Side by side
Sennheiser HD 480 Pro vs FiiO FT1
Sennheiser HD 480 Pro
94 positive (83%) · 13 mixed (12%) · 6 negative (5%)
Trust + time weighted: +79%
Top excerpts
I'd actually start with an HD 480 Pro. Balanced, clean sound and incredibly light/comfortable, which IMHO is an underrated consideration for long hours of usage.
Will second the recommendation for an HD 480 Pro. I just picked up a pair and they're surprisingly good. Some of the best midrange in particular that I've heard on any headphone at any price.
HD 480 Pro if you need a phenomenal closed back. The stock cables are close to 6 feet so they’re perfect for your use case.
I also have large ears and am finding these things a little finicky and uncomfortable. If I get them JUST right they fit well, but if they're even slightly wrong I can never stop noticing them. The sound is incredible though. The treble is just right where it's always audible but never piercing or sibilant.
480 behaves very well with glasses btw, I measured a 2dB drop when wearing glasses
FiiO FT1
577 positive (77%) · 110 mixed (15%) · 63 negative (8%)
Trust + time weighted: +69%
AI summary — not a quote
The FiiO FT1 is highly regarded as a top-tier value contender in the sub-$200 closed-back headphone market. It is frequently praised for a 'buttery' and punchy bass response that remains clean without bleeding into the mids. While it may not match the micro-detail of more expensive open-back models, it is widely recommended for general entertainment and specific genres like metal due to its engaging and 'alive' sound signature.
Pros
- Exceptional price-to-performance ratio, often cited as the best closed-back under $200
- Punchy, high-quality bass that avoids being boomy or bloated
- Strong passive noise isolation for a non-ANC headphone
- Engaging sound signature that excels with metal and general media
Cons
- Lacks the precision and imaging required for competitive gaming
- Early production batches suffered from build quality issues, specifically loose or breaking screws
- Not as detailed as higher-end planar or open-back alternatives
Top excerpts
The FT1 is one of the punchiest headphones I’ve ever heard at *any* price, and it does it without ever sounding boomy or bloated. Absolutely amazing especially for metal. They’d still be an easy recommendation at double what they actually cost.
I'm shocked that we're eight comments in and nobody has mentioned the Fiio FT1. It's basically the bass-heavy closed back to get.
The FT1s aren't just a great-sounding budget set, they're a great-sounding set period, especially for metal. They slam like a truck without ever sounding boomy or bloated.
Save a bit of money and get a Fiio FT1; you're basically not going to find a better closed back for metal until you exceed your budget by a fairly significant margin.
The only name that’s worth trying in the under-200 range is the FiiO FT1, but I don’t like their fake pleather earcups and headband that disintegrate within 18 months.