[TheJesusGuy]

 
It's decent, but if these parameters are very important to you, you should go for S680, which improves both dramatically:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here

I'm trying to decide between these just sufficing for me, or forking out for some M80s.. Completely different devils, I know.

Also, I'm in the UK so those S680s aren't gonna be easy to get.

 

[BenF]

  I'm trying to decide between these just sufficing for me, or forking out for some M80s.. Completely different devils, I know.

Also, I'm in the UK so those S680s aren't gonna be easy to get.

M80 are less comfortable. Also, it's a lot more expensive.
 
HA-S680 is available at eBay with worldwide shipping.
The black one is here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Victor-JVC-HA-S680-B-Black-color-Outdoor-type-Headphone-Carbon-Nanotube-F-S-/281197665540
The red one is here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Victor-JVC-HA-S680-R-Red-color-Outdoor-type-Headphone-Carbon-Nanotube-F-S-/281197665602
The white one is here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Victor-JVC-HA-S680-W-White-color-Outdoor-type-Headphone-Carbon-Nanotube-F-S-/281197665680

 

[cam94z28]

Sorry if it was posted in this thread, but I noticed the HA-S600's are only $10 more than the 400's on amazon ATM. They are listed as having carbon diaphragms (doesn't say nanotube, but "carbon compound"). Are these of the same line as the S400/S500's? They have more of an egg design, use 40mm drivers, and are Around-the-Ear vs On-Ear. This would appeal more to me, as I tend not to like On-Ear's.
 
Their highest model listed on the US web site, the HA-S900's, also simply say "carbon compound"
http://support.jvc.com/consumer/product.jsp?modelId=MODL028176&pathId=95&page=1&archive=true

 

[Grayson73]

  Sorry if it was posted in this thread, but I noticed the HA-S600's are only $10 more than the 400's on amazon ATM. They are listed as having carbon diaphragms (doesn't say nanotube, but "carbon compound"). Are these of the same line as the S400/S500's? They have more of an egg design, use 40mm drivers, and are Around-the-Ear vs On-Ear. This would appeal more to me, as I tend not to like On-Ear's.
 
Their highest model listed on the US web site, the HA-S900's, also simply say "carbon compound"
http://support.jvc.com/consumer/product.jsp?modelId=MODL028176&pathId=95&page=1&archive=true

No, the S600s are not carbon nanotube.  The next step up from the S500 is the S680

 

[BenF]

  No, the S600s are not carbon nanotube.  The next step up from the S500 is the S680

 
+1
S680 is a huge upgrade both SQ-wise and comfort-wise.

 

[dpure]

so my gf is taking my white s400's and i am debating getting myself the black s400's or picking up the s500. i have never heard the s500 before and wondering is it worth the extra cost?

 

[StoneJack]

I just bought two JVC S500 as gifts and after listening to them (mind you, not any burning) I wish I bought one myself!

 

[dpure]

  I just bought two JVC S500 as gifts and after listening to them (mind you, not any burning) I wish I bought one myself!

lowest price on the s400 is $27 shipped and the the s500 are on amazon(3rd party) $41.40 so the price difference is pretty minimal. are they a lot better than the s400's? the genres i genreally listen to are trance, hip hop, classic rock, metal.

 

[BenF]

  so my gf is taking my white s400's and i am debating getting myself the black s400's or picking up the s500. i have never heard the s500 before and wondering is it worth the extra cost?

 
S500 is more V-shaped signature. If you liked the balanced sound of S400, don't go for S500.
Consider S680  instead - they are both fun and balanced.

 

[dpure]

   
S500 is more V-shaped signature. If you liked the balanced sound of S400, don't go for S500.
Consider S680  instead - they are both fun and balanced.

 
i listen to my music quite loud so i don't like ear piercing highs, i had read the treble is more pronounced on the s500. i am generally pleased with my s400's for what i paid for them. i just picked up a pair of monster dna's(really like them btw!) so i want to keep this purchaseat $45 or under, basically just the s400's or s500's. in gereral i prefer a balanced sound with a touch more bass.

 

[StoneJack]

I can't say for S400 since I don't have them, but man, S500 sounds as good as Sennheiser HD 449 and its bass is probably better! They are definitely louder than HD 449 when driving both from Creative USB sound card, and details are quite amazing on S500.  I assume that S400 sounds as well as S500.

 

[dpure]

  I can't say for S400 since I don't have them, but man, S500 sounds as good as Sennheiser HD 449 and its bass is probably better! They are definitely louder than HD 449 when driving both from Creative USB sound card, and details are quite amazing on S500.  I assume that S400 sounds as well as S500.

i like tight clean punchy bass, clear vocals. the s400  find the bass to be a bit soft and the vocals can get a bit drowned out. if i tweek my settings on poweramp i can usually get it sounding a bit better, depending on the song im listening to. i recently got a pair of monster dna's and they sound pretty awesome as is, no burn in, not tweeking any settings really. i wonder if the s500 sounds similar to the dna's? i know the dna's have been said to have a very similar sound to v-moda m80s.

 

[StoneJack]

 
i like tight clean punchy bass, clear vocals. the s400  find the bass to be a bit soft and the vocals can get a bit drowned out. if i tweek my settings on poweramp i can usually get it sounding a bit better, depending on the song im listening to. i recently got a pair of monster dna's and they sound pretty awesome as is, no burn in, not tweeking any settings really. i wonder if the s500 sounds similar to the dna's? i know the dna's have been said to have a very similar sound to v-moda m80s.

 
I think S500 has definitely punchy bass and very nice, clear vocals.

 

[dpure]

   
I think S500 has definitely punchy bass and very nice, clear vocals.

thanks for the input. i think i will give the s500s a try. worst case i can always get another pair of s400 for cheap also. i read somewhere that the black s500 finish can chip over time, is this the case for the gunmetal version also?

 

[StoneJack]

 
thanks for the input. i think i will give the s500s a try. worst case i can always get another pair of s400 for cheap also. i read somewhere that the black s500 finish can chip over time, is this the case for the gunmetal version also?

Well, thats true for any metal, iPhone or cars or S500. I heard that gunmetal is less prone to that, but having S500 only for few weeks (a family member's) can't see anything wrong with metal plates. If it matters, in overall they look pretty sturdy.