Fiio JH5
Intro
Hello folks I have with me the latest mutli-driver hybrid iem from the very popular brand Fiio named the Fiio JH5. The JH5 consists of one dynamic driver and four custom balanced armature drivers. All this costs roughly $79. Fiio has been around for a long time, and I’ve owned a bucket load of their iems, dac/amps, daps and Bluetooth dacs and I gotta tell you, I’ve always liked what I’ve spent my hard-earned money on from Fiio.
Jade Audio?
The JH5 is partially created due to a collaboration with Fiio’s sister company Jade Audio. Jade Audio is much like Fiio in that they seek to create more price to performance type iems and audio devices. In fact, from what is understood, Jade Audio was brought on just to create less expensive products yet hold onto the same quality. Of course, the name on the box says “Fiio JH5” and so I will continue to call this a Fiio iem within the review. Honestly, it is hard figuring out what is a Jade Audio product and what isn’t at times. I feel the only thing Jade Audio doesn’t do is make products over a certain price point. Mostly ultra-budget to high budget ($100) iems and audio devices. One thing is for sure, you are getting a certain quality with either brand. Always, you’ll have fantastic build quality, accessories galore, top class features too.
Good track record
Now, I’ve only reviewed a few sets from the company. A couple years ago I reviewed the Fiio FH9 (FH9 Review). It was a great set and still is. Another recent set was the Fiio FH15 (FH15 Review) which was a banger of a set and really just pure fun. I also reviewed one of the best iems under $100 that very few have even tried with the Fiio JD7 (JD7 Review). It is a true class act and should be on your shortlist under $100. Lastly, I reviewed the True Wireless hybrid set from the brand, the Fiio FW5 (FW5 Review). Fiio has had a litany of great sets which stormed the audio market from the very popular F9 Pro back in the day to the Fiio FH7, Fiio FH3, FD7, FD5, and all the way to the latest new iterations in their lineup with sets like the FH7s. Of course, I left out a number of banger sets, but you get the point. Always, a Fiio set will have a few things going for them right out the gate. You’ll get a great unboxing experience, fantastic top shelf build-quality and design, and you’ll seemingly always get a fun sounding earphone. Of course, Fiio has had some duds over the years, but seriously… what brand hasn’t? I’ve always been a fan and I’m happy to review the JH5 today. But is the JH5 worth the $80? That’s a question I hope to answer. The Fiio JH5 everyone…
JH5 Pros
-Build Quality
-Design is minimalist but slick looking
-Accessories
-Timbre & tonality (organic/fun)
-Musicality is nice
-Good lean-lush note weight
-Fantastic bass, this is a low-end gem
-Smooth midrange with nice presence for the tuning
-Non-Offensive treble region
-Wide soundstage
JH5 Cons
-The design may also be a con for some
-Jh5 is good, but does it separate itself from other hybrids under $100?
-Not for those who want a more analytical tuning
-Mid-bass emphasis smooths some of the details
-At the price of $79 there aren’t any other real cons, unless the sound signature simply doesn’t suit you
Gear used for testing
–Ifi Go Blu portable Bluetooth dac/amp
–Moondrop Dawn 4.4 dongle dac
–Aful Snowy Night dongle dac
–Fiio Q15 dac/amp
–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2 dap with removable amp section
–Shanling M6 Ultra dap
Packaging / Accessories
Unboxing
The Fiio JH5 showed up at my door in a medium sized (what’s medium Chris?) cardboard box with a glossy metallic looking picture of the JH5 on the front and some specs on the back. Nothing unusual. As you open the box, you’ll see the handsome JH5 attached to the cable in a hard-foam cutout. Next to the earphones is a box which contains the really weird but oddly cool carrying… Um…drawer? Carrying drawer. You’ll also find the many pairs of eartips provided as well as an MMCX tool. For $79 I feel the JH5 comes with some very nice accessories. I know this doesn’t always mean too much to everyone but it’s a nice unboxing experience.
Eartips
Fiio provides six sets of eartips in two different styles. They give three pairs of their Fiio HS18 tips (S, M, L) and three pairs of narrow-bore gray tips (S, M, L) with a shallow fit. I feel this is a decent assortment of tips. However, I have never liked the HS18 tips from Fiio. They have a very flimsy flange which doesn’t even try to seal in my ears. I’m sure some of you reading this have no issue at all with them. Also, I didn’t feel the narrow-bore tips were right for me either as they seemed to give the bass unneeded mass and made them a hair too boomy. I actually went with the tried-n-true KBear 07 tips which gave the low-end a punchier sound. Your mileage may vary.
Carrying Drawer
Folks, I have zero idea what to call this thing. Is this a case? Is it a drawer? Who can know? Anyways, Fiio provides a very odd but also pretty cool clear plastic case with a pull-out drawer. I don’t know if anyone will have any use for this thing. It is rather odd and to be totally honest it has been a good place to put some extra audio goodies I had scattered in my bedside drawer. The case is roughly four inches long by about two in width and height. It is completely clear and made of hard plastic. It has a pull-out drawer which you can open and store your earphones. Of course, this makes almost no sense for use with carrying this set anywhere. First, it has no padding of any sort or protection for your precious earphones internally. Also, it’s a big rectangle which can open anytime. I don’t know what Fiio was thinking on this one, but it is oddly cool. I suppose.
