JVC HA-FXC50 vs. SoundMAGIC PL50

[DervishD]

Hi all

I've been reading lately about those two affordable IEMs, but I haven't found much information about the JVC model, so I decided to ask here.

I cannot use IEMs by the moment, so I'm not going to buy any of them soon, but it's always good to have a list of possible targets

just in case. Moreover, I have a friend searching for a new pair of IEMs and I may recommend him one of these two.

The JVC one has a very small dynamic driver placed on the tip of the bud, not the body. This is a design I hadn't ever seen, and I don't know if that is better or worse than a (bigger) dynamic driver placed on the body of the bud. It can be found for 35-40 euros (more or less 50-60 USD).

The SoundMAGIC model is a balanced armature IEM, with good reviews in general but I'm worried about a couple of things: ¿does it have good bass response? ¿how about voices (they sounded a bit "muzzled" in the PL30, and yes, I know PL30 has a dynamic driver and PL50 has a balanced armature one, but I'm just wondering)? They are a bit more expensive (about 50 euros, or a bit over 72 USD) but given that they are balanced armature this is not an issue.

JVC, to date, has always pleased me with any of their headphones I've tested, and for example I LOVED the JVC Air Cushion, a great IEM for the price. I owned a pair of SoundMAGIC PL30 and I loved them, too, except for the voices. So, I'm pretty sure that if, in the future, I buy any of them I will be more than pleased but I wanted to have a bit more of first hand information from any owner in this forum.

Thanks in advance, guys

Raúl

 

[mythless]

Hrmmm tough one. But, I would go with the PL50. Joker might have better insight.

 

[ZARIM]

JVC HA-FXC50 are really good for all genres and they sound dynamic, clean and fuller.

 

[ljokerl]

My FXC50 are currently dead on one side (sound just went out suddenly) and in the process of being replaced, so I cannot recommend them at all. I got very little use out of them (not even burned in yet), but from what little of them I heard they are somewhat high-forward and bright. Detail is superb for the price (though obviously not as good as the PL50s). Here in US they are in completely different price brackets - the FXC50's are ~$25 and the PL50s are ~$55.

So far, I'd say the PL50 wins hands down. As for the OP's questions, the PL50s do not have monstrous bass response, but they have fuller bass and deeper extension than the PL30s. Vocals, especially female vocals, are very smooth and natural on them and generally work well with the somewhat laid-back sound signature.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZARIM /img/forum/go_quote.gif JVC HA-FXC50 are really good for all genres and they sound dynamic, clean and fuller.

Fuller than what? Have you tried the PL50s?

 

[DervishD]

Thanks to both of you

While I've read that SoundMAGIC PL50 are incredibly good for the price, I'm a bit concerned about build quality (my PL30 were not specially tough...) and about comfort (I don't like wearing the cables over the ear: the cable jumped over my ear all the time, making the phones very uncomfortable), so I don't know if I would recommend them to my friend. I would probably buy them for me, though.

I've read that JVC HA-FXC50 are more versatile (I mean, they sound good for almost all types of music), and I've liked every JVC phone I've tried in the past, but that microdriver thing... I don't know, maybe it sounds even better than a balanced armature with less hissing, but I find it weird anyway.

Well, my friend is currently considering these two and the Senn CX-300 II. He likes Sennheiser sound, so he may buy the CX-300 finally, but he has read the threads concerning the PL50 and he thinks they are very interesting (even though he is also concerned with the build quality given the tip removing problem).

I don't think he will buy anything before I have more replies, but if he does I'll try to post here the result!

Again, thanks,

Raúl

 

[DervishD]

Hi ljokerl

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljokerl /img/forum/go_quote.gif My FXC50 are currently dead on one side (sound just went out suddenly) and in the process of being replaced, so I cannot recommend them at all. I got very little use out of them (not even burned in yet), but from what little of them I heard they are somewhat high-forward and bright. Detail is superb for the price (though obviously not as good as the PL50s). Here in US they are in completely different price brackets - the FXC50's are ~$25 and the PL50s are ~$55.

Interesting for me. Looks like now my main source of concern is wearing the cable over the ear, since with my PL30 it was almost impossible to keep it there unless I used the "hooks", which are not very comfortable for me, either.

