So, some random thoughts after spending the last couple of mornings using them...
Still had the pipeline ET-1 cable back from the Mikros 90 days.
As with the Mikros a bit of a sound upgrade and a nice color match on the "XX" here. Will put more hours on the stock cable but it seems it pushes towards a thicker "XX" sound sig though fun so not in a bad way but not gonna get the drivers potential out of them I would say.
I'll start with the cable. Thick and more slick shiny style which is good for less rubbing snagging but still the usual JVC sheathing that stiffens in the cold. Not much of an issue for a head phone like with in-ears that unseat themselves but still something for years I have wanted JVC and other Japanese brands to change. Pipeline cable stays supple out in the cold.
Spent two morning out using the JVC. They have been growing on me quite a bit.
Comfort is great. Nice protein leather looking pads and headband padding that you can see is ample. Pretty firm. Does sink in some more after wearing and warming like a good memory foam. the wide band and the padding make for a stable fit with good weight spreading. Pads are 75mm across so decent size for an on ear and you can see the good surface area which also helps them stay on. I like lighter cans but shooting hoops and hitting a racquetball around was very do-able and I read some reviews earlier that some thought they did well running with these. Isolation is above average with the nice pads. Just light enough at 206 grams and it is distributed well
The build outside of the padding is nice. You can aim/angle the drivers on the ear since the construction is tight and these will not creak or make any noise. Even the button click is not annoying like with some BT cans. There is the rubber padding on the front that protects them so they seem well built and designed to be durable. Adjustment of the headband is done with good strong locking click and they won't adjust your level by accident unless real force is applied.
Design could use a few improvements. JVC seems afraid to make buttons stick out meaning you have to feel for them a bit more. Yes, the volume has a raised mark on the + side and so does the power button but they should make them stick out and be more easily identifiable. Also spreading them around the whole right ear cup does makes you accidentally press buttons if you are adjusting the cups. Not a big deal as you get used to how to grip them so as not to press the BASS button or play pause with a thumb. No deal breaking issue with the buttons but more time is needed to get used to using them.
So far, while using BT, I'm thinking BASS on is how they sound best. A bit bigger and more fun. Depends on the device. Some say there is no difference over BT but I'll argue big time. I have a Ruizu that is quite neutral and much more cool and thinner over BT than my A45. My JNN M9 is sightly more balanced than the A45 but close in signature. Good to have the BASS button to choose to add a layer of meat to the notes and have it for the thinner X51 sig. The Boost is indeed well done. Sometimes hard to tell it is on because it is well done just meating everything up some to counter outside noise. They seem to put a decent chip inside so they don't seem to lose anything, perhaps sound a little better over BT esp. with aptX. A better cable than stock is needed to push the SQ ahead in wired mode. Though for now these need more hours on them both the drivers and stock cable.
That leads me to the BT prompts. No voice prompts like other things. My Sony had them and even my cheaper Chinese BT stuff says "connected" or "pairing complete" or whatever. Just differentiable beeps for on and paired and shutting down. Single beep for play, pause, and other controls. Voice commands for BASS ON and OFF and BT connected and such would have been nicer.
NFC is nice on the outer and lower part of the left ear cup. So easy to connect and quick too. Just a surprising few seconds it took to tap to my A45 and it paired them right off the bat even thought the JVC was off. Easy to do while wearing the cans which is nice.
BT has been strong and stable so far. Some very quick chirps when shooting the basketball with the X51 on the left side of my body which was remedied by clipping it to my left. of course this is due to the Ruizu not being the best for BT transmission. Sony and JNN M9 have strong BT and have no issues even through walls.
Battery - haven't thought about it. Did plug in in once and it has the standard LED indicators(red = charging, off is charged) but with 40 hours and 10 minutes for 3 hours of play there are no battery worries at all. Of course nice to not even worry about it or just plug them in while in the shower to get more than enough is great.
Happy with what I paid for them. Not a great deal at their list price($149) or the $120 I bought them at. Not to do with the headphones or the SQ but no case and the cable could be a bit better. Well worth the price at what I paid but not a great deal unless it came with a decent case at least.
