Fiio FT5 HEADPHONES REVIEW

Fiio FT5 headphones are a sub £450 that look to offer great value on paper. How do they match up in the real world? Oscar Stewart finds out for HiFi PiG.

Fiio entered the full-size headphone market last year with their FT3 model, a high-impedance dynamic model that will soon be reviewed here. Today though, we look at their 2^nd release, the FT5 which uses a planar magnetic driver and is marketed as very easy to drive. 

Fiio is quickly becoming a market leader in a lot of categories, from DAPS to streamers, earphones to headphones, they seem to have a product in every sector. But, how do these hold up against the stiff competition in the full-size headphone market?

BUILD QUALITY, FEATURES AND COMFORT OF THE FIIO FT5

Starting off with the build quality, you really wouldn’t be able to tell that Fiio is new to the full-size headphone world as these are built very well and they certainly haven’t cut any corners. The cups are metal and feature an open-back design, the headband is also metal and features a self-adjusting headband strap for comfort. These come with a detachable cable that uses the common dual 3.5mm jacks into the headphones, they have a semi-locking plug, but it’s not proprietary and most aftermarket cables will fit with ease. Not that you’d really need an aftermarket cable though, the stock one is covered in fabric and features a detachable jack on the source end allowing you to swap between 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced. Fiio includes a 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter along with a 4.4mm to 4-pin XLR adapter which really does cover all bases – I was very impressed with this approach to the stock cable. 

You get a carry case with the FT5 which easily houses them and keeps them safe during transport, it also has small sections for the various cable terminations. Fiio also includes a 2nd set of earpads, you get the pre-installed suede pads along with a set of faux leather ones too, these allow you to fine-tune the sound to your liking. 

Speaking of earpads, the suede ones are very comfortable and paired with the self-adjusting headband, make the FT5 a comfy headphone in use and I had no issues wearing them for longer periods of time. The cups and build do feel solid but luckily this doesn’t come at the expense of long-term comfort. The earpads are easy to replace, held in place by small clips and they simply pull off. 

The FT5 feature a 90mm planar magnetic driver, one that has been designed and developed by Fiio to provide a rich sound with low distortion. Magnets are on both sides of the diaphragm for more consistent movement of the diaphragm and once again lower distortion. They also developed the FT5 headphones to be quite sensitive, 96dB/Mw @1kHz, and this means you don’t need a hugely powerful amp to drive these to their full potential and they run quite well with portable sources. They even paid attention to the grille on the outside of the earcup, the design helping control and accelerate the airflow when the driver is moving, along with helping with the sound staging.  

SOUND QUALITY

I recently got the new JDS Labs Atom Amp 2 and Atom DAC 2 and have been using this stack with the FT5 a lot, I also paired them with the iFi hip-dac 3 and NEO iDSD 2 – I found the clean and controlled sound of the JDS Labs stack to pair very well with the slightly warmer tonality of the FT5.

Fiio have clearly put a lot into the design and functionality of the FT5, but ultimately they must be judged on how they sound. Don’t worry, they haven’t let us down here either, and straigh out of the box with the suede earpads they have an incredibly smooth and full sound, it’s the kind of sound that’s perfect for kicking back and losing a few hours to your favourite tracks. It’s like a familiar blanket, it’s a cosy and sweet sound that isn’t trying too hard to impress you. 

Fiio claims these deliver bass unlike most planars, and I’ll give them that, planar drivers are usually very linear in their bass yet with the suede earpads the FT5 have a more dynamic and full presentation. Take Leftfield – Space Shanty, there is a real sense of space to the sound of the FT5, with a good amount of body and kick through them. They don’t seem top have any issues keeping up with different layers of bass mixed with swirling synths and serve it up in quite a fun yet well-controlled package. 

The JDS Labs Atom 2 Stack pairs very well with the FT5, bringing out a little more clarity and control in them over a slightly smoother source. Taking Back Sunday – Great Romances Of The 20^th Century comes across as energetic even with the suede earpads, there is weight behind the tom drums, cymbals crash around you and the vocals cut through with excellent detail. There are multiple layers to the vocals and these manage to separate them nicely, yet there is that ever-present smoothness and control that defines the FT5. 

