At the moment, Lynn evaluations the FiiO FT1 Professional, a brand new set of open-back 95mmx86mm self-developed planar magnetic driver headphones priced at $199.99.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in change for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an impartial web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or providers. I thank FiiO for his or her help.
You possibly can click on right here to be taught extra concerning the FiiO audio products we’ve beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This put up follows our present scoring guidelines which you’ll learn in additional element right here.
After I reviewed the FiiO FT1, I used to be impressed with its appears and efficiency, particularly the 60mm dynamic driver and wonderful construct qualities.
I did assume that the headphone adjusting mechanism was a bit beneath par, however I appreciated the tuning, which delivered deep-reaching bass and wonderful midrange.
The $199.99 FT1 Professional makes use of a planar magnetic driver as an alternative, so aside from the namesake this can be a barely completely different mannequin.
Geared in the direction of potential studio use, the FT1 Professional purports to be natural-sounding headphones that may double as a helpful studio instrument.
Options
The FiiO FT1 Professional is a set of open-back planar driver headphones geared up with a 95mm x 86mm in-house developed planar magnetic driver and a rounded nook twin magnet array to create a extra evenly distributed magnet subject for this dimension of the driving force.
Sapphire and aluminum coat each side of the driving force for a wonderful sonic response, whereas the 1µm skinny diaphragm ends in a quick musical response.
The 20Ω decrease impedance means the FT1 Professional isn’t that inefficient although its 95 dB/mW | 112 dB/Vrms ranking would possibly imply pushing the amount a bit extra on weaker sources than you might be used to.
In any other case, I might take into account this headphone not that troublesome to drive from an honest DAP or modest desktop setup.
Design & Consolation
There isn’t any mistaking the open-back look, with an ornate aluminum faceplate constructed into the cup shell. Aluminum helps to maintain the headphone gentle, persevering with into the stanchions and yoke with what appears to be pressed shapes.
The all-black cups and pads are countered by the metal yoke, stanchions, and connecting {hardware} giving the FT1 Professional a easy upscale look. The FiiO brand on an aluminum inlay is above the yoke, whereas small strains on the within of the stanchions let the consumer know if both sides is pulled out evenly.
The only headband of the FT1 Professional has six separate “pillows” beneath for padding lower in a suede-like materials, with a gentle black pleather prime. Normally, a single headband doesn’t work properly for me since I choose a suspension system, however the FT1 Professional suits properly and stays put.
The thick pleather and suede ear pads are very snug, and the entire unit grabs with the correct amount of stress. Solely these with very massive heads might really feel it to be an excessive amount of. The rear of the pads are barely thicker, canting the cup ahead a bit, however not noticeably so.
I discovered I might put on the FT1 Professional for lengthy listening periods, going over 5 hours at one level, with out problem.
Packaging & Equipment
The FT1 Professional comes within the typical sleeved sq. field, with the case inside protected by a cardboard insert. Inside the case, you can find the three.5mm se and 4.4mm balanced cables (in separate plastic baggage), and a 6.35mm se jack.
The look is premium, and the case jogs my memory of Focal’s iterations with the tweed-like sample, however in brown patterns this time. A fast begin information is current, too.
The premium presentation belies what FiiO is making an attempt to attain with every successive mannequin, whether or not or not it’s headphones or an amplifier. High quality choices exude a glance, and the FiiO merchandise have the products to again that up.
Case
The brown tweed patterned case feels of high quality as you seize it, however that case just isn’t excellent. The place a case reminiscent of Focal has an indentation, which helps to behave as a grip spot when choosing it up, the FiiO case is easy as an alternative. This results in dropping grip on the case once you choose it up.
It appears that evidently FiiO took to coronary heart my refined complaints concerning the case and an absence of tactility.
The brown patterned cloth continues to be current (easy and handsome in addition), however the prime (the place the scarf resides) does appear to be a smidge thinner, leading to grip. I nonetheless want for a thicker, rougher cloth to alleviate each issues.
Sound Impressions
The next impressions had been made utilizing the HiBy R4, Astell&Kern AK120 Titan, and Shanling M6 Pro. Comparisons had been made to the FiiO FT1, FiiO FT3 (32Ω), and the Meze Audio 99 Classics.
