SETTING THE STANDARD for Audiophile & Gaming Headphone - Fiio FT1

[@par-delà_le_voile]

This release could not have been better, recently both my Philips Fidelio X2 and Beyerdynamic DT770 gave up on life. I like that you touched on positional audio for gaming that point never gets mentioned enough 👍

[@ryanhostudio]

@@par-delà_le_voile yeah it’s a really good headphone for competitive games! Been playing a lot of marvel rivals

[@niasboiii]

how soes it xompare to X2 and DT770?

[@par-delà_le_voile]

@@niasboiii I should arrive in 1-2 weeks I'll try and tell you then.

[@Pizfrog528]

This one is a steal. With a good dac this HF is truly amazing! Like, insane! FT1 is the new standard for closedback HF!

[@ryanhostudio]

@@Pizfrog528 i think so too

[@davidbarbour5153]

I gave up after the 5th "insane"

[@kamikaze5537]

yeah i don't know, I have the FT1 on my head right now and think they're a tremendous value but to outright say its the best bass of any headphone? no. Its an odd thing to say considering he has an HE6SE, which I also have and there is absolutely no chance in hell the FT1 matches the HE6se in bass quality

[@ryanhostudio]

sorry i recorded late and night and definitely could of articulated it better

[@ryanhostudio]

​@@kamikaze5537 he6se has flat bass and subbass itself isnt particularly strong, with EQ it sounds much better. The FT1 requires no EQ and sounds really good and has better "dynamics" "physicality" whatever words you want to use to describe it. He6se is still really good for its price, I personally already upgraded to abyss diana mr which is an upgrade across the board in bass quality compared to he6se but its way more expensive too

[@dustydynasty802]

Amazing video! I’d love to see a comparison with the 620s and the Azurys

[@Bootrosgali]

Do these have better soundstage than Maxwells? And you will have to try Stax Spirit S5

[@samuelPxd]

This headphone deserves all the hype! My FT1 arrived yesterday and I can't believe how good they are.

[@ryanhostudio]

@@samuelPxd congrats yeah they are amazing

[@RagulCJ]

Which one did you use previously?

[@wicked_cool7]

I love your reviews. Great job.

[@ryanhostudio]

@@wicked_cool7 thank you for the words of encouragement much appreciated

[@MrTjdizzle]

I like the Maxwell's for watching movies and games, but I find the weight to be uncomfortable. How would the ft1 compare in terms of immersion and clarity?

[@ryanhostudio]

@@MrTjdizzle maybe i should do a video review when i have time but i find the imaging and immersive aspect to be really good. The clarity i would say overall maxwell emphasized upper midrange more for vocals while ft1 sound better in mid and upper treble

[@Error_4x5]

Finallly, someone released a modern version of the Denon D5000

[@ryanhostudio]

i dont even think the denon d5000 was ever this cheap at $150

[@Error_4x5]

​@@ryanhostudio Your right. I payed $330 for mine used and another $30 for new ear pads.

[@MARYOLIONHEART]

I received finaly 3 weeks ago my first ever DAP, the DX180 🙂 , i am so happy and just love this player 🙂,and paired with these new FT1 headphones (love so much these headphones), to listen at my player.

[@ryanhostudio]

yeah they really are great!

[@asifdomo500]

compare to audeze maxwell, just purely for sound and gaming which is arguably better and why? (not considering the microphone)

[@tonediary83]

Someone pls answer this

[@ryanhostudio]

honestly most people probably would like the the ft1 pro, its half the price, better directional accuracy for competitive games, its lighter for longer listening/gaming sessions, and it has a more fun bass profile that people will enjoy

[@ryanhostudio]

answered

[@FabioGrenkh]

I have both, and I‘m telling you for some reason I can’t compare these. They sound completely different to me

[@tonediary83]

@@FabioGrenkh Which one seems to sound better though?

[@beamboy420]

How is it using it with iPhones and the Apple cable.

[@ryanhostudio]

@@beamboy420 it works. it i’ve been using the new fiio ka15 dongle it’s better

[@max10hoop]

I'm stuck between these and the HD 620s from Sennheiser

[@ryanhostudio]

both pretty decent options i demo’s the hd620s at canjam. But the fiio ft1 is like less than half the price at $150 vs $350

[@Musicophile-p5l]

I remember there's a Denon headphone always wanted to get because of the wooden shells but tht was pretty expensive. This one looks beautiful, almost unbelievably good for $150.