Cable
The included cable is a fine-looking wire. I feel it is fitting of the price and nice to look at. Recently Fiio hasn’t really provided their lower priced iems with cables that actually look aesthetically pleasing. I haven’t been impressed of late. However, the cable with the JH5 is much better. To be exact, the cable is a silver colored, 3.5 single ended 2-pin cable, made out of 392 wires of silver-plated copper and terminates with a right-angle plug. I really enjoy how supple and soft this cable is. It has a nice fat braiding which is nice to look at and looks great paired with the JH5. I don’t feel you need to swap cables at all unless of course you are like me and mostly listen using balanced sources.
What I used
Real quick, I used the 4.4 balanced Letshuoer M5 cable for use with my balanced sources as well as the included cable for any single ended use. You’ll notice many of my pictures have the M5 attached due to the vast amount of balanced listening I’ve done with the JH5. Sonically it seems like a nice match, and I also love the M5 paired with the JH5 for aesthetic reasons. Basically, they look dope together.
Build / Design / Internals / Fit
Build Quality
One thing Fiio never lacks in is build quality. All of their iems are built very well with nice materials and usually are pretty darn durable. The JH5 shell is made with a clear hard and high-quality plastic by way of 3D printing. The faceplate is made from a zinc alloy and obviously polished nicely. The shape itself is quite a regular iem shape. Nothing crazy here. The Shells are very ergonomic while also being pretty large in comparison to the average iem. Of course, Fiio did have to squeeze five drivers within the Shells. The nozzle is of medium length, which is nice, not too long and not too short. Folks, this is a very well built iem. It may not look like it in pictures but once you get them in your hand you can feel it. They feel robust and solid, nothing chinsy or weak feeling at all. Fiio does build quality correct friends.
Design
This is where I could see half the community loving the design and half not enjoying them as much. However, as for me I love the look. Minimalist yet sleek. Modern yet simple. The JH5 actually comes in two different colorways of both “silver” & “black”. Obviously, mine is the black version (not really black). Fiio made sure to have a transparent shell which is always something that I enjoy. You can peek into the Shells to see the inner workings and Internals of the JH5. Pretty cool. Of course, we are seeing this more and more. Still, I like that the dynamic driver of the JH5 is easy to see as well as the two balanced armature drivers. The faceplate is the real looker though. Again, it is made completely out of Zinc Alloy and has the coolest simplistic look. Fiio did an awesome job with the mirror finish folks, this set looks dope. All you have is the brand name “Fiio” on the faceplate yet with a raised-up portion to the back that creates some nice dimensionality. It is hard to describe it but as you can see in the pictures, it’s a nice looking iem. Paired with the included cable it is double sweet. Fiio did a great job on the design.
Internals
Within the housing of the JH5 Fiio states that they separated all drivers into three separate chambers inside the acoustic cavity. Each chamber is designed to add some separation of frequencies between the 20’s. They actually used a 2nd generation 10mm carbon-based dynamic driver for the lows. This is the upgraded driver from what Fiio used in the Fiio FD11 and FH11. Fiio also says that two custom BA’s handle the mids & highs and two custom ultra-high frequency (UHF) BA’s handle the upper-treble. Both UHF drivers are strategically placed a little closer to the nozzle. Fiio also states in their promotional material that they used acoustic design ideas from two of their most popular and best sounding flagships, the Fiio FH9 (an awesome set), and the Fiio FH7 (another awesome set). It doesn’t state how they went about this, but I’m going to believe them anyways, until proven otherwise (which’ll never happen). They also used what is called “negative feedback bass enhancement tech”. Fiio also made use of a three-way crossover.
Just Hear 5! High and low, quality everywhere
Fiio Promotional
The acoustic design of the JH5 borrows elements from the design of high-end IEMs such as the FH9 and FH7 with the goal of presenting music from genres as diverse as classical to pop all in a high-fidelity manner. At the heart of the JH5 is a 10mm carbon-based dynamic driver which is seamlessly connected to the custom balanced armature drivers covering medium to ultra-high frequencies thanks to the drivers being separated into three independent chambers. The FIIO JH5 is truly an affordable IEM with a highly precise sound that truly lets you experience how good dynamic-BA hybrids can get. The JH5’s 10mm carbon-based dynamic driver is similar to those used in the popular FIIO “Little Conch” series of headphones. However, this driver has been further tweaked, making it a second-generation model that has been designed to work well with the rest of the acoustic design.
Custom BA drivers — mid and high frequencies
To ensure the dynamic driver worked well with the balanced armature drivers, the development team borrowed design ideas from high-end hybrid IEMs like the FH9 and FH7. Two custom BA drivers handle the mid and high frequencies. These two BA drivers were specially designed along with the dynamic driver to have a resonance peak at 2.8kHz, which also happens to be a resonance frequency formed by the shape of the human ear.
Fit
The fit for me is perfect. I have been on a string of amazing fitting iems folks. The JH5 truly hugs my ear like a hand to a glove. I probably could’ve thought of a better analogy. Anyways, the shape is very ergonomically correct, at least for me. I have no idea how this set will fit you. Isolation is about average, what you’d expect from most any iem so long as you have the right tips to provide a good seal. This is not a heavy iem either and doesn’t weigh down my ear, make it ache at all or cause any discomfort to me while listening.
