FiiO Jade Audio JT3 Dynamic Headphones Review – Angled Driver Music Entry
FiiO JT3 is a $69 USD pair of Entry-Level headphones designed by Jade Audio with a large 50mm dynamic driver at the core, low price but a very good performance, and today we are going to explore just how good JT3 is and how they sound like.
Introduction
FiiO’s sub brand named Jade Audio is centered around delivering the highest performance possible for the lowest price, and today we’re taking a look at what is going to be one of the most affordable headphones in the whole world. You can buy Jade Audio products from the same outlets as FiiO, basically any Chifi, HIFI shop, including Amazon, Linsoul, Aliexpress and such.
As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases, and using the purchase links in my reviews helps me maintain this website and Youtube Channel. Audiophile-Heaven has no Ads and our Youtube Channel has no midroll ads, and our work is supported by Affiliate Links and Donations. Huge thanks to FiiO for providing the sample for this review, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4qFQToh
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3RZy4PD
Build Quality – Design
Jade Audio JT3 has the writing on the box in such a way that I thought it meant dade audo, but besides this, the package is rather premium. While no case is included, they come with a high quality cable, adapter, and with a transport pouch to protect the headphones from scratches.
At the core of the headphones, they have a high-performance 50mm dynamic driver, with a PEK+PU diaphragm, TIL voice coil + CCAW Voice, and the drivers are angled so that they fire into your ears more naturally. FiiO is using powerful N52 magnets and the cable included is a very good dual 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable, while the grilles of the headphones are made from an aluminium – magnesium alloy. Earpads are detachable and washable, made of velvet.
FiiO JT3 is open-back and lightweight at 330 grams, and the company uses a ball-bearing slider with a stainless steel + zinc alloy headband. Technically, they have a very high impedance of 80 OHMs and a SPL of 110dB / Vrms and 97dB / mW. Driving them will be interesting to review, as theoretically they will be as hard to drive as the Beyer 80 Ohm variation of their headphones, which are known to not be exactly easy to drive. This being said, a higher impedance reduces reliance on the source for a good sound.
Subjective Usage
I’ve been reviewing a large number of newer HIFIMAN models, and I kept saying that they are somewhat small for my head, even at max size, so it is good to mention that JT3 feels ok, I don’t even need max size for it to accommodate my head. It is a generally comfortable, very light pair of headphones. Earpads do a good job at distributing the weight on my ears, and the headband balances the weight on my head really nicely.
There is not much passive noise isolation, but JT3 is nowhere near as transparent and transmissive as HIFIMAN ananda Unveiled or truly open headphones, and JT3 offers around 7 to 10 dB of passive noise isolation. Leakage is maximum though, as this is a fully open-back pair of headphones. Overall, it feels really nice and is light, fun, simple. Color coding og the earcups makes it easy to get the cable going, and it is not sensitive to room acoustics.
Sound Quality
Pairings – I have paired FiiO Jade Audio JT3 with a wide collection of sources, including FiiO K17, Audioengine HXL, Shanling Onix Beta XI2, Surfans F35 Music Player DAP, iBasso D17 Atheris, Burson Playmate 3, Rose Technics RT-5000, and Luxsin X9.
Although it is an affordable pair of headphones, it is also quite hard to drive, you need a powerful source. Happily, even portable dongle DAC AMPs released this year come with plenty of power and will not struggle one bit, as JT3 is not needy with too much power, just a good combo of power voltage, and it can survive with just voltage, which most sources can provide plenty well.
Overall Signature – Sonically, JT3 is quite different from what FiiO does in the higher price ranges, as it sounds mid centric, vocal and fun. There’s plenty of personality, presence and vocals in the sound of the JT3, it has a good amount of warmth, they are even a bit veiled and bloomy in the mids. While not the most universal of tunings in the whole world, JT3 works well with most styles, but they strongly favor male vocals over female vocals as they have a bit more lower midrange than upper midrange presence.
Bass – With a rather shallow sub-bass, but a strong and present mid bass and upper bass, JT3 sounds warm, but not necessarily overly deep. Bass strength starts peaking at around 50 Hz and up to 70 Hz before it starts really kicking, so a lot of the impact is in the upper bass or at least mid-upper bass. This means that the 100 Hz range is emphasized slightly which creates a soft veil but gives all music body and presence. This type of tuning favors male voices as it gives them strength and presence.
Midrange – Vocals will inherit a bit of that tuning that the bass has, which means that the lower midrange is emphasized, gives a more serious, more ballsy presentation, great for rock, especially aggro rock like death metal, black metal. Even pop songs are awesome as long as the lead singer is male. JT3 works well for classical and orchestral, as it has a lot of space and revealing sound, and there the increased lower midrange actually helps music sound fuller and deeper.
Treble – Top end reaches 16 kHz in extension, with a peaking range between 11 kHz and 14 kHz, so an airy, crisp and pleasing tuning for the top. This means that the sound is not metallic nor harsh, it is airy and extended but not forced. I love the overall tune for rock and aggro music as it doesn’t force things but still draws in the life and power of aggro rock.
Dynamics And Textures – JT3 has a strong dynamic range, and presents a slow-natural texture, which works well if you want to have good detail but not an exaggerated one. This signature is not analytical but instead musical and it gives sweetness and a smoother, more fluid presentation even to extremely aggressive and poorly recorded music, making JT3 a forgiving pair of headphones.
Loudness Saturation Gradient – FiiO made JT3 to sound sweeter, smoother and more balanced at lower and medium volumes, and increase in presence and aggressiveness if you climb higher on the volume scale. I found it to work well with most sources, most volumes, but I prefer them at medium. THD and distortion is a bit on the higher side, and while JT3 has zero distortion, it shows distortion in music rather easily, so it forgives aggro and harshness but shows distortion, especially in the bass.
Soundstage – For a wide, holographic sound, FiiO Jade Audio JT3 sounds rather airy, and extends through all planes, lateral, vertical and depth too. Depth is equal to width, and it sounds larger than most headphones in this price range. Scatter factor is very low and JT3 is great for classical and orchestral, can layer cleanly, and does not mash things, having a rather strong separation.
Value and Conclusion
For the 69 USD price point, JT3 will provide build quality, comfort, resolution and a fun, vocal, sweet sound. It has an insane price performance ratio, and right now it is one of the easiest to recommend headphones if you’re this entry-level and budget bound.
You can have sweetness, bass or treble, JT3 going for voices, sweetness, a bit of warmth and sounds pleasing, open and rather wide. Considering all that they stand to offer, JT3 is a fully recommended pair of headphones if you want the warm vocal tuning they have, open-back design and to experience a comfortable pair of cans that will be reliable for a long time.
PROs
- High quality construction that feels reliable
- Very comfortable
- Open-back, but has a bit of passive noise isolation
- Vocal and sweet, can give guitars beauty and musicality
- Emphasizes male voices nicely
- Wide and open sounding
- Great value
Cons
- High impedance, somewhat hard to drive
- A bit veiled and bloomy sound, not quite universal
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4qFQToh
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3RZy4PD
--- Please remember to stay safe, and always have fun while listening to music!---
- If you have a dime to spare, please donate, and help us! It would make the day brighter for me and my wife-
Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
--- Contact Us ---