[@ryanhostudio]

i heard denon headphoens in japan, when I look at FR Graphs I thought the denon d5200 looked really good, in reality after listening to them I like the denon d7200 better than d5200 or d9200. The denon d7200 is $1000 this is $150 sooo yeah lol

[@exl13]

​@@ryanhostudio and I liked the 5000 more than 5200 and 7200. old model, but with a very soulful sound

[@gertost]

I guess they are good for movies/ tv series? 😊

[@VVARDEYN]

Yeah recently I got the Denon AH-D5200 but I'll be returning them exactly because of these - they're just A LOT more comfortable, sound a lot better and would save me a few hundred dollars... insane

[@Musicophile-p5l]

@@ryanhostudioAt this price no competition at all lol

[@Labeilibfoflne]

Thanks a lot ! If you had to chose only one : Ft1 or FT1 pro ??

[@ryanhostudio]

@@Labeilibfoflne depends on if you like more bass ft1, the ft1 pro is a better headphone

[@greccoox]

You sold me for real haha

[@ryanhostudio]

haha it’s a really nice headphone

[@JTB--]

I've had the FT1 a few weeks now. Actually hard to get a hold of on Amazon. These at $150 are a true Giant killer

[@calvinyip364]

You got walnut version or beech?

[@JTB--]

@@calvinyip364 Mine are Walnut. I ordered them the minute they had a pre-order available on Amazon. Took a few weeks for them to ship. 4.4 balanced extra cable is the cherry on top. Amazing value headphones

[@JTB--]

@@calvinyip364 Walnut

[@ryanhostudio]

@@calvinyip364 hope your happy calvin! I saw you wanted video out so got to it asap lol

[@professor55]

But, is it insane or ridiculous? Kidding. Great video. Thanks!!

[@ryanhostudio]

@@professor55 i really shouldn’t start recording videos at 1am my vocabulary and explanation suffers ~.~ but wanted to get video out lol

[@wahidtafsir33]

Ft5 or FT1 for casual Single player games? also hows FT3 for same purpose

[@ryanhostudio]

I'd probably go for FT1 simply because it has the most fun sound and bass while not being as bright as FT3. I would choose Ft3 next than FT5 last because its tuning isnt as versatile

[@wahidtafsir33]

​@@ryanhostudiothanks , I need something with great soundstage and bass but already have iem so don't want another closed back . Is the FT1 better than Maxwell for immersive games?

[@ryanhostudio]

i think so

[@nonchalantd]

How well does it isolate noise?

[@ethanw041]

That’s the big question 👆

[@weien9196]

Have you tried the hd620s? I'd like to know how they compare in sound

[@ryanhostudio]

@@weien9196 the hd620s probably has the best sub bass/bass of any sennheiser headphone to date, its bass detail/dynamics still isn’t same level as ft1. I think it might have slightly more upper midrange presence than the ft1. I think the hd620s is decently compared but it is priced at $350 while this one is $150 lol

[@vittoriojedi]

How good are they for gaming? I have the H6pro but I want something new

[@samuelPxd]

I've had the H6Pro Open and sold to get the FiiO, and the FT1 is WAY BETTER (!) in gaming and specially with music.

[@100500daniel]

@@samuelPxd I hope you're right, can't wait for mine to arrive

[@opff7599]

How is the fiio? It is good for competitive gaming?

[@ryanhostudio]

it’s really good for competitive games

[@opff7599]

@@ryanhostudio thank you

[@SofaKingA]

Hmm, I'm concerned about the build quality at the hinge. I just got the Fidelio X2HR for gaming and it seems fine. If there is something that blows it out of the water, I'm all ears.

[@ryanhostudio]

@@SofaKingA x2hr is a really nice and fun headphone especially for an open back it has good bass. the ft1 has deeper sub bass for sure

[@sunwukong8069]

I will buy this as my first true headphone, I owned Airpod Pro Max and airpod pro 2 still feel not satisfy with the music quality, can you recommend what is the DAC that can pair with this? I aim for the FiiO K11 R2R , what do you think?

[@ryanhostudio]

i haven’t tried the fiio k11 r2r but i heard good things about it too!

[@papagalnebun]

Just ordered the FT1s and K11 R2R - any idea if you're going to test the R2R anytime soon?