Drivability
The Fiio JH5 is a simple set to drive folks. Wait, let me say it more perfectly; the Fiio JH5 are freaking sensitive! Like, really sensitive! I had absolutely no issue whatsoever to NEED a balanced cable or powerful source. Single ended is perfectly fine and you’ll reach good volume even off of a smartphone without issues. The JH5 is rated at 13 ohms and a sensitivity of 111 db’s. Basically, it doesn’t take much. Having said that, I do get some slight scaling with a bit more juice. I should also state that the JH5 isn’t very source dependent and can sound pretty good with all of my sources.
Mobile Listening
This is a perfect set for simply attaching to a Bluetooth dongle or adapter and jamming out. The sound signature suits this as well (in my opinion). Whatever I used the JH5 with, be it the Fiio UTWS5, Ifi Go Blu, Qudelix 5k, or any of my dongle dacs, I found it to perform well. I did like this set on balanced output the most, but this is not mandatory at all. Of my dongle dacs which I bring to my office, I used the Moondrop Dawn 4.4 and the brand new Aful Snowy Night (SnowyNight Review). I used a few others sparingly, but these are the two which sounded the best to me.
Better quality source
Using a bit better quality source like the iBasso DX240 or the Shanling M6 Ultra I found the JH5 did reciprocate by sounding better to my ears. However, it is marginal at best just how much better it sounds. At any rate, the JH5 performed nicely on both, and neither was necessarily better than the other. I also used Fiio’s own “Fiio Q15” attached to my M6 Ultra and I found this pairing to be quite nice. They sound really great together as the Q15 pushes the JH5’s dynamics and tightens the overall sound a bit. Plus, the JH5 will repay you for the better source.
What you need
It’s just like I’ve said, find a decent sounding source with moderate power and you are in business. Still, even if you have a simple phone, I think you’ll be okay. This is a very sensitive set folks which performs pretty well across the board with all of my sources, so I think you’ll be okay with whatever you have to use. I should also state that on more powerful amperage you may not get a completely black background with the JH5. This is a set that is meant to be played with mobile sources, less power. So, when I say this set scales with power, I don’t mean a lot of it.
Sound Impressions
There is something about this set that draws me in. Ever since my first listen I enjoyed my musical library with the JH5 in my ears. It has this “all around me” musical experience with some lovely macro-dynamics. This is certainly a Fiio-sounding set if you ask me. I feel this is a nicely tuned iem if a fun and partially smooth sounding set is what you are after. Possibly if you haven’t checked out a hybrid iem yet then this may be a great starting place, depending on your budget of course.
An uphill battle
As with all iems in the budget scene anymore, my one big question is whether the JH5 actually does anything to set itself apart from the vast amount of iems littered across the price point? There really is an actual metric-ton of iems (of any driver configuration) that are stellar within the under $100 scene, and so I do feel the JH5 has an uphill battle. That said, I really like the sound of this set as it’s a fun and musical addition to my collection. Still, I won’t be disillusioned to think that there won’t be many folks who don’t enjoy it as much as I do. I guess I would say that the JH5 doesn’t necessarily do any one thing in a master class type of way. But it does do a lot really well. However, forget other sets of different driver configurations, can the JH5 battle for your dollar amongst “hybrids”? Can it usurp the Simgot EM6L (EM6L Review), the Truthear Hexa (Hexa Review), the CCA Rhapsody (Rhapsody Review), Fudu Verse, or the fantastic EPZ X-Tipsy Star One (Review coming soon)? I realize I left a bunch out, but the point is made. It’s an uphill climb, a tough battle, and it won’t be easy.
Pint sized sound impressions
The Fiio (Jade Audio) JH5 is a fun and engaging listen and that shouldn’t go understated. It has an enchanting & immersive quality to it. Still, there are some oddities to the tuning which will likely render this iem a “no-go” for some hobbyists. Nevertheless, I found this set very entertaining with expressive macro-dynamics and a very vivacious and full sound. The Fiio JH5 is mostly warm in tonal coloration with a definite V-shaped sound signature. Warmer towards the bass and brighter (to a degree) as you enter into the treble. I find the timbre to be pleasing as I don’t get a ton of BA timbre occurring and mostly the sound comes across organically inspired. Again, the macro-dynamics are very present and full of good energy, albeit smooth and slightly less refined as far as technicalities are concerned (that’s debatable). Each area of the mix has good representation from my perspective as well. I feel the JH5 is fantastic for casual listening, but it won’t please those folks who like to glean every last detail from their music.
If this is all the further you read
If this is as far as your reading eyes can go, just know; This is a big sound, a full sound and a fun sound. There are some issues with the tuning which I will try to explain in the next few sections and there are very reasonable questions if this set is even worth the money with what is out there. Think of the hybrids in the hobby under $100 anymore, nuff said. Still, I cannot simply give this a negative review if I actually enjoy this set. That would not be correct to me. But I do have some legitimate concerns and again, there are aspects about the JH5 which may turn others off. That’s said, the JH5 is a musical sounding set with merely adequate technical chops but also a larger than average soundstage and nice sounding timbre. Not perfectly natural but pleasing to my ears. Let’s take a look.
