FiiO Ft5

The reviewer gives first impressions of the FiiO FT5, praising its exceptional build quality and warm, bass-focused sound, but notes a slight treble veil, a forward shout in the 1-3kHz region, and a less open soundstage. He rates the sound 6/10 and build 10/10, suggesting the included alternate pads might improve performance.

The reviewer finds the FiiO FT5 to be a well-built and technically impressive planar headphone, offering a wide soundstage and accurate presentation, but notes that it is expensive and that the stock pads are essential for optimal detail retrieval. While it improves on the FT3 in several ways, the reviewer suggests that the cheaper JT1 may be a better value for some listeners.

The reviewer finds the FiiO FT5's build, comfort, and accessories excellent, but criticizes its tuning, specifically a muddy lower midrange and bass that makes male vocals sound unnatural and instruments congested. The treble is praised for detail, and the reviewer suggests EQ as a fix, but concludes that out of the box, the FT5 is not something they'd listen to, giving it a mixed verdict.

The reviewer is highly impressed with the FiiO FT5, praising its rich, natural, and well-detailed sound, excellent build quality, comfort, and generous accessories. They recommend it strongly, especially for those new to planar headphones, noting it offers a unique presentation at its price point.

The reviewer finds the FiiO FT5 to be a well-built and comfortable first planar headphone from FiiO, with excellent accessories and a clever cable system. However, the sound quality is disappointing, particularly the tonal balance which is thick, muddy, and bass-heavy, leading the reviewer to conclude that while it shows promise, FiiO hasn't quite nailed the tuning yet.

The reviewer praises the FiiO FT5 planar headphones for their exceptional build quality, generous accessories, and balanced, natural sound that works well across genres. They note the headphones require a powerful desktop amplifier to perform at their best, as portable sources lead to less controlled bass. While the soundstage is decent, it is not as expansive as some competitors, but overall the FT5 is considered a strong value at its price.