Well damnit, you can't have everything! These sound great on any music using mild neutron mp eq which I don't mind because when it's time to jam these never fail! They sound like a closed hp but dual drivers keep it clean when bass is bumpin'. I boost at 30hz and they love it even at stupid spl.
JVC Kenwood Victer stereo headphones HA-SZ2000 japan import
- Added by nightmancometh
- Create date
I'm a semi-frequent reviewer of headphones on Amazon, and decided to dip my toe into the Head-Fi review waters. Wish me luck!
Background: I've been into the headphone hobby for about 2 and a half years. I have limited experience with the highest of the high end, but I have spent a good amount of time playing around in upper Mid-Fi territory. My current stable of cans and devices consists of my Parrot Zik 1.0, Oppo PM3, Hifiman RE-600, Audeze LCD2 and now the JVC HA-SZ2000. I also use my Sennheiser Urbanite XL for television watching and have parted with and provided loving homes to my beloved Koss ProDJ200, Sennheiser Momentum and Hifiman HE-400S. For source and amplification, my main rig consists of a Schiit M2/M2 (non-uber) stack and a Fiio E18 Kunlun for portable listening.
I generally listen to my music as FLAC through Foobar2000 or as 320kbps through Spotify premium. I'll be the first to admit that I'm still training my ears, and that 320 MP3s don't stick out like a sore thumb to me. In the objective vs. subjective debate, though I value objectivity to keep things grounded and from going too off the rails, I am in the camp of audio hedonism. "If it sounds good (to you), then do it!"
So. On to the meat of this review!
Presentation: Note: I bought the Japan import versions of the SZ2000, so a few things about the presentation will be different from the US/Europe version. Namely, from my understanding, the storage pouch is quite different, and the words "Live Beat" are stenciled onto the cups on the Japanese version as opposed to the word "Z-Series" as seen on other models.
The SZ2Ks arrived in a sturdy package consisting of a paper sleeve with the specs printed on the back, and a cardboard box inside that also serves as a presentation case, if the silk/satin material layering the inside is any indication. The presentation box is made of a stiff and thick cardboard, quite similar to the one the Oppo PM-3s come in (the blue box, for those who want specificity due to the rather Russian nesting doll-esque nature of how the Oppos are delivered). A leather(? or maybe protein leather) bag is included with the letters "JVC" inscribed on the side. It's a nice gesture, but rather disappointing. For the price these debuted at, a hardshell carrying case would have made a much better perk. In addition, a custom case would have been even more appreciated as I would imagine finding a generic case for the JVCs is quite difficult due to the massive size of the cups, and their lack of being able to rotate flat. The cups do fold into the headband arch, so the bag might not be too much of a hassle.
Photo: The JVCs nestled in their display box.
Photo: As you can see, the cups of the SZ2000 are nearly as big as those of the LCD2.
The cans themselves are quite nice looking and to my eyes, they exude elegance and class. The majority of the cup is made of a strong, black, matte plastic while the yoke is made from a shiny, black metal with a brass ring encircling the outside. The headband and sliders seem to be made of metal, and the upper part of the headband arch is made from a rubberized material with a soft, mesh covered pad on the bottom. The pads they come with are soft, but they sink too much and it leaves your ears touching the housing.
Speaking of the stock pads, they need to be replaced, pronto. For this review, I will be testing the sound with the stock pads switched out for the pads from the JVC HA-M55x. I have also heard that the Brainwavz HM5 pads work well for these, but I have not experienced them to be able to give you my view of things.
Photo: M55x pads on left. Stock pads on right.
Sound quality and characteristics: Of note is the the JVC HA-SZ2000 uses a dual driver system. A 55mm driver for the bass, and a 30mm driver for the rest. It is interesting to note that the woofer uses the same principles as a Kelton subwoofer, meaning it routes the sound it produces through a series of brass chambers to amplify and condition the bass volume and characteristics The 30mm driver is also unique in that it is a carbon nano-tube driver (or CNT for short). What's interesting about CNT drivers is that they create vibration by rapidly heating and cooling the driver and the air around it in an effort to excite the air molecules and produce air vibrations.
Out of the box, this headphone was very muffled, muddy and a bit dull. I busted out the EQ to create a V-shaped signature, and though the bass was really good, the highs were merely OK and I resigned myself to not really being able to appreciate the mids. I've experienced tentatively verifiable burn in before, but not using any method that would stand up under scientific scrutiny. However I decided to give it a shot. I set up a pink noise loop and ran it for 12 hours a day over three days. I didn't listen to it during that time as I had switched them out for my LCD2s during my waking hours. Here are my results from after the burn in period. Whether the change was real, or my brain adjusted, I may never know. But here is my admittedly subjective take on it all. The following observations were made with my Modi2 DAC and Magni2 amplifier, using a combination of Foobar2000 with FLAC files and Spotify premium. I used the built in equalizer when listening to Foobar and used the the program EqualizerAPO for Spotify EQ impressions.
Bass: No EQ: The bass on the SZ2K is really punchy. I have never really heard anyone else describe this, but the bass is so tight that impactful, percussive bass notes almost leave a slight air of silence after landing for a fraction of a second. Quantity leaves a bit to be desired. It has more than your average headphone but it feels like only a bit more than my Urbanite XLs (which are pretty focused on quality over quantity).
With EQ: I raised everything below 80Hz up 10dB and just kind of left it flat until the treble (We'll get to that soon enough). I found raising the sub bass really does the trick. You don't want the whole bass spectrum raised at once or it is really easy to start experiencing headaches. With 80Hz and below raised, you start to get a lot more slam in your tracks. The bass has a good rumble while still dealing tight punches here and there. This headphone lives for EQ and does not even flinch or distort when I amped it up to 15dB on the EQ. You can feel the ear cup shake with songs like Love Lockdown by Kanye West. Overall, it has great extension, texture and slam and I would say the bass is better than that on my LCD2 (and the bass on that is nothing to sneeze at). Dare I say it has the best bass I've ever heard!