Bass Region
The bass is one area that Fiio almost always gets right in my opinion. That is, if you enjoy a larger bass presence. The bass here most certainly encroaches upon the midrange adding warmth and body to the lower mids. This is a warm bass which is atmospheric but exact and hard-nosed in attack. For the record, I love the bass region on this set! I feel it is one of the better bass replays that you’ll find under $100. There I said it. It isn’t soft, pillowy, or hollow… not in the slightest. Drums bang hard with very nice harmonics and bass guitar comes across meaty and angry. I find that this is a relatively well detailed bass region for the quantity that Fiio tuned the JH5 to have. You have good sub-bass extension and a ton of mid-bass slam. I don’t detect the cleanest replay in the world, but that is to be expected for this price and per the quantity of bass. I also wouldn’t necessarily call this the fastest or most transient swift bass, but it is compact for its size which is very nice to hear. Also, no this isn’t basshead, it’s just quality big bass.
Sub-bass
Like I said, the sub-bass reaches pretty deep both in extension as well as growl. Songs like “Heavy is the Ocean” by Bush feel like a mini earthquake is happening inside my head. Okay that is going a bit too far. The sub-bass has good haptic feel to every sub-bass note, and this helps when listening to a track like this. There is good tactility to the bass in the lowest of lows giving off a nicely textured sound which only adds to the fun of this set. Listening to the track “Groove” by Ashley Monroe the JH5 is well able to give off a strong droning sub-bass rumble as she sings along without any real muddiness covering her vocals. As I’ve said, I feel the bass is one of the strong points of this set and the extension down low definitely helps to bolster my opinion. Tracks like “2040” by Lil Durk sound great with all the physicality you’d want down low. “Violent” by Tupac is one of the lowest droning songs out there and the JH5 slay on this track. It’s deep, aggressive, and vibrates well. Probably just short of bass head, but I’m sure any basshead would be satisfied.
Mid-bass
The mid-bass owns the greatest majority of bass emphasis and has a ton of boom. Like I said earlier, the mid-bass does encroach upon the midrange quite a bit which renders the midrange a hair more stuffy than a cleaner roll-off of the mid-bass. Now, for the level of mid-bass that Fiio tuned this set to have I also wouldn’t call it a sloppy bass. It is tight for what it is. For $89 you can only do so much, especially when you are crafting a fun tuned iem like the JH5. So no, this isn’t the most pristine, but it’s satisfying. The mid-bass slams with plenty of authority, bass guitars grumble and growl, kick-drums hit with a strong hollow thud and are met with a tacky edge on attack. “Billie Jean” by Weezer (Michael Jackson cover) shows off how tight a bigger bass section can be as the booming kick-drums decay pretty quickly per the size. “Wolves” by Big Sean is another track that replays on the JH5 perfectly. This set can hit very hard folks. When called upon of course. “Old Man Gillich” by Muscadine Bloodline is another track where the drums just come alive and feel like booming exclamation points to my musical senses.
Downsides to the Bass Region
Of course, there are downsides to any set and the JH5 certainly has a few. As far as the bass is concerned, the number one downside, I would think, is the quantity. This is a big bass and I know plenty of people who would not be okay with any encroachment into the midrange, let alone to the degree that the JH5’s bass creeps in. Somehow the JH5 doesn’t come across quite as stuffy as they probably should, but the bass does cover over some finer details on bass heavy tracks. Particularly in the mid-bass as it just glides a bit too far into the midrange which doesn’t provide a perfectly “clean” and “tidy” sound. This also isn’t the fastest bass out there (not slow either) so complicated bass sections at times can sound like they’re… complicated. Honestly, those are the only real issues I see. This set is for folks who DO enjoy a bigger bass and a more fun sound with more bass presence. For what it is, the JH5 has a fantastic bass and nothing to be ashamed of. You just have to enjoy a bigger bass.
Midrange
The midrange has a few good qualities, and a few not-so-good qualities. This is a smoother sound with a slightly recessed midrange for both male and female vocalists. This is not something I would call an issue as vocals have good enough presence in the mix. Based on the graph, I would’ve assumed the mids would sound push back or veiled, but they aren’t too recessed for my ears. I also wouldn’t call the JH5 midrange “forward” either. To be honest, in some tracks the vocals are better than others. It’s kind of a roller coaster ride of good and decent. The spatiality is pretty nice creating a decently holographic sound. Now, this is not the most detailed midrange on planet earth and sort of a departure from some of the more precisely tuned midrange iems in the market today. The JH5 is more about atmosphere and presence. This is not a set overly concerned about any precious details. Having said that, you still can make out some of the more subtle stuff in tracks that don’t focus on heavy bass. The midrange has a warmer tone with nice note weight in the lower portions while thinning out a bit in the upper midrange. There are moments of some glare and sharpness, but I don’t think it will be a major issue to most folks.
Lower-midrange
The low-mids have a decent presence as well as a warm and slightly thicker note weight (lean-lush) with decent clarity for what it is. Which kind of flies in the face of what the “Fiio” graph shows which comes in their promotional packages. If you are looking at that graph, you’d think the lower mids would be heavy and even slightly muddy sounding or veiled. I did not hear that folks. Thankfully there’s enough upper region emphasis to counter the bass. There’s a more subdued definition though. You don’t get that transparent type of lower midrange here. This is a warmer low-mid without a ton of dynamism, yet with enough body to make males sound pretty nice if that is what you enjoy. Instruments don’t always come across as perfectly natural and possibly a bit too colored and less separated than I’d like, but this isn’t always the case. You simply don’t have that transparent and crystalline precision that we hear so often anymore. It’s an up and down affair folks. One minute it sounds amazing, and the next… not so much.
