Fiio FT1 Headphone Review

[SuicideSquid]

This is the kind of performance that defines the word "fine".

Unspectacular but useable out-of-box performance, pretty good with EQ, very nice aesthetics, midrange price. Fine.

 

[Subob]

This is the kind of performance that defines the word "fine".

Unspectacular but useable out-of-box performance, pretty good with EQ, very nice aesthetics, midrange price. Fine.

Have you tried it?

It certainly doesn't tick 'Unspectacular but useable out-of-box performance' for me. Not unless 'bloated' and 'muddy' bass floats your boat, in which case then a pair of Beats headphones is probably a better choice, lol.

 

[AMDfanTO]

I've had these for about 6 months. Bass is a bit muddy but still nice. Lower to mid treble definitely needs eq, then they open up. My eq lands very similarly to amirm's for the 3-5khz range. If you can't eq these don't buy them. But they only need that range to be eqd to sound pretty good.

Tbf, most headphones need eq to be good. I own the hd600, ft1, he400se, and the srh440. The hd600 has amazing mids but needs a bass boost, the hifiman needs bass, and some treble adjustments for peakiness. The shures are actually quite good without any eq - but they sound very grainy and metallic.

 

[FTB]

Have you tried it?

It certainly doesn't tick 'Unspectacular but useable out-of-box performance' for me. Not unless 'bloated' and 'muddy' bass floats your boat, in which case then a pair of Beats headphones is probably a better choice, lol.

Same impression when trying the FT1.
I made the bet to buy these without being reviewed by Amir first and ew, these mudy bass and mid peaking... I was not impressed by build quality too : stiff and microphonic cable, wooden earcups don't sound damped etc.

I've had these for about 6 months. Bass is a bit muddy but still nice. Lower to mid treble definitely needs eq, then they open up. My eq lands very similarly to amirm's for the 3-5khz range. If you can't eq these don't buy them. But they only need that range to be eqd to sound pretty good.

Tbf, most headphones need eq to be good. I own the hd600, ft1, he400se, and the srh440. The hd600 has amazing mids but needs a bass boost, the hifiman needs bass, and some treble adjustments for peakiness. The shures are actually quite good without any eq - but they sound very grainy and metallic.

In fact the K371 are really good without EQ... That's why I stick to these despite trying other headphones. Recently the Simgot EP5 wasn't too bad compared to the AKG (and it's 80€ !) but still too much bass around 100 Hz alas. The Simgot don't have the medium dip the AKG have.

 

[AMDfanTO]

Haven't tried the akg but I'm scared of the build quality and that pleather earpadding flaking apart. I forgot to say, the ft1 cable is trash. Very heavy, stiff and microphonic. I have replacements from AliExpress that I swap between the hifiman.

Overall I do like the FT1 if you can replace the cable, and know how to eq. The qudelix 5k is phenomenal for creating and swapping parametric EQ profiles.

 

[Curupira]

This is the kind of performance that defines the word "fine".

Unspectacular but useable out-of-box performance, pretty good with EQ, very nice aesthetics, midrange price. Fine.

My words exactly. I've owned a FT1 for a few months before selling it. At it's price I think it offers a glance at Harman that wasn't common aside from offerings like the AKG k361/371s.

They were comfortable and competent when I dialed the bass down. What made me sell them was a day-to-day comparison to IEMs: while they were fine, I always got more enjoyment, details, and tuning cohesion out of my in-ears.

 

[AMDfanTO]

FT1 is for sure the epitome of fine. It is good to very good after EQ though. It definitely isn't the disruptor that was hyped. The zero 2 and he400se are by far the best deals in personal audio. I think with those 2 you're set, unless you really want to go down the rabbit hole.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Would not be terrible as a starter phone if you could get them in a clearance sale--especially if you know how to use EQ. Maybe pair it with used piece of Schiit you get for cheap on Ebay. Thanks for the nice review, Amir.

 

[DazST]

I've had a pair for about a month and have been really happy with them (though I will caveat that by acknowledging that I have no experience with high end headphones, so am probably much easier to please!). They do sound much better with eq though. I've had good results with a slightly modified version of Oratory' peq for the rode nth-100 (which i also have but now just use with my guitar amp). I'll be sure to give Amir's peq a go though.

 

[Zekbone]

Quality control/durability report. I have both the FT1 and the FT1 Pro. While they have completely different drivers, they share parts in the chassis including the headband. My younger brother uses the FT1 and I use the FT1 Pro. Even though I installed a Capra strap pretty early on, the side lining on the headband has started to come off on my FT1 Pro. The FT1 is still fine but its 4 months newer. This doesn't actually bother me and I wouldn't send it to be repaired/replaced over this, but I thought I'd share.

