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Drop + JVC HA-FDX1 DUAL CARBON IEM
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Drop + JVC HA-FDX1 DUAL CARBON IEM
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Our latest IEM marks the long-awaited return of JVC audiophile products to the US. With dynamic drivers among the largest in their class, a premium all-metal housing, and three pairs of interchangeable nozzles, the HA-FDX1 delivers next-level sound you can fine-tune to your liking.
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keyboard_arrow_downpurr1n
342
Aug 21, 2019
Drop x JVC HA-FDX1 Dual Carbon IEM
This article is a collection of what I wrote throughout several posts and includes some edits. The original thread is here: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/drop-x-jvc-ha-fdx1-dd-iem-the-second-coming-of.8169/ Before we even say another word about this, we need to start here: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...vc-fd01-a-new-contender-for-best-dd-iem.6500/
@james444 is always digging up random IEMs and modding them with impressive results. He posted a few before and after measurements of the mods, and before long, we purchased a JVC HA-FD01 from a Japan to send along on our loaner program. Most of the folks who heard the loaner, at least those earlier in line, should be aware that I had only implemented a quick and dirty version of the mods. The "authentic" @james444 mods were much more intricate. I think @zerodeefex can tell you guys what a pain in the ass it was for him to do it right. I hindsight, I guess I could have paid my kids (with their smaller fingers) to do the proper mod for me. Anyway, the point I wanted to make is that the proper mods result in better bass quality compared to the quick and dirty version. GENERAL SUBJECTIVE IMPRESSIONS As far as words, not much more to say that already hasn't been said by others Is this a TOTL DD candidate? Sure! Why not? What's interesting is that the highs are fast. I don't think I stated this before, but we are talking about BA fast, but without the BA timbre. And most important: no f'ckery in the highs (and this is my issue with the Sony EX1000). There's no nasty lower treble peak that every DD IEM seems to have. But you guys who already have a modded FD01 already know this. This is a legit TOTL DD for $350? Get this and flip the bird with both fingers when you walk by a goober at the next CanJam wearing bright red IEMs with a white angel silk screened on the faceplates. Sucker... And oh, BTW, I'm retiring my Andromeda (actually my kid had had them for a while now). The FD1X has worked its way into my high-end portable lineup. This will be my fourth IEM in the past decade, the others being UERM (sold), Andro (given to son), Solaris and FD1X (these latter two will be in rotation). As far as the general tonal balance:
BURST RESPONSE AND BASS QUALITY Do I think the bass quality on the same level at the legendary Sony EX1000's? From memory not quite. However, I no longer hear the bass quality as a possible liability as with the FD01. While not the bestest, the bass is solid and something I cannot fathom as a weakness. Texture rendition is better than the Campfire Audio DDs, but speed isn't as fast. Traditional DD sound in that sense. The Campfire Audio DDs could be said to sound like a hybrid between BA and DD tech (the distortion characteristics bare this out somewhat - another topic for discussion.) FD01 125Hz Ten Cycle Burst with Decay
This article is a collection of what I wrote throughout several posts and includes some edits. The original thread is here: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/drop-x-jvc-ha-fdx1-dd-iem-the-second-coming-of.8169/ Before we even say another word about this, we need to start here: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...vc-fd01-a-new-contender-for-best-dd-iem.6500/
@james444 is always digging up random IEMs and modding them with impressive results. He posted a few before and after measurements of the mods, and before long, we purchased a JVC HA-FD01 from a Japan to send along on our loaner program. Most of the folks who heard the loaner, at least those earlier in line, should be aware that I had only implemented a quick and dirty version of the mods. The "authentic" @james444 mods were much more intricate. I think @zerodeefex can tell you guys what a pain in the ass it was for him to do it right. I hindsight, I guess I could have paid my kids (with their smaller fingers) to do the proper mod for me. Anyway, the point I wanted to make is that the proper mods result in better bass quality compared to the quick and dirty version. GENERAL SUBJECTIVE IMPRESSIONS As far as words, not much more to say that already hasn't been said by others Is this a TOTL DD candidate? Sure! Why not? What's interesting is that the highs are fast. I don't think I stated this before, but we are talking about BA fast, but without the BA timbre. And most important: no f'ckery in the highs (and this is my issue with the Sony EX1000). There's no nasty lower treble peak that every DD IEM seems to have. But you guys who already have a modded FD01 already know this. This is a legit TOTL DD for $350? Get this and flip the bird with both fingers when you walk by a goober at the next CanJam wearing bright red IEMs with a white angel silk screened on the faceplates. Sucker... And oh, BTW, I'm retiring my Andromeda (actually my kid had had them for a while now). The FD1X has worked its way into my high-end portable lineup. This will be my fourth IEM in the past decade, the others being UERM (sold), Andro (given to son), Solaris and FD1X (these latter two will be in rotation). As far as the general tonal balance:
So pretty much the Blue Filter is pretty warm without the V-Shape BS? Sounds like my type of sound on the go.Yes, sort of. Still has some upper mid-3-4kHz emphasis, but lower and mid-treble is fine, even slightly sedated with blue. The frequency response plot below is with the blue nozzles. The most amazing thing is that every DD I've heard has issues with the lower or mid treble. This may be the first time that the highs are smooth as silk for a DD! I will discuss more on the sound (bass quality, timbre, etc.) in the measurement sections below. NOZZLES The Drop x JVC HA-FD1X comes with three different nozzles.
