FiiO FG3 Review

Design and Features

• Discreet, plastic look
• Comfortable and lightweight
• Wired connectivity with vast compatibility

The FG3 continues a design philosophy FiiO has maintained with some of its headphones, opting for a more functional and discreet aesthetic. The construction is mostly matte black plastic, and there is a small semblance of branding with a FiiO logo at the base of the headband.

At 315g, this set of cans is also supremely light, helping to make them rather comfortable for extended use in conjunction with their plush, breathable earcups and a springy headband. The low mass also helps these cans’ portability, as does the fact they fold down – the only letdown here is the 3.5mm cable being fixed.

You won’t find any real on-board controls with the FG3, as there isn’t a volume wheel or a mic mute switch. The only thing is a jack for the removable boom microphone, and nothing else.

This FiiO headset connects via 3.5mm with its bundled cable, or you can hook up the USB DAC that’s included in the box, which unlocks software powers, supports up to 192Khz/24-bit audio and powers the cans’ dual drivers in each earcup. It also has on-board controls for mic mute, volume and a button for toggling different EQ presets.

I’ve had no issues using the FG3 with my Honor Magic V3 or my Windows gaming PC in my time with the headset, while it’s also happy working with Xbox and PlayStation consoles, as well as the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

Software support is handled by FiiO’s Control WEB system, a browser-based system which adjusts the headset’s 10-band EQ and the different presets that go along with it. Granted, compared to options from bigger brands, it’s quite basic in its scope, but it works decently well for the customisation on offer.

Audio and Microphone

• Wide, immersive soundstage
• Tight, controlled bass
• Clear, full-bodied microphone

Given FiiO’s audiophile credentials, I had high hopes for how the FG3 would sound, hoping they’d be as adept for games as for music. What’s intriguing with this headset is that FiiO has opted for two drivers per cup, with a 50mm dynamic driver for the low-end and mid-range, and a smaller 16mm driver entirely designed to handle treble.

The upshot is that this FiiO headset sounds rather decent, considering the price. Its soundstage is a strong highlight, with a decently wide and open presentation that gives music room to breathe. Rush’s 2112 is a good example. Its sprawling arrangement keeps each instrument well separated, with plenty of width, while the bongo man is largely where he should be in Earth, Wind & Fire’s September – somewhere to the left in the middle distance.

That width carries over into games. In rounds of Counter-Strike 2 deathmatches where I kept getting pulped, the FG3 makes it easy to place enemy footsteps and gunfire, which is exactly what you want from a competitive FPS headset. This is heightened with the dedicated FPS EQ preset FiiO has given this headset, which emphasises footsteps rather nicely.

Bass is another strong point, with a tight feel and good control. It keeps up with the pace of Rush’s YYZ without the low end turning loose or muddy, and shows the same discipline with the slow-building bottom end of Marillion’s The Invisible Man.

It can be a little overbearing by default, though, and that comes at the expense of the treble. The upside is that the highs never feel sharp. Steely Dan’s Do It Again, a bright and glassy recording, remains smooth and easy to listen to rather than fatiguing, though you may find yourself wanting a touch more sparkle.

I also found the microphone to be a solid performer. It offers good clarity and strong body for a headset mic, plus effective noise rejection and good plosive handling, keeping the focus on my voice rather than my deliberately loud mechanical keyboard.

Should you buy it?