Up & down
Listening to the Teskey Brothers in the track “Oceans of Emotions” actually sounds fantastic. His voice is naturally gruff and melodically coarse, with a throaty type of raspy charm. The JH5 seems tuned for a voice and a track like this. His voice has decent note body and even some slight vibrance in the mix. The bass is bold yet doesn’t muddy the lead singer’s vocals oddly enough. I also hear good depth on this track with the JH5. The sound is more organic to me. However, a song like “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan which is a pinch higher up the frequency and comes across a bit thinner sounding. Not papery or dry, but thinner. Slightly too vibrant as well and not as organic as I’d like. Is it bad? I suppose that depends on who you ask. For me it doesn’t sound perfect, but I can bear it just fine. There are many more examples of a smooth and lush sounding low-mid presentation and most of the time I’m very happy with what I hear. Like I said, in one moment the JH5 will sound very nice and not so great in the next. For the most part though, males sound pretty good on the JH5. It’s a bit perplexing to a degree as male vocalists (or any vocalist for that matter) can truly sound fantastic with a beautiful vocal delivery. But like a pendulum swings, there are times that I skip to the next track, if you know what I mean.
Upper-Midrange
Female vocals on the JH5 are also a bit of a mixed bag as well. The upper-mids are closer to the listener than the low-mids and the sound is pretty forward. There’s some sharpness at times near the upper most portions of the midrange but those times are rarer than they aren’t. I don’t always find upper-mid vocals perfectly natural, and there is some BA timbre and metallic sounding timbre articulation in a couple tracks. There’s a very slight lack (very slight) of perfect coherence between the BA drivers and the DD. I realize none of this sounds good and definitely isn’t a ringing endorsement. However, please trust me that when you pan-out… the JH5 sounds pretty darn nice. They’ll simply surprise you every now and again with some unwanted BA timbre. Having said all of that, the JH5 actually isn’t bad folks. I’ve said it prior, and I’ll say it again, I like the sound. The JH5 simply won’t suit all genres and tracks perfectly.
Upper-mids cont…
Take the track “Everything I Didn’t Say” by Ella Henderson. Her voice sounds fantastic on the JH5. This is not a very energetic track, and it doesn’t come across with that sharpness like I’ve been talking about. She sounds extremely good. But if you listen to “Sensitive” by Megan Trainor it’s a bit harsher. Is it that bad? I mean, maybe. Just a little sharp and not as organic. Her voice doesn’t have the same note body, and there’s also a knife edged coarseness to her voice that isn’t the most appealing. Then I listen to Lady Gaga in “Always Remember Us This Way” and I am loving what I’m hearing. She sounds closer to realistic and very melodic and mood inducing. I feel if a track is more energetic near the upper portions of the midrange it’ll possibly come across a bit less than desirable and possibly a bit sharp. Despite that, the greatest majority of the time I would tell you the JH5 does females in a very nice way.
Downsides to the Midrange
The downsides of the midrange come in the form of a touch of sharpness from the peak at the pinna rise. Also, the midrange isn’t always 100% authentic in timbre and sometimes comes across a hair sharp for my tastes. I promise though, these instances are few and far in between for me. Perhaps there’s a lack of natural details at times due to the color imposed on the midrange from the bass as well. It’s actually hard to properly get across or explain. Some tracks the JH5 sounds truly wonderful (in every sense of the word) and other tracks the JH5 seemed to lack some clarity due to the masking from the mid-bass push. Obviously on bass heavy tracks you’ll hear this occur more often.
One more thing
Having said that, the JH5 sounds better than 80% of iems in its price point. I am being extremely picky. Perhaps too picky. I can tell you this; many of you are going to listen to this set and feel I’m overreacting, and these aren’t issues at all. On the flipside, I’m sure some of you won’t feel I was harsh enough. This is how subjective the hobby actually is. I think my biggest gripe over the JH5 is that I’ve spent a ton of time with the the EPZ Star One (Review coming soon) of late, which is a huge problem for the JH5 from this reviewer’s perspective. Kinda scales this set down for me a bit. Still, if you pan-out… look at the JH5 “as a whole” and not in three compartmentalized frequencies then I think you’ll like what you hear. At the end of the day… the JH5 is a very good set and I really do have a good time listening to it.
Treble Region
Looking at the highs on the Fiio JH5 I have to say that they are slightly airy and open sounding but come across in a relaxed manner. Most certainly not overcooked or over saturated but instead a hint laid back and less rambunctious. There definitely isn’t any forced resolution in the JH5 treble. It fits the big picture of the tuning pretty well. I think Fiio needed to give this set some decent emphasis up top and decent extension to offset the beefy low-end. I do think they achieved that without pushing it too far. The treble is one which does lift up the rest of the mix and is probably the one reason that we aren’t floating in a foggy veil of bass-induced midrange sludge.
The treble is somewhat articulate, and I hear average details as well. Certainly not class leading or tuned in such a way that could ever really achieve class leading details. However, for the tuning, the treble can be crisp at times, and at times it does have decent punch & bite, but for the most part it is rendered smoother than anything else. Again, not overcooked. It isn’t hot to my ears; it isn’t glaring or peaky either. Almost like it’s just enough lift in the region to keep the JH5 from sounding too warm or dark.
Extension
Like I said a moment ago, I find the Fiio JH5 to be well extended into the upper highs where the overtones or secondary harmonics of different instruments seek to complete themselves. It’s the cherry on the top of any tuning. I find instruments in this region actually come across reasonably natural and not splashy or tizzy. Again, tastefully done. The extension of the JH5 does a couple things pretty well. One, it helps the overall soundstage to come across that much wider or perceivably wider. Two, they provide a greater sense of levity to the mix and a touch of vibrant macro dynamic expression.
