t fairly as comfy when listening for prolonged durations of time. |
4.5/5 |
|
Worth |
Mild on shopper audio bells and whistles, however heavy on frankly peerless sound high quality in an absurdly enjoyable format. In-ear screens sounding this good beneath $100 is a present. |
5/5 |
Purchase them if…
Do not buy them if…
FiiO FP3 overview: Additionally take into account
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
FiiO FP3 |
Sennheiser IE 200 |
Shure AONIC 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Worth |
$89.99 / £85.99 / AU$170 (approx.) |
$149.95 / £129.99 / AU$239.95 |
$199 / £209 / AU$300 (approx.) |
|
Drivers |
14.5mm planar |
7mm dynamic |
Single balanced armature unit (per earbud) |
|
Weight |
0.23oz / 6.5g (per bud) |
0.14oz / 4g (per earbud) |
0.73oz / 20.8g (per bud) |
|
Frequency vary |
10Hz-40kHz |
6Hz-20kHz |
20Hz-18.5kHz |
|
Impedance |
36 ohms |
18 ohms |
28 ohms |
|
Cable size |
1.2m |
1.2m |
1.2m |
|
Different options |
0.78mm 2-pin removable earbud connectors; x3 units every treble and balanced silicone eartips; clear plastic storage drawer |
IE 200 earphones, braided cable with MMCX connectors and three.5mm plug, silicone and reminiscence foam units (S, M, L), pouch |
Removable cable, 6.3mm connector possibility, carry case, controller with mic, further ear ideas |
FiiO FP3 overview: How I examined
- Examined for six weeks
- Examined at dwelling, listening to high-quality audio information via a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2’s headphone out
- Examined out and about, utilizing an iPod Basic
The FiiO FP3 in-ear screens lived in my coat pocket for a month, wrapped round a 160GB iPod Basic I’m nonetheless proud to be toting right now. I used them regularly whereas touring between engagements, and whereas gallivanting round city on errands.
I additionally examined the FP3s at dwelling, utilizing my trusty Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface for its clear and pristine headphone output. I listened to data with which I’m intimately acquainted, in order to construct an actual image of the IEMs’ efficiency in opposition to different gadgets.
Learn extra about how we test.
- First reviewed: March 2025