FiiO JH3 Full Review

Introduction

The FiiO JH3 is an affordable in-ear monitor offering surprising audiophile sound quality and performance for its modest price point. As a collaborative effort between FiiO and their daughter company, Jade Audio, the JH3 seeks to deliver a balanced yet energetic listening experience to appeal to audio enthusiasts on a budget. I evaluated the JH3 based on a range of criteria to determine if it lives up to its promise as a highly accessible hi-fi IEM worthy of consideration.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. I have not received any form of compensation or incentive to endorse or promote any specific product mentioned in this review. Please note that the individual ratings provided for each product are given in the context of the product’s price.

FiiO JH3

Specifications

• Drivers: 1 x Dynamic + 2 x BA
• Impedance: 28Ω @ 1kHz
• Frequency Response: 10Hz – 40kHz
• Sensitivity: 106dB (1kHz@1mW)

Individual ratings

Bass

Very deep and authoritative bass extension with palpable sub-bass rumble and precise mid-bass punch. Impact and the body are emphasized without bloating. Good control and speed with a dynamic driver. Definitely a standout. Potentially 5/5, but room for tighter bass speed.

0/5

Midrange

Recessed position behind emphasized lows and highs. Vocals still sound clear and clean. There was no significant coloration. The instrument note presentation is smooth and well-integrated. Clarity and resolution fall short of pricier models, as expected. Slight harshness at times in the upper mids.

0/5

Treble

A strong treble extension with added air and sparkle is good for the price. Provides excitement and energy for highs. The treble is good, but the occasional sibilance and harshness of the recordings exist. Held back from a perfect score for that reason.

0/5

Soundstage And Imaging

Stage dimensions are on the intimate side, but a coherent holographic presentation is present. Precise imaging across a dome-like soundfield. Good expansion in height and depth, but more limited width. Still impressive separation and placement for a budget IEM.

0/5

Detail Retrieval

Above-average separation thanks to soundstage placement. Congestion only on busy tracks. Good, not great detail levels, falling short of technical IEMs, understandably. Better micro-dynamics and textures than a typical budget model. A decent overall resolution.

0/5

Dynamics

13.6mm driver brings impactful transient response with slam when called for. Quick decay times. Leading-edge detail was reproduced well. The hybrid driver configuration brings surprisingly nimble pacing. Standout dynamics versus single DD models around price.

0/5

Resolution

Limited technical resolution relative to high-end IEMs but extract "good resolution for sub-$50 hybrid" with dual BA adding noticeable improvement over single dynamics. Slightly soft, fine details at times. Typical budget hybrid technical performance.

0/5

Build Quality

A solid overall build with good metal faceplates, a lightweight plastic body, and quality detachable cable. Strong construction for the price. Not true luxury premium materials.

0/5

Comfort

"Very comfortable for extended use" thanks to ergonomic shaping and lightweight. Secure fit for passive noise reduction without any discomfort.

0/5

Gaming Performance

Sound profile highlights dynamism enhances gaming experience. Easy to pinpoint directional cues in FPS and exciting action sequences. Very competent budget option for casual gaming though specialist gaming IEM could beat it.

0/5

Value For Money

Punching far above its price bracket. Capable technicalities and enjoyable tuning. Obvious limitations to resolution etc remain but hugely impressive overall performance for affordable price makes the value proposition very compelling.

0/5

Overall Rating

0/5.0

Bottom Line

In summary, excellent bass and treble performance from the 13.6mm dynamic driver, good soundstage expansion and imaging given the price point, a very comfortable and lightweight ergonomic design, and overall great value for an affordable audiophile IEM. Areas for improvement are the recessed midrange taking a backseat to bass and treble emphasis, limited resolution compared to more expensive IEMs, and intimate stage width. But for the budget price, the FiiO JH3 delivers impressive performance and enjoyment.

1. Packaging

• FiiO JH3
• Cable
• carry case
• 6 pairs of eartips
• 1 pair of foam eartips
• paperworks

2. Design And Build Quality

Sporting a sleek design language reminiscent of pricier FiiO IEMs, the JH3 makes a strong first impression with its stylish look. The aluminum alloy faceplates feature precision CNC milling and a distinctive striped finish, enhanced by an iridescent PVD coating. While the plastic body may not feel quite as premium as metal alternatives, the overall build quality is solid, with no rough edges or imperfections.

At just 6 grams per earpiece, the JH3 is pleasingly lightweight for all-day listening comfort. The included detachable cable uses high-purity monocrystalline copper in a twisted design that resists tangling and microphonics. The 2-pin connectors feel sturdy, though MMCX may have allowed greater cable flexibility. Overall, the construction punches above its class.

3. Comfort

Thanks to the ergonomic contours and compact size of the JH3 housing, I found them very comfortable for extended use. The smooth finish and rounded edges prevent any hotspots from forming in my ears. While the shallow fit may compromise isolation somewhat, it enables quick and painless insertion and removal.

With a decent array of silicone and foam eartip options provided, I was able to achieve a secure seal for solid passive noise reduction without discomfort. For an IEM at this price, the JH3 offers exceptional wearing comfort.

