The FP3 is an in-ear monitor (IEM) featuring a single planar magnetic driver, with a real wooden acoustic tuning cup as its faceplate. Behind this dome-shaped wooden faceplate lies a large driver measuring 14.5 mm. This driver model is the second generation of FiiO’s in-house developed planar magnetic drivers. The membrane is very thin, only 1 micrometer (μm), which is about 1/1000 of a millimeter. A thinner membrane generally results in faster movement and improved resolution. High-performance PET is used as a substrate for the diaphragm, which is coated with a dual layer of aluminum and titanium. The diaphragm of the FP3 is suspended between two magnets, which is the typical design for planar magnetic drivers.
FiiO, established in 2007, is a well-known producer of portable audio devices, and offers a wide range of IEMs. The company’s lineup is divided into four main driver categories: the FP planar magnetic driver series, the FD dynamic single driver series, the FA balanced armature series, and the FH hybrid driver series.
FiiO FP3 SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: around-the-ear IEM
- Driver: 14.5mm planar
- Frequency response: 10Hz-40kHz
- Impedance: 36 ohm @1kHz
- Sensitivity: 105dB/mW @1kHz
- Cable material: 4 strands totaling 392 wires of silver-plated copper
- Cable length: about 1.2m
- Unit weight: about 6.5g (excluding cable)
- Headphone connector: 0.78 2pin detachable
- Audio plug: copper-plated gold 3.5mm
- Faceplate material: Rosewood/walnut
Reviewed at $90. Check current prices here:
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BUILD, COMFORT AND TIPS
The FP3 is a lightweight IEM that fits me comfortably, although its size might not be ideal for everyone. While I find the fit just right, some users may find it a bit large. The design consists of two main parts: a black resin housing and nozzle, along with the wooden faceplate. The black section features a protruding flange at the back, which seems to serve an ergonomic function. For me, the fit works, but the flange could be any larger.
Regarding ear tips, the FP3 comes with two types called “balanced” and “treble,” which I assume refer to the amount of treble attenuation, they seem to be of good quality, FiiO tend to include nice tips.
When testing IEMs, I mostly use my own preferred third party tips. Since I’m familiar with how my tips fit and their sound characteristics, I prefer to stick with them. My go-to tips are the medium bore CP145 and the wide bore Azla SednaEarFit Crystals. If neither offers the desired sound, I explore other options. For the FP3, both tips work well, but I find the wide bore Crystals to have a slightly edgy treble presence compared to the medium bore SpinFit tips. As a result, I’ll be sticking with the SpinFit CP145 tips for this review.
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LISTENING IMPRESSIONS
Jambi by Tool
What stands out most is the crispness and richness of the guitar riffs, which come through with remarkable clarity. The bass guitar delivers a satisfying body and texture, providing depth to the sound. The mids vocals feel slightly recessed but still present. Sibilance is mostly well-behaved, though not entirely absent—it could potentially become an issue with different eartip choices.
Mata Hari by Marta del Grandi
The vocals come across as warm and smooth, with sibilance kept in check while maintaining a pleasing crispness in the upper mids and lower treble. There’s a good sense of space, allowing the instruments to breathe. The bass is well-present, providing a solid foundation without overwhelming the mix. Overall, the sound feels well-balanced and cohesive.
As Before by Olga Konkova
The cajón drum has a tight, controlled sound. The female vocals stand out nicely. The piano is crisp and clear, adding a refined touch to the mix. Overall, it’s a well-balanced presentation with a cohesive and natural feel.
It Could Be Sweet by Portishead
The bass is tight and well-balanced, providing a solid foundation without overpowering the mix. The female bocals are clear and well-presented, with sibilance effectively controlled. Percussion is sharp and crisp, adding a lively energy.
Escape Route by Boris Blank
I just want to lean back and enjoy the track. I have seldom heard it this well balanced. The bass is not overdone; it is just present and lays the foundation for the track. There’s a spacious feeling to the presentation, the trumpet is nice and crisp, the other instruments articulate enough yet still blend nicely together in the mix.
Limit to Your Love by James Blake
The male vocals are both smooth and crisp. The bass is very impressive: well balanced in quantity, very well controlled and of excellent quality. The soundstage is nice and open.
Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
I really like how the FP3 sounds with string music: slightly mellow but still crisp. This tonality comes from that extra energy in the upper mids and lower treble. It gives the strings texture and attack. There is nice depth to the music, imaging is good.
Young Vivaldi RV 820, III Allegro by Modo Antiquo
Also here I find the strings to be beautifully rendered. There is nice imaging with a great sense of depth. It is a very pleasant presentation that makes me want to lean back and enjoy the music.
Midnight City by M83
Again it sounds very easy going, yet with that crispness to the upper mids that gives some extra energy in a very positive way on this track.
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WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
The FP3 isn’t entirely neutral due to its tilted midrange. The lower midrange is mellow, while the upper midrange is crisper. This contrast creates an engaging and mostly enjoyable listening experience, though it can occasionally sound slightly off. The bass, however, feels well-balanced, and I don’t find the need for EQ—it’s neither too much nor too little. The lower treble feels crisp, but this is largely due to the lift in the upper midrange.
Treble
The treble is detailed and resolved. As mentioned, it is perceived as more energetic in the lower treble compared to the upper regions, resulting in a crisp, bright sound. While this can be pleasing, using the wrong tips may lead to some unwanted sibilance.
Midrange
Again, the midrange is definitely more energetic in the upper regions than the lower ones. This creates a distinct tuning that I personally find quite appealing, but it’s not neutral. At times, the mid-bass can draw more attention than the lower mids, adding a bit of emphasis to the bass region.
