FiiO - FA9
In-Ears With 6 BA DriversUnfortunately, even if we desire to, we won't be able to resurrect this product. The Museum is where we pay our respects to end-of-life, old, archived, but not forgotten products. This page was made with a lot of love and will live on for posterity. What to say, we're sentimental people. 😔
While this product is gone forever, here are others we recommend
Customer Reviews
I'm writing this review after about 30 hours of burning in which may not be sufficient for these brilliant IEMs.
The FA9 was in fact a chance buy from Headphonezone.in as an order for the FH7 got scammed in Dallas after the Amazom.com seller dispatched an empty box.
These are one mean pair of IEMs with a lot of scope for configuration exploration. The dip switches are quite sensitive though the differences in tonality and impedance need to be discovered by intent listening of high res recordings. It's basically, experimentation and pretty subjective.
The FA9 has a pretty decent sound stage and great separation. Not to mention a very clean and warm sound signature. The cross over frequencies have a definite threshold and does not interfere with each other. The mid bass and sub bass are both well accentuated and has the optimal punch and depth. The mids and vocals have a distinct clarity. Not overwhelming or muffled, perfectly balanced. The highs have a softness and warmth to it. I didn't experience sibilance or screeching even while listening to complex tracks. Smooth as butter I would say. I tried listening to reggae, retro, house, jazz, classical etc on Spotify and everywhere these IEMs stood out well. I have been using the Fiio BTR5 2021 2.5mm out to drive this iem and didn't have to go beyond 60% volume.
There was a noticeable difference while listening to DSD tracks on my AK Junior though. These IEMs show their true colours through the balanced out on a dedicated DAP.
The fit is very much comfortable and conducive to long hours of listening. There was no listening fatigue whatsoever. The cable is premium and manageable. Fiio has given quite a few options with regards to ear tips though I did not have to switch.
In summary, the Fiio FA9 has given its competitors a run for their worth as it falls into the premium segment though priced decently. For those who cannot afford the likes of Andromeda or Layla, I recommend this one. A really great option.
Hi Rajshekar Menon,
We are so happy you took out time & elaborately reviewed the product. We are sure this will help our customers to make an even better & informed decision.
After burning in for 36 hours these earphones come out with great detail and clarity. The bass response is extremely smooth. To cut the story short, if you can get another earphone with similar performance, you will probably have to spend double the money.
Just received the parcel.
Put this in with 3.5mm jack of my phone and default player..n awesome..it has headphone like effect.
So glad to know that you love them:) We look forward to serving you again.
The Good :
- A mid forward sounding earphone by default, and sounds great for vocals
- Great looking headphones
- decent accessories
Bad :
- no bass, no thump - even with an amp (or turning the S1 switch ON or off)
- (personal preference) Though the mids are good, these sound like they are artificially boosted a bit
- expensive when i compare performance you'd get from these vs what i already own which are cheaper (RHA T10, or even apple earphones)
- even the small ear tips after sometime pain, and these have no pressure relieve mechanism
Chi-Fi
Excellence
V-Shaped Sound Signature
Museum with a V-Shaped sound signature present an exciting and energetic listening experience with punchy bass and a sparkling shine. Listening to music on headphones with a V-shaped sound signature is stimulating as the audio seems brighter and pleasing to our ears. This happens because the booming bass and sparkling highs are the great formulae for breathing a new life into your music. This sound signature is preferred by music listeners favouring an exhilarating sound and is well suited for music genres like Rock, Pop and Bollywood.
Ideal for Commuting
Ideal for Audiophiles
Best Suited for Portable Use
6 Knowles BA
Drivers
Replaceable Cables
A pair of headphones with a replaceable cable has many benefits, and one of them is if the connecting cable has a problem, it doesn’t mean that you have to buy a new one. If the connecting cable gets pulled or damaged, you can replace it and keep using your good-old headphones or IEMs. This way, your headphones will be protected and will last longer. With the advancements in cable manufacturing, you now get a variety of replacement cables with various termination options, lengths and quality.