Mids: No EQ: They're a bit recessed, but rather clear with smooth texture. If you listen to the song "Downstream" from the Braid soundtrack, you kind of feel like swaying just a little too much to the undercurrent of cello that sets the pace, and the bass drums are a bit more present in comparison, but the SZ2Ks convey the violin quite admirably, though the texture is just a little too smooth for audiophile purposes. Overall though, you may find yourself tapping your toes to the beat more often than you sit back a drink in vocals or other instruments.
Comparison with Bass and Treble EQ: The mids sound far more recessed though you can hear them. I really recommend you get comfortable with messing with your equalizer if you frequently switch between bass heavy music and lighter fare. They get kind of overlapped by the other frequency ranges.
Treble: No EQ: Treble is a bit subdued but present. Not really any sibilance to speak of and cymbals do have a shimmer to them though there is a very slight, blink and you miss it, echo effect to heavy cymbal work, almost hollow sounding. Some textures like guitars and some percussion don't overwhelm with treble detail but do maintain a delightful crunch. So in summation, the treble is very pleasant, not very in your face but also not too polite.
With EQ: Between 2.5kHz and 7kHz I bumped it up 5dB. Textures start to come out more. EDM feels super alive with synth hits complimenting the upped bass mentioned previously. You feel compelled to bob your head.as the drum hits rattle inside your skull. But it's not quite piercing. Overall it provides a lot more energy without causing a skull-splitting headache.
Soundstage and imaging: I'll admit that this is an area that is hard for me to assess too well. I'm working on improving my hearing so I can assess soundstage and imaging upon first listen. I can instantly hear major differences in this regard between headphones, but I do have to close my eyes and focus to determine perceived dimensions. From what I hear, the soundstage is pretty wide, but imaging is a bit sparse, with most sounds coming from the direct sides, front, or about halfway in between the former and the latter. But, a neat stereo effect I can point to is that at 40 seconds into Strobe (Radio Edit) by Deadmau5, the song starts bouncing between the left and right channels and it felt like the sound was flowing like liquid through my head from one ear to the other. I've only ever experienced that on my Momentum. Even my LCD2 doesn't let me experience that effect.
Sound summary: Without EQ and with adequate burn in, the SZ2000 sounds like a competent, yet bassy headphone for the <$200 price tag it's currently at. It would be great as a home theater headphone in this state as most everything is clear and the emphasized bass would make action movies have a bit of audio flair. With EQ however, this becomes an absolute bass monster. However you set your frequency emphasis, the SZ2000 will endure it like a champ. You can't help but wiggle in your seat, or even dance to the beat (though don't bang your head too hard, they are liable to fly off your head due to the weight).
Things I didn't like: Straight out of the box, it sounds pretty bad. Like "Oh god, what did I just spend my money on" type bad. I didn't like that there are a lot of caveats to this purchase, including needing to have a pretty good amplifier, replacement ear pads being a necessity and needing to invoke an equalizer in order to get peak performance. I was disappointed with the lack of a hard shell case, and the short (3-3.5 ft), hardwired cable. In this day and age, a removable cable should be considered a necessity with any headphone at the price point this premiered at. It's also heavy as sin, but considering the brass chambers involved in the Kelton design, I consider it a necessary evil. But seriously, whenever I switch from the SZ2000 to my LCD2, the Audeze feels much lighter, though that could be due to better weight distribution and a comparatively more merciful clamp force.
In summation: I find the JVC HA-SZ2000 to be a delightful treat when in the mood to have your head kicked in with bass, and it is a strong enough contender to use while listening to other music in a pinch. Should it be your next upgrade when working your way up the Hi-Fi ladder? No, not unless you're a basshead who knows what they're getting into. It does make a great supplementary headphone for those who have their audiophile picks locked in. I actually bought it as sort of a compromise from getting a Fostex THxxx line as I already had my endgame headphones and didn't need my "fun" headphone to be audiophile high end level cans. With the proper EQ it provides an exciting listen and bass nirvana. In all, I rate it 4 stars as there are some quibbles I have that are minor individually, but add up to the subtraction of a star. I still highly recommend it for those who want the best bass from a headphone possible.
Thank you for reading. This was my first review of what I hope to be many on head-fi and I would really appreciate any feedback and criticism.
Background: I've been into the headphone hobby for about 2 and a half years. I have limited experience with the highest of the high end, but I have spent a good amount of time playing around in upper Mid-Fi territory. My current stable of cans and devices consists of my Parrot Zik 1.0, Oppo PM3, Hifiman RE-600, Audeze LCD2 and now the JVC HA-SZ2000. I also use my Sennheiser Urbanite XL for television watching and have parted with and provided loving homes to my beloved Koss ProDJ200, Sennheiser Momentum and Hifiman HE-400S. For source and amplification, my main rig consists of a Schiit M2/M2 (non-uber) stack and a Fiio E18 Kunlun for portable listening.
I generally listen to my music as FLAC through Foobar2000 or as 320kbps through Spotify premium. I'll be the first to admit that I'm still training my ears, and that 320 MP3s don't stick out like a sore thumb to me. In the objective vs. subjective debate, though I value objectivity to keep things grounded and from going too off the rails, I am in the camp of audio hedonism. "If it sounds good (to you), then do it!"
So. On to the meat of this review!
Presentation: Note: I bought the Japan import versions of the SZ2000, so a few things about the presentation will be different from the US/Europe version. Namely, from my understanding, the storage pouch is quite different, and the words "Live Beat" are stenciled onto the cups on the Japanese version as opposed to the word "Z-Series" as seen on other models.
The SZ2Ks arrived in a sturdy package consisting of a paper sleeve with the specs printed on the back, and a cardboard box inside that also serves as a presentation case, if the silk/satin material layering the inside is any indication. The presentation box is made of a stiff and thick cardboard, quite similar to the one the Oppo PM-3s come in (the blue box, for those who want specificity due to the rather Russian nesting doll-esque nature of how the Oppos are delivered). A leather(? or maybe protein leather) bag is included with the letters "JVC" inscribed on the side. It's a nice gesture, but rather disappointing. For the price these debuted at, a hardshell carrying case would have made a much better perk. In addition, a custom case would have been even more appreciated as I would imagine finding a generic case for the JVCs is quite difficult due to the massive size of the cups, and their lack of being able to rotate flat. The cups do fold into the headband arch, so the bag might not be too much of a hassle.
