[BananaOoyoo]

They put in a dynamic driver.

Got em

 

[surfgeorge]

My thoughts on: JVC FD01 modded

In case you have not tried, the FD01 stock is very intense and harsh. With cymbals, the metallic sound is produced nicely which makes cymbals really sound like cymbals. It captures that strike and shimmer really nicely imo, albeit very very harsh. So...like real life cymbals huh. Anyway, near un-listenable without modifications.

How modding the FD01 works is by rolling up dampening material (like baby wipes or alcohol swabs) and inserting it into the removable nozzle of the FD01. Those massive peaks found can be tamed to a very very large extent, and amount of dampening depends on how much material you decide to use. I modded mine to have a warm neutral signature which removed that metallic touch to cymbals and smoothened out its overall response greatly.

What's the catch with modding? The FD01's treble extension also gets damped as a result, leading to not-so-great extension. It rolls off. There are also some very characteristic traits that the FD01 bear. The timbre of the FD01 sounds...smoothed out and clean. It's really hard to describe in words. The FD01 managed to retain that same timbre before and after modding, so I am sure its a characteristic of the driver (and its housing). I don't think its timbre sounds natural, but it presents my music in interesting ways and certainly not generic.

The bass of the FD01 commands greater presence after modification due to the tonal balance shifting towards the bass and lower mids. It's warm and I do also think the midbass is a bit sloppy with toms. It has absolutely no problems reaching into the deepest subbass registers though. Mids and highs are nothing short of smooth and free of peaks (YMMV due to amount of dampening used). It achieves nicely thick vocals. I just wish the driver was snappier and faster to deliver better dynamics. Staging is surprisingly nice with its depth since the sound is positioned further away. Separation is not bad either. Balance in the FR can also be very good depending on how you tune it.

It's a jack of all trades and master of none situation for me. It serves as a good all-rounder with FR that is hard to fault after modding. It's slightly compressed dynamics and midbass slop are the main gripes I have with it. I still think EX800ST is better due to its more realistic timbre and uncompromised dynamics at the cost of isolation.

Brilliant summary!
I feel you are hitting the nail on the head.
The modded FD02 (same driver, cheaper cable and no interchangable nozzles) has been my daily driver for more than 2 months and even after getting the A&K T8iE MKII I often grab the FD02 for it's smooth and fun sound in a super rugged package.
One point about the speed and snappyness of the driver - I feel that the cable plays a role here too, and I got tighter, faster and cleaner bass with a DIY Teflon-silver cable.

 

[toranku]

Brilliant summary!
I feel you are hitting the nail on the head.
The modded FD02 (same driver, cheaper cable and no interchangable nozzles) has been my daily driver for more than 2 months and even after getting the A&K T8iE MKII I often grab the FD02 for it's smooth and fun sound in a super rugged package.
One point about the speed and snappyness of the driver - I feel that the cable plays a role here too, and I got tighter, faster and cleaner bass with a DIY Teflon-silver cable.

tbh I'm not quite convinced that a cable can change the speed and dynamics of the driver itself. I'll give it a shot regardless

 

[491326]

tbh I'm not quite convinced that a cable can change the speed and dynamics of the driver itself. I'll give it a shot regardless

have you still not tried the crystal cable dream duet

 

[Pricklyears101]

Speaking of cables, the hulk cable from dunu really is something. Good to see chi-fi stepping up their game with the recent beryllium driver iems.

 

[TooPoorForHiFi]

FiiO FH7 please? @toranku I was wondering if you find them fatiguing in any way.

 

[toranku]

have you still not tried the crystal cable dream duet

I should start a side gig making cables so I can fund more iems

Speaking of cables, the hulk cable from dunu really is something. Good to see chi-fi stepping up their game with the recent beryllium driver iems.

Yeah those are pretty cool. I've a cable similar to that which also has interchangeable terminations. I spent $80 bucks to mod a $20 cable. I dont even use it now. Like the Hulk, the jack is very long and L-shaped which doesnt make sense with my pockets if my DAP is short in length. I still think Dita has the best implementation. The jack is shorter.

FiiO FH7 please? @toranku I was wondering if you find them fatiguing in any way.

I've tried them twice but not long enough to come up with a conclusion. I think they do staging pretty nicely but at the same time, the tone is off putting. They're slightly bright for me but I wouldnt classify them as fatiguing myself. There's an odd dip somewhere in the midrange. Also sounds a bit dry. I feel even the Solaris sounds more tonally correct than the FH7. Bass is decent and it has decent extension on the highs.

 

[toranku]

This thread will be on hiatus. Going to serve.

Thanks for sticking around. I'll be back.

 

[BananaOoyoo]

This thread will be on hiatus. Going to serve.

Thanks for sticking around. I'll be back.

Damn. Good luck man

 

[DGS1991]

Oh no, no more insights into iems I have never heard before. Have a good time in confinement

 

[iems0nly]

Good luck, bruv! Which IEMs are you carrying? Are you allowed to?

 

[Pricklyears101]

@toranku

Cables for sony ex would be a good start. Adapters are kind of ugly, connectors and the cables from aliexpress kinda suck. The iems usually last longer than the cables so there's always a demand for it i guess

 

[Kitechaser]

Good luck man. Stay safe

 

[toranku]

Thanks everyone

Good luck, bruv! Which IEMs are you carrying? Are you allowed to?

You're allowed to bring anything as long as you dont mind it getting stolen looks like the free iems from the s8/s10 is going to be my companion..

 

[cn11]

Just got in a pair of the Sony IER-M9, and wholeheartedly agree with toranku's impressions of it. The level of detail is otherworldly. This is a really special IEM.