Flagship sound
Three years ago, the FH9 was launched, as FIIO’s first high-end flagship hybrid earphone. With its energetic dynamics, wide soundstage, and pleasant sound quality, it was enthusiastically received by HiFi users worldwide upon release. It gradually became known among audiophiles as a great example of “balanced earphones,” far exceeding our expectations in popularity. It is still a competitive set of earphones even in today’s market.
The new FIIO FH19 from FIIO is a significant upgrade, incorporating much user feedback. It retains the signature sound and flagship-grade craftsmanship of the FH9, and is also co-developed with Tokyo Onkyo Ltd. in Japan and Knowles in the USA. It features a truly high-end acoustic design, with richer and fuller midrange and more robust yet flexible bass. Additionally, the fit has been redesigned and optimized based on the characteristics of the human ear, allowing you to experience truly flagship-level comfort.
Two dynamic six BA driver configuration
The new FIIO FH19 features a flagship-worthy dual dynamic and six-balanced armature driver configuration. Handling the bass is an all-new push-pull dual dynamic driver unit co-developed with Tokyo Onkyo Ltd. in Japan. This driver features greatly enhanced low-frequency extension, cohesion, and speed. The mid-to-high frequencies are handled by specially customized Knowles-enhanced midrange balanced armature drivers, which achieve greater sound energy density for rich and delicate vocals that are wonderfully musical without sacrificing detail.
Push-pull dual dynamic driver unit
FIIO, in collaboration with Tokyo Onkyo Co. Ltd., has developed a push-pull dual dynamic driver unit for the FH19, based on push-pull technology used in high-end audio. This technology employs two 13.7mm high-magnetic dynamic drivers with PU+DLC composite diaphragms, arranged in an opposing configuration. When the diaphragms move back and forth, the overall movement direction of the two dynamic drivers remains consistent, ensuring phase consistency. This effectively doubles the driving force, and the diaphragms can provide air damping to each other. This makes the dynamic drivers exhibit more stable movement and fully suppress any residual sound after the audio signal stops.
Compared to typical dynamic drivers, push-pull dual dynamic drivers require only half the amplitude to achieve the target sound pressure level. This results in smaller diaphragm displacement, significantly improving linear driving performance and further reducing intermodulation distortion, allowing the driver unit to deliver cleaner sound.
Custom Knowles - Enhanced mids BAs
The FIIO FH19 uses six Knowles balanced armature drivers as its mid and high-frequency sound units. In order to achieve even higher levels of vocal sound quality, FIIO collaborated with Knowles to create a custom mid-frequency-enhanced balanced armature driver. By adding acoustic vents to the rear cavity of the driver, the mid-frequency driver gains more sound energy compared to typical mid-frequency drivers. This further unlocks the inherent advantages of the mid-frequency driver, resulting in rich and mellow vocals that are hauntingly realistic, as if the singer was right next to you.
Semi-open design
The semi-open design has been highly praised in the FIIO FH9, FH7S, FH5S, and FD5. In the FH19, this proven semi-open design is once again utilized and has been specially tuned to combine with FIIO’s front and rear cavity balanced pressure relief technology – resulting in a more natural and relaxed sound, with a wide soundstage. This design efficiently balances the internal air pressure, eliminating the feeling of pressure on the eardrum which also helps to protect your hearing. Enjoy listening for long periods without fatigue.
Mid-frequency notch filter
The FH19 features a variety of different drivers and acoustic design principles. Scientifically tuning each part so that they work in a harmonious whole is the essence of high-level tuning. To achieve this, the FIIO development team has specially designed a “mid-frequency notch filter” for the FH19 hybrid earphones.
Testing shows that the mid-frequency notch filter device of the FH19 not only allows the BA drivers to retain their high resolution and clarity but also enhances the mid-frequency sound pressure level. This makes the vocals denser and fuller while also ensuring a smooth transition between the dynamic driver and the mid-frequency BA driver.
The FH19’s mid-frequency notch filter effectively filters out the high-frequency 8kHz peak produced by the mid-frequency drivers. This reduces the overlap between the sound produced by the mid-frequency and high-frequency drivers, thus eliminating sibilance while still ensuring high sound quality.
