The JT3 is an open-back headphone built around a large 50 mm dynamic driver. It promises “robust bass and a relaxed sound,” which is actually pretty spot on.
MAIN TAKEAWAY
- Superb build quality
- Very comfortable
- Dark and punchy sound
- Microphone on the cable
Jade Audio is a sub-brand operated by FiiO. While the parent brand targets audiophiles, Jade Audio focuses on delivering products with a very high value-to-cost ratio to a broader spectrum of consumers.
JADE AUDIO JT3 SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver: 50mm dynamic driver
- Diaphragm: PEK+PU composite diaphragm and N52 magnets
- Impedance: 80 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 97 dB/mW
- Frequency Response: 10Hz–35kHz
- Cable: 1.5m palladium-plated oxygen-free copper Cable connectors: 3.5mm dual plugs
- Cable termination: 3.5mm TRRS jack
- Microphone: On the cable
- Adapter plug: 3.5 to 6.35mm
- Weight: 330g (without cable)
Current price and availability:
Disclaimer: The review unit was sent us in exchange for an honest evaluation.
BUILD AND COMFORT
The JT3 is generally well-built and well-designed. It has a very nice metal headband mechanism with a comfortable headband strap, and the pads are soft with velvet fabric. They’re detachable and washable; however, removing the pads requires quite a bit of force and/or technique, and I honestly didn’t want to risk it because I was afraid of breaking something in the process.
Here’s the instructions from the manual:
Link to user manual: Jade JT3 manual
There are user reports that the Sennheiser type pads for HD560S, HD620S etc. fit the JT3, see here. If this is correct it is very good news – you can then get third party pads and experiment with both sound and comfort, and really engage in some pad rolling
The cable is also detachable with 3.5mm plugs on the headphone side. There’s a microphone on the cable that sits on the right side of the Y-split. It has a textile surface and comes with a 3.5mm (4-pole TRRS) termination jack.
All in all, I find the build quality to be no less than stunning, the included microphone is a bonus, and the comfort level is very good.
LISTENING IMPRESSIONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
Vicarious by Tool
The guitars are nice and rich sounding. It is a warm and bold sound but still with a nice sense of airiness.
Bored by Deftones
Again there’s rich sounding guitars. Vocals are a bit thick; not ultra-clean but still separated from the mix adequately.
As Before by Olga Konkova
The cajón drum has a very nice punch throughout the song. The piano is warm and rich sounding. Vocals are also warm and slightly thick.
It Could Be Sweet by Portishead
The bass is rich and thick, quite thumpy. The vocals are warm with no sign of sibilance. Layering is good.
Escape Route by Boris Blank
Thick and rich sounding, better macrodynamics than microdynamics, but separation is pretty good and it’s a good listen. Treble is laid back. The trumpet is darkish and not too crisp.
Spontaneous Compositorius by Thomas Agergard
The saxophone is nice and warm. The bright percussion is a bit laid back and won’t offend anyone (which I like). The bass is rich but not overwhelming.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo
I think the string timbre sounds excellent. It is very coherent. Slightly warm, a tad dark, but it all feels very natural. The JT3 handles this string quartet without sounding strained (which some can do).
Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
Rather dark sounding but nice. Instrument separation isn’t top notch, but at this price it’s better than most.
Maple Noise by Greene Serene
This expressive jazz quartet sounds very dynamic with good instrument separation. It’s a bit dark and warm, which I like.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
The sound signature is on the warmer and darker side. The bass is rich and thick but not overwhelming, the mid-range has a dark tint, and the treble is a bit laid back, but not dark sounding.
Treble
For the price the treble is nicely detailed and nuanced. It is a tad laid back without sounding dark.
Midrange
The midrange is leaning warm and dark, not the most detailed I’ve heard but it’s good enough.
Bass
The bass is rich and slightly thick, but it never feels overwhelming. It has excellent dynamics, texture, and detail for this price.
Soundstage and Imaging
The soundstage is not especially large. The imaging is quite okay but not spectacular. On less complicated tracks, instrument separation is very good, but when things get busy, it tends to blend a bit together, typical for lower priced headphones.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
The detail level is pretty good, especially for the price. Even though the sound signature is a bit dark and laid back, detail comes through nicely. Macrodynamics are very good, especially in the bass.
