As a tech enthusiast and avid music lover, I was excited to try out the FiiO FW5 Fully Integrated HiFi TWS Solution. I had heard a lot about these earphones and was curious to see what all the fuss was about.
Upon unboxing, I was immediately impressed by the sleek design and quality build of the FW5. The charging case was small enough to fit in my pocket and the earbuds themselves were comfortable to wear and fit snugly in my ears. The 4 physical buttons on the ear units were a nice touch and made it easy to operate the earphones without accidentally touching the wrong spot.
As I turned on the earphones and started playing some music, I was blown away by the sound quality. The FW5 truly lived up to its promise of providing high-fidelity sound. The AKM VELVET SOUND DAC and Qualcomm QCC5141 Bluetooth chip combined to provide stable and high-performance Bluetooth audio with a signal-to-noise ratio of up to 106dB, distortion as low as 0.0016%, and dynamic range of up to 102dB.
The large 10mm dynamic driver and 2 Knowles BA drivers worked together seamlessly to produce powerful yet textured bass while reproducing every last detail in the treble. I could hear every instrument and vocal clarity, and the soundstage was grand and immersive. The use of PU material ensures lush vocals and faster transient response, while the DLC diaphragm provides high rigidity and lightweight to reduce non-linear distortion and enhance resolution.
But it’s not just about the sound quality. Thanks to the impressive efforts of the development engineers, the all-new FiiO HS18 silicone ear tips are only 0.4mm thick, making them light and extremely comfortable to wear. Moreover, they are made of high-quality medical grade silicone, highly pure and very transparent, allowing them to have comfortable long-listening sessions.
The battery life was also impressive, with the large built-in 60mAh battery allowing for up to 6.5 hours of usage on a single charge, and the 380mAh charging case providing more than 21 hours of total battery life. I also liked the “box” switch functionality, which automatically turned on the ear units, paired them with the last device when the charging case was opened and turned them off to save power when placed back in the case. The FW5’s sound signature is carefully tuned, with a pleasing frequency response curve that’s achieved through physical design rather than DSP.
Overall, the FiiO FW5 earbuds deliver on their promise of exceptional sound quality and usability, making them a top choice for audiophiles looking for a high-end TWS option. It currently retails at S$227 here.