- White = stock (same FR as HA-FD01)
- Green = modeled after @zerodeefex's mod tuning
- Blue = like green above, but just slightly pushed down more in the highs
BURST RESPONSE AND BASS QUALITY Do I think the bass quality on the same level at the legendary Sony EX1000's? From memory not quite. However, I no longer hear the bass quality as a possible liability as with the FD01. While not the bestest, the bass is solid and something I cannot fathom as a weakness. Texture rendition is better than the Campfire Audio DDs, but speed isn't as fast. Traditional DD sound in that sense. The Campfire Audio DDs could be said to sound like a hybrid between BA and DD tech (the distortion characteristics bare this out somewhat - another topic for discussion.) FD01 125Hz Ten Cycle Burst with Decay
- Agreeable if not ideal frequency response. Warm with a touch of upper-mids to bring out vocal overtones. Amazingly gentle highs!
- Great timbre: inherent warmth, natural overtones, evident textures
- Impactful and hefty lows.
- Fast but natural transient response.
- Highly resolving of low level information in recordings.
- Not cheap, but IMO priced too low. In many respects, the DROP + JVC HA-FDX1 DUAL CARBON IEM is a groundbreaking product and something that I have waited for a long time.
(Edited)
yablokosmonaut
128
Feb 22, 2021
purr1nI agree with this completely. The timbre and performance unseated my happiness with the Blessing 2, a great IEM in its own right, and I was about to be very happy settling with my end-game at such a relatively low price. The qualities of this excellent DD surpass every BA combo I've heard to date (includes T800, DM8, A7, amongst other hybrids)
I am gnashing my teeth about the fit. I don't see this written often, so I believe I'm a niche case. I know my right ear canal does some weird angled-upward nonsense, but usually it's not a dealbreaker for most fits, and UIEM fits are no issue. But I just can't get a secure seal/fit with these, and sometimes even angling my head removes all sound from the right side. I've tried quite a few eartips including some spinfits, and all sorts. I'd be reluctant to use foams on the regular, but they didn't fix the issue anyway. I'm getting flashbacks to the Tin T2.
Not much value to this post other than to lament that they are exactly as brilliant as purr1n is outlining here. And thus my heart is broken.
CharlesLee
17
Jun 4, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Really good sound with solid build quality (updated)
Had a pair of FD01s with the SBAF audio mod done before purchasing these, liked those so much that I decided to purchase the "official" mod, which are these FDX1s. Right out of the box, the sound of the FDX1s is different. I first heard about the FDX1 and FD01 through Crinacle's review, and I have to say that his comments about the FD01 being noticeably peakier and shoutier treble-wise is accurate. I had gotten used to the harsher treble of the modded FD01s that I have, which becomes somewhat painful if you listen to a lot of EDM. The FDX1s are much less harsh in the treble region, with cleaner, punchier bass that sounds clearer, probably due to how the FDX1 is channel balanced and properly tuned with the dampers by JVC. If you are debating between the FDX1 and FD01, my personal opinion would be to spring for the FDX1s instead, as the cleaner, less shouty treble of my FDX1s has made it that much easier for me to listen to all kinds of music without having to adjust my volume knob too much between different tracks. I have not listened to the popular Moondrop Blessing 2, which is widely considered to be in the same ballpark sound quality-wise, but given the higher price of the Blessing 2 on Aliexpress right now and the smaller, likely more comfortable housing of the FDX1, I would say that the FDX1 is quite a deal for the level of sound quality you get. Comparing this to my Moondrop Starfield, the increase in clarity in the treble is quite significant, although the Starfield has more bass quantity, the FDX1 sounds much cleaner and less emphasised in the bass region. It is an clear upgrade, unless you prefer or require more bass quantity, in which case the FDX1 is definitely not for bassheads. At this price point, the FDX1 seems to be about as good value as you can get for an all-round sound, with better alternatives probably being quite a bit more expensive at this time.
Edit 27/09/20: Unfortunately, one side has become quieter, which means I may need to replace these. The volume has dropped significantly on one side. I am not sure if it is driver failure.
Edit 2: After trying different things on my FDX1 after finding out that Drop support is very slow to respond, I switched the filters and suddenly the volume went back to normal. Turns out the filters or rather the dampers in the filter have come dislodged and blocked the entire audio port, thus the sudden volume drop on one side. This was using the neutral (middle filters). I suspect the filters are not built particularly well on these, but I'm happy that I can fix these and use them again. They still are one of the best sounding dynamics I have used, but beware for those who suddenly experience a volume drop in one side and want to replace these - it could simply be the filters.
