Fiio FX17 VS Ziigaat Odyssey 2

The FiiO FX17 is a mind-bending flagship IEM priced at $1,500, packing an absolutely hilarious 13-driver configuration per side: one dynamic for bass, four balanced armatures for midrange control, and a staggering eight electrostatic drivers for the highs. The sheer number of electrostats isn't a gimmick; FiiO explicitly states they're necessary to achieve sufficient sound pressure and avoid being mere "decoration," throwing serious shade at competitors. The result is nothing short of wild. Forget typical soundstage descriptions – the music doesn't feel like it's coming from two points in your ears or even from speakers in a room. Instead, it creates an entirely internalized, coherent performance happening inside your head, like the band is set up within your skull. It’s a cognitive living experience prioritizing placement and realism over simple frequency response graphs.

This psychoacoustic magic translates into pure, infectious enjoyment. Tracks feel aggressively present yet controlled, with kick drums hitting the back of your eyewall and intricate details like tap dancing percussively located behind your eyes. The separation and realism are phenomenal, making everything from the Beastie Boys to complex techno feel immediate and utterly engaging. While physically large with a fingerprint-prone mirrored finish and using the less-favored MMCX connectors, the FX17 is surprisingly comfortable and not overly heavy. Criticisms like the connector type are dismissed as irrelevant noise compared to the sonic achievement. Plugged into anything from a high-end stack to the included USB-C dongle DAC, the FX17 delivers its unique, immersive magic consistently.

The unboxing experience screams flagship, absolutely justifying the price tag visually. It arrives in a luxurious British Racing Green case with magnetic closure, featuring gold-accented packaging, a wooden storage plaque (unit 240 shown), a cleaning cloth, MMCX tool, ear wax brush, magnetic cable clip, and a mind-boggling 22 pairs of various eartips. Add in a very nice cable with interchangeable terminations (3.5mm & 4.4mm included, 2.5mm adapter not included) and the aforementioned USB-C dongle, and the package feels comprehensive and premium. Ultimately, the FX17 stands out dramatically in the crowded $1,500 IEM field. It’s declared worth every penny of $2,000, delivering a unique, transformative listening experience that prioritizes how the sound is presented over traditional audiophile checkboxes. It earns full, emphatic marks as FiiO's best audio reproduction product to date.

The Fiio FX17 emerges as a worthy flagship and a significant improvement over its predecessor, the FA19. This tribrid IEM boasts a unique driver configuration of one dynamic driver, four balanced armatures, and a staggering eight electrostatic drivers, all housed within a solid, lightweight titanium shell. While its aesthetic is considered a bit plain, the build quality is excellent. The package is loaded with a massive assortment of accessories, including seven different styles of ear tips and a cable with a clever built-in DAC adapter for smartphones.

Sonically, the FX17 delivers a warm, powerful, and engaging sound signature. Its bass is a particular standout, described as meaty, well-textured, and highly engaging without bleeding into the mids. The overall tonality is natural yet contrasty, offering a dynamic and punchy listen. The treble provides excitement and definition, though it can be slightly aggressive or "crashy" for those with high sensitivity, making it far from a "safe" tuning.

In direct comparisons, the FX17 is deemed superior in every way to the FA19, which was criticized for its bloated bass and splashy treble. It trades blows with competitors like the Dunu Glacier and ThieAudio Monarch Mk IV, offering a denser, more tactile experience than the Monarch's airy presentation and a more natural vocal tonality than the Glacier's more exaggerated V-shape. Ultimately, the FX17 is declared not only Fiio's best IEM to date but a compelling and engaging option in the high-end market.

The FiiO FX17 packs a hybrid 13-driver configuration featuring one dynamic driver, four balanced armatures, and eight EST drivers, priced around $1,500. Unboxing reveals a generous accessory suite: a premium leather case with magnetic closure, an MMCX removal tool, cleaning brush, cleaning cloth, and a magnetic cable holder. The highlight is the included modular cable with 3.5mm and 4.4mm terminations plus a specialized USB-C dongle enabling parametric EQ and firmware updates. Buyers also receive a staggering 22 pairs of ear tips – including SpinFits, liquid silicone, foam, bass-enhancing, vocal-focused, balanced, and double-flanged options – neatly organized across two cases. The cable itself earns praise for being soft, tangle-free, well-behaved, and featuring a functional chin slider.

Built from chunky titanium shells, the FX17 feels premium but substantial. While weight distribution prevents ear fatigue for some, its large size may cause fit issues for those with smaller ears, making a demo advisable. The nozzle diameter is 6.1mm. Sonically, the FX17 delivers a powerful, mid-bass focused slam described as punchy and meaty, though sub-bass rumble takes a backseat. The mid-range is warm, lush, and slightly relaxed, offering surprising clarity and excellent detail retrieval without shoutiness. Treble stands out as smooth, highly detailed, and non-fatiguing, providing ample air and shimmer without sibilance. Technical performance is strong, with great detail and separation, but the true star is the exceptionally wide, immersive, and realistic soundstage, particularly noticeable in the upper mids and treble.

