How much would i be realistically losing going with the FiiO JT7 instead of the FT1 PRO?

[kazuviking]

Giving my DT990 to my nephew and wanna give planars a go. The JT7 would have worse headband design but the foldability offsets it. The FT1PRO was fiios 1st gen of planars with some major qc issues while the JT7 is second gen which hopefully ironed them out. In FR both of them near identical.

For 100€ less its not half bad but still unsure which to get when reading the rewievs.

 

[Roland68]

Giving my DT990 to my nephew and wanna give planars a go. The JT7 would have worse headband design but the foldability offsets it. The FT1PRO was fiios 1st gen of planars with some major qc issues while the JT7 is second gen which hopefully ironed them out. In FR both of them near identical.
View attachment 488600
For 100€ less its not half bad but still unsure which to get when reading the rewievs.

I think you're confusing people because you wrote FT7 (approx. €700) in the title.

 

[kazuviking]

I think you're confusing people because you wrote FT7 (approx. €700) in the title.

Edited.

 

[flagshipper]

Not much feedback yet, but the rare existing reviews like them more than FT1 (Pro) and H400se.

 

[Curupira]

In FR both of them near identical.

I'd wait for the hands on reviews to evaluate QC problems and performance on real "heads".

Regarding the FR, I suspect that pragmatic audio uses a Kemar clone ear, that is close but not the same as an original GRAAS and ear. See the below from unheard lab, where the treble dip after the 3khz overshoot just doesn't happen on the Ft1 pro:

That makes a big difference in perception, with the JT7 maybe sounding more shouty due to the 3khz emphasis. They're close but not the same.

Regarding your doubts on the QC and technology, I think you're spot on. FiiO is known to canibalize their own gear all the time with subsequent launches (see the BTR13/15/17 vs their former ones).

 

[Zekbone]

My FT1 pro hits what sounds like excursion limits (not harmonic distortion) in subbass with EQ. Its either a QC issue or a driver issue, and I bought it two months after Fiio supposedly fixed the QC issue the FT1 Pro launched with.

Here's Fiio's statement on the screw issues that are in fact actually fixed like they claim and the subbass issue I experience. They claim it's related to the tautness of the diaphram during manufacturing which is logical enough. https://fiio.com/newsinfo/1002816.html

If you get the FT1 Pro, do some sine testing in the 20-60hz range and demand a fix/return if you have issues. Make sure to do so at a high volume, loud subbass doesn't hurt your ears. I didn't care enough or notice soon enough to do so.

 

[Tito]

nice insight from andy

you loose very minor 5 percent in absoulute extension and depth of imaging. everything else is the same according to Andy.

he considers them to have more natural timvbre than 400se and.. to be better than them.

And .. well let's wait for more reviews and see in near future what is going on with the lows when eq*ed. shall the infamous rattle apear in sub bass as in ft1 pro.

NOW that IS THE real question !!

 

[solderdude]

My JADE Audio (FiiO) JT7 review is up.

JT7

back to Jade Audioback to measurementshome Published: Nov-27-2025 NO SMOOTHING is applied to the shown plots. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons flat’ sharp peaks and ‘…

diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com

I am really well impressed with this headphone actually.
In fact JT7 sounds better (to me) than the FT1 PRO which is more expensive.

The biggest difference is in sensitivity (efficiency). The JT7 is 7dB less sensitive which is caused by a less magnets and wider spacing of the magnets.
FiiO kind-of uses a similar (but not the same !) 'trick' in the membrane as DCA headphones (wrinkles in the membrane). There are some 'dents' in the vertical direction of the membrane (the longest side) which is supposed to allow for a more freely moving membrane. They even have a nice illustration on their product page.
But here's the thing.. the membrane is still stretched and in the horizontal direction (which is shorter) there are no dimples in the membrane so the 'extra headroom' that can be obtained this way is counteracted by a still present membrane tension in the horizontal direction.
All of this assuming FiiO did not stretch the membrane in the vertical direction only and is 'loosely' tensioned in the horizontal direction. Then this trick would work.
It would allow for a larger swing (lowest frequencies only).
My compression measurements (odd harm. distortion) did not show the expected improvement.

That said ... great budget planar magnetic headphone that does not need EQ (IMHO) and is how I use it.
Finally a budget headphone that does not need EQ or modifications.
This sounds a bit like 'hyping the hype' but it is my honest opinion.
Is it more 'hifi' sounding than my (EQ'ed) HD800 or say Susvara ? Nope but there is a price difference here too.
For a budget planar magnetic it measures and sounds better than HE 400SE and Sundara.
In sound (tonal balance) it is actually pretty close to something like the HD 490 PRO (with mixer pads) or HD 560S but it stays 'cleaner' at high SPL ... at the expense of requiring more power.
Power is not really an issue anymore today though.