The FT1 Professional was allowed to play repeatedly for 75 hours earlier than crucial listening occurred. That is my commonplace protocol for all gadgets examined.
Abstract
The FiiO FT1 Professional promotes an exuberant signature, with sufficient verve to fulfill people who like a speedy signature. It additionally carries a melodic, pure tonality to it, exemplifying the planar driver inside.
Bass attain whereas not too deep is taut with management and matching assault and decay. The midrange sits behind each ends however comes throughout as natural and pure. Succinct transient responses additionally spotlight the midrange, giving it wonderful weight traits.
The treble be aware extends additional than many planar driver items I’ve tried recently. The sapphire coating reveals its mettle right here with superb extension and tight management over the excessive finish.
By no means missing in be aware weight, the signature additionally doesn’t change into saturated with thickness, both.
Timbre
To me, planars are inclined to have wonderful acoustic response however appear a bit missing (thinner be aware high quality) within the midrange, with a commensurate worth. The FT1 Professional counters that with a richness and heat typical of planars, but additionally carries wonderful be aware weight.
Very like the dynamic driver FT1, the be aware accuracy comes throughout as life like, such because the pluck of a guitar string. The similarities are nearly eerie, however the variations do change into obvious. The richness in be aware high quality turns into outstanding and simply recognized between the 2 because of this.
The degrees of element current within the FT1 Professional make for an nearly ideally suited studio companion, with male vocals exhibiting wonderful weight and accuracy; even when a bit darker than a typical planar response.
Feminine vocals come throughout as melodic and pure with a beautiful depth to them, giving an correct illustration of the readability inside the music.
Simply picked out had been the breathiness when known as upon, or the depth with which element retrieval was portrayed. That breathiness stuffed the air with aplomb, begging for extra because the listener anticipated every verse inside a music.
The identical may be mentioned for the general character of the FT1 Professional. The accuracy is there, as are the degrees of element offered inside a framework of wealthy character, which would definitely be outlined as “studio high quality.”
Staging & Dynamics
That is the place the FT1 Professional separates itself from its kin, the closed-back FT1.
There isn’t any denying the spatial illustration emitting from the FT1 Professional, with the width protruding particularly far. However not as far as to disconnect from the general signature. No, the peak and depth traits work to maintain the entire in verify, with out imposing an environment that’s too open or too expansive.
The mixture permits for the superb putting of devices inside the stage if stretched broad a bit an excessive amount of. This presentation doesn’t diminish the general character, however moderately offers the listener a little bit of an additional present; very like a holographic impact would on some headphones.
I discussed above the velocity at which the bass assaults and decays. This units the tone for the entire signature, laying down a basis upon which the others lie, versus constructing upon it. The entire signature is one in every of dynamic expressions that carry the richness talked about above.
The open-back nature of the FT1 Professional works to its benefit right here, presenting a extremely musical sound, that may be loved for lengthy periods with out trouble.
Synergy
Effectivity
There was by no means an absence of energy utilizing any of the DAPs talked about above, with all offering sufficient headroom to drive the FT1 Professional to painful ranges.
The scaling throughout platforms and excessive ranges of quantity reveals that the FT1 Professional carries a high quality of be aware that transcends many choices, even with the expansive width of the stage.
Pairings
Utilizing each the Shanling M6 Professional and the HiBy R4, the FT1 Professional carried out impressively.
The Shanling presents a fair darker signature than the R4, however the twin DAC utilization makes for a really spectacular pairing, and my favourite of the lot. Particularly when the ability is taken into account in “Turbo” mode.
The HiBy R4 has change into an everyday in my rotation, and for good cause. It offers a high quality to the sound, that’s neither too brilliant nor too darkish, and with ample ranges of element to fulfill the wants of most examined gear. Plus, it could actually drive a lot of the higher-impedance headphones I’ve tried of late.
The A&Okay AK120 Titan is a DAP from a number of years in the past, that also presents wonderful sonic traits. I discovered of the three used DAPs that the A&Okay carried probably the most readability when paired to the FT1 Professional, with wonderful attain up prime.
The bass was a bit of shy of the opposite DAPs, however the degree of element current greater than made up for that.
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