Fiio FH3 VS Truthear Nova

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

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Fiio FH3 and Truthear Nova use 1DD+2BA and 1DD+4BA driver setups respectively. Fiio FH3 costs $130 while Truthear Nova costs $150. Truthear Nova is $20 more expensive. Truthear Nova holds a decisive 1.5-point edge in reviewer scores (5.2 vs 6.7). Truthear Nova has significantly better bass with a 1.8-point edge, Truthear Nova has significantly better mids with a 2.8-point edge, Truthear Nova has significantly better treble with a 2.8-point edge, Fiio FH3 has slightly better dynamics with a 0.3-point edge, Truthear Nova has significantly better soundstage with a 2-point edge, Truthear Nova has significantly better details with a 2.8-point edge and Truthear Nova has significantly better imaging with a 2.3-point edge.

Insights

Metric Fiio FH3 Truthear Nova
Bass 5.3 7
Mids 4 6.8
Treble 3.8 6.6
Details 4.5 7.3
Soundstage 5 7
Imaging 4.8 7
Dynamics 7 6.8
Tonality 4.3 6.8
Technicalities 4.3 6.8

Fiio FH3 Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Nymz Precogvision
Shuwa-T Crin
Jaytiss
Super* Review

Average Reviewer Score:

5.2

Mixed to Negative


Truthear Nova Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Fresh Reviews
Smirk Audio Shuwa-T Tim Tuned Gizaudio Axel Super* Review
Jaytiss Jays Audio

Average Reviewer Score:

6.7

Cautiously Favorable


Fiio FH3 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Truthear Nova User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Fiio FH3 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

4.3

Gaming Grade

C-

Truthear Nova Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.8

Gaming Grade

B+

Fiio FH3 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

C-
  • Significantly flawed tuning. Noticeable frequency imbalances and unnatural timbre distract from music. Lacks versatility across recordings.

Average Technical Grade

C-
  • Limited resolution; finer nuances are masked. Soundstage feels narrow, and complex passages cause muddiness. Transitions lack finesse.
Bass C+
Average bass performance - present but unremarkable. Has reasonable texture but lacks depth and physicality.
Mids C-
Midrange is passable but unrefined. Lacks detail and smoothness, with occasional harshness in upper mids.
Treble D+
Uneven treble response with noticeable peaks and dips. Can sound both dull and occasionally harsh simultaneously.
Dynamics A-
Excellent dynamics with great contrast and speed. Transients are crisp and micro-details are clearly articulated.
Soundstage C+
Decent spatial presentation with noticeable width. Some depth perception but height dimension remains underdeveloped.
Details C
Average resolution - reveals basic elements but misses subtleties. Satisfactory for casual listening but lacks refinement.
Imaging C
Average imaging - reasonable localization but lacks specificity. Instruments have general positions but lack pinpoint accuracy.
Gaming C-
Minimal environmental definition provides only general audio cues. Suitable for games where positioning isn't critical.

Truthear Nova Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B+
  • Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.

Average Technical Grade

B+
  • Satisfactory technical performance. Handles basic detail retrieval adequately in most tracks. Maintains reasonable cohesion in simpler arrangements.
Bass A-
Strong, well-defined bass with good texture. Delivers satisfying punch and rumble without overwhelming other frequencies.
Mids B+
Good midrange presence with solid clarity. Vocals are clear and instruments have reasonable texture and body.
Treble B+
Good treble response - clear and detailed without fatigue. Well-extended with proper air and sparkle.
Dynamics B+
Good dynamic expression with solid impact. Handles volume contrasts well while maintaining good transient snap.
Soundstage A-
Excellent spatial presentation - wide, deep and tall. Precise instrument placement with clear separation in all dimensions.
Details A-
Excellent detail retrieval: highly resolving without being clinical. Effortlessly reveals micro-details and textural subtleties.
Imaging A-
Excellent imaging: precise and stable placement. Instruments occupy specific points in space with tangible positions.
Gaming B+
Respectable environmental presentation favors atmosphere over precision. Detects obvious directional cues while conveying game world ambiance.

Fiio FH3 Reviews

Reviewed by: Super* Review

Super* Review 8.5* * score normalized

Reviewed by: Jaytiss

Jaytiss 6 Reviewer Score
C+ Tuning
C- Tech
Bass, but at what cost? Everything.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: C+ Treble: C- Dynamics: A- Soundstage: C+

Reviewed by: Shuwa-T

Shuwa-T 5.1 Reviewer Score
C Tuning
B- Tech
Comment: Bass boosted neutral tuning. Narrow soundstage

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

Bass: B- Mids: C- Treble: C Soundstage: C+ Details: B Imaging: B-

Reviewed by: Crin

Crin 5 Reviewer Score
C+ Tuning
B- Tech
Does come off as sort of a broken FH5, but the FH5 elements are mostly there.

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Nymz

Nymz 3.5 Reviewer Score
D+ Tuning
D Tech
My first IEM. Bad coherency and timbre. Good techs, bad tuning for my library. IMO, there are better and cheaper options out there.

Nymz original ranking

Nymz Website

Bass: C+ Mids: D Treble: D Details: D Imaging: C-

Reviewed by: Precogvision

Precogvision 3 Reviewer Score
D Tuning
D Tech
Bloated bass and general congestion issues.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel

Truthear Nova Reviews

Reviewed by: Jaytiss

Jaytiss 7.3 Reviewer Score
B Tuning
C+ Tech
Nice set, great bass. Too much upper mids.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: B Treble: C+ Dynamics: A- Soundstage: A-
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Reviewed by: Jays Audio

Jays Audio 7 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A Tech
NEED FOAM TIPS makes the treble smooth and clear. Very clean harman sound with smooth but well extended treble/one of the best treble under $200, no roll-off. The pinnacle of trying not to offend anyone, but light bass/low-end; another harman.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Smirk Audio

Smirk Audio 6.9 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech
check links for more info:

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

Bass: A- Mids: A- Treble: A- Dynamics: B+ Details: A- Imaging: A-

Reviewed by: Shuwa-T

Shuwa-T 6.8 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A- Tech
Overall clean sounding, works well with quicker pop genres (Jpop/Kpop) Male vocals recessed, does not work well with the other half of Jpop/Kpop. Lower midrange suffers from thinner note weight (tuning)

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

Bass: A- Mids: B Treble: B+ Soundstage: A- Details: A Imaging: A-

Reviewed by: Tim Tuned

Tim Tuned 6.5 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A+ Tech
check links for more info:

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
Bass: A- Mids: A+ Treble: A+

Reviewed by: Gizaudio Axel

Gizaudio Axel 6.5 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech
A solid reference. Harman-style sound signature with solid sub-bass, clean forward vocals, smooth treble extension, and great detail. Could use more bass, vocals can feel lean and a bit intense at times.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Super* Review

Super* Review 6* * score normalized
A little bit thin and shrill sounding. Hexa costs half as much and it's the better IEM.

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel

Reviewed by: Fresh Reviews

Fresh Reviews 5.5* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score

Fiio FH3 User Reviews

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Truthear Nova User Reviews

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