I am not the biggest headphone expert but man these FT-1s are going to convert me. They sound remarkable. Super detailed and super comfortable. A winning combination. They are currently out of stock on Amazon. Sorry. FiiO FT1 Closed-Back Over-Ear Wired Hi-Fi Headphones: amzn.to/3B2gvqC
And I'm in the market for nice, not so expensive, well performing cans. Thanks. These just shot to the top of my list. Also thinking of getting FIIO's R2R DAC.
Really detailed review on sound signature. I play bass guitar and have been on the look out for a pair of closed back headphones so tracking and silent practice. Your detailed review on how instruments sound will help many people a lot. Thanks alot
I’ve also been looking to expand my headphone inventory. This is interesting. Looking forward to the headphone amp review. As another viewer commented, I have a normal setup but with kids and family, I don’t actually get to enjoy it.
I might try them out, thanks for the detailed information. I have the previous jt1, felt like I wanted to trick my ears to embrace the hype behind them. Sadly, they're just sitting there. I'll test both out when I get this one.
Because of your honest approach review of these headphones I purchased them,,,,you are spot on in every aspect,,they sound amazing and for the money !!! Outstanding headphones I am very pleased with them,,my new favorite headphones 😊
I don't have experience with the Momentums but I do own the Drop 6XX and I think these have better bass. Both are good, just different. Let me know what you decide to do. Thx.
Thank you for reviewing these headphones. I was about to buy them. As I understand it, the k11 r2r is a great pair for these headphones. Will the sound be too warm and will there be too much bass?
The headphones lean slightly warm and with good bass response. The DAC is pretty much neutral in sound. I found them to be a good combo. Thanks for asking and viewing.
i have a pair of the FT1s on order and am waiting for them. i have massdrop hifiman 4XXs which I drive balanced and some shelf low end eq using my monolith THX dac/amp. they reach almost to the very bottom and are a bargain. my other dac/amp is the xDuuo TA22, a tube hybrid but it doesn't include any eq, I will probably drive the FT1s with that one.
Great review, I like your style and thanks! I’ve seriously been considering the Ft1 and R2R combo even before watching this video. But I do have one question that maybe you can help me with… Schiit Vali3 or Fiio K11 R2R? I do prefer a nice, smooth warm sound and generally listen to metal and progressive music. But I also enjoy various styles of acoustic music with a solid vocal presence! Any advice would be greatly appreciated… Thanks
Thanks for kind words. I don't have any experience with the Vali3. I did have a Magni Piety and retired it in favor of the K11 R2R on y editing desk. I have a similar sonic taste to yours and am pleased with the K11 for sure. It has plenty of power and dynamics. I hope that helps. Thank you for tuning in.
Nice. I really like the wood finish and the head band. I own the JT1. I think sometimes the bass on the JT1 is a bit too much. And it appears to also be a little bit more plastic on the JT1s. One thing I really disliked about the JT1s was the cable. Noise would spill in the ear cup whenever you touched it, or whenever it would brush my shirt.
Just got myself one, just for shits and giggles 😄 I’m usually on Hifiman Hek stealth but thought I’m lacking some good closed backs. Was looking at the ZMF bokehs but after these reviews all getting in, for like 10th of the price for 80 percent of the performance? Yeah I try these first xD
On a completely unrelated note. Could you by any chance check out the Yamaha R-N800A and do a review on that? I'd be very curious about your impressions.
I appreciate the style of the video sir, good review. Just one question: do your ears fully fit inside the earpads without touching anything else? I have mid-large sized ears (5.6 to 5.9mm) and I'm worried about any type of contact since I know even the slightest feeling of pressure makes the pads extremely uncomfortable for me
Thank you. I am glad you enjoy the channel. I have not measured my ears but, yes they fit inside with out issue. I quick guestimate on my ear size has them at aprox. 6 to 7mm. Again I had no problem. If you get them make sure they are returnable. Thx for tuning in.
Grigore, The K9 AKM is the one. I have reviewed it and the video is uploaded but I have not released it yet. I also have reviewed the Hifiman EF-400. The FiiO K9 AKM is very, very good. Wait until the review in a week or so.