Works with Android & iOS
One thing all of our phones have in common is that they have replaced the portable media player. These headphones and devices are perfect to pair with your Android and iOS devices and offer functionality previously unknown. If you’re someone who usually switches between a variety of devices with different OS, then these are suited for you. You can expect these headphones and devices to connect seamlessly without any hassle and even offer OS-specific functionality depending on the device. Headphones and devices designed to work with Android and iOS come in wired and wireless formats. Quite often you will also find Hi-Fi equipment offering direct connectivity to devices with Android and iOS to simplify the connectivity process.
Tangle-Free Cables
Super Lightweight
Design
Headlining the FiiO catalogue, the FA9 boasts outstanding build quality, good ergonomics and a great sound. The FA9 does have a core sound signature with the sound switches allowing one to meddle with the curve selectively and at will.
About RAGHAV SOMANI
Raghav Somani is the Founder & CEO of Headphone Zone. An avid audiophile and musician since 2008, his choice of headphones include STAX Electrostats, Audeze LCD 3, and for music on the go, the JH Audio Roxanne + Astell&Kern SP1000 is never too far away. On his playlist, you'll find A.R. Rahman, Michael Jackson, and the Eagles.
DESCRIPTION
A RARE 6 KNOWLES BA DRIVER SETUP FOR A BREATHTAKING SONIC EXPERIENCE
Six Knowles BA drivers per ear, a calibrated 4-way crossover, and a low-frequency ultra-long sound tube are all incorporated in FiiO FA9's design. The FiiO FA9 takes care of the entire audible frequency range with excellence. There is a dedicated SWFK-31376 driver for high and ultra-high frequencies that unite extreme resolution and rich sound. The EJ-33877 custom driver, which FiiO and Knowles collaboratively developed, manages the mid frequencies. The HODVTEC-31618 driver and two woofers perform an excellent job of delivering dynamic and bone-shattering bass with smooth texture. With such a setup at play, you are all set to experience sound like never before.
FIRST-EVER COLLABORATION BETWEEN FIIO AND KNOWLES FOR A CUSTOM BA DRIVER
This is the first time FiiO is utilising EJ balanced armature drivers from Knowles. Both FiiO and Knowles worked collectively to come up with a custom EJ-33877 driver specifically for the FA9. This custom driver delivers mid frequencies with lifelike vocals and instruments.
MASTERFULLY TUNED ACOUSTIC FILTER FOR SMOOTH FREQUENCY RESPONSE AND TEXTURED BASS
To produce the purest sound and seamless integration of multiple drivers, FiiO employed a specially-designed, 80.6mm long sound tube in the FA9. This tube functions as a low-pass filter that keeps unnecessary extra mids and highs away from the driver resulting in a stable frequency response. Moreover, the tube enhances the mids to sound more smooth and clean while also improving the texture of the bass.
3 SOUND ADJUSTMENT SWITCHES THAT LET YOU TAILOR THE MUSIC JUST THE WAY YOU WANT IT
Explore the freedom of tuning the sound as per your preference with the FiiO FA9. The FA9 has an electronic crossover technology consisting of 3 sound adjustment switches. Adjust the impedance, sensitivity, bass, mids and treble for a personalised music listening experience. When switch S1 is turned on, it lowers the impedance and increases sensitivity making the FA9 simple to use with smartphones, tablets, and computers. When switch S1 is turned off, it increases the impedance for a more clean and natural sound, with a darker background and lower audible noise. When switch S2 is turned on, it increases the treble delivering pristine highs. When switch S2 is turned off, you will experience a balanced sound with a lower treble response. When switch S3 is turned on, it reduces the bass and increases mids which adds resolution and good timbre to vocals and instruments like guitars, to name a few. When switch S3 is turned off, it elevates bass and mids are recessed, useful when listening to classical or orchestral music.
FOUR-WAY CROSSOVER DESIGN WITH 80.6MM ULTRA-LONG SOUND TUBE DELIVERING SEAMLESS PERFORMANCE
When there are multiple drivers at work, seamless performance becomes a challenge. To address this, the FiiO FA9 has a four-way crossover design. To achieve the purest sound performance and to ensure the multiple drivers do not interfere with each other, the FA9 employs a specially-designed, ultra-long sound tube of 80.6mm in length. This tube acts as a low-pass filter that effectively filters out unneeded extra mids and highs from the drivers to ensure a seamless frequency response. This design perfectly binds the drivers in perfect harmony for coherent low, middle, high, and ultra-high frequencies. The powerful bass, precise yet rich vocals, and detailed yet enjoyable treble on the FA9 will make you appreciate the details and intricacies of your music that you might've been missing all this while.
