JVC's Micro HD Line: HA-FXD80/70/60

[cute]

Dsnuts,  I think the CKM500 would be hard to beat for me and my home gears....the FXD80 is enticing, but I don't care for the word "leaner"in your description!  I like detailed airy sound, which I think the CKM500 has after the 200hrs I have on them, they have thick notes with the custom tips, rich detail.....how does the bass compare with the FXD80?

 

[Dsnuts]

These on an amp is where they approach CKM500 level thickness of sound. Now these use completely different tech over the traditional dynamic.. For you I don't know if these will impress if you think the CKM500 are already the best for you..The leaner sound it is but detailed mids and clean articulate highs these have. The most impressive aspect of these JVCs is for me is the chiseled like clean sound presentation with full on 3D imagery these have. Bass end while is a bit north of neutral they do have a full bass end that is both tight and refined once burned in. Sub bass is solid but not as full sounding as what is on the CKM500.. Amped however they match the CKM500 easily..I do prefer the bass end on the CKM500 more so but again the imagery on these more than make up for bigger bass punch and sub bass.
 
To be fair though anything compared to the newer AT house sound is going to be leaner. Lol! Again different take on the sounds. These excel with instruments. Jazz, rock, indie, metal, classical.. While the CKM500 also does these very well more synthetic music the CKM500 wins no doubt. Vocals. Hmm. I have to admit vocals on the CKM500 is something else but these do vocals in a way that is also very crazy. Vocals pop and separate over instruments like nothing I have ever heard.This aspect is what sold me on these earphones again it is the imagery in the vocals the instruments. I think they do these particular aspects so well. It will be hard not to like these. I know it is more of a sound preference but I already know a few guys that like these over the CKM500s. Me? I like my Mp8320s over both.  Who needs $100 iems. Psst!
 
You can look at it this way. If you give these a try and end up not liking them. I am willing to bet you there will be many that will take em off your hands. It is like choosing between filet mignon or sushi. Who says you can't have both?..

 

[cute]

Dsnuts,  Busy reading the rest of this forum from page 1, they are ordered!  I'll bet my custom tips will give me the sound I am looking for!  The CKM500 has beaten my RE272, which now sound like old technology.  I had to EQ the RE272 at 30hz and 60hz +4db to get the bass/sub bass to shine, but with the CKM500, no EQ needed.  The CKM500 just have better highs than the RE272, never thought I would say that, but there is more detail and spakle with the CKM500.  Mids probably close on both, but the bass having really tightened up on the CKM500, after an additional 40hrs burn in with the Dr. Chesky Binural album, bass, drums and organ tracks on repeat, a great burn in album, mine is in 24/96, awesome sound!

 

[Dsnuts]

Quote:

Dsnuts,  Busy reading the rest of this forum from page 1, they are ordered!  I'll bet my custom tips will give me the sound I am looking for!  The CKM500 has beaten my RE272, which now sound like old technology.  I had to EQ the RE272 at 30hz and 60hz +4db to get the bass/sub bass to shine, but with the CKM500, no EQ needed.  The CKM500 just have better highs than the RE272, never thought I would say that, but there is more detail and spakle with the CKM500.  Mids probably close on both, but the bass having really tightened up on the CKM500, after an additional 40hrs burn in with the Dr. Chesky Binural album, bass, drums and organ tracks on repeat, a great burn in album, mine is in 24/96, awesome sound!

Lol Sold!.. I can only imagine how great those sound with your tips.For guys that don't know. The reason why I am supporting both this thread and the CKM500.
 
Both these earphones represent a new movement in Japan. Both represent some of the most refined sounds out of AT and JVC camp for the cash in years.  As they are competing to see who can produce the best for the least amount of cash it seems. You guys want to talk about value for what you guys are getting. Both these earphones must be in your collection as both simply represent some of the best sounds coming out of Japan. For guys that own the FXD80. You can not overlook the CKM500 earphones. Likely the CKM500 owners can not pass up on getting JVCs answer to the CKM line.   And all of us get to enjoy this competition they have going on.  That is what makes both earphones very exciting to own.

 

[Huxley]

Well i've got you there.
 
I can't buy the CKM500 as i have the tt isurus you mentioned, and they must be the most painful iem i have used.

 

[stevenlongs]

Quote:

Lol Sold!.. I can only imagine how great those sound with your tips.For guys that don't know. The reason why I am supporting both this thread and the CKM500.
 
Both these earphones represent a new movement in Japan. Both represent some of the most refined sounds out of AT and JVC camp for the cash in years.  As they are competing to see who can produce the best for the least amount of cash it seems. You guys want to talk about value for what you guys are getting. Both these earphones must be in your collection as both simply represent some of the best sounds coming out of Japan. For guys that own the FXD80. You can not overlook the CKM500 earphones. Likely the CKM500 owners can not pass up on getting JVCs answer to the CKM line.   And all of us get to enjoy this competition they have going on.  That is what makes both earphones very exciting to own.

 
 
Several questions:
 
1) I have a yam EPH-100 on order. I'm looking for something complementary (read: different) to those phones. The ATs or JVC?
Hopefully enough of you have all the phones to compare. :3
 
2) Where can I order? Can someone provide links and possibly explain in 1 line or 2 so I don't have to scour
for links and translate from japanese lol
 
3) For those living in the states, how much am I looking at in terms of custom tax?

 

[cute]

Quote:

Lol Sold!.. I can only imagine how great those sound with your tips.For guys that don't know. The reason why I am supporting both this thread and the CKM500.
 