Examples
There is a litany of tracks in my treble playlist, and each consists of different types of treble activity. One artist I always go to is Billy Strings. So many of his tracks feature rapid fire and higher register instruments. Listening to “Ice Bridges” you’ll hear his jet-fast banjo play, violin, the chimes thrown in, mandolin, synth too etc. The JH5 does an adequate job of providing some bite to each instrument and is actually able to articulate some of the finer subtleties and details. However, I certainly wouldn’t call the JH5 a “detail monster”, but more on that later. The JH5 keeps up with this track and doesn’t sound like a mishmash of treble sheen and I don’t hear any masking happening anywhere. Molly Tuttle is another artist who stays in the Bluegrass genre and provides similar types of instrumentation. In her track “Yosemite” with Dave Mathews I came away enjoying the edge to the treble attack with the JH5 in my ears. The JH5 has a nice ability to sound edgy yet not sharp. Not bad at all.
Downsides to the Treble Region
If I were to point out some issues up top, I would first say that those folks who desire a darker treble or less intense treble will surely want to keep looking. Or those folks who want a more rolled-off sound up top that is more laid-back and even less “offensive” will also probably want to go elsewhere. I would also say that treble heads will not feel the JH5 does enough, not enough bite and treble punch or haptic treble body up top. Of course, I don’t know what they want for $79 but I feel the JH5 does pretty well. This is not a treble which performs past its price point, but I do feel the JH5 does very well against many of the similarly tuned iems within its price point. Nice work here Fiio.
Technicalities
Soundstage
The soundstage is reasonably wide on this set. There is a good feeling of openness and a wider presentation with decent depth per the tuning. I would call it holographic, but I think we may be using this term a bit too much and also, it doesn’t make sense. So, I will instead say the soundstage has an almost 3D sense to it. I wouldn’t say that the depth is a shining star, but it is there and better than average, that’s for sure. Also, better than the average $50-$100 iem is the JH5’s width and height. The presentation is full on the JH5. It isn’t a coliseum and isn’t some massive expanse of sound either. It won’t surprise you with its multi-layered mastery and you should be cognizant that these are iems we are talking about. They are “in-ears” after all. The stage can only get so vast folks. Still, for a $79 iem I feel this is a better than average stage. Now, I should also add that the JH5 may stretch slightly wider, taller and subtly deeper but the sound is also more intimate, closer and not as pushed back or away from the listener. It’s full. I hope that makes some sense to you.
Separation / Imaging
This is a section and attribute of the JH5 that wholly depends on what track you are listening to. If you are listening to a bass heavy jam and are expecting to hear the finer midrange details and hear something with wonderful separation, then think again. The bass is emphasized enough to kind of blur the stage a bit and not separate instruments as well as it can when the bass isn’t as aggressive. Also tracks which are extremely complicated with a lot of moving parts which are recorded more congested you will also not hear great separation or imaging. If you are listening to a nicely balanced track, then the JH5 does better. Imaging really isn’t bad at all either. It all depends on your music, at least that’s what I’ve come away with. All in all, I’d say that separation and imaging is about average. Probably what you should expect from a V-shaped hybrid set under $100. It’s fine, not a separation or imaging king but it’s fine.
Detail Retrieval
I think you can pretty much copy everything from the last section and paste it here and simply swap out “separation” and “imaging” with “details”. The detail retrieval really isn’t bad at all. You don’t have this ultra thick and syrupy sound. The sound isn’t overly atmospheric and laggy. Transients are decent, especially as you near toward the top of the mix. I’d say they can range from slightly below average to above average depending on the type of music or genres you mostly listen to. More complicated stuff will sound slightly complicated. The mid-bass is boosted on this set and so any track which features this area of the mix will likely come across less detailed. The truth is, the JH5 wasn’t tuned to be a detail beast. It just wasn’t! This is a set that was tuned for fun and musicality. It was tuned to simply put into your ears and jam out. This set is not a monitoring set, and it isn’t analytical by nature, it’s fun, it’s full, it’s boomy and the JH5 isn’t meant to resolve every last detail. That said, it honestly isn’t that bad, for what it is anyways.
Comparisons
CCA Rhapsody ($34-$51)
One of the best surprises of 2023 came in the form of a hybrid iem from none other than KZ/CCA called the CCA Rhapsody. I reviewed this set and gave it very high marks (Rhapsody Review). The Rhapsody is a 2DD + 4BA hybrid iem that you can now get as low as $34 at KZ-Tws.com. Again, a huge surprise folks. This is a set with a very appealing build, look, and sound, and it even comes with dip-switches to alter the sound to suit your tastes. In truth, CCA could’ve sold the Rhapsody for quite a bit more money and if I’m being totally transparent, I don’t know if the JH5 is any better at all. If the Rhapsody suits your preference perfectly then I don’t think it’s even a question.
Differences
First off, the Rhapsody is a huge iem. A bit larger than the JH5. As far as build quality, I feel both are great and neither is “better” for me. Maybe the edge goes to the JH5 but it’s by a slight margin. The look of both sets is dope and again, I couldn’t choose which is better looking. Most certainly the JH5 has a far better set of accessories. Not even close actually. The JH5 has many more tips, it has a case, and the cable is leagues better than the cheap KZ cable. Perhaps this is the cost difference. Then again, KZ/CCA originally had the MSRP set around the $70 mark and quickly went down in price. So, take that for what you will. Again, the Rhapsody actually has dip-switches which do work very well to add or take-away bass emphasis. The sound can change pretty drastically in tonal color and fun factor. The JH5 is easier to drive.
