Shopping for a pair of true wireless earbuds that lean toward accurate sound instead of bass-boosted hype can be surprisingly hard, since most budget TWS models chase a “fun” tuning rather than a neutral one. I picked up the FiiO FW1 after getting tired of muddy-sounding earbuds that made every track sound the same, and it turned out to be one of the more interesting small releases from a company better known for portable DACs and digital audio players. Instead of a generic dynamic driver, FiiO built the FW1 around a Knowles-customized balanced armature driver, which is the same driver technology used in higher-end in-ear monitors, just packed into a wireless shell.
| Spec | FiiO FW1 |
|---|---|
| Driver | Knowles-customized balanced armature |
| Bluetooth chip | Qualcomm QCC3020 (BT 5.0) |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX |
| Weight per earbud | ~4.3g |
| Playback per charge | ~7 hours |
| Combined with case | ~21 hours |
| Call mic | cVc 8.0 noise reduction |
What Makes the FW1 Different From Typical TWS Earbuds
Most true wireless earbuds in this price range use a single dynamic driver, which is cheap to manufacture and tends to emphasize bass. FiiO instead reached for a balanced armature (BA) driver, a technology historically reserved for higher-end wired in-ear monitors. Balanced armature drivers are prized for detail retrieval and a tighter, faster response, though they can sound thinner in the sub-bass if not tuned carefully. FiiO addressed this by working closely with Knowles, the company that manufactures the actual BA unit, to get a custom tuning that keeps bass present without letting it dominate the signature.
Connectivity runs through a Qualcomm QCC3020 chip, which was a fairly capable mid-tier Bluetooth solution supporting Bluetooth 5.0, SBC, AAC, and aptX codecs. FiiO also implemented TrueWireless Stereo Plus (a Qualcomm-specific dual-transmission protocol) so each earbud receives its audio stream independently from the phone, rather than one earbud relaying to the other. In practice this tends to reduce the stutter and dropout issues that plague cheaper TWS designs, especially in crowded Bluetooth environments like a train platform or gym.
Build, Fit, and Everyday Comfort
- Each earbud weighs about 4.3 grams, which is light enough to forget you are wearing them during a long commute.
- The housing has dust and moisture resistance, useful for workouts or unpredictable weather, though FiiO does not market a formal IP rating for full submersion.
- cVc 8.0 noise reduction is built in for phone calls, filtering out background chatter on the microphone side rather than adding active noise cancelling for playback.
- An LDS (laser direct structuring) antenna is embedded in the housing, which is a manufacturing technique that lets FiiO route the Bluetooth antenna more precisely inside a small earbud shell for a steadier connection.
I found the stock eartips fit smaller ear canals reasonably well, and the earbuds themselves sit flush rather than protruding, which helps if you like sleeping on your side with them in or wearing a hood over your ears in colder weather.
Battery Life and Charging Case
FiiO rates the FW1 at roughly 7 hours of playback per charge on the earbuds themselves, which is solid for a balanced armature design since BA drivers are generally more power-hungry per unit of output than a comparable dynamic driver. The charging case adds about three additional full recharges, bringing total combined playback to around 21 hours before you need to plug the case itself back into a cable. That is enough for a full work week of moderate listening if you top off the case every night, and it comfortably covers a long-haul flight with the case topping up the buds mid-journey.
One detail worth flagging for anyone comparing specs sheets: FiiO also makes an FW1 product page that lists the exact battery and codec breakdown, and it is worth a look before buying since FiiO periodically issues firmware updates that can tweak Bluetooth stability.
Sound Signature: What a BA Driver Actually Sounds Like Here
Balanced armature drivers tend to be described as “faster” sounding than dynamic drivers, meaning transients (the sharp attack of a drum hit or plucked string) resolve with less smearing. On the FW1 this translates to vocals that sound clean and forward without becoming shouty, and enough resolution in the midrange that acoustic recordings do not collapse into mush the way they can on bass-heavy earbuds. Bass extension is respectable for a BA design, though listeners coming from a sub-heavy dynamic-driver earbud may notice the low end feels slightly more polite by comparison. Treble is present without being harsh, which matters a lot for anyone who listens for multiple hours at a time, since fatiguing treble is one of the most common complaints about budget wireless earbuds.
