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Review: Fiio Ft3 – A Gauntlet, Thrown Down
Whilst now not totally impartial, the FiiO FT3 is a banquet for the ears and provides an adjunct package hardly ever discovered on this value bracket.
FiiO is not any newcomer to the non-public audio scene. Based in 2007, they began with electronics for the budget-minded headphone fanatic and because have moved to extra higher echelons of the passion.
On the other hand, FiiO isn’t precisely a veteran in the case of full-size headphones. Their earlier try was once a suite of ANC wi-fi headphones, the EH3 NC. FiiO wasn’t ready to carve a spot available in the market with them, which isn’t a wonder bearing in mind the fierce pageant.
Whilst the visible design is somewhat hit and miss, the sonics are greater than sufficient to make up for it. On height of that, the accent package is top-notch and makes the FT3 appropriate with virtually each desktop audio setup available in the market. My best main gripe with the FT3 is the treble peakiness which will induce ear fatigue quicker than one would possibly get with darker headphones.
- True sub-bass replica
- Very low distortion
- The U-shaped tonality works smartly
- Very good equipment
- Captures recording atmosphere
- Nice soundstaging
- The earcup design may also be divisive
- Treble every now and then too scorching
- A little bass-heavy
- Cable too lengthy for desktop
The FT3 are FiiO’s first shot at full-fat audiophile over-ear headphones. Whilst now not crowded, the fee bracket this is ruled by means of the Ecu outdated guard – Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, and AKG have lengthy held the fortress. Learn on whether or not FiiO has what it takes to problem Citadel Europe.
In This Article
Technical Specs
Packaging
After I picked the field up, I used to be stunned. Has FiiO shipped me a brick? The customs brokers could have taken the FT3 for a experience and changed it with sand or confiscated cleaning soap. No such factor – the field could be very large, very black, and certainly heavy.
Whenever you get the card out of the way in which, a pleasing brown leatherette wearing case items itself. Inside of lay the FT3 headphones. Beneath the case, I in finding additional pads and an collection of cable finish connectors.
If I hadn’t spotted the FiiO , I might have idea to have gained a couple of Focal headphones.
Within the field
- The FT3 headphones
- 3m copper cable
- A couple of pleather pads
- 3.5mm connector
- 4.4mm connector
- 6.35mm adaptor
- 4-pin XLR adaptor
- A troublesome leatherette garage case
- Bureaucracy
Design
If I had to be extra specific within the earlier segment, FiiO isn’t pulling any punches.
As for the true design of the headphones, I will’t say that I used to be too loopy about them after I noticed the product pictures. Fortunately, they give the impression of being leagues higher in actual existence and really feel great and weighty in hand.
The construct high quality turns out excellent, and there’s no play in any hinges. The outer grill construction makes use of a mesh often present in loudspeakers. I used to be first of all not sure of ways I felt in regards to the squiggly spoked part, however in individual, I in finding it beautiful ok.
Even the equipment percentage the similar consideration to element. Lots of the connectors use CNC machined shells, and the coupling by way of screw-on endcap could be very easy. The laborious case seems really nice.
Cable
The FT3 include a 3m lengthy braided 4-conductor copper cable. FiiO we could everybody know that the cable makes use of mono-crystalline copper made by means of Furukawa. I’m a cable agnostic and in finding little or no incorrect with it.
Usually, the cable is extra like the only you’d get with the Sennheiser HD800S than the Focal Transparent. It’s twisted and isn’t too cussed to keep in mind any kinks and bends I’ve put it thru to make it shorter.
I feel the actual celebrity of the display this is the 4-pin proprietary connector which permits for swapping the three.5mm TRS and four.4mm balanced pentaconn enter jacks. To additional make bigger its connectivity, a 6.35mm adaptor may also be put at the smaller TRS jack, and a pleasing 4-pin XLR may also be worn over the TRRS.
Convenience
I in finding the FT3 really easy to put on, if somewhat awkward every now and then. The headphones use a spring-loaded “hammock” scarf which doesn’t put a lot pressure on my head and doesn’t depend on clamping pressure by myself to stick on.
I in finding the earpads great and soft, but the way in which they take a seat on my ear-cheek space is occasionally odd. It appears like there isn’t sufficient pressure at the decrease portions, they usually combat to discover a excellent seal. I repair it by means of urgent them down a tad.
Even supposing the FT3 doesn’t pull the vanishing act the HD800S can, I in finding them miles extra comfy than the HD660/650/600 trio. Dressed in the FT3 for a complete day is greater than possible. The exchange pleather-velour pads are as comfortable because the default natural velour ones.
Internals
The FT3 are dynamic motive force headphones with two fascinating options. FiiO claims that the massive 60mm motive force has a beryllium-plated gasket and diamond-like carbon (DLC). How a lot of this is true and what sort of is misplaced to translation, I’ll go away to transducer engineers.
