The FT5 was launched in late 2023 and was FiiO’s first planar magnetic headphone. It is still the most expensive offering in the FiiO lineup, until the teased FT7 arrives, at least.
The FT1 PRO is FiiO’s second planar magnetic headphone. It’s very similar in looks to the FT1 closed back dynamic headphones, which I have reviewed here, but of course very different being an open back with a completely different driver.
ABOUT FiiO
FiiO has been in the audio industry since 2007, initially focusing on portable DACs and amplifiers. Over time, the company has become a major name in the IEM market. In recent years, FiiO has made a strong push into the desktop audio segment, offering both electronics and full-size headphones.
FiiO entered the world of over-ear headphones as recently as in the spring of 2023 with the release of the 300-ohm dynamic driver FT3 ($299). Since then, they’ve expanded their headphone lineup with several models: The open-back planar magnetic FT5 ($449), a 32-ohm version of the FT3, the budget-friendly open-back JT1 ($69), and importantly FiiO’s first wooden closed-back headphone, the FT1 ($149) – which has been extremely well received. The $199 FT1 PRO is the most recent headphone from FiiO to this date.
FIIO FT1 PRO SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver: Planar magnetic
- Impedance: 20 ohms
- Sensitivity: 95 dB/mW @1kHz
- Weight: 375 grams
- Detachable cable with 3.5mm connectors on headphones
- One pair of hybrid pads included
Check current price and availability:
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FiiO FT5 SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver: planar magnetic
- Impedance: 36 ohms
- Sensitivity: 96dB/mW (@1kHz)
- Weight: 456 grams
- Detachable cables with 3.5mm connectors on headphones
- Both velour and protein leather pads included
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BUILD AND TECHNICALITIES
The FT5 has excellent build quality, with a predominantly metal construction and a very comfortable headband strap. However, the pads use a proprietary fastening mechanism, which can be circumvented with double-sided gel tape if needed. The FT5 vibeswith two types of pads—velour and protein leather—offering distinct options for comfort and sound tuning.
While the FT5 is a completely original design, the FT1 PRO reuses several components from the FT1, including the headband, yokes, pads, and housing shape. These components are of high quality, featuring extensive use of metal, including the grills. Like all FiiO headphones, both models employ detachable cables with standard 3.5mm connectors on the headphone end.
The key practical differences between the two models are the FT5’s more comfortable headband and its included dual sets of pads, while the FT1 PRO features a lighter build and more universal pad fastening mechanism.
LISTENING COMPARISONS
The FT1 PRO isn’t a perfect match for all amplifiers, and I found my usual Topping A90 to occasionally make it sound slightly shouty. It is just a very small tendency, and most amps didn’t do this, though. Anyway, I primarily used the Rebel Amp and the Monolith THX 887 AAA amps for this comparison, with the RME ADI-2 DAC FS as a source.
The FT5 ships with the velour pads, but for this comparison I used it with the protein leather pads. They are more neutral sounding than the warmer sounding velour pads. The protein leather pads are slightly closer to the FT1 PRO’s sound signature.
Work Song For A Scattered Past by Fire!
This groovy jazz trio track has an interesting, semi-distorted, repetitive bass, a raw saxophone, and percussion that does a great job building up to the final crescendo, which basically is what this track is all about.
The FT5 is fatter sounding—warm and lush with a nice tonality and great timbre. The soundstage is not the largest, but imaging is good, with nice image depth.
The FT1 PRO has a more open-sounding soundstage. Imaging is as good as or better than the FT5. When it comes to timbre and tonality, the FT1 PRO is tighter, crisper, and brighter—but in a neutral way. The FT5 is warmer, smoother and more laid back.
Tide of Trepidation by EST
Another great jazz trio track. The FT1 PRO is again crisper and brighter, the FT5 more mellow and toned down. Some might find the FT5 too laid back; some might find the FT1 PRO too crisp. They both sound good but are distinctively different.
Like Suicide by Soundgarden
The bass in the intro is very tight with the FT1 PRO, the guitars are crisp, and the vocals are a bit dry but full of texture. The FT5 has a much warmer tonality, but it also has a great bass in the intro, and the drums are fantastic.
Never Enough by Loren Allred
This is a track that usually sounds crappy with headphones that aren’t inherently warm-leaning. It sounds unusually good with the FT5. The FT1 PRO is too bright and crisp to cover up for the lousy mastering on this track.
