JVC HA-FXZ 100/200 - Page 95

I'm beginning to have issues with review posted earlier about these being absolutely a "basshead" IEM. This label has a negative connotation to it. I think that headfiers are used to either good/great sounding IEM's with limited bass response or bassy sounding IEM's with different levels of achieving a full range sound. But most fail miserably. Not many, if any IEM's got the full range thing to an audiophile level. Heck there are very few full range speakers and almost no 2.1 systems that achieve this feat. And the speakers that have gotten it correct are $18,000 and up. Integrating 100hz and below seamlessly is something that some audio engineers spend a lifetime trying to perfect.

Here is an example of what I'm saying.

No audiophile would consider these basshead speakers: Revel Ultima Salon 2's.

They produce amazing amazing, lush powerful bass. I'm using these because I have auditioned these, but there are many others to choose from.

But, if you got this same sound into an IEM, most Head-Fi'ers would slap a "basshead" label on it regardless of how well they achieved those frequencies. This level of sophistication is foreign to most. They hear and feel 25hz and automatically it is a "basshead IEM. But, in audiophile world they are just know as "full range" speakers.

From what I have read, I'm thinking that the 200's are just that. A true "fullrange" IEM because they got the bass perfect. Instead of distracting from the sound, it compliments the sound. It actually adds to the realism of the mids and highs, like the Salon 2's.

I believe(correct me if I'm wrong), JVC has produced a new level of IEM. Something that can be considered "fullrange"  but not "basshead". It would be insulting to slap that label on the Salon 2's and from the descriptions of the 200's sound it isn't an accurate label.

I may be completely wrong. I haven't listened to the 200's yet. I am going off what I have read and I am mainly hoping this is true because I have mine coming in the mail.

Maybe I'm getting old, but as a fair-weather audiophile when I hear someone say, "well, it's a basshead IEM, but it's a great basshead IEM" I have this pavlovian response that's along the lines of hearing "she's a blond, but she's really smart!"

Who makes 'basshead' IEMs?  Are those companies revered, upper tier?  What about 'treblehead' IEMs?  I'm not talking about outliers.

I could be wrong on this.  Time has a way of changing these perceptions.  Perhaps it's worthy of a poll.

EDIT: Just to be clear here, I'm positing the term basshead is a derogatory term amongst audiophiles.  It seems you're implying that it's subjectively neutral meaning that it's just an attribute.  But thinking in the other direction a bit further, I've heard people describe themselves as trebleheads, but I don't recall hearing listening devices described that way... no, they tend to be neutral, accurate, reference.  

Some of the most revered iems around here are "basshead."

JVC FX700, IE8, MG7, just to name a few. Even the GR07 has more sub-bass power than a lot of other normal iems.

The only people you'll hear toting that 'reference' argument are those who are content with the bass reproduction of their Etys and similar iems.

Maybe it could have been negative in the past when an iem had to sacrifice everything else to get good bass response, but now with the advent of better dynamics and hybrid technology, that's an ancient paradigm. 

now with the advent of better dynamics and hybrid technology, that's an ancient paradigm. 

It's New Year's eve at Bolaura, our country home.

Sitting in front of the 10 foot wide bay window, watching the snow fall... about an inch in the last hour.  A neighbor has his tractor and blade out... clearing the road in front of our places.

It's a soft and quiet end for the year 2012, and I'm celebrating with my first "official" listen to the JVC FXZ-200's. 

They've had 70+ hours of burn-in, using a Dubstep mix at about 90% max volume from a Sansa Fuze.

Listening to Norah Jones' album, Come Away With Me, from a digital 96khz download, thru the Dragonfly DAC.

My jaw has hit the floor.

This is the best sound I've ever heard from an IEM.

The bass is even more luscious than that of even the FXZ100's.  I can "feel" the pluck of the bass notes, the punch of the kick pedal, and the scratch of the brushes on the drums.

Norah's voice is sounding pure and smooth.  There are little details here that I don't recall hearing before... the intake of her breath, the quiver in some sustained notes.

The backup vocals are all very distinct, not just the usual "well, there are some backup singers...."

The piano... the violin...the guitars....everything is just RIGHT! 

There's more space and "realism"...I don't know quite how to describe it yet.  The subwoofers kick in smoothly with no muddiness or bass bloat...just sweet bass.  It seems everything is just as it should be.

I'm lovin' what I hear, and will spend the evening exploring my music library with these.

*happy smile and sigh*

HAPPY NEW YEAR my friends!

~BG

@BGRoberts, I feel your gain, I have that same Nora Jones in 24/96,.  +1 100% agree with your impressions, especially on backup vocals/singers.....it is amazing how the 200's do backup vocals, like they were never there before with other IEM's, in comparison.

Happy New Year, and it is my birthday as well.........enjoy your music!

While I agree with you on this point, I think we'll have to agree to disagree on the perception of the word itself.

I still think we have a few years to go where basshead is not considered a dirty word in audiophile circles, that when the term is used it's not with an asterisk.  Actually I think the term will just go away and adjectives like 'full-bodied' will be more common.  

Ok guys I need help. After my first failed attempt at ordering the 200 from Rakuten I am about to try again with Amazon Japan. I am still not sure if I should go with the 100 or 200. I will confess I am a former basshead and the FX700 remains the most enjoyable dynamic IEM I tried but as I get older I start to really enjoy things like GR07MKII .

My main iem is the PFE232, which already has superb bass so maybe I should go for the 100.

Only few people have both and from the limited comparisons it seems the bass difference between the two is relatively small with 200 being smoother?

I need Dsnut to pull is fingers out and write a detailed comparison between the two with some musical example 

Funny, I thought the fxz100s would not pick up what bg wrote, but it is actually similar in characteristics as the fxz200s. Nice find BG, I am loving her album with the fxz100s. Both jvcs are capable for anything thrown at them!