FiiO Closed-Back Headphones FT13 Is Officially Released
The headphone shells are crafted from Purpleheart wood, a species native to South America. Under the effect of natural oxidation, its color will gradually darken and eventually stabilize at a deep purple. To achieve their rich color, each piece of wood is allowed to age for 90 days naturally, and then undergoes precision-cutting with CNC machining, repeatedly sanding, polishing, and filling the wood’s natural pores and imperfections until the surface is perfectly smooth.
With a density and hardness well beyond that of ordinary woods, Purpleheart wood is not only naturally resistant to corrosion. Still, it is also a huge contributor to minimizing resonance within the headphone earcups. This result is a faster and cleaner sound.
The FT13, like the FT1, features a massive 60mm dynamic driver, a size almost unheard of in its category. This larger driver generates more power and is more efficient at converting electrical signals into sound. The result is sound with less distortion, quicker transients, and deeper, more powerful bass.
The new diaphragm, as found in Dali speakers, is made of birch wood from Europe’s cold climates. The wood is known for being incredibly hard with strong fibers, allowing us to precisely tune the diaphragm’s resistance and stiffness during manufacturing to achieve our desired sound goals.
Crafted through a century-old traditional papermaking process, the diaphragm is formed from wood pulp refined over multiple steps. Carbon fiber threads are infused to enhance rigidity, while wool fibers are blended to fine-tune the tonality. This gives the final diaphragm a uniquely natural and warm sound signature that is highly engaging as well as deeply rich and emotional.
The headphone features a W-shaped diaphragm design inspired by speaker cones. Compared to the typical driver diaphragms, this design increases the effective vibration area of the diaphragm by 25.8%. The diaphragm is made from a hard dome and a flexible surround, which covers a larger surface area than traditional diaphragms, with less energy lost during vibration transfer. Moreover, the hard dome features reduced internal loss, resulting in higher efficiency and reduced distortion caused by driver breakup.
Beyond the natural isolation of its closed wooden earcups, the FT13 features an integrated system of passive noise-reduction components. This includes a standing wave dissipation chamber, specially designed rear cavity sound-absorbing cotton, and a noise-reducing U-shaped tube. Together, these components can reduce everyday ambient noise by up to 26dB. The closed-back structure also prevents sound leakage, making the FT13 a great choice for tranquil environments like the workplace, dorm, and study room, keeping you focused without disturbing others.
Inside the FT13, a U-shaped damping tube cleverly uses the air inside the headphones to tune the sound. This tube’s design has been carefully optimized to lower the cavity’s resonant frequency, resulting in deeper and higher-quality bass.
The featured Japanese-imported CCAW voice coil with an ultra-thin 0.035mm wire and a lightweight KSV former helps to dramatically reduce the moving mass of the diaphragm and result in faster sound response. The voice coil has a diameter of 25mm, effectively enhancing driving force and efficiency, as well as leading to a richer midrange and quicker transients.
The FT13’s impedance is only 32Ω, sensitivity up to 113dB/Vrms@1kHz, with 7Hz-40kHz frequency response, making it a perfect match for mainstream, non-audiophile devices like smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Experience high-fidelity, audiophile-grade sound without having to invest in expensive or complex gear.
The outer U-shaped headband frame is now crafted from a strong and lightweight magnesium alloy that blends seamlessly with the headphones’ design. The ball-bearing slider offers a silky-smooth adjustment with clear feedback. The headband material has been upgraded to a soft, durable lambskin that is both more durable and breathable, making it more comfortable for extended listening sessions. The three-axis swivel ensures the headphones comfortably adapt to various head sizes and shapes and provides a perfect fit without sound leakage.
With the FT13, the acoustic drivers are angled to be parallel with your ear canals, allowing sound to travel directly to your eardrums. This not only reduces the high-frequency roll-off you’d get with a traditional design, but it also minimizes standing waves inside the earcups. The result is a much clearer, purer sound with less distortion.
More impressive features, such as the lambskin/suede earpads included, Furukawa monocrystalline copper + silver-plated oxygen-free copper braided cable, four detachable audio plugs, Yaoli linen storage bag, Hi-Res Audio certified, etc.
Price: $300