Fiio EX1 2nd Gen In Ear Headphones Review

Fiio EX1 2nd Gen Pros&Cons

Fiio EX1 2nd Gen Specs

• Impedance: 16Ω
• Driver size: 13mm Dynamic driver
• Frequency response: 20-40000 Hz
• Sensitivity: 98dB/mW
• Cable length: 120cm
• Weight: 18g

Packaging

Fiio have really been stepping up their packaging game, and the EX1 2nd Gen is no different. Whilst it’s not exactly what we’d call super premium, at this price we don’t expect anything more, if we’re totally honest. In fact, this level of packaging would even be perfectly adequate for a more expensive product, and is a major step up from the first generation.

What’s in the box?

• Fiio EX1 2nd Gen
• Protective case
• 9 pairs of various silicon eartips
• Warranty card

Accessories

Another department that Fiio have excelled in is with the number of eartips included. You get a total of 9 pairs, which consist of various sizes and designs. These will pretty much guarantee that you will find a pair that fit you well, and the different designs will also allow you to slightly alter the sound signature. Tips with wide open bores will reduce bass presence and increase high frequency extension, whereas smaller bore tips will have the opposite effect. The most notable additions are what seem to be clones of the Sony Hybrid tips.

However, the real star of the show, in terms of the accessories, is the included case. It’s a hard-plastic case, and it’s actually rather good. It doesn’t really feel cheap, and the locking mechanism is a nice push-button. It’s also quite compact, providing just enough room for the EX1 2nd Gen and perhaps some spare eartips. It seems to be the same case as the one that was included with the first generation EX1 2nd Gen.

 

Design

Fiio doesn’t seem to have changed the design a great deal from the first generation EX1, although the EX1 2nd Gen now only comes in black, and the cable no longer features semi-transparent insulation. You get the same semi-open housing, as well as the coloured rings to distinguish between the left and right earpieces.
The metal housing feels solid enough, but not overly heavy. In fact, once they’re in your ears, you don’t get any sensation that they’re weighing you down at all. Comfort is quite good, and this is probably due to the angled nozzle of the housing. Just like the first generation, the housings still features the Dunu name (as the EX1 2nd Gen was created in collaboration with Dunu), but it isn’t quite as noticeable with the black colour.

Sound

The real star of the show is how these babies perform. Honestly, at this price point, the performance came as quite a surprise. The EX1 2nd Gen doesn’t feature absolute clarity and fidelity, but they don’t sound like your typical consumer grade pair either. Whilst they definitely do put more of an emphasis on bass, it doesn’t sound quite as bloated as one would expect. It’s actually a fairly balanced sound signature, whilst the highs are slightly rolled off.
The semi-open design, however, does give you a rather satisfyingly wide and open presentation, at the cost of isolation. The EX1 2nd Gen is definitely not a pair to use on your daily commute or in noisy environments, simply due to how much ambient sound will leak in. But in all honesty, in this price-range, the EX1 2nd Gen might very well be the best performing set of IEMs; besting our previous favourite, MEE Audio’s M6 Pro.

Value

As mentioned above, it’s gonna be hard to beat the EX1 2nd Gen in terms of value and performance at this price. Whilst the M6 Pro does offer far more isolation, a more comfortable fit, and a slightly lower price, the EX1 2nd Gen simply shoots past in the sound department. If you prefer a more bass prominent sound, the M6 Pro will be a better option, though. However, if you’re looking for a relatively budget-friendly option to introduce you to the world of somewhat balanced, high fidelity sound, the EX1 2nd Gen is an excellent product.

Read: MEE Audio M6 Pro In Ear Headphones Review

Rating

The NO BULL rating system is designed to take as many aspects of the device into account as possible. As such, we have a basic rating, as well as a final rating. The basic rating rates the product purely as a high quality portable audio device, and is generally a good indicator of how it stacks up to its rivals in terms of standard features and specs. The final rating, however, grants bonus points for any extra features and specs that aren’t quite as common, and is a great way to judge the product as a complete package.

Packaging
Look and feel: 7 / 10

Included Accessories
More than 3 pairs of eartips included: YES
Protective case: YES

Build
Quality control: 10 / 10
Seems durable: YES
Microphonics: 7 / 10
Comfort: 8 / 10

Sound
Relatively balanced signature: YES
Soundstage: 8 / 10
Detail retrieval: 8 / 10
Sibilance: 7 / 10
Instrument separation: 7 / 10
Isolation: 5 / 10
Hiss: 7 / 10

Portability
Small size: 9 / 10
Relatively low power required: 8 / 10
Weight: 8 / 10

Value
Competitive price-point: YES
Relative value: 10 / 10

Basic Rating: 7.9

Bonus points
Removable cables: –
Number of cables included: –
Premium cables: –
Pairs of eartips above 3 pairs: 6
How premium the case looks and feels: 7
Battery life above 8 hours: –
Bluetooth: –
Apt-X: –
Volume/remote controls: YES
Metal body: YES
Interchangeable filter system: –
Premium look and feel: YES
Use of exotic materials: –
Bluetooth connection quality: –
1/4” adapter included: –
Cable management: YES
Aircraft adapter: –

Final Rating: 9.0