Faaeal isn’t a new name anymore. They’ve been around in the audio market for a while now, but honestly, in recent times they’ve started getting real serious about standing out — especially in the crazy competitive budget IEM scene. Under the $100 range, it’s kinda wild how many options there is right now, and launching something new here that grabs attention? Not easy at all.
But Faaeal Tulip – the latest addition – is trying exactly that. And spoiler alert: it’s not just trying, it’s actually pulling it off in few key areas.
Disclaimer
This review is fully based on my personal experience with the Faaeal Tulip. I’ve used this IEM for a good amount of time, listened to many different genres, and even tried it in gaming sessions — just to see how it performs in real, everyday usage. Sound is always a very personal thing, so what sounds great to me might not match your taste, and that’s totally normal.
The unit I tested was provided for review purposes, but all opinions shared here are completely my own. I always try to stay honest in my reviews, pointing out both the strong and the weak parts. My goal is not to sell anything — just to help you figure out if this IEM fits your needs and expectations.
If after reading the full review you feel like this IEM is the right pick for you, you can grab it from Faaeal’s official AliExpress store. And if you’re from Bangladesh and don’t have a dual currency card, then you can reach out to Geek Mart — they can help you place your order easily.
Build Quality & Design
First up — build quality. No sugarcoating here — it’s damn solid. Full metal shell, no plasticky feeling anywhere. When you pick it up, it just feels like a serious product. No cheap edges, no weird joins. Everything feels tight, clean and well put together.
The matte finish on the shell gives it a smooth texture that doesn’t attract fingerprints — a very underrated touch, honestly. The edges are softly curved and there’s nothing pokey or rough to complain about
And yeah, the design is clearly inspired by the Tulip flower. Not just in the name — the faceplate and the shell both have this curved, organic shape that gives off floral vibes. The vented part, which is part of the semi-open back design, has a grille that’s both functional and stylish. Honestly, for this price, it looks way more expensive than it is.
The color tone also leans into that premium feel. Faaeal didn’t go overboard with flashy designs. It’s classy, clean, and tasteful. Something that actually looks great in hand and not just in pictures.
Comfort & Fit
Though it’s a metal build, the Tulip doesn’t feel too heavy in the ear. The shape is ergonomic enough for longer listening sessions. It’s not ultra-light like resin shells, but the balance is nice. I didn’t feel any sharp pressure points. Passive isolation is average due to the semi-open design, but not bad at all — depends on the tips used..
Cable
The cable that comes with the Faaeal Tulip is honestly way better than what I expected at this price range. It’s a 4-core OCC+OFC silver-plated cable, and it not just looks good — it actually feels premium too. Where some more expensive IEMs still come with super basic cables that feel like an afterthought, Faaeal kinda stepped up here. It’s the kind of cable that makes you pause and think—“wait, why can’t other brands offer this too?”
There’s almost no microphonic noise, and the cable has just a little memory but nothing annoying. The Y-splitter and 4.4mm jack are made of metal and designed nicely. It adds a bit of weight, yes, but also adds to the solid build. Someone who prefers super lightweight cables might feel this one a bit on the heavier side, especially while walking or moving around, but I personally didn’t find it distracting.
One downside though — it doesn’t have interchangeable terminations. So you have to pick 3.5mm or 4.4mm version from the start. Mine’s 4.4mm and works perfect with balanced sources, but just keep that in mind before buying. Still, unless you have a very specific need, you won’t feel like upgrading the cable — this one’s good to go.
Tips
Tulip comes with two sets of tips in the box, but I’ll be very honest — the stock tips didn’t work for me at all. With stock tips, I was getting weak bass, thin body, and overall the sound felt kinda lifeless. I knew something was off.
So I switched to Final Audio Type-E clear tips, and boom — everything just clicked. Bass came alive, vocals felt more intimate, and the overall presentation became tighter. I also tested with some narrow bore tips, and they worked really well too. Tulip is one of those IEMs that changes a lot depending on tip pairing, so I highly recommend you to experiment. Don’t just go with stock and judge it. This one needs the right tip to shine, and once you find the match, it’s gonna feel like a different IEM.
Pouch
The included carrying pouch is… big. Like, not pocketable big. But it’s not a bad thing depending on your usage. It’s sturdy, has unique texture, and feels a little more premium than the soft pouches we usually get at this price. Inside, it has separate compartments — enough space to store the IEMs, tips, and even a small dongle DAC. For home or studio use, or if you travel with a bag, it’s actually great. But yeah, not something you’ll fit inside your jeans pocket.
Testing Source
- Questyle qp2r
- Onix xm5
- Cowon Plenue R2
- Astell & kern SP1000M
- Shanling M5 Ultra
- Cayin N3 UltraI
- Hiby RS2
- Shanling M3 Plus
- basso DX180
- Hiby R4
- Hiby R5 saber
- Hiby FD5
- Hiby R3 iiI
- basso DC Elite
- Cayin ru7
- F.Audio FA5
- Questyle M15
- ONIX Alpha Xl 1
- KAEI-TAP2 ( AMP )
- Shanling H5
- ifi idsd signature
- fosi k7
- fosi gr40
- epz tp35
- Hiby FC4
- Hiby fc3
- BQEYZ Lin
- Nicehck tc3
Source compatibility
I tested the Faaeal Tulip with a range of sources — from dongle DACs to portable amps and DAPs. It’s not too power-hungry, so basic sources work fine. But what I did notice is that it scales pretty well with better sources.
