This is an appreciation post for Fiio Fd7. Its not discussed much among audiophiles. But here is my impressions of this iem after using it for last 2 months.
1. Pure beryllium driver
2. Its different from fd5. Whereas fd5 was more tuned towards fun sound signature with plenty of bass, fd7 is much more neutral and tuned towards reference quality.
3. Package, shape, fit, comfort - similar to fd5. Amplification- not required.
4. Tips used - spinfit cp100 large and SednaEarfit Azla medium. Used the medium bore tube.
5. Source- fiio m11 plus, cayin RU6, L&P W2, looto paw s1
7. Impressions :
Playlist
1. Preet unpluged by Jasleen Royal- very well mastered track. I love this track because the recording is done in a way where you can pin point the location of the instruments on the soundstage. The initial plucking of strings feels so real, with clicking of the drum sticks and tambourine in the background. The voice comes super clean and melodious. One of the best renditions of female voice. Very natural tonality and timbre. Tambourine sound will come intermittently throughout the track. The localisation is spot on. Changes in voice tonality felt accurately. Soundstage feels real and accurate for the track. The flute interlude with drum feels dreamy. The clappings at the last part feel realistic.
2. Shiddat title track by Manan Bhardwaj - the song starts modestly. The soundstage expands twice and you can feel the cresendo like increase in pace of the song clearly. The chorus appeal to emotions and the focal voice is heard distinctly among the background.
The last drum beats are felt separately and they actually appear to move around the soundstage. The last intimate part feels lovely.
3. Naina by Sona Mohapatra- Beautiful voice. Tonality is spot on. The bass comes sweet.
"Ae mann karda ae thagi thoriya
Ae mann karda ae seena zoriyan"
The slam is adequate with spinfit.
4. Little little by A. R. rahaman- boss this is the song that totally display its capabilities in bass segment. Outstanding music arrangement by A.R. Rahaman. Its a complex song with plenty of different percussion instruments and changing positions of vocals. The last part is pure bliss for percussion instrument lovers. The drums, tabla, dhols, other tapping instruments- so accurate rendition. Really blows your mind.
5. Dil na Janeya by Rochak Kohli- starts with beautiful string instrument. The pluckings are felt for real. The position of string instrument changes to forward around 50 sec. Feels lovely. The sweet and deep bass comes at 1.24 min. Sweet deep bass. Then there is a high pitched sound for interlude. This is probably stick hitting octapad. Very sharp. For most if my other iems, this tapping sound is piercing my ears. Its almost rolled off here. The guitar is sweetly represented throughout the track. Male english vocal is accurate and layering is clear.
6. Yeh Aina by Amaal Malik and Shreya Ghoshal- Guitar starts off well. Stage expands as song progress. Then with the sweet voice of Shreya comes the wood clacking sound of the percussion instrument. Its like two wooden blocks are hit on a surface and then hitting one another. The rhytm is evident throughout the song in background with the voice in front. Its crazy feeling really. Beautiful song.
7. Gazab Ka hai din by Jubin Nautiyal- oh boy... the 'I feel love' segment sounds so good.
8. Naariyan by Amit Trivedi- this is an experimental track. Its quite busy. But the advantage of fd7 is you can relish everything in a busy track. Each instrument is represented in the mix. Same experience with 'Udd gaye' by Ritviz.
9. Luv Ju by Shankar-Ehsaan- Loy - bass bhai bass. Its fun song to showcase bass performance. The bass is well controlled. Exactly the amount you'd love but no bleed to mid. 'The drums in the interlude part is totally mindblowing. Another song is Naaja by Tanisk Bagchi. Whooping bass.
Impressions-
Bass- bhai bass is right at top. Subbass is present. Rumbling - adequate rumble. Its not a bass heavy iem. But bass is big when asked for.
Middle part- not vocal forward like so many multi BA iems. Vocals form part of song and instruments.
Trebble- a bit rolled off. But its very appropriate.
Soundstage- phenomenal. Soundstage expands to huge size effortlessly and then next moment it becomes intimate. Like the Naadan Parindey song where the voice becomes intimate suddenly in interlude or Shayyad song from Love Aaj kaal 2 where the stage expands during the last part of the song. Width much more than height.
Localisation- spot on.
Layering- very well appreciated.
Details- right at the top.
It feels like a fluid membrane that can translate any change in analog signal to life like music. The more details you feed it, the more musical it becomes. I haven't reached its full potential. Need something like hiby RS6 or cayin N6ii.
Recommend it. Thanks to the audiostore and Pritam Halpawat for guidance.