[@rajeebdas1724]

Hello Ryan. If you'd have to recommend another complimentary headphone to go with the Ft1 , preferably open back with a neutral tuning, which one would you recommend??? I want to possess two great headphones with different tunings, good at different things. I was wondering about the FT1 and the Edition XS

[@ryanhostudio]

hi i reviewed the ft1 pro the open back version that’s a good option

[@mattstolzman]

Which is more comfortable JD1 or FT1?

[@ryanhostudio]

@@mattstolzman i assume you mean jt1 but yeah it’s lighter so more comfortable

[@mattstolzman]

@@ryanhostudio yeah Jade Audio Fiio JT1

[@jujuliolezesuiglaz1780]

currently own a hifiman he400 SE, I really like the soundstage and details, first planar i bought. Really enjoy it overall but I wouldn't mind some more hefty bass when listening to music. would you recommend these headphones for this purpose? I think I would still prefer open headphones for gaming due to the soundstage

[@ryanhostudio]

@@jujuliolezesuiglaz1780 definitely recommend ft1 if you want more bass it definitely delivers. The open back alternative would be epos h6 pros open they also have good bass and imaging

[@samuelPxd]

I have de HE400se and for my taste i think that i enjoy more the FT1 for music. The HE400se is not that good for gaming (competitive FPS) and in imo the FiiO is better. And i also have the SHP9500 that is excellent for gaming, but maybe the FT1 comes closer in this aspect.

[@jujuliolezesuiglaz1780]

@@samuelPxd The soundstage is narrower and I'm not sure if the imaging is better to make up for it. Depending on the source the sound can sometimes come far to the side and from behind with the he 400 se that I actually turn my head around on instinct ^^^this has yet to happen for the FT1. The bass is obviously better, I think the wooden cups add to the decay of sounds, not sure how much reverb is induced though (well it's always on on "gaming" has you can add positional cue with some reverb) might be a close call for some games; i ll have to try with better sound engines like pubg to make up my mind. I have an amp which scales better for the he 4000 se (needs more pwr at least) and a dc7 creative dac

[@rickgear2579]

I have the Sennheiser HD490 Pro and I am wondering if I should switch to this for gaming. I am also interested in the AUNE5000 which has been getting good reviews.

[@Tai-y1d]

aunear500 is better for music than the 490

[@Tai-y1d]

aunear500 is better for music than the 490

[@ryanhostudio]

i heard hd490 pro is good for gaming, they are different though the FT1 is much more bassy and a closed back headphone

[@Hijynx87]

490 is probably better for gaming. AR5000 is a good allrounder and ft1 is the most musical.

[@ryanhostudio]

@@Hijynx87 haven’t heard the aune5000 but my educated guess is the same the hd490 pro is likely the better gaming headphone

[@WiWsouljar]

Better than the dt770pro 250 Ohm ?

[@marka6395]

Actually, yes. And that's WITHOUT thinking about the price difference.

[@ryanhostudio]

i like the FT1 better mostly because the treble of dt 770 pro is too much for me but also the subbass and bass response also better on FT1

[@Hijynx87]

​@@marka6395Arent they about the same price?

[@Hijynx87]

Maxwell has wireless going for it, but imo it sounds too thin out of the box.

[@ryanhostudio]

@@Hijynx87 i think it just doesn’t have the “physicality” or as much dynamic component that other headphones have

[@classiccj2569]

How do the FT1's compare to the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro X's?

[@ryanhostudio]

@@classiccj2569 i would choose ft1 over dt 770 pro x in every scenario unless you want to throw your headphones against a wall, than yes the dt 770 are built like a tank

[@classiccj2569]

@@ryanhostudio I use my headphones for watching youtube, playing video games, and listening to music. So the FT1's are just better in all categories than the 770's? And thanks for the super fast and hilarious response haha

[@ryanhostudio]

yes the imaging is better, treble is less fatiguing, overall just a more balanced sounding headphone than the dt 770 pro x. I still don't understand to this day how the dt 770 pro x is considered a "studio" headphone

[@FusionMusic]

lol is it ridiculous that I currently own Lawton TH900, and I just watched your video on TH808, now I'm watching FT1. It's like completely opposite price brackets LOL. Maybe I just want to try something new for fun, any recommendation between the 2? LOL yes very odd choices considering the price gap and opposite of spectrum......

[@ryanhostudio]

i mean the ft1 is a safe choice for your wallet haha...I think the imaging performance of the ft1 and its subbass will be quite impressive

[@FusionMusic]

@@ryanhostudio lol sounds good. I also already have the K11 R2R, so maybe I'll go with FT1 first, thanks!

