Today, we are going to review the FiiO FT1 Pro open-back planar headphones. These Chinese manufacturers are quite cunning and insidious. They know how to compete and aren't afraid to do so. To do that, you need talent and courage – the courage to declare your presence in the mid-range market for full-size headphones, where competition is fierce.
The first model that proved FiiO knows what it's doing in this range was the dynamic, full-size FiiO FT1 headphones. They were a hit, sold in the thousands, and received excellent reviews. However, that success wasn't enough for them. They also wanted to make their mark among planar headphones.
We waited a long time to review the FiiO FT1 Pro to confirm or debunk the myths and theories circulating among reviewers. Only after listening to them ourselves have we been able to piece together everything we had previously heard and read about this model. Before we move on to the main part of our FiiO FT1 Pro review, let's take a look at the specifications of these headphones so that we can get a more accurate and detailed picture of this remarkable device.
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Best Price on FiiO FT1 Pro
The FiiO FT1 Pro is a planar magnetic open-back headphone positioned toward enthusiasts and audiophiles seeking high fidelity sound without the premium pricing of flagship models. |
Classic Package
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Now, let's take a break and discuss the practical aspects of our FiiO FT1 Pro review. If you haven't heard of the FT1 Pro before and haven't read any reviews, congratulations! You're in for a treat. The headphones aren't too big and have nothing extra, but! You'll get more than you'd expect from headphones in this price range. You'll receive an almost premium stylish storage case, an excellent-quality 3.5-mm cable with a 6.3-mm adapter, and another 4.4-mm balanced cable. For the mid-price range, it's a very strong move by the manufacturer to offer such a package because it has everything you need. It will satisfy the needs of audiophiles and those who want to use the headphones for professional tasks.
First, the storage case. Cases aren't uncommon these days, and you can find high-quality ones on various platforms starting at $20. However, this case is designed to fit the headphones perfectly! It is compact and has many curves that act as stiffening ribs. The hard (but not thick) material provides enhanced protection for your headphones, and its size allows it to fit easily into any backpack, alongside your laptop and perhaps a DAC or audio interface. The outer material is a gray, wear-resistant, non-marking fabric with an interesting copper tint. It's clear, concise, compact, and beautiful.
Secondly, the cables. We often criticize them, and unfortunately, the FT1 Pro is no exception. However, it is precisely because of their location on the ear cups that the cables irritate us – they direct the cables straight into our necks. This is more of a physiological issue, but the two wires coming out of the ear cups also restrict our movement. However, they are so well made! There are solid metal connectors at each end that transition into a stiff, well-braided cable. The cable is slightly unruly, but it won't tangle and is easy to unravel. It is secured with a cool rubber tie. There is no microphone effect, and it is very comfortable (as comfortable as possible for a cable that goes to two ear cups instead of one). A custom cable of similar quality for our headphones at SoundGale Studio costs about $60. Here, you get two such cables. Two! They're included in the set.
We were incredibly impressed by the headphones' aesthetic appeal. The beautiful pattern of the planar driver tracks is hidden behind an interestingly designed protective grill. The headband is comfortable and made of soft materials combined with metal hinges. The FiiO logo does not stand out, but it really suits the whole composition. To us, the design echoes that of old orthodynamic headbands from the '80s (essentially a merciless but apt copy of the orthodynamic Yamaha HP-1). They're retro, but they don't look outdated; they look appropriate and balanced. The comfortable, combined ear pads fit snugly against your head. Overall, the breathable design feels light and unobtrusive. However, in terms of bare figures, these are not the lightest headphones available. The ear cups' pressure against a large head is slightly noticeable but not excessive. The only thing that bothered us, as mentioned above, is the direction in which the cables stick out from the ear cups. They should either angle forward more or spread further away from the neck because we constantly felt discomfort during testing as if our movements were restricted. You can easily turn your head, but the cables are always in the way, which is unpleasant. It takes some time to get used to, but we can't find anything else to complain about with this wonderful design.
A few words should be said about the ear pads. They are soft and comfortable, and the part that touches your head is made of fabric to prevent your ears from overheating prematurely. However, similar ear pads are now standard on many FiiO and other manufacturer models, so they are nothing new. The important thing is that they are comfortable, and you won't have any trouble finding replacements in the future.
These headphones were clearly designed with safety and versatility in mind. That's what surprised us. With experience, you can guess the approximate profile you can expect from the graphs. However, the final result depends on the driver area, the physiology of your ear and ear canal, and the acoustic design of the headphones. Only by turning on the music in the headphones can you tell if there was a resonance blockage in the equipment or if the measurement was correct. Here, there really is a gradual blockage in the high frequencies with high peaks at 3, 6, and 8 kHz. We could end here, but no – this can easily be equalized if necessary, and many may even desire such a sound profile. We don't want to draw analogies with other planar headphones right now, but the similarities are obvious. The peaks at 6 and 8 kHz are reminiscent of the Beyerdynamic DT series. They don't "pour" like the 770s, but they add brightness. In other words, if it weren't for these sharp peaks in the high frequencies, one could say that everything above 10 kHz is dimmed, but it is precisely because of these peaks that the picture is quite colorful, and although it does not correspond to reality in the high frequencies, there is no reason to doubt the timbres of the instruments. There is no difference from significantly more expensive models, which we believe are capable of playing high frequencies correctly and artistically. TIn fact, this is just another type of coloring that will highlight slightly different aspects than your entire collection of planar speakers.
