Fiio FT7 Measurements & Official Discussion

[Resolve]

This is the place to discuss all things to do with the Fiio FT7. Fiio were kind enough to send one to me for review.

Official Specs

General:

• Type: Open-back planar magnetic headphones.
• Weight: Approximately 427g (excluding cable).
• Frequency Response: 5Hz - 40kHz.
• Clamping Force: 4.2N ± 0.3N.

Driver:

• Driver Size: 106mm.
• Type: Proprietary planar driver.
• Impedance: 25Ω ±15%.
• Sensitivity: 94dB/mW @ 1kHz, 110dB/Vrms @ 1kHz.

Cable:

• Length: Approximately 3m.
• Headphone Cable Connector: Dual 3.5mm TS.
• Audio Plug: 4.4mm balanced.

Other:

• Includes adapters: 4.4mm to 4-pin XLR and 4.4mm to 6.35mm.

Fiio FT7 Frequency Response Measurements

HpTF Variation - Fabric Pads

HpTF Variation - Leather Pads

What is this? This indicates the headphone’s behavior variation across different heads and ears, providing a better indication of how they are likely to vary across human heads as well - absent other factors like leakage effects from glasses for example.

Why is this? We have a video on the channel explaining why this type of visualization is likely necessary for headphone measurements. This should ideally evolve the more heads and ears we can test these products on, but the older paradigm of showing a single line on a graph to indicate headphone performance is insufficient.

Fabric Pads Raw

B&K 5128

GRAS 43AG

Leather Pads Raw

B&K 5128

GRAS 43AG

Pad Comparison:

B&K 5128

GRAS

FT1 Pro Comparison:

B&K 5128

I wanted to show this as a point of comparison. The FT7’s sound signature with the fabric pads is similar to the FT1 Pro, just slightly better throughout the mids and treble, though with more upper air. The other improvement is that the FT7 doesn’t seem to be excursion limited in the bass the way the FT1 Pro is.

LESS IMPORTANT DATA BELOW

Impedance Curve

Harmonic Distortion

100dB

110dB

115dB

Notes

• Build - It’s a nice looking if a bit visually confused headphone. Materials feel very good and well-refined. Lots of carbon fibre everywhere, but the wood looks nice.
• Comfort - It’s a bit heavy, but nothing out of the ordinary for anyone used to planar magnetic headphones. It’s lighter than most double-sided magnet designs. Earpads are sadly round, not ovoid or ear shaped.
• Sound - Two sets of pads, each with a distinct sound profile. Both are within the realm of ‘reasonable’, however the leather pads have more coloration in the mids, giving it more ‘flare’. Both pads have excess upper treble, but it sounds more smooth with the fabric pads, and a bit disjointed with the leather pads.
• Subjective qualities - This one is more about sense of detail and tactility over spaciousness and timbre. Still reasonably cohesive and more natural sounding than many other planars, but still has that treble edginess and occasional metallic character.
• Other - Highly modal, undamped and loosely tensioned driver, leading to difficulties with channel matching and unit to unit variation. Expect reports to vary more substantially with designs like this.

Video Review

The FiiO FT7 sounds great, but...

[Fc-Construct]

Couple of observations on the package:

1. The 4.4 mm to 4-pin XLR is a pretty nice touch
2. The wood looks decent, but I don’t like the carbon fibre. It looks like a cheap wrap to try and make the headphone look more premium.
3. I tried this myself, I had zero issues with the weight or comfort. The click adjustment is okay. I like that it’s actually a click, but it isn’t the most intuitive when it’s on your head to adjust.
4. I didn’t realize there were two pads that came with it. Nice to see that they provide that, and that it’s easy to swap out.

In terms of sound, I found it a fairly neutral sounding set. The midrange sounds a little pulled back. No real issues with the treble, it’s pretty tame though there’s probably some minor peak somewhere. Bass isn’t shy, but it’s nothing special. Soundstage is a bit more on the intimate side. Resolution does come across as being clean, but it’s not a set that I’d say is noticeably resolving. Personally, it’s one of those headphones where I don’t really have too much to say about, good or bad.

These recent impressions lines up mostly with Resolve’s review. I did hear it at a shop so the environment wasn’t great to evaluate bass depth and quality. Looking at the graph, I can see where that minor treble peak comes in - for me, I found the FT7 less “bright” and more “neutral with a peak”. I’d prefer if it were the former. For the mids, that 1 - 2 kHz HiFiMan-type planar dip is likely where I’m hearing it to be pulled in the mids, despite the minor 1 kHz elevation.

Overall, my sentiment (which is highly subject to change with more listening) is similar to when I heard it at CanJam NYC. The FT7 is solid headphone, and one worth a mention, but it’s not one I can see myself saying to someone that “Yes, the FT7 is the headphone you should buy over all the other options at $700”. That’s a tough market to be in, and I told the reps at CanJam they should’ve put it at $500 as a more reasonable step-up to the FT1. I would take the Focal Hadenys at $700 as I find it a more enjoyable headphone.

[Resolve]

Was it with the leather pads that you heard it?

[Fc-Construct]

I think so. I didn’t think too much of the pads, but the fabric pads of the FT7 look pretty unique so I would’ve noticed it if I used them.