A detailed hands-on discussion of the driver choice and initial impressions is available on the Head-Fi community thread, which is a useful read if you want a broader range of listener opinions beyond a single review.
Setting Up the FW1 With Your Phone
- Open the charging case lid with both earbuds inside, which puts them into pairing mode automatically on first use.
- On your phone, open Bluetooth settings and look for “FIIO FW1” in the list of available devices.
- Tap to connect; both earbuds should link almost simultaneously thanks to the TrueWireless Stereo Plus protocol mentioned earlier.
- For subsequent uses, simply removing the earbuds from the case reconnects them to the last paired phone automatically.
- If you switch between multiple devices often, you may need to forget the connection on one device before pairing fresh with another, since the FW1 does not support true multipoint pairing.
Who Should Consider the FW1
If your priority is vocal clarity and instrument separation over maximum bass slam, and you are coming from wired in-ear monitors but want the convenience of wireless, the FW1 is a sensible bridge product. It is less appealing if you specifically want thumping bass for workouts or active noise cancellation for commuting, since neither is really the point of this design. Retail listings such as the one on Amazon are a good way to compare current pricing against other TWS options in the same bracket.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Only one earbud has sound
Place both earbuds back in the case, close the lid for about ten seconds, then take them out together again. This re-establishes the TrueWireless Stereo Plus link between the two buds, which resolves the large majority of one-sided audio issues on this design.
Earbuds won’t pair or don’t show up in Bluetooth settings
Forget any existing “FIIO FW1” entry in your phone’s Bluetooth settings first, then place both buds back in the case and reopen the lid to restart pairing mode. A case with very low charge can also fail to trigger pairing, so confirm the case itself has charge before troubleshooting further.
Audio stutters or cuts out in crowded areas
This is typically Bluetooth interference rather than a defect, especially in places with a lot of competing wireless traffic like a train platform or gym. TrueWireless Stereo Plus helps here since each earbud gets its own independent stream, but extremely crowded RF environments can still cause occasional dropouts on any Bluetooth device.
Can’t switch cleanly between two paired devices
The FW1 does not support true multipoint pairing, so if you regularly switch between a phone and a laptop, you’ll need to forget the connection on one device before pairing fresh with the other. Trying to stay connected to both at once is the most common cause of confusing behavior here.
Case won’t charge or earbuds show low battery immediately after charging
Check the charging pins on both the case and the earbuds for lint, and make sure each bud is seated fully rather than resting loosely. If the case itself won’t take a charge over USB, try a different cable, since a charge-only cable or a worn cable is a more common culprit than a hardware fault.
FAQ
Does the FiiO FW1 support wireless charging?
No, the case charges over a wired connection only; there is no Qi wireless charging pad support on this model.
What codecs does the FW1 support?
SBC, AAC, and aptX are all supported through the Qualcomm QCC3020 chip, so both Android and iPhone users get a reasonably good codec match depending on their device.
Is the FW1 waterproof for running or gym use?
The housing resists dust and moisture splashes, but FiiO has not published a formal IP rating, so treating it as sweat-resistant rather than fully waterproof is the safer approach.
How does a balanced armature driver differ from a dynamic driver in earbuds?
A balanced armature uses a small electromagnetic armature to move a tiny diaphragm, generally trading some bass slam for improved detail and speed compared to the larger diaphragm used in a typical dynamic driver.
Can I use only one earbud at a time?
Yes, thanks to the TrueWireless Stereo Plus implementation, either earbud can function independently in mono mode if you only want to wear one side.
I have spent years testing consumer audio gear for this site, comparing wired and wireless in-ear designs across price brackets, and I try to call out where a product’s marketing claims and its actual in-use performance start to diverge.