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
CharlesLee
17
Sep 10, 2020
I'm actually using the middle (neutral) padded filters and I would say I am pretty sensitive to sibilance, something which I felt the original tune of the FD01 had, but the FDX1 seems much more toned down in the aspect, but not too much that the mids and highs become suppressed. For certain songs I can see why some would prefer more sibilant earphones or headphones as the highs have more of a "shine" or edge to them, but I think the FDX1 is fairly all-rounded in that I can play most music without fear of harshness, something which is quite common on many other earphones. The FDX1 still has most of the positive characteristics of the FD01 without the sibilance, for some reason even the filterless FDX1 also lacks the sibilance of the FD01. Bass wise the FDX1 wouldn't be the best, and sound isolation is quite average, for those uses I much prefer the Moondrop Starfield or KXXS for the heavy bassy tune, which of course comes at the expense of the FDX1's overall detail and resolution especially in the highs.
Stochastic1
0
Sep 11, 2020
CharlesLeeThanks for the clarification. I like what I'm hearing. I really want something that's easy on the bass and don't want too much isolation (for safety and practical reasons).
Are you using yours with the original included tips and cables?
mkubota1
37
Aug 18, 2019
JVC HA-FDX1
A Review… sorta.
(More like a few opinions and observations.)
Good: Excellent resolution, neutral-plus tonality, dynamic driver bass, A+ hardware, and of course- tunability.
Meh: Nozzles just a tad on the large side, a bit heavy.
Given: Hardware is functionally identical to the FD01- Same cable, same fit, same isolation, same tip size- even the same carrying case.
tl;dr: $250 would be a great price for the stock FD01. The FDX1 is better. With this deal you essentially get both with a quick nozzle swap.
- white = stock FD01/brightest/no dampening
- green = somewhere in the middle/some dampening
- blue = the least brightest/most dampening
(Edited)
shotgunshane
127
Aug 18, 2019
What is the FDX1 and how is it different from (or the same as) the FD01?
The Drop FDX1 is essential the same as the FD01 with minor changes and community tuned filters.
Andromeda (with Mee Audio dual flange tips)
Parting Thoughts The modded FD01 has consistently been a recommendation from me, if a buyer is willing to perform the mods. I’ve long thought the modded FD01 was a bargain at $330-$380 imported from Japan at the time, but the FDX1, with it’s changes and factory mod applied filters, pretty much make it the biggest no-brainer I’ve seen in a long time. For anything less than a used/B-stock Andromeda, it will be my go to recommendation.
- Same dual carbon 11mm driver (DLC diamond like carbon inner dome and black carbon outer ring)
- Same great pleather JVC magnetic case
- Same great robust OFC cable; On the slightly thicker, heavier side, yet very soft and pliable; virtually memory free with excellent tangle resistance
- Same CNC machined Stainless Steel housing minus the knurled ridges; housing is a two piece design that swivels to accommodate wearing up or down and any shaped canal
- FDX1 ditches the Titanium and Brass nozzles and comes with 3 Stainless nozzles
- 1 nozzle is empty for stock FD01 tuning and/or modding, and 2 nozzles contain community tuned filters
- Spiral Dot + tips (the best wide bore tips on the market IME)
- Plus has a more diffuse field neutral target tuning
- Plus has thinner overall note weight
- Plus middle treble is more present for more brightness and sparkle overall
- Plus bass tilted to deep bass; FDX1 sounds more balanced in bass with less emphasis in any specific area (deep, mid, upper) in direct comparison; however FDX1 bass feel more elevated overall and is more solid, palpable
- Plus has quicker bass decay
- Plus cleaner but less natural sounding
- Plus vocal placement is similarly forward; male vocals sound thinner but female vocals have more energy than FDX1
- Plus doesn’t have the same perception of depth; less space around instruments and performers; shorter stage in height
- Plus transients are faster; distortion rock guitars have more bite and attack; FDX1 is smoother overall
Andromeda (with Mee Audio dual flange tips)
- Andromeda has noticeably faster transients; better attack; FDX1 sounds smoother, warmer
- Andromeda sounds a good bit more natural than the Plus but still less so than FDX1
- FDX1 bass is slightly thicker, denser with better texture overall; similar extension
- Andromeda treble is overall brighter with better presence, better sparkle
- Andromeda female vocals sound a little more blunted, huskier, less energetic
- Andromeda is wider sounding, more upfront; similar height but slightly less depth and sense of space front to back
- Andromeda distortion rock guitars sound bigger, bolder
- Andromeda is more resolving of background details and treble resolution, whereas FDX1 sounds more nuanced and micro-dynamically resolving in decay of percussion and plucked/strummed strings
- FDX1 sounds more dynamic and effortless from quiet to loud transitions; whereas Andromeda sounds more enveloping, more surrounding my head with a wall of music
Parting Thoughts The modded FD01 has consistently been a recommendation from me, if a buyer is willing to perform the mods. I’ve long thought the modded FD01 was a bargain at $330-$380 imported from Japan at the time, but the FDX1, with it’s changes and factory mod applied filters, pretty much make it the biggest no-brainer I’ve seen in a long time. For anything less than a used/B-stock Andromeda, it will be my go to recommendation.