Photo: The JVCs nestled in their display box.
Photo: As you can see, the cups of the SZ2000 are nearly as big as those of the LCD2.
The cans themselves are quite nice looking and to my eyes, they exude elegance and class. The majority of the cup is made of a strong, black, matte plastic while the yoke is made from a shiny, black metal with a brass ring encircling the outside. The headband and sliders seem to be made of metal, and the upper part of the headband arch is made from a rubberized material with a soft, mesh covered pad on the bottom. The pads they come with are soft, but they sink too much and it leaves your ears touching the housing.
Speaking of the stock pads, they need to be replaced, pronto. For this review, I will be testing the sound with the stock pads switched out for the pads from the JVC HA-M55x. I have also heard that the Brainwavz HM5 pads work well for these, but I have not experienced them to be able to give you my view of things.
Photo: M55x pads on left. Stock pads on right.
Sound quality and characteristics: Of note is the the JVC HA-SZ2000 uses a dual driver system. A 55mm driver for the bass, and a 30mm driver for the rest. It is interesting to note that the woofer uses the same principles as a Kelton subwoofer, meaning it routes the sound it produces through a series of brass chambers to amplify and condition the bass volume and characteristics The 30mm driver is also unique in that it is a carbon nano-tube driver (or CNT for short). What's interesting about CNT drivers is that they create vibration by rapidly heating and cooling the driver and the air around it in an effort to excite the air molecules and produce air vibrations.
Out of the box, this headphone was very muffled, muddy and a bit dull. I busted out the EQ to create a V-shaped signature, and though the bass was really good, the highs were merely OK and I resigned myself to not really being able to appreciate the mids. I've experienced tentatively verifiable burn in before, but not using any method that would stand up under scientific scrutiny. However I decided to give it a shot. I set up a pink noise loop and ran it for 12 hours a day over three days. I didn't listen to it during that time as I had switched them out for my LCD2s during my waking hours. Here are my results from after the burn in period. Whether the change was real, or my brain adjusted, I may never know. But here is my admittedly subjective take on it all. The following observations were made with my Modi2 DAC and Magni2 amplifier, using a combination of Foobar2000 with FLAC files and Spotify premium. I used the built in equalizer when listening to Foobar and used the the program EqualizerAPO for Spotify EQ impressions.
Bass: No EQ: The bass on the SZ2K is really punchy. I have never really heard anyone else describe this, but the bass is so tight that impactful, percussive bass notes almost leave a slight air of silence after landing for a fraction of a second. Quantity leaves a bit to be desired. It has more than your average headphone but it feels like only a bit more than my Urbanite XLs (which are pretty focused on quality over quantity).
With EQ: I raised everything below 80Hz up 10dB and just kind of left it flat until the treble (We'll get to that soon enough). I found raising the sub bass really does the trick. You don't want the whole bass spectrum raised at once or it is really easy to start experiencing headaches. With 80Hz and below raised, you start to get a lot more slam in your tracks. The bass has a good rumble while still dealing tight punches here and there. This headphone lives for EQ and does not even flinch or distort when I amped it up to 15dB on the EQ. You can feel the ear cup shake with songs like Love Lockdown by Kanye West. Overall, it has great extension, texture and slam and I would say the bass is better than that on my LCD2 (and the bass on that is nothing to sneeze at). Dare I say it has the best bass I've ever heard!
Mids: No EQ: They're a bit recessed, but rather clear with smooth texture. If you listen to the song "Downstream" from the Braid soundtrack, you kind of feel like swaying just a little too much to the undercurrent of cello that sets the pace, and the bass drums are a bit more present in comparison, but the SZ2Ks convey the violin quite admirably, though the texture is just a little too smooth for audiophile purposes. Overall though, you may find yourself tapping your toes to the beat more often than you sit back a drink in vocals or other instruments.
Comparison with Bass and Treble EQ: The mids sound far more recessed though you can hear them. I really recommend you get comfortable with messing with your equalizer if you frequently switch between bass heavy music and lighter fare. They get kind of overlapped by the other frequency ranges.
Treble: No EQ: Treble is a bit subdued but present. Not really any sibilance to speak of and cymbals do have a shimmer to them though there is a very slight, blink and you miss it, echo effect to heavy cymbal work, almost hollow sounding. Some textures like guitars and some percussion don't overwhelm with treble detail but do maintain a delightful crunch. So in summation, the treble is very pleasant, not very in your face but also not too polite.
With EQ: Between 2.5kHz and 7kHz I bumped it up 5dB. Textures start to come out more. EDM feels super alive with synth hits complimenting the upped bass mentioned previously. You feel compelled to bob your head.as the drum hits rattle inside your skull. But it's not quite piercing. Overall it provides a lot more energy without causing a skull-splitting headache.
Soundstage and imaging: I'll admit that this is an area that is hard for me to assess too well. I'm working on improving my hearing so I can assess soundstage and imaging upon first listen. I can instantly hear major differences in this regard between headphones, but I do have to close my eyes and focus to determine perceived dimensions. From what I hear, the soundstage is pretty wide, but imaging is a bit sparse, with most sounds coming from the direct sides, front, or about halfway in between the former and the latter. But, a neat stereo effect I can point to is that at 40 seconds into Strobe (Radio Edit) by Deadmau5, the song starts bouncing between the left and right channels and it felt like the sound was flowing like liquid through my head from one ear to the other. I've only ever experienced that on my Momentum. Even my LCD2 doesn't let me experience that effect.
Sound summary: Without EQ and with adequate burn in, the SZ2000 sounds like a competent, yet bassy headphone for the <$200 price tag it's currently at. It would be great as a home theater headphone in this state as most everything is clear and the emphasized bass would make action movies have a bit of audio flair. With EQ however, this becomes an absolute bass monster. However you set your frequency emphasis, the SZ2000 will endure it like a champ. You can't help but wiggle in your seat, or even dance to the beat (though don't bang your head too hard, they are liable to fly off your head due to the weight).