Sound Differences
Both sets offer a warm and smooth sound with less of a regard for details and truthfully, they sound a lot alike. Again, depending on the Rhapsody’s switch settings (damn those switches, they make reviewing such a BEAR). I am choosing (for comparison’s sake) to use the switch setting DUUD which is about as balanced as the Rhapsody gets. This set can get roughly up to an 8db bass swing depending on settings so the differences can be large between the two sets.
Sound cont…
Anyways, I find the JH5 has the more solid and dense bass region by a small margin with a bit more sub-bass depth and extension. Of course, I could use UUDD and the Rhapsody all of a sudden has more sub-bass brute authority. The JH5 is a bit more transient tight with better definition in the bass over the Rhapsody in any switch setting except UUUU. The midrange on the JH5 is also warmer in the low-mids and more sparkly in the upper mids. Of course, I could change the switches on the Rhapsody and turn the tables. Both sets are only slightly recessed with a smoothened sound altogether. They are very much alike in that regard. However, I notice the Rhapsody can have a hair (a thin hair) better cohesiveness between drivers. The Rhapsody has less low-mid body and better upper-mid note weight. In truth, I’d probably say that the Rhapsody is the better set in general for vocalists. The treble of the JH5 is more precise and has better detail retrieval to my ears with better extension into the upper treble.
Further thoughts on this comparison
I’d probably say the CCA Rhapsody is the more versatile iem of the two. I have no doubts about that. Does that make it better? I wouldn’t say that. The Rhapsody is simply pleasing across the board and is one of the better sets ever made by the KZ/CCA machine. I cannot take anything away from the JH5 though, and it’s hard for me to say that one is better than the other. However, I do feel that the Rhapsody would generally please more listeners and is more cohesive, just as musical, and has a slightly larger stage. However, the JH5 has a bit more energy depending on switch alignment as well as a bit deeper bass region to my ears. Both sets are very good, but the Rhapsody is a bit cheaper too.
Truthear Hexa ($79)
The Truthear Hexa was a huge hit within the past year with many folks clamoring to get their thoughts out concerning it. Of course, it is quite polarizing and so many folks also didn’t completely appreciate the Hexa as much as others. However, I was able to review this set (Hexa Review) and can entirely appreciate this set for what it is. I can enjoy darn near every sound signature (thankfully) and can see the beauty in what Truthear was able to create with this set. The Hexa is a four-driver hybrid iem (1DD+3BA) that is a great set for listening to music as it is intended and it’s a fantastic palette cleanser type set. Most certainly the Hexa will not appeal to a huge amount of folks precisely due to its tuning. That said, if you enjoy a balanced neutral type of replay, then you won’t find much better than the Hexa under $100.
Differences
Starting with the build, the Hexa is an all plastic iem with a unique and slender build. It has a nice feel for what it is but the JH5 is built more robust in comparison. The JH5 is quite a bit larger in sheer size as well. The look is always completely subjective, but from my vantage point I do feel the JH5 is the better looking iem. You may disagree. The Hexa and the JH5 have a nice unboxing, and both come with a plentiful array of tips, nice cases (I like Hexa’s case better), but the JH5 clearly has the better cable. Both sets are easy to drive from most any source, but I do find the JH5 a bit easier and a bit less picky about source pairing. However, I also feel the Hexa scales better with some added juice.
Sound Differences
This is the definition of a “preference battle”. Two very unlike iems with very different tunings face-off against each other. The better set will be completely determined by what your preferences are. The JH5 is warmer sounding set while the Hexa is almost flat neutral with only a very slight tinge of warmth. Between the two, the JH5 is fuller sounding, better note weight, smoother, more musical, more 3D, and more fun. The Hexa is much cleaner, more resolving, yet also more relaxed and easier over long periods, better detailed and with better imaging capabilities and a better separated sound field. The JH5 bass is much deeper, warmer and much more authoritative. In contrast, the Hexa’s bass is tight, more defined with more agile transients, but also a bit softer. The midrange of the Hexa is thinner, more forward and just as smooth. The JH5 has heftier and more realistic note weight. I also find the JH5 to have a bit more shimmer in the upper-mid area. Between the two the Hexa is much more relaxed and smoothened up top whereas the JH5 is emphasized more in the treble with better extension, but also less refined and not as clean sounding. Details emerge easier on the Hexa, partially due to the more balanced sound. But also because the Hexa is simply more resolving and more open sounding with better separation to help those subtle details show forth better.
Further thoughts on this comparison
These really are two entirely different sounding sets and both very good for what they are. The Hexa is such a clean listen and so very polished in certain areas. However, the Hexa isn’t nearly as energetic and fun. The Hexa doesn’t have the musicality and emotionally adept sound as the JH5. Again, the JH5 is the more fun iem. The Hexa is the more refined, mature sounding, and more audiophile. I like them both as both iems serve a different cast of hobbyists. Actually I like everything, so I don’t count.
