FiiO FF3 – Beats Like A Drum!

Introduction

It’s summer and things are getting hot especially in the audiophile segment. 2022 has been a year of non-stop releases by FiiO and the summer is usually one of the main seasons for them in releasing their products. So far we have seen releases this summer such as the flagship bluetooth receiver, BTR7, the portable DAC/amplifier, the KA2 and their fresh off the line in their earbuds segment, the FiiO FF3 which we are reviewing today. A big shout out to Ryan from Red Ape Headphones Store and FiiO for providing us with the FF3 for this review purpose that we are truly grateful for. The FF3 is a mid range earbud that certainly looks good on paper and a true eye candy in their design with a FiiO’s flair for innovation. How will they perform in this underrated segment of portable audio? We shall find out.

Functions & Specifications

Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the FiiO FF3;

• Driver size: 14.2mm dynamic driver.
• Driver type: Beryllium-plated Dome structure+PU gasket diaphragm with Daikoku voice coil.
• Shell type: 316L stainless steel polished bass-enhancing acoustic flute with Drum-shaped cavity design.
• Impedance: 45Ω.
• Frequency response range: 20Hz-20kHz.
• Sensitivity: 105dB.
• Max input power: 100mW.
• Cable material : Silver Plated OCC
• Cable termination: Swappable termination plug system with 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs
• Cable length: 120cm approximately.
• Weight: 31grams.
• Color : Glossy black or Silver

Retail Price & Where to Get

We would like to thank FiiO & RED APE HEADPHONE STORE for giving us the opportunity to review this product. The FiiO FF3 is currently priced at ~ RM419.00.

Purchase Link : https://invle.co/clcvr4t

Packaging & Accessories

The packaging is a basic packaged item with a medium sized black box that looks rather normal as they are an entry to mid range FiiO products. Inside is another story as they are quite packed with all the necessities such as a FiiO clear hard case, a 4.4mm interchange plug, 5 pairs of foams of 3 different types of foams which consist of balanced type(normal thickness), a bass foams(thicker foam) amd a crisp foams(donut type). I am quite satisfied with their package but they do lack the premium feel like those higher end products by them.

Design

The design of the FF3 truly stands out and a feast for the eyes. It is in my opinion one of the best looking earbuds that I have encountered. It is a sleek looking hourglass like shell that has a “drum” back body that acts as a second cavity with triangular pattern design on a glossy back plate finish.

The front of the earbud is not your normal off the mill faceplate, but a well designed machined mesh that disperses the sound evenly.

The unique back portion of the FF3 is a one of a kind flute acoustic chamber that has been taken from their flagship EM5 to enhance the bass performance.

At the heart of the FF3 is a 14.2mm beryllium-plated dome structure driver with a polyurethane gasket diaphragm that uses a famed Daikoku voice coil from Japan. The cable included is a 1.2 meter twist lock interchangeable plug that comes with a 3.5mm and 4.4mm plug that is a standard of FiiO cables licensed from FABRILOUS. The cable is a thin and lightweight cable suitable for earbuds as they don’t put strain on the earbuds while using them. The cable is a high purity Ohno continuous casting copper cable that is silver plated that is encased in a clear sheath with a slight black hue in color.

Gears Used for Comparisons

Songs list

Tone and Presentation

The tone of the FF3 is a slightly dark and warm in-ears with a great low end for an earbud and a slightly recessed high range that has a laidback signature with a big earbuds soundstage. The bass that the FF3 is able to push out is truly big and impactful for an earbud and they are great for a relaxing fatigue free session. They possess a fun and natural sound signature for a more casual listening suitable for an everyday carry.

Soundstage

Soundstage that the FF3 is great as they are a earbuds type as they possess a great width and height when compared to in-ears. They are also quite intimate in their sound signature making music quite enjoyable. For their price range I feel that they lacked air in their soundstage and sound slightly closed when compared to earbuds at similar price range. Depth is good with great positioning in their presentation suitable for live performances.