DESIGNED WITH 4TH GEN DLP 3D PRINTING & DIAMOND-CUT FACEPLATE FOR SHEER ELEGANCE
The use of DLP 3D printing technology gives the shell of the FA9 a distinct look that stands apart from other 3D printed headphones. The highly advanced 4th gen DLP 3D printing technology employed in designing the exterior shell of the FA9. A brand-new diamond-cut faceplate that perfectly complements the translucent-black resin shell is what gives the FA9 a stunning appearance. Instead of using conventional resin, the FA9 uses German, EU IIA approved, high transparency resin that is renowned for its skin-friendly texture, comfort, and stain resistance. The FA9 will astound you with its breathtaking beauty.
FOR ABSOLUTE WEARING COMFORT THAT EVERY MUSIC LISTENER DESERVES
The FiiO FA9 was designed by taking samples of human ears to get the most comfortable and secure fit. The small, comfortable design of the FA9 offers pleasant wearing and listening experience. To add to this experience the FA9 is made with optimised 3D printing technology and comes with skin-friendly resin materials while each unit weighs up to 6.2 grams for lightweight comfort.
HI-RES AUDIO-CERTIFIED IEM WITH 8-STRAND MONOCRYSTALLINE SILVER-PLATED COPPER CABLES AND A WIDE ARRAY OF ACCESSORIES
With the support of 8-strand monocrystalline silver-plated copper cables, the FA9 delivers pure audio integrity, so pure that you won't even think about upgrading it to a better audio cable. These cables come with left blue and red right markings along with MMCX connectors and a gold-plated 3.5mm plug. Listen to your music exactly the way the artist intended with the High Res Audio certified FiiO FA9. 15 sets of ear tips, including three for balanced sound, three for improved bass, and three for enhanced vocals, are included in the FA9's accessory package. There are two sets of foam eartips and Spinfits. Double-flanged tips for deep insertion fit are also included. It comes with a cleaning brush and an SK-01 magnetic cable organiser. The FA9 is packaged in a lovely HB3 leather case that shields it from dust and moisture.
SOUND
FREQUENCY GRAPH
CHEAT SHEET
Regions of the frequency spectrum
(20Hz - 80 Hz)
(80 Hz - 300 kHz)
(300 Hz - 1000 kHz)
(1 kHz - 6 kHz)
(6 kHz - 10 kHz)
(10 kHz - 20 kHz)
SPECS
| DRIVERS | Balanced Armature |
| DRIVERS CONFIGURATION | SWFK-31736（higher frequencies） EJ-33877（mid frequencies） HODVTEC-31618（lower frequencies） |
| FREQUENCY RESPONSE | 15Hz ~ 40 kHz |
| IMPEDANCE | 16~32Ω@1 kHz |
| SENSITIVITY | 110/113dB@1 mW |
| MAX POWER | 100 mW |
| WIRED CONNECTIVITY | 3.5 mm |
| MICROPHONE | No |
| CONNECTOR | MMCX |
| WEARING STYLE | In-ear |
| DETACHABLE CABLE | Yes |
| CABLE | 3.5 mm headphone jack, expanded MMCX connectors |
| CABLE LENGTH | 120cm |
| WEIGHT | about 6.2g |
| BOX CONTENTS | 1. FiiO FA9 IEMs |
| 2. 8-strand, monocrystalline, silver-plated, copper MMC terminated cable | |
| 3. HB5 leather Case | |
| 4. SK-01 Magnetic Organizer | |
| 5. 2 X Spinfit eartips | |
| 6. 3 X Enhanced Bass eartips | |
| 7. 3 X Balanced eartips | |
| 8. 3 X Enhanced Vocal eartips | |
| 9. 2 X Double-flange tips | |
| 10. 2 X Foam tips | |
| 11. Cleaning brush |
A RARE 6 KNOWLES BA DRIVER SETUP FOR A BREATHTAKING SONIC EXPERIENCE
Six Knowles BA drivers per ear, a calibrated 4-way crossover, and a low-frequency ultra-long sound tube are all incorporated in FiiO FA9's design. The FiiO FA9 takes care of the entire audible frequency range with excellence. There is a dedicated SWFK-31376 driver for high and ultra-high frequencies that unite extreme resolution and rich sound. The EJ-33877 custom driver, which FiiO and Knowles collaboratively developed, manages the mid frequencies. The HODVTEC-31618 driver and two woofers perform an excellent job of delivering dynamic and bone-shattering bass with smooth texture. With such a setup at play, you are all set to experience sound like never before.
