Verdict
Make valuation account – for the capable , for the impedance – and the FiiO FT3 bend out to be a steal . An anachronous deal , sure , but a bargain nevertheless
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
How far into left - field do you have to go before you come back with some wire over - capitulum earphone ? With the FT3 , though , FiiO has made the journey worthwhile …
The FiiO FT3 are on sales event , and in the UK they ’ll set you back £ 289 for a pair . In the United States they ’re an even more centre - catching $ 299 , while in Australia you ’re appear at AU$449 .
substitute wired over - capitulum earphone at this sort of money are n’t exactly numerous , but the well rivals are worthy of respect . Grado’sSR325x , for example , are n’t much more expensive – and their sound quality is such that it ’s all too easy to overlook their rather agricultural aesthetic .
Design
You have it off not much has materialize by agency of design when the most notable ocular feature article of a brace ofover - ear headphonesis their two - grade headband system . Still , that ’s probably sensible – no one want ( or is expecting ) to be startled by some revolutionary reinvention of the over - ear earphone template . The FiiO FT3 reckon more - or - less as you ’d expect , and they ’re all the better for it .
The open - back earcups add a snatch of optic pizazz ( just a bit , mind ) thanks to their stylised atomic number 13 alloy frame ahead of some honeycomb interlocking . The yokes and airdock mechanism are of aluminium admixture too , and the earcups move through three axes to insure a comfortable fit for all but the most modestly sized heads . The first part of the headband arrangement adjusts for fit , while the forbidden part is seemingly there just to make the wearer look taller .
Protein leather covers the headband(s ) , and there ’s more of the stuff cover the memory froth of the earpads . One pair of the earpads , anyway – FiiO supplies a suede - covered second twain , and suggests the FT3 go a trivial dissimilar depending on which earpad textile you decide to use . It does n’t name the ear - heat issues that can lift , though , if you decide you like the sound and the spirit of the suede - covered earpads …
Features
Not every source of music has a headphone socket these day , of course – but it seems good to say that if your music thespian has one , the FiiO FT3 will be able to tie to it . The three metres of line has a yoke of 3.5 mm connections at one end ( because each earcup must be cable ) and can be fit with either a 3.5 mm jack or a 4.4 mm balanced option at the other end .
In addition , FiiO supplies a 6.3 millimetre adapter for use with the 3.5 mm jackass , and an XLR-4 adapter for use with the balanced 4.4 millimeter jack . Which intend connectivity is cover .
The cable’s length is a level all by itself . It ’s supplied by Furukama , a Nipponese company that murder on a successful method of annealing monocrystalline copper cable about a ten ago – its dimension proved very useful for high-pitched - ending audio applications .
Despite this , though , Furukama ceased production of the cable television almost as before long as it had started – but not before FiiO ( a fellowship with no headphone whatsoever in its portfolio at this point ) had purchased near $ 50K’s - worth . Which makes the decision to provide the FT3 with a snarl - tastic three metres of the stuff seem curious …
Once the cable television is connected at each goal , phone is serve up by a duo of healthy ( 60 mm ) dynamic drivers . FiiO uses diamond - like carbon paper for the gadget driver diaphragm – it ’s strong , light and offers admirable frequency response and wear out - up resistance . The driver gasket , meanwhile , is coated in Beryllium – again , for reasons of posture and harshness . The voice coil behind each number one wood is of copper - enclothe aluminium , which ought to help overcome the inertia that such a big driver might imaginable put up from .
FiiO has end up with a 350Ω impedance rating for the FT3 , which is undisputedly higher than is ideal – you ’ll need a sensible amount of electrical poke to get the best from these headphones . Which , let ’s confront it , is unlikely to be useable via the earphone socket of your laptop …
Sound Quality
allow ’s assume you ’ve stick sufficient electric impulsion available to give the FT3 the drive they need – a earpiece amp , say , or a bit of rugged full - sized audio equipment . have ’s put on you ’ve sequester the suede - covered earpads . Let ’s say you ’re take heed to a big ( 24 - bit/192kHz ) file of Sam Smith ’s I ’m Not Here To Make Friends . It ’s safe to say the FiiO FT3 are an piquant and gratifying listen – even more so when you cue yourself of the request monetary value .
Tonally , they ’re quite neutral and uncolored – the sound you get is very much the sound of your source equipment , with the FT3 more than happy to just get out of the fashion . abject frequencies are inscrutable ( not the lay claim 7Hz deep , but plenty late enough nevertheless ) , rich , detailed and nicely controlled – the tune ’s dancefloor credentials are given full expression .
There ’s a squeamish combination of weight and impulse to the bass voice the FiiO generate , and it makes for a front - foot presentation . There ’s like attention to detail seeming at the paired oddment of the frequency chain . three-fold sounds do n’t attack with quite as much determination as the bass equivalent , but despite this there ’s still flock of brilliance and core to the top end .
The line from the bottom of the frequency mountain chain to the top bulges just a little around the midrange – the FT3 create a nice , unresolved soundstage but they undeniably push the midrange towards the front of it . Those who desire to bear proper tending to a vocalist will belike receive it , while those who choose as even a frequency response as potential should be able to neglect it – it ’s not the most pronounced audio trait you ever learn , after all .
The FiiO have a good facility with dynamic variations of every type . The big shifts from ‘ quiet ’ to ‘ loud ’ are significant ( provide you ’re driving the headphones efficaciously in the first position , of course of action ) , and the more subtle harmonic differentials are identified and contextualised too . And the FT3 are just as heedful to absence as they are presence – when a transcription has bounteous space of secrecy , they ’re really silent . Which gain them a remindful and atmospherical listen in the ripe circumstances .
shift to the protein leather - cut through earpads and , in all silver dollar , the physical remainder are more pronounced than the transonic difference . The suede earpads advertise ear - heat , no two ways about it – and unless you ’re from the Prince Andrew school of sweat - ascendance you ’re live to become uncomfortable sooner or later . The pleather choice are far , far slower to heat your head , and are at last more comfortable in the farseeing discharge .
And while they lessen the miserable - frequency substance of the auditory sensation just a little , they add a soupcon of high - end spark and bite . So while these difference are not what you ’d call ‘ pronounced ’ , they are undeniable – and you get a degree of say into the kind of audio you end up enjoy .
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Should you buy it?
With sufficient might , the FT3 are a clean and entertaining listen . Without it , they ’re less plainspoken ( and quite a passel quieter )
There are more venerable , more storied and more credible headphone marque than FiiO , of course of instruction . But that may yet change …
Final Thoughts
At first , it just seemed odd : a twenty-first century party with wad of var. where digital audio is concerned , settle to service up a duo of old - than - old - school wired headphones … But there ’s no doubting FiiO ’s conclusion or , it seems , expertise . The FT3 may not show up on the radar of the legal age of folks look for new headphones , but that does n’t mean they ’re not eminently worthy of attention .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every set of headphones we review good over an extended full point of time . We use industry standard tests to liken feature of speech properly . We ’ll always tell you what we obtain . We never , ever , accept money to critique a production .
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FAQs
With a electric resistance rating of 350 ohms , you would need outside amplification such as a DAC to motor these headphones and hear them perform at their estimable .
