Today, we will review the budget-friendly, closed-back FiiO JT1 headphones from Jade Audio, a sub-brand of the FiiO parent company. It seems like just yesterday, about a year ago, FiiO released its first full-size closed-back headphones, the FiiO FT1. And today, the company's portfolio already includes ten full-size models: the dynamic FiiO x Jade Audio JT3, the planar magnetic FiiO JT7, and headphones from Jade Audio (a sub-brand of FiiO) – the FiiO JT1, etc. Either time flies, or FiiO engineers are incredibly hard-working, or both.
As expected of Jade Audio products, the reasonably priced, good-quality JT1 headphones can be a worthy choice for those just starting out in the world of portable audio. The developers assure us that they focused on the most important aspects for listeners with the JT1 and provided consumers with hi-fi sound at a great price without any obvious compromises. Advertising slogans often remain just that, but now we have the opportunity to evaluate this model.
"Small money for a big sound" – ambitious? Let's figure out if that's really the case. As always, we'll start our FiiO JT1 review with the device's specifications to better understand it.
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Best Price on FiiO JT1
The FiiO JT1 over-ear headphones with 50mm dynamic drivers punch well above their price and offering a comfortable fit, fun sound & solid build quality for the category. |
Classic Package
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Let's rephrase the saying we already know, and we get: "Large box for a large headphones". The FiiO JT1 model comes in a large black cardboard box. On the cover are a photo of the headphones, the model name, the company logo, and the Hi-Res Audio certificate, which is traditional for FiiO audio products. All of these are printed in large, red letters. The words "FiiO" and "Jade Audio" are printed on opposite sides of the box.
Inside the box, the headphones are placed on a cardboard tray. Under the tray are the following accessories: a headphone cable 1.5m (4.9 ft) length, a soft synthetic fabric storage pouch, and a 3.5mm female to 6.3mm male adapter (1/8" to 1/4" jack). The included cable has fabric insulation on the outside, high-quality connectors, a built-in microphone, and a rubber clip for winding. The connectors for the earcups are color-coded: blue for the left earcup and red for the right earcup.
The storage bag is a nice addition, but we didn't like the synthetic fabric material, which creaks in your hands. The headphones fit into the bag quickly and easily. However, the bag is only good for protecting your headphones from dust during storage or transport.
Considering their price range, the FiiO JT1s come with everything you need and have a detachable cable. We have no complaints about the accessories included.
The FiiO JT1 headphones are made of a combination of plastic and metal and have a solid look. The ear cups feature small, uniform geometric designs that resemble flowers. The earcups are suspended from metal holders and can rotate 180 degrees, though this does not make them more compact for transport. The FiiO JT1 features a metal headband with a self-adjusting, spring-loaded inner headband. This is the most comfortable size adjustment system we found; it does not put pressure on the head. However, it is advisable not to make sudden movements with your head.
The JT1 ear pads are thick and pleasant to the touch. They are made of faux leather, also referred to as pleather or PU leather. The attachment system is the same as on older FiiO headphone models: there are protrusions on the inside of the ear pads and corresponding recesses on the headphone cups. During testing, the ear pads completely covered our ears. One disadvantage of this design is that the ears gradually warm up. The headphones are not light, weighing 355 grams (0.76 lbs). However, the well-distributed weight means they don't feel heavy on the head during use. Overall, the FiiO JT1 deserves a positive rating for its design and ergonomics.
As mentioned above, the detachable cable of the FiiO JT1 is equipped with a microphone. The control unit has one button for answering/ending phone calls and playing/pausing music. We tested the JT1 with a Samsung A24 smartphone, which has a 3.5mm headphone jack. There were no issues; during phone calls, my conversation partner and I could hear each other clearly. When we tested the headset on a smartphone using the YouTube Music app, tracks played and paused without any problems. However, when we connected the headphones to the FiiO RETRO NANO audio player, the track control button stopped working. We also tested the microphone in in-game voice chats, and our teammates could hear us perfectly. The microphone's sound quality is nothing special, but it works normally, like a good electret microphone should. It will be sufficient for gaming and everyday multimedia tasks.
So, we've reached the most important section of our FiiO JT1 review, and now we'll talk about the most crucial aspect in headphones – the sound. Having created the FT1 and FT1 Pro models – priced at around $170 and $200, respectively, and aimed at audiophiles – the company has apparently decided to enter the mass-market segment for full-size headphones. Although the phrase 'Focus on sound quality' was visible on the website before we listened to the FiiO JT1, we felt that the sound of the model was probably designed for the average listener, without delving into the finer details and nuances. Nevertheless, we were won over by the sound of the JT1 from the very first seconds. It has a driving, dense sound with emphasised high frequencies. The bass is deep and resonates from the very bottom of the spectrum. The 50 mm membrane, made of polyester ketone (PEK) and polyurethane (PU) with aluminium foil applied, swings confidently to 23 Hz. The subwoofer is not significantly affected by the bass, although there is some decline. The diaphragm has good speed characteristics. Bass modulations in DnB and dubstep music are distinct and textured. If there is any humming, it is slight and we did not notice any accompanying rumbling.