Thanks for this review - I wish these were around when I bought my Thieaudio Ghost headphones; which are about the same price. The cups are real wood, I assume? Also, how is the adjustment sliders in terms of fitting large heads? The Thieaudio Ghost is *barely* large enough for me, and my Monolith M570 gets bent outward over time. Are the sliding bands pretty strong?
So, I too understand these are good and Zeos too likes them. However I'm interested with whether or not there is any micro acoustic resonances when the cables move over a surface or say your arms rub them as a pair of cans whose sound I love and they are supremely comfortable, However, the cables when bumped or jostled add a harmonic that really spoils the audio. And that was the case with the cables included and the supposedly more expensive upgrade cable. And I like headphones not necessarily way more than speakers its about 55/45. And its also a consideration for others.
Let me update that. There is a small amount of noise form the cable when you rub it or tap it. I am sorry. Your comment got me thinking so I double checked. It is not too bad compared to other headphones. Sorry for the miss-information.
Nano wood? Is that wood harvested from Bonsai trees by mice with plaid shirts ? These look very nice for the price. My feeling about headphones is that the law of diminishing returns kicks in earlier than it does for speakers. Also it's probably harder to get true all round good headphones than it is to get all round good speakers.
No nano-bots in High Viz vests. I agree about the diminishing returns on headphones especially. I was very please with these and they have displaced my Drop 6XXs as my daily drivers.
I would not know how to maintain it. It appears to be coated with a sealant. American Walnut is a hardwood and very durable. I would imagine it will be fine. Thanks for watching.
I'm glad to see a headphone review. I work third shift, my wife works days, so on my days off i spend probably 60%of my listening on headphones. Nice review.
Great review. An interesting piece of equipment. I recently got the Aune AR5000, and I think I've found my end game headphone that finally fits my elephantine ears and provides my needed gaming response. I don't use headphones for music, and I have traded on the FiiO R2R, which I didn't find adequate. Thank you so much again for your helpful and detailed review. Take care, Sir.
@OldGuyHifi Don't worry about the K11 R2R. Not every key fits every lock. I'm sure it will find a good home. Got through the storm, relatively unscathed. Thank you for your concern and consideration, Sir. Greatly appreciated.
@urbanpunk9324 Thank you for your reply and perspective. I am currently enjoying my AR5000 gaming experience over my other headphones. EQ may be able to liven up your 'sparkle'.
It is hard to compare a closed back headphone to an open back pair. They sound so different. I own a pair of Drop 6XX and compared to the FT1 they are more open but don't have the same sort of bass response. It is a difficult comparison. Both are comfortable both sound nice overall. I hate to say but until you hear them you won't know. I wish I could be more help. Thx.
I've actually got the HD560S. I'm just debating on getting another set or these. My current one's I'm using are HD600, HD560S, PC38X, 400SE, X2HR, Tygr 300R. So i definitely do prefer open back but this particular set are being pretty hyped up in the audiophile community. Closed backs usually don't sound as good, so that's why I was thinking about getting this set, if they actually sound that good for a closed back. Probably safer to get what i already love. The only closed back i could stand was the K361 and SRH440. It's all good though, thanks for your reply. Have a nice day.@@OldGuyHifi
I would not want to rely on my laptops headphone jack. It was never designed to sound good. It's fine for ear buds but... I would recommend an outboard USB DAC/Amp like the FiiO KA-3. It will provide a far superior listen experience and it is not that expensive. Details here: amzn.to/3NyL6iD The FT-1s are a very good headphone and will provide a great listening experience but not form a laptop jack. Let me know what you decide to do. Thx.
Can anyone convince me to upgrade my Hifiman 400i (2020 version)? What don't they do as well as some other headphones that I would have to spend a little more (or less) on? And what make and model?
@@sidesup8286 Did you purchased FT1 already and if so, how's that sound in music and games compared to HE400i ver 2020? I sold my HE400 I and wanted to know. Also Fiio just launched the FT1 Pro planar magnetic open back headphones.
