FiiO FX17 In-Ear Monitors

Hybrid 13-driver flagship in-ear headphones

• 1DD, 4BA and 8EST design on each side
• Eight electrostatic Sonion drivers
• Four custom Knowles BA drivers
• Dynamic driver with 10 mm diaphragm made of lithium-magnesium alloy
• Electronic and physical five-way crossover
• Patented S.Turbo acoustic design
• Titanium construction
• Gold, silver and copper cables
• Exclusive nameplate with serial number
• Three interchangeable audio plugs included, 3.5mm, 4.4mm and USB-C
• 22 pairs of ear tips, including SpinFit, FiiO HS18 and FiiO HS20 tips
• Hi-Res Audio certified

What you now see in front of you is the masterpiece of FiiO acoustics.

This custom-built acoustic device is the result of 18 years of acoustic expertise. It combines the best acoustic technology, embodies an understated design aesthetic, and interprets the ideal sound in your heart.

The essence of 18 years is united in a creation where all sounds flow together, just for you.

1DD 4BA 8EST design per page

To achieve the best possible sound quality, the FX-17 features a design with one dynamic driver, four balanced armature drivers, and eight electrostatic drivers per side.

A five-way crossover has been precisely tuned to balance the energy distribution between the drivers and ensure that each unit operates at its optimal state, resulting in a larger soundstage and more natural sound.

Eight electrostatic drivers for a truly airy feel

Electrostatic drivers have exceptional high frequency extension, easily reaching 50 kHz, and a sense of airiness, giving the listener a larger soundstage.

The downside is that their sensitivity is only 99 dB/mW, which is low compared to the 110 dB/mW sensitivity typically found in balanced armature and dynamic drivers, resulting in a masking effect. Therefore, the FX-17 uses eight electrostatic units to increase the sound pressure level and make the electrostatic drivers audible, as they handle the high and ultra-high frequencies above 6 kHz, rather than simply serving as decoration.

* The masking effect refers to the phenomenon that the sensitivity of the human ear to high-frequency signals is reduced in the presence of loud low-frequency signals.

Four custom-made Knowles BA drivers

The FiiO FX17 utilizes two Knowles balanced armature drivers responsible for the mid and high frequencies. Each of the composite balanced armature driver units is divided into two parts, one for the midrange and the other for the mid and high frequencies. This results in a denser midrange and a more transparent sound, allowing for a seamless transition to the electrostatic drivers. To achieve higher, flagship-level vocal performance, FiiO collaborated with Knowles to develop a custom-designed midrange enhanced balanced armature unit.

The rear cavity of the balanced armature drivers has been designed with acoustic ports that provide more energy to the balanced armature unit in the midrange to further exploit the driver’s advantages. The overall result is lush, smooth vocals that make the singer’s seductive voice seem as if it’s truly right there with you.

Dynamic driver with lithium-magnesium alloy High-impedance material surpassed only by beryllium

The lithium-magnesium alloy is lightweight, stiff, and has a density of 1.6 g/cm3—an ideal material for the diaphragm of a dynamic driver, surpassed only by beryllium. When reproducing high-frequency signals with rapid vibrations, the lithium-magnesium alloy diaphragm exhibits excellent mechanical properties thanks to its high internal damping, resulting in significantly lower natural frequency resonance and distortion. Distortion should not exceed 0.2%, enabling truly clean sound.

The patented acoustic design of the S.Turbo

Inspired by the turbos found in supercars, FiiO Acoustic Center carefully developed the patented S.Turbo acoustic design. It cleverly channels sound through a turbo-shaped structure to amplify bass, making it robust and deep.

At the same time, excess mid and high frequencies are filtered out from the dynamic driver to ensure a smooth transition between low and mid and high frequencies, thus achieving a powerful and full sound.