The JT1's tonal balance is very similar to the Harman Target 2019 setting for in-ear monitors (IEMs). It has a balanced sound with slightly increased overall bass. The midrange is recessed to enhance musicality, while the high frequencies are raised to a pleasant level of sharpness and brightness. The midrange and high frequencies are well-defined and detailed. These are not analytical headphones, but rather musical, energetic and atmospheric. We watched the theatrical version of Dune with them and it was extraordinary. There was a wide and voluminous stereo space, deep and massive special effects, and the indescribable atmosphere of Hans Zimmer's music.
The Dune OST sounds slightly simplified at high frequencies in lossless quality, but that's when compared to the studio-grade AKG K271 MK2, for example. If the FiiO JT1s had the same transparent high frequencies, they would most likely be more expensive. The JT1s are appealing overall thanks to their tonal balance and good sound quality, but don't expect them to reveal every last detail. But let's reiterate – the detail is good! Only by listening to high-quality material and comparing them with more expensive headphones will you notice the slight lack of detail in the high frequencies. In terms of sound quality, there is nothing else in this price range to compare them to. While waiting for them to arrive, we thought they would be gaming headphones with musical aspirations and expected less, but upon first listening, we were blown away.
Overall, they are suitable for any type of mainstream music. They sound great with pop, rock, rap, alternative, and electronic. They also sound good with instrumental music. However, if your playlist only contains instrumental music, it is better to look for a different option or listen to it beforehand. However, if you completely cover the acoustic holes at the top of the ear cups, the JT1s will sound better for instrumental music.
Easy to rock, you can even listen to them with your smartphone and they sound more interesting with a DAC. Basically, our assumptions were confirmed. The headphones have a pleasant, comfortable sound that shouldn't tire most people. In our opinion, this is not a disadvantage; there are other models for professional audio work. If you need headphones for professional audio work, feel free to take a look at the FiiO FT1 Pro (you can read our review at the link for a more detailed understanding of this model). Now, let's briefly review the entire frequency range.
The bass is noticeable and "wide," but not fast or technical. For optimal performance, connect the FiiO JT1 to a source that controls low frequencies. For instance, connecting the JT1 directly to a smartphone or laptop produced bloated, boomy bass. However, when connected to the FiiO SnowSky Echo Mini Lossless Portable Music Player, the low frequencies improved significantly – the bass became more focused and defined. This difference was especially noticeable in the double bass parts, where the excess rumble disappeared and the parts became clearer. In other words, the sound of the headphones can be improved.
This range sounds smooth and relatively natural, and it will be comfortable for most listeners. However, it would be wrong to assume that the FiiO JT1 lacks midrange detail. While the headphones do add clarity and detail to the sound, they do so in a relaxed and unforced manner that emphasizes melody over technicality.
The high frequencies of the JT1 seem to be a compromise to please the general public. Lightness, transparency, and brightness are not factors here. The high frequencies play as expected, adding balance to the music. The advantage in reproducing high frequencies lies in smoothness and comfort. The result is a complete absence of fatigue from the highs, at least for us.
We won't make specific comparisons with well-known models from AKG and Sennheiser in this price range because we don't see the point. The FiiO JT1 proved to be the best in terms of ergonomics and the most pleasant for listening to music. It is specifically designed for listening to music, not for working with sound.
Finally, we've reached the end of our FiiO JT1 review, so it's time to summarize the results. With the release of the JT1 model, FiiO/Jade Audio now offers listeners an affordable pair of full-size wired headphones. This model stands out in its price range thanks to its build quality, thoughtful ergonomics, replaceable cable, and Hi-Res Audio certification. The sound tuning will suit many people and create an enjoyable listening experience. There are other time-tested and well-known budget models worthy of attention. The JT1 headphones deliver a rich sound, conveying the main details without sacrificing analytical precision.
A distinctive feature of the FiiO JT1 is its ability to reveal its potential with sound sources better than a smartphone or laptop. Therefore, if possible, we recommend listening to this model on music players that support the lossless format. We enjoyed our experience with the FiiO JT1 and the FiiO SnowSky Echo Mini.
Returning to the thesis about the FiiO JT1 – "Small money for a big sound" – We can agree with it. However, everyone has their own idea of what "big sound" means. If you're looking for budget-friendly, full-size, high-quality headphones and don't consider yourself an avid seeker of sound details, we recommend paying attention to the FiiO JT1. We can also confidently recommend them for a blind purchase.
We hope you enjoyed our review of the FiiO JT1 closed-back headphones. Please feel free to leave your comments, questions, and suggestions in the section below. We will be happy to answer them all as soon as possible. If you own the JT1 and have used it for a while, please share your impressions and tell us what you liked or disliked about these headphones.
Pros
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Cons
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8.1
/10
Our Score
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