They are different. The Hifiman are Planar Magnetic and these are dynamic. The Hifiman are open back while the FiiOs are closed. They both sound great although the FiiOs will have a bit more bass. Thanks for asking.
Murphy's law. Remember, Murphy was an optimist. It seems to get me every once in a while. "The odds of a piece of bread landing butter side down are directly proportional to the cost of the carpet."
Hey everybody! Another great vid Ed! So, I convinced a coworker to get a topping mx3s (desktop dac headphone and speaker amp for $200, if you’re not aware) and I gave him my little pair of jamo s801s and a pair of koss kph40s, all to make sure he falls completely down the cheap audio hole, ha! Today he brought in an older pair of $200ish Bose headphones that he thought would be an upgrade over the kph’s, when he realized that isn’t the case he asked for some headphone recommendations in the $150 area, hopefully he’ll pickup a pair of these FiiO’s and I’ll have a chance to check them out myself soon too 😊thanks again!
I do not like them. The "bass" is all over the place. The treble and detail is fine but the mids are too "in your face". The top part is too thin and not very comfortable for a bold guy like me. If you want a cheap pair of headphones that sound better than almost all headphones under 200 just get a pair of Roland RH-5. Just change the earpads to a pair of around the ear pads, improve the top a bit to make it more comfortable and you will have a pair of cheap headphones that sound like anything else. Try them. They cost a bit over 25 bucks but they sound like 500$ cans. Abd with your mic they sound even worse. They look nice,
Just got myself one, just for shits and giggles 😄 I’m usually on Hifiman Hek stealth but thought I’m lacking some good closed backs. Was looking at the ZMF bokehs but after these reviews all getting in, for like 10th of the price for 80 percent of the performance? Yeah I try these first xD
I am not the biggest headphone expert but man these FT-1s are going to convert me. They sound remarkable. Super detailed and super comfortable. A winning combination. They are currently out of stock on Amazon. Sorry. FiiO FT1 Closed-Back Over-Ear Wired Hi-Fi Headphones: amzn.to/3B2gvqC
And I'm in the market for nice, not so expensive, well performing cans. Thanks. These just shot to the top of my list. Also thinking of getting FIIO's R2R DAC.
Good combo. Thanks for tuning in.
$
Really detailed review on sound signature. I play bass guitar and have been on the look out for a pair of closed back headphones so tracking and silent practice. Your detailed review on how instruments sound will help many people a lot.
Thanks alot
I am happy to know it may help someone. Thank you for the kind words. I do appreciated it.
I’ve also been looking to expand my headphone inventory. This is interesting. Looking forward to the headphone amp review. As another viewer commented, I have a normal setup but with kids and family, I don’t actually get to enjoy it.
I had the same issue when the kids were still home. Good luck and thanks for the view.
This. Literally looking for an alternative to accompany my Senhiesser 560s. Thanks.
I actually like the FT-1 better than my Drop 6XX. Much fuller sound and comfortable. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I might try them out, thanks for the detailed information. I have the previous jt1, felt like I wanted to trick my ears to embrace the hype behind them. Sadly, they're just sitting there. I'll test both out when I get this one.
Let me know what you decide. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Because of your honest approach review of these headphones I purchased them,,,,you are spot on in every aspect,,they sound amazing and for the money !!! Outstanding headphones I am very pleased with them,,my new favorite headphones 😊
I am so glad to hear that. Thank you.
Great review! Thank you! Gives me a reason to sell my Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones. I would imagine it would be a sonic improvement.
I don't have experience with the Momentums but I do own the Drop 6XX and I think these have better bass. Both are good, just different. Let me know what you decide to do. Thx.
Hmmm mom4 are actually pretty great for bt cans. I'd say the ft1 is a little better, but I haven't tried aptx adaptive hs on the mom4.
Just preordered them off Fiio EU, should arrive in the next couple weeks hopefully, upgrading from a wired Cloud II
Let me know what you think. Thx.
These are now on my list! Thanks Ed! 👍👍👍
🤞I think I am going to keep them. I really like them a lot.
Thank you for reviewing these headphones. I was about to buy them. As I understand it, the k11 r2r is a great pair for these headphones. Will the sound be too warm and will there be too much bass?
