FiiO Jade Audio JT7 Headphones Review – All Rounder Planar Pounder
FiiO Jade Audio JT7 is a $109 USD Over-The-Ear Planar Magnetic pair of headphones with a large 95x86mm Planar Driver at the core, Two-Way Heterogenous high-density magnets, and a 3um Ultra-Thin Diaphragm with remarkably quick response to create a new baseline performance for the entry-level budget.
Introduction
FiiO is the creator behind Jade Audio and Dade as it is written on the JT7 is a sub brand focusing on delivering some of the most affordable headphones and audio products on the planet, but with a similar quality to the traditional FiiO products we usually review and explore. Jade Audio and FiiO products are available on Amazon, Aliexpress, and multiple dedicated hifi shops and sale channels that can provide aftersales and support, although FiiO support is usually brilliant if you order directly from them or the local branch of their shop.
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 and Jade Audio for providing the sample for this review, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4ixBSlo
Build Quality And Design
Jade Audio JD7 is an open-back planar magnetic pair of headphones, and FiiO considers it to be the culmination of proprietary tech and deep expertise in planar craftsmanship, integrated into a lightweight and portable design. At the core, JT7 is powered by a proprietary planar magnetic driver that is generously sized and powerful.
To create their sound, FiiO implemented an exceptionally thin membrane, just 3 thin, which will surely respond quickly to impulse response and will create a fast and reliable sound. FiiO designed their proprietary FES or FiiO Elastic System, which incorporates multi-dimensional textures on the driver surface. This allows for precise control over internal stress, reducing distortion. JT7 also has a strong magnetic field, and a 92db/mW sensitivity, using high-performance two-way neodymium iron boron magnets.
Since JD7 is built by FiiO, you can rest assured that those are built in the same factory as FT1 PRO and FT7, using the same premium process and materials, enabling a build where the voice coil and diaphragm are integrated as one piece. In fact, FiiO implemented so much tech intentionally to reduce the weight of the JT7, as it is one of the lightest pairs of planar magnetic headphones in the whole world, at 318 grams, if not actually being the lightest pair of planar magnetic headphones in the whole world.
Subjective Usage
FiiO JT7 feels really nice, moves in all directions and has no creaking and no weird noises, and in fact it is a really comfortable pair of headphones. They come with both a balanced and a single ended cable, and they have left and right markings only inside of the earcups which was a bit disorientating at first.
Interesting, JJT7 is incredibly light, but also really tight on my medium-sized head. This means that while weight will be a ZERO issue at any given moment, you never forget that you’re wearing them as they clamp your head quite a lot. They are also really open, so everything you hear will be heard by others and you hear everything that is happening in your room at maximum volume.
JT7 is open at the level at which when I first heard them I believed that music was coming out of my speakers and not from the headphones – not necessarily very wide, but sounding open in the way only speakers normally would. There is no driver flex, no comfort issues, cables are not highly microphonic and JT7 is an excellent headphone in general.
Sound Quality
Pairings – I have paired the new FiiO Jade Audio JT7 with a 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.
JT7 is rather average to drive, not necessarily hard but not easy either. The 18 OHM impedance makes them somewhat sensitive to source noise, while the SPL of 109 dB / Vrms is a high one, but the 92dB/mW is a really low one. I prefer using a high-end source, they have plenty of resolution, detail and can take advantage of a good source.
Overall Signature – FiiO JT7 sounds open, natural, slightly warm, rich and tuned in the same way a pair of good speakers would sound in an acoustically treated room. This includes the somewhat distant voicing, and JT7 is a somewhat V-Shaped pair of headphones, they don’t have necessarily recessed but slightly distant sounding voices, vivid and colorful details, and they render a warm, deep, rounded and full bass. Background instruments have generally a similar volume and level compared to the foreground instruments, and treble is sharp and well defined.
