Summary:

The Fiio FT1 offers incredible value with its wooden cups and closed-back punch, but the stock pads often trap heat during long sessions. The Dekoni Hybrid Pads for Fiio FT1 solve this by combining a Sheepskin outer ring for bass isolation with a breathable Velour face for skin comfort. This "best of both worlds" design ensures you maintain the FT1’s signature rumble and noise isolation while staying cool and comfortable for hours of uninterrupted listening.

Designing an Upgrade: Dekoni Audio FiiO FT1 Replacement Earpads

The FiiO FT1 has earned its place as one of the most compelling budget audiophile headphones in recent years. It’s punchy, forward, and engaging, with enough separation and clarity to make it a frequent recommendation for listeners taking their first serious step into high-fidelity audio. For the price, it does a lot right.

That said, even great budget headphones make compromises and earpads are often one of them.

The stock FT1 pads are made from a synthetic material that, over time, will inevitably flake and peel. For many listeners, this happens sooner than expected. Rather than viewing replacement as a simple maintenance task, we approached the FT1 earpads as an opportunity: not just to extend the life of the headphone, but to refine and elevate its sonic character.

Preserving What Works

When designing replacement earpads, restraint is just as important as innovation. One of the quickest ways to unintentionally alter a headphone’s tuning is by changing the distance between the driver and your ear.

For the FT1, we intentionally matched the overall dimensions of the original stock pad. By maintaining a similar ear-to-driver distance, we preserve the midrange character that makes the FT1 so enjoyable, clear, present, and well-balanced. Vocals stay where they should, and the headphone still sounds unmistakably like an FT1, just more refined.

Materials That Last and Feel Better

The next upgrade comes down to materials.

Instead of pleather, we use authentic sheepskin leather and velour, chosen for both longevity and comfort. Sheepskin is naturally more durable than synthetic alternatives and resists the cracking and peeling that plague many stock pads over time. It’s a practical upgrade that helps ensure your headphones age gracefully rather than prematurely.

On the contact surface, we opted for velour. Compared to the original sports-jersey-style fabric, velour is softer, more breathable, and less abrasive against the skin, especially during long listening sessions. Comfort isn’t just about softness, it’s about reducing fatigue so you can stay immersed in the music.

Subtle Acoustic Tuning, Intentional Results

One of the most important and least visible design choices is the sealed interior structure of the pad. This affects the front volume of the headphone, which directly influences how bass and treble interact.

By sealing the interior, the FT1 earpads gently reduce and flatten the low-end response. The result is a bass presentation that’s more controlled and less dominant, allowing the upper frequencies to breathe. Imaging improves, separation becomes more apparent, and the overall presentation shifts toward a lighter, airier sound signature closer to what many might associate with higher end audiophile headphones.

This isn’t about removing impact, it’s about balance. The FT1 still has energy, but with more clarity and openness up top.

Upgrade Now or Tune to Taste

Eventually, most FT1 owners will need to replace their earpads. When that time comes, it’s worth considering an upgrade that not only fixes wear issues but meaningfully enhances comfort and sound.

If you love the FT1 but want a more spacious, refined presentation, the Dekoni Audio FiiO FT1 Replacement Earpads are designed specifically with that goal in mind.

For listeners who want to retain or even emphasize the FT1’s punchy low-end while upgrading to real leather, we also recommend the Dekoni TH900 Sheepskin Earpads or Dekoni 100mm Suede Earpads. Both fit the FT1 earcups and increase internal volume, creating more room around the ear and giving bass frequencies additional space to resonate.

Whichever route you choose, upgrading your earpads isn’t just maintenance, it’s a chance to tailor your FT1 to your listening preferences and extend the life of a headphone that’s already earned its reputation.

 

Visit your local site?