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FiiO FD1 Beryllium-Plated Single Dynamic IEM

Looking at the new products introduced by FiiO Electronics Technology Co Ltd. in recent months in the field of in-ear headphones, almost all of them are characterised by the use of a remarkable number of drivers. Now, however, they are presenting a new model that uses a single driver, albeit an outstanding one, and this is already reflected in the product name of the new FiiO FD1 Beryllium-Plated Single Dynamic IEM.


It is always remarkable to see the outstanding technologies that the Chinese personal audio devices specialist FiiO Electronics Technology Co Ltd. Highly integrated is a term that is justifiably used here, and indeed a must, as no model that the Chinese have introduced in this area in recent months has managed with “just” one driver, quite the opposite, The number of drivers has increased from model to model, with the FiiO FA9 6 Knowles Balanced Armature IEM with – nomen es omen – no less than six Knowles Balanced Armature drivers being the crowning glory and probably the limit of what is technically feasible at present.

It is therefore all the more astonishing that the Chinese are now modestly relying on just one driver for their latest product in the field of in-ear headphones, but once again on a very special driver, and this is already expressed in the naming of the new headphone model, which is thus christened FiiO FD1 Beryllium-Plated Single Dynamic IEM.

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The new in-ear headphones thus rely on a dynamic driver with a diameter of no less than 10 mm, using a beryllium-coated diaphragm as the material. Although beryllium is considered an extremely delicate material in production, it has unique properties that no other material offers. It combines the highest rigidity with the lowest weight, ensuring extremely accurate imaging over a wide frequency range and a high dynamic range. This is especially true in the case of the new FiiO FD1 Beryllium-Plated Single Dynamic IEM, where the diaphragm is coupled to a very powerful, sophisticated actuator based on a N50 dual magnet. This results in a magnetic field of almost 1 Tesla, which is astonishing considering that this is “merely” an inear headphone.

Not only is the construction of the diaphragm and the drive extremely complex, but it seems that every detail of the housing has been taken care of. For example, the plastic, naturally ergonomically shaped housing has pressure equalization ports that have been precisely calculated to eliminate compression effects that could damage the sound and to guarantee a rich, powerful yet accurate bass. The Sound-Tube, the part that is inserted directly into the ear, has also been designed exactly to guarantee optimal sound conduction. In addition, as with the driver’s fixing ring, gold-plated aluminium is used here to prevent any vibration.

It goes without saying that the new FiiO FD1 Beryllium-Plated Single Dynamic IEM with an impedance of 32 Ohms, a sensitivity of 109 dB and a frequency response from 4 Hz up to 40 kHz naturally carries the Hi-res Audio seal of approval.

It also goes without saying that the manufacturer supplies the new FiiO FD1 Beryllium-Plated Single Dynamic IEM with a wide range of different earmolds, so that there is the right pair for every taste, guaranteeing maximum wearing comfort even for hours.

The cables are routed from the front to the back of the ear in the tried and tested manner, ensuring a stable, secure hold even during sports.

The cable of the FiiO FD1 Beryllium-Plated Single Dynamic IEM is detachable, but once again the designers at FiiO Electronics Technology Co Ltd. have chosen to use 0.78mm 2-pin connectors instead of MMCX. This is to ensure a particularly easy replacement of the cable.

By the way, when it comes to cables, the new FiiO FD1 Beryllium-Plated Single Dynamic IEM is of course not just any “commodity”, but the finest. It is a multi-twisted structure with separate conductors, four in all, made of high-purity Mono-Crystalline Copper, making a total of 120 cores. Each strand is specially insulated to prevent any negative effect at the outset. As described above, the cable ends in 0.78 mm 2-pin connectors at one end and in a gold-plated, angled 3.5 mm stereo mini jack plug at the other end.

As already mentioned, the scope of delivery includes numerous different earmould pieces. These include versions in Large, Medium and Small with a specially pronounced bass response, but also so-called Balanced Eartips, which are also supplied in three different sizes. In addition, a pair of special memory foam eartips are included in the package of the new FiiO FD1 Beryllium-Plated Single Dynamic IEM.

Of course, a transport case is also included in the package, but once again, a solid, transparent plastic version was chosen.

The new FiiO FD1 Beryllium-Plated Single Dynamic IEM is expected to be available in the near future. The recommended retail price is only € 64.90.

Getting to the point

FiiO Electronics Technology Co Ltd. has been “gawking” at numerous drivers in its latest in-ear models, so it is all the more astonishing that the Chinese specialists are now modestly focusing on a single driver for their latest in-ear headphone product, but once again on a very special driver, and this is reflected in the naming of the new headphone model, FiiO FD1 Beryllium-Plated Single Dynamic IEM.

Manufacturer:FiiO Electronics Technology Co Ltd.
Distribution:NT-Global Distribution GmbH
Price:€ 64,90

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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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