Nice package design and rather nice unboxing experience.
I really like the carrying case.
I really like the design and red colour. The silver faceplates are made of metal.
The cable looks nice and is quite supple but lacks a chin-slider. It's a little rubbery though.
The remote control is quite bad - the single button's accentuation point is very stiff.
I'm using the included silicone ear guides, something I do with almost no other in-ear.
Sound:
Low impedance sources, largest included single-flange silicone tips.
Tonality:
V-shaped to slightly w-shaped.
Bass emphasised by about 8 dB, with an even emphasis on the midbass, upper bass and lower root. Sub-bass just slightly less present.
Warm tilt in the lows due to the elevated lower and middle fundamental range.
Pretty natural sounding midrange.
Low voices are a bit more on the warmer, fuller side, while high voices are just very slightly on the brighter side.
The mids don't appear distant in the mix.
The middle treble around 5 kHz is relaxed in the background, while a bright peak follows round 8 kHz.
It doesn't sound really harsh or sharp to me thanks to the headroom-generating dip around 5 kHz, but it is definitely stronger than mild, so some people may find it somewhat sharp. Either way, it's somewhat metallic.
Extension in the super treble past 10 kHz is really good and goes past 16 kHz.
Resolution:
The resolution is good for the price.
When it comes to character, the A73 doesn't hide its hybrid technology and features lows that are neither soft/slow nor very fast, but focus more on body without being muddy or too soft. That said, the A73 is neither the tightest nor the softest sounding hybrid in-ear in the lows, but somewhere in the middle, and actually even rather on the tighter side for pure dynamic driver standards.
Midrange and treble details as well as speech intelligibility are good, with precise separation, although without reaching the precision of most higher priced in-ears.
Soundstage:
The oundstage is neither extremely wide nor extremely narrow. To my ears, it is somewhat wider than deep and therefore rather oval sounding.
Layering is quite precise but not on the same level as that of more expensive multi-driver in-ears. Separation is good, with the same to be said as just before.
Overall, the imaging is mostly precise.
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Compared to other Non-Hybrid In-Ears:
RHA T20 (Reference Filters):
The Fidue’s bass is tighter, faster and better controlled, and it is not as strongly elevated as the RHA's.
The RHA’s mids are more present, but the Fidue has got the better midrange timbre (the RHA is somewhat uneven and brighter here, which also goes for the treble) and higher resolution, unveiling more micro details.
When it comes to treble, the RHA is noticeable less even and generally brighter, however not as bright around 8 kHz.
The RHA’s soundstage has got the wider and deeper expansion, but the A73’s instrument separation is more precise.
Overall, the Fidue is ahead.
Shure SE425:
The Shure is easily audible the more neutral sounding in-ear out of the two and, due to its BA drivers, faster and tighter sounding in the lows.
The Shure’s mids’ and lower highs’ resolution is somewhat better, but its upper highs lack extension and are dark with an early roll-off, while the Fidue's are on the bright side, with great extension in the super treble.
The Fidue’s soundstage is wider, although the Shure has got just slightly more depth. Instrument separation is just a tad cleaner on the Shure.
Almost a tie but ultimately the Shure is technically a bit ahead.
Phonak Audéo PFE 132 (Grey Filters):
The Phonak is more neutral but has got an upper treble spike as well, although the Fidue's is a bit stronger.
The Fidue’s overall resolution is somewhat superior while the Phonak's bass is a bit tighter and faster.
To my ears, the Fidue’s soundstage is larger and especially more coherent sounding, and the instrument separation is also somewhat cleaner on the Fidue.
Ultimately, the Fidue is somewhat ahead.
Etymotic ER-4S:
That the ER-4S is much flatter, much more neutral sounding shouldn't be a surprise.
The ER-4S's resolution is superior and it sounds somewhat tighter and faster as well.
When it comes to soundstage, the Ety's isn't as large as the Fidue's but actually not small/congested either, but circular and sounds realistic. Instrument separation and imaging are somewhat cleaner on the ER-4S.
All in all, the Etymotic is ahead.
Conclusion:
A nice hybrid in-ear available for a fair price. Some might find it too bright around 8 kHz, while I like its tuning and find that it works well because of a recession around 5 kHz.
In terms of resolution and soundstage, it sounds good, performs well and carries the genes one is usually looking for in a hybrid in-ear.