Ratings (0-10)
Note: all ratings are based upon my subjective judgment. These ratings are garnered against either similarly priced sets or with similar driver implementations or styles with the unique parameters of my choosing. In the case of the Fiio JH5 ratings below, that would be $50-$100 hybrid style iems. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number of other qualities which make an iem what it is. A “5-6” is roughly average and please take into consideration the “lot” of iems these ratings are gathered against. $50-$100 US is a decent sized scope of iems and so seeing a 9 should probably be pretty special. My ratings are never the same and each set of ratings tells a different story. Each time you read one of my ratings will be unique to that review. Basically, I create a Rating that makes sense to me.
Aesthetic
–Build Quality: 8.2 Built well but nothing out of the ordinary.
–Look: 8.7 Very nice looking set.
–Accessories: 9.3 Nice package for the price.
–Overall: 8.7
Sound Rating
–Timbre: 9.1 Nice timbre for a <$100 hybrid.
–Bass: 9.5 The bass is big, tight, punchy.
–Midrange: 8.1 Either amazing or… Not.
–Treble: 8.5 Relaxed but well-tuned treble.
–Technicalities: 7.4 Not the JH5’s strong suit.
–Musicality: 9.3 Musicality is good for what it is.
–Overall: 8.7🔥🔥🔥
Ratings Summary:
The ratings above make sense to me, of course I’m the one who rated this set. Have I told you that ratings aren’t a good way to scale how good or not good a product is? There are so many variables. Especially in this hobby. The range of variables is almost endless. Hence the need for me to somewhat explain myself in every review. If I were critiquing my own rating section I would first start with the “treble” rating. Some of you will say I’m out of my mind and I’m okay with that. I find this treble to be deserving of the lofty “8.5” rating I bestowed upon it. The JH5 is tuned with a nicely crisp treble that is nicely extended and fairly clean, but I could certainly see treble heads saying I’m nuts so, keep that in mind. The rest of the ratings pretty much speak for themselves. Maybe the “bass” rating will throw some folks off. To me the JH5’s low-end is wonderful. Yes, it’s more emphasized and not as technically astute, but it is tight for its larger girth and rock solid at attack with a very nice density that is satisfying to me. So, I could see some folks getting on me that there is no way it deserves to get a “9.5”. I think it deserves this because for what the JH5 is, the bass is probably the star of the show.
Is it worth the asking price?
The $79 question. I’ve thought about this quite a lot, believe it or not. If you would’ve asked me this question a year and a half ago, I’d say that the Fiio JH5 is a price point buster. No doubt about it. It is an awesome set to me that I’ve grown to love. Yes, I said “love”. There is so much to like for simple casual listening. However, I cannot agree that the JH5 is worth the $79. Not now anyways. There are just too many sets which are simply… better. I’m looking at this question from a panned-out, long-arc, whole market perspective. Now, would I personally pay the $79 for the JH5? Yes, I would. Over and over again. I think this set sounds great for my personal enjoyment. The thing is, I don’t review to only my preferences. Obviously, I have some bias at times, but I try to think of every type of consumer, if possible. I’m not always very correct in my assumptions but I try. With that thought process in mind, I can’t say the JH5 is really worth the $79. In general, there are better iems. Fiio should’ve probably priced this set about $20 cheaper around $59-60. However, for folks like me who love the sound I’ll tell you why the JH5 may totally be worth it.
The Why…
This is for ME now. For me the JH5 is worth it because I love the look of this set. I love the understated, simple but yet sleek appearance. It’s solid, it feels well built. The accessories are some of the best in the price point, hands down. Great cable, weird but cool case, enough tips. Yet as always, it’s the sound that drew me in. I love that big presence of macro-dynamic fullness. I love that awesome bass that rumbles yet never comes across sloppy, ever. There are times when the vocals sound like the JH5 should cost three times the price. Also, you’ll never hear a strong glare or pierce on this set. It is smooth but clean, lean-lush but solid in its note weight and never sibilant. My music just sounds fun. Also, the sound is actually very clean, even with the smoother cadence and note articulation. It isn’t muddy or veiled and that to me is great when you also have a solid foundation of bigger bass. I say that but I also would say that the bass doesn’t overpower the mix. There is somewhat of a dynamic balance happening here which is nice… for me. Also, details aren’t that bad either.
Conclusion
To conclude my full written review of the Fiio JH5, I feel this is a solid offering under $100 for anyone looking for possibly their first hybrid iem. There are a couple small issues but overall, I give this set a passing grade (whatever that means). Is it priced a tad too high? Eh, maybe. However, the JH5 hits a sweet spot for my personal tastes at times and I really enjoy it. I think Fiio did a very nice job here and I’d love to see them refine this tuning a bit more. The foundation is there, it’s laid, now they simply have to reign in a few issues I’ve described. Let’s put it this way, the gap between the JH5 and the other good hybrids under $100 is very small. Sometimes we forget about this. The best isn’t really “that much better”. This is a game of subtleties and small incremental upgrades which separate the good from the great. That’s it. Anyways, personally this is a dope set. However, I could certainly see the many folks not totally in line with that.
Other perspectives
As always, I need to ask you to get other perspectives pertaining to the Fiio JH5. It will only benefit you and is well worth it. We aren’t all the same folks. We all have different tastes, not all reviewers even review the same, we have different gear, different music libraries, different abilities to hear our music and we all haven’t been down the same journey in audio. All these will push and pull our thoughts in different directions. That said, I think this is coming to a close. Please take good care, try to stay as safe as possible, and always… God Bless!
