FiiO brings the feels with premium plush planar magnetic headphones.
- Premium build quality
- Sound super smooth and warm with no “planar timbre”
- Well-tuned, balanced sound signature
- Exceptional comfort
- Excellent complement of premium accessories
- Not the same level of detail and treble energy usually present with other planar headphones
- The warm sound signature may be perceived as slightly veiled
- While justifiable and worth the asking price, the FT5 steps into a highly competitive arena
In 2023, FiiO, popularly known for DAPs, DAC/amplifiers, and IEMs, introduced two impressive new full-size over-ear headphones to the market: the FT3 with a 50mm dynamic driver and the new FT5 with a 90mm planar magnetic driver. They come with similar accessories, including a Focal-esque brown protein leather case.
One Minute Review Video
Design and Build
The sculpted metal looks like a work of premium, refined industrial art and feels incredibly sturdy. The FiiO FT5 are constructed from light and strong magnesium-aluminum alloy (only 64% as dense as aluminum alloy!). This alloy resists and dampens vibrations generated by the large and powerful 90mm driver better than other materials, including plastic.
I celebrate the lack of creaking and squeaking every time I pick up and wear these headphones!
Similar to the FT3, the FT5 has a 3-axis swiveling design. The earcups freely rotate and will adapt well to most listeners’ heads to ensure a proper seal.
The circular metal exterior hides the fact that the pad openings are oval-shaped. Despite having a smaller opening than a round shape, there is more than enough room for my large head appendages not to be crowded or under pressure.
FiiO has made pad swapping a low-stress endeavor – literally and figuratively, it’s a snap.
Cable
The FT5 comes with a 1.5m cable made of 392 silver-plated monocrystalline copper wires, each with a diameter of 23AWG. FiiO asserts that the copper wires help give a solid and highly detailed sound.
The FT5 come with four interchangeable audio plugs (licensed from FABRILOUS), including 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and 6.35mm terminations – plus an XLR-4 balanced adapter. The thick cloth-covered black cable is flexible, relatively memory-free, and does not transmit microphonics. The cable feels well-made, and the terminations on both ends fit beautifully.
Comfort
The FT5 are remarkably comfortable. The balance of moderate clamp force, great ear pads with spacious ear openings, and a hot-spot-free suspension-strap headband make the approximately one-pound weight feel much lighter.
I find the heat generation and consequent sweating moderate — YMMV. Even though both sets of pads trap some heat due to a strong and consistent ear pad seal, I can happily wear these for hours without irritation.
The shape of the headphones manages to avoid wearisome pressure anywhere on the skull, including the crown, temples, and jaws.
Under the Hood
The FiiO FT5 showcase cutting-edge technology in driver design. They feature 90mm planar magnetic drivers with coils meticulously distributed across the diaphragms. This configuration ensures synchronized movement and minimal phase distortion, producing balanced sound waves that surpass traditional dynamic drivers.
Compared with many planar magnetic headphones, the FT5 have unusually high sensitivity, making them far easier to drive with most portable devices.
The 6µm ultra-thin diaphragms are crafted to be durable. The coils are fashioned from a micron-plated aluminum-silver alloy, optimizing conductivity without compromising weight. Employing a sophisticated nanoscale coating process, the driver’s coils are seamlessly printed onto the diaphragm using high-end semiconductor technology, guaranteeing consistent thickness and weight distribution for accurate sound reproduction.
20 neodymium magnets per driver are placed for even magnetic field distribution and driver movement consistency while minimizing distortion and maximizing fidelity.
The FT5 also have a unique open-backed acoustic structure. The grille controls and precisely accelerates the airflow when the driver moves, and the rear of the driver housing acts as a sound wave baffle. FiiO claims that these allow the FT5 to have treble resolution unmatched by dynamic driver headphones and a vast soundstage.
How Do the FT5 Sound?
For evaluation, I listen to a wide variety of music through numerous sources, including DAPs (FiiO M15S), phones (LG V20, LG V60), portable DAC/amps (HELM Audio Bolt, DB12 AAAMP, TempoTec Sonata E44, Khadas Tea, Qudelix-5K) and desktop DAC/amps (xDuoo TA-22, HIFIMAN EF400, FIIO K9 AKM).
For this review, I visited a fascinating collection of artists with diverse ethnic origins, musical styles, and explorations in audio.
- United States: Rhumbline by Rob Eberhard Young
- Denmark: Cloud Passing by Ritmo & Pettra
- United Kingdom: From the North by GoGo Penguin
- Germany: Discovery by Protonica
The FT5 are atypical planar magnetic headphones.
