FiiO is a name I typically associate with MP3 and cassette players that my retro-tech-loving heart can't get enough of, but the brand is known far and wide amongst audiophiles and tech nerds for its headphone amplifiers, DACs, and more. Now the brand is taking its audio know-how to the world of headsets, with the launch of the FiiO FG3.
Unlike the best gaming headset brands that have plenty of cups in their arsenal, the FG3 is a first for FiiO, and the brand chose to power it using a coaxial driver arrangement consisting of 50mm and 16mm dynamic drivers. Basically, this means that the drivers radiate sound from the same point, which helps ensure a consistent sound and a wider soundstage for your favorite games. What's more, this fancy driver arrangement is packaged in a $69.99 / £69.99 wired headset form factor, so it's not going to cost you a fortune either.
I'm so used to having to talk about the exorbitant costs of new tech these days that the sight of the FG3's $69.99 / £69.99 MSRP instantly grabbed me. Budget-friendly headsets aren't unique by any means, but I typically find that unique and larger driver arrangements on cups are usually reserved for the more premium pairs, not one that costs far below the $100 price mark.
Of course, the pair has a lot more going for it besides its coaxial drivers. The FG3 also features a 10 Hz to 40 kHz frequency response and is powered by a dual-core DSP chip, which the brand states can support 192kHz/24bit sampling rates, and is, according to the official FiiO website, designed to handle "more complex and intricate audio tasks" which in turn should help lower any latency issues and support a faster response for gaming sound effects. Basically, it sounds like the brand is bringing audiophile know-how to players, and I'm definitely intrigued.
If you're wondering if it'll work with your setup, the FG3 is a wired headset that supports a plug-and-play design alongside PCs running Windows 7/8/10 and 11, smartphones, laptops, the PS4/PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and the Nintendo Switch 2. Yeah, sadly FiiO's first foray into the world of headsets isn't with a wireless pair, but who knows what could be on the cards in the future.
Regardless, I'm pretty eager to put these cups to the test myself, especially as they don't come with their own proprietary software. Instead of adding more software bloat to your PC, FiiO has utilized a web-based FiiO Control WEB platform for personalisation instead. It can allow you to save up to 10 custom band EQ settings directly on the headset, and switch through them as you see fit.
As a heads up, while FiiO states the headset is available now, I've been struggling to find it in stock at both US and UK retailers. The "buy now" button on the official FiiO store leads to a dead end, and I can only find the pair listed for £75.39 at AliExpress, but I'll be sure to update this news with the latest and best shopping links as soon as they become available.
I've also rounded up the best PC headsets for gaming, the best PS5 headsets, and the best Xbox Series X headsets if you want to check out more budget-friendly pairs for your setup.
