This is a comparison of the FiiO FT1 and the stock (unmodded) version of the FT13.
Last year, the FiiO FT1 made waves in the headphone community. It delivered an impressive level of build and sound quality for just 149 USD at launch, though the price has increased by about ten percent since then. It was FiiO’s third full-sized headphone, but it was the one that truly put the company on the map.
One year later, FiiO has expanded its wooden closed-back lineup with a new model that builds on the FT1 and aims to improve it. There are some design changes, but the core concept remains familiar. The sound signature has, however, been changed, and the price is still friendly, but significantly higher. The FT13 is roughly twice the price of the FT1 at around 300 USD.
FIIO FT1 SPECIFICATIONS
- Closed-back dynamic headphones
- Driver: 60mm dynamic
- Impedance: 32 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 98dB/mW@1kHz or 113dB/Vrms@1kHz
- Frequency response: 10Hz-40kHz
- Cable length: About 1.5 m
- Cable material: silver-plated oxygen-free copper
- Headphone connector: Dual 3.5mm TRS
- Audio cable plug: 3.5mm/4.4mm
- Ear cup material: walnut or beech real wood
- Weight: 340g
Current price and availability:
FIIO FT13 SPECIFICATIONS
- Closed-back dynamic headphones
- Driver: 60mm dynamic
- Impedance: 32 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 98dB/mW@1kHz or 113dB/Vrms@1kHz
- Frequency Response: 7Hz-40kHz
- Natural Purpleheart wood
- Headband: Adjustable magnesium alloy with a lambskin headband
- Earpads: 2 types – lambskin and suede
- Cable length: 1.5 m detachable
- Cable material: mono crystalline copper and silver-plated OFC
- Headphone connector: Dual 3.5mm TRS
- Audio cable plug: 3.5mm/4.4mm
- Storage/transport case included
- Weight: 356g
Current price and availability:
BUILD AND COMFORT
As mentioned, the FT1 and FT13 have a similar build and design, but there are some clear differences. The headband looks nearly the same, but the FT13 uses better materials, adds more padding, and features real leather.
The FT13 has circular ear cups, while the FT1’s are slightly oval. The FT13 breaks away from the FT1’s universal lip-and-groove pad system in favor of a proprietary click-on design. I’m not thrilled about that since it limits third-party pad options, but swapping pads is easier when you have the correct ones. The FT1 includes one set of pads, whereas the FT13 comes with two different pairs (suede and lambskin).
The FT13 uses angled cable connectors on the cups, while the FT1’s are nearly straight. The FT13’s cable also looks and feels more premium, though both are the same 1.5 m length. Each headphone includes interchangeable 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm termination plugs and necessary adapters for 3.5 mm jack and 4 pin XLR. Both also come with very nice semi-soft storage and transport cases.
When it comes to comfort I find them both comfortable but the FT13 is a step up, mainly due to the softer headband with suede leather on the inside.
EAR PADS
The FT13 comes with two pad options: full-skin pads and suede-type pads. The full-skin pads are way too bright for my taste, so for this comparison I am using the suede pads, which have a softer and warmer character. However, the FT13 with the suede pads has a quite V-shaped sound signature with heavy bass, somewhat recessed mids, and somewhat bright treble.
When I reviewed the FT1 I tried (in addition to the stock hybrid pads) a set of third-party full skin pads. I found these pads made the sound cleaner and clearer, and I felt they were a very worthwhile upgrade. I might have been onto something, as FiiO actually released a similar looking sheepskin pads option for the FT1 this summer (called FiiO HS-FT1A)
For this comparison, I will mainly use the 3rd party sheepskin pads to give the FT1 its best showing, as I know many people have upgraded their FT1 with different pads. However, in addition, I will still comment on the FT1 with its stock pads and note how it compares to the FT13 along the way.
In essence, even though the third-party leather pads are an upgrade for the FT1, they do not change the sound signature or main characteristics very much. The differences I hear between the FT1 and FT13 are therefore largely the same when using the FT1’s stock pads.
COMPARISONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Questyle CMA800R
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
- FT13 with stock suede pads
- FT1 primary with 3rd party full leather pads, but also stock pads for reference
It Could Be Sweet by Portishead
The differences are not enormous, but the FT13 has a more V-shaped sound, with stronger bass and sharper treble. This results in slightly more pronounced sibilance, but also a larger and more spacious soundstage.
As Before by Olga Konkova
The FT13 sounds more spacious but slightly drier, particularly in the vocals, where the FT1 comes across as more natural.
Vicarious by Tool
The FT1 sounds more neutral and natural, while the FT13 offers a larger soundstage, sharper treble, and slightly more detail, but it comes across as drier.
The Sun Always Shines on TV MTV Unplugged by a-ha
Here they are surprisingly similar, in a good way.
