The FiiO FT1 Pro is a perfect entry-level planar magnetic headphone

One of the things I love about audiophile headphones – other than the potential for jaw-dropping listening experiences – is the, at times, relatively low price for entry. For $200 you can get headphones that will radically alter your music listening experience, if you're used to the V-shape sound profile that dominates commercial headphones. In recent years, no one has embodied this more than the Chinese audio brand FiiO.

Having released the FT1, a closed-back bass monster, in August 2024 for $160, FiiO followed up with the FT1 Pro for $200 in November of that year. Both are examples of good sound quality and decent build at a low price. They're shoe-ins to my list of the best budget audiophile headphones, and after the 7 weeks of using them, I think the FT1 Pro could be an ideal first pair of audiophile headphones for people thinking about getting into the hobby, or a good neutral addition to a collection.

Sound profile

Overall, the FiiO FT1 Pro offers a slight warm/neutral sound. I can use them all day without the treble getting to me – though if you are treble-sensitive, that might not be the case for you. They can be unforgiving with a shonky mix (unlike some laid back profiles that will not highlight unwanted sounds or an overly bright mix).

The bass is good, but not in the overwhelming, boomy way that many commercial headphones are. When comparing the FT1 Pro to the stock sound of the commercial Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, the FT1 Pro's bass sounds compact and fast. It starts and stops naturally (as it would in real life), not drowning out all instruments around it, with one bloated note bleeding into the next, as with the XM6. The bass of the FT1 Pro is textured, it's not an indeterminant blob of mass muddying up the place. You can enjoy the bass in tracks as much as other instruments, and that's just not the case with many headphones. For those of you who are only aware of commercial options, the bass on these headphones will be an eye opener.

The mids are brought forward a bit while still remaining neutral and, thanks to the assured bass and balanced treble, there's plenty of detail to be gleaned here. Saying that, higher voices lack a little attack when compared to my current favourite neutral headphone, the HEDDphone D1… but then the HEDD D1 costs three times the price of the FT1 Pro.

The treble is tastefully balanced, but after hours of using them, I did notice some songs coming across a little brighter than others. Not to the point where I have to stop using them, but if there's a brightly mixed song - such as Michael Jackson's Billy Jean - these headphones won't hide it. And some people might find that annoying, or in the worse case fatiguing.

When a recording brings some warmth, as with Total Blue’s fretless bass-led Corsair, the FT1 Pro represents it well, still highlighting the higher peaks, but offering a fast bass and detailed mids. And when everything slots into place, as on Mark William Lewis’s Tomorrow is Perfect, the result can be remarkable. But with some EDM drum machines and colder productions, they are pretty unforgiving.

Separation and imaging is good, but not as good as some others at this price range. The HiFiman Sundara are the other sub-$200 planar magnetic headphones that the FT1 Pro gets compared to (though I haven't used them), and they seem to win the separation and imaging battle.

Instruments are never presented as one blob of sound with the FT1 Pro – I can distinguish each instrument and where they are positioned in the soundstage. But I've heard much better presentations (admittedly from more expensive headphones). If you're coming from commercial cans though, it will still be a meaningful upgrade.

Comfort & build

The FT1 Pro is very comfortable, but not perfect.

I've currently got 10 audiophile headphones and six commercial Bluetooth headphones laying around my home office, and they all vary in weight, materials, and how long I can comfortably use them. The FT1 Pros are a pair that I ended up reaching for, using, and not taking off until I left my desk... they're super comfy.

However, I have a grumble. The right ear pad didn't sit plush against my head like the left did – there's a space at the bottom of my ear – and that means there isn't a complete seal over that ear. It's possible that this would detrimentally affect how the frequency response comes across, though thankfully, I didn't notice anything that meaningful. But it was annoying, and it may affect your listening experience if it happens to you.

I ended up extending the left headband slider out a couple notches more than the right, and for some reason it fit better (though never perfect). This, of course, might be specific to my head, and you might not experience it at all, but it's worth mentioning.

Elsewhere, the ear pads are really comfy and don't heat up after hours of use. There's a fabric/textile material used which touches the skin around your ears, and a faux leather around the side of the pads. The headband is pretty comfortable, though there are definitely more plush and comfortable options out there, and I've read some people find it too thin and suffer hotspots in the middle (I didn't).

When it comes to the build, it feels a little budget... but then, it is! The money has been put into the frequency response and soft ear pads, so I don't mind if it shows it's seams a bit. For example, the thin, metal yoke connections look like they could easily be bent. Of course, if you take care of these, there's no reason why they won't last a long time, so maybe this is more of an aesthetic gripe than anything.

Planar driver and specs

There are two main driver technologies used in audiophile headphones – dynamic and planar magnetic drivers. The FT1 Pro uses planar drivers.

What does that mean? Rather than using a voice coil attached to a diaphragm, planar drivers employ an ultra-thin film (in the FT1 Pro's case, just 1 micron thick) suspended between magnets. This design offers several advantages: faster transient response, lower distortion, and superior bass control. Another characteristic of planar drivers is they are usually harder to drive, but the FT1 Pro has a party trick here. With just 20Ω impedance and 112dB sensitivity, these headphones are remarkably easy to drive; you won't need an amplifier to get great sound.

Price, value & competition

Launching in late 2024, the FT1 Pro retailed for $200, and that's remained true as we venture into 2026. That's exceptional value.

These headphones are definitely mid- to upper-budget in price, especially when you consider their brother, the FT1, sells for $160 and offer a more musical, fun, bassy sound profile.

The FT1 Pro's party trick is offering a bass profile that is more textured and impactful than many headphones that sell for more than twice the price. However, they still don't quite take the budget planar crown from the HiFiMan Sundara which, although retailing for $349 on their 2020 update release, can often be found for $159 over at Amazon. The Sundara offers a more technical-sound that is more spacious, and remains the go-to recommendation for budget planar headphones.

Should you buy?

I think the FT1 Pro headphone is great, and it'd make a perfect introduction to the world of audiophile headphones. And that's because they do more things well than not.

The thing with headphones is, there's no objectively perfect pair, and really each option offers its own set of wins and compromises. Want bass? That might come at the expense of detailed, natural mids and treble. Want a completely neutral profile? That might not sound exciting or engaging. Want crystal clear detail up top? You may not be able to physically listen for too long without feeling like your ears have burnt out.

The FT1 Pro offers excellent, textured bass, a largely forward mid section, and a balanced high end. There is good detail to be had, and though some voices do take a back seat compared to the mid-centric HD600s of HEDD D1s, it's a small price to pay for keeping things crisper.

I recommend the FiiO FT1 Pro to first-timers and old ears alike, but be warned: you might find them a little boring when compared to the other headphones I've mentioned.