FiR Audio VxV (Accoustune AET 08 tips), iBasso DX300.
FiR Audio VxV Review
and Cosmic Archeology
Initial listening impressions: Kaleidoscopic energy intertwined together betwixt ethereal and underlying tight interplay, full, unearthly lusciousness.
The company FiR Audio first popped up on Head pie quite sometime ago - before it became the jet setting well loved rabbit of the world and space that it is now.
There is quite a lot of VxV graphic design within this review. This is part of the VxV story and concept. They go hand in hand - so i thought it would be ideal to try to capture most of the scattered imagery in one place as kind of time capsule.
The idea of a fantastic storyline accompanying an earphone is something new and fresh, incongruent to some perhaps. But unifying and electric to my mind.
This is hardly, simply a review, barely. More a love letter towards ‘art for arts sake’ and also a celebration of doing things differently.
Head pie did an interview way back when:
And also reviewed one of its first products:
FiR Audio within the space of only a few years is now well and truly on the audio world radar from its earlier beginnings. I myself have not heard all the line up of the well received M series - but have a couple of Head pie contributors that have reviewed them on their own sites and have shared personal impressions that are very favorable and laudable.
They seem to be well appreciated by the consumer as well as the general reviewer alike both for their build and sound quality.
I had a chat with Fir Audio and relayed my general sonic preferences etc and it was suggested that the VxV or 5x5 might be one that would be a good fit for my lifestyle, music tastes and earphone signature.
Already enamored by the graphical teasers and a wondrous rabbit who fell from space i was well warmed up to give them a whirl.
The VxV is described in its title generally as ‘everyday carry’, with a lightweight durable shell and an easy fit it seems to fit the bill.
I was able to do achieve various tunings by tip rolling and finally settled on the Acoustune AET 08 for fit and i also found to my ears they bought out the best from the VxV.
I have them pictured with the CA Andromeda above, whilst not the same they share a certain familiarity in scope. Both being easily accessible and all rounders.
‘ FiR Audio’s new Five x Five is designed solely for musical enjoyment: The earphones you reach for—that sound good with everything.’ - FiR Audio.
Tips n things
(A dialogue of exploration, cobbled from various notes on loose papers).
Finally found time to go through my oodles of tips and decided on these ones
iBasso DX300 & FiR Audio VxV (Accoustune AET 08 tips).
Nicely layered, exquisite separation and euphonic whilst retaining that nice ‘evenness’ i enjoy about the VxV.
listening to the VxV on the train this morning...
it seems to be tip dependent also. I did a bit of tip rolling until i found one that i felt brought out the best (to my ears) of the VxV - Accoustune AET 08. (Might revisit this again).
the "interested (interesting) colored take on a neutral reference signature" Crinacle quote seems to ring true also.
- Linear with a bit of body/weight to it??
It would be good if reviews added which dap/s were used, tips, music track list if no photos of music played, volume listened to...etc as this can help with varied contrasting opinions - (i have been guilty of some of the above - but i am a lazy xxxx) - then again its all a bit of an audiophile Tower of Babble at the best of times.
‘Everyday carry’ i think is the VxV tag line by FiR Audio. A on the go earphone (maybe not for sitting at home in silence analytical listening) but with the level of quality of sound we expect from FiR Audio.
i am getting various levels of satisfaction this morning as i am shuffling tracks randomly on the iBasso DX300 - currently The Cardigans ‘erase and rewind’ is playing and the low end and vocals are very enjoyable.
Hybrids have come a long way towards coherency. Finding those right tracks and volume to bring out the best of both worlds (DD/BA) is a challenge.
when in doubt appeal to a higher power. In @twister6 we trust.
Tokyo Olympics and pandemic interlude…
I was on a roll after publishing several reviews, photos and meme spams etc. then i had some annual time off work, kids summer holidays, the dreaded and generally unwelcome olympics here in Tokyo (which i have enjoyed watching at home on tv), sweltering summer heat - although generally not as brutal as usual and a increase in covid-19 cases doubling each week in Japan.