As for low frequencies, we got goose bumps many times from the fast planar driver scattering all those punches, the hum turning into the piercing growls of guitars, the echoing blast beats of the bass guitar and bass drum, and the ability to reproduce even ultra-low synthesizers. We started our experience with these headphones by listening to orchestral soundtracks, which was beautiful. However, when we transitioned to our main repertoire, ranging from old-school nu metal and doom metal to modern black, shoegaze, and synthwave, we were blown away. We were also overwhelmed with pleasure by the natural soundstage. It didn't matter if the rhythms were fast or slow; these headphones play everything beautifully and masterfully. The bass provides a wonderful vibe and foundation without overpowering the sound.
Now, let's talk about instrument timbres. If low frequencies are the basis of timbre, then mid frequencies are the body of the instruments. In these headphones, we heard a luxurious midrange presentation, as is typical of hi-fi. We will devote a separate section to comparisons with other models (you can read in our FiiO FT1 Pro review below), but the naturalness of the midrange tones is exceptional for this price point. Both female and male voices have the delivery and body you would expect. Guitars roar with distortion, and you hear clear articulation, which is usually unavailable in dynamic headphones. The best way to learn about timbres is to have a reference sound and compare it to others. Take off one pair of headphones, put on another, and switch back and forth. These headphones' speed and detail are impressive! Yes, the sound is still calibrated for a wide audience, but the headphones accept equalization so easily that you can dial in exactly what you want. You can even create your own reference sound or control the frequencies. The detail is sufficient; it's just a matter of what you want to achieve. Looking back at how we listened to acoustic instruments with these headphones, we can't help but be inspired. We don't know how FiiO managed to produce such incredible sound quality on a budget!
It will be difficult for us to discuss competitors without providing specific examples of use. This is all thanks to the capabilities of this FiiO product. The music and listening aspects are more or less clear. The analogies that immediately come to mind are the Moondrop Venus/Para, the Hifiman Edition XS, and the Audeze MM-100. The FiiO FT1 Pro has a lot in common with all of these models.
The most direct comparison can be made with the Hifiman Edition XS. FiiO FT1 Pro has similar bass and midrange, as well as high detail and driver speed. However, instead of aggressive highs, the sound is more forgiving and doesn't highlight the imperfections in the recordings. Unlike the Edition XS, there is no "metallic" taste here. On the contrary, the accents are set in a way that you can live with them as if they were your own without having to think about the equalizer all the time. And the price is almost half that of the Hifiman. The winner is clear. And that's without even mentioning the package contents.
The Moondrop Para has weaker low frequencies compared to the FiiO, similar detailed mids, and similar accents in the high frequencies with their own additional emphasis. In terms of quality, these are two interesting, powerful models. In terms of tone, it would be difficult to choose a favorite, but when you consider what comes in the box and the materials and assembly, the choice becomes clear. The sound design is so good in both that you start comparing the models' aesthetics, configuration, and ergonomics. The Para is a stationary solution, while the FT1 Pro is portable. We will soon write a separate review of the Moondrop Para, and we sincerely advise you to check out this model.
However, there aren't many parallels between the Audeze MM-100 (which we also reviewed separately) and the FiiO FT1 Pro from the outset. Both are magnetic planar headphones with a similar driver size, though. We found the "foam effect" and the peak at 3 kHz to be very similar. They both have a similar aggressive quality that you get used to over time. The bass feels and sounds similar, but the midrange of the MM-100 is much clearer because it rises several decibels at 800–2,000 Hz. This brings the vocals closer to the listener and gives the instruments a fuller sound. But you know what? With FiiO, you can achieve a similar effect using the equalizer. If you adjust the peaks at 6 and 8 kHz, you can make these headphones sound very similar. The MM-100 is better made and has interesting aesthetics, but the Audeze set isn't the best.
So, where are we going with this? It's simple: the ability to use headphones for studio work. With a little work, you can use the FT1 Pro to check the balance of mixes and do full production for certain tasks thanks to its detail and range. For monitoring, it is best to raise the 800–2,000 Hz range. In all other cases, it depends on your needs. We tried playing synthesizers and monitoring with a guitar, and they make it easy. The low impedance and fairly high sensitivity of the headphones make them undemanding in terms of amplification.
We can also mention the ability to use them directly with laptop headphone outputs. Gaming in all genres will be enjoyable and immersive. We even got very good sound directly from the PS5 controller! We wanted to turn up the volume more, but the dynamic range and frequency response quickly took their places.
Finally, we've reached the end of our FiiO FT1 Pro review, so it's time to summarize the results. One pair of headphones for everything – that's the FiiO FT1 Pro. At first, we expected the Harman-like settings that audiophiles rave about. Then, when the first frequency response measurements appeared online, the sound seemed neutral and cautious, but lacking "spice." However, once we put them on and turned on the music, we understood! These headphones aren't perfect, but only because of their frequency peaks. And we're writing this only for those who already have some experience and have listened to a lot of audio tracks. The average user who wants good headphones and comes across this model will be thrilled with everything it has to offer. They're flexible in terms of use with various sources, easy to equalize, portable, and richly equipped. They have a great design, materials, and build quality. You are guaranteed to like them. It's difficult to explain what you get in terms of sound because we all look for different things and hear differently. But when something really hits the mark, everyone likes it. This is exactly the case here.
We hope you enjoyed our review of the FiiO FT1 Pro open-back planar magnetic 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 FT1 Pro 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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9.3
/10
Our Score
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