JVC HA-FD01 Class S Solidege

[DivineCurrent]

Can anyone who owns the FD01 (or FD02) comment on channel balance issues?
I recently got an FD01 off Amazon, and one of the earpieces has like 3 or 4 dB less bass below 100 Hz than the other. I never had this problem with the FDX1, and I'm kind of concerned this is a widespread problem because I've seen this issue show up on multiple measurements out there. I know it's not a sealing problem because when I swap the earpieces left and right, the imbalance goes to the other side. I put in a return request and they are already shipping a new one to me, so I really hope this was just a fluke.

 

[ewetcr]

Can anyone who owns the FD01 (or FD02) comment on channel balance issues?
I recently got an FD01 off Amazon, and one of the earpieces has like 3 or 4 dB less bass below 100 Hz than the other. I never had this problem with the FDX1, and I'm kind of concerned this is a widespread problem because I've seen this issue show up on multiple measurements out there. I know it's not a sealing problem because when I swap the earpieces left and right, the imbalance goes to the other side. I put in a return request and they are already shipping a new one to me, so I really hope this was just a fluke.

Sry for late answer, I don't remember chan imbalance (as I felt for instance, some time after, the 7hz Timeless had), but it might have been there, my pair got stolen so I can't tell. How does the new pair you were sent behave?

 

[surfgeorge]

Can anyone who owns the FD01 (or FD02) comment on channel balance issues?
I recently got an FD01 off Amazon, and one of the earpieces has like 3 or 4 dB less bass below 100 Hz than the other. I never had this problem with the FDX1, and I'm kind of concerned this is a widespread problem because I've seen this issue show up on multiple measurements out there. I know it's not a sealing problem because when I swap the earpieces left and right, the imbalance goes to the other side. I put in a return request and they are already shipping a new one to me, so I really hope this was just a fluke.

I had a similar issue with an FDX1 from DROP, interestingly both earpieces had less bass than they should have had, but one side was -5dB in sub-bass, the other -10dB. Returned them to Drop and received a replacement which sounded and measured as expected.

I also tried a lot to figure out if I could find out the reason for the lack of bass and imbalance, tried to seal the gaps of the rotating nozzle, used tape on the vents etc. but could not figure out the root cause. Documented it in the FDX1 thread.
Here's one post:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/dro...-iem-available-in-the-us.912737/post-15967897

 

[DivineCurrent]

Sry for late answer, I don't remember chan imbalance (as I felt for instance, some time after, the 7hz Timeless had), but it might have been there, my pair got stolen so I can't tell. How does the new pair you were sent behave?

The new pair is much better, but I still notice a very slight imbalance, maybe 1 or 2 dB below 100 Hz. It's not a huge deal, but I expect more from a product that used to retail for $400. Again, the FDX1 has perfect channel balance to my ears, so there's really no point in me owning both the FD01 and FDX1 now.

I had a similar issue with an FDX1 from DROP, interestingly both earpieces had less bass than they should have had, but one side was -5dB in sub-bass, the other -10dB. Returned them to Drop and received a replacement which sounded and measured as expected.

I also tried a lot to figure out if I could find out the reason for the lack of bass and imbalance, tried to seal the gaps of the rotating nozzle, used tape on the vents etc. but could not figure out the root cause. Documented it in the FDX1 thread.
Here's one post:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/dro...-iem-available-in-the-us.912737/post-15967897

Thanks for the posts. That is a much bigger imbalance than what I've heard.

 

[daijobudes]

Found a great pair that sounds heavenly -
Qudelix 5K +
Cadmus S 4W +
FD01 OG + (maybe this is the secret, yet to confirm)
Audio Technica ER-CKS 50 eartips (they have fantastic seal and are imo the best I’ve tried so far!)
It’s phenomenal, i always thought this inear had great potential- and it is! Sound is so sweet, clear, not harsh!

 

[DivineCurrent]

Found a great pair that sounds heavenly -
Qudelix 5K +
Cadmus S 4W +
FD01 OG + (maybe this is the secret, yet to confirm)
Audio Technica ER-CKS 50 eartips (they have fantastic seal and are imo the best I’ve tried so far!)
It’s phenomenal, i always thought this inear had great potential- and it is! Sound is so sweet, clear, not harsh!

I'm also loving the FD01 with the Qudelix 5K, LDAC from the LGV40. Custom EQ settings on the 5K are awesome and makes the FD01 sound just amazing.

Also, I want to update my impressions of the FD01. I was mistaken that the FDX1 has better bass than the FD01. The bass is not better, it's presented differently. The bass level is simply lower than on the FDX1, specifically the mid bass. Once you use EQ to bump up the bass on the FD01, they sound nearly identical. If anything, I think there might be more treble extension on the FD01 giving more detail than the FDX1. The FD01 is so punchy and detailed especially with EQ, I just love it. I think if I didn't have the Dunu Zen Pro already, the FD01 could be my endgame IEM.