j444
98
Sep 5, 2019
JVC FDX1: Questions & Answers
Disclaimer: The modded JVC FD01, on which these new FDX1 are based, have been my favorite IEMs for more than a year now. No one should assume, that this is in any way, shape or form, an unbiased Q&A. What’s your background with IEMs? I’ve been an avid IEM collector for many years. In the heyday of my collector’s passion, I must have owned well over a hundred IEMs (I stopped counting at some point). I’ve since downsized my collection, but kept the ones I consider „essential“. That’s why I still have classics like the ER4S, EX1000 or UERM and can directly compare them with more recent IEMs. I read you’re a fan of dynamic drivers? Yup. While I have all sorts of technologically different IEMs in my collection, my preference has slowly, but steadily been shifting towards single DDs over the years . The reason for that isn’t easy to explain and I believe there’s quite a bit of „gut feeling“ involved. Here’s one post, in which I tried to shed a little light on this topic: [QUOTE]„Well, the short answer is, that while I think that (multi-)BAs sound usually clearer and more resolving than DDs, I also think that the timbre of acoustic instruments tends to sound somewhat more artificial on BAs, when compared to DDs or live acoustic music. To borrow a metaphor from photography: BA timbre reminds me of a slightly over-sharpened picture. Impressive, contrasty and eye-popping, but not necessarily all that realistic. Still, note that this is first and foremost just a personal opinion. I arrived at it after years of listening to classical music with many different IEMs... DDs, BAs and Hybrids. And noticing a few things in the process: for instance, that I intuitively and predominantly would pick DDs for classical, whenever I had several different IEMs at hand. And that upon switching from DDs to BAs, I would always need some time to adjust to BA timbre. Whereas the adjustment would happen almost instantly, when switching the other way round from BAs to DDs. Subjective anecdotal evidence, of course. However, it made me stop buying BAs some time ago, since I listen a lot to classical and found myself not using them much. I still like to audition BAs though, and find many of them (like the Andros and PP8) technically very impressive. There are likely also several scientific aspects relevant to the perception of BAs vs. DDs, like differences in transient response, the amount of odd order distortion, or potential phase issues with crossovers. But that's a multi-faceted and very complex subject, that I still don't know enough about to make any bold claims.“[/QUOTE] Another aspect not mentioned here, I think we’re just used to the sound characteristics of moving coil transducers. And that could very well be the reason why many regard them as more „natural“ than other driver types. Think about it, most home speakers and headphones are based on moving coil. And most recorded music is mixed and mastered with moving coil monitoring equipment. So, if you want to hear things „like the artist intended“, what would be more natural than choosing moving coil (DD) IEMs over others for music reproduction? And you’re obsessively modding these DD IEMs? I hope not obsessively so. But when I hear something like the stock FD01s, which sound 90% close to my idea of perfect, then I can’t help but try to go the extra mile. That’s how the FD01 filter mod originated, and after some trial and error, I settled on those alcohol swabs as DIY-filters. Some of my best audio friends took up the mod suggestion and liked it. Well, and the rest is (audio community) history, a story that @shotgunshane has already, very eloquently, told in his review. Ok, so the modded FD01 (and the FDX1) are "perfect" now? Not quite. As always, the „extra mile“ turned out longer than expected. And like all IEMs, the JVCs come with compromises of some sort. There‘s still a bit too much upper mids boost over what I‘d call perfect. And bass falls just a tad short of the EX1000, which still have the best bass of all DDs I’ve heard. But overall, the FDX1 come very close to my ideal sound signature and are my favorite DDs out of those I’ve heard. Personally, I prefer them over some much more expensive DDs, like the Vega, Xelento and IE800S. Back to the filters, what’s the deal with that hole in the middle? Well, it’s there for a reason. In my modding experiments, I noticed that if dampers occupy the entire nozzle, they cause a slight loss of bass clarity and dynamics. Therefore I tried these tube-shaped dampers, and found they do the job just as well, but without that negative side-effect in bass . How would you describe the sound signatures of all three filters? First of all, the three filters differ only in upper mids and treble. But since we perceive sound signatures as a whole, the FDX1 also seem to get a bit warmer and bassier as you move from the white to the green and the blue nozzles. The white nozzles have no damper and hence sound leanest in bass and most forward in upper mids and treble. They create an impression of very high resolution, but that’s partly due to what I call „fake detail“ (an overemphasis on high frequencies). They can also sound quite fatiguing with music that has a lot of energy in the boosted range, like the brass section of a classical orchestra in full blast. However, for low volume listening at nighttime, they may still prove useful. And last not least, they can easily be modded with DIY-filters if desired. The green nozzles have been tuned after my recommendation for FD01 „reference filters“. I would describe the sound signature as well-balanced, with a tasteful slight bass lift and a touch of warmth. The mids are mostly neutral with a moderate upper mids bump. And treble is smooth, free of sibilance and non-fatiguing, but with good presence and extension. There’s no „fake detail“ with these nozzles, just very good clarity and resolution throughout the full spectrum. These are the most versatile nozzles in my book, and they sound excellent with a wide range of music. The blue nozzles are just a smidgen more pushed down in the highs