Below (alternating) JT7 vs the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO (mixer pads), HD 550, HD 560S, HD 600, HD 650 and HD 660S2

HIFIMAN HE400se, Sundara, Edition XS, Fosi Audio i5, Avantone Pro Planar and Audeze LCD-X.

my conclusion:

Nicely build headphones in the low price range.
The sound is ‘lively’, ‘dynamic’ and ‘neutral’ with good clarity and treble when played at average levels and above.
All in all a very enjoyable headphone if ‘neutral’ is your thing (not for bass heads unless EQ’ed).
Harman bass lovers might want to EQ in a +2dB bass shelve below 100Hz.
At this moment I would say the JT7 is by far the best choice for those wanting to get a taste of planar magnetic sound at a very affordable price.
If I were to point out a minor niggle then it would be the mids being just a tad too ‘forward’ in some recordings (600Hz emphasis). When one loves good clarity than this is not an issue at all.

 

[Tito]

My JADE Audio (FiiO) JT7 review is up.

JT7

back to Jade Audioback to measurementshome Published: Nov-27-2025 NO SMOOTHING is applied to the shown plots. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons flat’ sharp peaks and ‘…

diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com

I am really well impressed with this headphone actually.
In fact it sounds better than the FT1 PRO which is more expensive.

The biggest difference is in sensitivity (efficiency). The JT7 is less sensitive which I suspect is caused by a bigger membrane-magnet distance.
FiiO kind of uses a similar (but not the same !) 'trick' in the membrane. There are some 'dents' in the vertical direction of the membrane (the longest side) which is supposed to allow for a more freely moving membrane. They even have a nice illustration on their product page.
But here's the thing.. the membrane is still stretched and in the horizontal direction (which is shorter) there are no dimples in the membrane so the 'extra headroom' that can be obtained this way is counteracted by a still present membrane tension in the horizontal direction.
All of this assuming FiiO did not stretch the membrane in the vertical direction only and is 'loosely' tensioned in the horizontal direction. Then this trick would work.
It would allow for a larger swing (lowest frequencies only).
My compression measurements (odd harm. distortion) did not show the expected improvement.

That said ... great budget planar magnetic headphone that does not need EQ (IMHO) and is how I use it.
Finally a budget headphone that does not need EQ or modifications.
This sounds a bit like 'hyping the hype' but it is my honest opinion.
Is it more 'hifi' sounding than my (EQ'ed) HD800 or say Susvara ? Nope but there is a price difference here too.
For a budget planar magnetic it measures and sounds better than HE 400SE and Sundara.
In sound (tonal balance) it is actually pretty close to something like the HD 490 PRO (with mixer pads) or HD 560S but it stays 'cleaner' at high SPL ... at the expense of requiring more power.
Power is not really an issue anymore today though.

my conclusion:

oh wow.. that is great to hear.

well, i just got my first planars this morning .. Sundara for 129 euro, refurbished. hope they scale up with amp better than jt7.?, still havent tried to eq them, just heard a few songs.
i am very satisfied with the sound, sounds more clean and analytical than my 560s i think. i have some issues with treble tho. there is too much of it..

i need to get used to planar sound too.i would describe it for now with 3 words.

1. transparent 2. liquid 3. glass

 

[solderdude]

oh wow.. that is great to hear.

well, i just got my first planars this morning .. Sundara for 129 euro, refurbished. hope they scale up with amp better than jt7.?, still havent tried to eq them, just heard a few songs.
i am very satisfied with the sound, sounds more clean and analytical than my 560s i think. i have some issues with treble tho. there is too much of it..

i need to get used to planar sound too.i would describe it for now with 3 words.

1. transparent 2. liquid 3. glass

Good price,
I have 2 Sundara's here too and for that price they are great.

The 'glass' aspect is caused by the excess treble. The JT7 does not have that and could be called.
1: transparent 2.organic
But ... The Sundara's are slightly less sensitive (the JT7 is a tiny bit louder at the same volume control setting) and are bit more 'laid-back' and 'sparkly'.
Price is the same.
Comfort is fine on both headphones. JT7 weighs a little less.