Things I didn't like: Straight out of the box, it sounds pretty bad. Like "Oh god, what did I just spend my money on" type bad. I didn't like that there are a lot of caveats to this purchase, including needing to have a pretty good amplifier, replacement ear pads being a necessity and needing to invoke an equalizer in order to get peak performance. I was disappointed with the lack of a hard shell case, and the short (3-3.5 ft), hardwired cable. In this day and age, a removable cable should be considered a necessity with any headphone at the price point this premiered at. It's also heavy as sin, but considering the brass chambers involved in the Kelton design, I consider it a necessary evil. But seriously, whenever I switch from the SZ2000 to my LCD2, the Audeze feels much lighter, though that could be due to better weight distribution and a comparatively more merciful clamp force.
In summation: I find the JVC HA-SZ2000 to be a delightful treat when in the mood to have your head kicked in with bass, and it is a strong enough contender to use while listening to other music in a pinch. Should it be your next upgrade when working your way up the Hi-Fi ladder? No, not unless you're a basshead who knows what they're getting into. It does make a great supplementary headphone for those who have their audiophile picks locked in. I actually bought it as sort of a compromise from getting a Fostex THxxx line as I already had my endgame headphones and didn't need my "fun" headphone to be audiophile high end level cans. With the proper EQ it provides an exciting listen and bass nirvana. In all, I rate it 4 stars as there are some quibbles I have that are minor individually, but add up to the subtraction of a star. I still highly recommend it for those who want the best bass from a headphone possible.
Thank you for reading. This was my first review of what I hope to be many on head-fi and I would really appreciate any feedback and criticism.
ericr
Thanks & Welcome.
Keep the reviews coming!
Keep the reviews coming!
There are only two reviews of the godly SZ2000. Probably one of, if not the, most misunderstood headphones of the last decade. They sound strange and veiled out of the box, have some of the worst pads I've ever felt, need a ridiculous amount of power and EQ to sound their best. But I still gave it 5 stars and stand by that 100%.
You can drive them from any phone or DAP. They're pretty sensitive given their size and quad-driver setup. However they can deal with being fed way more power than most headphones can handle, and that's why they can and will make you quit before they do. Even if you're a car audio old-head who is used to making other people sick when they stay in your ride for too long, these headphones will make the most hopelessly afflicted bassheads call a time out. I can, with pretty good confidence, assure you that you'll either feel yourself going deaf or getting seriously nauseous before these damn things will show any signs of not being able to keep going. I've tried a couple times to keep pushing them to see if I could get them to quit before I had to and it just wasn't happening. And I will put my head right next to a 500w driven dual 15" subwoofer.
The first time I got these, I have to admit i was let down. I ignored advice to switch on pads from the $25 JVC HAM55X and suffered with the stock pads for months. Let me tell you right here and now that the stock pads are so bad, they make me want to cry, honest to god. How did JVC nail everything on this headphone so perfectly and then combine it with the worst pads known to mankind? Who allowed this?
Let's get one thing clear before moving on: these aren't everyone's ideal headphones. Not everyone's priorities for headphones include +30dB headroom @45Hz or the ability to rattle themselves off your head with 50Hz and lower. Also some people are going to be put off by the requirement of a strong amp and alternate pads to get the most out of these cans (keep in mind you don't actually need a strong amp to use these - they're actually fairly sensitive headphones. If you want to get to crazy bass boosting at high volumes there's no avoiding EQ. but more on that later). And yes they are fairly veiled - I'd argue mine have opened up a lot after all the use I've put in. But I've never loved a set of over-ears like these.
You have to give JVC credit for being able to successfully place a dynamic driver in front of a bigger dynamic driver - and there are no technical flaws.
Below is a quick comparison of the SZ2k's sound with both the HAM55X pads and a particular set of HM5 memory foam pads I used to own (I since gave them away since I prefer the sound signature of the 2k's with the 55X pads). Other reviewers have covered the sound quality aspect better and more in depth. I'm aiming for a more technical audience here, which is why this review consists of a lot of rambling compared to sound impressions.
Music used for testing
This review is a culmination of my experiences with the SZ2k from Xmas '15 until now (5/22/2016). There's been a lot of stuff I listened to in that time. This list is not strict at all, it's more of what I listened to most of these headphones in this time period, and to give you a sense of what I listen to.
Bass: Maximum bass impact pads. These will rattle off your head effortlessly! Bass refinement is great with these, impact is at their maximum, I would argue if you want refinement over impact then get the HM5 pads instead. These are the pads you want if you want to feel the bass. Yes I have to put it in bold. You may have though you've heard bassy headphones. Even if you've heard other basshead greats like the Fostex or Sony, you don't know what you're in for here.
Mids: Not as veiled as the stock pads, but slightly veiled. Some may consider it to be fairly to significantly veiled depending on your opinion. I think it's noticeable but not too bad. Certainly not a strong point, but I honestly don't have many complaints here. I wish it was more detailed and smooth, but at the price these go for, I have negative complaints. Would I like a SZ3000 for double the price that was the same with a lot more detail? I totally would, but I'm getting off topic now.
Highs: Can be just slightly sharp, EQ rolloff helps with this, but isn't necessary. Not sibilant or anything without rolloff, but not as smooth as with HM5 pads.
Soundstage: Not these pads' strong point. You should be picking 55X pads if you are a chronic basshead in need of maximum power to stay alive.
HM5 pads (tried memory foam angled pads)
Bass: Unbelievably refined. Some of the best bass I've heard of any headphone, period. The pads absorb a good deal of the impact but the payoff is so much extra refinement and detail in the bass. Takes on a slightly airy quality without sacrificing on power, like a well amped HD650, but with tons more impact.
Mids: Where'd the veil go! It's gone! The mids are ridiculously clear on these with the right pads. I found them to be very balanced and able to compete with headphones 2.5x their price. Sure a slight bit of veil was still noticeable, but it's hardly anything.