and sound more relaxed than the green ones, while clarity and detail remain almost the same. They're the most warm-ish and laid-back sounding nozzles, and also my favorites for outdoors, where a slight tilt towards the low end comes in handy. But Head-Fi’s measurements show the white (empty) nozzle actually closer to their target than your „reference“ filters? Yes, I’ve seen that. What can I say... with regards to upper mids and lower treble, I’d call that target into question. Most people who’ve heard the stock FD01 (or empty nozzle FDX1) would agree that upper mids are clearly too much forward. And that we really don’t need even more low treble in the sibilance range, like the Harman IE Target would suggest. But in the end, FDX1 buyers will get three different pairs of nozzles and will just use the ones they like best. So, regardless of whether they prefer the Harman IE Target or a more downsloping signature in the high range, the FDX1 will come with a matching nozzle for them. How about bass? Is it really better on the FDX1? That’s a tough one. I’ve spent hours A/B comparing the FDX1 to the modded FD01, but without reaching a solid conclusion. However, the majority of experienced listeners who heard both, confirm tighter bass on the FDX1. And there are burst and impulse measurements that seem to back their assessment. Therefore I tend to agree with the majority, even though I personally didn't really catch a significant difference. So, what’s your advice to current FD01/FD02 owners? Are the FDX1 a worthy upgrade? Another tough question. It’s actually easier for me to answer that for FD02 owners, since you'd get a better cable and the option to swap nozzles. Plus, the micropore tape mod on the FD02 is less robust than the filter mod on the FD01, so the JVC-made filters on the FDX1 would be a more substantial upgrade in robustness for FD02 owners. For owners of properly modded FD01s, the upgrade would obviously be a less significant one. Needless to say, the professional JVC-filters have excellent channel matching and could improve imaging compared to DIY-filters... particularly, if you don't have a measurement rig to ensure consistency of your work. As for bass... I’d probably say that those, who‘re satisfied with bass quality on their FD01, don’t have much reason to upgrade to the FDX1. But for those, who feel that bass sounds a little too loose on their FD01, the FDX1 might well be worth a try. I’ve been thinking about buying and modding the FD01. Should I go for the FDX1 instead? Are you kidding me? Why would anyone buy and mod the FD01 any more, if they can have the professionally damped FDX1 for less money instead? Thanks to @shotgunshane, @CEE_TEE and the team, the FD01 filter mod should be pretty much obsolete by 9/5/2019!
Disclaimer: The modded JVC FD01, on which these new FDX1 are based, have been my favorite IEMs for more than a year now. No one should assume, that this is in any way, shape or form, an unbiased Q&A. What’s your background with IEMs? I’ve been an avid IEM collector for many years. In the heyday of my collector’s passion, I must have owned well over a hundred IEMs (I stopped counting at some point). I’ve since downsized my collection, but kept the ones I consider „essential“. That’s why I still have classics like the ER4S, EX1000 or UERM and can directly compare them with more recent IEMs. I read you’re a fan of dynamic drivers? Yup. While I have all sorts of technologically different IEMs in my collection, my preference has slowly, but steadily been shifting towards single DDs over the years . The reason for that isn’t easy to explain and I believe there’s quite a bit of „gut feeling“ involved. Here’s one post, in which I tried to shed a little light on this topic: [QUOTE]„Well, the short answer is, that while I think that (multi-)BAs sound usually clearer and more resolving than DDs, I also think that the timbre of acoustic instruments tends to sound somewhat more artificial on BAs, when compared to DDs or live acoustic music. To borrow a metaphor from photography: BA timbre reminds me of a slightly over-sharpened picture. Impressive, contrasty and eye-popping, but not necessarily all that realistic. Still, note that this is first and foremost just a personal opinion. I arrived at it after years of listening to classical music with many different IEMs... DDs, BAs and Hybrids. And noticing a few things in the process: for instance, that I intuitively and predominantly would pick DDs for classical, whenever I had several different IEMs at hand. And that upon switching from DDs to BAs, I would always need some time to adjust to BA timbre. Whereas the adjustment would happen almost instantly, when switching the other way round from BAs to DDs. Subjective anecdotal evidence, of course. However, it made me stop buying BAs some time ago, since I listen a lot to classical and found myself not using them much. I still like to audition BAs though, and find many of them (like the Andros and PP8) technically very impressive. There are likely also several scientific aspects relevant to the perception of BAs vs. DDs, like differences in transient response, the amount of odd order distortion, or potential phase issues with crossovers. But that's a multi-faceted and very complex subject, that I still don't know enough about to make any bold claims.