Freedom Is Here!
PROS: Excellent price to performance ratio under $500, sound & build quality, highly detailed and resolving, good bass for a BA, comfortable fit, good isolation, customization options.
CONS: Detailed signature might not be for people who prefer a smooth and warm sound.
Disclaimer.
I would like to thank Fearless for sending me the S8F to test and review. I am not affiliated with the company or any of its sellers and write this review with an unbiased opinion regardless of how the review turns out.
My background.
I am a professional musician, producer and audio engineer with experience in the performing, recording and pro-audio industry. I test products on a technical and musical level and try to write reviews as simple as possible from a music fan’s perspective.
Genre preferences.
I majorly listen to rock, acoustic, pop and metal and occasionally listen to EDM songs which are doing the rounds on the radio and charts.
Technical Specifications
- Driver – 8 Balanced Armatures (1 Sonion compound ultra-low frequency, 1 Sonion compound middle-low frequency, 2 Knowles independent middle-high frequency, 1 Knowles compound ultra-high frequency)
- Frequency response range: 15Hz-20kHz
- Impedance: 15Ω
- Sensitivity: 113dB/MW
- Passive noise reduction: 26dB
Available for Sale on Amazon.
About Fearless.
Fearless Audio (Wuwei in Chinese) is a brand based out of China. They specialize in making universal and custom fit in-ear monitors and have a vast range of products ranging from a single BA driver to 12 BA drivers. They offer multiple customization options for shells and faceplates where sky’s the limit. You can either select from their stock charts or send them images of shells, faceplates and logos that you like and they can make it happen.
Included in the box.
- Fearless S8 Freedom
- Ear tips – Wide bore ear tips (SML)
- Leather Carry case
- 2-pin 8 Core cable
- Metal plaque with information pertaining to the model
Build Quality.
S8F shells are 3D printed and made up of resin. They are crystal clear and you can clearly see the drivers inside which have the model number, ‘S8 Freedom’ inscribed onto them. The faceplates now spot the new Fearless logo. The shells do not have any bubbles and the seam between the faceplate and the bottom shell is flawless too. The 2-pin sockets are recessed which enables part of plastic before the 2-pins of the cable to go in. The sound bores in the nozzles have been drilled very neatly too.
The 2-pin 8 core cable provided in the package has an attractive silvery white color and feels very well made. It’s not the most flexible cable but it has a very good feel to it and isn’t microphonic. Impedance of the cable is around 200-250mΩ.
Fit and Comfort.
S8F has an extremely comfortable fit for me, probably one of the best I’ve tried under $500. I get a very snug fit with excellent isolation for a universal fit. All the curves of the shell are well polished and feel nice around the concha of the ear. It is also very comfortable to wear for long durations of time.
Twister6 Reviews 
Thanks for the review! If you still have, can you compare S8 to Noble K10AU? Thanks.
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Thanks for reading. Sorry, I don’t have the Noble K10AU. 🙂
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Thanks for a great review. Any plans to review the Fearless Audio Roland? Heard some great things, but also some negative. Considering buying, but would have to be without trying first.
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Yes! Stay tuned! 🙂
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Hi there – do you think the Fearless 8f be a good match with the HiBy R5 & a upgrade copper cable? I’m looking to bring a touch more warmth but keep the detail for classical music… thanks
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8F review was done by one of the Tw6 contributors who doesn’t have R5 sources. Sorry, we have different reviews on Tw6 with different sources.
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Hey there! Fearless S8F is highly resolving in the upper mids and treble, with both being slightly forwardly presented relative to the other frequency bands. A cable’s affect on the sound signature depends on a lot of parameters and I can’t generalize a cable pairing suggestion by just knowing that it is copper. With that said, in my experience, S8F paired well with Electro Acousti’s 7N Single Crystal Copper cable and 7N UP-OCC cable, Effect Audio’s Ares II and Ego Audio’s Whiskey. If you have a specific cable you’re looking at, let me know. Maybe I’ve tried that too. 🙂 As Alex said, I don’t have the R5 but owning the R6 Pro and knowing that Hiby generally goes for a natural neutral-ish tone, I doubt you’ll go wrong with R5 as a DAP pairing with S8F. But still check with people who have the exact same setup you’re wanting to get. Recently, I’ve been using S8F more with DX160.
