FiiO has just announced the imminent arrival of new gaming headphones to enrich the brand’s catalog. Known above all for its DAPs, DACs and hi-fi headphones, FiiO now intends to tackle the video game market head-on with a series of models specifically designed for gaming. Two references have already been confirmed for mid-year: the FiiO FG3, a high-performance wired model, and the FiiO FG5, a more ambitious wireless version featuring magnetic planar transducers.
FiiO FG3: wired gaming headphones for eSports
The FiiO FG3 marks the manufacturer’s first official foray into the world of gaming headphones. It is a closed-back circum-aural model, based on dynamic transducers, and designed for use primarily on PCs and consoles via a USB connection. This digital interface enables the headphones to directly integrate their own DAC and amplifier, guaranteeing a stable and consistent power level, without depending on the quality of the host device’s sound card. FiiO also confirms support for 7.1 virtual surround sound, a feature that has become almost essential for FPS titles and competitive gamers, where precise spatialization plays a decisive role.
In terms of design, the FG3 adopt a closed format to offer good passive isolation, limiting external noise while reducing sound leakage. They feature the folding headband already used on the FiiO JT7 hi-fi headphones, favoring portability and easy storage in a bag. Wide ear cups and thick ear pads suggest a comfortable fit, essential for long gaming sessions. The headphones are accompanied by a detachable, noise-canceling boom microphone for clear multiplayer communication. The overall look is relatively simple, with a few discreet aesthetic touches, a far cry from the busy designs often found on gaming products.
When it comes to sound philosophy, FiiO says it wants to offer something different from its traditional hi-fi headphones like the FT13. The FG3 don’t just seek neutrality but a balance between impact, clarity, and legibility in order to highlight the effects, voices and sound cues at play. Full specifications have not yet been released, but the manufacturer refers to a mid-range market positioning, with a release planned for May.
FiiO FG5: wireless planar magnetic headphones
With the FG5, FiiO is clearly moving upmarket. This model features a closed-back architecture similar to that of the FG3, but is distinguished by the integration of planar magnetic transducers, still rare in the world of gaming headphones. This technology is renowned for its excellent response speed, low distortion and ability to reproduce great detail, making it a preferred choice among audiophiles. By integrating this type of transducer into gaming headphones, FiiO aims to offer a credible alternative to existing high-end references.
The FiiO FG5 headphones will offer dual wireless connectivity: a 2.4GHz mode via USB dongle, intended for gaming with very low latency, and a Bluetooth mode for more versatile use with a smartphone, tablet or laptop. LDAC codec compatibility is also announced. This hybrid approach positions the FG5 as a mixed-use headphone, capable of serving both gaming and music listening in good conditions.
In this segment, the FG5 will come up against established models such as the Audeze Maxwell 2 and the Asus ROG Kithara, both of which use this planar magnetic technology. FiiO will have to convince users not only with its technological choices, but also with its sound signature, comfort and microphone quality. An internal battery is of course included, with a battery life estimated at around a dozen hours according to initial information, although this figure has yet to be officially confirmed.
As with the FG3, detailed technical specifications are not yet known, but the FG5 is scheduled for release in July, around two months after the wired model. This timetable suggests a more premium positioning, both in terms of features and price.
The FiiO gaming revolution?
With the FG3 and FG5, FiiO is laying the foundations for a genuine gaming range, built around two complementary models: wired headphones geared towards performance and affordability, and a more ambitious wireless model relying on magnetic planar technology. If the manufacturer’s promises are kept, these two references could appeal to gamers looking for an alternative to traditional gaming brands while attracting lovers of good sound to a world often criticized for its audio compromises. Of course, we’ll have to wait for the first tests to judge the real quality of these products, but one thing’s for sure: FiiO is not content with mere hype and seems determined to establish itself as a serious player in the gaming audio market.
Source: Facebook post