“[/QUOTE] Another aspect not mentioned here, I think we’re just used to the sound characteristics of moving coil transducers. And that could very well be the reason why many regard them as more „natural“ than other driver types. Think about it, most home speakers and headphones are based on moving coil. And most recorded music is mixed and mastered with moving coil monitoring equipment. So, if you want to hear things „like the artist intended“, what would be more natural than choosing moving coil (DD) IEMs over others for music reproduction? And you’re obsessively modding these DD IEMs? I hope not obsessively so. But when I hear something like the stock FD01s, which sound 90% close to my idea of perfect, then I can’t help but try to go the extra mile. That’s how the FD01 filter mod originated, and after some trial and error, I settled on those alcohol swabs as DIY-filters. Some of my best audio friends took up the mod suggestion and liked it. Well, and the rest is (audio community) history, a story that @shotgunshane has already, very eloquently, told in his review. Ok, so the modded FD01 (and the FDX1) are "perfect" now? Not quite. As always, the „extra mile“ turned out longer than expected. And like all IEMs, the JVCs come with compromises of some sort. There‘s still a bit too much upper mids boost over what I‘d call perfect. And bass falls just a tad short of the EX1000, which still have the best bass of all DDs I’ve heard. But overall, the FDX1 come very close to my ideal sound signature and are my favorite DDs out of those I’ve heard. Personally, I prefer them over some much more expensive DDs, like the Vega, Xelento and IE800S. Back to the filters, what’s the deal with that hole in the middle? Well, it’s there for a reason. In my modding experiments, I noticed that if dampers occupy the entire nozzle, they cause a slight loss of bass clarity and dynamics. Therefore I tried these tube-shaped dampers, and found they do the job just as well, but without that negative side-effect in bass . How would you describe the sound signatures of all three filters? First of all, the three filters differ only in upper mids and treble. But since we perceive sound signatures as a whole, the FDX1 also seem to get a bit warmer and bassier as you move from the white to the green and the blue nozzles. The white nozzles have no damper and hence sound leanest in bass and most forward in upper mids and treble. They create an impression of very high resolution, but that’s partly due to what I call „fake detail“ (an overemphasis on high frequencies). They can also sound quite fatiguing with music that has a lot of energy in the boosted range, like the brass section of a classical orchestra in full blast. However, for low volume listening at nighttime, they may still prove useful. And last not least, they can easily be modded with DIY-filters if desired. The green nozzles have been tuned after my recommendation for FD01 „reference filters“. I would describe the sound signature as well-balanced, with a tasteful slight bass lift and a touch of warmth. The mids are mostly neutral with a moderate upper mids bump. And treble is smooth, free of sibilance and non-fatiguing, but with good presence and extension. There’s no „fake detail“ with these nozzles, just very good clarity and resolution throughout the full spectrum. These are the most versatile nozzles in my book, and they sound excellent with a wide range of music. The blue nozzles are just a smidgen more pushed down in the highs and sound more relaxed than the green ones, while clarity and detail remain almost the same. They're the most warm-ish and laid-back sounding nozzles, and also my favorites for outdoors, where a slight tilt towards the low end comes in handy. But Head-Fi’s measurements show the white (empty) nozzle actually closer to their target than your „reference“ filters? Yes, I’ve seen that. What can I say... with regards to upper mids and lower treble, I’d call that target into question. Most people who’ve heard the stock FD01 (or empty nozzle FDX1) would agree that upper mids are clearly too much forward. And that we really don’t need even more low treble in the sibilance range, like the Harman IE Target would suggest. But in the end, FDX1 buyers will get three different pairs of nozzles and will just use the ones they like best. So, regardless of whether they prefer the Harman IE Target or a more downsloping signature in the high range, the FDX1 will come with a matching nozzle for them. How about bass? Is it really better on the FDX1? That’s a tough one. I’ve spent hours A/B comparing the FDX1 to the modded FD01, but without reaching a solid conclusion. However, the majority of experienced listeners who heard both, confirm tighter bass on the FDX1. And there are burst and impulse measurements that seem to back their assessment. Therefore I tend to agree with the majority, even though I personally didn't really catch a significant difference. So, what’s your advice to current FD01/FD02 owners? Are the FDX1 a worthy upgrade? Another tough question. It’s actually easier for me to answer that for FD02 owners, since you'd get a better cable and the option to swap nozzles. Plus, the micropore tape mod on the FD02 is less robust than the filter mod on the FD01, so the JVC-made filters on the FDX1 would be a more substantial upgrade in robustness for FD02 owners. For owners of properly modded FD01s, the upgrade would obviously be a less significant one. Needless to say, the professional JVC-filters have excellent channel matching and could improve imaging compared to DIY-filters... particularly, if you don't have a measurement rig to ensure consistency of your work. As for bass... I’d probably say that those, who‘re satisfied with bass quality on their FD01, don’t have much reason to upgrade to the FDX1. But for those, who feel that bass sounds a little too loose on their FD01, the FDX1 might well be worth a try. I’ve been thinking about buying and modding the FD01. Should I go for the FDX1 instead? Are you kidding me? Why would anyone buy and mod the FD01 any more, if they can have the professionally damped FDX1 for less money instead? Thanks to @shotgunshane, @CEE_TEE and the team, the FD01 filter mod should be pretty much obsolete by 9/5/2019!
phaysaal
76
Sep 15, 2019
The comparison graphs are really helpful. Do you have anything to say about FR comparison with er4xr? It would be very appreciated.
j444
98
Sep 15, 2019
phaysaalI haven't heard or measured the er4xr and can only comment based on Crinacle's FR comparison tool:
https://i.imgur.com/iSdauPe.png
I'd expect the FDX1 to sound noticeably stronger and more textured in bass (yet still well-controlled). Female vocals will probably sound a tad less intimate, since the upper mids emphasis is a little higher up in the FR. Treble should actually sound pretty similar, with possibly slightly better air and openness on the JVCs.