Highs: Very smooth, yet subdued. Definitely far back in the mix with these pads.
Soundstage: Not good enough you'd dump your other cans for these if you're all about soundstage - they're closed, after all - but it begins to rival the best soundstage I've heard in most any closed back headphone. I usually really don't like closed back headphones for sounding too stuffy and closed but I could listen to the SZ2k with the HM5 pads all day and not feel too cramped in head.
I'll be honest, I can't really tell if they've opened up a lot or if I've gotten used to the SZ2000's veil. But, having said that, I go between headphones like these and the Aurisonics ASG 2.5 or my Yamaha HS8 monitors seamlessly, and have no complaints. Yes you can still tell there's a bit of a veil but it's nothing that's so bad it's going to get in the way of your enjoyment, at least if you have the same priorities as me in your headphone enjoyment
However I listened directly out of my Xduoo X3 without any EQ just to see how they fared, and I had to say I was pretty impressed. It was way more open & balanced sounding than I ever remembered it. Maybe it did break in after all that use, I dunno. I wish I could say for sure but I'll update this review if I ever get to measure my set against a fresh, unused set.
I am undecided on the burn in aspect. I usually don't buy it or believe in it, but larger speakers have a spider (also known as a damper) which physically changes over time and there is measurable difference in these drivers after some burn in. I haven't butchered a set of SZ2000's yet and I'll update when I do, but I have a feeling that at least the larger driver breaks in with time. It's a really big and power hungry driver so I wouldn't be surprised. If it's true it may explain why I thought some of the veil went away and the bass/soundstage opened up a bit. No proof on that though. I don't have a controlled test environment I can trust. Hopefully I can my broken in SZ2k's to a fresh set one day in a controlled environment, or maybe one day I'll mod them and look at the driver for myself and find out.
I haven't taken my SZ2000 apart, I love it way too much. I thought about modding mine but will shortly have a second set. They're good enough I want a backup. I don't know how I can make it through the day without these anymore. Until I live in the middle of nowhere and can blast my stereo at full power 24/7, these will forever be in my care until something better comes along, and even then I'd be awful hesitant to let these go.
These, aside from the 55X, are my only JVC headphone. I've only owned JVC Flats and JVC Mushrooms, both worth about $10 new at the time they were on the market. I can't say I know the JVC "house sound" too well but I've enjoyed the sound signature of all those headphones and the SZ2000 is no exception. In fact these have more headtime recently than anything else. I have no complaints about the sound at all. All I could ask for, honestly, is another step up from this. I really don't think I can ask for much more expect more headroom at super low frequencies so I can go deaf faster and more detail in the mids and refinement in mids and bass. I would totally buy a SZ3000 for almost double what these go for if the price warranted the improvements. I love these things so much I want to own two and recable one and go insane comparing the two.
Another thing that's great about these is the price. When I got them, it was hard to get them for much less than about $215-225 shipped to the USA. They've surged in popularity a lot due to the Basshead IEM and headphone threads. We know this because the XB90EX and SZ2000's, both chart toppers, have become both cheaper and way easier to get outside Japan in the last 6 months or so. We've seen the average price of SZ2000 go from about $225 to $175 new on Amazon Prime. I thought they were worth every penny at 225 and at 175 they're simply a steal. You can get these and the 55x's for barely over 200. That's a killer deal. It's almost such a good deal, because it can hold its own against $500-600 over ears, that I kinda wish there was a SZ3000 to fill that gap.
I'll leave you with my current EQ settings at the time of writing this. Keep in mind it's not necessary to do this to get good sound - I am more than happy bass bombing running an Xduoo X3 into my Cayin C5, turning on high gain and bass boost, and letting 'em rumble.
Lastly, if you're like me and told your girlfriend these are what you want when she asks what you want for Christmas, these are a good suggestion because she won't be upset when you don't want to stop listening to them. Happy sub-bassing.
1/20/2017 Update
These along with the SZ1000 are still the only full size headphones I own. There is no need for anything else. Thank you Takuji Miura and Yuji Yanagi****a, the greatest bassheads of this century.
You can drive them from any phone or DAP. They're pretty sensitive given their size and quad-driver setup. However they can deal with being fed way more power than most headphones can handle, and that's why they can and will make you quit before they do. Even if you're a car audio old-head who is used to making other people sick when they stay in your ride for too long, these headphones will make the most hopelessly afflicted bassheads call a time out. I can, with pretty good confidence, assure you that you'll either feel yourself going deaf or getting seriously nauseous before these damn things will show any signs of not being able to keep going. I've tried a couple times to keep pushing them to see if I could get them to quit before I had to and it just wasn't happening. And I will put my head right next to a 500w driven dual 15" subwoofer.
The first time I got these, I have to admit i was let down. I ignored advice to switch on pads from the $25 JVC HAM55X and suffered with the stock pads for months. Let me tell you right here and now that the stock pads are so bad, they make me want to cry, honest to god. How did JVC nail everything on this headphone so perfectly and then combine it with the worst pads known to mankind? Who allowed this?
Let's get one thing clear before moving on: these aren't everyone's ideal headphones. Not everyone's priorities for headphones include +30dB headroom @45Hz or the ability to rattle themselves off your head with 50Hz and lower. Also some people are going to be put off by the requirement of a strong amp and alternate pads to get the most out of these cans (keep in mind you don't actually need a strong amp to use these - they're actually fairly sensitive headphones. If you want to get to crazy bass boosting at high volumes there's no avoiding EQ. but more on that later). And yes they are fairly veiled - I'd argue mine have opened up a lot after all the use I've put in. But I've never loved a set of over-ears like these.
The stock pads are only acceptable in my eyes if JVC refused to manafacture them without them and there's a long story about a group of triumphant engineers who struggled to make the SZ2000 see the light of day.
