Fiio FA19 VS Moondrop Illustrious

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Fiio FA19 brings a premium feel: a sturdy, slightly translucent shell with visible BA packs, comfy fit, and a plush eight-wire cable that terminates in 4.4mm. The MMCX sockets aren’t ideal, but the shell is vented, holds tips well, and the magnetic case feels upmarket. Sonically, this 10-BA set leans warm-neutral with a rich, cohesive presentation—male vocals sound full, some female vocals come off a bit husky, and bass has quantity more than tightness. There’s a touch of 5–6 kHz energy and slight hiss; treble is clean and pleasant rather than showy. The bass switch mostly bumps mid-bass; the lower setting keeps things tidier. Overall it’s Fiio’s most well-rounded tuning to date, just shy of “exceptional” because of that soft mid-bass and a mildly flabby midrange.

Versus peers, FD15 sounds more neutrally tuned (if less special), while all-BA options like Supernova feel more natural and controlled down low. In the wider field, sets like Letshuoer Mystic 8 (a bit of a sleeper), ThieAudio Monarch MK4 (cleaner upper-mids, dual bass settings), ZiiGaat Luna (tighter, crisper for far less money), or even budget-friendlier picks such as YU9 can offer a stronger value proposition. At around $1,000, FA19 earns a solid recommendation for those who enjoy a warmer, airy BA take—graded roughly A4 / S-—but it’s a demo-first purchase and shines much brighter if found used around $300–$400. Not a new benchmark, yet a very good Fiio with treble finesse and a smooth, easygoing signature that many will simply enjoy.

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Fiio’s FA19 brings a lavish unboxing at a $1,000 ticket: a premium case, a magnetic cable tie, cleaning and MMCX tools, and a mountain of ear tips (silicone sets, dual-flange, foams, full SpinFits, and HS18). The cable uses swappable terminations executed cleanly, though it’s a bit stiff, and the MMCX hardware rotates freely. The clear resin shells feel dense and well-finished, with a small nozzle and a medium fit that’s comfortable but not very secure—the MMCX rotation often requires a nudge to keep placement in the ear. Inside are 10 BAs per side and a tuning switch that Fiio markets as “monitor” vs “hi-fi.”

On the ear, FA19 reads as a warm, dense V-shape even in the so-called monitor mode. The switch simply means “more bass” vs “a lot of bass,” lifting the entire low end for thickness but yielding drone and blur rather than punch or texture—described as farty, flat-backed bass. Up top there’s sparkle, but treble control is lacking, pushing sibilance on vocals and cymbals; stage is fairly narrow and imaging unremarkable, though mid/upper-treble lift can tease out some vocal grain and breath. Against a key rival, the 64 Audio U4s (with M12), the Fiio feels outclassed: U4s offers tighter, better-balanced bass, a more neutral midrange, and non-fatiguing treble with enough extension to stay lively. Verdict: despite stellar accessories and build, FA19’s tuning and technicals don’t justify its price; not recommended at $1,000—and there are stronger options even far cheaper.

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Fiio FA19 arrives as a true kilobuck treat, pairing monumental bass impact with high-end finesse. A 10-BA array (including custom bass drivers), a clever negative-feedback system, and an audio-grade crossover deliver deep, clean low end without clouding the mids—male vocals stay forward, natural, and ultra-clear. Up top, cymbal work has sparkle, air, and detail yet remains smooth and sibilance-free, while separation and layering feel studio-grade. At $1,000, this tuning reads as resolving, fast in attack/decay, and unmistakably fun.

For pure performance, the FA19 brings pinpoint imaging, beautiful depth perception, and a wide, well-ventilated stage that elevate both music and play. The bass toggle dip-switch can push sub-bass and mid-bass into downright addictive territory; switching it off reins things in for a more reference-leaning balance. Even against strong mid-tier contenders, micro-detail and retrieval step up a notch here—airy treble textures, subtle room cues, and layered backgrounds all come through with ease.

Competitive gamers get a standout edge: Valorant tracking feels “wall-hack” precise, Call of Duty benefits from immersive LFE without masking cues (especially with the switch off), and Rainbow Six Siege showcases clear vertical and positional info. The only caution is that the switch-on mode can be a touch sub-bass heavy in titles like Apex; otherwise this is an A-tier pick for the Wall-Hack Certified list—an analytical beast that blends clarity with grin-inducing punch.

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Thieaudio Valhalla lands as an “endgame” all-rounder with standout resolution, micro-detail, and imaging. Layering and separation are locked in, with vocals that aren’t scooped—mids stay present and natural. Sub-bass hits rumblier than the U12t and the treble avoids that sudden, sharp peak, making the overall presentation smoother yet still airy. Versus the Cadenza 12, Valhalla is less treble-heavy, a touch bassier, and not as bright-leaning; the Cadenza 12 may edge it on micro-detail by only a few percentage points, so it’s a straight tuning preference: go Cadenza 12 for leaner/brighter sparkle, go Valhalla for the better-balanced bassy all-rounder.

On value, this isn’t twice the performance of a Monarch Mk II/Mk III—think ~10% better with clear diminishing returns. For the “chase the very best” crowd, it’s absolutely worth a listen; for most, Monarchs/LTD/Crimson are already more than enough for a so-called endgame. Final call: Top Tier for tuning and sound refinement—not a value pick, but a legit endgame-grade set.