FiiO FiiO FA19 10 Balanced Armature in Ear Monitors | Review

The FiiO FA19 delivers excellent, detailed sound with a useful analytical/listening mode switch. But it's a wired-only specialist tool with notoriously bad comfort and a terrible microphone. It's worth considering if you're a serious listener at a desk, but skip it if you need wireless, comfort, or a good mic. Prices vary wildly, so stick to listings around $1,000.

The FiiO FA19 is a wired in-ear monitor (IEM) that's built for a very specific crowd: the serious listener who wants to dissect their music, not just enjoy it. With ten balanced armature drivers and a custom Knowles unit for the lows, it's an engineering exercise aimed at delivering surgical precision across the frequency range. It's not your everyday Bluetooth earbud. This is a tool for critical listening, studio work, and chasing that elusive 'perfect' sound.

What makes it interesting is that dual-mode switch on the cable. You can flip between a flat, analytical 'Monitor' mode for mixing and editing, and a more energetic 'HiFi' mode that pumps up the mids and bass for regular listening. That's a clever trick, letting one pair of ears serve two very different masters. It also comes with a serious pure silver cable, which audiophile lore says improves detail transmission. We're talking about a wired-only, 10Ω impedance piece of kit here, so you'll need a decent source to drive it properly.

For the right person, this could be a revelation. For someone just looking for a good pair of headphones to commute with, it'll be a confusing, uncomfortable brick. Its percentile scores tell the story: sound quality lands in a strong position, but comfort is in the bottom 3% of all products we've tested. That's a massive trade-off to consider right from the start.

Let's talk about that sound score, which sits in the 78th percentile. That means it's well above average, and in our testing, that translates to exceptional clarity and detail retrieval. The ten-driver setup and that fancy Japanese ruby capacitor crossover aim for pinpoint accuracy, and they mostly achieve it. You'll hear layers in a mix that cheaper IEMs just smear together. The custom low-frequency driver does add punch, especially in HiFi mode, but it's a controlled, precise punch rather than a bloated bass cannon.

The real-world implication of the other scores is where things get tricky. The mic score is in the 22nd percentile, which is disappointing. These are not for calls. The connectivity score is even worse, in the 11th percentile, because they're wired-only with no Bluetooth option at all. And then there's comfort, sitting in the absolute worst tier we measure. Multiple users in our database report the fit is challenging, and the 650g weight (which is quite heavy for an IEM) doesn't help. So you're getting top-tier sound for the price, but you're paying for it in physical discomfort and a complete lack of modern features.

Here's the wild part: the listed price range across vendors is from $1,000 to over $205,000. That absurd high end is almost certainly a data error or a placeholder listing, but the real market price seems to anchor around the lower end of that range. For around $1,000, you're getting a lot of driver technology and a nice cable. Compared to other high-end IEMs in that price bracket, like the Moondrop Blessing 3 or Mangird Tea Pro mentioned in reviews, the FA19's value is in its unique driver configuration and that mode switch. However, you're sacrificing comfort and any modern convenience. If you can find it for the lower price, it's a competitive option for sound quality alone. If you see it listed for anything approaching the higher numbers, run away. Always check multiple retailers.

If you're looking at the FA19, you're probably also considering IEMs like the Moondrop Blessing 3 or the Mangird Tea Pro. Both are multi-driver IEMs in a similar price and performance tier. The trade-off is that those competitors often prioritize a more balanced comfort and fit experience. The FA19 bets everything on its driver tech and switch, accepting that you might have to fiddle with ear tips or just endure the fit. For some, that's a worthy trade for the sound. For others, it's a dealbreaker.

Then there's the broader market of wireless earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM6 or Apple AirPods Pro. This isn't a fair comparison because they're different products for different lives. The FA19 will sound more detailed and accurate than any of those, but they'll lack active noise cancellation, Bluetooth, a good mic, and they'll be far less comfortable for daily wear. The FA19 is for dedicated listening sessions at your desk. The Sonys are for your commute, your workouts, and your calls. Choose the tool for the job.

Skip the FA19 if you need headphones for commuting, working out, or any mobile use. The wired connection and poor comfort make it a terrible choice. Also skip it if you need a good microphone for calls, gaming chat, or recording—its mic performance is a weak spot. And definitely skip it if you're not deeply interested in audio tech; the experience might be frustrating compared to more user-friendly options. Instead, look at high-end wireless earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM6 for mobile use, or more ergonomic wired IEMs like the Moondrop Blessing 3 for desk-bound listening without the fit issues.

If you are an audio engineer, a mixing enthusiast, or a dedicated audiophile with a quiet listening space and a good DAC/amp, the FA19 is a compelling choice. Its sound quality is a standout, and the mode switch adds real versatility. You'll likely appreciate the detail and be willing to experiment with different ear tips to solve the comfort problem.

For almost everyone else, we recommend looking elsewhere. If you want great sound but also need to use them on the go, consider high-end wireless models or more comfortable wired IEMs. If you need them for gaming or calls, the poor mic quality makes them a bad pick. If you just want enjoyable music and don't want to think about fit or cables, there are countless better, more user-friendly options. This is a specialist's tool, not a general-purpose headphone.