Limit to Your Love by James Blake
The FT1 PRO is snappy, clear, and airy, a bit crisp, and has high-quality bass, reaching deep with very little distortion on this demanding track. The FT5 also has a fantastic bass, and is generally warmer and smoother sounding.
Daddy Lessons by Beyonce
The FT1 PRO has impressive bass control; there’s good separation of instruments. Again, the tonalitiy is somewhat bright and dry compared to the FT5, which feels much more lush and laid back.
Liszt: Piano Recital – Die Zelle in Nonnenwerth, S.534 No.3 by Leif Ove Andsnes
This is a classical solo piano piece. The FT5 sounds good, but quite dark and lush in comparison to the much clearer and more open-sounding FT1 PRO. I do not know what the grand piano used in the recording sounds like in real life, but I certainly prefer the FT1 PRO here.
Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
I really like the way in which the FT5 renders this piece. It is somewhat dark and lush, yet it still manages to keep a high level of intensity and dynamics. The FT1 PRO is also good, significantly crisper and more open-sounding. In terms of technical performance (detail level etc), they are pretty much the same.
Britten – Variations On A Theme by Frank Bridge by The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra
Also here, I tend to prefer the FT5; even though it is a more colored headphone, I just like the lush way it presents this music.
Desert Island Disk by Radiohead
With the FT5, the Thom Yorke’s vocals are more upfront, the lower tones of the guitar is elevated, and everything is generally fuller sounding in a very nice way. The FT1 PRO is very neutral and less coloured, also doing a great job.
As Before by Olga Konkova
On this track, a jazz trio with female vocals, the FT5 also brings the vocals more to the front than the FT1 does, and I find the presentation generally more musical—although the FT1 PRO is much more neutral and also sounds great.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
These two headphones have highly different sound signatures. The FT1 PRO is a very neutral-sounding headphone. In direct comparison, it is significantly crisper and brighter than the much more laid-back and lush-sounding FT5, which has a fuller sounding upper bass and lower midrange. However, although full and warm sounding, the FT5 doesn’t have a recessed treble. I might add that the velour pads make the FT5 sound even lusher than the protein leather pads used in this comparison.
Treble
The treble performance is relatively similar in terms of presence, tonality, and overall quality. However, the FT5 occasionally comes across as slightly more laid back.
Midrange
The midrange is where the FT5 and the FT1 PRO differ the most. The FT5 features a dip in the upper midrange, while its lower midrange is elevated above neutral, creating a warm and lush character. The FT1 PRO has a quite flat, neutral tonality, resulting in a relatively crisper and generally more energetic sound. However, it’s not entirely straightforward which headphone has the most energy in the midrange. Vocals, both male and female, can often sound more pronounced on the FT5.
When it comes to midrange detail and clarity, the FT1 is more explicitly revealing with a drier, more textured sound, while the FT5 sounds smoother and delivers detail in a different way.
Bass
Both the FT5 and the FT1 PRO have great bass quality, and the quantity is relatively similar in the lower regions but the FT5 sounds fuller because of its elevated upset bass and lower midrange.
Soundstage and Imaging
The soundstage is significantly more open with the FT1 PRO and more intimate with the FT5. Imaging is comparable – good on both but not spectacular.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
When it comes to the general amount of detail these headphones reveal, they are surprisingly similar. However, what distinguishes them is the way they render detail rather than how much they have of it. The FT5 is smoother and more delicate; the FT1 is rawer sounding and has more bite and attack.
Dynamics are similar in absolute terms, but which one is perceived as more dynamic varies from track to track.
Where they differ significantly is with regard to timbre and tonality. As mentioned more than once before, the FT5 has a much warmer sound; the FT1 PRO is quite neutral and somewhat bright-leaning. I often find the FT5 to be more seducing and easier to listen to, while the FT1 feels sharper cut.
CONCLUSION
The primary distinction between these two headphones lies in their tuning. Both models deliver comparable levels of detail, dynamics, and overall sound technicalities. Design-wise, while both boast solid build quality, the FT5 stands out with a more premium feel and an exceptionally comfortable headband.
For those seeking FiiO’s most neutral sound signature, the FT1 PRO is the clear choice. However, if you favor a more colorful presentation with added warmth and lushness, the FT5 might suit you better.
The price difference is significant, with the FT1 PRO offering better overall value. That said, I personally often gravitate toward the FT5. I appreciate headphones with personality and character. However, warm and lush sound is not everybody’s cup of tea, and the neutral sounding FT1 PRO might be a safer bet for most listeners.
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