The Jade JT3 and JT7 are two affordable over-ear headphones from FiiO’s low-cost sub-brand, Jade Audio. The JT3 typically retails for 69 USD, while the JT7 is priced at 119 USD.
MAIN TAKEAWAY
- JT3: dark and punchy sound, has microphone
- JT7: clean and neutral sound, is foldable
The JT3 is a dynamic driver headphone, whereas the JT7 uses a planar magnetic driver, but the differences do not stop there. They differ in many significant ways, and in this review we will go through those differences, both in terms of physical design and how they sound.
JADE AUDIO JT3 SPECIFICATIONS
- Open-back headphones
- Driver: 50mm dynamic driver
- Impedance: 80 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 97 dB/mW
- Frequency Response: 10Hz–35kHz
- Cable: 1.5m – with mic
- 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:
FiiO JADE JT7 SPECIFICATIONS
- Open-back headphones
- Driver: 95x86mm planar magnetic
- Impedance: 18 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 92 dB/mW = 109 dB/Vrms
- Frequency response: 7Hz-40kHz
- Cables: 2 x 1.5m – no mic
- Headphone connector: Dual 3.5mm TRS
- Cable Termination jack: 1 x 3.5mm and 1 x 4.4mm
- Adapter plug: 3.5mm to 6.35mm
- Weight: 318g (excluding cable)
Amazon: Jade JT7
AliExpress: Jade JT7
BUILD AND COMFORT
The build and design are quite different. The JT3 uses a headband arc with an integrated strap, which makes it very comfortable to wear. The JT7 has a more standard, less elaborate headband design that uses a pad, though soft. Both are comfortable overall, but I prefer the JT3.
The ear pads are also different. The JT3 uses velour pads that are soft and breathe very well. They are detachable and washable, but they use a proprietary fastening mechanism. The JT7 comes with hybrid pads that use a lip-and-groove attachment system, making them compatible with a wide range of third-party pads. This makes pad rolling easy and gives you the opportunity to adjust the sound and comfort to your liking.
A major difference is that the JT7 is foldable, while the JT3 is not. The JT3 also comes with a microphone on the stock cable, whereas the JT7 does not, although you can easily use an aftermarket cable with the JT7. Both use 3.5 mm connectors on the ear cups, making it easy to use third-party cables of any length or type.
LISTENING COMPARISONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
Vicarious by Tool
The JT7 sounds cleaner and offers much better instrument separation. It is more detailed and technically capable overall. The JT3, on the other hand, hits harder, with a richer bass response and a darker overall tonality.
Rambling Man by Laura Marling
They sound very different overall. The JT7 is bright and clear, with an open presentation and plenty of space between the instruments. The JT3 is much thicker, with more bass presence. It sounds warmer, but also less refined in terms of detail and precision.
It Could Be Sweet by Portishead
They are more similar here, but still quite different. The JT3 has more bass and darker-sounding vocals, while the JT7 is tighter and cleaner across the board, with a brighter and clearer presentation.
Escape Route by Boris Blank
Here they are even more similar. However, the JT7 still sounds much airier, with far more space between instruments. Imaging is better, while the JT3 sounds thicker and darker.
Spontaneous Compositorius by Thomas Agergard
The saxophone sounds much darker on the JT3, while the bright percussion is more similar between the two; both handle crisp, treble-rich percussion very well.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo
Here they are very different. The JT3 is dark and warm but still sounds quite good, while the JT7 is much brighter and also offers significantly better imaging.
Never Enough by Loren Alred
This track can sound awful on many earphones because of the mix. It usually sounds better on dark, warm-sounding gear. Predictably, it sounds much more natural on the thicker and warmer-sounding JT3, even though the JT7 has more detail.
Midnight City by M83
This is a busy indie synth-pop track, and the two headphones sound very different. The JT3 is rich, thick, and warm, while the JT7 is brighter, more detailed, and has tighter, thinner bass.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
The sound signatures of these two earphones are quite different. The JT3 is dark, thick, and warm, while the JT7 is fairly neutral, slightly bright, and tight.
Treble
I think they both have fairly clean treble. The JT7 is a bit brighter and cleaner, but this is the frequency range where they are most similar.
Midrange
The midrange is thicker and warmer on the JT3, brighter and cleaner on the JT7 – yet still quite smooth.
Bass
The bass is very different between the two. The JT3 is rich, bold, and punchy – yet still with good detail. The JT7 is lean and tight.
Soundstage and Imaging
The soundstage size is very different between the two. The JT7 is unusually large sounding for headphones in this price range, while the JT3 is very intimate.
Imaging is notably better on the JT7, which has a much darker background and more space between instruments. However, for what it is, the JT3 can be surprisingly good when things aren’t too busy.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
The overall detail level is much higher on the JT7. The JT3 is good for its price, but it particularly struggles with busy tracks, where the JT7 performs much better – even though it’s not perfect compared to much more expensive headphones.
When it comes to overall dynamics, the JT3 is quite good, often feeling significantly more dynamic than its “bigger brother.” Its laid-back sound signature also makes it more comfortable to listen at higher volumes compared with the brighter JT7.
The timbre is very different between the two. The JT7 is cleaner and more neutral, while the JT3 is darker and lusher.
CONCLUSION
The JT3 and JT7 are very different headphones. They are built differently, feel different to wear, and each has its own practical pros and cons.
When it comes to sound quality and character, they are especially different. The JT3 is thicker, darker, and more dynamic, while the JT7 is tighter, cleaner, and brighter. The JT7 is technically superior, but the JT3 is generally more forgiving of lower-quality audio and mostly feels more punchy.
That said, both are very good for the price, and I can easily recommend them for what they are. No headphone is perfect, especially at this price point, but FiiO/Jade Audio continues to push the boundaries of value for money.
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