4. Sound Quality Of The FiiO JH3

I. Tonality

The JH3 tuning targets a mild V-shape signature with emphasized bass and treble regions surrounding a slightly recessed midrange. This provides an enjoyable balance between low-end power, clear vocals, and energetic highs. While not strictly neutral, the tone retains good coherence across the spectrum.

II. Frequency Response Graph Of The FiiO JH3

III. Bass Response

Equipped with a capable 13.6mm dynamic driver, the JH3 delivers satisfyingly deep and authoritative bass. Sub-bass extension provides a palpable sense of rumble and slam where called for, underpinning genres like EDM without bloat or muddiness. The mid-bass punch sounds tight and responsive, with admirable speed and texture. 

Quantity-wise, bass is elevated to add body and drive without being overbearing. Control remains decent for the price bracket. The low-end provides physical impact and immersion beyond typical budget IEMs.

IV. Midrange Performance

Vocals have a slightly laid-back presentation, positioned behind the bass and lower treble. Clarity and intelligibility remain strong, however, with no veil or significant coloration. Instruments in the midrange also sound clean and well-defined. While detail retrieval and resolution are just average for the price, the note presentation is smooth and well-integrated into the mix.

Timbre sounds natural and organic, aside from a hint of harshness in the upper mids at times. Overall, the midrange performance exceeds expectations for an entry-level hybrid.

V. Treble Response

The JH3's treble is a standout, exhibiting surprising extension, airiness, and sparkle given the low cost. The upper treble is boosted, lending added sparkle and energy to guitars, cymbals, and other instruments. This grants an exciting listening experience, though sensitive listeners may find sibilance and harshness in weaker recordings.

Most of the time, treble detail and micro-dynamics came through nicely. The JH3 punches far above its class in recreating the energy and liveliness of treble-centric passages. Just avoid overly bright-source gear pairings.

5. Technicalities Of The FiiO JH3

I. Soundstage And Imaging

While stage dimensions remain intimate, as expected for a budget IEM, the JH3 creates a nicely coherent, holographic presentation. Instruments sound focused with pinpoint imaging across a wide, dome-like soundfield. The stage expansion in height and depth exceeds similarly priced rivals, though width is more limited. Imaging precision also impresses for the price bracket.

II. Instrument Separation And Detail Retrieval

Insrument separation is above average, aided by the spacious soundstage presentation, which allows for precise imaging. Congestion only arises on densely layered tracks, a limitation of the dual BA drivers. Fine-detail retrieval is good, though definition naturally falls short of more technical IEMs. Micro-dynamics and textures come through more convincingly than expected at this price point.

III. Dynamics And Speed

The 13.6mm dynamic driver provides an impactful transient response, delivering appropriate punch and slam when called for. Bass decay has very good speed and control. Treble strikes quickly with good reproduction of leading-edge detail. The hybrid driver configuration manages surprisingly nimble pacing despite the budget components. Much better dynamics than typical single-DD IEMs around this price bracket.

IV. Resolution

As an affordable hybrid using entry-level balanced armature drivers, the technical resolving power of the JH3 is limited compared to high-end models. Definition is slightly hazy at times, with fine details softened rather than sharply rendered. That said, the hybrid driver configuration extracts good resolution for a sub-$50 IEM. The dual BAs make a clear difference here versus a single dynamic.

6. Gaming Performance

Thanks to the spacious, immersive presentation and enhanced transient impact from the 13.6mm dynamic driver, the JH3 works very well for gaming. Directional audio cues were easy to pinpoint in FPS titles, while action sequences had thrilling dynamics. The sound profile brings out explosions and other effects nicely. For casual gaming on a budget, the JH3 is a great choice.

7. Comparisons

FiiO JH3 vs. Tin HiFi T3 Plus

The JH3 has thicker, harder-hitting bass and more lower-treble emphasis for added excitement. The T3 Plus sounds more mid-centric, with a warmer, smoother tonality. Its stage is wider but less layered. The JH3 has quicker, punchier bass speed and retrieves more fine detail.

FiiO JH3 vs. Moondrop Aria

As expected, the Aria provides better technical performance across the board. Its bass is tighter and faster, the midrange is clearer and more natural, the treble is more extended without harshness, and the soundstage is much more spacious. The JH3 gets surprisingly close in bass quality and high-end air, though.

Dive deeper with more comparisons.

8. FAQs

9. Conclusion

For its reasonable asking price, the FiiO JH3 punches far above its weight, offering a balanced yet impactful sound experience. The capable 13.6mm dynamic driver provides hearty bass and excellent transient response, while the dual balanced armatures lend unexpected treble extension and midrange clarity.

There are still obvious limitations to the technical performance, and treble-sensitive listeners should weigh the brighter tuning. But for budget-minded audiophiles or those new to higher-end IEMs, the JH3 represents a value-packed introduction to premium sound. FiiO succeeds in delivering affordable yet admirable hi-fi quality with this accessible hybrid in-ear monitor.

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Read More Reviews On FiiO JH3: Headfonics