The JT7 (Jade Audio) is not to be confused with the FT7 ( FiiO)

 

[kazuviking]

Got my JT7 a few days ago but man for some reason my scalp really hates the headband so waiting on the diy cow leather suspension headband to be delivered so i can use it without issues. In the short time i used it it worked really well with HeSuVi. To bad i gotta wait another month before using it properly.

 

[Zekbone]

My JADE Audio (FiiO) JT7 review is up.

JT7

back to Jade Audioback to measurementshome Published: Nov-27-2025 NO SMOOTHING is applied to the shown plots. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons flat’ sharp peaks and ‘…

diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com

I am really well impressed with this headphone actually.
In fact JT7 sounds better (to me) than the FT1 PRO which is more expensive.

The biggest difference is in sensitivity (efficiency). The JT7 is less sensitive which I suspect is caused by a bigger membrane-magnet distance.
FiiO kind of uses a similar (but not the same !) 'trick' in the membrane. There are some 'dents' in the vertical direction of the membrane (the longest side) which is supposed to allow for a more freely moving membrane. They even have a nice illustration on their product page.
But here's the thing.. the membrane is still stretched and in the horizontal direction (which is shorter) there are no dimples in the membrane so the 'extra headroom' that can be obtained this way is counteracted by a still present membrane tension in the horizontal direction.
All of this assuming FiiO did not stretch the membrane in the vertical direction only and is 'loosely' tensioned in the horizontal direction. Then this trick would work.
It would allow for a larger swing (lowest frequencies only).
My compression measurements (odd harm. distortion) did not show the expected improvement.

That said ... great budget planar magnetic headphone that does not need EQ (IMHO) and is how I use it.
Finally a budget headphone that does not need EQ or modifications.
This sounds a bit like 'hyping the hype' but it is my honest opinion.
Is it more 'hifi' sounding than my (EQ'ed) HD800 or say Susvara ? Nope but there is a price difference here too.
For a budget planar magnetic it measures and sounds better than HE 400SE and Sundara.
In sound (tonal balance) it is actually pretty close to something like the HD 490 PRO (with mixer pads) or HD 560S but it stays 'cleaner' at high SPL ... at the expense of requiring more power.
Power is not really an issue anymore today though.

Below (alternating) JT7 vs the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO (mixer pads), HD 550, HD 560S, HD 600, HD 650 and HD 660S2

HIFIMAN HE400se, Sundara, Edition XS, Fosi Audio i5, Avantone Pro Planar and Audeze LCD-X.

my conclusion:

Just by eyeballing the frequency response, based on what we know about the FT1 Pro on gras rigs, that looks very close to harman with the obvious bass exception.

 

[solderdude]

diy cow leather suspension headband

yep... that might work

 

[JonK]

Hi all, just adding in here the JT7 is the best $100 I've heard. Bang for buck amazing. I find they do need EQ though. Mostly cuts in the 3k-5.5k region. I typically target iso df..

 

[flagshipper]

It seems obvious it's great in its price category, but is it worth trying for someone with (current) value king Edition XS? The review indicates so, but I have a hard time believing it can get close to it in soundstage, imaging, detail.

 

[kazuviking]

Just realized that i'm gonna have to drill out and cut off the excess metal from the new headbands cupholder as the for some reason fiio thought its good to make it slanted.

EDIT: Couldn't wait for the headband to be deliered so i wrapped the headband with a sock. When i switch between this and my DT990 the JT7 sounds dry as fuck. This with the 1.5KHz hole fixed and a -4dB at 3KHz. 4dB low shelf at 100Hz was necessary. Just realized how much the two car subs unde rmy desk helps with the sub bass.

On the non sound side of things it isolates less and it bleeds more audio compared to the 990(like 10cm more). The stock earpads are horrible as when i blink i hear loud rustling and when i start to speak its amplified by 10. I wont event mention the stock cable as it belongs in the trash. Comfort is terrible as even with the sock cover i can feel two massive hotspots.

 

[kazuviking]

Got my nullmini cooling gel(type D) earpads made for the FT1 pro which was a challenge to put on as its significantly smaller than the JT7s pads and the middle foam part bulges up a bit. The comfort went from 0 to 10 instantly if i ignore the head hotspot. The rustling sound when i blink or talk is completely gone and i don't even feel them on my head compared to the stock pads. These pads makes no sound when squished while the stock pad makes a horrible one. Now im starting to like the JT7.

 

[Seta Seta Pop]

I'm waiting for mine to arrive. I bought them after reading Solderdude's review. I'm a little worried about the treble because when it's too weak (R70x), I don't like it at all.