[@cosmoshfa88savant66]

Subbed!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ryanhostudio]

@@cosmoshfa88savant66 thankssss

[@Morsella]

Fiio FT1 or Sony MDR-M1 better??

[@ryanhostudio]

@@Morsella i tried sony mdr-m1 at canjam it’s a pretty nice headphone. I feel like they both are good options and similar but the fiio is like a lot cheaper $100 cheaper with its accessories too

[@RagulCJ]

I finalised my decision to buy H6pro for EUR 90 or cloud 3 wireless. I read lot of positive reviews about JT1 and it looks really classy. Should I go with FT1? Which one will you recommend?

[@ryanhostudio]

i would go for ft1

[@fiddlix]

FiiO has really been stepping up there game lately. You should check out what Paul Wasabi has to say about the FiiO FD15 IEM set. I have the FD15 coming Thursday on the Amazon truck. It is a single DD 13.8mm driver that has a unique very agreeable tuning. I have been extremely happy with my FiiO Q15. Great review Ryan.

[@ryanhostudio]

@@fiddlix i should also have a FD15 coming as well! I have a KA15 right now will need to drop review as well it’s really nice

[@informedchoice2249]

Thanks Ryan :)

[@opff7599]

Any low budget DAC for FT1?

[@Bootrosgali]

Maxwell gets major kudos for DSP magic soundstage.. And also, could you say that the FT1 width goes at least outside the head a little bit?... a little would go a long way..thanks.

[@ryanhostudio]

@@Bootrosgali a little bit i mean it’s literally a wooden cup blocking sound in closed back where open back headphone sounds extends beyond physical cup. But you cups are decently big so gives you a little bit of width

[@Bootrosgali]

​@ryanhostudio yes about closed back staging problems, but as I mentioned Maxwell being as well as being a closed back manages great staging apparently. Suppose FT1 has no DSP trickery.. anyway Maxwell diesnt seem practical portable

[@Bootrosgali]

Hi Ryan, i also have the 840a as well and put them aside when i got FT1 !,,, ha yeah, but i cant wear FT1 at the moment cos inhave ti wait for the screwdirver that fixes the loos screw problem to be sent to me , so Ive swapped the FT1 pads onto the Shures,, not bad, try it out if you havent yet@ryanhostudio

[@Nephilim-81]

Hey Ryan. Great video as always. My question to you is would you find the FT1 tuning a nice complement to owners of the FT5 ? Meaning do you think the FT1 and FT5 strike a reasonable amount of difference from one another? Cheers man.

[@Hijynx87]

I have the ft3 and jt1 and I'd say yes. Plus it's a closed back! Rare to find a good out of box sounding closed back.

[@ryanhostudio]

reading this question in the future where the ft1 pro is released lol. I think the FT1 is very different than FT5 and its a much different experience and definitely recommend it. The imaging on this headphone is insane

[@DJ_PROMO_PR]

Just bought the new Beech version. It's already on the way! 👍

[@ryanhostudio]

@@DJ_PROMO_PR congrats!

[@liamporter1137]

Great review. Thanks for sharing.

[@ryanhostudio]

@@liamporter1137 you welcome!

[@Kruentu]

It's good for gaming too? You can tell where enemies are coming from?

[@ryanhostudio]

@@Kruentu yeah im ascendant in valorant and it’s really good

[@Kruentu]

@@ryanhostudio awesome man ty

[@ZakKnz]

Which is better? Fiio FT1 DT770 SUNDARA Closed Search for movie headphones, details, and soundstage

[@ryanhostudio]

ft1 easily. I find dt 770 to shrill and sundara bass isn’t anything close to ft1

[@WilsonianGarveyite]

What would you guys choose for hip-hop and sim racing: FT1 new or a used 660S for $140?

[@ryanhostudio]

@@WilsonianGarveyite probably ft1 if you really wanna enjoy music and gaming. the 660s has rolled off sub bass which the 660s2 improved, but even than it’s not boosted bass like ft1

[@NoloMontana]

Fiio ft1 Wallhack warzone??

[@ryanhostudio]

havent played warzone in a while its wallhack for valorant doe

[@kentxx12]

This is 250 Dollars in Norway in late 2024 !

[@ryanhostudio]

thats alot more expensive than it is from aliexpress :[

[@Hijynx87]

Fiio is killing the headphone game....ft5 is a bit polarizing though, but eq exists for planars.

