With the FT3, Fiio is making a bold statement in the headphone category. The aggressive styling combined with the all-aluminum construction make the headset stand out, and you get a high-quality cable with interchangeable connectors. The design may not convey elegance, but you're buying the FT3 for the sound quality — these are among the best-sounding headphones you'll find in the $300 segment. With an excellent low-end that offers plenty of rumble and character, detailed mids, and good treble extension, the FT3 sounds fantastic across a wide variety of genres, and the imaging is one of the best in the category. For what you're ultimately paying here, you are getting a fabulous deal.

As long as you’re not a brand snob, there’s very little to prevent you giving the FiiO FT3 proper consideration. As per the company’s established modus operandi, the FT3 are specified and constructed to a standard that belies their asking price - and in this instance, they perform like a more expensive product too. As long as you can live with a slightly forward midrange, rather too much cable and some slightly sweaty ears, FT3 ownership has no obvious downsides.

Taken as a whole, the FT3 is nothing short of impressive. It’s not a budget set but is absolutely a great value for how much Fiio is asking. If you’re looking for a great pair of headphones that can grow with your setup over time, are built to last, and won’t leave you wanting, they’re very much worth adding to your Wish List.

The Fiio FT3 does exactly what it needs to do and a bit more for a reference headphone in this price range. While some of the frequency response is a bit too dry, like the bass and low-mids, other areas give you a form of accuracy you can really bite on. The treble and vocal response is very expressive for a reference headphone, and the great imaging adds even more room for everything to come together in an organized fashion. It’s a good build, even if the FT3 isn’t the most stylish pair of headphones around. As long as you have the proper amp to drive them, the FT3 is great for a clean, accurate sound.

Overall, the FiiO FT3 is a soundstage nightmare for everyone else in the middle tier. Good. This will force others to innovate and catch up next year. For now, FiiO is leading the pack with a headphone that combines clarity with a thick heft, which is a rare combo these days.

expect for the hard to drive nature , expect for the peak treble output I cannot complain about anything else

The new FiiO FT3 performs better than I expected. The huge dynamic driver provides great bass quantity, dynamism, mid-range fullness, and natural treble with good definition. Its mid-forward style together with its excellent body makes it an easy-to-like headphone, with great musicality. So I think FiiO made the right choice about the tuning, which appeals to a bigger, a bit more ”general consumer” crowd.

Fiio has always been about value for money. With the Fiio FT3 headphones, it might just have outdone itself, with a pair of wired over-ears that are an astonishingly good deal, pairing impressive sound performance with a build and finish that scream high-end.

Make allowances – for the capable, for the impedance – and the FiiO FT3 turn out to be a bargain. An anachronistic bargain, sure, but a bargain nevertheless

Not for the first time (and hopefully not for the last) FiiO has delivered a product that is specified and constructed to belie its price-point, and performs like a pricer product too. The FT3 are no one’s idea of a zeitgeisty product, but those for whom budget is as important as fidelity will find plenty to enjoy in these wireless headphones.