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Greetings mate and Welcome aboard!
Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions, so…
It’s no secret that I’ve been on the hunt for a good closed-back headphone above the entry-level category; one that works well for hip-hop while not blowing out the low end as the majority of headphone manufacturers looooove to do. I won’t rant about that now though. Maybe later.
If you’re at all familiar with this website, you’ll know that great open headphones are a dime a dozen and rather ubiquitous.
But closed headphones? That’s a whole different animal for a slew of reasons, but the main dilemma mostly lies in the fact that tuning a closed headphone is, how shall we say, a delicate… balancing act.
I’ll see myself out.
Jokes aside, there must be some semblance of balance in any headphones, as certain frequencies can quickly get out of hand (cough bass cough) *excuse me* if done incorrectly. But it’s especially problematic in closed offerings.
Without going on yet another rant in the span of 100 words, I’ll just say that 99% of consumer-level closed headphones are trash precisely because they completely obliterate the bass and place emphasis on all the wrong areas.
I’ve slogged through many headphones over the last few years that left me wanting to punch a hole in some nearby sheetrock, but the FiiO FT1 is certainly not one of those headphones.
Today we’ll dissect FiiO’s FT1 and find out if it’s worth your hard-earned cash money; discussing everything from build, comfort, sound, amplification needs, genre pairing, price to performance, overall value, and more.
By the end of this article, you’ll know if it’s right for you, and if it isn’t, I’ll steer you in the direction of something that is.
Deal?
Trust me? You should.
Let’s dive in!
All specs, box contents, button functions, and pricing towards the end.
Kicking things off, the FT1 is available in 2 color schemes: North American Walnut and Beech Wood.
This natural solid wood, with its smooth grain and delicate texture, reduces cavity resonance and minimizes standing waves according to FiiO. And spoiler alert, it…
Beechwood is native to China and characterized by its dense and hard material, strong corrosion resistance, and beautiful grain, making it a top choice for boats, vehicles, furniture, and instruments.
Build & Comfort
The first thing you’ll notice is how nimble they are. Coming in at 340g (without the cable) they are lightweight but seem very sturdy.
The cups rotate a little east to west and they also fold north to south, but not all the way down.
Made of a breathable protein leather + fabric combo, the obviously-HIFIMAN-inspired earpads are a mesh design, helping to dissipate heat build-up between the ear cushions and your ears. Seems FiiO knows what’s what already as this pad choice works incredibly well for, well, everything.
The nugget headband pads are also a suede fabric material and provide just the right amount of support while also not intruding into your head or creating uncomfortable hot spots.
The bale structure features high-quality ball bearing slides, offering a 12-level adjustment and quite a bit of real estate for even the largest of melons.
One great point I came across online was that this metal splint (seen above) slides right over the top of the pad and that’s definitely asking for problems later if experience has taught me anything.
This combo will undoubtedly cause some marks and such, but I’m not going to freak out about it too much since it hasn’t actually happened yet. I will update this article accordingly.
Rounding out the build are dual 3.5mm terminations and the package includes 2 sets of silver-plated oxygen-free copper cables: 4.4mm and 3.5mm.
Because of its lightweight and fairly compact design, the FT1 is incredibly comfortable and fantastic for extended listening sessions. The cups are wide, deep, and spacious enough to accommodate most auricles, so if you have ears the size of Texas, you’re in luck!
Moreover, clamping force is just right and they toe the line of too tight vs. too loose incredibly well; falling somewhere in the middle and almost disappearing on your head.
But none of that is what I really wanted to talk about.
Sound
Source(s): Spotify, PS4, FLAC
Amp/DACs Used: iFi Go Link, FiiO BTR13, K7, K11, JDS ATOM 2, Universal Audio Volt 2, FiiO K19, iFi Zen, more.
The reason I’m so excited about these headphones is because of how they sound.
It helps to give some clarification on exactly why this is so important, and we touched on it a bit in the open.
If there’s one thing I know like the back of my hand, it’s bass. I’ve been producing beats on and off for many years dating back to 2007, so pretty much the second I press play, I know without a doubt if a headphone is tuned correctly or not.
And let me give you the bad news: most headphones are completely awful and sound like dog shit. I’ve written about this in countless articles and reviews, but I’ll just say that the majority of companies either don’t know how to do it right or simply don’t care because they know the vast percentage of average consumers have no clue that they’re being tricked into buying said dog shit.
This is an incredibly scary thought when you consider the thousands of products sold daily that only make matters worse and serve as nothing more than vehicles for hearing loss.
