Focux
1000+ Head-Fier
Dear folks,
This is my first review on Head-Fi, pardon and kindly notify me if there are areas which need polishing.
For the longest i have been using my iPhone X as my main source for music (well not really it was only launched less than a year back). Earlier today i finally got a microSD for my Fiio X3 Gen 1 DAP (real old by now), managed to transfer all my files (mostly FLAC but 16bit). As i'm very used to how music sounds from my iPhone, i do apologize in advance if i may have missed out something that i should be aware of. Main IEM has been the IE80 for around 5 years along with the discontinued Sony XBA-40. These Billie Jean's are USD349 (now you get some bluetooth freebie). Bought these in Singapore for SGD499.
Without further ado, here is my, "review"
Packaging/contents etc.
Fit and finish are up to par, no demerit points there (pictures don't do these justice), cable might appear cheap to some but it does the job just fine (hated IE80 stock cables). Standard gold plated L jack, 2 pin connector, palm sized carrying coin-like zip case with extra tips inside a zip-lock of it.
Jerry's face on the back
Admittedly, i am a sucker for anything red or with streaks of it
"Bore" seems to stick out somewhat
Testing "equipment"
yeah went out to get a microsd just for this lolol
Very old Fiio X3 Gen 1 (EQ off, gain set on High)
Sennheiser IE80 (both IEM's are similarly priced where i am)
Songs used:
Paramore - Misery business, That’s what you get
Simple Plan - Your Love Is a Lie
Muse - Butterflies and Hurricanes, Time Is Running Out
FIR - Our Love (mandarin)
The Unguided - Collapse My Dream
Rainie Yang - Black Moon
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Michael Jackson - Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean
Ayumi Hamasaki - Is this love, Mad World (Japanese)
Avril Lavigne - When You’re Gone, My Happy Ending, Nobody’s Home
Evanescence - Bring Me To Life, My Last Breath,
Green Day - Holiday, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Basket Case
Cigarettes after sex
Dean Lewis – Waves
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Face Down
Ed Sheeran - Perfect
IE80: Single Dynamic Driver
AKBJ: Dual Balanced Armature
Both are within about SGD30-50 of each other
Impressions of IE80 (with songs played above)
IE80:
sort of veiled in comparison
could be smoother
vocals nowhere near as pronounced or put forward
sub bass sounds sort of muddy
At times comes across as thick and opaque
AK BJ:
more defined imaging
Hear more bass than actually feeling it (sometimes a tad too much on the ie80, DD driver afterall)
Separation better than IE80 but sound stage not so
Extension on highs fairly defined
Pace is enjoyable
Generally warmer sound sig
Cymbals, percussion shakers and maracas are very well articulated, quite a joy across all tracks
AK BJ more articulate overall
Timbre is good
Bass:
Just about as prominent as mids are, hear more than feel it. Clear and not muddied
Tight and punchy
Mids:
Well presented, not too forward but definitely more present than the IE80’s.
Highs:
Rather defined and doesn’t sound airy and upper treble doesn’t seem to roll off (YMMV)
Resolution/Detail/Clarity:
Separation is distinct, much better than the IE80’s. cymbal hits come across well structured and crisp, decay is welcomingly gradual
Sound stage/Imaging:
Sound stage nowhere as wide as the IE80 but definitely not shabby by any means. Imaging is good; no issue with L/R/U/D
Strengths:
"Holistic" overall presentation
Very smooth mid-range
Comes across as intimate sounding
Built quality doesn’t disappoint
Weaknesses:
For some reason,
Comfort could be better
Accessories package or rather the lack thereof are utter rubbish lol
Some closing brain farts:
For some reason I feel that my DAP is faulty but I could be wrong. Highs came across harsh to my ears but I suspect this has to do with my source (tested on laptop, iPhone X and Fiio X3 Gen 1). Gain was set on high during testing. That aside, the song Billie Jean was an immense joy to listen to (yeah the name ikr); it was as though this IEM was tuned for this song but of course I’m going off tangent here. Us and them by Pink Floyd was also a pleasure. The entire album by Cigarettes after sex was darn soothing in every aspect (especially K and Apocalypse). Basket Case and 21 Guns were very smooth throughout; I particularly enjoyed Perfect by Ed Sheeran as the snare drums were real sharp and with the strumming of guitars accompanied by Ed's voice, this track was very wholesome.
Will edit this OP in time as the BJ's get more burn in time and also give updates to my impressions using S sized tips (review was conducted with default M sized ones). Please do share with me your thoughts, will do my best to answer your questions if any
This is my first review on Head-Fi, pardon and kindly notify me if there are areas which need polishing.