Nickleback might get some flak as a band, but Never Again sounds great through the FT5. The driving bass guitar line is cleanly delivered and all instruments are well separated. The bass digs deep with the suede earpads, vocals are powerful but never shouty, guitars have good bite without sounding too aggressive, and the cymbals have plenty of detail and shimmer without any nasty peaks. This is a very complete sounding headphone and, with the Alcantara (suede) earpads are highly enjoyable with a slight warm tilt. 

Now, on to the faux leather earpads that Fiio also includes with these. First off, they open the sound and immediately sound a little crisper overall. Vocals are a little more intimate with the suede pads, but the faux leather come across as a little more engaging whilst retaining an even balance overall. There is a hint more treble presence leading to more air in the upper regions, whilst the bass is less warm and a tad tighter in terms of impact. 

I really like the way you can choose which tuning you prefer by swapping the earpads! The suede is smooth and sweet, whereas the faux leather is a little more open and snappier. Radiohead – Present Tense sounds stunning through the FT5 with faux leather pads, Thom Yorke’s vocals are crisp and nuanced with excellent stereo imaging and the FT5 don’t skip a beat when it comes to delivering the subtle sub-bass beat. Fingers across guitar strings, every tiny cymbal tap, all delivered with natural tonality and excellent control. 

The last song used for this review was Dashboard Confessional – Hands Down (MTV Unplugged) and they really nail the live performance of this track. The audience is well placed, the sound has body without bloat, it’s a dynamic and punchy performance with superb balance across the spectrum. The sound staging isn’t huge, but everything is so well placed and separated that I never found them to sound closed in.  

QUIBBLES

I think the only thing that may affect certain users is the self-adjusting headband, it is a little limited in terms of how big it will go. Not something I have issues with, but those with larger noggins might find themselves at the limit of the strap. 

CONCLUSION

Considering this is Fiio’s first ever full-size planar magnetic headphone, along with it being their second full-size headphone full stop, they really are nailing this sector of the market. The FT5 come with an excellent set of features along with brilliant sound to boot. 

The inclusion of two sets of earpads allows you to choose between a smoother and sweeter sound (suede/Alcantra) or more dynamic and crisp sound (faux leather). I loved both sound signatures but did find myself slightly preferring the faux leather due to the slightly crisper sound. 

The FT5 have tons of detail without ever coming across harsh. Extension from top to bottom is superb and they have natural tonality that makes them both fun and easy to listen to. They don’t need a powerhouse of an amp to drive them and sound great out of a few different sources and the build quality is solid.

And they cost under £450. 

AT A GLANCE

Build Quality And Features:

Solid magnesium alloy housings and detachable cables

Versatile connection options on the detachable cable

2 pairs of earpads for different sound signatures

Sound Quality:

Suede earpads offer up a smooth and sweet sound

Faux leather earpads offer up a crisper, more controlled and detailed sound

Natural tonality with brilliant control and extension

Value For Money:

Superb – £420 here in the UK which is very impressive when you consider the excellent sound along with solid build quality and versatility

We Loved:

The sound, the build quality and the features – basically they’re excellent all round

We Didn’t Love So Much:

The headband offers limited adjustment, so those with larger heads may have fit issues 

Elevator Pitch Review: The Fiio FT5 are an excellent headphone for their price, they have a good level of detail retrieval and a well-balanced sound that errs on the smoother side to prevent fatigue. The sound can be tailored slightly by switching between the 2 pairs of earpads, they’re easy to drive and, the included cable is extremely versatile. There’s little not to love here if you enjoy a slightly smoother sound signature that’s still engaging. 

Price: £429.00 / $449

Oscar Stewart

SUPPLIED BY Fiio

SUPPLIED SPECIFICATION

• Large 90mm planar magnetic driver
• 6μm ultra-thin diaphragm – Only 1/10 of the hair’s thickness
• Micron-level aluminium-silver alloy coil, Ideal combination of acoustics and easiness of power
• Open-backed design, A more natural sound, a more musical sound
• Lightweight magnesium alloy construction, Reduced weight, better comfort
• 20 neodymium magnets per driver, Balanced force, for precise sound
• High sensitivity and easy to power:
• 110dB/1Vrms@1kHz
• 96dB/mW@1kHz
• Impedance: 36Ω
• Frequency response: 7Hz-40kHz
• Cable material: 392 wires of high-purity silver-plated monocrystalline copper
• Cable connector: Dual 3.5mm plugs on headphone end, with swappable audio plugs