Do you know who is having a very impressive year so far? FiiO. Astell&Kern might get more press attention because its products have more sex appeal for some in the Head-Fi community, but we are increasingly convinced that your money might be better spent with FiiO. We’ve had the opportunity to review a number of their DAPs, IEMs, and Dongle DACs and every single product has been a stellar performer and a huge bargain for the money. The new $299 FiiO FT3 were not on our radar and we are very excited to try them later this month.
The FiiO FT3 are an open-back headphone featuring large 60mm Dynamic Drivers, housed in an aluminium alloy shell that is both strong and lightweight. Whilst headphones with bigger drivers can often be noticeably larger and heavier, with the FT3, the engineering team at FiiO has delivered an ergonomic, comfortable headphone weighing in at just 391g.
To ensure maximum compatibility with audio sources, the FT3’s high-quality Monocrystalline Copper headphone cable comes supplied with a set of interchangeable connector plugs. Choose from 3.5mm and 6.35mm (single-ended) or 4.4mm and XLR-4 (balanced) – enabling the FT3 to be enjoyed with everything from Digital Audio Players (DAPs) and smartphones; PCs and FiiO’s own next-gen desktop hi-res audio player, the R7.
The 60mm dynamic drivers within the FT3 have been designed with a beryllium-plated gasket and Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) diaphragm. By utilising beryllium, the FiiO engineers have delivered a gasket that is lighter and far better at accommodating the movement of the FT3’s larger driver – leading to far less distortion.
This, in combination with the fact that DLC is both a sturdy and lightweight material when compared to other commonly used diaphragm materials, means that the FT3 headphones offer a wide soundstage with excellent separation and detail; extremely low distortion and improved musicality. The FT3 deliver a frequency response of 7Hz – 40kHz, sensitivity of 105dB, and an impedance rating of 350 ohm.
Alongside the FT3’s featuring a 3-axis swivel design to provide the best fit, the drivers are also placed at an angle, ensuring they are parallel to the ear when worn. This not only serves to assist in reducing any high-frequency response distortion, caused by sound waves hitting the contour of the ear and not entering it; but also minimises any those reflections caused by the shell of the headphone that can lead to standing waves and further unwanted distortion.
Specifications:
| Headphone Type | Open-back |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Driver Size | 60mm |
| Driver Diaphragm Material | Beryllium-plated Gasket with Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz – 40kHz |
| Sensitivity | 105dB (1Vrms) @1kHz |
| Impedance | 350Ω |
| Cable Length | 3m |
| Cable Material | Furukawa Monocrystalline Copper |
| Detachable Cable | Yes |
| Cable Connectors | Dual 3.5mm |
| Cable Plug Connectors | 3.5mm (Single-ended) 4.4mm (Balanced) 6.35mm (Single-ended) (Via Supplied Adaptor) XLR-4 (Balanced) (Via Supplied Adaptor) |
| Weight | 391g (Excluding Cable) |
| Earpad Pressure | 4.0N±0.3N |
| Supplied Accessories | 1 x 3.5mm Single-ended Interchangeable Plug 1 x 4.4mm Balanced Interchangeable Plug 1 x 3.5mm to 6.35mm Single-ended Adaptor 1 x 4.4mm to XLR-4 Balanced Adaptor 1 x Headphone Cable 1 x Removable Protein Leather Earpads (Pair) 1 x Removable Suede Earpads (Pair) 1 x Leather Storage Case1 x Instruction Booklet |
Price & Availability
Supplied with 2 pairs of removable ear-pads — one pair suede, one pair leather — and a leather carry case, the FiiO FT3 open-back headphones are available now for $299 at Audio46 and internationally for £289 or €299.
For more information: fiio.com/ft3
Related Reading: Discover more of our coverage about FiiO.
ORT
May 10, 2023 at 7:47 pm
Well their looks certainly have my attention and since they will not “feature” MQAireye™®© (that should cover the gamut of that company’s silliness!) I will be reading this site’s thoughts and opinions on ’em!
ORTo’Fon