I am interested how they compare with the Master 1. Can you describe more about comfort, soundstage and micro details? I think they have more or less same weight.
Also can you find leather earpads for the FT5?
Thanks
Comparising to Master 1? Ok.
Comfort
Comfort is not to compare if you have big head. Pioneer wins with huge margin. I must strech FT5 to maximum. And clamping force is greater than in Pioneers. In comfort, Pioneers are masterclass, like Mercedes in headphone world. Everything there is quality. Well in Fiio too, but is not that level.
Soundstage and sound
In Pioneers is huge and depends on amplifier, can be extremly good, like the sea of sounds around you. You can drawn in thier sound. FT5 sounds tighter but have very good layering and fell of spaceness. And thats a quite achivemnt becuse of that treable tuning. Its a plenty of treable after all, but thewir placing in music is important. They are always on place propably because of that liitle bit recessed upper midrange. That also give a right amount of thickness to lower midrange, and music never feel thin and everything have body. Same thing with Pioneers but i think Fiio do some things better for long listening sessions. Lower bass is fuller with more rumble and sound more natural, Pioneers can be hollow and flatten that region of music. Upper midrange in Pioneers are forward comparing to Fiio and have that little spike i dont like and i dont need. But overall its not hearable after entering in this sound a little bit. The lower midrange in Pioneers sound also good, thats a not flat sounding headphones but not in Fiio range in this regard. If someone like thick bassy sound with good perspective Fiio have that from box, Pioneers need cearfull chosed amplification. The treable sound little bit thin on Pioneers comapre to Fiio, and without good amplfication easily could sound muffled on Master 1. Suprasingly for FT5, upper tons are always visible. Huge low end always follow. Perfect headphone for EDM, electro, big beat, hip hop, and all this non audiophile music up there. Bass in Fiio is the strongest point. They have propably one the best bass in headphones right now, its like you have planar bass from normal panars but with that energy and focus from dynmic drivers. Also their kick. No shame here. But when i playn with ROON nowdays, i prfer my G padded D8000 above, but not becuse of bass, becuse of timbre, overall original sound and huge speaker like dense, thick presentation. On the weak source is less matter and with some music Fiio could actually even win. So with good source using full range of my Qutest, 32bit/DSD512 ROON elevated FLAC with MUSE engine:
1. G - padded D8000 OG
2. Sometimes Fiio FT5, sometimes Pioneer Master 1 with 8 strand litz silve cable. Depends on mood and music. Other amplfication propably could make Pioneers sound better and make them overall second, so that could be just better headphones as all arounder.
3. -||-
If comes to pads, i didnt listen on PLeather pads yet. I dont listen that much and i have 3 hi end pieces of hp i house. So, 70% headtime is G padded D8000 OG, 20% time is Fiio FT5 on suede pads and 10% is Master1. I dont listen on Pionners that much becuse i was having them like 2 years once, and sold them to check HEDDphone ONE. But i have them second time right now. Just from a sentiment and comparative value to planars, becuse they are the best, most complete dynamic headphones i know.
I was having once almost perfect amplifier for Pioneer, he called EarStream Headonic, and he was made especially for me, by Michał Wyroba form Kraków in Poland. I was prefering them a liitle bit more with Headonic instead with Anni. But Anni make good job with planars. Fiio and D8000 sounds superb with Qutest/Anni stack. Meze, Audeze, HiFiMan;s propably too.
I think Fiio FT are superb sounding planars but the listener must just enter in this sound, like in any other headpones. I think the factor could be repulsive for most people on first hours of listening, is recessed upper mids. They are recessed not in therms of quantity, they are there. They are recessed in therms of placing in the mix. But Lee from Fiio customer service said in this thread that was the engeineers intension. I cant argue with that. Beside, i just like this sound. Someone who read about Fiio FT5 right now, must just remember one thing - thats a not a dark relaxing headphones at all. With good amplification they can crush walls with power and they sound with proper lighting across the frequencies. That a not a dull hp considering thei big low end an recessed mids. Il try to listen them once in pleather pads and write something.
