FiiO FX17 Review

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Build and Fit

I must say that the FX17 is quite impressive in terms of its build. The way it feels in your hand is simply fantastic, and it is designed to be reliable even for prolonged use.

The overall design is sleek and clean, which adds to the charm of this piece of technology. The cable also has a high-quality feel, with good flexibility and tensile strength.

The Fiio FX17 is designed to fit most ears comfortably with its round shape. This offers a smooth and semi-custom fit. It’s ergonomic and complete for a Universal IEM.

I found the provided silicone tips to be convenient, even though I typically prefer foam tips. The reason for this is that it fits perfectly with the silicone tips, so I don’t need foam ones to achieve a comfortable and secure fit.

The silicone tips provide sufficient isolation, but if you desire more, foam tips are available as an option. My favourite has been the SpinFit tips with the FX17, but the HS20 tips also work well.

The IEM also feels quite comfortable, and I did not feel any pressure. The isolation is not ideal, of course, given the air vent for the DD, but it’s still acceptable.

Overall, an excellent and very comfortable fit experience.

Sound Quality

The FX17 is an IEM that produces a very balanced and natural sound with a full-bodied approach, almost to the point of being considered boring.

Its high resolution, transparency, and separation ensure that every note is heard clearly. The IEM is mostly balanced, with a slight bass warmth that adds a punch to the sound, and treble crispness which opens up the presentation.

It also provides good clarity and spaciousness, creating a realistic and enjoyable listening experience with a musical tonality.

The overall smoothness and effortlessness of the FX17 are its main advantages, and the musicality factor makes it somewhat special.

However, despite its numerous strengths, the IEM also has some weaknesses. The bass section appears to have some issues, and the overall technical performance requires improvement, in my opinion.

Those points alone don’t make it a weak IEM, but, being the most expensive IEM Fiio has ever released, the expectations are high, naturally.

Bass

The FX17’s bass is the most—and maybe only—problematic part of it. Despite having a single dynamic driver with patented technology, the mid-bass is too strong and too mechanical, and it feels like it’s crammed into a small space.

In contrast, the sub-bass is lacking, and the mid-bass is extremely dominant, especially in recordings that accentuate mid-bass dominance. 

It boasts powerful and deep bass notes that are well textured, with a satisfying decay. I believe it may satisfy many bass enthusiasts, even though it places a heavy emphasis on the mid-bass range.

What sets it apart from previous Fiio models is its overall bass texture. Overall, the FX17 is an excellent choice for anyone who values a full mid-bass response.

The response is engaging and possesses substantial impact and texture, although it lacks the immediate and transient characteristics commonly found in a reference unit.

I prefer the balanced tips when using this IEM, as they deliver the most authentic bass reproduction.

While the bass tips enhance the heft and extension of the sub-bass, resulting in a more robust and dynamic low-end, they can slightly compromise the overall balance and realism of the sound signature.

This difference is subtle but analogous to an EQ adjustment—utilising the bass tips provides greater kick and rumble. Ultimately, for a more comprehensive and nuanced listening experience, I would recommend the balanced filters.

Mids

The FX17 produces very musical and smooth mids, offering good transparency, fullness and resolution. The mids sound coherent, and it also has a good body and note thickness.

Timbre-wise, this is quite accurate and realistic, with good warmth present. Furthermore, the four BA drivers provide excellent detail and clarity, as well as good transparency.

The resolution and clarity, in particular, are worth the price. Just don’t expect it to be better than TOTL monitors.

I find the FX17 to possess good mid-range qualities with delightful transparency, well-balanced mid-bass, tonality, and dynamism.

The mid-range is notably silky and effortless, with remarkable separation, which is a testament to its technical prowess.

Moreover, the FX17’s musicality is impressive, as it delivers an authentic and natural timbre that is pleasing to the ear.

Notably, the precision of tonality, particularly for instruments, is very satisfying. The tonality is very natural in terms of feel and emotion.

Page 1: Packaging, Design

Page 3: More on Sound, Technical Performance, Comparisons, Conclusion