Compared to the FiiO FA19, the FX17 offers a significant upgrade in bass physicality, smoother treble refinement, and superior soundstage. It also surpasses the Unique Melody MEST MKIII CF in detail, separation, stage width, and bass weight/texture. Against the pricier Elysian Apostle, the FX17 is warmer and more relaxed; the Apostle boasts tighter bass, clearer vocals, and sparklier treble, while the FX17 counters with a wider stage. This IEM is strongly recommended for mid-bass lovers seeking physical slam, listeners desiring warm, lush, non-fatiguing mids with clarity, treble enthusiasts wanting detail without harshness, and soundstage aficionados. It's not ideal for those with small ears due to shell size, listeners prioritizing deep sub-bass rumble over mid-bass impact, or anyone seeking a neutral or bright tuning. The FX17 earns a four-star rating for its standout qualities.

Odyssey 2 shifts the OG’s recipe toward a more mid-centric, vocal-first tuning with a gentle sub-bass lift and smoother treble. Bass hits with less slam than the original but feels tighter, quicker, and cleaner, keeping texture competitive for the price. The top end is calmer—less bite, still adequately extended—trading sparkle for an easy, natural presentation.

Clarity steps up in the mids: vocals pop, separation improves, and detail comes through more plainly, while the OG keeps an edge in bass/treble “texture.” It’s a higher-volume scaler; give it juice and it opens up, especially for ballads, acoustic, indie, and pop—less ideal for hip-hop/R&B/jazz where extra weight and contrast help. Tip rolling that adds a touch of low-end/treble energy can inject the missing excitement without upsetting the balance.

Against similarly “safe” sets (Daybreak, P50), Odyssey 2 leans more vocal-centric with better bass texture; versus value champs (Supermix 4, Nova, Chopin), it sounds fuller and more natural but isn’t the value king. Lush gives more air up top, Arcanis/Luna serve as pricier “special sauce” paths if treble bite or OG-style warmth is desired. Verdict: a safer pick and polished all-rounder—objectively as good or slightly cleaner than OG—but for die-hard OG fans, more of a refined sidegrade than a direct, high-octane upgrade.

Ziigaat Odyssey 2 lands as a premium-feeling set: a CNC-milled aluminum chassis with a sparkly blue/silver faceplate, solid two-pin cable with interchangeable 3.5/4.4 plugs, spare nozzle filters, and a roomy new brown carrying case. The stock cable is nice—though its green tint doesn’t quite match the shell’s aqua tone. Tip selection is generous (foam plus two silicone sets), and the newer silicone tips are a standout. Overall, a tidy package for the price.

Tuning follows the current “new meta”: energetic low end with a cleaner sub-bass attack/decay than sets like ZENs Top/Top Pro, which helps in games. Bass stays punchy yet controlled, so imaging and separation/layering come through well, though gunfire can still push forward. For pure music the bigger, rumblier sets may feel livelier, but for competitive play Odyssey 2 reads space more cleanly and keeps clutter down better than bass-heavier rivals.

Title by title: in Valorant it sounds natural and punchy with tighter gun reports and better map imaging—footsteps are a bit thicker and light taps could cut more—earning a B+. In Apex it’s cleaner than ZENs Top Pro and fine in 3v3s, but big third-party fights expose some separation limits; call it a strong B (bordering B+). In CS2 the positional read improves over ZENs Top Pro, though lighter surface cues and gunfire depth could be crisper—solid overall. Call of Duty plays to its strengths: warmer timbre, wide/deep stage, excellent layering during streaks, with only occasional gunfire masking—another B+. Net result: placed in the B+ tier on the WallHack list, at the lower edge bordering B, similar to the original Odyssey’s standing.

The Ziigaat Odyssey 2 arrives as a collab between Ziigaat and Hangout Audio (tied to Crinacle), essentially a Crin-influenced set in disguise; it’s a 1DD + 3BA hybrid priced around $250. Accessories are thoughtful—three ear-tip sets, spare adhesive filters, and swappable 3.5/4.4 terminations—though the long, friction-fit plug feels awkward. The metal shell is medium-sized with a short nozzle for a shallow fit; comfort is easy, stability average, and the thin green cable is softer than prior Ziigaat attempts with a chin slider that actually holds.

Tonally it lands squarely in the tilted diffuse-field “meta” neutral camp: natural vocals, tame upper-treble, and a slight 4–6 kHz lift that adds clarity and a more contrasty/clinical edge without harshness. Imaging and separation are clean for the price, but the sub-bass-focused boost leaves the low end marshmallowy—tactile yet soft, with kick drums short on slam. Overall balance is convincing and easy to live with, just not especially exciting.

Versus Ziigaat Lush, Odyssey 2 is crisper and more defined where Lush sounds darker, smoother, and a bit low-res, though Lush hits mid-bass a touch harder. Against Softears Volume S (costlier), Volume S wins on bass grip and midrange texture, sounding fuller and more engaging while Odyssey 2 stays cleaner but more clinical. Conclusion: a very good set in a crowded mold—3/5 for a refined meta tune with agreeable timbre but modest bass impact.