ike1985 said:

  Guys I am saving up for a pair of JH13 FP's in the near future.  It'll be my first audiophile purchase, I'm going for the best right off the bat because I don't want to buy another pair for a very long time or feel like something better is out there.  Eventually I want to get a DAP & Amp to pair with them.  I don't mind buying used in the for sale section-in fact I prefer to save a few bucks that way. 
 
I am looking to spend a maximum of $800 on a DAP and $200 on an AMP. (AK120's can be had for $800 at times in the for sale section)
 
Can you guys recommend a DAP/AMP combo for the JH13FP's? (Must play 24bit 192khz)
 
Is an amp even necessary for them?

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cylpol1 said:

  Hi guys I have been looking for an iem for another person and they wanted something life the etmoytic hf5. Anything that resembles the clarity and detail with overall great resolution he would be interested in it. The sound signature doesn't matter as much as the clarity. Something that will introduce him into higher end audio would be great for a budget of 150 or under. Something that resembles a single armature earphone sound would be great but it can have any driver and would like for it to be worn down and not over the ear. Thanks guys

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cylpol1 said:

  Hi guys I have been looking for an iem for another person and they wanted something life the etmoytic hf5. Anything that resembles the clarity and detail with overall great resolution he would be interested in it. The sound signature doesn't matter as much as the clarity. Something that will introduce him into higher end audio would be great for a budget of 150 or under. Something that resembles a single armature earphone sound would be great but it can have any driver and would like for it to be worn down and not over the ear. Thanks guys

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ljokerl said:

   

(3A92) JVC Xtreme Xplosives HA-FR301



Details: Flagship of JVC’s Xtreme Xplosives line of bass-heavy in-ear earphones

MSRP: $39.95
Current Price: $40 from amazon.com
Specs: Driver: Dynamic | Imp: 16Ω | Sens: 104 dB | Freq: 5-23k Hz | Cable: 3.9′ L-plug with mic & 1-button remote and CTIA/OMTP switch
Nozzle Size: 5mm | Preferred tips: Comply T400, Stock single-flanges; generic bi-flanges
Wear Style: Straight down (preferred) or over-the-ear

Accessories (3/5) – Single-flange silicone tips (3 sizes) and plastic carrying case
Build Quality (4/5) – The HA-FR301 is built like the other Xtreme Xplosives models and features plastic housings with rubber bumpers, paper nozzle filters, and the usual PVC cable. The cord lacks a sliding cinch and terminates with a well-relieved I-plug. A 1-button remote with mic is positioned at the y-split. On the back of the remote is a switch that toggles between the two common headset wiring configurations – CTIA and OMTP – which differ in where the microphone and ground leads are on the plug. A few other IEMs do this with adapter cables, but a switch is a much neater solution. There aren’t many OMTP phones in the US these days, but this feature does add flexibility for users of some older and/or imported devices
Isolation (3/5) – Good for an earphone of this type
Microphonics (5/5) – Pretty much nonexistent
Comfort (4/5) – The fit is similar to the other XX models – the tubby housings with their rubber bumpers may be a little large for over-the-ear fitment in smaller ears but cord-down wear is very comfortable thanks to the steeply angled nozzles

Sound (6.8/10) – JVC’s Xtreme Xplosives line has always been known for abundant bass, and the HA-FR301 model is no exception – it is the bassiest earphone I’ve heard all year and follows a very pronounced “v-shaped” sound signature with powerful lows and highs.

A prominent mid-bass hump gives the FR301 its enormous impact, which easily beat all of the sets I compared it to, from the VSonic GR02 Bass Edition to the Nuforce NE-700X, in quantity. Extension is great, too, though the sub-bass is not the focus here.

As is usually the case with earphones that have emphasized mid-bass, the low end of the FR301 sounds somewhat boomy. However, the midrange is not thick, which helps the earphones maintain excellent clarity. That’s not to say the mids aren’t noticeably recessed – they are – but thanks to a relatively lean note presentation and plenty of presence in the upper midrange and lower treble, clarity is pretty good, lagging just behind the more balanced VSonic GR02 BE and beating sets such as the Nuforce NE-700X and Fidue A31s. The bass does still bleed up, but not as much as can be expected give the sheer amount present.