Bass
Great quality bass is something that planar drivers often excel at, and the FP3 is no exception. While they aren’t bass monsters in terms of sheer quantity, the quality is excellent, offering good texture and definition, along with enough presence to make the bass feel rich and detailed.
Soundstage and Imaging
The soundstage is quite wide and open, with excellent imaging and layering. However, with my ear tips, I don’t find the imaging to be hyper-realistic or pinpoint precise. Instead, it presents a pleasantly rendered stage where each element has its place, yet everything blends together seamlessly, creating a cohesive and enjoyable listening experience.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
The level of detail is excellent for this price range. The lower midrange is somewhat underemphasized compared to the rest of the spectrum, but overall, the dynamics are quite good, with the upper mids and lower treble offering a great deal of articulation, while also not standing out too much from the rest of the sound: the overall presentation remains mostly coherent. However, if you’re looking for a perfectly natural midrange timbre, the FD3 might be a bit disappointing. Male vocals tend to sound slightly polite, while female vocals are generally more forward sounding.
COMPARISONS
Associated equipment: Topping A90 amplifier with the RME ADI-2 DAC FS as the source. I used SpinFit CP145 tips on all IEMs.
LETSHUOER S08 vs. FiiO FP3
The $99 Letshuoer S08, like the FP3, features a single planar magnetic driver. The S08’s driver is slightly smaller at 13 mm, and the S08 employs a CNC-machined aluminum housing, giving it a distinctly different build.
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Although they share similarities, the S08 and FP3 have distinct sound signatures. The S08 is smoother and more laid-back, while the FP3 is brighter and crisper.
The FP3 offers more treble energy and upper midrange presence, making it sound brighter and more articulate. In contrast, the S08 is better balanced and smoother, often sounding more natural. For string music, the FP3 excels, but for male vocals, the S08 feels more accurate.
Both have excellent bass quality with comparable quantity, varying slightly by track. Imaging is strong in both, but the FP3 provides more space between instruments and a larger soundstage.
Detail retrieval is similar overall but which is perceived as more nuanced varies depending on the track. The FP3’s articulation in the upper mids and treble makes it stand out in dynamics, especially for strings, while the S08 leans darker and smoother in comparison. Neither perfectly nails timbre across all genres, but they’re both good all-rounders.
FiiO FD15 vs. FiiO FP3
The $150 FD15 is the current flagship in FiiO’s line of single dynamic driver IEMs and is based on much more expensive older siblings, like the FD5, FD7, and FDX. It is definitely amongst my favorite IEMs, not only in the price range but far beyond it: The FD15 is special, and in my book, it’s an audiophile gem.
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Driver types are typically associated with different strengths and weaknesses, and comparing the FP3 and the FD15 gave me no surprises in that regard.
In terms of sound signature, they’re not radically different but clearly distinguishable. The FD15’s treble is sweeter and more organic without sounding dark, while the FP3 is sharper and rawer. Both are detailed in the highs, but the FD15 offers a natural liquidity that’s very appealing.
The FD15 also has a wonderful midrange tonality, sounding far more balanced compared to the FP3, which skews unevenly toward the upper mids. The midrange detail level seems higher with the FD15 too.
The FP3 has stronger bass presence, and this is where it truly shines, with superior texture, definition, and quantity. While the FD15 still delivers a nice bass experience, the FP3 is better.
Both offer a large soundstage, but the FD15 stands out with more precise imaging, better separation, and superior layering and depth. While the FP3 has a good general detail level for its price, the FD15 is more nuanced, refined, and subtle.
In conclusion, the FD15 is the better IEM by a good margin in most areas, but the FP3 excels in bass performance.
AMPLIFICATION
All listening tests so far have been conducted using my desktop setup. However, most users will likely pair the FP3 with portable amps and sources. Here’s what I found when checking out my portable sources.
Starting with Quboz on my POCO F5 phone’s headphone output, it already sounds great, quite smooth with nice punch and detail. The FP3 only requires 50-60% volume.
The tiny Jade/FiiO JA11 dongle also does a good job, but it’s a bit crisper than my phone. It might have more detail, but overall I’m not sure if I actually prefer it over my phone.
I move on to the xDuoo Link2 Bal2, which works very well. It’s detailed and offers a neutral tonality. Next, the Letshuoer DT03 sounds similar but smoother. Also, the THX Onyx is on the warmer side in a suitable way and sounds great with the FP3. The Dragonfly Cobalt is great, very clean, but certainly not adding any warmth. Finally, the Chord Mojo sounds absolutely excellent. Very relaxed and dynamic, nuanced and clean. It’s the best do far without doubt.
In conclusion, the FiiO FP3 seems to be quite easy to drive, and even though it tends to sound better with warmer-sounding gear, it sounds pretty good with everything I have tried it with.
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CONCLUSION
The FP3 delivers an engaging yet slightly unbalanced sound. The treble is detailed and somewhat bright, with an energetic crispness that usually is enjoyable, but certain ear tips may cause some annoying sibilance. The midrange is tilted, with subdued lower mids and prominent upper mids, creating a mostly nice and lively but occasionally uneven experience. The bass is powerful yet well-balanced, offering excellent texture and definition. The soundstage is wide and open, with good imaging and layering. While not the best in pinpoint precision, it provides a cohesive and enjoyable delivery.
While it may not fully satisfy those prioritizing perfectly natural midrange and treble timbre, the FP3 delivers impressive overall performance for its price, highlighted by exceptional bass quality.
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