Open Back Headphones, Less than $150? Jade Audio JT7 Review

It seems that the price point for a good open-back headphone starts in the $200 range. What if there was a more affordable option? Jade Audio, a sub-brand of FiiO, has the perfect solution for budding audiophile and listeners on a strict budget. the Jade Audio JT7 is a new open-back headphone that retails for the low price of $119.99. At a price like that, you have to wonder: what's the quality like? In this review, we'll analyze everything from accessories, comfort, and sound quality to determine if this headphone is truly the best value you can get. 

If you're looking for an open-back that is easy to pack and take on the road, look no further than the JT7. The JT7 is collapsible and folds up at two point on the headband to be super compact. With the handy storage bag, it is easy to carry it in a bag or take with you to various studios. The headphone itself is relatively small, but the earcups are large to fit over your ears easily for an immersive listen. The earpads are soft and sit comfortably over your ear, and the clamping force is just tight enough to feel stable on your head without being too much pressure. I was able to wear these for a couple hours and not get very fatigued, especially with the addition of glasses. 

The JT7 comes with two different cables, one with a 3.5mm connection and another with 4.4mm. This is a great way to ensure smooth integration into any setup, especially with 4.4mm cables being the new standard in audiophile spaces. It's easy for the JT7 to become part of any setup, and with the all black aesthetic, it doesn't become an eyesore on a desk. 

You can easily drive the JT7 with portable DACs and amplifiers, though FiiO recommends using a desktop setup to get a stronger and more dynamic bass response. I paired the JT7 with FiiO amplifiers like the QX13 and the K13 R2R and was met with great synergy for easy listening. Even using amplifiers like the iFi GO Blu Air provided ample power and clear sound quality for all-day listening. 

• Model: JT7
• Colors Available: Black
• Headphone Type: Open-back Planar
• Driver: 95x86mm planar magnetic 
• Frequency Response: 7Hz - 40kHz
• Impedance: 180 Ω @ 1kHz
• Sensitivity: 109 dB/Vrms @ 1kHz
• Cable Material: High-purity oxygen-free copper
• Cable Length: ~1.5m
• Headphone Connector: Dual 3.5mm TRS
• Weight: Approx. 318g
• Audio Plug: 3.5mm, 4.4mm

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

Onto the listening! The JT7 offers a pretty impressive sound profile for its price point. The soundstage is fairly wide, though comes in and is a little more narrow than what you'd expect out of an open-back headphone. Still, the imaging is fairly decent for you to be able to place instruments in the stereo field with ease. The layers of instruments were presented with good depth to make the soundstage expand backwards just as much to the side. The height of frequencies was minimal in comparison, but the presentation of everything in the JT7 was three-dimensional to make it analytical. 

As for the sound signature itself, the JT7 is wonderfully balanced. Between a thick bass response and a bright treble, the JT7 provides a nice mix of analytical balance as ell as dynamic entertainment for your listening. The naturalness in the instrument reproduction would make this a good contender for a mixing or editing headphone, but I could see this being used more for enjoyment first. The JT7 proves to be a great companion no matter what your listening environment is. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

Bass in the JT7 has a thick body to give the signature a great foundation. It is warm and creates excellent depth in the soundstage, but doesn't lose too much detail. The sub-bass does get a little muddy at points, losing clarity in favor of getting more depth or body in the frequencies. The extension allows for good texture to come out of those lower-end instruments, like cellos and bass strings. Kick drums get an extra warmth to them, which is nice to hear in an open-back headphone. For people who like a powerful and very present low end, the JT7 delivers extraordinarily well so you can feel the beat just as much as hear it. The bass can be a bit forward in some hip hop tracks, but people who like a really strong and forward sound will find it very enjoyable as opposed to overwhelming. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

One part of the JT7 I was impressed with the most was the clarity and detail in the midrange. There was a slight forwardness in this range, but not enough to make it a V-shaped signature. This puts vocals at the front and center, which makes the immersive quality of these headphones all the more present. I liked the timbral and textural detail the midrange provided, and it made instruments easily recognizable. The narrowness of the soundstage was most noticeable here, as most of the instruments started to filter backwards and get stacked into layers as opposed to spreading out horizontally. Still, the JT7 handled large ensembles of instruments fairly well, and you could hear all the elements clearly. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

At the top end, the treble shines and creates a good balance between the lows and highs. The treble is airy and lets top-end frequencies dissipate and fade away naturally. There is a certain sharpness that some frequencies hit, but with the thick low end, the two balance each other out well to create an even listening experience. I liked how the treble provided ample detail throughout the entire signature, especially given the just powerful low end. The treble lifts the entire signature to keep it from becoming too heavy, so the balance comes through nicely. I could see the treble being a bit too sharp in certain tracks, mainly some with more sibilant vocals and high strings. In every other genre, the treble does an excellent job in rounding off the signature to be balanced and dynamic. 

In short, the Jade Audio (FiiO) JT7 is one of the best value headphones to be on the market in 2026. You might be thinking there's a catch or somethin amiss with the JT7 to be priced at only $120, but you'll be pleased to see that isn't the case. The JT7 sets a new standard for introductory audiophile listening, with balanced sound that is detailed and dynamic. You can use this as a causal listening headphone or as a quick solution for when you need a mixing headphone. For the price point, you can't go wrong. 

You can get the Jade JT7 at Audio46.