To start with look, the driving force doesn’t glance too other from different mylar diaphragm headphone transducers. Once more – I will’t turn out it, alternatively, my intestine tells me that the diaphragm is in fact DLC-coated as an alternative of created from crystal subject material. In a similar fashion, the encompass that holds the diaphragm in position seems vapor-coated with beryllium.
The aforementioned therapies make numerous sense while you imagine the gargantuan 60mm diameter of the FT3 motive force. Maximum dynamic headphones use drivers in length of round 40mm. Is larger higher? Provided that you understand how to mitigate the shortcomings.
Massive drivers aren’t with out their flaws. They begin to lose uniform pistonic movement a lot previous than smaller ones, so their high-frequency reaction can turn out to be asymmetric. A bigger motive force additionally shows “beaming” at a decrease frequency. A 60mm motive force begins to beam at 5730Hz.
The trouble to deal with a uniform movement is precisely what FiiO tries to unravel with their DLC and beryllium coatings. Does it paintings? Just one method to in finding out – let’s give the FT3 a pay attention!
FiiO FT3 Sound
The query everybody most probably can’t wait to get replied – are the FT3 higher than the mythical Sennheiser HD650?
Neatly, in some ways they’re! Higher low finish, total solution, and soundstaging. However now not as impartial, for my part.
The catch, alternatively, is this description may also be carried out to headphones costing within the hundreds. Focal Transparent MG also are technically extra talented than the HD650, but much less impartial. The similar is going for many high-end headphones.
Fortunately the shade at the FT3 isn’t unsightly. No less than now not for lots of the recordings available in the market. Total the tonal stability leans a tad U-shaped, a crowd favourite since graphic EQs changed into common.
Bass
The low finish is abundant and prolonged, if somewhat too glad every now and then.
I will straight away inform the 60mm motive force is firing on all cylinders. James Blake? The most recent Hans Zimmer OST? The FT3 doesn’t prohibit my love for sub-bass. It is going as little as the recording tells it to and doesn’t fall aside underneath pressure.
Higher bass is the place it will get extra fascinating. The have an effect on is all there – nice dynamics and no signal of any noise or distortion. But the area round 100Hz is a tad too scorching for my part. With some recordings, the shade is very similar to the slight ‘room-boom’ present in maximum home speaker methods.
I completely adore the FT3 with electronica, the place huge soundscapes depend on a pleasing low-end basis. Unfaithful by means of Burial hits the entire proper lows, and the FT3 don’t damage a sweat. With the HD600 or HD650, I might listen resonant noises and doubling led to by means of over the top harmonic distortion.
Midrange
The mids are true to the recording, if somewhat dry.
Those are HD600 mids as an alternative of the extra sweetened midrange of the HD650. The linearity is there, as is the low distortion that makes mids magic. Vintage rock with exemplary guitar-ship shines and distorted guitars from early Opeth chunk simply the correct amount.
Highs
There’s some peakiness within the treble areas – they’re now not totally impartial.
The peakiness imbues the upper registers with a kind of sheen that’s detectable both by means of evaluating the FT3 to extra impartial headphones or by means of listening lengthy sufficient when it turns into extra obvious. Fortunately it best turns into a nuisance with very competitive tune like extra abrasive business or steel.
I’m additionally inspired by means of the 60mm motive force’s talent to get to the bottom of element within the treble. The ones fancy diaphragm coatings should actually be pulling their weight! There’s no veil or some other more or less obstruction occurring. I’ve heard higher treble from dynamic motive force headphones, however generally, they’re at the stage of Sennheiser HD800S in value. Or electrostatic.
Technicalities
Welcome to the twenty first century, the FT3 is a solution and dynamics powerhouse!
Once I had the HD650 as my day by day motive force, I’d all the time crave cleaner bass and a extra spacious soundstage which in this day and age is found in different headphones at that value bracket. The FiiO FT3 is a marked improve over the outdated guard in those regards.
The low distortion around the audible vary makes the FT3 very proof against congestion with busy tracks and divulges the recording atmosphere because it’s captured. It makes for an excessively atmospheric listening enjoy.
The place to Purchase?
Conclusion
I feel FiiO has created a winner right here.
Whilst the visible design is somewhat hit and miss, the sonics are greater than sufficient to make up for it. On height of that, the accent package is top-notch and makes the FT3 appropriate with virtually each desktop audio setup available in the market.
My best main gripe with the FT3 is the treble peakiness which will induce ear fatigue quicker than one would possibly get with darker headphones. I’d take care to spouse it with extra heat and darkish apparatus and steer transparent from all-opamp designs that depend on deep detrimental comments.
Allow 48h for review and removal.