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toniidesu
318
Oct 29, 2020
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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)
rhpot1991
228
Oct 29, 2020
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toniidesuGlad my recommendation helped you out. I still prefer the wooden series myself but knowing that I EQ them differently I'm kind of cheating there.
toniidesu
318
Oct 29, 2020
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rhpot1991Yes, thank you! The FDX1 has been a real treat. I listen on too many different sources (phone, tablet, work laptop, personal laptop) to bother with EQing, so I need things to sound right without software customization. This is also why I sold the LCD-X, which is capable of great things but was kind of harsh without EQing (I used Sonarworks Reference).
Phuc_Jackson
6
Oct 30, 2020
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toniidesuThank for you review. But i am wondering if xelastec tips give better seal, how do they change the sound? With some reviewa the xelastecs are bass and mid emphasis, while others determined they make the sound brighter than stock. I am so confused about this.
toniidesu
318
Oct 30, 2020
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Phuc_JacksonThat's a good question. Generally a better seal for IEMs will improve bass response, and I'd say the Xelastec tips follow that rule. If the question is about how the Xelastec material affects the sound independent of seal, well, let me pause this response to AB with the included Spiral Dot silicone tips. [steps away]
OK, there's definitely a difference. The Xelastec compound seems to dampen the upper mids and highs a little bit. I didn't notice any change in bass quantity, but the better seal tightens the bass up slightly. Switching to the silicone tips makes everything sound louder. The FDX1 has so much high frequency energy to begin with that they don't sound rolled with the Xelastecs, but the Spiral Dots add back some additional sonic information that I wasn't necessarily missing. I guess you could say the Xelastec darkens the response in a subtle way that complements the nozzle mod, but if you want all the high frequency response you're paying for, then use silicone tips. The great thing about the FDX1 is that you can adjust the sound in various ways, although this is still a pretty in-your-face tuning no matter how you try to tame it. I don't typically like a very bright response, but I still like the FDX1 a lot. It's bright, but it's intense and engaging rather than just shouty. Still, if you're looking for something mellow, this isn't it. It's a demanding sound, but I think it rewards your attention.
(Edited)
Phuc_Jackson
6
Nov 4, 2020
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toniidesuHi, i just tested Xelastec and they seemed to be brighter. I agree that Xelastecs give more bass but they slightly boost treble too. I am going to order some Spiral tips ++ (original tips are +), let see how they sound
WordsandMusic
272
Nov 10, 2020
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toniidesuGreat review. Giving it consideration.
Wasn't sure about your last point: "If you hate them, you can always return them for free." But, Drop only accepts returns of unused gear...right?
toniidesu
318
Nov 10, 2020
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WordsandMusicGlad it was helpful! You raise a good point about Drop returns, but in my experience this just means as long as you don't abuse them or damage the packaging, you can return them without undue hassle. Pro-tip: always use your own eartips when trying IEMs you might return.
Cliff_21
100
Apr 17, 2021
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toniidesuThat's really informative and helpful. Do you think it would be an upgrade over the Er2xr? I wanted to get the Blessing 2 or Kinera Norn but the budget is a bit low.
toniidesu
318
Apr 19, 2021
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Cliff_21Hi @Cliff_21, I actually have the ER2XR and never use it because it's annoyingly hard to drive for something marketed for portable use. Leaving that aside, the FDX1 has a much livelier, more musical sound and a lot more treble energy and bass impact, which you may or may not enjoy. To my ears, the ER2XR is flat to a fault, and is flatter than either the 3XR or 4XR, both of which I have and recommend. As a matter of fact, Amazon has the 4XR for the crazy low price of $175 right now, which is the single best personal audio deal I know of at the moment. The 4XR is perhaps less fun than the FDX1, but it's more accurate and more comfortable. I've never heard or heard of the Kinera Norn, but I bought and returned the Blessing 2. I found the driver housings ridiculously big and the sound was a little too separated for me. Extreme frequency separation is something a lot of people like and associate with sound quality, but to me it's more of a special effect/gimmick that can change recordings for good or bad. I feel the same way about HDR on TVs. Your mileage may vary of course. The bottom line is that the FDX1 is a solid deal at $250 and a good deal at $225, but the ER4XR is a real steal at $175.
(Edited)
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