Short answer: the FiiO FT1 Pro. It ranks #36 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $219.99; the FiiO FT3 ranks #47, rated 4.1/5, at $219.99. With prices this close, go by the sound-quality ranking rather than the cost.
Why pick the FiiO FT1 Pro: Planar magnetic drivers with a 20 ohm impedance and 95 dB per milliwatt sensitivity make it easy to drive from a dongle or phone while delivering a preference score of 86. The tradeoff: A 10 dB dip near 9.6 kHz and treble about 1 dB low soften cymbals and the upper edge of vocals, while a 3.5 dB peak near 2.9 kHz can add some forwardness.
The case for the FiiO FT3: The FT3 scores 85 for preference in the median of five hobbyist measurements on squig.link, with a 1.71 dB deviation from target and a warm tilt. The catch: At 350 ohms it needs a dedicated headphone amplifier to reach full volume and control.
Buy the FiiO FT1 Pro. It is rated higher for sound quality than the FiiO FT3 at the same price, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| FiiO FT1 Pro | FiiO FT3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219.99 | $219.99 |
| Ranked | #36 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #47 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 86 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 84 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.16 dB standard deviation | 1.71 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.47 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 95x86mm planar magnetic | 1 x 60mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 20 ohms | 350 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 95 dB/mW | 105 dB/Vrms |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (374 g) | 0.9 lbs (391 g) |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 7Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
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More worthwhile head-to-heads for FiiO FT1 Pro:
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- FiiO FT3 vs AKG K612 Pro
- FiiO FT3 vs Sivga Oriole
- FiiO FT3 vs Sennheiser HD 25 Plus
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
FiiO FT1 Pro: $219.99 Amazon AliExpress eBay
Pros: Planar magnetic drivers with a 20 ohm impedance and 95 dB per milliwatt sensitivity make it easy to drive from a dongle or phone while delivering a preference score of 86. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz is essentially on target and sub-bass is only about 2.5 dB light, giving clean, controlled low end. Its rating matches the Audio-Technica ATH-M70x and Beyerdynamic TYGR 300 R, with a lower price than the M70x.
Cons: A 10 dB dip near 9.6 kHz and treble about 1 dB low soften cymbals and the upper edge of vocals, while a 3.5 dB peak near 2.9 kHz can add some forwardness. Low mids run about 1.6 dB above target, which adds a touch of thickness. At 374 g it is fairly heavy, and the open back leaks sound.
Full FiiO FT1 Pro review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2024 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.16 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 95x86mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 86 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 20 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 95 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (374 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +4.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 162 Hz | -1.5 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 1,818 Hz | +4.7 dB | 2.03 |
| Peak | 2,815 Hz | -3.9 dB | 3.58 |
| Peak | 9,183 Hz | +1.7 dB | 2.62 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,731 Hz | -2.5 dB | 5.92 |
| Peak | 35 Hz | -0.6 dB | 2.36 |
| Peak | 100 Hz | +0.3 dB | 1.53 |
| Peak | 3,839 Hz | +1.7 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
FiiO FT3: $219.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: The FT3 scores 85 for preference in the median of five hobbyist measurements on squig.link, with a 1.71 dB deviation from target and a warm tilt. Bass runs about 1.4 dB above target and holds within 2 dB at 30 Hz, so the low end has real body for an open dynamic headphone. Its 60 mm driver suits listeners who like a warm or bassy tuning.
Cons: At 350 ohms it needs a dedicated headphone amplifier to reach full volume and control. A 5 dB dip near 6.3 kHz followed by a 6.5 dB peak near 10.7 kHz makes the treble uneven, so some cymbals sound recessed while others stand out. The open back leaks sound and offers no isolation. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full FiiO FT3 review and specifications →
| Released | 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.71 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 60mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 84 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 350 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB/Vrms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.47 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (391 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons