FiiO FT1 vs FT1 Pro Comparison: Which Audiophile Headphone Is Best For You?

If you are hunting for the ultimate price-to-performance headphone, you have likely read that FiiO has hit it out of the park with two incredible choices, under $300, for Canadian audiophiles who demand the best audio experience and the best overall value.

While these two models share a similar naming and inherited structure, these two headphones are entirely different beasts under the hood. One is a warmly tuned, closed-back dynamic powerhouse, while the other is a lightning-fast, open-back planar magnetic detail champion.

Both models share a similar fit - the weight is reasonable, supported by a perfectly shaped headband with just the right padding, light side pressure and deep, pillowy pads with plenty of room for the ears. 

In this Official FiiO FT1 vs FT1 Pro comparison, we break down the design differences, sound signatures, and technical specs to help you decide which is the right pair for a spot on your desktop.

---

FiiO FT1: The Warm, Elegant Closed-Back Beauty

The FiiO FT1 Closed-Back Headphones became the best selling FiiO headphone in Canada and loved by audiophiles by offering rich, quality materials and premium sound at an incredibly affordable price point under $250 cad.

Highlights of the FiiO FT1:

• Beautiful Solid Wood Ear Cups: Crafted from premium North American Walnut or Chinese Beech wood, the FT1 looks like a high-end model, even upon close inspection. The natural solid wood isn't just for looks—it significantly reduces cavity vibrations and internal standing waves.
• Massive 60mm Dynamic Driver: Featuring a second-generation 60mm dynamic driver with a Nanofiber composite cone, the FT1 moves a massive amount of air, in total control.
• Superb Passive Isolation: The closed-back design naturally blocks out up to -26dB of ambient noise, making it perfect for office use, work from home, or late-night listening sessions without sound leakage.
• The Sound Signature: Warm, punchy, and deeply engaging. The bass is powerful and tactile, complemented by a smooth midrange and clean, non-fatiguing treble.

---

FiiO FT1 Pro: Clarity, Clarity, Clarity - the Airy Open-Back Planar Challenger

Utilizing completely different technology in driver design, the FiiO FT1 Pro Open-Back Headphones trade the wooden enclosures for an open-back metal mesh and swap out dynamic drivers for advanced planar magnetic technology.

Highlights of the FiiO FT1 Pro:

• Advanced 95x86mm Planar Driver: Engineered from the ground up by FiiO, this massive planar magnetic driver uses an ultra-thin & light 1μm diaphragm for instantaneous transient response.
• Patented Sapphire + Aluminum Dual-Coating: The diaphragm is coated with aluminum for lower impedance and enhanced dynamics, while a sapphire layer adds rigidity to unlock pristine treble resolution and transparency.
• Expansive, Open-Back Soundstage: The metal grid open-back design allows sound waves to escape naturally, preventing acoustic resonance and creating a wide, lifelike, and three-dimensional soundstage.
• The Sound Profile: Exceptionally neutral, analytical, and precise. It offers tight, fast bass, a highly articulate mid-range, and a brilliant, airy top-end perfect for critical listening and studio monitoring.

---

FiiO FT1 vs FT1 Pro: Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	FiiO FT1	FiiO FT1 Pro
Acoustic Design	Closed-Back	Open-Back
Driver Type	60mm Dynamic Driver	95mm × 86mm Planar Magnetic
Diaphragm Material	Nanofiber Wood Composite	1μm PET with Sapphire/Aluminum Coating
Ear Cup Material	Solid Wood (Walnut or Beech)	Premium Composite / Metal Mesh Grid
Frequency Response	10 Hz – 40,000 Hz	7 Hz – 40,000 Hz
Impedance	32Ω	20Ω
Sensitivity	113dB/Vrms (@1kHz) / 98dB/mW	112dB/Vrms (@1kHz) / 95dB/mW
Weight (Excl. Cable)	340g	374g
Noise Isolation	Excellent (Up to -26dB)	None (Natural Sound Leakage)
Sound Signature	Warm, Bass-Rich, Smooth & Fun	Neutral, Fast, Highly Detailed & Airy
Included Accessories	Hard Storage Case, 3.5mm & 4.4mm Silver-Plated Copper Cables, 6.3mm Adapter	Hard Storage Case, 3.5mm & 4.4mm Silver-Plated Copper Cables, 6.3mm Adapter

---

Head-to-Head: How Do They Differ in Daily Use?

1. Power Requirements and Drivability

Great news for portable audio lovers: both headphones are easy to drive. You do not need a massive desktop amplifier stack to enjoy them - one of our dongle DACs can do the trick.

The FT1 is a 32Ω design with high sensitivity, performing beautifully straight out of a laptop or a portable dongle DAC. The FT1 Pro, despite being a planar magnetic headphone (which are traditionally notoriously power-hungry) and open back, features a low 20Ω impedance. It scales nicely with a dedicated desktop unit like the FiiO K11 but is still a joy to use with portable gear.

2. Soundstage vs. Isolation

• If you need to block out family members, roommates, or office chatter, the FT1 is your only choice. It isolates well, so you can get lost in a private acoustic bubble.
• If you listen in a quiet room and want your music to feel like it's floating in the space around you rather than trapped inside your head, the open-back FT1 Pro is the soundstage star.

3. The Sound Signature

• Choose the FiiO FT1 if: You love EDM, Hip-Hop, Rock, or cinematic soundtracks. Its dynamic driver delivers a satisfying sub-bass rumble and a rich warmth that makes poorly recorded tracks sound forgiving and incredibly fun. Sounds fuller if you listen at low volumes, too.
• Choose the FiiO FT1 Pro if: You listen to Jazz, Classical, Acoustic, or complex orchestral pieces. The speed of the planar driver ensures that fast instrument separation keeps each musical component clear, allowing you to hear the subtle breath of a vocalist or the distinct pluck of a guitar string.

---

Final Verdict: Which FiiO Headphone Should You Buy?

Ultimately, the choice between the FiiO FT1 and FiiO FT1 Pro comes down to your environment and sonic preferences.

• Buy the FiiO FT1 if you want an intimate, warm, bass-rich listening experience packaged in stunning, natural solid wood with excellent isolation.
• Buy the FiiO FT1 Pro if you prefer an analytical, ultra-detailed, expansive soundstage with the lightning-fast response that only a premium planar magnetic headphone can provide.