FiiO FT1 Pro Review – Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones
FiiO released its first planar headphones the FT5 back in November 2003. Today we are looking at the second model the FT1 Pro which belongs to the budget segment for $199.
Naming origin of FT1 Pro
The FT1 Pro originated from the FT1, with the same appearance structure but vastly different internal core components. The FT1 Pro is an open-back planar headphone, while the FT1 is a closed-back dynamic driver headphone. Both are based on “Lightweight Headphones,” aiming to create comfortable, lightweight, and easy-to-drive headphones. Without cables, the FT1 Pro weighs approximately 374g, while the FT1 weighs around 340g.
The FT1 is the standard model in the “Lightweight Headphones” series, while the FT1 Pro is an enhanced model in the same series, with “Pro” as an abbreviation of “Progressive”, conveying the meaning of “advancement” or ”improvement”.
95x86mm FiiO-developed planar driver
Following the FP3, the FT1 Pro is equipped with FiiO’s second-generation, self-developed planar driver technology. The planar driver has been designed from the ground up by FiiO, from the diaphragm to the patented dual-coating, to the conductive trace width, to the fine-tuning of the magnetic circuit, and even the standardized bracket fixings – all to ensure a true quality driver.
· Compared to typical off-the-shelf drivers, the self-developed driver can be completely customized to build and fit around it a sophisticated acoustic system, allowing it to be both lightweight and capable of great sound quality.
· While it weighs only 374g, the FT1 Pro packs a capable 95x86mm driver with specs rivaling that of flagship planar headphones.
· Thanks to this intensive research and development, the FT1 Pro features a large, almost limitless soundstage rarely found among its peers. It also effortlessly produces sound up to 40kHz.
1μm thin diaphragm
Even a 2μm and a 1μm diaphragm thickness difference results in noticeable performance differences when the diaphragm vibrates at high speeds, ultimately affecting sound quality.
FiiO has created for the FT1 Pro a class-leading 1μm ultra-thin diaphragm, using high-performance PET as the substrate. This diaphragm is exceptionally lightweight, allowing it to respond with lightning-quick speed. It faithfully reproduces even subtle sounds in the ultra-high frequency range and provides exceptional dynamic range.
Sapphire+ Aluminum dual-coating patented technology
The FIIO FT1 Pro employs a newly self-developed technology for its planar driver – a patented dual-coating system. The planar driver uses high-performance PET as the diaphragm substrate and selectively applies sapphire and aluminum to create a dual-coated driver.
The first coating layer is made of aluminum. Lightweight and conducive, the aluminum coating enhances the traces’ conductivity, helping reduce the driver’s impedance and power requirements and improve its dynamics.
The second coating layer is made of sapphire. With its high hardness, the sapphire coating contributes to the diaphragm’s rigidity enhances treble resolution and overall transparency, and helps the driver to exhibit a unique sound as a bonus.
Uniform magnetic field design
The FT1 Pro is equipped with FIIO’s new acoustic technology – the uniform magnetic field design, which optimizes the uneven magnetic field intensity caused by adjacent magnets and further expands the magnetic field range. This technology makes the FT1 Pro’s magnetic field more extensive, precise, and balanced, allowing the planar driver diaphragm in that magnetic field to be more evenly stressed. That is, the FT1 Pro planar driver diaphragm moves more evenly with reduced breakup and distortion – leading to a more refined sound that accurately captures even the subtlest of nuances in the music, which is characteristic of high-quality planar drivers.
Advanced technology for advanced sound – 28nm-grade process technology
To achieve high sound quality with the intricate second-generation self-developed planar driver, the driver needs to be manufactured with precision at the nanometre level. Traditional diaphragm coating processes are not precise enough.
To have its driver diaphragm manufactured with sufficiently high quality, the FIIO FP3/FT1 Pro’s driver is made using a 28nm-grade process. This technique, inspired by coating technology used within the semiconductor industry, completely isolates the conductive trace material from the surrounding air. The trace material exists in a vacuum state at a pressure of 6.6 × 10⁻³ pascals, and the temperature is raised to 120°C.
The trace material is transformed into ionized particles, which then accumulate on an ultra-thin 1 μm film through charge attraction principles. This process creates the desired coating thickness for optimal acoustics and significantly enhances the durability and lifespan of the traces. Additionally, the FP3/FT1 Pro goes beyond industry standards by applying this complex and rigorous process twice to each diaphragm, resulting in a dual-coated membrane design that delivers exceptional sound quality.
Easy to drive – 20Ω high-sensitivity design
The lightweight FT1 Pro aims to bring great planar sound without requiring serious amplification. The low 20Ω impedance combined with the high sensitivity of 112dB/Vrms@1kHz (or 95dB/mW@1kHz) means you can easily get great sound from the FT1 Pro.
