Reviewing the FiiO SNOWSKY Oak Nano In Ear Monitors

FiiO is known for making impressive DACs and amplifiers, and their headphones get a lot of great reviews. How do they fare in the wired IEM world? The FiiO SNOWSKY Oak Nano is a wired IEM with plenty of accessories and powerful sound. For $449, you get nearly 2 dozen pairs of eartips and a couple of tuning nozzles to pick the sound you like. Is this the next IEM to add to your collection? Today we take a look at all the details that make the FiiO Oak Nano a great earphone for any listener. 

The first thing you notice with the FiiO Oak Nano is the stunning design. The titanium shell is shiny and opulent, with golden accents that give the shell a bit of color. The design on the face of the shell makes it look like a piece of jewelry, so the Oak Nano becomes a stylish accessory just as much as a music-listening tool. The shape is circular and has a standard-size nozzle to fit any size eartip. The Oak Nano is definitely smaller in comparison to some other high-end IEMs, so I found them extremely comfortable to wear for long listening sessions. 

Connecting the FiiO Oak Nano to your audio source is very simple with interchangeable termination. You have the option between 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm unbalanced, which are the two most common terminations for IEMs. What makes the Oak Nano stand out above the rest is the addition of the USB-C swappable end. This allows you to bypass the need for a DAC and just plug directly into your phone or computer. The Oak Nano becomes an IEM you can use directly out of the box without the need for additional gear. If you still prefer to use your own DAC or adapter, you have that option with the swappable terminations. 

• Driver: 13.8mm External Magnet Dynamic Driver
• Diaphragm: Beryllium alloy W-shaped dome
• Shell: Pure Titanium, CNC-machined, PVD-coated
• Cable: Silver-plated 6N monocrystalline copper, cryo-treated, 0.78mm 2-pin
• Plugs: 3.5mm single-ended / 4.4mm balanced / Type USB-C
• DSP: BES3001-SP, 32 bit 384kHz PCM, 8-band parametric EQ
• Tuning Nozzles: Red (atmospheric) / Black (detailed)
• Eartips: 22 pairs, 3 styles
• Certification: Hi-Res Audio
• Color: Silver

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

Is the FiiO Oak Nano more than just a pretty face? For $449, I expected the Oak Nano to have some good imaging with a strong attention to detail. Upon a first listen, I found the Oak Nano to be incredibly bright and forward in detail. The signature is V-shaped; the midrange comes forward to make vocals and upper-register instruments very noticeable. It has a lot of midrange detail that travels to the treble and makes the entire signature more open. The bass is tight and controlled, taking a backseat to let the upper range stand out more and be the center of attention. This sound signature lends itself to being for the analytical listener more than anyone, focusing on treble and midrange detail and textures. The sound reproduction is very natural, and instrument timbres are honest and realistic.

The width of the soundstage allowed for different instruments to spread out and live in their individual spaces. There was a nice flow from the lows to the mids and finally to the highs, so everything worked harmoniously together while still maintaining good separation. The depth of the soundstage made these layers more apparent, and they stand out more because of how spaced out they are. The soundstage was horizontally wide and fairly deep, and height was exceptional, with brightness in the top end. The Oak Nano wasn't a very loud earphone on its own; it needed some additional amplification to get to the expansiveness it possessed. Still, the Oak Nano gears itself towards analytical listeners and those who value detail and space above all else. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

The Oak Nano isn't very strong on bass response, but that isn't a bad thing. The bass in these IEMs is controlled and dynamic, sitting behind the upper register. It does get reproduced quite thinly, giving it a calmer and more relaxed character that you may not find in a lot of other IEMs. Even with premium isolation from the eartips, the bass is tightly managed and doesn't overtake the whole signature. This allows you to appreciate the detail and texture the bass instruments provide as opposed to just getting a thick body from those elements. The extension into the sub-bass is not very strong and cuts off before getting really into those lower frequencies, but the signature wasn't missing it. For people who prefer a thicker, more full-bodied bass response, you may find this bass response to be underwhelming and unimpressive. If you find yourself sensitive to overly strong bass and are seeking more detail in your listening, the Oak Nano provides a bass response that may be more your speed. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange in the Oak Nano is one of the strongest points in the signature. During my initial listening, I was definitely blown away by how detailed this range was and how many different elements I could pick apart. The Oak Nano's midrange comes forward, highlighting main melodies and instrumental timbres, especially in the vocals. Voices sounded natural and came right to center stage, becoming the feature element in any track they were featured in. The depth of the soundstage was most noticeable in this range, where the various instrumental elements spaced out by being pushed backwards instead of staying up front and overcrowding the signature. The midrange was perfect for highlighting all those memorable track elements and providing space for all the frequencies to interact together to create a cohesive picture. The flow from one range to the next was excellently done, and the midrange served as a vital element in that transition to make instruments sound as natural as possible in the Oak Nano. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

At the top of the signature, the Oak Nano produces a very bright treble response. It stands out with the midrange and creates a vibrant, colorful picture that extends into the ultra-high frequency range. The top end is spacious to help frequencies ring out and dissipate naturally. I liked how open the soundstage felt with the brightness of the treble, and it was a clever balance between airy space and bright color that made the Oak Nano's treble response so enjoyable. I was worried that the bright treble and the forward midrange would make the sound signature overly shrill and piercing, but the earphones stayed mellow enough to not fatigue you during listening. If you are sensitive to treble, you may find the Oak Nano to be a bit sharp for your ear. If detail and top-end space are up your alley, then the Oak Nano will certainly impress. 

The FiiO SNOWSKY Oak Nano is a really excellent IEM that pleases both the eyes and ears. The titanium shell shines like a piece of jewelry, all the while giving you clean, crisp sound that can accompany you through any genre you choose to listen to. The included accessories allow you to start listening right out of the box, and it gives you plenty of options for customization and comfort so you can listen exactly how you like. People who love bass may be disappointed by the lack of punch and body; however, the analytical listener will love how precise the Oak Nano is in any genre. 

You can get the FiiO SNOWSKY Oak Nano at Audio46.