Disclaimer
Hello everyone! Before we get into it, I want to let you know that FiiO sent me the JT7 to test, listen to, and share my honest thoughts about. I’m not being paid for this review, and FiiO hasn’t told me what to say, checked my draft, or set any deadlines for publishing.
Table Of Content
Everything you’ll read here is based entirely on my own experience with the JT7. I always try to stay as fair and objective as possible, but at the end of the day, this is still just my personal take, and everyone judges things differently. That’s part of what makes this hobby so enjoyable.
Big thanks to FiiO for giving me the chance to try out the JT7, and of course, a huge thank you to you for taking the time to read my review. Your support really means a lot to me!
Introduction
As you might already know, I’m an absolute fan of FiiO, and I have been following this brand for a long time already, and I have seen the growth of their sister brands like Jade Audio and Snowsky. But let’s focus on Jade Audio for today, as today I’m reviewing their product. So Jade Audio is basically the sister brand that focuses on giving you more budget friendly options, but at the same time keeping the quality as high as possible, and the JT series is their budget headphone line inside that world. The JT7 continues that idea, but this time with an open back planar magnetic at only 110$, which already sounds almost too good to be true when you think about how expensive most planar headphones usually are.
So in this review I will take a closer look at what the JT7 actually offers in terms of build, comfort, and of course sound. I also want to see if FiiO managed to keep the quality high while keeping the price low. On top of that, I will compare it to the FT1 Pro, which comes at around 200$ and is still considered one of the best values for a planar. This way we can really understand where the JT7 stands and whether it is worth stretching the budget or if this one already gives you what you need.
Unboxing
The box is surprisingly small, really… It was strange for me to see planar overear headphones in such a small box, but then I realized that it’s because they can fold. It is a simple and clean box, and you can immediately tell that this is the more budget side of FiiO. It is not premium like the boxes in the FT series, but honestly, for the price, it is completely fine in my opinion.
Everything is packed in a very compact way. Since the JT7 can fold, FiiO used that to make the box as small as possible. The headphones come folded inside a soft fabric carrying bag, sitting snugly in the middle with no space to move around. There are no special compartments. Everything is simply placed together in a tight space, and that’s what keeps the things in place with no shifts.
Inside you get the headphones, the carrying bag, two cables, and a 6.35mm to 3.5mm adapter. That is actually a nice amount of accessories for this price. The cables themselves are pretty simple, rubbery, and not so premium, but they are soft enough and not stiff, and I appreciate that FiiO includes both a regular 3.5mm and a 4.4mm balanced cable right out of the box.
The headphones look and feel better than what I expected at this price. The build is mostly plastic, which helps keep them light, but also takes a bit of the premium feel and lets you know that it’s more of a budget headphone. The earpads are a nice hybrid design, very similar to what FiiO used on the FT1 Pro and FT1, with pleather on the outside and mesh on the part that touches the head, but with some holes in the pleather. They feel comfortable and breathable, and I like that the headband has a soft suede like padding that feels really nice.
The carrying bag is also very nice to have. It is a soft fabric pouch that feels good in hand and should be good enough to protect the headphones from scratches when you throw them in a backpack.
Overall, the unboxing experience fits the JT7 perfectly. It is simple, but it gives you everything you need to start listening right away.
Technical Specifications
- Driver setup: Diameter 95x86mm planar driver, 3um PET silver plated aluminium alloy voice coil diaphragm
- Frequency response: 7Hz to 40kHz
- Sensitivity: 92dB/mW at 1kHz, 109dB/Vrms at 1kHz
- Impedance: 18Ω at 1kHz
- Earphone connector: Dual 3.5mm (TS)
- Cable:
- Dual 3.5mm (TS) to 3.5mm single ended
- Dual 3.5mm (TS) to 4.4mm balanced
- Accessory:
- Headphones
- Cloth storage pouch
- 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter
- Quick start guide
- Single unit weight: About 318g (excluding cable)
Build Quality and Comfort
I think I get what FiiO and Jade Audio tried to do here. They wanted lightweight, planar headphones that sound good and are comfortable to wear for long sessions, and I think they have succeeded here. Even though the build uses a lot of plastic to keep the weight down, the metal pieces in the headband should give it some rigidity. At around 318 grams, it feels surprisingly light for a planar, and that becomes really noticeable when you use it for more than a few minutes.
The earpads are a hybrid design with mesh on the inside and pleather on the outside. They are pretty similar to the pads that come with the FT1 and FT1 Pro. The headband has a soft suede like material with enough padding to keep the top of your head pretty comfortable. Everything feels practical and made for comfort and sound quality rather than luxury, which, in my opinion, fits the price point perfectly.
Driver and Technology
Inside the JT7 you get a large 95 by 86 millimeter planar driver, and planar is not something you normally see in this price range, which is absolutely ridiculous. FiiO claims to use an F.E.S elastic system here, which, according to FiiO, should give the diaphragm more freedom to move and help improve bass depth without losing control. The magnetic setup uses a push pull structure with magnets on both sides of the diaphragm.
For a budget headphone, there is more going on here than you expect, and you can tell that FiiO wanted the JT7 to bring to us all a real planar performance without the usual high cost. And this thing is market breaking!
Design and Practical Features
One of the best things about the JT7 is how portable it is for a planar design. The cups rotate, and the whole headphone folds into a compact shape, which is not common among planars at all. This is the reason the box is so small, and it actually makes the JT7 a lot easier to store or carry around.