 

[amirm]

Very heavy, stiff and microphonic. I have replacements from AliExpress that I swap between the hifiman.

Oh, I must have gotten an aftermarket one as it is flat, and very lightweight.

 

[Rayman30]

Oh, I must have gotten an aftermarket one as it is flat, and very lightweight.

I sent you the cables that it came with in the box, I actually thought they were very decent considering the low price of the headphones.

 

[amirm]

I sent you the cables that it came with in the box, I actually thought they were very decent considering the low price of the headphones.

Thanks for confirming. Then I don't understand the comments about the cables elsewhere.

 

[AMDfanTO]

The negative comments about the cables have been brought up in other reviews but fiio could've changed them with newer batches. Just like they updated the c clamp that connects the yokes. I have one of the earlier batches. I've seen comments about the quality of the wood and finish too - but I have no complaints with my pair.

 

[Budgeter]

I own one for a while and have not observed any build quality issue, but then, I have never had broken headphones.

Price + aesthetic + closed-back with decent bass. I find this to be top choice in class when looking for those qualities.

It is secondary pair that I use along side my ATH-R70x.

 

[Maiky76]

Here are some thoughts about the EQ.
Please report your findings, positive or negative!

Notes about the EQ design:

• The average L/R is used to calculate the score.
• The resolution is 12 points per octave interpolated from the raw data (provided by @amirm)
• A Genetic Algorithm is used to optimize the EQ.
• The EQ Score is designed to MAXIMIZE the Score WHILE fitting the Harman target curve (and other constraints) with a fixed complexity.
  This will avoid weird results if one only optimizes for the Score, start your journey here or there.
  There is a presentation by S. Olive here.
  It will probably flatten the Error regression doing so, the tonal balance should be therefore more neutral.
• The EQs are starting point and may require tuning (certainly at LF and maybe at HF).
• The range around and above 10kHz is usually not EQed unless smooth enough to do so.
• I am using PEQ (PK) as from my experience the definition is more consistent across different DSP/platform implementations than shelves.
• With some HP/amp combo, the boosts and preamp gain (loss of Dynamic range) need to be carefully considered to avoid issues with, amongst other things, too low a Max SPL or damaging your device. You have beed warned.
• Not all units of the same product are made equal. The EQ is based on the measurements of a single unit. YMMV with regard to the very unit you are trying this EQ on.
• I sometimes use variations of the Harman curve for some reasons. See rational here and here
• NOTE: the score then calculated is not comparable to the scores derived from the default Harman target curve if not otherwise noted.

Good L/R match.


I have generated one EQ, the APO config file is attached.

Score no EQ: 50.0
Score Amirm: 69.5
Score with EQ: 83.2

Fiio FT1 APO EQ Score Flat@HF 96000Hz
October152025-133522

Preamp: -4.72 dB

Filter 1: ON PK Fc 22.4 Hz Gain -2.52 dB Q 0.52
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 165.2 Hz Gain -3.66 dB Q 1.01
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 540.1 Hz Gain 1.89 dB Q 1.01
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1758.4 Hz Gain -1.92 dB Q 3.63
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 3669.8 Hz Gain 3.97 dB Q 2.70
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 4570.5 Hz Gain -6.32 dB Q 3.81
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 6743.7 Hz Gain 7.80 dB Q 1.16
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 12174.4 Hz Gain -9.90 dB Q 1.87

 

[Tano]

Thanks for the review!
I bought them some months ago and they are good headphones, but totally unusable for people with glasses. The bass disappears when the seal is broken even the slightest...
I've tried a lot of headphones and this is the worst in that regard. So be aware of that if you use glasses.

 

[FTB]

I own one for a while and have not observed any build quality issue, but then, I have never had broken headphones.

Price + aesthetic + closed-back with decent bass. I find this to be top choice in class when looking for those qualities.

It is secondary pair that I use along side my ATH-R70x.

Best in class with the same price are the k371.

 

[markanini]

Best in class with the same price are the k371.

The K371 is definitely the headphone that other similarly spaced and priced headphones are consistently compared to.

 

[Dazerdoreal]

By now the majority of the audiophile youtube scene seems to think that the FT1 set the new standard for closed-backs in that price range. Similar good sound but better build quality than the 371, so they say.

I do not doubt they are correct about the build quality. But I am a bit sceptical if the sound is on a similar level..