So when a headphone like the FT1 comes along, you can bet your dummy thicc ass I’m going to make a huge fuss about it.
Let’s take a look:
Bass
FiiO, in their “we actually have somewhat of a clue” understanding of frequency response, opts for one of the preferred bass curves. There are a few that work well, but this particular one calls for a sub-bass shelf from 0 to about 40/50Hz, followed by some emphasis in the all-important 60-90Hz area (i.e. the most relevant information of the low end), and finally ending in a mud/bleed CUT around the most crucial regions of 100/200-300Hz.
Ooh my God. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. I don’t have to drive off a cliff today.
While you don’t necessarily need much sub-bass emphasis below 40Hz (since these areas are inaudible), I’m mostly fine with it as long as there’s a mid/high bass cut.
This is hugely important since the majority of cheap consumer-type headphones (and even more expensive dog shit) boost these areas; ultimately ruining the entire sound signature and further perpetuating the myth that gobs and gobs of never-ending mid-bass is somehow OK.
It’s not. What it actually is, is an eternal nightmare that you can never wake up from. So hell, essentially.
See, dear reader? Experience brings perspective and perspective brings despair. Despair that I shout to companies at the top of my lungs and they still don’t listen.
But guess what? FiiO didn’t need to listen since they already knew what NOT to do. I could shout it from the rooftops I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU!!
Now, would I instead prefer more of a flat line at the sub-areas or a bit of roll-off? Sure, but I’m not going to lose my shit over it and FREAK OUT, MANN.
The worst you’ll likely experience is a bit of subtle hum, perhaps a little bleed. But again, pay attention to how the track was engineered as it’s the most important ingredient to a happy listening experience.
☺️< Happy
Where Bass Should Be Boosted
The reason why 60-90 Hz is so important lies in the fact that these areas provide the most slam, weight, impact, lushness, and overall wetness of kick drums and bass guitars; i.e. it’s the part of the bass that you can hear the best and also sounds the best if it was mixed right.
It’s what gives hip-hop (and any similar genre) that bounce and pop so don’t be dockin’ no points from this quick rap, I spit FAX, this and that/kickin’ back/ but let me get back on track while you give me some dap./ 👊
Put more simply, it’s precisely what makes bass sound good and why we all love it so much.
Take a look at a few drawings I did to help illustrate the point:
(Coming Soon)
It’s very simple, and thankfully FiiO passes with flying colors. The FT1’s bass has impact and slam, but not at the expense of the rest of the sound signature. There’s minimal to no bleed, it doesn’t try to become front and center, and it never feels overpowering like the majority of consumer dog shit.
Have I said dog shit enough times?
WELL I’M GONNA SAY IT SOME MORE!!!
Mid-Range
Likewise, the mid-range around the presence regions see a much-needed boost; in part to compensate for the bass shelf, but also because our ears expect a rise in these areas. This means vocals and instruments stand out nicely and don’t sound like they’re drowning in a sea of chocolate pudding.
Moreover, in addition to the FT1’s incredible resolution at the price point, everything feels and sounds lively yet natural. There’s no resonance, honk, or strange peaks and dips around the mids.
And, unlike other inferior products, you won’t get a sense that the sound is metallic, scratchy, tinny, or otherwise artificial and contrived.
This is a warm tone with great resolution and a smooth overall profile.
In fact, the FT1, for a closed-back headphone in its price bracket provides incredible levels of detail and overall coherence.
The timbre of lower registered notes and instruments, such as that of an organ, are rendered clearly and naturally, providing presence and warmth while at the same time not subtly lulling you to sleep like a 400 series HIFIMAN or an HD650.
This is also of paramount importance since many headphones end up sounding a bit too sleepy and dull at times; especially as you start to move into the areas around 1kHz and after.
Treble
The high-end isn’t a sore spot at all, but some may take exception with its somewhat laid-back vibe. Don’t get me wrong, hi-hats and cymbals, flutes, clarinets, violins, trumpets, and other high-pitched instruments will have a very natural, crisp character, but this is in no way a “bright” sound.
And let’s be honest: bright is what some people want. I personally feel as though it strikes a pretty decent balance between overly dark and too bright, but please keep in mind that your perception of the treble depends on, and can vary wildly from, track to track depending on the artist(s) and their skill level in EQ/mastering, etc. This can also be said for the rest of the signature.
For instance, if a song sounds muddy, don’t immediately assume it’s the headphones. It could just be the track. This is, again, why I harp on its importance so much.
fast focus sleepy tigers.
