FiiO FG3

The most unusual aspect of the FG3 is its electroacoustic design. Each earcup houses two dynamic drivers measuring 50 mm and 16 mm in diameter, arranged coaxially. The larger driver is primarily responsible for low and midrange frequencies, providing the weight, scale, and dynamics of sound effects, as well as the clarity and substance of dialogue. The smaller unit concentrates on higher frequencies and subtle details that can be important not only for the overall listening experience but also for gameplay itself - footsteps, weapon reloads, and environmental sounds that might reveal an opponent's location. An electronic two-way crossover distributes the audio signal between the two drivers, while their coaxial arrangement is intended to maintain consistent phase behavior and directivity. In other words, FiiO is attempting to achieve two things simultaneously - deliver a large, exciting sound while preserving the spatial information players need to determine exactly where individual sounds are coming from.

The FG3 is also far more than a pair of passive headphones with a microphone attached. Audio processing is handled by a dual-core DSP processor working alongside an integrated digital-to-analog converter capable of handling signals up to 24-bit/192 kHz and a dedicated headphone amplifier delivering up to 80 mW of output power. These features are relevant beyond gaming, since FiiO explicitly positions the FG3 as a versatile headset suitable for a variety of applications. Once a gaming session is over, users should be able to enjoy music or watch a movie through the same headphones without feeling the need to switch to another pair. This is a fairly characteristic approach for a company entering the gaming market from the hi-fi side rather than developing a gaming product first and attempting to improve its audio performance afterward.

One of the DSP system's most important tasks during gaming is generating virtual 7.1 surround sound. This obviously does not mean that the FG3 contains eight physical drivers positioned around the listener's head. Instead, the algorithm processes the two-channel output to create the impression of a more enveloping, three-dimensional soundstage, making it easier to identify the direction from which individual sounds originate. FiiO has prepared several presets tailored to different types of games, including FPS, Action, MOBA, and Rhythm, alongside dedicated Cinema and Music modes. Each profile can emphasize different aspects of the presentation, from positional cues and dialogue intelligibility to explosive effects and overall tonal balance. The idea is to let users adapt the headset to a particular activity without having to manually adjust the equalizer every time they switch from a competitive shooter to a movie or a music playlist.

The customization options extend well beyond these factory presets. The FG3 is compatible with FiiO Control WEB, a configuration interface accessible directly through a web browser. This eliminates the need to install another large application that constantly runs in the background, something many PC gamers will undoubtedly appreciate. The interface provides access to a 10-band equalizer, allowing users to create their own frequency response curves and save the settings directly to the headset. It is therefore possible to prepare one profile optimized for hearing subtle footsteps and other positional cues in first-person shooters, another for music listening, and a third for movies, then switch between them whenever necessary. The manufacturer's materials also show separate sections for Game, Cinema, and Music modes, along with additional microphone-related settings.

Speaking of microphones, the FG3 features a detachable boom microphone equipped with Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC). The system is intended to reduce the amount of background noise transmitted during voice communication, with FiiO specifically mentioning keyboard and mouse sounds as examples of distractions it aims to suppress. The objective is to keep the user's voice intelligible to teammates without requiring a completely silent environment. Another useful feature is sidetone monitoring, which allows users to hear their own voice through the headphones. In the FG3, this function is implemented in hardware to minimize latency, while its level can be adjusted through FiiO Control WEB. In practice, sidetone makes conversations feel more natural and helps prevent the familiar tendency to speak increasingly loudly when wearing well-isolating over-ear headphones. Anyone who has spent an evening gaming next to someone wearing a closed-back headset will probably understand why this feature can be appreciated by people other than the player.

The FG3 is a wired plug-and-play headset supporting both UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0, so no additional drivers are required for normal operation on compatible platforms. According to FiiO, it can be used with Windows computers, laptops, smartphones, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles, Xbox systems, and Nintendo Switch. An inline control module provides convenient access to essential functions without having to leave the game or open a configuration menu. The controls include separate adjustments for volume, sound effect selection, and microphone muting, with LED indicators showing the status of individual functions. Connectivity is provided through USB-C, while a USB-A adapter is included in the package to simplify connection to computers and consoles equipped with conventional USB ports.

Since gaming headsets are often worn for hours at a time, FiiO has also paid attention to the mechanical design. The FG3 is a circumaural, closed-back model featuring replaceable ear pads and a foldable construction that makes transportation and storage easier. The complete headset weighs approximately 315 g (11.1 oz), including the microphone. This does not make it an exceptionally lightweight competitive gaming headset, but considering the presence of two drivers in each earcup, DSP electronics, an integrated DAC, and a dedicated amplifier, the figure is hardly excessive. The manufacturer is clearly targeting more than professional or highly competitive players. The FG3 is primarily intended for people who use the same computer for gaming, listening to music, watching movies, and communicating with others, and who would rather have one versatile headset than several different pairs of headphones scattered across their desk.

The FG3 is an interesting introduction for FiiO from a broader perspective as well. Until now, the company has expanded mainly by entering new segments of the audio market, gradually moving from portable headphone amplifiers into increasingly diverse categories of hi-fi equipment. Gaming, however, brings an entirely different audience with its own priorities and expectations. Good music reproduction is no longer enough. Latency, accurate positional audio, voice communication, accessible controls, and compatibility with multiple platforms become equally important. Rather than abandoning its established engineering background, FiiO has chosen to use it as the foundation for its first gaming headset. The result is a product whose technical architecture, particularly the coaxial dual-driver configuration, electronic crossover, and comprehensive DSP processing, appears considerably more ambitious than that of many straightforward gaming headsets. Whether all these solutions translate into a genuine competitive advantage will ultimately depend on their implementation, but the underlying concept is certainly intriguing. The FiiO FG3 is available now, with suggested retail prices of $69.99 in the United States, €69.99 in Europe, and £69.99 in the United Kingdom. Info and photos by FiiO.