FiiO's Flagship All-Balanced-Armature IEM
The FA19 sits at the very top of FiiO's in-ear monitor range, representing the culmination of the company's expertise in balanced armature IEM design. Built around an all-Knowles 10-driver configuration, the FA19 is aimed squarely at discerning listeners who want the precision and speed of BA technology without sacrificing the bass body and warmth more typically associated with dynamic drivers.
FiiO has incorporated a suite of proprietary acoustic technologies into the FA19. The S.Turbo patented acoustic design manages internal resonances, while a negative feedback bass enhancement system works alongside the driver array to reduce resonant frequencies and extend low-frequency diaphragm excursion. A HiFi mid-frequency notch filter further refines the midrange response by reducing resonances and allowing drivers to naturally cancel out unwanted colouration. A rear-venting inner shell design expels residual resonances, contributing to the FA19's notably natural instrumental timbre.
Driver Configuration
The FA19 uses a total of ten balanced armature drivers, all sourced from Knowles. The driver count is calculated across composite BA driver modules: two next-generation bass modules each contain two individual armature drivers, giving a total of four BA bass drivers with custom Knowles enhanced-bass tuning. The high-frequency array mirrors this with four drivers, while the midrange section uses two drivers. Crossover duties are handled by Rubycon audiophile-grade film capacitors.
A Monitor/HiFi mode switch on each earpiece allows listeners to choose between a neutral monitoring signature and a slightly warmer, more musical presentation. The shells are precision DLP 3D-printed and feel robust in the hand.
Cable and Connectivity
The FA19 is supplied with FiiO's LC-RD Pro cable, constructed from eight strands of 224-wire pure silver. The cable terminates in MMCX connectors at the earpiece end and uses FiiO's interchangeable tip system at the source end, with both a 3.5mm single-ended tip and a 4.4mm balanced tip included in the box. The MMCX connectors are machined from stainless steel and exhibit very low microphonics.
Accessories
FiiO's accessory package for the FA19 is generous: 18 tip sets are included covering SpinFit tips, HS18 tips, balanced ear tips, foam tips, bass tips, and multiple silicone variants. A carry case, cable clip, MMCX removal tool, and documentation round out the contents.