My friend listens mostly hip-hop, rap, techno, trance, etc. He wants extremely strong basses. I listen to almost everything... except hip-hop, rap, techno and trance, so my needs are others. I prefer more equilibrated headphones with good vocals.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljokerl /img/forum/go_quote.gif So far, I'd say the PL50 wins hands down. As for the OP's questions, the PL50s do not have monstrous bass response, but they have fuller bass and deeper extension than the PL30s. Vocals, especially female vocals, are very smooth and natural on them and generally work well with the somewhat laid-back sound signature.

My friend (Álvaro) is reading this right now (well, I'm translating since his English is a bit poor, that's the reason I'm the one writing this thread and not him), and he definitely likes the PL50. A pity that we cannot test both phones...

Thanks for the info!

Raúl & Álvaro

 

[mythless]

What about the Radiopaq Jazz? If not, you can get the IM-590 or the NE-7m/NE-6

 

[DervishD]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mythless /img/forum/go_quote.gif What about the Radiopaq Jazz? If not, you can get the IM-590 or the NE-7m/NE-6

I don't think he is going to find any of them in Spain, and he prefers buying in a physical shop. The PL50 are not available in any phisical shop I know, but there is a Spanish online shop where I've bought before and he can get them there.

Thanks for the reply

Raúl

 

[ljokerl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DervishD /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi ljokerl Interesting for me. Looks like now my main source of concern is wearing the cable over the ear, since with my PL30 it was almost impossible to keep it there unless I used the "hooks", which are not very comfortable for me, either. My friend listens mostly hip-hop, rap, techno, trance, etc. He wants extremely strong basses. I listen to almost everything... except hip-hop, rap, techno and trance, so my needs are others. I prefer more equilibrated headphones with good vocals.

Well, the PL50s HAVE to be worn over the ear. Not a problem for me since I wear everything over the ear, even RE2's, but if PL30s were problematic for you this may be a concern.

As for bass, the PL50s are not bass monsters. Neither are FXC50s. CX300s have lots off bass, but it is of very mediocre quality. This would certainly be much easier if you were in the states, because several manufactures make bassier phones in this price range. Nuforce NE-6's and the new Meelectonics R1 and M11 would be strong contenders. You can email Meelectonics directly for a shipping quote if you like. Their rates are very reasonable.

You may also want to look at the Soundmagic PL21, if that shop you spoke of carries them. They are much bassier/livelier than the PL30s and can be worn straight down.

 

[DervishD]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljokerl /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, the PL50s HAVE to be worn over the ear. Not a problem for me since I wear everything over the ear, even RE2's, but if PL30s were problematic for you this may be a concern.

For me it is a problem, since the cable insists on jumping over my ear, it just doesn't stay here. But, I've seen Álvaro (my friend) wear even earbuds over the ear, not because microphonics, but just because this way he can remove the buds and have it hanging from the ears. I don't think that wearing the cable over the ear is going to be a con with him

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljokerl /img/forum/go_quote.gif As for bass, the PL50s are not bass monsters. Neither are FXC50s. CX300s have lots off bass, but it is of very mediocre quality. This would certainly be much easier if you were in the states, because several manufactures make bassier phones in this price range. Nuforce NE-6's and the new Meelectonics R1 and M11 would be strong contenders. You can email Meelectonics directly for a shipping quote if you like. Their rates are very reasonable.

I'll tell him. I don't know exactly what level of bass he wants. He likes the Senn PMX-100 a lot specially for the bass response, but I've heard him telling he wanted even more... I don't know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljokerl /img/forum/go_quote.gif You may also want to look at the Soundmagic PL21, if that shop you spoke of carries them. They are much bassier/livelier than the PL30s and can be worn straight down.

Maybe they're perfect for him. I don't know if the shop where I bought the PL30 has these, but they should be easy to find anyway. I won't meet Álvaro until tomorrow, so I maybe write an additional message or two in the thread with his questions, don't know.

For me, I can't right now use IEMs, so they're not an option. Again, I'm not looking for a new pair of headphones by the moment, so...

Thanks a lot for the information and advice!
Raúl and Álvaro.