The headphones lean slightly warm and with good bass response. The DAC is pretty much neutral in sound. I found them to be a good combo. Thanks for asking and viewing.
i have a pair of the FT1s on order and am waiting for them. i have massdrop hifiman 4XXs which I drive balanced and some shelf low end eq using my monolith THX dac/amp. they reach almost to the very bottom and are a bargain. my other dac/amp is the xDuuo TA22, a tube hybrid but it doesn't include any eq, I will probably drive the FT1s with that one.
Nice set up. Thx for tuning in.
Just waiting for the stock to come back!
Sorry about that. It will be worth the wait. Thx.
Great review sir! Love your style!
Thank you kindly!
Great review, I like your style and thanks!
I’ve seriously been considering the Ft1 and R2R combo even before watching this video.
But I do have one question that maybe you can help me with…
Schiit Vali3 or Fiio K11 R2R? I do prefer a nice, smooth warm sound and generally listen to metal and progressive music. But I also enjoy various styles of acoustic music with a solid vocal presence!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated… Thanks
Thanks for kind words. I don't have any experience with the Vali3. I did have a Magni Piety and retired it in favor of the K11 R2R on y editing desk. I have a similar sonic taste to yours and am pleased with the K11 for sure. It has plenty of power and dynamics. I hope that helps. Thank you for tuning in.
@@OldGuyHifi
You’re welcome and thank you, your input definitely helps!
Nice. I really like the wood finish and the head band. I own the JT1. I think sometimes the bass on the JT1 is a bit too much. And it appears to also be a little bit more plastic on the JT1s. One thing I really disliked about the JT1s was the cable. Noise would spill in the ear cup whenever you touched it, or whenever it would brush my shirt.
Thanks for sharing! FYI, there is a bit of noise from the cable but not bad.
The jt1 is fairly hollow, so microphonics are nuts lol.
how do you like it? I was thinking to get cloud III or FT1 or JT1
@@RagulCJ I thought they were very good for the money. A real value.
Love the ft1!
got them last weekend. A good buy at $150.
That's great. Let me know how you like them. Thanks for tuning in.
really enjoyed this review. easy like and subscribe
Carlos, Thank you so much for subscribing.
Just got myself one, just for shits and giggles 😄 I’m usually on Hifiman Hek stealth but thought I’m lacking some good closed backs. Was looking at the ZMF bokehs but after these reviews all getting in, for like 10th of the price for 80 percent of the performance? Yeah I try these first xD
On a completely unrelated note. Could you by any chance check out the Yamaha R-N800A and do a review on that? I'd be very curious about your impressions.
I don't have any contacts to get Yamaha, but I am working on it. Fingers crossed. Thanks.
Nice one very understandable.
Thank you.
I appreciate the style of the video sir, good review.
Just one question: do your ears fully fit inside the earpads without touching anything else? I have mid-large sized ears (5.6 to 5.9mm) and I'm worried about any type of contact since I know even the slightest feeling of pressure makes the pads extremely uncomfortable for me
Thank you. I am glad you enjoy the channel. I have not measured my ears but, yes they fit inside with out issue. I quick guestimate on my ear size has them at aprox. 6 to 7mm. Again I had no problem. If you get them make sure they are returnable. Thx for tuning in.
So, as per your recommendation, I have to buy a K9, not cheap man, not cheap but what the hell, ok, I will buy that one too!
Grigore, The K9 AKM is the one. I have reviewed it and the video is uploaded but I have not released it yet. I also have reviewed the Hifiman EF-400. The FiiO K9 AKM is very, very good. Wait until the review in a week or so.
Thanks for this review - I wish these were around when I bought my Thieaudio Ghost headphones; which are about the same price.
The cups are real wood, I assume? Also, how is the adjustment sliders in terms of fitting large heads? The Thieaudio Ghost is *barely* large enough for me, and my Monolith M570 gets bent outward over time. Are the sliding bands pretty strong?
Real wood. I will try them again. I have a big too. I will let you know. Thx. BTW the MLTL 6 sounds awesome!