Before I gave them another shot with the 55X pads, I dismissed them as unlistenable garbage. I can't stress enough how important the pad swap is. Just don't buy these without the 55X at the same time. Throw the SZ2000 pads away and give the 55x sans pads to a friend and tell them to buy HM5 pads on amazon and enjoy their headphones. If you don't believe me the stock pads are an affront to the good name of headphones everywhere, look at this picture where I swapped the pads of a SZ2000 and HAM55X. In this picture you see a 55X with the SZ2000 pads and the SZ2000 with the 55X pads. Notice how the 55X pads look nice, plush and comfy, and aren't deformed in an awkward manner. If you still don't believe me... your ears will touch the cloth protecting the driver on the stock pads. You don't want that, do you? I knew you didn't. Nobody does.A picture says a thousand words. My thousand words are a thousand curse words to whoever greenlighted the SZ2000 pads.
Okay, so by now you want to know how they sound. Because of the crazy and bizarre driver structure, where you have actually 4 drivers total in your headphones. Two 55mm's in back providing all that sub bass punch while 33mm driver in front takes care of the detail. And the result is the closest experience I've heard to putting your head right in front of quad speakers plus a sub driven by two 400w power amps in mono in any headphone ever. Because of the unique design, I've found they're more sensitive to pad change than any other headphones I've heard, including planars. Which makes it even more of a shame that they come with such terrible pads. Anyway, I'll describe the sound as it is with two different pads: the 55X pads and Brainwavz HM5 pads.
You have to give JVC credit for being able to successfully place a dynamic driver in front of a bigger dynamic driver - and there are no technical flaws.
One of the most impressive parts of the SZ2000's design is without question this quad driver design. Naturally it should follow that four drivers, two of which are 55mm, are going to want a lot of power to work at their best. Part of the design is the ridiculous amount of headroom at low frequencies - it's more or less assuming you're never going to listen to these without some amount of EQ. For that reason, until you get to some serious bass boosting (see my EQ screenshot at the end of this review) do you get a truly balanced sound that makes you feel like you're really holding your ears right up against a high grade stereo setup turned to max volume. I can't express how amazing it is to have headphones brutally rumble actual notes that hard. Many times, more often than I'd like to admit, I caught myself looping bass test tones to feel nothing but the sine waves causing the headphones to rumble off my head. I could feel all the air the driver was pushing. Again, no other headphone I've ever used that could replicate this feeling. It doesn't matter what music you listen to. You're going to get floored with sub bass. It really is like cranking your stereo so loud your neighbors submit a noise complaint nearly immediately. Actually, I got three different noise complaints in one week when having fun with a new subwoofer I built, so finding something to satisfy my bass fix while keeping my stereo offline for a while was part of why I fell back in love with these headphones so much.Below is a quick comparison of the SZ2k's sound with both the HAM55X pads and a particular set of HM5 memory foam pads I used to own (I since gave them away since I prefer the sound signature of the 2k's with the 55X pads). Other reviewers have covered the sound quality aspect better and more in depth. I'm aiming for a more technical audience here, which is why this review consists of a lot of rambling compared to sound impressions.
Music used for testing
This review is a culmination of my experiences with the SZ2k from Xmas '15 until now (5/22/2016). There's been a lot of stuff I listened to in that time. This list is not strict at all, it's more of what I listened to most of these headphones in this time period, and to give you a sense of what I listen to.
- Bass Mekanik - Quad Maximus
- Dancemania Bass #0-#5
- Gas - Nah Und Fern
- Too $hort - Gettin It
- Sharpnelsound - SPRX-0002 Ver2.0
- Terrordrome IV
- Beatmania IIDX 9th Style OST
- Sade - Love Deluxe
- 2pac - All Eyez On Me
- Healing Music From USA - Loess Gangue Ventifact
- E-40 - The Mail Man
- TM Revolution - The Force
- P-MODEL - Big Body
- DJ Haus - Burnin' Up
- En Esch - Cheesy
- Front 242 - Official Version
- OFF - Ask Yourself
55X padsBass: Maximum bass impact pads. These will rattle off your head effortlessly! Bass refinement is great with these, impact is at their maximum, I would argue if you want refinement over impact then get the HM5 pads instead. These are the pads you want if you want to feel the bass. Yes I have to put it in bold. You may have though you've heard bassy headphones. Even if you've heard other basshead greats like the Fostex or Sony, you don't know what you're in for here.
Mids: Not as veiled as the stock pads, but slightly veiled. Some may consider it to be fairly to significantly veiled depending on your opinion. I think it's noticeable but not too bad. Certainly not a strong point, but I honestly don't have many complaints here. I wish it was more detailed and smooth, but at the price these go for, I have negative complaints. Would I like a SZ3000 for double the price that was the same with a lot more detail? I totally would, but I'm getting off topic now.
Highs: Can be just slightly sharp, EQ rolloff helps with this, but isn't necessary. Not sibilant or anything without rolloff, but not as smooth as with HM5 pads.
Soundstage: Not these pads' strong point. You should be picking 55X pads if you are a chronic basshead in need of maximum power to stay alive.
HM5 pads (tried memory foam angled pads)
Bass: Unbelievably refined. Some of the best bass I've heard of any headphone, period. The pads absorb a good deal of the impact but the payoff is so much extra refinement and detail in the bass. Takes on a slightly airy quality without sacrificing on power, like a well amped HD650, but with tons more impact.
Mids: Where'd the veil go! It's gone! The mids are ridiculously clear on these with the right pads. I found them to be very balanced and able to compete with headphones 2.5x their price. Sure a slight bit of veil was still noticeable, but it's hardly anything.
Highs: Very smooth, yet subdued. Definitely far back in the mix with these pads.
Soundstage: Not good enough you'd dump your other cans for these if you're all about soundstage - they're closed, after all - but it begins to rival the best soundstage I've heard in most any closed back headphone. I usually really don't like closed back headphones for sounding too stuffy and closed but I could listen to the SZ2k with the HM5 pads all day and not feel too cramped in head.