Microdynamics and articulation are good – again: if the music isn’t too busy. The timbre is a bit dark (especially if you compare it to more neutral earphones) but the brain adapts and it’s perceived as quite natural and nicely pleasant.
COMPARISONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
JADE JT7 vs JT3
The JT7 is the next step up in the Jade Audio lineup. However, it is a very different headphone. It is a planar magnetic headphone and it sounds very different. It typically costs 119 USD.
When comparing the two, I find that the JT7 is more neutral: brighter, tighter, and cleaner but lacks the low-end punch and boldness of the JT3.
You can read my full comparison review here:
KIWI EARS ALTRUVA vs JT3
Kiwi Ears Altruva is, like the JT3, a 69 USD open back dynamic driver full size headphone. It also delivers a lot for its money. When comparing them, I find that the Altruva sounds more neutral while the JT3 is darker, thicker, and more dynamic.
You can read my full comparison review here:
SENNHEISER HD560S vs JADE JT7
The HD560S also is a dynamic driver open back headphone, but it is a lot more expensive than the JT3, typically priced at 199 USD, which is almost three times the price.
When it comes to the sound, the HD560S has a more detailed, neutral, and natural sounding midrange and, to a lesser extent, treble, but lacks the low-end punch, reach, and bass texture of the JT3.
You can read my full comparison review here:
- Amazon: HD560S
AMPLIFICATION
For most of this review and also for the comparisons, I have used my trusty Topping A90, which is a very good all-round performer. However, out of curiosity, I also tried different amplifiers in higher price classes and was very surprised to notice that the Bryston BHA-1 and Violectric DHA V226 made a quite noticeable improvement.
I listened most to the BHA-1 and it was a real transformation. Everything is cleaner, tighter, and better. The JT3 struggled with busy passages on the A90, but not with the BHA-1. This goes to show how much potential there is in the JT3. I just kept on listening because it was really, really good.
Of course, such amplifiers are ridiculously expensive, so I went to my standard budget option, the Schiit Magni Heresy, and I was disappointed. The difference between the Magni and the expensive amplifiers was pretty large. Then I tried the JT3 directly from my RME ADI-2 DAC FS, and it was much better than the Schiit, and also better than the A90.
With the disappointing experience with the Schiit compared to the higher end options in mind, I was not especially hopeful when it came to trying out my portable options, but I did anyway. And my, was I surprised. All was used in unbalanced mode as the JT3 comes with an unbalanced cable (3.5mm jack).
The first one out was the Letshuoer DT01 Pro, a tiny, tiny USB dongle. It sounded extremely impressive for its size way beyond any expectation, surprisingly close to the high-end rigs. This tiny thing keeps shocking me.
Also the Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro sounded very good, it’s a very powerful thing with much more power to spare than the DT01 Pro. The Alpha XI1 ONIX works equally well. Also the Fosi DS3 also does the job but I was close to maxing it out (unbalanced mode). The xDuoo Link2 Bal2 is usually among my favourites and works great here too. Next, the Dragonfly Cobalt is a step up from the rest, more detailed, with larger headroom – and still nicely smooth.
In conclusion, it seems that the JT3 does not necessarily need tons of power, but amplifier matching can be crucial to get the best out of it. All the portable options I tried did the job and sounded good – some better than others – but my high-end amplifiers brought the JT3 to the next level.
CONCLUSION
The FiiO/Jade Audio JT3 is first of all insanely well built for the price. There are headphones costing 10 to 20 times more that have poorer build quality. It is also very comfortable. I am not a big fan of the pad attachment style. I prefer the lip-and-groove system because it lets you easily try different pads.
When it comes to the sound, the major selling point is the bass, which is generous, textured, and punchy. The midrange is darker sounding than I prefer, but your brain adapts to different tonalities. The treble is nice enough.
All in all, I think the JT3 is a very well built headphone with good sonic capabilities. If this is the sound signature you are after, you get a lot for your money.
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