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thanks for your comments, that’s helpful. So to achieve the goal of clarity, depth, weight with a touch of warmth which combo would you recommend with the S8 – DX160 or R5? I was looking at Plussound, Satin Audio, PW audio but not specific cables. I’ll check out your recommendations. The other IEMs I was looking at were the Oriveti OH500 & Acoustune HS1551CU, and just trying to improve the overall sound through cable rolling. I’m thinking to see some money with the R5 then buying a better IEM or the DX160 and probably the OH500 or the HS1551CU. Any thoughts? Struggling to make a decision when I’m unable to try any of them!! Thanks again for your feedback & advice
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I’m sorry I can’t help you there as I haven’t tried most of the products you’ve mentioned myself. I can tell you this that S8F and DX160 are both excellent VFM products, probably my favourite under $500 and I can easily recommend them.
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Thanks again for your help. I’m just trying to find the Electro Acousti’s 7N Single Crystal Copper and 7N UP-OCC cables you were referring to. I’m assuming you are talking about the shop on Alibaba.com? Any chance you could post links of the cables you’re talking about please? Thanks
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Hey! Here is my review of the Electro Acousti cables – https://twister6.com/2019/11/27/electro-acousti-cryo-litz-7n-up-occ-7n-scc-cables/
Links are in the review. 🙂
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Hi again, sorry to keep asking questions. I ordered a set of S8 Pros from Penon Audio. However I’ve had a few people suggest these are too sensitive at 15 ohms to use with the ibasso DX160. Is this correct? If so would the R5, Shanling M6, or something else be better? I’m also going to order the Eagle sign: CS Series UP-OCC COPPER litz to help round up the top end & fatten out the bottom end a bit… so just wondering if the Cayin Niis would work or would this be to bright if I’m looking for an overall sound that’s larity, depth, weight with a touch of warmth? Sorry struggling to see my way through all the reviews etc so any advice you can give would be appreciated… thanks.
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I don’t have the Fearless S8 Pro nor have I had the chance to listen to it ever, so can’t say how well they’ll pair with the mentioned DAPs. Sorry, can’t help you here.
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Hi! great review there. I want to know if you like your S8F with DX160 better than R6pro, what do you say? because I have DX160 too
but now I can’t decide what to buy, S8F or Fiio FH7. I’d be grateful if you could compare those 2
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Hey! Thanks! Well I can enjoy S8F with both DX160 and R6 Pro, no hard preference here. So if you’re planning on getting the S8F, DX160 should do just fine.
As for S8F vs FH7, they are starkly different. S8F has more impactful and resolving bass, good upper mids definition and resolving treble supporting those upper mids. I like FH7 only with the bass filter and even with that it doesn’t have a lot of bass impact or rumble. It relies on lower treble driving the signature and not the upper mids definition. I feel upper mids are slightly lacking in definition. Also, S8F fits me very well owing to its finely designed semi-custom shells. I’d personally choose S8F over FH7.
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Thanks for the reply!
I was leaning towards FH7 before, as it is the cheaper option and easier to find here in my country. But I think I have to reconsider my options.
I thought its only a matter of taste between the two, but it looks like S8F is more of an upgrade to FH7 from what you describe. I feel like I have to try them out myself, but I don’t think leaving my house at a time like this is a good option. Guess I’ll have to wait and try them before making any decision.
Thanks again for the input. Cheers!
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Do you think that S8F is still worth the money in 2022?
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Honestly, it depends on what you’re looking for. This price segment definitely has a ton of great options now!
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What other options would you recommend at this price segment?
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