Fiio FA1 Review – Flaunting the Imperfections

Fiio FA1—a $99 single BA which sounds like a muti-driver hybrid—big-sounding, with a bright, forward tonality and rich note texture. Very nicely built, with premium-looking 3D-printed resins; very efficient and loud. Fit is snug and isolation is really excellent, although the stock cable is quite microphonic. Signature is generally balanced, with emphasis on the upper and lower mids. Subbass is palpable but not very deep; midbass has surprising quantity but lacks definition and tends to smear the higher registers, which give these a slight incoherence. Mids are very prominent and have a lot of body but can sound harsh and artificial, especially on horns and synths, while treble is smoothish and has good clarity but tends to roll off early and microdetail is lacking.

Soundstage is about average in width, but uncongested with good height; imaging is so-so as the imprecise midbass can blur the precise location of the performers.

The FA1 lack musicality and naturalness of timbre, but really excel for gym use or for movies (and presumably for games), where their vaultlike isolation and weighty presentation keep you engrossed. I sorta like them despite their technical shortcomings— but would look elsewhere for critical music listening.

Disclaimer: Loaner from Durwood

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