Daylight by David Kushner
Excellent song, an instant classic. Kushner’s deep vocals are something special. The FT1 feels more natural to me, while the FT13 offers better separation and a larger soundstage. There may be more fine detail on the FT13, but there is also a drier character in the mids and highs, vocals included.
Graceful Touch by Tord Gustavsen Trio
This sounds excellent on the FT13: spacious, warm and delicate. The FT1 is also very nice, but the soundstage is smaller, and it comes across as flatter overall with slightly less apparent detail.
Georgia Lee by Tom Waits
They are quite similar, but the FT13 again has a larger soundstage. It also has sharper treble with some sibilance that I do not hear on the FT1.
It Could Be Sweet by Portishead
The FT13 has a more powerful bass and slightly sharper sibilants, along with a larger soundstage. The FT1 is more neutral, but the two are not very different overall.
Escape Route by Boris Blank
The FT13 feels more dynamic and articulate, with more space and more low end rumble. The FT1 is somewhat more neutral and smoother in comparison, although the differences aren’t large.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo
The FT1 sounds more natural here, while the FT13 comes across as thinner and brighter, less grounded and a bit drier.
Mahler’s Symphony No 2 III by Paavo Järvi
Again, the FT1 is more natural and has a warmer midrange, while the FT13 feels drier and more distant. Still, the difference is not huge. The FT13 brings out more fine detail and draws your attention to the ambient sounds in the background.
Sunrise by Norah Jones
The FT13 offers stronger bass. Surprisingly it here has warmer and more natural sounding vocals. But again, the FT1 is close. Both are great.
Rambling Man by Laura Marling
Here, I also prefer the FT13. The female vocals are more detailed and dynamic, and the soundstage is larger.
WRAPPING IT UP
PADS: As mentioned, I started out using my preferred third party pads on the FT1. However I also went through my playlists a second time with the stock pads on the FT1 (I have two FT1s). My observations regarding the differences between the FT1 and FT13 were broadly speaking the same. The FT1 has better technical performance with my third-party pads, coming closer to the FT13, but the overall picture does not change.
Sound Signature
The FT13 and FT1 share similar, but far from identical, sound signatures. Both driver strong bass and prominent treble. However, the FT13 is clearly more V-shaped, emphasizing the lows and highs more than the more neutral FT1.
Treble
While the treble is articulate on the FT1, it never feels exaggerated or unnatural to me. With the FT13, the treble can sometimes be a bit too sharp for my taste and is certainly brighter than the FT1. Still, using the suede pads keeps it from being painfully crisp.
Midrange
Overall, the FT1 has a more neutral midrange, while the FT13 feels more spacious and detailed but slightly more subdued in presence. However, the relative differences can vary depending on the track and which frequencies are dominant.
Bass
Although the FT1 delivers respectable bass rumble, the FT13 consistently has a stronger bass presence and cannot be described as neutral.
Soundstage and Imaging
The FT1 has fantastic soundstage and imaging for the price, but the FT13 performs even better, particularly in terms of soundstage size.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
Although the FT1 offers outstanding detail for the price, the FT13 reveals even more fine detail, particularly in the midrange and treble, and generally feels more dynamic with greater contrast.
When it comes to timbre, however, I most often prefer the FT1. It is more neutrally tuned, and even though the FT13 can occasionally sound better, the FT1 remains my preferred choice for timbre, tonality, and overall tuning.
FT13 TUNING FOAM MOD
In my FT13 review, I explain how I, very effectively and in a non-invasive manner, modified the FT13 using simple foam tuning filters made for the Sennheiser HD600 series. The results were exceptional.
I had two types of tuning foam filters. The thinner filter (2–3 mm) worked best with the suede pads and the thicker one (4–5 mm) worked great with the sheepskin pads. In both cases, I clearly preferred the FT13 with the foam installed, and the thicker filter worked so well that I ultimately favoured the sheepskin pads when paired with it. Not only did I prefer the modified FT13 over the stock version, I actually ended up preferring it over the FT1 as well, with regards to technical performance as well as tuning and timbre.
You can read more here:
- FT13 Review
- FT1 vs FT13 with Tuning Foam Mod
CONCLUSION
The stock FT13 and FT1 have much in common, but also clear differences. With the suede pads mounted, the FT13 offers a larger soundstage, stronger bass, better dynamics, and greater midrange- and treble detail, though it can sound drier and sharper. The FT1 is more neutral and natural, with warmer mids, less aggressive treble, and a slightly smaller soundstage.
Even though it’s newer and more expensive, I don’t think the FT13 is objectively better overall, but with the suede pads it will appeal to those who prefer a V-shaped sound signature. It also delivers somewhat better technical performance and has a more spacious presentation compared to the FT1.
For many listeners, however, the FT1 may be the better choice. Compared to the stock FT13, it offers a more natural tonal balance and generally better timbre, while still performing close to the FT13 in most other areas. That said, if you’re willing to try my simple tuning-foam mod on the FT13, the tables turn.
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