FiiO has introduced the FT15, a new flagship pair of planar over-ear headphones built around an ultra-thin diaphragm, large 101mm drivers and a comprehensive accessory package. The FiiO FT15 follows the award-winning FT5, combining advanced driver construction with a lightweight design aimed at listeners who want to hear more detail in their favourite recordings, all for $499.
A Thinner Diaphragm
The core of the FiiO FT15 is an 800-nanometer diaphragm, 86.7 percent thinner than the previous generation’s. That nanometer-scale thinness is designed to respond rapidly to a signal, and FiiO has applied its proprietary diamond coating across the full face of the diaphragm to add rigidity without adding mass. The combination of thinness and stiffness is aimed squarely at faster transient response and cleaner high-frequency reproduction, with FiiO citing an extended frequency response up to 40kHz as a result. The FiiO FT15 is also Hi-Res Audio certified by the Japan Audio Society.
Bigger Drivers, Tighter Control
Behind that diaphragm sit 101mm planar drivers with an effective radiating area of 6,443.5mm², a 35 percent increase over the FT5, intended to give recordings a broader, more open soundstage. FiiO pairs the larger drivers with a patented uniform magnetic field design, using custom contoured, high-strength magnets to drive the diaphragm evenly across its surface and suppress breakup and distortion at the source. A precision electroplated voice coil, built using 28nm chip-grade technology, is designed to stay structurally secure under vibration for long-term durability.
Easy to Drive
Despite the flagship engineering, the FiiO FT15 is built to work across a wide range of sources, from dongles and DAPs to hi-fi amplifiers and CD players. A sensitivity rating of 95dB/mW and low impedance of 24 ohms mean it can be driven comfortably by something as compact as the FiiO QX13 USB dongle, while still scaling up with dedicated equipment such as the FiiO K19 desktop amplifier. The included cable uses 6N monocrystalline copper that has undergone cryogenic treatment, and the package covers a 4.4mm balanced connection alongside 6.35mm and XLR-4 adapters for connecting to different headphone amplifiers.
Built for Longer Listening Sessions
The FiiO FT15’s earcups are made from North American FAS-grade black walnut, with each pair showing its own natural wood grain. A carbon fibre headband helps keep total weight to 425g, part of FiiO’s broader push to make planar headphones less fatiguing over long sessions. Two sets of earpads are included for listeners who prefer a different fit or tonal balance, along with a dedicated storage case to protect the headphones between uses.
Pricing and availability
The FiiO FT15 is priced at £499, €499.99 and $499.99, and is available now. Full specifications and ordering details are listed on FiiO’s official product page. The FiiO FT15 sits above the brand’s closed-back FT13 in FiiO’s over-ear headphone lineup, aimed at listeners moving up to a full open-back planar design.
Key specifications
- Model: FiiO FT15 planar over-ear headphones
- Diaphragm: 800nm ultra-thin, full-face diamond coating
- Driver: 101mm planar, 6,443.5mm² effective radiating area
- Magnet design: patented uniform magnetic field with custom contoured magnets
- Voice coil: precision electroplated, 28nm chip-grade process
- Sensitivity / impedance: 95dB/mW / 24 ohms
- Cable: 6N monocrystalline copper, cryogenically treated, 4.4mm balanced with 6.35mm and XLR-4 adapters
- Earcups: North American FAS-grade black walnut
- Headband: carbon fibre
- Weight: 425g
- Certification: Hi-Res Audio (Japan Audio Society)
- Price: £499 / €499.99 / $499.99, available now