I'll be honest, I can't really tell if they've opened up a lot or if I've gotten used to the SZ2000's veil. But, having said that, I go between headphones like these and the Aurisonics ASG 2.5 or my Yamaha HS8 monitors seamlessly, and have no complaints. Yes you can still tell there's a bit of a veil but it's nothing that's so bad it's going to get in the way of your enjoyment, at least if you have the same priorities as me in your headphone enjoyment
I am undecided on the burn in aspect. I usually don't buy it or believe in it, but larger speakers have a spider (also known as a damper) which physically changes over time and there is measurable difference in these drivers after some burn in. I haven't butchered a set of SZ2000's yet and I'll update when I do, but I have a feeling that at least the larger driver breaks in with time. It's a really big and power hungry driver so I wouldn't be surprised. If it's true it may explain why I thought some of the veil went away and the bass/soundstage opened up a bit. No proof on that though. I don't have a controlled test environment I can trust. Hopefully I can my broken in SZ2k's to a fresh set one day in a controlled environment, or maybe one day I'll mod them and look at the driver for myself and find out.
I haven't taken my SZ2000 apart, I love it way too much. I thought about modding mine but will shortly have a second set. They're good enough I want a backup. I don't know how I can make it through the day without these anymore. Until I live in the middle of nowhere and can blast my stereo at full power 24/7, these will forever be in my care until something better comes along, and even then I'd be awful hesitant to let these go.
These, aside from the 55X, are my only JVC headphone. I've only owned JVC Flats and JVC Mushrooms, both worth about $10 new at the time they were on the market. I can't say I know the JVC "house sound" too well but I've enjoyed the sound signature of all those headphones and the SZ2000 is no exception. In fact these have more headtime recently than anything else. I have no complaints about the sound at all. All I could ask for, honestly, is another step up from this. I really don't think I can ask for much more expect more headroom at super low frequencies so I can go deaf faster and more detail in the mids and refinement in mids and bass. I would totally buy a SZ3000 for almost double what these go for if the price warranted the improvements. I love these things so much I want to own two and recable one and go insane comparing the two.
Another thing that's great about these is the price. When I got them, it was hard to get them for much less than about $215-225 shipped to the USA. They've surged in popularity a lot due to the Basshead IEM and headphone threads. We know this because the XB90EX and SZ2000's, both chart toppers, have become both cheaper and way easier to get outside Japan in the last 6 months or so. We've seen the average price of SZ2000 go from about $225 to $175 new on Amazon Prime. I thought they were worth every penny at 225 and at 175 they're simply a steal. You can get these and the 55x's for barely over 200. That's a killer deal. It's almost such a good deal, because it can hold its own against $500-600 over ears, that I kinda wish there was a SZ3000 to fill that gap.
I'll leave you with my current EQ settings at the time of writing this. Keep in mind it's not necessary to do this to get good sound - I am more than happy bass bombing running an Xduoo X3 into my Cayin C5, turning on high gain and bass boost, and letting 'em rumble.
Lastly, if you're like me and told your girlfriend these are what you want when she asks what you want for Christmas, these are a good suggestion because she won't be upset when you don't want to stop listening to them. Happy sub-bassing.
1/20/2017 Update
These along with the SZ1000 are still the only full size headphones I own. There is no need for anything else. Thank you Takuji Miura and Yuji Yanagi****a, the greatest bassheads of this century.
Pharmaboy
Just seeing this great review, almost 4 months after the fact. I'm getting ready to order these headphones, and I'm interested in getting the HM5 memory foam angled pads (the ones that aren't velour, but pleather)--but they're oval, not round. These JVCs are pretty obviously round headphones, so I'm wondering how hard it was for you to stretch the HM5 pads on? Is it relatively do-able, or one of those "I nearly ripped those suckers apart to get it done" things? No matter what, thanks for a terrific review, vapman!
vapman
Thank you all for the 10 likes!
@Pharmaboy the JVC SZ thread is still active and a great place to ask, lots of info there, the short answer is the ovalish HM5 pads WILL fit but they do feel like they might start to rip! however hasn't happened to anyone yet
happy listening, vapman
@Pharmaboy the JVC SZ thread is still active and a great place to ask, lots of info there, the short answer is the ovalish HM5 pads WILL fit but they do feel like they might start to rip! however hasn't happened to anyone yet
happy listening, vapman
hames2014
Thank you for the review. I am strongly considering these, but I am only looking at these for watching movies, and playing games. I am very concerned whether or not I will be satisfied for this purpose. To give you an idea, I had recently purchased a pair of Sony MDR-XB500's, and the bass on them was better than anything else I have tried, however the mids and highs were pretty muffled. I am no audiophile by any means, but I still would like some crisper mids and highs than those. Not knowing if you've tried the Sonys, but would be your thoughts on the SZ2000's for this purpose?
daveyostrow
For movies, the xb500 are just fine. If you want to clear up the mids (and even bring more rumble) EQ goes a long way.
You get what you see. Nothing extra.
CNT or "Carbon nano tube" diaphrams/drivers were developed by the Chinese (I studied this) and J.V.C was the first to mass produce it in their IEM "FX" Series.
Essentially a 55mm driver dedicated to low frequency . They actually called it a "Subwoofer" (a 30mm driver handles mids and highs)
Full tech explanation here>>>>>>HA-SZ2000 JVC
It's a Double Bass reflex design using the "Kelton Method"
Does this scream audiophile to you so far? It screamed Basshead to me.
Kinda screams this...
Old school 6x9's.......Oh nostalgia. Before dedicated subwoofers were the norm this is how they got low and highs (Car audio hi-fi ladies and gents) together...they "stacked" em.
Cars allow the space and freedom to divide and conquer the signal drivers but headphones......not much room.
JVC gets a lot of points for their creativity. This SZ series died a quick death due to many reasons.
1 Maybe the greatest Low frequency response headphone ever mass marketed and produced.......never aimed at the market most likely to eat it up
2 Outside design looks Hi-Fi while the sound signature is not.
3.Limited release and lack of follow up adjustments.
4...sadly the guy that was the genius behind this may be working in SIberia as it was an epic FAIL.
I give this 5 stars because it's bass is unmatched. The impact is superior to a line named Xtreme Xplode (Noooooooow they aimed at the crowd
It responds to eq adjusting unlike any headphone I have held. The response line is a rubber band that will do about anything.