374g lightweight
While the FT1 Pro features a large, double-sided magnet planar driver, it only weighs about 374g – making it light, comfortable, and easy to carry around.
Lightweight portable headband with steel slide rail
To make it more portable and lightweight, the FT1 Pro headband features high-quality steel slides, significantly enhancing the headband’s durability. You will feel the precision and sophistication of the mechanical design every time you adjust the headband.
Additionally, compared to similar products, the FT1 Pro offers an extended adjustment range from 0 to 11 notches to accommodate various head sizes. The part of the headband in contact with the head is made of suede for a soft and comfortable wearing experience.
20Ω high-sensitivity design
The lightweight FT1 Pro aims to bring great planar sound without requiring serious amplification. The low 20Ω impedance combined with the high sensitivity of 112dB/Vrms@1kHz (or 95dB/mW@1kHz) means you can easily get great sound from the FT1 Pro.
7Hz-40kHz frequency response
The FIIO FT1 Pro is capable of a wide frequency response range from 7Hz-40kHz, allowing you to truly experience even the subtlest of nuanced sounds the planar driver is capable of producing.
2 silver-plated oxygen-free copper cables included with Dual TRS headphone connectors
The FIIO FT1 Pro adopts the commonly used dual 3.5mm TRS headphone connectors, allowing you to easily change and upgrade to another headphone cable.
FIIO FT1 Pro also comes with two headphone cables – terminated in 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced plugs. Both cables are identically made using an oxygen-free copper-plated silver wire base with 392 wires, are of 24AWG thickness, and are 1.5 meters long. This makes the FT1 Pro widely compatible with many audio devices, as you can easily switch between the cables. They produce a transparent yet robust sound, allowing you to fully enjoy quality lossless audio.
Unboxing
- FiiO FT1 Pro Open-Back Headphones
- Premium headphone storage bag
- Silver-plated oxygen-free copper cables
- 3.5mm headphone cable
- 4.4mm balanced headphone cable
- 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter
- Quick start guide
Features
- 95x86mm FIIO-developed planar driver
- 1μm thin diaphragm Sapphire+Aluminum dual-coating technology
- Uniform magnetic field design
- 28nm-grade process technology
- 20 Ω high-sensitivity design
- Open-backed design
- 374g lightweight
- 12-level adjustable lightweight portable headband
- 1.5 m oxygen-free copper silver plated wire cable
Sound
Lows
The low end is fast, detailed, and textured. The mid-bass is sublime, and the way it blends into the midrange without overbearing or bleeding was impressive. There is plenty of layer and texture that reveals more than just an impact on a low-end presentation.
The sub-bass response was adequate, but for some tracks, it lacks the right visceral rumble, and if you listen to a lot of bass-heavy music, I would advise leaning towards the Focal Utopia. Still, this is another very impressive area, and I think FiiO was right in not trying to push the sub-bass too far at the expense of possibly overwhelming other regions of the sound.
Mids
Natural, balanced, and very very detail-orientated. The midrange surprised me as I expected it to be very cold and overly analytical, but there is natural tonality, and it blends well when mixing with the lows and highs.
Nice and neutral, the instruments and vocals just sound right. Vocals both male and female sounded natural, this can be a challenge for many headphones. Vanessa Fernandez was a real treat with these, if you get a chance pick up her past two records! I play a bit of guitar and I thought the guitar tones were natural, and picking dynamics were well represented.
Treble
Extremely well-defined with plenty of texture. Cymbals shimmer and don’t come off as harsh or one-dimensional like with some lesser cans. You hear the hit and get a great sense of stick placement on the cymbal along with nice decay. Not the kind of cup-induced reverb decay some closed headphones can give just a very natural sound of what’s on the tape.
Exceptionally crisp and clear with a balanced decay-free from distortion. Set in the right environment for listening and paired with a capable source, the top notes float in that headphone’s expansive headspace.
Upper register piano strikes were well represented and were hard and jarring when the musician played it that way but I never got a sense the FT1 Pro was putting its thumb on the scale when presenting the music.
Technicalities
These are the most detailed traditional headphones I have had the pleasure to listen to. The room sounds and boundaries come alive. The FT1 Pro picks details that you may have missed with other headphones and presents them to you but not in a splashy way or at the expense of tipping up the upper frequencies.
These are fast headphones. While they were highly detailed I didn’t feel as though they were tipped up to tease out detail at the expense of tonality. Timbre was spot on with just about no complaints
Sum-Up
For just $199 we might be looking at the new king of the planar headphones. FiiO continues to dominate the market with its price/performance champion products.
Overall the FT1 Pro is a stellar headphone and deserves to be on your short list if you are auditioning or contemplating a set of budget-friendly all-rounder headphones. These have an amazing sound for the asking price that competes with bigger brothers on the market.