The JVC HA-S680 - S400's and S500's big brother is here!

BenF · Nov 15, 2013 at 8:21 PM

JVC HA-S680 is the next generation of HA-S400 and HA-S500, with the carbon nanotube technology.
Just like them, it's not meant to be sold outside of Japan

Nevertheless, here we are!

They utilize a 40mm driver, but it's not the same driver as in S500 - it is the next generation!

Output sound pressure level: 102dB/1mW
Playback frequency: 8Hz ~ 26.000Hz
Impedance: 32Ω

S500 is louder (106dB/1mW) and has 1 Khz less extension at the top.
I own S400, so I will be using it for comparison.

Sound Quality - upon receiving them, I gave them a short audition. They sounded nothing special, but I had good reasons to believe they would improve:

1) It took me over 200 hours to fully burn-in my S400s, and they didn't sound great until the process was finished.
2) These are Japan-only headphones, and Japanese usually keep the best stuff to themselves
3) SQ was scaling up with better sources - always a good sign.

So I started burning them with this noise:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rnrj5g0mmbldj58/ZhYIByMYOE/White-Pink-Brown%20Noise%20%28For%20burn%20in%29.wav

12 hours in - Small changes here and there
24 hours in - Oh my god, did they burn in already? All the frequencies sound so much better, especially the bass.
                      I compared them to S400, and it became clear that there was still a long way to go - the bass wasn't as tight
                      and vocals weren't as emotional.
48 hours in - Now this a clearly superior headphone to S400.
                      Sound is balanced, similar to S400's sound signature, but the bass hits harder (although just as tight) and the
                      larger pads helped improve soundstage and imaging. Instrument separation is better too. The vocals are very
                      engaging.
72 hours in - No audible differences.

This is where I believed that this is a new improved driver, and not just an old repackaged one.
The old driver took over 200 hours to burn in, but they perfected the formula and the new one is done in 48!

There are a few significant design changes in S680 - 1) Bass ports 2) Larger pads

The bass ports are necessary for the harder hitting bass, what surprises me is that the bass is still just as tight as before, despite increase in volume. There is no leakage into the mids either.

Comfort - the larger pads increase both soundstage and comfort. For some people, especially women, these may be around-the-ear, for me they are still on-the-ear. However, they are much more comfortable then S400, because they press on the more remote parts of the ear.
I've tried the Shure HPAEC840 pads - they are too big, may need to be modified to fit properly.
BrainWavz HM5 pads are a perfect fit, but have the same effect as on S400 - soundstage improves, but the bass becomes a little boomy. The HM5 look like they were made for S680, on S400 they looked monstrous.

Isolation - the larger pads make it better, but the bass ports make it worse. They are OK to use in an office, but not on a mass transport. Sound leakage is minimal, can be used in a library.

Overall, this is a fantastic portable closed phone, my new #1, ahead of HA-S400 and ATH-ES700.
They scale well with better equipment, but aren't hard to drive.
They also makes a decent desktop speaker - I can put my NFB-11.32 on high gain and volume at 1-2PM - the sound fills the room

bhazard · Nov 15, 2013 at 8:47 PM

Hmm, get these or keep the S500? Decisions, decisions.

RoMee · Nov 15, 2013 at 8:50 PM

They look pretty. If I didn't just pick up a CAL!2 I would definitely grab me a pair.
Your description of the bass port sound similar to the bass port on my modded S500 .

shockdoc · Nov 15, 2013 at 8:50 PM

I would be interested if they were definitely over the ear. Sounds like that's iffy tho.

BenF · Nov 15, 2013 at 8:54 PM

shockdoc said:
I would be interested if they were definitely over the ear. Sounds like that's iffy tho.

HM5 pads are 17$ with free worldwide shipping - http://www.mp4nation.net/brainwavz-hm5-spare-earpad-1pc
Total cost would be 98$ - for a sound worth much more.

7S Cameron · Nov 15, 2013 at 8:59 PM

benf said:
HM5 pads are 17$ with free worldwide shipping - http://www.mp4nation.net/brainwavz-hm5-spare-earpad-1pc
Total cost would be 98$ - for a sound worth much more.

How are these compared to the S500s with the stock pads? You compared these to the S400s, but I much prefer the S500s. I'm just wondering if these are worth the purchase.

BenF · Nov 15, 2013 at 9:02 PM

7s cameron said:
How are these compared to the S500s with the stock pads?

I don't have S500, but they should be the same as S400.
HA-S680 stock pads are much better (because of the size), HM5 pads make them circumaural - doesn't get any better.

7S Cameron · Nov 15, 2013 at 9:07 PM

benf said:
I don't have S500, but they should be the same as S400.
HA-S680 stock pads are much better (because of the size), HM5 pads make them circumaural - doesn't get any better.

I was more curious about the sound signature, but since you don't have the S500s...

Uhh, would you label these headphones as more mid-centric and flat? Or do they have more of a U-shaped signature?

waynes world · Nov 15, 2013 at 9:08 PM

benf said:
Overall, this is a fantastic portable closed phone, my new #1, ahead of HA-S400 and ATH-ES700.

Thanks for the overview. Looks interesting!

BenF · Nov 15, 2013 at 9:11 PM

7s cameron said:
I was more curious about the sound signature, but since you don't have the S500s...

Uhh, would you label these headphones as more mid-centric and flat? Or do they have more of a U-shaped signature?

It's a balanced signature (similar to S400), but with harder hitting bass. Seems like the best of both worlds - more treble could cause sibilance.
Bass and mids rule here, treble is slightly relaxed but present too.

TekeRugburn · Nov 15, 2013 at 9:37 PM

Hmmm interested. As I've been on a huge splurge lately and was about to order the ue6000. And loving the red s400 btw.

shockdoc · Nov 15, 2013 at 10:16 PM

benf said:
HM5 pads are 17$ with free worldwide shipping - http://www.mp4nation.net/brainwavz-hm5-spare-earpad-1pc
Total cost would be 98$ - for a sound worth much more.

Have the S400's and the HM5 pads on them. Unless it's a jump in SQ (or as I said designed as overear) not sure I see a reason to jump on these. Although I do like the idea of improved imaging and soundstage. Overear versions of these and the S500's have been a fastasy of many since this hype train started.

xkonfuzed · Nov 15, 2013 at 10:27 PM

Great review

if anyone owns both the s500's and these, a comparison would be nice.

7S Cameron · Nov 15, 2013 at 10:38 PM

waynes world said:
:eek:

Thanks for the overview. Looks interesting!

Ahead of the ES700s?! I don't believe it! :O

sfwalcer · Nov 16, 2013 at 2:12 AM

7s cameron said:
Ahead of the ES700s?! I don't believe it! :O

^ LoL the dood prefers his S400s over the ES700s so that really ain't saying much tbh.

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