So i chilled for about week and barely touched a dap, spun the odd cd, went for some runs and bicycle rides.
Although i had a niggle in the back of my mind at times to complete this review i was not too bothered. And i guess FiR Audio are not either. Like most of the companies i have a relationship with, they send out stuff for me to try and it gets finished in due course.
This is common with companies that build products that are built to last, or at least have a long shelf life rather than those that pump out new models every three months and need that review asap - because without that the fear of missing out syndrome doesn't kick in and money is lost. I don't bother with such releases. V1,v2,v3 and sometimes v4 within a year - nope. Pass. I’m sure someone else will cover ‘this is this months best thing ever’ items...
Releases from companies such as FiR Audio are measured in years and not months. Crafting the item towards excellence instead of a quick release (resulting in a momentary pleasure, - ‘la petite mort’ that can lead to melancholy) rather than a long lasting sustained intensity that might lead to a thinning of the veil and eventual transcendence.
The VxV have been my main listening IEMs for the past few weeks as i concentrate on this write up. As usual these days more a meandering journey.
I can easily do the intro, specs, pics, lows/mids/highs mixed with some word salad about transparency, cohesiveness, timbre, layering, extension, sound stage…etc etc and price, comparisons, summary.
Probably i could do without even listening to an item and people would be none the wiser - its such a salad bar out there sometimes.
But there are enough following the easy to read familiar format to keep readers happy. I prefer to diverge.
So yet another tower of babble over for now…back to the VxV.
Listening to Lana Del Rey ‘shadiest moments’ collection. 84 tracks of sultry and funky goodness. A good start to a 5am Saturday morning with a string cup of coffee before i head out to a local park all masked up with my youngest to play before it gets too hot.
This quote kept coming to mind this week:
“The complete saying was originally “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” Formerly intended as a compliment, the phrase means that a person is a generalist rather than a specialist, versatile and adept at many things.”
For me this encapsulates the VxV/5x5 well.
It is not a specialist IEM just for either rock, classical, hip hop or EDM etc. it is a generalist as the above quote says: ‘…versatile and adept at many things..’
This is no more apparent than the trusty old shuffle mode which i employ frequently. Coming from the age of radio, cassettes and albums. I enjoy the pseudo faux radio aspect of randomness although colored by a micro sd card of my mostly favorite bands and albums.
Its a diverse lot and serves me well to find out how an IEM copes overall. I also have a stable of test tracks of popular tried and true songs and artists and a few favorites of my own.
As one shuffles from here to there within the quiet of ones on home and then onto the interrupted sound scapes of a daily commute by train and in between the strengths and weaknesses become apparent over time.
The VxV reminds me of the early Andromeda and Andromeda 2019, it slots in between although not strongly in a familiar sonic sense but more a categorization. An all rounder that has few deficiencies and handles most of what is thrown at it well.
The VxV responds well to tip rolling and is a good example of its general tilt towards neutralness in that one can tailor its soundscapes. The nozzle is medium in width (i found the spiral dots++ to be a just barely fit - sadly as they are a favorite - luckily the afore mentioned accoustune do the job well).
Final Audio tips tended to shave off the highs at times.
Symbios W peel did not provide the right synergy.
Foams: not a favorite kind if tip of mine also did a good job. The Acoustune 08 being a similar sound.
I did more tip rolling earlier on - with a great many. As can be seen, although an allrounder of an IEM one can tailor the sound also towards more specialized needs.
Gain: usually for a hydrid i find middle gain to be sufficient, it brings up the dynamic driver a bit more into the mix without overpowering the BAs.
It is a nicely balanced hybrid, there is no emphasis on either lows, mids or highs, or vocals.
For me the vocals float just above the music which is my sweet spot.