For the longest i have been using my iPhone X as my main source for music (well not really it was only launched less than a year back). Earlier today i finally got a microSD for my Fiio X3 Gen 1 DAP (real old by now), managed to transfer all my files (mostly FLAC but 16bit). As i'm very used to how music sounds from my iPhone, i do apologize in advance if i may have missed out something that i should be aware of. Main IEM has been the IE80 for around 5 years along with the discontinued Sony XBA-40. These Billie Jean's are USD349 (now you get some bluetooth freebie). Bought these in Singapore for SGD499.
Without further ado, here is my, "review"
Packaging/contents etc.
Fit and finish are up to par, no demerit points there (pictures don't do these justice), cable might appear cheap to some but it does the job just fine (hated IE80 stock cables). Standard gold plated L jack, 2 pin connector, palm sized carrying coin-like zip case with extra tips inside a zip-lock of it.
Jerry's face on the back
Admittedly, i am a sucker for anything red or with streaks of it
"Bore" seems to stick out somewhat
Testing "equipment"
yeah went out to get a microsd just for this lolol
Very old Fiio X3 Gen 1 (EQ off, gain set on High)
Sennheiser IE80 (both IEM's are similarly priced where i am)
Songs used:
Paramore - Misery business, That’s what you get
Simple Plan - Your Love Is a Lie
Muse - Butterflies and Hurricanes, Time Is Running Out
FIR - Our Love (mandarin)
The Unguided - Collapse My Dream
Rainie Yang - Black Moon
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Michael Jackson - Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean
Ayumi Hamasaki - Is this love, Mad World (Japanese)
Avril Lavigne - When You’re Gone, My Happy Ending, Nobody’s Home
Evanescence - Bring Me To Life, My Last Breath,
Green Day - Holiday, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Basket Case
Cigarettes after sex
Dean Lewis – Waves
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Face Down
Ed Sheeran - Perfect
IE80: Single Dynamic Driver
AKBJ: Dual Balanced Armature
Both are within about SGD30-50 of each other
Impressions of IE80 (with songs played above)
IE80:
sort of veiled in comparison
could be smoother
vocals nowhere near as pronounced or put forward
sub bass sounds sort of muddy
At times comes across as thick and opaque
AK BJ:
more defined imaging
Hear more bass than actually feeling it (sometimes a tad too much on the ie80, DD driver afterall)
Separation better than IE80 but sound stage not so
Extension on highs fairly defined
Pace is enjoyable
Generally warmer sound sig
Cymbals, percussion shakers and maracas are very well articulated, quite a joy across all tracks
AK BJ more articulate overall
Timbre is good
Bass:
Just about as prominent as mids are, hear more than feel it. Clear and not muddied
Tight and punchy
Mids:
Well presented, not too forward but definitely more present than the IE80’s.
Highs:
Rather defined and doesn’t sound airy and upper treble doesn’t seem to roll off (YMMV)
Resolution/Detail/Clarity:
Separation is distinct, much better than the IE80’s. cymbal hits come across well structured and crisp, decay is welcomingly gradual
Sound stage/Imaging:
Sound stage nowhere as wide as the IE80 but definitely not shabby by any means. Imaging is good; no issue with L/R/U/D
Strengths:
"Holistic" overall presentation
Very smooth mid-range
Comes across as intimate sounding
Built quality doesn’t disappoint
Weaknesses:
For some reason,
Comfort could be better
Accessories package or rather the lack thereof are utter rubbish lol
Some closing brain farts:
For some reason I feel that my DAP is faulty but I could be wrong. Highs came across harsh to my ears but I suspect this has to do with my source (tested on laptop, iPhone X and Fiio X3 Gen 1). Gain was set on high during testing. That aside, the song Billie Jean was an immense joy to listen to (yeah the name ikr); it was as though this IEM was tuned for this song but of course I’m going off tangent here. Us and them by Pink Floyd was also a pleasure. The entire album by Cigarettes after sex was darn soothing in every aspect (especially K and Apocalypse). Basket Case and 21 Guns were very smooth throughout; I particularly enjoyed Perfect by Ed Sheeran as the snare drums were real sharp and with the strumming of guitars accompanied by Ed's voice, this track was very wholesome.
Will edit this OP in time as the BJ's get more burn in time and also give updates to my impressions using S sized tips (review was conducted with default M sized ones). Please do share with me your thoughts, will do my best to answer your questions if any
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