Both these earphones represent a new movement in Japan. Both represent some of the most refined sounds out of AT and JVC camp for the cash in years.  As they are competing to see who can produce the best for the least amount of cash it seems. You guys want to talk about value for what you guys are getting. Both these earphones must be in your collection as both simply represent some of the best sounds coming out of Japan. For guys that own the FXD80. You can not overlook the CKM500 earphones. Likely the CKM500 owners can not pass up on getting JVCs answer to the CKM line.   And all of us get to enjoy this competition they have going on.  That is what makes both earphones very exciting to own.

 
Well, I just look at it as two more to cross off my "bucket list", I'm just an old retired Audiophile type dude riding this out.....I have to thank you though, because now I don't feel the urge to purchase the Aurisonics ASG-2/AS-2 at probably 3-5 times the price, LOL!   
 
Still finding it hard to believe that I like the CKM500 more than my modded Audio Technica full size headphones....but the CKM500 do sound like full size headphones, IMO!

 

[Dsnuts]

Quote:

Well i've got you there.
 
I can't buy the CKM500 as i have the tt isurus you mentioned, and they must be the most painful iem i have used.

Much smaller smoother. Left is a standard earbud size. Right against the isurus. Very comfy actually.

 

[Huxley]

It's not the body, it's the nozzle itself.
 
Goes in at what feels like a very awkward angle despite my lugs being straight.
 
I'll try them again as i am curious about those at's, but so far sony hybrids seem to be the best fit.

 

[Huxley]

Quote:

 
 
Several questions:
 
1) I have a yam EPH-100 on order. I'm looking for something complementary (read: different) to those phones. The ATs or JVC?
Hopefully enough of you have all the phones to compare. :3

If you are patient, i can tell you the differences between the jvc and yamaha, as i own the latter and the jvc's are on order.
 
Though i don't have at's, i am somewhat familiar with their energetic sound though dsnuts is the real at fanboy.

 

[Dsnuts]

Quote:

 
Well, I just look at it as two more to cross off my "bucket list", I'm just an old retired Audiophile type dude riding this out.....I have to thank you though, because now I don't feel the urge to purchase the Aurisonics ASG-2/AS-2 at probably 3-5 times the price, LOL!   
 
Still finding it hard to believe that I like the CKM500 more than my modded Audio Technica full size headphones....but the CKM500 do sound like full size headphones, IMO!

Ya but when the ASG-2s come out. That will be a different story. Lol. .It's all good you guys are enjoying these earphones just as much as I am and that is what it is all about..

 

[Dsnuts]

Quote:

 
 
Several questions:
 
1) I have a yam EPH-100 on order. I'm looking for something complementary (read: different) to those phones. The ATs or JVC?
Hopefully enough of you have all the phones to compare. :3
 
2) Where can I order? Can someone provide links and possibly explain in 1 line or 2 so I don't have to scour
for links and translate from japanese lol
 
3) For those living in the states, how much am I looking at in terms of custom tax?

Ebay is where I got mine. With standard shipping you are looking at around $120 with EMS you are looking at $132 or so. No customs tax. Guys are getting the CKM500 either off of ebay or CDJapan.com.   I believe CDJapan has the cheapest overall price on the CKM500s.

 

[stevenlongs]

@Huxley 
I'll eagerly await your comparison
 
@Dsnuts
Thx!

 

[eke2k6]

Quote:

Dsnuts,  Busy reading the rest of this forum from page 1, they are ordered!  I'll bet my custom tips will give me the sound I am looking for!  The CKM500 has beaten my RE272, which now sound like old technology.  I had to EQ the RE272 at 30hz and 60hz +4db to get the bass/sub bass to shine, but with the CKM500, no EQ needed.  The CKM500 just have better highs than the RE272, never thought I would say that, but there is more detail and spakle with the CKM500.  Mids probably close on both, but the bass having really tightened up on the CKM500, after an additional 40hrs burn in with the Dr. Chesky Binural album, bass, drums and organ tracks on repeat, a great burn in album, mine is in 24/96, awesome sound!

 

 
I've heard the RE272 has the best treble in the universal world. Are you sure you don't mean RE262?

 

[a_recording]

Lol dsnuts, it's a long time since I've seen anyone get as enthusiastic about a pair of IEM's as you have. Maybe I'm just cynical. Hopefully we will get a wider consensus forming soon enough.

For $500 bananas I'd do that too, especially when veteran a_recording and tomscy2000 are legit comparing the sound of the JVC FXD80 to the Sony XBA-4 

 
The new XBA-4 pricing is actually really fair value. It's really more that the FXD80 is a real standout for the price you pay. I would say that JVC could have priced these at $150-$250 and gotten away with it, so perhaps they are trying to achieve some serious market penetration. I'm not aware of how well these are doing in Japan, the only resource I have for that is Kakaku.
 
What I can say from using both of them over the past week or so is that I still prefer the XBA-4's smoother and weightier sound - but at the same time I actually find myself using the FXD as much just because they are a) more comfortable b) much easier to put in the pocket.
 
Essentially the FXD80 and the XBA-4 are quite similar except that the scoop on the vocals is not as severe on the XBA-4, yet at the same time they have less clarity overall. Bass is also stronger on the FXD.
 

haha, kiteki you'r here too!
 
there was a 50% chance i'd get the XBA1 and now you made it -50%. i hate you, thanks!

 
That's a pretty easy decision. Unless you are particularly easily fatigued, the FXD for sure.