The dual 3.5mm connectors also make it simple to replace or upgrade cables if you ever want to. The package comes with a 3.5mm single ended cable and a 4.4mm balanced cable, which is really nice to see at this price. You also get a soft cloth pouch that feels nicer than the usual nonexistent bags/carrying cases that don’t come with many other brands at this price or even double the price.
Sound Performance
Bass
The first thing I wanted to test with the JT7 is first of all, if it sounds balanced and natural to me, and oh boy, it does! And the second thing that I will talk about is the bass, and I wanted to see how fast and controlled the planar driver really is, so I went to The Stage by Avenged Sevenfold. The opening double bass hits are always a great test for speed, and the JT7 handled them beautifully. The hits were quick, precise, and full of detail, the type of clean separation I honestly did not expect from a headphone at this price. It never felt slow or muddy, and every kick had its own space.
Then I switched to ENTROPYYY by Lorn, which goes much deeper and pushes the sub bass to the limits. Here the JT7 surprised me again. The bass goes deep with a strong rumble, and it keeps everything under control without turning into a mess. This type of control and cleanliness is not common at this price point. I would have thought that it’s not even possible, but here we are, we have the JT7, and it really shows how capable this driver is, at only 110$.
Mids
The mids on the JT7 are very natural. They are never too forward or too relaxed, and voices have a very clean presentation. Listening to Nandemonaiya performed by Sarah Alainn was honestly a great moment. Her voice sounds clear, emotional, and beautifully separated from the background music. Nothing feels pushed or artificial.
I also tested Akuma no Ko by Ai Higuchi, which is a great track for catching little vocal details. The JT7 did an excellent job here. I could hear every breath she took and every small movement in her voice, and it never turned sharp or harsh.
Highs
The treble is smooth and very enjoyable, and while it does not reach the same level of extension as the FT7, that is completely expected for something that costs so much less. Even so, the extension is still very good. With Wonderland by Kalandra, the higher pitched elements stretch nicely into the air with a natural and long lasting decay that feels clean and never harsh. Nothing feels overly bright or fatiguing, and the detail is still there in a very satisfying way. For a budget planar, this is honestly super impressive.
Technicalities
Technically, the JT7 is excellent. It feels open, airy, and quite spacious for the price. The imaging is accurate, and the layering is great thanks to the planar speed. Instruments feel well separated, and I always get a sense of where things are placed.
One of my favorite test tracks is Retreat and Reveille by Hans Zimmer, and the JT7 handled it beautifully. Every instrument felt like it had its own room to breathe. The drums were powerful, precise, and well placed, and the fine details came through clearly. Nothing felt blurred together, and the whole presentation sounded natural and correct to my ears.
Comparison to the FiiO FT1 Pro
Comparing the JT7 to the FT1 Pro is interesting, because on paper the FT1 Pro is built better. It has higher quality materials, a hard carrying case, better cables, and a more premium overall feel. It also costs almost twice as much at 200$.
But when it comes to the sound itself, they are surprisingly close. In my listening, the tuning and the overall character of both headphones feel very similar. The FT1 Pro does go a bit deeper in the sub bass for me and a bit higher in the ultra highs, but I think part of that difference comes from the fact that the FT1 Pro clamping stronger on my head and placing the drivers closer to my ears. Besides that, the two headphones are almost identical in terms of general sound quality.
So the real difference is in the extras. The FT1 Pro gives you better build quality, a nicer set of accessories, and a smaller fit that might suit people with smaller heads better. The JT7 is a bit big. Even on the smallest headband setting, it still felt a little big for me. But for pure sound per dollar, the JT7 is honestly incredible, and it makes the choice between them more about comfort and build than sound itself.
Conclusion
After spending a good amount of time with the JT7, I honestly feel like FiiO pulled off something really special here. This is a budget planar that does not feel budget when you actually listen to it. The sound is clean, fast, and detailed in such a way that makes me really wonder how they have managed to pull off such headphones for this price. The bass has great control, the mids sound natural and emotional, and the treble always stays smooth while still giving enough air and sparkle.
What surprised me the most is how close it sounds to the FT1 Pro, which costs almost twice as much. The FT1 Pro still gives you better build quality and nicer accessories, but if we focus only on the sound, the JT7 gets you almost the same experience for close to half the price. That is not something I say lightly.
It is not perfect, of course. The fit is a bit large, and people with smaller heads might find it too loose and big. The build is mostly plastic, and the unboxing experience is very simple. But none of that changes the fact that the JT7 gives you amazing performance for the money.
If you want an open back planar that will not break the bank and still give you real planar speed and detail, the JT7 is a fantastic choice. It surprised me in so many ways, and I think a lot of people will be more than happy with what it offers.
Pros
- Excellent value for money, with amazing planar driver performance at a budget price.
- Fast, precise bass that goes very deep.
- Natural, clear mids with detailed vocals and no harshness.
- Smooth, well extended highs with plenty of detail without fatigue.
- Good soundstage, layering, and imaging thanks to the planar speed and open back design.
- Includes two cables (single ended and balanced) and an adapter right out of the box.
Cons
- The build uses mostly plastic and doesn’t have the premium accessories and the feel of higher end models.
- Headband fit can feel loose or large for people with smaller heads.
- Nothing else for the asking price.
Where to buy:(Non-affiliated! None of my reviews use affiliated links!)
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