The mid-frequency notch filter can also advance the crossover point of the balanced armature units. This ensures these drivers have a truly independent frequency-producing area and avoids any disorder with the other drivers, enabling the high-frequency drivers to fully unleash their performance.
FH19 mid-frequency notch filter working principle:
When the frequency of the sound wave is close to the natural frequency of the resonant cavity, the inner wall of the resonant cavity and the air produce vibrational friction, converting the sound energy of specific frequency bands into mechanical and thermal energy, thereby consuming sound energy and achieving a sound absorption effect. Conversely, when the sound wave frequency is far from the natural frequency of the resonant cavity, the resonance effect within the cavity is weaker, resulting in less sound absorption. This principle forms the basis of how the FH19’s mid-frequency notch filter works to adjust the sound produced by the mid-frequency drivers, achieving a physical pass-through crossover effect.
Suspended voice coil
To achieve flagship-level driver performance, the FIIO FH19 utilizes a suspended voice coil design. In this design, the voice coil leads are routed directly from the centre hole beneath the diaphragm, allowing them to float within the gap. This approach eliminates unnecessary contact and avoids additional adhesive load. Compared to conventional diaphragms, the suspended voice coil design ensures uniform and smooth diaphragm movement, minimizing interference from other factors and fully unleashing the inherent potential of the diaphragm.
Rubycon audiophile-grade film capacitor crossovers
Crafted with meticulous attention to sound quality, the flagship FH19 features the same high-precision Japanese film crossover capacitors as the FA19 that exhibit exceptional accuracy in phase alignment. While conventional resistor-based crossover components typically have an accuracy error of around 1%, the FH19 achieves an impressively low error rate of 0.1%. Furthermore, compared to ordinary ceramic capacitors, the FH19 not only achieves more precise crossover points but also effectively enhances high-frequency resolution and overall results in a more detailed sound.
Patented S.Turbo design
Inspired by turbochargers found in supercars, the FIIO development team meticulously created the S.Turbo patented acoustic design. This design ingeniously leverages sound wave guidance properties, enhancing bass performance through a turbine-shaped structure. The result is deep and vibrant bass. Additionally, the design cleverly filters out excess mid-to-high frequencies from the dynamic driver, ensuring smooth transitions between the low and mid-high frequencies. The result is a more powerful and robust sound.
Swappable audio filters
The FH19, befitting its flagship IEM status, comes with three pairs of swappable audio filters. Each filter has different internal damping and mesh density, allowing you to adjust the sound according to your preference:
Flagship-grade comfort - Optimized wearing ergonomics
10° angle nozzle: Based on user feedback and numerous optimizations, the angle between the ear nozzle and the wearing surface along the Y-axis is precisely 10° while the length of the ear nozzle is unchanged. This adjustment allows the earphones to fit more accurately into the ear canal, significantly improving both wearing comfort and stability.
Gap-free comfortable fit: The FH19 features an entirely new rear cavity design that is more three-dimensional. Numerous tests resulted in many ergonomic optimizations, such as ear-friendly protrusions with a thickness of approximately 1.4mm that ensure a snug and stable fit by minimizing any unwanted movement.
Minimized pressure on the ear: The brand-new FH19 rear cavity design features a slight reduction - about 1mm - in thickness in the area that corresponds to the fold of the human ear. This structural design significantly reduces the sensation of pressure and compression on the ear caused by the earphones. When combined with excellent shell materials, it allows the FH19 to disappear in your ears while delivering flagship sound.
High-purity monocrystalline silver cable
The FH19 comes standard with a high-purity pure silver cable. Each of the 8 strands consists of 28 wires totaling 224 wires. Each individual wire is insulated with enamel, and the cable is twisted in Litz braids. The outer sheath is made from imported transparent eco-friendly TPU, enhancing its transparent appearance. Additionally, this material effectively prevents the cable from yellowing over extended use and becoming stiff in low-temperature environments.
22 pairs of ear tips included
Befitting of its flagship status, included with the FH19 are 22 pairs of ear tips of various shapes and sizes that allow you to have a comfortable listening experience, no matter what your preferences are. Not only are the popular HS18 and SpinFit ear tips included, but the new HS20 silicon ear tips are also included.
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