The BASS...might make you sick. Previous owners might be able to comment on this. If you boost the already dominant bass it can cause a kind of nausea. I saw friends in my car audio days vomit after to long a ride with 2 15" subs slamming into the cars frame.
If someone blows into a large bottle a moment of resonance occurs and you feel it. It's uncomfortable. While your bass is pounding your head a subsonic tone is coming through those 2 tubes and though you cant hear it it is filling your ears and body. It might be in my mind but I don't think so. These cans bass might make you feel ill
I will update this later.
This is an import series that is apparently discontinued. I would recommend any bassaholic chasing the next big hit to get these before they are no more or go up in price because a niche' market of Bass oriented audiophiles take a shine to it and drive the price up.
Bass volume (exceeds amplification max of a FiiO e12) 1st time experience. That is by far ..nothing did that before and it has a 16 ohm impedance?
Bass Depth (rated down to 4Hz....the first time I never questioned a claim of production beyond the audible range because you can feel it)
Bass Texture (It will do whatever you want it to do from the low end side...it's 'texture" is so smooth it slips down your throat and makes you sick...that sensation anyway)
I will update this review after a while of usage. It has only played with Hip-Hop music.
Used for extension at high volume:
Used for Bass hit impact:
Used for Bass response (speed)
EDIT: 3/21/14
I ended up changing the pads on these.
This took 2 minutes and changed the mids and highs a lot. Not sure why JVC went with the smaller padding but it was a terrible oversight.
Bass impact was not altered by the pad change. These came off the 55x of JVC's XX series so I didn't expect bass impact would be diminished. It feels tighter.
These are the hardest bass cans I have ever heard. The Honeymoon fanboy period is over. These are just awesome.
Hawaiibadboy
I need some crazy bass in my listening here.
I still love my 77's for slam but they only play certain kinds of Hip Hop well.
These cost 200 bucks.....it's mind boggling. I paid more for Ultrasone Hfi 580
These hit deeper than anything you have heard over ear. They should, they are designed to... and they do. They hit as hard as the 77's .
So they cost 200... they hit as hard as your ears can safely accept (using an amp) and hit deeper than anything as they were designed too. It's cups are steel/aluminum it's made for housing all those parts in a secure bunker so it's heavy.
It's a bassheads collectors item. look at that tech, read the specs and get a pair.It plays all Hip Hop songs well even ones that made my 77's balk like 2pac's "Papaz Song"....never heard that on cans play right till last night.
It's 200
It's rare
It has made me smile and laugh more times in 48 hours than any can before. It's a joy...kinda mind blowing the bassheads didn't scoop this? JVC really made a lot of missteps.....none of them are in the cups of these cans. It was it aesthetics and marketing.
J.V.C got a lifetime fan just for swinging for the fences with this one and hitting a homer that nobody saw.
About the 77's I never say "Buy this"...it's a supreme 1 trick pony. Best in class but still limited to head smashing. This plays Marvin Gaye really nice ..(listening to it now)...before I switch back to SLAM mode.
Price, availability being limited , and your quoted sentence...........nuff said bru.
I still love my 77's for slam but they only play certain kinds of Hip Hop well.
These cost 200 bucks.....it's mind boggling. I paid more for Ultrasone Hfi 580
These hit deeper than anything you have heard over ear. They should, they are designed to... and they do. They hit as hard as the 77's .
So they cost 200... they hit as hard as your ears can safely accept (using an amp) and hit deeper than anything as they were designed too. It's cups are steel/aluminum it's made for housing all those parts in a secure bunker so it's heavy.
It's a bassheads collectors item. look at that tech, read the specs and get a pair.It plays all Hip Hop songs well even ones that made my 77's balk like 2pac's "Papaz Song"....never heard that on cans play right till last night.
It's 200
It's rare
It has made me smile and laugh more times in 48 hours than any can before. It's a joy...kinda mind blowing the bassheads didn't scoop this? JVC really made a lot of missteps.....none of them are in the cups of these cans. It was it aesthetics and marketing.
J.V.C got a lifetime fan just for swinging for the fences with this one and hitting a homer that nobody saw.
About the 77's I never say "Buy this"...it's a supreme 1 trick pony. Best in class but still limited to head smashing. This plays Marvin Gaye really nice ..(listening to it now)...before I switch back to SLAM mode.
Price, availability being limited , and your quoted sentence...........nuff said bru.
cb3723
These cans are a game changer when it comes to bass. You will need to EQ using something like a Fiio E17 as a portal to extract the deep reservoir of bass that exists within these cans, but that's where you will find the bass gold and striking gold is something of a joy to behold.
You may have read views on head-fi from naysayers putting this can down - don't believe a word of it!
These cans in tandem with the likes of a E17 will reveal the face of basshead god - become a disciple and forgive those who trespass or put down this almighty extreme bass headphone and believe the hype - it's the real deal and if you haven't read such before - you read it here first, so stop fooling around and go - get - these - cans - now already!
You may have read views on head-fi from naysayers putting this can down - don't believe a word of it!
These cans in tandem with the likes of a E17 will reveal the face of basshead god - become a disciple and forgive those who trespass or put down this almighty extreme bass headphone and believe the hype - it's the real deal and if you haven't read such before - you read it here first, so stop fooling around and go - get - these - cans - now already!
Prolificaudio
Can any of you compare these bass wise to the sony mdr950bt? Easily the craziest bass I have ever heard and if these are even better I will **** a brick.
I think a lot of people are in the same boat when it comes to bass fun cans. Your review sold me and I just paid Vapman for his extra pair of these cans with upgraded pads. Can you take a screenshot of your EQ you use most often for these cans and PM with it? Almost bought the Crossfade Vmoda M-100, but I had more than one person tell me if I want bass kings these are the way to go. I really wanted to grab those Fostex THxxx massdrop ones as well... and the others are very high priced... so yeah same boat, I am not even going to listen to these when they get in the mail, just burn in for 3 days straight.