Soundstage will likely be larger with the FDX1, but isolation, of course, better with the er4xr.
toniidesu
320
Oct 29, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
I'll admit, I was expecting to send these straight back. I'd been burned by the bass-monster HA-FW01 and was leery of rolling the dice on another set of JVC earphones, but @rhpot1991 recommended these to me in the comments section of of the HA-FW1800 and he seemed to know what he was talking about. I then agonized over whether to get these or the "stock" HA-FD01. I did some more reading on SBAF and in the reviews to understand the details of the mod that later became the FDX1, then I saw that the legendary Crinacle rated these highly. I've found that his takes are the most accurate and least hype-infected of any reviewer, so that settled it. I ordered these, still expecting to be underwhelmed.
As soon as I plugged them in, the sound dropped my jaw. I've heard a lot of earphones, but these tower above most everything else I've heard, with the exception of the Etymotic ER4XR, Moondrop Blessing 2, and Campfire Andromeda. But those all cost more and don't sound as well balanced across the frequency range. Yes, Andromedas have more soundstage and treble detail, Etys are Etys (flat, crisp, precise), and the Blessing 2 gives you more instrument separation and range. But at $250, these are a smoking deal and probably the best value in personal audio outside of the HD 6XX, which remains the reigning people's champ.
These feel like a true desert island purchase. The build quality is reassuringly solid (mind that you don't drop these heavy-ass steel earpieces on your phone screen/coffee table/windshield), the cables are replaceable, and so are the nozzles. I always find modular designs preferable, and this is the most modular earphone design I've seen. Comfort is better than you would expect and way better than the awkward FW01, although I wouldn't want to wear these out on a cold day because of the metal housing. Said housings are a surprisingly ergonomic shape, and you can really fine-tune the fit with a combination of the rotating nozzle and option to wear these over the ear (recommended because of the weight) or with the cable down, old school. I can (and do) wear these for hours without discomfort, which is a rare achievement for any IEM design.
Sound-wise, I'm pleased to report there's no family resemblance to the bloated FW01. The FDX1 is a completely different animal. It's crisp, clear, and super resolving. There's something effortless about the FDX1's imaging and speed that just blows me away. They sound layered and deep (but like almost all IEMS, not wide). Notes have the right weight and the tonality is very natural. These are really just a pleasure to listen to, regardless of genre. Honestly, these have rendered my (small) IEM collection obsolete. There just aren't many situations where I'd reach for anything else. These are easy to drive (though not as super-sensitive as the FW01, and therefore worse for PS4 use), sound beautiful, don't cost a whole paycheck, and let me use an aftermarket mic cable for phone calls and work meetings. They really check all the boxes, and I would recommend them to anyone except insatiable bassaholics. For me, they provide plenty of bass, but I'd always rather have too little than too much.
You're probably wondering about the different nozzles. Unless you're an uncompromising treble addict, I'd steer clear of the "stock" nozzles with no stuffing. They sound good, but the modified nozzles just sound better. The stuffing eliminates the occasional harshness, shrillness, and sibilance in the treble without any discernible loss of resolution. The difference between blue and green is VERY slight to my ears, and I suspect that if someone swapped one for the other while I wasn't looking, I'd probably never notice. I went with green (mostly based on the simple logic that if some of the white fuzzy stuff is good, more must be better), but again, it's really a toss-up. Either modded nozzle is much more pleasant (because less fatiguing) than the stock one.
I've been really surprised by the polarizing reviews for these. I would chalk it up to one or both of two factors. First it's often hard to get a good seal with IEMs, and unless you have a large collection of aftermarket eartips (guilty), it may be impossible for you to get a good seal with these. Any IEM without a proper seal in your ear will sound awful, regardless of how much it cost. This is why you see way more extreme reviews for IEMs than full-size headphones. Every IEM is either the best ever or "total crap, wtf, no bass" etc. In the case of the FDX1, the seal issue is especially acute because the weight and size of the housings means gravity is going to pull them right out of your ears unless you get a perfect seal. I'm using these, which cost too much but work great. If I only had the stock eartips to work with, I might've had to send these back. So that's one reason I think people don't like these. The other is that they're not a fun tuning per se. They're not V- or U- or W-shaped; they're on the brighter side of neutral with a boosted presence region (verifiable in the FR graph). They sound like a precision instrument rather than a boombox for your ears, and I guess that's not appealing to everyone. As a fan of Etymotic's "diffuse field" ultra-neutral sound, these are fun and musical to me. It's all relative, right? :)
Anyway, I'd recommend these to anyone interested in high-end sound at a midrange price. If you hate them, you can always return them for free. All I ask is that you get a proper seal in your ears before you judge them!
