FiiO FT5 Planar Magnetic Over-ear Open-back HiFi Headphones
With the new FiiO FT5, the Chinese specialist for personal audio devices FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. is now expanding its range of over-ear headphones with a very special model in the form of an over-ear open-back planar magnetic headphone.
- With the new FiiO FT5, FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. presents the first so-called over-ear open-back planar magnetic headphones.
As a proven expert in personal audio devices, headphones naturally have a long tradition at FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd., although the company primarily focussed on in-ear headphones; over-ear headphones, for example, were not included in the product portfolio for a long time until the decision was made to also serve this segment. There are now a handful of extremely exciting over-ear headphones from FiiO Electronics Technologie Co. Ltd.
The new FiiO FT5 Planar Magnetic Over-ear Open-back HiFi Headphones are likely to be a particularly interesting model, at least according to the features currently revealed by FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd.
Building on the FiiO FT3 Dynamic Driver Headphones
With the new FiiO FT5, FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. is presenting a so-called Planar Magnet Headphone for the first time, although the company is keen to build on the success of the FiiO FT3 Dynamic Driver Headphones, thus adopting a number of features despite different technologies.
First and foremost, for example, it is the tuning that has been retained, as the company has endeavoured to achieve a dynamic, detailed, balanced performance and an incredibly musical sound. This has been a characteristic feature of headphone solutions from FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. from the very beginning.
90 mm Planar Magnetic Driver manufactured using the Nanoscale Diaphragm Coating Process
The new FiiO FT5 relies on a so-called Nanoscale Diaphragm Coating Process, in which the coils of the driver are printed onto the diaphragm based on an aluminium-silver alloy using particularly sophisticated manufacturing technology from the semiconductor industry. This not only achieves a uniform thickness of the coils, but also distributes the weight of the coils more evenly, ultimately guaranteeing a far more even and precise sound.
The developers rely on drivers that are very generously dimensioned with a diameter of 90 mm, whereby no fewer than 20 N52 neodymium magnets with a high magnetic flux density of up to 1.5 T are used to drive the PAR (polyarylate) film, which is only 6 μm thick and coated with an aluminium alloy. This makes it possible to realise impressive detail reproduction with a frequency range between 7Hz and 40 kHz, as well as a high sensitivity of 110 dB at an impedance of just 36 ohms, as the manufacturer explains.
Open, ear-enclosing design
As already described, the headphones are based on an open, ear-enclosing design, whereby the base of the headphones is a particularly light, yet extremely robust construction made of a magnesium-aluminium alloy. The grille, which forms the outer cover of the FiiO FT5’s ear cup, is designed to guarantee an optimum airflow free from sound-damaging turbulence.
The construction of the headphones is based on a 3-axis swivelling design as described by the manufacturer itself. This ultimately means nothing more than a structure that adapts optimally to the shape of the user’s head in three axes.
A comparatively low weight of just 456 g and particularly soft ear cup pads, which are removable, also ensure maximum wearing comfort. The scope of delivery even includes two pairs with different finishes, one with suede leather for a balanced, yet rather wide-ranging performance, as well as a version in protein leather for a clear, concise sound, as FiiO Electronic Technology Co. Ltd. describes it itself.
High-quality, detachable cable
Once again, the developers also attached great importance to a cable that should provide the basis for the FiiO FT5 Planar Magnetic Over-ear Open-back HiFi Headphones to actually realise their full potential
The cable is constructed with 392 conductors consisting of high-purity, monocrystalline copper coated with silver. The cable ends, and this is a special feature, in a so-called interchangeable audio plug, which FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. uses here based on a patent from Fabrilous. This allows you to use either a 3.5 mm stereo mini jack, a 6.3 mm stereo jack, a 4.4 mm Pentaconn or even a 4-pin XLR. The cable has a practical length of 1.5 metres.
Prices and availability
Initial information about the new FiiO FT5 Planar Magnetic Over-ear Open-back HiFi Headphones was already known at the beginning of November 2023, as exclusively reported by sempre-audio.at. Now, however, the new headphones from the Chinese specialist will be available these days at the recommended retail price of € 499,-. A matching leather transport case is included in the scope of delivery.
Getting to the point
With the new FiiO FT5 Planar Magnetic Over-ear Open-back HiFi Headphones, FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. is presenting another pair of over-ear headphones that should deliver impeccable results at a particularly attractive price. It is the first of its kind to be offered by the Chinese specialist for personal audio devices.
| PRODUCT | FIIO FT5 PLANAR MAGNETIC OVER-EAR OPEN-BACK HIFI HEADPHONES |
|---|---|
| Price | € 499,- |
| Brand | FiiO |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | FiiO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. |
| Distribution | NT Global Distribution GmbH |
| More about this manufacturer at HIFI BLOG |