Separation and Timbre

Separation on the FF3 is awesome as they are able to showcase the music played with great layering without any congestion across the whole spectrum. Their sound has a great cohesive sound typical from a single dynamic driver and they sound harmoniously great with every genre. Timbre is also another strong suit of the FF3 as they sound truly organic and natural with a thick sound without over coloration.

Drivability

Rated at 45 ohms with a 105db sensitivity, they are an easy dynamic driver to drive and they do need a good setup to shine but they do scale up considerably with better setips. Simple setup like a basic dongle does suffice but they do sound a little dark with minimal clarity. With a great dongle or a good DAC/amplifier, their clarity and resolution is scaled up quite significantly and their high range has a better roll-off. They are quite forgiving as they are not really picky on the type of files played but do perform better with well mastered tracks with higher bitrates.

The Bass (Low)

This is where the FF3 sound is all about, the bass. FiiO has claimed that due to their “drum” type design with a flute shaped bass vent, the FF3 is able to push out a good powerful bass response and to my surprise, it really did. The FF3 indeed has a bass response that punches well above their asking price as they are deep, impactful and rumbles almost like an in-ears bass response but also possesses an airy bass presentation that earbuds have. Details and clarity here is average but they are still able to sound clear without any bleed present to the other frequencies. Sub-bass is sublime and they indeed have a great presence unlike most of the earbuds in the similar price bracket and they go in deep with a great rumble that will please certain bassheads out there. Overall, their bass response is amazing with a great presence, impactful slam, deep sub-bass response and no bloating present with decent details. Certainly one of the best quality bass in an earbuds form.

The Mids

Midrange that FF3 brings to the table is a neutral midrange that has a lush, warm and thick signature to them that has a touch of intimacy to their presentation. It does have a very well balanced signature without any gaps present making music sound full. Details are quite good but the clarity here is quite mediocre especially on the micro details part but great on the macro side. On certain genres such as acoustics, I do find they have some restraints in the micro details as certain parts do sound a little veil. Resolution in the midrange is good but not great for their price point but music played still produces sound without any blurriness present. They perform great in vocals and instruments as well as they are a lush and organic sounding type of earbuds.

The Highs

The high range of the FF3 produces a rather smooth and inoffensive but still able to retain a good amount of details. Clarity is quite good here but does have some restraints in their average high range resolution. It has a laid-back type of performance that is suitable for long listening sessions as they don’t incur any fatigue. Harshness and sibilance is very minimal, therefore suiting a wide range of genres such as metal all the way to EDM. For treble heads, I do find that they lack a sparkly performance and lack crispness. Their laid-back signature also brings less energy to their sound suiting for a more relaxed vibe to their sound. Timbre is quite natural and their intensity is good making music sound quite organic overall. Overall, they are a smooth operator in this region but for my preference, they lack a kick for a more energetic performance.

Comparisons

VS Toneking TO600

The Toneking TO600 is a high impedance earbud that has garnered a niche fame due to their superb sound with a price that is fairly cheap for a 600 ohms earbud. They are neutral sounding buds that have a large soundstage along with a clear sound when driven properly. They need a good powerful amplifier to be driven well unlike the easy driven FF3. Both are quite similarly priced but the build of the FF3 is on another level

The high range on the TO600 is brighter versus the slightly recessed highs of the FF3. Details are also better on the TO600 by a small margin and they have a more prominent sparkle.

The mids on the FF3 are thicker and warmer where the TO600 has a more neutral mids that has better clarity. The FF3 mids sound lusher and more intimate especially on vocals. Details on the TO600 have a better presence especially on the micro details.

Bass on the FF3 has the edge by being better in quality and quantity. Sub-bass presence is also better and it rumbles deeper than the TO600. Details on both are similar but in this region the FF3 is the clear winner. Soundstage on the TO600 is wider than the FF3 and they have a better headroom.