They will fit Andre the giant.
@@OldGuyHifi HA!
@@OldGuyHifi Thank you - I am looking forward to your review!
Man, oh man, I also listen to a lot of electronic music and I am interested in a list of what you are listening! Thank you!!!
So, I too understand these are good and Zeos too likes them. However I'm interested with whether or not there is any micro acoustic resonances when the cables move over a surface or say your arms rub them as a pair of cans whose sound I love and they are supremely comfortable, However, the cables when bumped or jostled add a harmonic that really spoils the audio. And that was the case with the cables included and the supposedly more expensive upgrade cable. And I like headphones not necessarily way more than speakers its about 55/45. And its also a consideration for others.
The cables are not microphonic at all. No worries. Thanks for asking. I will be sure to mention it in future headphone reviews.
Let me update that. There is a small amount of noise form the cable when you rub it or tap it. I am sorry. Your comment got me thinking so I double checked. It is not too bad compared to other headphones. Sorry for the miss-information.
What a great variety of products being reviewed! Keep up the great work!
True!!
Paper pulp, I like that but, there is a but, other reviewers say this has no dynamic. I don't know. I will buy one because is really cheap!
Grigore, There are dynamic. Did you see DMS's review? Thanks for commenting.
Nano wood? Is that wood harvested from Bonsai trees by mice with plaid shirts ?
These look very nice for the price. My feeling about headphones is that the law of diminishing returns kicks in earlier than it does for speakers. Also it's probably harder to get true all round good headphones than it is to get all round good speakers.
No nano-bots in High Viz vests. I agree about the diminishing returns on headphones especially. I was very please with these and they have displaced my Drop 6XXs as my daily drivers.
I've been considering these headphones, so I'm glad to hear your thoughts on them.
They are quickly becoming my daily driver. They have a fuller, richer sound than the Drop 6XX.
How do you maintain the wood? Or keep it clean? I never have a wood headphone before. I live in hot and humid country
I would not know how to maintain it. It appears to be coated with a sealant. American Walnut is a hardwood and very durable. I would imagine it will be fine. Thanks for watching.
@@OldGuyHifi thanks
I'm glad to see a headphone review. I work third shift, my wife works days, so on my days off i spend probably 60%of my listening on headphones. Nice review.
Jim, Seriously I really liked these. Very comfortable and very good sounding. Thanks.
Great review. An interesting piece of equipment. I recently got the Aune AR5000, and I think I've found my end game headphone that finally fits my elephantine ears and provides my needed gaming response. I don't use headphones for music, and I have traded on the FiiO R2R, which I didn't find adequate. Thank you so much again for your helpful and detailed review. Take care, Sir.
I am sorry about the K11. The Aune are nice phones. I hope all is well my friend and the storms have not affected you.
@OldGuyHifi Don't worry about the K11 R2R. Not every key fits every lock. I'm sure it will find a good home. Got through the storm, relatively unscathed. Thank you for your concern and consideration, Sir. Greatly appreciated.
Ar5000 is okay, imaging is meh! vocals and bass are excellent. I only wish if they had a lil bit more sparkle.
@urbanpunk9324 Thank you for your reply and perspective. I am currently enjoying my AR5000 gaming experience over my other headphones. EQ may be able to liven up your 'sparkle'.
Im deciding between these and the 560S. Are these on the level of 560S? Or is 560S still better?
It is hard to compare a closed back headphone to an open back pair. They sound so different. I own a pair of Drop 6XX and compared to the FT1 they are more open but don't have the same sort of bass response. It is a difficult comparison. Both are comfortable both sound nice overall. I hate to say but until you hear them you won't know. I wish I could be more help. Thx.
I've actually got the HD560S. I'm just debating on getting another set or these. My current one's I'm using are HD600, HD560S, PC38X, 400SE, X2HR, Tygr 300R. So i definitely do prefer open back but this particular set are being pretty hyped up in the audiophile community. Closed backs usually don't sound as good, so that's why I was thinking about getting this set, if they actually sound that good for a closed back. Probably safer to get what i already love. The only closed back i could stand was the K361 and SRH440. It's all good though, thanks for your reply. Have a nice day.@@OldGuyHifi
I actually purchased the FT1. The measurements look too good to pass up, an good close backs are hard to find...😏 Thanks for the great video!
