FiiO FD3 IEMS vs iBasso IT01X (110 USD vs 120 USD) - The Basshead IEM in IT01X stands fair ground against FD3, but the sonic differences between them are slightly lower than the design differences.

DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) is a highly rigid material that also has an extremely lightweight structure that reduces unnecessary vibrations and makes the driver more responsive and clean sounding.Just know the real value is with their pro version is that it includes a cable that matches extremely well to use with that balanced nozzle.

Their pro model throws in their highly resolving monocrystalline silver plated cables in 8 cores and uses Fiios version of their modular design. Pick the large inner diameter tube (black) for detailed treble, and choose the small inner diameter tube (red) for robust bass. The sense of transparency and airiness in this area is quite impressive when I do listen to vocals or instruments.

It comes with two sets of tuning nozzles, one with a thin diameter of the mouth (red) and the other with a wide diameter mouth (black). Thos 2 aren’t similar at all, the Aria being more U shape, colder and more neutral in it’s balance too. I loved that, and I still own a pair to this very day, even if I didn’t use them in months, as I replaced them for the FA9 (the brand’s balanced flagship). Female vocals have those wonderful highs but they extend not too much into the head-room hence they feel slightly held back.

What hit first is how cleaner and more detailed sound the Aria, in a delicate, non agressive way compared to more energic V brightish shape of FD3. The lower treble region offers a good sense of clarity and definition when I do listen to instruments such like snare drums or violins that do also sounds crisp and lively, while the extension is on a moderate level. But it changes so much with the other filter that, I would recommend not to use this for any reason . The upper midrange of the TinHiFi T5 is slightly less pronounced and energetic compared to the FiiO FD3 that was audible with female vocals and instruments like pianos or flutes. The mids in tonal quality and presence of the FH5s but now has a much more cohesive and smoother treble than either of their previous earphones, especially their FH5s.FiiO sent me a pair for review, and if I was a bit dubious at first, the FD5 ended up being as good as advertised. But in contrast the FD3 sounds fuller and more cohesive throughout the whole frequency range, with a natural decay and timbre whether the FH3 is quite rushed and not that well integrated while the timbre is slightly metallic and artificial. All in all, it seem to me that BQEYZ Autumn is superior in both technical performance ,like attack speed and control and harmonic distortion, as well as tonal balance which is more cohesive, relaxed and natural. Highs are softer and more rolled off with Autumn, yet less grainy and better controlled and balanced than FD3 too.