Gear Pairing
Schiit Bifrost 2/64 > Violectric V281:
This is the setup upon which I performed all my sound impressions and comparisons. The Bifrost, being very detailed and dynamic, complements the super refined, yet equally robust V281 amp. Although Fei Wan is itself very smooth, the effects did not compound, leading to a loss in detail. In fact, it’s safe to say, these IEMs never sounded better. They were as resolving as I’ve heard them, with powerfully punchy bass. At the lowest gain setting, there is no hiss, and you have quite a lot of the volume wheel to play with.
Chord Mojo 2 > Nistch Pietus Maximus:
Fei Wan didn’t spend too much time on my work listening station, as I preferred to run it from a DAP while on the job. But I did give this pairing a few hours listen. It’s extremely euphonic and warm, full, lush, and organic. Highly pleasing to the ear. But not the strongest, technically. Still, it’s hard to care, when you’re being swept away in heavenly music. The PieMax also produced no hiss on low gain, and I had most of the wheel to adjust for different recordings.
iBasso DX300 with AMP14:
This is how I spent the majority of my time with FW. The fully balanced NuTube architecture of AMP14 made for an amazingly smooth, laidback source. Which might not be the best pairing on paper, but I loved it. I never found myself desiring a more energetic sound, or bemoaning a loss of detail. It is simply great, and always put a smile on my face.
Chord Mojo 2:
When you do wish for more energy, dynamism, and resolution, the Mojo 2 on its own is my strongest recommendation. It really does wake up these IEMs, pushing them to perform at their best. There’s not much more to say about it. Mojo 2 is every bit the legend you hear, and Fei Wan seems to love it.
Cayin N6ii with E02 Module:
The N6ii+E02 is a good compromise when you don’t want to stack the Mojo, but still get the same characteristics I mentioned above, just to a slightly lesser extent. It’s not as dynamic or resolving, but it’s damn close, and in a more compact, all-in-one package. I’ve been a big fan of this DAP for years now, and every time I listen to it, my fondness for it grows.
Conclusion
Aroma Audio’s Fei Wan is a stellar product, balanced to perfection, as if tailor-made for me and my preferences. It delivers on everything; clarity, warmth, detail and musicality. Just enough of each to sculpt one of the most engaging jack-of-all-trades on the market today. If you want a best-in-class for any one of these disciplines, Fei Wan isn’t for you. Only when taken together does Fei Wan show its true quality. This is my kind of IEM.
-~::Pinky_Powers::~-
