Fiio JH5 - Just Shy of the Whole Package

 4.5⭐️

+ Deep, impactful bass

+ Clear, forward vocals

+ Inoffensive treble without sibilance 

+ Musical and resolving

+ Fit, comfort, and build quality of shells

- Too bassy for neutral/trebleheads

- Dynamics a bit lacking (although not really a negative for me)

- Stock cable doesn't quite match the quality of the iems

- Included case is...interesting

thaslaya's star rating system:

☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!

☆☆☆☆ - Recommended

☆☆☆ - There are buyers but not for me

☆☆ - Can't see the appeal

☆ - Product is a failure

Disclaimer: 

This set was provided by Fiio in exchange for my honest and impartial review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Gear used: 

● LG v30+

● Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra

● Samsung dongle

● Hiby FC4

● Kiwi Ears Allegro 

● iFi GO bar Kensei

Source:

Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD.

Introduction:

The Fiio brand needs little introduction. They were founded way back in 2007 and are known to most audiophiles worldwide. Based out of China, they produce many portable and desktop products ranging from DAC/amps all the way to iems, earbuds, and over-ear headphones. The JH5 is one of Fiio's more recent additions, debuting earlier this year. It's sports a hybrid configuration consisting of a single 10mm dynamic driver and 4 custom balanced armature drivers, 2 for mids and 2 for highs. It's currently priced at $79.99 on Fiio's own site and is also available through Amazon. Let's see how this model stacks up in today's increasingly crowded market.

Build, fit, ergonomics:

The JH5 comes in a nice shiny silver box that looks more expensive than it is. The iems are nestled inside foam cutouts and the accessories are in a small box underneath. The JH5 are available in 2 color options: opaque shells with a black faceplate or clear shells with a silver faceplate. The shell are a semi-custom shaped resin and the faceplate is a contoured metal with "Fiio" imprinted on each. The shells are lightweight and the nozzle length and width are about average. There is a large vent located on the back of each shell so there's no fear of pressure build up. For me, this is one of the most comfortable iems I've had to date, even for extended listening periods. The stock cable is well braided but does feel a bit cheap, stiff, and unruly. It doesnt match the quality feel of the iems themselves and unfortunately it's only available in 3.5mm. I prefer to use 4.4mm so for my impressions I subbed it out for the Penon PAC480 cable. Inside the box are 6 pairs of silicone tips, 3 black and 3 clear. The black tips are a bit longer than the clear so those needing a deeper insertion will probably opt for the former. The stock tips are serviceable but I opted to use my Penon Liqueur tips as I prefer the slightly sticky texture to get a better seal. The plastic case that accompanies the JH5 is Fiio's HB11 stackable storage solution. I was a bit confused by its inclusion as it's basically useless for travelling. It functions more like a drawer than a case and it has a lego-like structure for stacking multiple units together. It would make a nice desktop or shelf storage display, but I'd personally rather have a traditional zipper case included in the box.

Sound impressions:

I would characterize the JH5 as having a somewhat U-shaped profile. The tuning is slightly warm with a healthy mid bass boost, although it's not basshead set. The soundstage has good width and depth with vocals positioned slightly forward. Both the bass and treble are fairly well extended which also lends to the expansion of the soundstage. They lean more musical over resolving, but don't get me wrong, there is still plenty of detail to be heard. Though keep in mind, it's not on par with class leaders like the Simgot EA500LM. There is good note separation but the frequencies still remain cohesive. Its not a super dynamic set nor does it have what I'd call a "fun" or "exciting" tuning. However, the frequencies are beautifully tuned and well balanced creating an elegant, mature sound profile. I could listen to the JH5 for hours without any fatigue. The note weight is not heavy but it does have plenty of heft and warmth. They are easy enough to drive and can reach high volumes without amplification but a little extra power helps bring out their full potential. 

●Lows - The sub bass is well extended and has good rumble. The mid bass has ample slam and is slightly more prominent than the sub bass, adding a touch of warmth. The lower frequencies are punchy and well textured. The attack is fast with a slightly lingering decay. There is decent reverberation and presence in the bass but it remains free from sounding bloated or blooming. The bass and mids are well separated and mostly stay in their own lane. Even with the elevated midbass there is little to no bleed to my ear. 

●Mids - The mids are prominent without detracting from either the bass or treble. Vocals are slightly pushed forward but the tuning still remains mostly balanced. Vocals present a natural, organic timbre and an alluring charm. Both male and female artists exhibit a lifelike quality with no hint of shout, nasally tone, or harshness. Instruments such as piano, strings, brass, and guitar also possess very natural timbre. The JH5's midrange is definitely a highlight of the tuning, as it exhibits a musical and well-balanced profile. It's not a vocal specialist like the Aful MagicOne but there's still plenty here to love.

●Highs - Treble is well extended for the price. It's not the best but it also doesn't feel claustrophobic or lacking air and sparkle. Again, there is a good balance here with the other frequencies. The biggest praise that I can laud on the treble presentation is that they are airy and open without any hint of sibilance. Even at high volumes with tracks that typically trouble me, the treble remains bright and crisp with no issues. Cymbals, hi-hats, snares, and claps all have a distinctive edge but still sound correct and inoffensive. For me, this is treble done very well. To be fair, I do consider myself to be more sensitive than most. To my ears the JH5 presents fantastic, airy highs with no sibilance anywhere. The tuning does lean just slightly brighter than my usual preference, and the treble extension could be better, but those are my only minor nitpicks.

Softears Volume and Fiio JH5 size and shape comparison.

In conclusion:

Fiio has a sleeper hit on their hands! This one is flying under the radar and not being talked about enough. The JH5 is resolving while still being musical. It boasts a wide and deep soundstage and excellent separation and note weight. The bass is impactful, the vocals are forward and organic, and the treble is detailed and airy without sibilance. For me, the tuning is fantastic and pretty much lands right within my personal preferences. The ergonomic shape and build quality of the shells is also top notch. If the stock cable wasn't so stiff and the case was more tranditional, I'd have to declare the JH5 to be the complete package. As it stands, those minor flaws are holding me back from awarding it a full 5 stars. However, if you're able to overlook the shortcomings of the accessories, you'd be hard pressed to find a better value in this price bracket. If you have a nice cable to roll and an alternative storage solution, the JH5 could just become your daily driver. It's mature tuning and comfortable, easy fit should satisfy most consumers. The JH5 also bear a striking resemblance to my current favorite iem, the Softears Volume. The shape and size of the shells, the overall build quality, and the tuning are pretty similar. The Volume is priced at $285 and features 2 less BA drivers, but it's also important to note that it released 2 years earlier. The fact that the JH5 can compete with a set over 3 times more in cost is quite telling of the increase in iem quality over the last couple of years. The market is now moving at breakneck speed and shows no signs of slowing anytime soon. It's a great time to jump into the audiophile world as high quality sound is now more accessible than ever. In conclusion if this review hasn't made it clear, I'm a big fan of the JH5. They get a very enthusiastic recommendation from me and at $79.99, it's an absolute no-brainer. They're definitely one of the best iems I've heard under $250. Congratulations to Fiio for a job well done!