Bass – Starting from the bottom, the low-end of JT7 starts around 40 Hz and it is a bit volume dependent, it sounds louder at higher volumes, but there JT7 goes from sounding a bit distant to sounding a bit forward, so the whole sonic profile changes. Bass is a bit warm, big, bombataastic in general, it keeps music natural and fun. There’s a tiny bit of midbass and upper bass bleed and veil, but it is not distracting and instead gives the music body and a bit of extra oomph.
Midrange – JT7 is brilliant for its midrange, where it sounds open, dynamic, and vivid. It is likely the most vivid pair of headphones that I ever heard in this ultra-low price range. JT7 sounds natural, there’s no obvious peak or dip, they render a really fun type of sound that gives both males and females a vivid and rich presentation. JT7 seems to have a slight male voice tilt, it gives voices a slightly deeper, more powerful presence, likely due to the warmer upper and mid bass, and a slightly lower amount of lower treble.
Treble – At the top end, JT7 is rather bright, sharp and airy. There’s a lot of sparkle, shimmer and air in their sound, with an exceptional extension up to 18 kHz. I love the way JT7 renders metal, rock and Punk music, but the signature and tuning works well for EDM, Dubstep, House and electronic styles of music. A combination of the treble being detailed and midrange being very clean makes JT7 revealing of micro details, to the point where I can easily understand lyrics from death metal songs and bads, like Dethklok and or emo songs like Fall Of Troy.
Dynamics And Textures – With a rather fast impulse response, Jt7 is great for fast, technical music. This is also why it scales a lot with the source, and you can totally tell apart how they render details and impact with FiiO K17 vs FiiO K11, you hear far more details with K17. Dynamic range is a bit compressy, which is to be expected for the price point, JT7 will crush the background vs foreground, quiet vs loud, which is how it can sound really revealing and keep the price low, and we’ve seen quite a few headphones and IEMs do this in this price range.
Loudness Saturation Gradient – FiiO JT 7 sounds different at low and high volumes, they sound distant, quiet and more dynamically wide, at lower volumes. If you pump the volume high, they become really loud, a bit overpowered, a bit brash and they get a deeper, stronger bass, but also a forward, aggro voicing. Overall, it is incredible what JT7 can deliver at each volume level, but those are very different listening experiences and I expect that reviewers will take note of this, or that reviews will describe them differently based on what volume each reviewer enjoys by default. I wrote this review having to keep things quiet late at night so I mostly heard them at quieter volumes.
Soundstage – FiiO J T 7 sounds open in the mids, the same way a pair of stereo speakers would sound, they are far more deep than they are wide, and this type of presentation is actually what most people who idealize stereo systems are looking for. Basically, JT7 renders music in a familiar way, you never feel that you’re wearing headphones, with them playing or just hanging on your heard, JT7 just feels as if there’s no headphones in the experience which is a feat that even some flagships don’t achieve.
Value and Conclusion
FiiO and Jade Audio priced their JT7 extremely low, and right now there is no other pair of headphones in the ~110 USD price range with a similar level of resolution, vividness in the sound, impulse response and richness in the sound. There’s really nothing I would change to the JT7 except for the clamping force which is really high right now, but that might give in a bit in time.
At the end of the day, if you’re looking for a brilliant pair of headphones that sound really open, cost very little but offer a magnific sound, with a vivid midrange, deep and warm bass, and a sharp, airy treble, FiiO Jade Audio JT7 is an excellent choice that will keep you entertained for years to come.
PROs
- One of the highest price / performance ratios available at the moment
- Exceptional construction quality
- Two cables (at this price!)
- Open sound that really is similar to a full-sized pair of headphones
- Wide soundstage
- Natural midrange that is vivid and detailed
- Clean and fun
- Sharp and airy treble
- Lightweight, one of the lightest headphones in the whole world
Cons
- Very tight on my head, strong clamping force
- No passive noise isolation, they are more sensitive than others to room acoustics and ambient noise
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4ixBSlo
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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
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