Fiio FT1 Headphone Review

[Curupira]

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..

See for yourself:

Spoiler: comparison graphs

FR

Distortion:

IMO, they're both Harman tuned closed backs that display the common faults of full-size closed backs: too much bass (it's easy to get boomy bass on an enclosured design) and mid-high distortion and peaks/dips that makes it hard to EQ that region. In the end, they're both fine, but for both of those reasons, when I consider closed backs, I either opt wireless for convenience (AKG N9 Hybrid is my default closed back) or sound quality, and for the latter I don't think you can beat IEMs in the current market, they're just better in all fronts but, maybe, comfort.

Construction wise, the FT1 feels more premium with wood and metals, but can be as flimsy with time. Comfort is deeply personal.

 

[FTB]

Clearly not, the FT1 is too muddy at the point bass masks other parts of the spectrum + there is a fatiguing "metallic" peak on the upper spectrum (I don't know if it's the 5k peak or what we see after 10 kHz).
K371 are much more open and neutral.

 

[FTB]

See for yourself:

Spoiler: comparison graphs

FR

View attachment 483307
View attachment 483306

Distortion:

View attachment 483309View attachment 483308

IMO, they're both Harman tuned closed backs that display the common faults of full-size closed backs: too much bass (it's easy to get boomy bass on an enclosured design) and mid-high distortion and peaks/dips that makes it hard to EQ that region. In the end, they're both fine, but for both of those reasons, when I consider closed backs, I either opt wireless for convenience (AKG N9 Hybrid is my default closed back) or sound quality, and for the latter I don't think you can beat IEMs in the current market, they're just better in all fronts but, maybe, comfort.

Construction wise, the FT1 feels more premium with wood and metals, but can be as flimsy with time as the K371 all plastic construction. Comfort is deeply personal.

The K371 have metallic hinges.

 

[AMDfanTO]

The dip in the 3.5khz region followed by a sharp peak in the 4.5-5.5k range (person dependant) causes a boxed in and slightly metallic sound. Once eqd the headphones will open up.

Also, cutting peaks is far more straightforward than filling in holes. And the k371 has a big hole in the ear gain range.

 

[Briocat]

But hasn't this review already been done in the past?

 

[FTB]

The dip in the 3.5khz region followed by a sharp peak in the 4.5-5.5k range (person dependant) causes a boxed in and slightly metallic sound. Once eqd the headphones will open up.

Also, cutting peaks is far more straightforward than filling in holes. And the k371 has a big hole in the ear gain range.

Yep but without EQ a dip is better than a peak. The K371 are nicely listenable without EQ, not the FT1.

 

[AMDfanTO]

Yep but without EQ a dip is better than a peak. The K371 are nicely listenable without EQ, not the FT1.

You're probably right. But I do eq all my sets. The potential of the phone matters the most to me.

 

[markanini]

IMO, they're both Harman tuned closed backs that display the common faults of full-size closed backs: too much bass (it's easy to get boomy bass on an enclosured design) and mid-high distortion and peaks/dips that makes it hard to EQ that region.

The K371 is tuned with more bass than the Harman Target - because it takes into account that on the average head, there will be a bit more leakage than on a dummy head.
I've done some investigations on this with a few other headphones (using microphones mounted inside the ear of a group of 15 people), and the average amount of reduction at low frequencies happens to almost exactly match the amount by which the K371 overshoots the Harman Target - surely this is not a coincidence.
Meaning: The K371 was tuned to match the Harman Target on human ears/heads (on average), not necessarily on perfectly-sealing ear simulators.

 

[Curupira]

Interesting. While browsing other measurements on that headphone I also noticed that Listener's measurements on the 5128 don't overshoot the target, while the FT1 remains boomy:

 

[RogerSmith]

I do own it for a while and although I don´t use it that much, I think it is a very good headphone for the money. Just a little EQ and it becomes excellent, which is not easy for a closed back headphone in this price range. Also, concerning distortion, it is much more favorable to dial DOWN the bass region than lifting it up. It also comes with nice accessories (cables, bag,..). To my knowledge, there is no real competitor at this price range for the whole package (price, sound, materials, design, comfort, accessories,...).

 

[Alexander Gödde]

For me the FT1 is much more comfortable than the AKG K371. Without EQ the latter may sound better, but with EQ for me the FT1 has wider soundstage.

 

[Mr. NoPinna]

View attachment 482917

I don't know what went wrong with your frequency response measurements. But this channel imbalance isn't there. Either there's a huge measurement error or you're really unlucky with the unit. I would check that out. To compensate, I've brought along 6 measurements from 5 different people on different rigs.

 

[amirm]

I don't know what went wrong with your frequency response measurements. But this channel imbalance isn't there.

It is actually. Those graphs are stretched horizontally, causing the vertical differences to show up less. My sample has been used so pads are worn which can make some difference. Regardless, acoustic measurements just need to correlate. No way to get exact results.

 

[Mr. NoPinna]

It is actually. Those graphs are stretched horizontally, causing the vertical differences to show up less. My sample has been used so pads are worn which can make some difference. Regardless, acoustic measurements just need to correlate. No way to get exact results.

If you have the time and motivation, would you take measurements at different positions on the rig? I'd be interested to see what it looks like.

 

[oleg87]

Yep but without EQ a dip is better than a peak. The K371 are nicely listenable without EQ, not the FT1.

Regular reminder that individual heads are not HATS rigs. I hear peaks on the K371 that are nowhere on Amir’s measurments . And it’s fragile junk, besides.

 

[solderdude]

Interesting. While browsing other measurements on that headphone I also noticed that Listener's measurements on the 5128 don't overshoot the target, while the FT1 remains boomy:

View attachment 483329

totally different fixture and different target but also showing a difference in midbass response in similar range.

Indeed the FT1 is 'warmer/fuller/bloated' compared to K371.
Was much easier to get a good seal with FT1 than K371 which affects bass response.

Amir's measurements also show more midbass response in the FT1 as well but a bit less.

Product variance, seal difference, pad condition ... who knows.

 

[amirm]

If you have the time and motivation, would you take measurements at different positions on the rig?

I have already done that. It is standard part of my measurement prep. I mount, remount, measure, align and repeat to minimize differences between channels and maximize bass response. When it becomes clearly that I am not converging to a unified solution, I make the best measurement I can and post it. That is what you see here.

I did not save the other attempts as I am not in favor of showing non-ideal fitments. Others attempt to average all of this which in my view is wrong. Such average will reduce resolution of the measurements which may be responsible for better visual matching.

 

[JSmith]

But hasn't this review already been done in the past?

Not here from what I can see or recall?

JSmith

 

[FTB]

Regular reminder that individual heads are not HATS rigs. I hear peaks on the K371 that are nowhere on Amir’s measurments . And it’s fragile junk, besides.

It's maybe you are not sensitive to the Harman curve ?

 

[sssn]

Maybe Amir really got a bad unit. RTings also doesn't show either the heavy mid-range distortion nor channel imbalance: https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/fiio/ft1