They have a warm, smooth, and soothing sound signature. The FT5 are easily mistakable as dynamic driver headphones or more standard planar headphones powered by a tube amplifier. The sounds are polite, gentle, and pleasing, with rounded edges and virtually zero shoutiness or sibilance.
The FT5 sound big, creating the illusion of a large yet immersive soundstage. Distinct channel separation and imaging support this.
Ear pad swapping
The FT5 comes with two types of earpads: suede and protein leather. The suede pads are slightly softer-sounding, while the protein leather pads subtly tighten the bass and present more clarity and detail.
The leather pads make sounds slightly more articulate, with snappier transitions and more definition. While the pads’ effect on the FT5 sound signature is not dramatic, it is noticeable.
Bass
The FT5’s bass frequencies extend deeply, down to 7Hz. There is good depth and texture without the typical planar speed, making the bass sound less sterile. The FT5’s planar drivers can be punchy and deliver modest sub-bass rumble when called for. The bass impact improves with more power and at higher SPL.
Midrange
The velvety, natural-sounding midrange is the star of the show. Vocals and natural instruments are beautifully presented without shoutiness.
The FT5 are the perfect headphones for taming sibilant tracks or music with more jarring dynamics.
Treble
For treble-sensitive listeners, the FT5 are ideal for reducing harshness while maintaining treble detail and information. The treble is smooth, making listening for hours effortless.
If you’re used to planar or electrostatic headphones with highly detailed treble, the FT5 may sound veiled or too dark.
The FT5 combine a relaxed sound signature, darker treble, and above-average detail.
Comparisons
The HIFIMAN Edition XS are undeniably one of the best planar magnetic headphones under USD$500 and arguably under $800, especially regarding sound quality and performance. They are a better value than the FT5, sound even bigger, and present a more neutral sound signature with better dynamics and clearer treble.
The FT5 are superior in build quality and have real-world advantages in smooth sound, cohesion, and overall wearing experience. The Edition XS are less universally comfortable due to their fixed headband and oversized ear cups, which may pressure your cheek and jaw. In addition, the FT5 require less power to perform at their best.
Both are outstanding headphones.
Thankfully for consumers, they represent vastly different approaches to building planar magnetic headphones. Your decision should depend on which sound signature and design you prefer.
Where to Buy
Who Should Buy This?
The FT5 are best for music enthusiasts who genuinely love the sound more than the technicality of their gear. While the FT5 are not at the top of the list for sonic precision and detail, they are serious contenders for overall pleasing sound and comfort.
Final Thoughts
The FT5 are a remarkable accomplishment from FiiO and feel like a highly mature product from a company with an extensive history in designing and building headphones. The FT5’s build quality at this price point is impressive and exceptional.
The sound profile is safe and pleasing, with no harshness that will turn anyone off. They are fabulous all-around, all-day headphones that are built to last. The stylish FT5 have many attributes that will never go out of style.
Company Overview
Guangzhou FiiO Electronics Technology Co., established in 2007, has experience researching and developing countless portable music products. The brand name is composed of “Fi” (fidelity from HiFi) and “iO” (numbers 1&0). The Chinese “飞傲” is the transliteration of FiiO, indicating the positive and innovative spirit as thriving as spring.
What’s in the Box?
- FiiO FT5 headphones
- 1.5m cable
- Interchangeable plugs
- Protein leather storage/carrying case
- Velvet bag
- Protein leather earpads (one pair)
- Suede earpads (one pair, pre-installed)
- User manual
Technical Specifications
- Form: Over-ear open-back headphones
- Driver: 90mm planar magnetic
- Body Material: Magnesium-aluminum alloy
- Impedance (Ohm): 36 ohms
- Sensitivity (dB): 96dB/mW@1kHz (110dB/1Vrms@1kHz)
- Max power input: 2000mW
- Frequency Response (Hz): 7Hz – 40kHz
- Removable Cable: Y
- Cable Type: 1.5m high-purity silver-plated monocrystalline copper
- Cup/Shell Jack: 3.5mm
- Source Jack: 3.5mm, 6.35mm, 4.4mm balanced, and 4-pin XLR straight plugs
- Weight (g): 456g (excluding cable)
[Quick Tech Specs]
Fill out the applicable section and delete the other two.
Wired Headphones/IEMs
- FORM: Headphones
- DRIVER: 90mm planar magnetic
- IMPEDANCE: 36 ohms
- SENSITIVITY: 96 dB/mW
- WEIGHT: 456 grams (excluding cable)