FIRST-EVER COLLABORATION BETWEEN FIIO AND KNOWLES FOR A CUSTOM BA DRIVER
This is the first time FiiO is utilising EJ balanced armature drivers from Knowles. Both FiiO and Knowles worked collectively to come up with a custom EJ-33877 driver specifically for the FA9. This custom driver delivers mid frequencies with lifelike vocals and instruments.
MASTERFULLY TUNED ACOUSTIC FILTER FOR SMOOTH FREQUENCY RESPONSE AND TEXTURED BASS
To produce the purest sound and seamless integration of multiple drivers, FiiO employed a specially-designed, 80.6mm long sound tube in the FA9. This tube functions as a low-pass filter that keeps unnecessary extra mids and highs away from the driver resulting in a stable frequency response. Moreover, the tube enhances the mids to sound more smooth and clean while also improving the texture of the bass.
3 SOUND ADJUSTMENT SWITCHES THAT LET YOU TAILOR THE MUSIC JUST THE WAY YOU WANT IT
Explore the freedom of tuning the sound as per your preference with the FiiO FA9. The FA9 has an electronic crossover technology consisting of 3 sound adjustment switches. Adjust the impedance, sensitivity, bass, mids and treble for a personalised music listening experience. When switch S1 is turned on, it lowers the impedance and increases sensitivity making the FA9 simple to use with smartphones, tablets, and computers. When switch S1 is turned off, it increases the impedance for a more clean and natural sound, with a darker background and lower audible noise. When switch S2 is turned on, it increases the treble delivering pristine highs. When switch S2 is turned off, you will experience a balanced sound with a lower treble response. When switch S3 is turned on, it reduces the bass and increases mids which adds resolution and good timbre to vocals and instruments like guitars, to name a few. When switch S3 is turned off, it elevates bass and mids are recessed, useful when listening to classical or orchestral music.
FOUR-WAY CROSSOVER DESIGN WITH 80.6MM ULTRA-LONG SOUND TUBE DELIVERING SEAMLESS PERFORMANCE
When there are multiple drivers at work, seamless performance becomes a challenge. To address this, the FiiO FA9 has a four-way crossover design. To achieve the purest sound performance and to ensure the multiple drivers do not interfere with each other, the FA9 employs a specially-designed, ultra-long sound tube of 80.6mm in length. This tube acts as a low-pass filter that effectively filters out unneeded extra mids and highs from the drivers to ensure a seamless frequency response. This design perfectly binds the drivers in perfect harmony for coherent low, middle, high, and ultra-high frequencies. The powerful bass, precise yet rich vocals, and detailed yet enjoyable treble on the FA9 will make you appreciate the details and intricacies of your music that you might've been missing all this while.
DESIGNED WITH 4TH GEN DLP 3D PRINTING & DIAMOND-CUT FACEPLATE FOR SHEER ELEGANCE
The use of DLP 3D printing technology gives the shell of the FA9 a distinct look that stands apart from other 3D printed headphones. The highly advanced 4th gen DLP 3D printing technology employed in designing the exterior shell of the FA9. A brand-new diamond-cut faceplate that perfectly complements the translucent-black resin shell is what gives the FA9 a stunning appearance. Instead of using conventional resin, the FA9 uses German, EU IIA approved, high transparency resin that is renowned for its skin-friendly texture, comfort, and stain resistance. The FA9 will astound you with its breathtaking beauty.