With warm-neutral or balanced sources, the sound is fuller, smoother, and more musical. But when I paired it with very bright or analytical DACs, it started to sound a bit dry and lost some of that emotional pull. It never got harsh or peaky, but it just didn’t feel musical anymore — more like clinical.
So my suggestion: pair it with something a bit warm, or at least not cold-sounding. You’ll get the best out of it.
The Sound Performance
Tonality
Faaeal Tulip leans towards a mild V-shaped or even a soft U-shaped tuning, depending how one hears it. It doesn’t follow that sharp V-shaped style where mids go completely recessed. Instead, vocals stay present, textured — just not overly pushed. The Tulip has a sense of impact in the bass, and an airy treble with good extension, giving it an overall lively and full-bodied sound. That kind of tonality helps it work well across a wide range of genres.
Bass
Tulip handles bass with maturity, not brute force.
Sub-Bass
Sub-bass is a bit on the softer side, but there’s still a strong sense of presence. On tracks like “The Beat Goes On” by Emilie-Claire Barlow, the deep background bassline carries a smooth yet full-bodied rumble, especially during the upright bass sections. The rumble doesn’t overwhelm or bleed into other parts — it stays well separated, which is impressive. It has enough depth and control to not sound loose, and that helps when listening to ambient-electronic tracks where low-end definition is crucial. Sub-bass texture is there — you can feel it, not just hear it.
There’s no harsh bloom, and even at higher volumes the sub-bass holds its clarity. There’s a nice clean flow to it. That’s where the technical strength starts showing.
Mid-Bass
The mid-bass is where things get more engaging. It’s tight, fast, and has good slam. The kick drums on Michael Bublé’s “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” punch clean, landing with a crisp edge. You can really feel the drum skins snapping — and that tightness makes rock and metal tracks shine. In Metallica’s “Master of Puppets”, the double kick drums don’t smear or mask the electric guitars. Even during busy sections, Tulip handles layering pretty well.
There’s a bit more power in the mid-bass compared to sub, which gives snare drums, floor toms, and bass guitars a strong presence. That boost makes rock, funk, and jazz genres feel more dynamic and engaging.
Mid-Range
Tulip’s midrange is neither too forward nor too recessed — it lands somewhere comfortably in between. There’s a natural flow in the way vocals and instruments present themselves.
Male vocals have nice body and weight, especially evident on tracks like Michael Bublé’s “Lost”. His baritone textures stay warm but not bloated, with enough space to breathe. The piano chords in the background don’t get drowned out either — they sound clear, resonant, and round.
Female vocals, on the other hand, are airy and clean. In Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why”, her voice carries a slight sweet shimmer, with a soft, lifted top-end. There’s no sibilance or unwanted spikes around the “sss” or “shh” sounds.
Instrument separation in the mids is handled well. In acoustic jazz tracks, where double bass, piano, and cymbals play side by side, you don’t get any midrange congestion. The clarinet and brush drums in Diana Krall’s “Peel Me a Grape” sound nicely layered, and there’s a natural tone to everything. No plasticky timbre or metallic edge.
Treble
The treble on Tulip is what I’d call smooth-airy rather than bright. It’s extended, but not in a shouty way. There’s space around the instruments, and micro details like hi-hat rolls, strings plucks, and reverb trails are easy to pick up — especially noticeable in well-mastered jazz and classical tracks.
It doesn’t have that dry or analytical sharpness, but more of a relaxed openness. In “Quando, Quando, Quando” by Michael Bublé ft. Nelly Furtado, the string accents and light percussion taps have nice sparkle without turning edgy. That makes long sessions fatigue-free.
Timbre, overall, is natural. It doesn’t sound overly colored or artificial, which adds to the realism of stringed instruments like violins, cellos, and acoustic guitar. There’s no sense of metallic shimmer — which is often a flaw in budget IEMs trying to simulate clarity.
Technical Performance
For under $100, Tulip shows surprisingly good technical finesse.
Detail retrieval is above average for the class.
Imaging is sharp enough to place instruments without confusion.
Soundstage benefits from the semi-open back design, offering more width than average. It’s not fully holographic, but it has a definite sense of air and openness.
Layering is clean — no instrument overlaps or note smearing even in complex tracks.
Tracks with fast percussion, like “Take Five” by The Dave Brubeck Quartet, stay tight — ride cymbals, piano chords, and snare rolls all manage to hold their ground without falling into a mess.
Conclusion
Faaeal Tulip, honestly, feels like one of those IEMs that don’t scream for attention but earns your respect the more you use it. For under $100, it brings together a lot of things that just work. The tuning is mature — not too aggressive, not too laid-back. It has punchy and tight bass, natural mids that don’t feel overly pushed or sucked out, and a smooth treble that has just enough sparkle without getting harsh.
What really clicked with me is how it handles variety. From jazz like Take Five by The Dave Brubeck Quartet to classic rock and even casual gaming, it holds its shape and delivers clean performance. It’s musical, but not messy. There’s a flow to the sound that feels thoughtful. It’s not chasing detail for the sake of it, but still manages to present layers clearly when the track demands it.
Of course, it’s not perfect. The stock tips are kinda meh and don’t do justice to the sound, so tip rolling is a must here. Also, the carrying case is more of a desk case than pocket one — it’s chunky. And if you’re into very technical, bright-sounding gear, this one might feel a bit too mellow. But if paired right, it scales well and gives back a lot in terms of musical enjoyment.
Overall, if you’re looking for something that sounds premium, feels premium, and doesn’t kill your wallet, the Faaeal Tulip is easy to recommend. It’s not trying to be flashy or overly “audiophile”, but it gets the fundamentals right. And sometimes, that’s exactly what makes something worth keeping around.