VS Moondrop Chaconne

The flagship earbuds from Moondrop that simply sound sublime but come in a higher price and they cost almost 3 times the asking price of the FF3. Build quality on the FF3 seemed better by a little. Both sound signatures are the opposite of each other where the Chaconne sounds bright, clear and sweeter. This comparison might not seem fair but it is to give you an idea of how the FF3 performs versus the higher echelon.

High regions of Chaconne are better in terms of their presence and quality. They have a better sparkle that is crisp and clear whereas the FF3 sounds more laid-back and relaxing.

Midrange of the Chaconne sounds more forward and their positioning is better while retaining a high degree of clarity. The FF3 mids has a thicker tone that has a lusher feel to it.

Bass on the FF3 has the bigger amount with a sub-bass that has a better presence than the Chaconne. Slam on the Chaconne is tighter and they have a better clarity overall.

Soundstage in the Chaconne is bigger and deeper overall with great airiness to their presentation.

Synergy

FiiO M17 The signature flagship beast of FiiO’s DAP line, the M17. When it comes to driving power, the M17 is one of the best DAP around. They have a wide range of gain levels that will suit most gears and earbuds profits from this. The bass the M17 is able to give the FF3 is superbly refined, clearer and excerpts an even more solid bass response. Details are brought up a level along with a greater air in the sub-bass region. Midrange sounded clearer and slightly more lively with vocals sounding a little more energetic. High range has been pushed forward, still a little laid-back for my taste though. Also it gives extension to the treble more with a smoother, more accurate signature overall. Soundstage that they provide is great as the improvement in the width and height is quite noticeable making them wider overall. Overall, the FF3 actually matches the FF3 really well and it gave the FF3 a true upgrade in their sound, bringing them to a whole new level of fidelity.

FiiO KA3

The KA3 is the current top dongle from FiiO and they are equipped with a top class portable DAC chip from Sabre, the ES9038q2m. They are a bright sounding dongle that possesses great clarity and details all around. The bass that the KA3 provides actually brings down the quantity but increases the quality as they sound clearer and has better texture overall. Sub-bass remains prominent and they still retain their amazing rumble. Midrange has a slight decrease in their thickness but they sounded more natural and cleaner. Vocals on this pairing are rather good with vocals sounding more upfront and clearer. High range is where this pairing benefitted. High range sounds less recessed and they are livelier. Sparkle has increased slightly but still sounds a little dull overall. Details and clarity on the treble has a clearer presence. Soundstage remains mostly the same but they possess better air here especially on the high range. Overall, they are simply a great pairing for a portable outing as they complement each other in their sound signature.

Who Is It For?

Are you an earbuds lover but also want them to have a bass close to an in-ears performance? FF3 might be for you. The bass is simply one of, if not, the best in their price range, bested only by their bigger brother, the EM5. The FF3 is also suited for those who are treble sensitive as they have a slightly dark and warm sound that is fatigue free. Detail freaks out there might find the FF3 a little lacking in this area as they are more to an laid-back signature. The FF3 robustness is also suited for everyday carry earbuds and to anywhere as well.

Final words

The FiiO FF3 might seem average but once they have reached my hands, I am hooked with their impeccable build along with their superb design that is truly an eye candy. In my opinion, this might be the best looking earbuds I have ever seen and they are very well designed. Their innovative “drum” design is certainly not a gimmick as their bass response truly punches above their asking price with a sub-bass that is hard to find in an earbuds design. Their midrange has a sweet, alluring signature that is well suited for a wide range of genres that are simply indulging. Their high range might be a little recessed and lack energy for my taste but they are suited for those who are treble sensitive. Their soundstage size can be improved but for the asking price, that’s almost nitpicking. Overall, as a earbud lover, I do find the FF3 a great earbud that has a distinctly innovative design that possesses a great bass performance that made my toe taps. Great job as always FiiO! I would rate this product 4 out of 5 stars.