The FR301 is a v-shaped earphone, and like many it can sound pretty harsh up top. This is especially noticeable on cymbal hits, which tend to be overly energetic and quite splashy. Sibilance, however, is not bad at all – better than with the VSonic GR02 BE, for instance. The presentation, likewise, can get a touch congested when the heavy bass steps in but is otherwise quite well-rounded. The v-shaped sound sig is an advantage here and keeps the soundstage size above average, whereas bass-heavy earphones with prominent mids and laid-back treble tend to sound more thick and congested.

Select Comparisons

Note: I could have included more head-to-head comparisons but they all came out pretty much the same – compared to the other sub-$50 bass-heavy earphones in my collection, which tend to be either full-bodied and smooth or v-shaped with a low end bias, the FR301 invariably sounds bassier, clearer but more recessed in the midrange, and harsher up top. 

Tekfusion Twinwoofers ($50)

The Twinwoofers are bass-heavy but rather smooth-sounding earphones – a contrast to the significantly v-shaped JVC HA-FR301. In comparison to the Twinwoofers, the low end of the JVCs is more powerful, the mids are much more recessed and not as full-bodied, though also clearer, and the top end is harsher. The warm and smooth Twinwoofers are perhaps more natural tonally, but also quite muddy-sounding in comparison. Overall they are two very different takes on bass-heavy sound; which is better really depends on what the bigger dealbreaker is - lack of clarity or harsh highs.

Brainwavz S1 ($60)

Brainwavz’ S1 model is similar to the FR301 in the general sense of being v-shaped and bass-heavy, but the greater mid-bass power of the FR301 affects its overall sound quite a bit. The S1 is very capable of producing deep, powerful bass but still falls significantly short of the FR301 in sheer slam. The low end of the S1 is tighter, as expected considering the quantity difference. The mids are a little more detailed and nuanced with less bass to get in the way, and the top end is not as harsh as that of the FR301.

Beats by Dre Tour 2.0 ($150)

The latest version of the Beats by Dre Tour is not exactly a top performer in its price bracket, but the warm and smooth sound holds its own against other basshead earphones. Indeed, the Tour 2.0 was probably the closest to the JVC HA-FR301 in bass quantity out of everything I tried. The FR301 is still a touch more impactful, and overall more v-shaped with significantly brighter treble. It sounds harsher, but also quite a bit clearer than the somewhat muffled Beats.

I found that both sound best with music that relies on bass and is sparsely instrumental, such as Hip-Hop and EDM. This tends to mask the shortcomings with the clarity of the Beats, the harsh treble and recessed mids of the FR301, and the overpowering bass of both. With complex tracks the smoother sound of the Tour 2.0 pulls ahead slightly.

Value (8/10) – The JVC Xtreme Xplosives HA-FR301 is an earphone for bassheads, pure and simple. Its v-shaped sound signature keeps muddiness to a minimum and maintains impressive clarity for such a bassy earphone, though it is not without drawbacks. Still, considering the solid build quality, amazingly quiet cable, and remote with a universal smartphone switch, I expect I’ll be recommending these often to bass lovers all over the world.

Pros: Cable has no microphonics; comfortable fit; extremely heavy bass; dual-mode remote compatible with all smartphones
Cons: Extremely heavy bass; sharp highs

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ljokerl said:

Added a review of the bass monster JVC Xtreme Xplosives HA-FR301


The overall ranking has been updated here.

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daveyostrow said:

Joker, its the JVC FX3X you want to review. Bass is something else on those...

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daveyostrow said:

Joker, its the JVC FX3X you want to review. Bass is something else on those...

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lifted andreas said:

Wow they look so shiny, I almost had to put sunglasses on.

JVC seem to love their shiny plastics.

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suman134 said:

  Joker, can you compare the mdr-7550 and ex-1000 or dn-2000.

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ljokerl said:

  Easier with the EX1000 because they're so similar. The 7550 is basically the EX-1000 minus some upper mid/treble presence. It's warmer and smoother while the EX1000 is brighter and carries more treble energy. The EX1000 has a bit more intelligibility and the presentation is more airy, but of course it's more prone to harshness as well.

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rpg2 said:

What a coincidence! I was about ask if the Sony 7550 review would be out soon and there just happens to be a recent comparison of it and the ex1000. This is wonderful because I'm debating between the GR07 Bass Edition or the 7550/EX800.

The 7550 seems like a great value for $200 off amazon (as the ex800) and being very similar to the more expensive ex1000 in comparison the ex600.

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suman134 said:

 me too, i am looking at gr07 classic, and i wonder if 7550 worth it cuz after 30% taxes its close to $300 or so. and i hope these are equal to ex-1000 in SQ.

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