Overview

The FiiO FA19 is a flagship in-ear monitor built entirely around balanced armature drivers — ten per ear, developed in collaboration with Knowles. Each side pairs four custom Knowles bass drivers, two Knowles ED mid drivers, and four Knowles SWFK treble drivers, covering a 20Hz–40kHz frequency range at 10Ω impedance and 106dB/mW sensitivity. The shells are DLP 3D printed from photosensitive resin to a precision of up to 0.0375mm, keeping each earpiece to about 7g. An 8-strand, 224-wire high-purity silver cable terminates in an expanded MMCX connector and swappable 3.5mm/4.4mm plugs.

Simcoe Audio Video Insight

Splitting ten drivers across three dedicated frequency bands per ear — four for bass, two for mids, four for treble — lets FiiO tune each range independently instead of asking a smaller driver count to cover the whole spectrum, which is the same approach used in reference-grade studio monitors.

• 10 Knowles balanced armature drivers per ear (4 bass, 2 mid, 4 treble)
• 20Hz–40kHz frequency response, Hi-Res Audio certified
• 8-strand, 224-wire silver cable with swappable 3.5mm/4.4mm plugs

Best for the FiiO FA19: use the 4.4mm balanced plug with a desktop DAC/amp or a balanced-output DAP to get the most resolution out of the ten-driver array.

More Details

Why It Wins

• 10-Driver Balanced Armature Array: Four Knowles bass, two Knowles mid, and four Knowles treble drivers per ear, custom-developed with Knowles.
• Precision 3D-Printed Shells: DLP resin printing to 0.0375mm precision for a consistent, comfortable fit at about 7g per earpiece.
• Premium Silver Cable: 8 strands of 224 high-purity silver wires with swappable 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs.

What Makes It Different

Most multi-driver IEMs split two or three ranges across a handful of drivers. The FA19 dedicates a purpose-built cluster to each of bass, mid, and treble, all fully balanced armature, which is a different engineering approach than the hybrid dynamic-plus-BA designs more commonly seen at this price.

Technical Highlights

• 10Ω Impedance / 106dB/mW Sensitivity: Efficient enough to drive from a wide range of sources while still rewarding a dedicated amp.
• Expanded MMCX Connector: Detachable cable for easy replacement or upgrades.
• Hi-Res Audio Certified: Certified by both JAS and CEA.

Buyers Guide

Who This Is For

• The Dedicated Audiophile: Wants a fully balanced armature flagship with independently tuned frequency bands.
• The Critical Listener: Values precise separation between bass, mids, and treble over a single unified driver signature.
• The Collector of Fine Cables: Will appreciate the included high-purity silver cable and swappable plug system.

Ideal Use Case

• Critical Home Listening: Paired with a resolving DAC/amp or desktop source.
• Studio and Mastering Reference: Where separated frequency bands help with detailed monitoring.
• High-End Portable Listening: With a balanced-output DAP using the 4.4mm plug.

What To Pair It With

• A Balanced Desktop DAC/Amp: To use the 4.4mm plug and unlock the full driver array's resolution.
• A High-Resolution DAP: For portable listening without sacrificing detail.
• Lossless or Hi-Res Source Material: To take advantage of the FA19's Hi-Res Audio certification.

Alternative Options

The FA19 is a fully balanced armature flagship with ten drivers per ear. If you'd prefer a hybrid design instead, FiiO's FH9 pairs a dynamic driver with six balanced armatures, while the FA7s offers a more accessible six-driver balanced armature option.