Resonant cavity, acoustic balance

The rear cavity of the FX17 has been optimized for enhanced sound. By damping the airflow with holes that are only 0.2 mm in diameter, the FX17 precisely controls the airflow, achieving balanced air damping between the front and rear cavities of the dynamic driver. This not only improves the dynamic driver’s Q-factor and amplitude, but also increases low-frequency extension and mid-frequency clarity and transparency.

Electronic and physical five-way crossover

The FX15 features a switch to turn the electrostatic drivers on and off, proving that they’re not just decorative, but also essential for a wide high-frequency range. Many audiophiles have already experienced the high-resolution travel that electrostatic drivers are capable of. The FX17 increases the number of electrostatic drivers responsible for processing frequencies above 6 kHz to 8 per side, reducing power requirements. The FiiO FX17 also uses a five-way electronic and physical crossover with two systems for precise driver control. This not only ensures a smooth frequency response curve but also a flat impedance curve for wider adaptability. This crossover ensures balanced energy distribution and smooth transitions between the drivers, both at low and high volumes.

Construction made of pure titanium

The FX17 features a minimalist aesthetic, with a classic and naturally curved cavity.

The FX17’s ear cavity is constructed of high-density, high-strength titanium, precision-milled from a single block and meticulously hand-polished. It’s treated with Vapor the Position, which hardens the surface and imparts a glossy finish that creates a beautiful interplay of light and shadow.

Flagship-level optimized carrying ergonomics

• Nozzle precisely adjusted by 10° – Based on user feedback and scientific research, engineers precisely increased the angle between the nozzles and the wearing surface by 10° along the Y-axis while keeping the nozzle length unchanged. This allows the IEMs to enter the ear canal at an angle that significantly improves comfort and wearing stability.

• Comfortable and snug fit – The new rear ear cup design features a 3D shape, especially in the pinna area. Engineers conducted hundreds of tests and optimizations to develop a 1.4mm thick filling ridge that’s tailored to the human ear, making the IEM fit more securely and comfortably.

• Reduced ear pressure – The new rear cavity design features a thickness reduced by approximately 1 mm in the folded dome area of the human ear. This design significantly reduces the pressure the IEM exerts on the ear. Combined with the excellent earcup construction, it eliminates the sensation of foreign matter in the ear, creating a feeling of complete freedom from noise.

Mixed gold, silver and copper cable

The FX17 cable uses three different transmission materials—gold, silver, and copper—to leverage the strengths of each. Gold, silver, and copper are forged at over 1000 degrees Celsius and then refined into single crystals to remove impurities and reduce transmission loss. Each of the three elements has its own advantages, which together result in significantly improved sound quality.

• Gold – The high conductivity and low resistance result in faster signal transmission, amplifying bass transients for a truly surging, powerful sound.

• Silver – It is more sensitive in transmitting high-frequency signals. It is characterized by fast transmission speeds, low losses, better resolution, and ultimately higher resolution.

• Copper – characterized by warm and soft voices. It helps create a relaxed and natural sound and delivers a wonderfully natural sound.

Three interchangeable in-line audio plugs with twist lock

The FX17 comes with three interchangeable audio connectors: 3.5 mm single-ended, 4.4 mm balanced, and the Type-C connector with integrated digital decoding and DSP, so you can enjoy high audio quality regardless of the connected device.

The interchangeable Type-C connector features a built-in DSP audio decoding chip that supports high-resolution PCM up to 32-bit/384 kHz and balanced output. It also supports a high-precision 8-band PEQ. Using the FiiO-developed algorithm and the FiiO Control app or web interface, the PEQ can simulate or correct the headphone’s frequency response curve. You can also export, import, share, and save EQ curves.

Output power: 2x55mW at 16Ohm, 2x30mW at 32Ohm

Crosstalk -110dB

Background noise <0.8µV

Distortion <0.001%

SNR >122dB

Hi-Res Audio certified

The FiiO FX17 is Hi-Res Audio certified, as defined by the Japan Audio Society (JAS) and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). This is a testament to its ability to reproduce audio exactly as it was intended to be heard.