(Edited)
ShazMan
163
Dec 17, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
At last!
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
Grifficus
38
Jan 2, 2020
ShazManI interested how they work out with your Liquid Platinum when you get a chance to try them out.
ShazMan
163
May 13, 2022
ShazManProbably a bit late in my response. But they sound "fine" I suppose. The only thing I noticed was maybe more mid detail and rolled off highs, but with the right filament the highs were already fairly tame to begin with. These are just decent all-round headphones no matter where you throw them. Just gotta give them enough "juice" to shine.
joeftan
388
Jan 19, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
raf.device
19
Apr 24, 2021
checkVerified Buyer
I have compared them to bunch of popular IEMs including:
- Moondrop Blessing 2 (regular, not dusk edition).these IEMs have better soundstage and separation than JVCs but treble is just painful and bass is too weak for my taste, also they are very heavy and JVCs are more comfortable.
- Moondrop Starfield: JVC's are better in every category but starfields are much more comfortable and overall are very good IEMs for money.
- Just to for fun I compared them to my Momentum 2, I guess I can predict that momentums were blown to dust by JVCs.
- Thieaudio Legacy 4, no sound stage, weak bass, honestly one of the worst IEMs I have tried
- TIN hifi P1: nice and comfortable, soundstage is there, but too bright for me. Bass is weak.
(Edited)
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Overall Impressions Wow. When I first heard about the nature of the product and the fact that JVC took input from a hobbyist audiophile community I was interested. When I started reading through the thread I got my hopes up. The HA-FDX1 delivers on all fronts. I'm sensitive to highs and I have some products here that cost a mint that just don't do it me for personally. I need some bottom end in my music too. Stuff like the Focal Elex and the Noble Kaiser 10s are lost on me. I appreciate the detail and the technical execution but the presentation just isn't my flavor. So when I heard this gave you options to reign in the highs - I was similarly hopeful and skeptical.
So...About These Nozzles 3 options here. White - Unfiltered factory tune. No dampening - nothing to reign in the highs. While these still have a sustained, round, tonal bass, AND sub bass to stand up against them, this would be too much for me. Green - A bit of dampening that gives more of the "consumer neutral" v-shape. Still have some energy on the highs. I like these for gaming actually. Blue - Heavy dampening. Highs are softened considerably. These are my go-to for music listening. This also depends on the amp I'm using. Off my phone - which drives these EASILY - these are automatic because the Note 9 doesn't have a lot of character. Off some of my darker or warmer amps, I may opt for green as the combo of the darker amp and these nozzles may push the high too far in the other direction. Big Takeaway? These make a difference. Nothing to be skeptical about here. The fact that you can almost instantly tailor the sound depending on what you're doing or what other you're using is amazing. I can't overstate it.
Sound I'm a headphone guy. My experience with IEMS is very limited. In house, I have the Kaiser 10, the NU Force EDC, MEE Pinnacle PX, and the Philips Upbeat wireless (review unit). My headphone collection is fairly fleshed out. Close to 30 pair now so I know what I like in terms of tuning but I can't you a lot of detailed comparisons and measurements. I like bass. I'm not afraid to admit it. Problem is that most consumer headphones tuned to deliver bass usually fall short in areas like detail, layering, sound stage, imaging...Stuff that usually excels in THOSE areas usually lack in the bass department. So first things first - these have big, round, low bass. Not fast and punchy, not athletic, lowwww and loooong - these hit. BUT - they also have high-mids and highs. They have sound stage. They have imaging. They have detail. They have an airy spacious quality that makes me think immediately of the Fidelios. I'm in love with these. Blue tips and the Burson Playmate with the Everest Op Amp config makes want to literally never leave my desk. The "shine" you get off the ESS9038 just rubs these the right way. These are anything but boring - I've been listening to everything I can get my hands on for the past couple weeks. Cons? I mean....I review a LOT and its extremely rare that I can't find fault with a product. Put a gun to my head? They're heavy. Like 23 grams on my scale with a bit of cable. BUT - they're also extremely comfortable. I usually don't like things in my ears at all. These tips are great - JVC Spiral Dot+ - really thick and gummy. Cable is a work of art as well - I prefer to wear these over ear. They do have a tendency to get fiddly after a while if I wear them down.
In Closing Amazing. A combo I really never get in headphones is air, sound stage, AND bass....like *never* subbass. There is a lot of gear I would part ways with to be able to gift these to loved ones. You start with such a solid product, a tune that feels like it was literally custom tailored to how I enjoy music, and THEN give me the option to tailor the audio in a meaningful way? $250? $280? No brainer. Suitable for gaming as well? This is probably the only pair of IEMS I would personally ever need. THANK YOU to James444 and the crew from SBAF. Thanks to CEE TEE for pursuing this and to JVC for being open to it. The community won with this one. Rating 5/5