Soundstage, Resolution, Timbre
One area in which they falter a tad is Soundstage. Separation is good, and spacing too. But if you’re expecting a wide, open image with loads of depth and height and width and OmGmGiT’sMaKiNgMeHoRnY… you’re going to be disappointed.
Because we’re dealing with a closed back, this is to be expected on some level, but I would say temper your expectations accordingly.
As alluded to earlier, Resolution and Timbre are incredible for $150 to the point of astonishment. The most minute details start to emerge, and the tone of the instruments and the whole SHA-BANG is exemplary.
I was hearing all sorts of strange artifacts in songs not previously aware of, and it made the immersion/intimacy factor all that much better.
In addition to that, this is the quintessential bass head sound and tuning. Why?
WHY?!!?!
Because it works and has always worked. It’s how hip-hop was meant to be heard.
This is another example of a headphone you hand to some leftover Beats by Dre Homie who may not be able to hear you since his ear drums were blown to bits way back in ’06. Who would have thought a poorly constructed bass response could result in hearing loss?
Anyway, you may find yourself shaking your head at how a closed-back headphone under $200 is capable of this much glory on such a massive scale, and I too was shocked. It’s one of those things that restores your hope in humanity.. somewhat.
Though primarily meant for harder genres, I believe the FT1 is great for the majority of music you may come across due to everything we just discussed, but primarily because of its excellent tuning and splendid resolution at the price point.
In other words, these headphones punch way above their class and present a fantastic price-to-performance value proposition.
NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!!!!!
And, they’re super isolating. So if you have neighbors who stay up into the wee hours of the morning literally screaming as loud as possible, don’t fret and try not to lose your mind. Just buy the FT1 instead, put it on your head, open this collection of dope songs, and press play. Now relax.
At 32Ω Impedance and 98dB Sensitivity, they’re pretty efficient too and don’t resist power much, so nearly anything will work well.
In case you missed it before, I used them with an iFi Go Link, FiiO BTR13, K7,K11,JDS ATOM 2,Universal Audio Volt 2,FiiO K19,iFi Zen, and the list goes on. It’s completely stupid and unnecessary. Don’t get too caught up in what you go with here, as you could theoretically run them out of a phone/PS4 controller and be completely fine.
That said, I’d at least go with a dongle or something from the BTR series since you undoubtedly are 2 hip to be square, right?
Final Verdict
Given the overwhelmingly positive experience I had with these, I was expecting them to be somewhere in the ballpark of $300-$400.
If you can believe it, they’re $150 and include a beautiful hard shell carrying case, snap-on 1/4″ adapter, and 2 sets of cables (one balanced).
*homer simpson*
EEEEEWHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?!?!?!?!?
That’s right you read that correctly!
What more could you want?
NOTHING. That’s what.
The FT1 represents an almost perfect value proposition, and I can’t recommend them highly enough.
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this FiiO FT1 Review and came away with some valuable insight.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please leave them down below or Contact me!!
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Is the FT1 as good as I claim? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…
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Stu is determined to help you make sound decisions, and strives to deliver the best and most in depth content on the internet! In his spare time, he likes to fish, paint, play guitar, pray, rap, make beats, take photos, record videos, graphic design, and more. His sense of humour, coupled with a knack for excellence and strict attention to detail are what allow him to stand out in an crowded industry.
Another Great and Honest review. Love it Stu buddy.
Hey to anyone reading, I occasionally put a drop of first press cold press extra virgin olive oil in my ears, and I take a shot of Olive oil with lemon in the morning. I believe it helps with health and hearing overall. Everyone is welcome to try it. For the joy of music. Ok, Opa and Kalinixta 🙂
Great to hear from you! Thank you for the comment. That sounds interesting. May have to try it! I do incorporate Extra Virgin Olive Oil every day as it’s very good for you. Do you enjoy Coconut Oil? Asa a greek boy, I really appreciate the last part of your comment haha. ώπα!!! And Happy Sunday 🙂
2 comments
Another Great and Honest review. Love it Stu buddy.
Hey to anyone reading, I occasionally put a drop of first press cold press extra virgin olive oil in my ears, and I take a shot of Olive oil with lemon in the morning. I believe it helps with health and hearing overall. Everyone is welcome to try it. For the joy of music. Ok, Opa and Kalinixta 🙂
Gary,
Great to hear from you! Thank you for the comment. That sounds interesting. May have to try it! I do incorporate Extra Virgin Olive Oil every day as it’s very good for you. Do you enjoy Coconut Oil? Asa a greek boy, I really appreciate the last part of your comment haha. ώπα!!! And Happy Sunday 🙂
-Stu