I'm using the Moondrop Spring tips and the blue ring titanium filter/nozzle (which sounds basically the same as the white steel nozzle).

 

[Raketen]

Drop currently has them for $109, quite a deal!

 

[BX700]

Picked up a pair of the FD02s, largely due to recommendations in this thread. Didn't understand the appeal until today, though. Have not modded them in the way suggested, just using the narrowest-channelled eartips I have and a balanced cable, depending on source. Unmodded with the stock eartips they could sound nauseating: not treble elevated, but sort of blurry. Now their sound is robust and thick with a good balance across frequencies. Clear but not crystal. Source power also seems to have been a factor. I'd suggest a phone wouldn't be adequate. I'm using a KA3 and only the balanced output cuts it.

 

[BX700]

The more IEMs I hear the more I'm convinced that the FD02 are absolute classics. They've been so near the top of my ranking so long I might need to concede they're the best I have. I haven't even heard the FD01s; I'm not sure I need to.

 

[mochill]

The more IEMs I hear the more I'm convinced that the FD02 are absolute classics. They've been so near the top of my ranking so long I might need to concede they're the best I have. I haven't even heard the FD01s; I'm not sure I need to.

You need too

 

[DivineCurrent]

It looks like the FD01 has been archived on the USA JVC site (https://www.jvc.com/usa/headphones/high-resolution/ha-fd01/). I don't know if this means it's discontinued, but it is still available on JVC's Japanese store. So maybe it's back to a Japan/Asia only item.

Regardless, I revisited the FD01 this week after a while of using other IEMs (Moondrop Kato, NiceHCK F1 Pro, and Dunu Zen Pro). The FD01 (and FDX1 by extension) has technical qualities that are unlike these others, in fact it may outperform them in a few areas. There is such great incisiveness, speed, and detail to the sound, I would say it's similar to the Focal Elex or Clear. It is extremely quick with the initial leading edge and transients. Even though it's not a bassy IEM, there's an intensity to the sound. I even think it does things better than the Zen Pro, like treble extension. The Zen Pro has a more impressive, wider and larger bass presentation, but I feel like the treble suffers from sharp peaks and overall unevenness, therefore loosing detail in that region. The Kato and F1 Pro have softer attack in direct comparison, although they have their own strengths. I've done my best to EQ all of my IEMs to a somewhat warm-neutral target, something similar sounding to my HD660S2 and Focal Clear MG. And with this EQ, the FD01 sounds nearly perfect to me. My only complaint would be the somewhat close intimate soundstage, but the imaging is quite good and for an IEM, it is certainly not the smallest soundstage I have heard.

These are still competitive today in my opinion, even with the current market of new Chi-Fi IEMs coming out seemingly every other week.

 

[daijobudes]

Hey

It looks like the FD01 has been archived on the USA JVC site (https://www.jvc.com/usa/headphones/high-resolution/ha-fd01/). I don't know if this means it's discontinued, but it is still available on JVC's Japanese store. So maybe it's back to a Japan/Asia only item.



Regardless, I revisited the FD01 this week after a while of using other IEMs (Moondrop Kato, NiceHCK F1 Pro, and Dunu Zen Pro). The FD01 (and FDX1 by extension) has technical qualities that are unlike these others, in fact it may outperform them in a few areas. There is such great incisiveness, speed, and detail to the sound, I would say it's similar to the Focal Elex or Clear. It is extremely quick with the initial leading edge and transients. Even though it's not a bassy IEM, there's an intensity to the sound. I even think it does things better than the Zen Pro, like treble extension. The Zen Pro has a more impressive, wider and larger bass presentation, but I feel like the treble suffers from sharp peaks and overall unevenness, therefore loosing detail in that region. The Kato and F1 Pro have softer attack in direct comparison, although they have their own strengths. I've done my best to EQ all of my IEMs to a somewhat warm-neutral target, something similar sounding to my HD660S2 and Focal Clear MG. And with this EQ, the FD01 sounds nearly perfect to me. My only complaint would be the somewhat close intimate soundstage, but the imaging is quite good and for an IEM, it is certainly not the smallest soundstage I have heard.

These are still competitive today in my opinion, even with the current market of new Chi-Fi IEMs coming out seemingly every other week.

Hey!
I’m totally on board with you, it’s a very very nice (and unique!) iem, the Design and construction is just on another level.
I wish I had a chance to try that other 4th nozzle that was sold as limited edition in Japan, or there was an option to buy nozzles from different metals thru their website or 3rd party.
Regardless the sense of space and upper midrange are ethereal on this iem.
Its quite power hungry, so with a better amp it’s opening up quite a bit