[@ryanhostudio]

i mean the ft5 is more in line with older audeze planar headphone tuning and those were popular with like the LCD-2

[@Hijynx87]

@@ryanhostudio audeze headphones greatly benefit from eq as well.

[@danm203]

Sound wise, they are very good headphones. That being said, FiiO is going to have a PR nightmare on their hands when those very weak little screws holding them together start falling apart on everyone. If I were looking to buy these, I would seriously hold off until FiiO makes the changes needed for their product to stay held together. Mine fell apart after six uses, and I babied them. Mark my words, PR nightmare incoming. It's only a matter of time until these all start falling apart. You've been warned.

[@ryanhostudio]

@@danm203 thank you for sharing

[@calvinyip364]

Nice

[@ryanhostudio]

i see your comments and i deliver :D

[@calvinyip364]

@@ryanhostudio how is the soundstage and imaging?

[@ryanhostudio]

@@calvinyip364 i explained in video but imaging was very good i played a lot of valorant and soundstage is tall but not as wide as open back headphone as expected because it’s a closed back

[@beflabbergasted325]

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.

[@Image-X]

What headphones do you own?

[@beflabbergasted325]

@@Image-X I pre bought the Fiio`s because everyone was making good reviews abut them and they did look good on the pictures and videos. I should have known better. What do I have? I have a pair of old Stax SR-Lambda headphones, I have the Roland RH-5, I have a pair of Master & Dynamic MW65 headphones. I had a pair of the Sony MDR-R10 for quite a few years when my life was going ok and I heard the Sennheiser HE-1 more than once and for more than a few minutes. Also had some B&o,s some Focal, some Audio Technica,s some Koss, some Beyerdynamics, etc, etc. So what is your point? The comment I made was not a "review" per se on the headphones it was a honest opinion on how disappointed I was after I got the headphones myself. They cost me more than I can afford at the moment and they were not what I expected, at all. Also, why go to the trouble of making a wood set of cans with so many holes around them? With an additional port at the top. Really strange approach. The loudspeaker drivers themselves actually look very cool but over all, it was not what I expected for 160 or 170 euros or whatever they did cost me. Can`t remember. I am old. It happens. So. Again. What is your point? Do you think I do not know what a pair of good headphones are supposed to sound like? Although audio quality is very subjective. For me, a good sounding pair of cans ain`t these ones. Oh. and I have a pair of headphones which I never heard. They were given to me second hand and I like to look at them because they have a VU meter on each side. They are called the OV-1 s but I never got around to listen to them because I tend to stay away from wireless cans. Maybe they will positively impress me, maybe not. I rather not know. Because if they do not sound good, I wont have the same "admiration" for the cans. This way, I can look at them every day as they stand over one of those Mexican calaveras and it just looks cool.

[@Image-X]

@@beflabbergasted325 What are you driving the headphones with? The vent on the FT1 is necessary for tuning. Cover it up and see what happens. Unless you are running the FT1 with a respectable source…. you aren’t hearing what they are capable of. Did you even burn them in yet?

[@beflabbergasted325]

@@Image-X They are been driven by a Vincent hybrid amp that is connected by a fairly good DAC. And, yes, I did let them play for many hours. And I was not talking about that small vent alone. Around the speaker itself they have a series of what looks like fairly large "vents" covered by some form of porous thin material. Btw, I did try them with a Miltra OTL-8XT tube headphone amp and another Vincent full transistor amp with very similar results. You can not imagine how much I wanted them to sound good to me. They just didn`t. I believe I let them play on their own on a stand for a couple of days. So I am going to give you the benefit of a doubt and let them play for another couple of days before trying them out again. But, so far, I am very displeased with the purchase. I listen to a lot of Jazz (mostly smooth Jazz), Chill out, Soul music and a lot of TV to avoid bothering the adjacent room at night and I never listen to them very loud. I listen to them to about the same volume the Dynaudio speakers run when I am listening to music without headphones. I have to increase the volume of the amp to a bit over 1/4 when I am listening to the headphones but, that is it.

[@Image-X]

@ If you are listening to them at low volume/power…. how do you expect the giant 60mm driver to perform well? Turn them up! My pair will be here in three days and will be powered from a Fiio M17. I fully expect good sound and I currently own Sennheiser HD660S, Sennheiser HD6XX, Fostex TH-00, Focal Elegia, ATH M50, ATHM40.