I spent good amount of time with JH13 over the weekend. I used JH13 mostly with iMod/SR71A/ALO super cotton LOD and now this is my favorite.
I also used iHP140/D10(AD8397)/sys-concept setup. With this setup, I see why many people referring JH13 to HD800.
Besides the expansive soundstage, the music reproduction by the JH13 is fairly accurate. I can't find any loose from this clean sound. Also JH13 sounded crystal clear, highly defined and coherent over the entire frequency, this is breath taking. Music instrument sound reproduction is fairly precise and realistic. In this regard, I'd say JH13 would be the best among the three.
When JH13 came out, I asked Jerry about the advantage of twin drivers for each freq band. He replied lightning fast and here is his answer.
"The balanced armatures when coupled lower distortion. They also are working much more efficiently because of 2 drivers doing the work. Each driver does half the work which increases headroom. A concert PA system like a L Acoustics line array will have roughly 64 15" speakers,128 8" speakers and 32 2" high drivers hanging in the air. Also 64 18" sub bass speakers. In order to create headroom which is gain before distortion you need the work load distributed across multiple components. Yes you can distort all of the components but the sheer gain to do so would be at the threshold of pain. Headroom equals clean audio when operated at a normal spl. Jerry"
I think his comment help to understand the accurate sound reproduction of the JH13.
JH13 can be a bit hard for pop/rock with this iHP/D10 setup. But this is not a nature of JH13. The record engineering is hard. JH13s don't lie, it just reproduce music as it is recorded.
With SR71A, JH13 is more forgiving to my ears. Now pops and rocks sounded pleasant and highly detailed at the same time. As for Jazz/Classical, instruments timber is sweet and silky smooth. I very much like piano tones that JH13/SR71A deliver.
Adding some bass by SR71A is a nice touch as the bass quantity of JH13 is just right. Just right is a good thing but sometimes I want somewhat exaggerated.
Before I get JH13, I thought ES3x is more realistic and more neutral&flat comparing to UE11. UE11 is more warmer and musical in short.
But by adding JH13 to the mix, now I am thinking I have to change my view and I must re-arrange the position of the three.