The VxV is not a bass cannon either. It delivers clear, firm, fast and quality bass. Satisfying and clean.
Some might describe it as a w sound signature- which i would add only tells half the story. The other half is lost in magical audiophile pixie dust and unicorns under after storm rainbows.
Specifications, details and technical stuffs
I have used the VxV for quite some time now. Since around early April 2021. From home, to commute, the odd empty cafe in the time of corona and walking about. Using various sources.
My opinion and impressions have remained consistent throughout that time. The term ‘everyday carry’ rings true for the VxV. Its is an easily accessible earphone that goes with about any type of music.
Fir Audio Pretty Pictures Pre Review Pron
Initial listening impressions: Kaleidoscopic energy intertwined together betwixt ethereal and underlying tight interplay, full, unearthly lusciousness.
Limiting myself to about ten reviews a year nowadays. Only gear that i am truly curious, interested or fascinated by for whatever reason.
Fir Audio 5x5 being one of them for 2021.
Summary
The FiR Audio VxV or 5x5 is an earphone that is easily accessible, non offensive and capable.
It deviates from what i have read of their M range of specially crafted sonic signatures to a more all rounder of an earphone
It begs the question of which is easier to do. Creating an IEM for a certain segment or a general one that can have a versatility. I would as a simple man say the latter although those more expert than my simple self can set me straight. Bass cannon, sure. Done….V shaped ? Ok here you go. But an IEM than walks on a tightrope of trying to please most listeners with a variety of music must be a head ache to try to get right.
And getting it right is what FiR Audio has been able to do with the creation of the VxV.
There have been times when i have wanted a tad more bass or mids with some tracks, but that has been minimal at best. Overall the experience has been one of satiety and pleasure.
It has enough energy to please, controlled,’clean’, smooth delightful trebles, natural mid range and a quality bass. Layering is very good. Imaging and separation are some of the strengths. The sound stage is above medium to large - it goes wide and deep. It has enough texture and emotion to please. Male and female vocals are handled equally well. Overall accurate and faithful to most recordings.
Experimenting with different daps added a dryness, warmth or balance to the existing sound. Not extremely so and i found the tips more of a factor in the final sound.
One is recommended to tip roll to find the right fit and sound.
In short the FiR Audio is an easy choice for someone who is looking for something that is versatile with many types of music. Although the IEMs themselves are well built with Dupont plastic and resistant to the suns harsh rays eliminating any fear of discoloring adding to that the cute designs on the shells and easy fit - to the average joe in the street they would not get a second look which is a plus in more dangerous worldly cities.
The VxV a success for both the end user audiophile and also FiR Audio.
Easy to carry, easier to like.
Nuff said…
“ When the purpose of moral preaching and of improving man has been excluded from art, it still does not follow by any means that art is altogether purposeless, aimless, senseless — in short, l'art pour l'art, a worm chewing its own tail. "Rather no purpose at all than a moral purpose!" — that is the talk of mere passion. A psychologist, on the other hand, asks: what does all art do? does it not praise? glorify? choose? prefer? With all this it strengthens or weakens certain valuations. Is this merely a "moreover"? an accident? something in which the artist's instinct had no share? Or is it not the very presupposition of the artist's ability? Does his basic instinct aim at art, or rather at the sense of art, at life? at a desirability of life? Art is the great stimulus to life: how could one understand it as purposeless, as aimless, as l'art pour l'art?” - Nietzsche
Further fun
FiR Audio also had a comic series as the announcement of the VxV unfolded and relates to the fun sense of the earphone and company.
They even released a plushie #want!
Theres snow business like snow business like snow business i know…
Mysterious etchings…someone is going to steal the Declaration of Independence…again…looking for lost treasure of the Templars on Friday 13th!
Cute bunny, cute earphones, cute sound.
Thank you to FiR Audio and Project Perfection for sending Head pie the VxV for review.
In todays episode of Head pie ruins everything…
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