Well done Ed. Good to know there are good products at decent prices.
does Fiio FT1 work well when plug into my laptop? does it require special audio player to perform best?! Thanks
I would not want to rely on my laptops headphone jack. It was never designed to sound good. It's fine for ear buds but... I would recommend an outboard USB DAC/Amp like the FiiO KA-3. It will provide a far superior listen experience and it is not that expensive. Details here: amzn.to/3NyL6iD The FT-1s are a very good headphone and will provide a great listening experience but not form a laptop jack. Let me know what you decide to do. Thx.
@@phenixwutao not really. If you want to make it guarantee you can get cheap apple usb c to 3.5mm dac like 7-9 dollars then you will be 100% ready
Yes they go easily but please get a Dave amp it makes things so much better fully wider and separated the way round is supposed to sound
Very cool. I'll have to try that headphone! 👍
I did become quite smitten with it. Let me know what you think. Thx.
Can anyone convince me to upgrade my Hifiman 400i (2020 version)? What don't they do as well as some other headphones that I would have to spend a little more (or less) on? And what make and model?
Good headphones will always be good. I you are happy with them, then enjoy. Thx.
@@sidesup8286 Did you purchased FT1 already and if so, how's that sound in music and games compared to HE400i ver 2020? I sold my HE400 I and wanted to know. Also Fiio just launched the FT1 Pro planar magnetic open back headphones.
Can you compare them to you hi fi man cans?
They are different. The Hifiman are Planar Magnetic and these are dynamic. The Hifiman are open back while the FiiOs are closed. They both sound great although the FiiOs will have a bit more bass. Thanks for asking.
Of course it's "currently unavailable" on Amazon.
Murphy's law. Remember, Murphy was an optimist. It seems to get me every once in a while. "The odds of a piece of bread landing butter side down are directly proportional to the cost of the carpet."
Hey everybody! Another great vid Ed!
So, I convinced a coworker to get a topping mx3s (desktop dac headphone and speaker amp for $200, if you’re not aware) and I gave him my little pair of jamo s801s and a pair of koss kph40s, all to make sure he falls completely down the cheap audio hole, ha! Today he brought in an older pair of $200ish Bose headphones that he thought would be an upgrade over the kph’s, when he realized that isn’t the case he asked for some headphone recommendations in the $150 area, hopefully he’ll pickup a pair of these FiiO’s and I’ll have a chance to check them out myself soon too 😊thanks again!
Thank you my friend.
Is the vocal and mids clear and clean? Does it sound muffle or veil?
Is it midbass focus compared to sub bass?
It is very balanced with a full sound and good detail. I prefer it to my Sennheiser Mass Drop 6XX. Thanks for asking and tuning in.
@@OldGuyHifi how is the sound stage? Is it bigger than hd6xx?
@@calvinyip364 Very different. Open back vs. closed back. Hard to compare. I do find myself listening to the FT-1s more often then the 6XX.
Ever since I bought a pair of Grados, over 25 years ago, I cannot go back to closed backs. Just my preference.
I do not like them. The "bass" is all over the place. The treble and detail is fine but the mids are too "in your face". The top part is too thin and not very comfortable for a bold guy like me. If you want a cheap pair of headphones that sound better than almost all headphones under 200 just get a pair of Roland RH-5. Just change the earpads to a pair of around the ear pads, improve the top a bit to make it more comfortable and you will have a pair of cheap headphones that sound like anything else. Try them. They cost a bit over 25 bucks but they sound like 500$ cans.
Abd with your mic they sound even worse. They look nice,
Thank you for your view and comment.
Just got myself one, just for shits and giggles 😄 I’m usually on Hifiman Hek stealth but thought I’m lacking some good closed backs. Was looking at the ZMF bokehs but after these reviews all getting in, for like 10th of the price for 80 percent of the performance? Yeah I try these first xD
Let me know what you think. Thx.