FOR ABSOLUTE WEARING COMFORT THAT EVERY MUSIC LISTENER DESERVES
The FiiO FA9 was designed by taking samples of human ears to get the most comfortable and secure fit. The small, comfortable design of the FA9 offers pleasant wearing and listening experience. To add to this experience the FA9 is made with optimised 3D printing technology and comes with skin-friendly resin materials while each unit weighs up to 6.2 grams for lightweight comfort.
HI-RES AUDIO-CERTIFIED IEM WITH 8-STRAND MONOCRYSTALLINE SILVER-PLATED COPPER CABLES AND A WIDE ARRAY OF ACCESSORIES
With the support of 8-strand monocrystalline silver-plated copper cables, the FA9 delivers pure audio integrity, so pure that you won't even think about upgrading it to a better audio cable. These cables come with left blue and red right markings along with MMCX connectors and a gold-plated 3.5mm plug. Listen to your music exactly the way the artist intended with the High Res Audio certified FiiO FA9. 15 sets of ear tips, including three for balanced sound, three for improved bass, and three for enhanced vocals, are included in the FA9's accessory package. There are two sets of foam eartips and Spinfits. Double-flanged tips for deep insertion fit are also included. It comes with a cleaning brush and an SK-01 magnetic cable organiser. The FA9 is packaged in a lovely HB3 leather case that shields it from dust and moisture.
FREQUENCY GRAPH
CHEAT SHEET
Regions of the frequency spectrum
(20Hz - 80 Hz)
(80 Hz - 300 kHz)
(300 Hz - 1000 kHz)
(1 kHz - 6 kHz)
(6 kHz - 10 kHz)
(10 kHz - 20 kHz)
| DRIVERS | Balanced Armature |
| DRIVERS CONFIGURATION | SWFK-31736（higher frequencies） EJ-33877（mid frequencies） HODVTEC-31618（lower frequencies） |
| FREQUENCY RESPONSE | 15Hz ~ 40 kHz |
| IMPEDANCE | 16~32Ω@1 kHz |
| SENSITIVITY | 110/113dB@1 mW |
| MAX POWER | 100 mW |
| WIRED CONNECTIVITY | 3.5 mm |
| MICROPHONE | No |
| CONNECTOR | MMCX |
| WEARING STYLE | In-ear |
| DETACHABLE CABLE | Yes |
| CABLE | 3.5 mm headphone jack, expanded MMCX connectors |
| CABLE LENGTH | 120cm |
| WEIGHT | about 6.2g |
| BOX CONTENTS | 1. FiiO FA9 IEMs |
| 2. 8-strand, monocrystalline, silver-plated, copper MMC terminated cable | |
| 3. HB5 leather Case | |
| 4. SK-01 Magnetic Organizer | |
| 5. 2 X Spinfit eartips | |
| 6. 3 X Enhanced Bass eartips | |
| 7. 3 X Balanced eartips | |
| 8. 3 X Enhanced Vocal eartips | |
| 9. 2 X Double-flange tips | |
| 10. 2 X Foam tips | |
| 11. Cleaning brush |
Don't sweat it, this
FiiO - FA9 comes with a 1 Year warranty
from FiiO that covers manufacturing defects.
All products featured on Headphone Zone are backed by an original manufacturer's warranty.
Read more about FiiO's warranty in India.
"Bass is moderately accentuated but the bump is not too much. FiiO never overemphasizes bass boost and it can be proved by numerous players and DACs."
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"FiiO FA9, the flagship, -printed shell, Knowles Balanced Armature drivers, a whole new 4-way filter, and, most importantly, 3 sound adjustments."
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"The switching is controlled by FiiO’s use of an electronic 4-way crossover & total of 3 switches on the sides of the drivers that offer up to 6 different sound signatures."
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"The FiiO FA9 is a multi BA IEM with a Semi-Custom Monitor shell which has 6 Knowles BA Driver's on each monitor & shows a 4-way crossover system."
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Treble is quite a shapeshifter as it goes up & down multiple times.There is possibly a drop in the lower treble region that completely scares the brightness away."
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"Fa9 is made of plastic,it is one of the most comfortable IEMs I have ever tested.They aren’t small,considerably larger than RE800 Silver form HIFIMAN."
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"The faceplate is a rhomboid pattern inlay that sits underneath & not on top of the resing layer. It looks charming in person,when it catches the light from the right angle."
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