Drop x JVC HA-FDX1 DD IEM: The second coming of ...

Discussion in 'IEM Measurements' started by purr1n, Aug 10, 2019.

  1. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

    Staff Member Pyrate Flathead IEMW
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    6,304
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Clear, clear water
    I was not aware of the single + version existence. I can also confirm these are slightly gummy. I like it; even more comfortable than the original.The Spiral Dots I had shipped from Amazon,jp don’t have this gumminess.

    Thanks for the explanation @hellwhynot
     
  2. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,200
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northwest France
    It's probably the same reason to have them as with the surface of golf balls. It reduces turbulence.

    Now I'm wondering if modding the inside of a horn or bass reflex vent with dimples would benefit. I think I've seen B&W vents like that.
     
  3. bengo

    bengo Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,370
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Divisive Kingdom
    Home Page:
  4. james444

    james444 Mad IEM modding wizard level 99

    Pyrate Flathead IEMW
    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,100
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Vienna, Austria
    Just got my pre-production review unit in... thanks @CEE TEE!

    Of course, first thing I was curious about is how JVC implemented the filters. Crappy pic from my phone camera, but it looks like they really recreated the tube-shaped filters true to my original modding suggestion. Color me impressed! :)

    [​IMG]
     
  5. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,697
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Arizona
    This will be an interesting experiment to see unfold. I've always been curious how well DIY type materials hold up over time - especially being close to the damp, nasty caves that our ears are.

    Do you know if the filters are adhered in or remove/replace-able ? I wouldn't ask you to attempt removing, just more if JVC / Drop explicitly stated anything.
     
  6. james444

    james444 Mad IEM modding wizard level 99

    Pyrate Flathead IEMW
    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,100
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Vienna, Austria
    I don't have info from JVC / Drop about that, but I just took a closer look under the magnifier lamp and they seem definitely more professional than my own DIY swab-filters.

    So, I personally wouldn't worry too much. I've had my DIY filters for one year now without the need to redo / replace them, and the FDX1-filters do look a lot more solid. Anyway, it would of course be handy if JVC / Drop could make replacement filters or nozzles available as spare parts.
     
  7. james444

    james444 Mad IEM modding wizard level 99

    Pyrate Flathead IEMW
    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,100
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Vienna, Austria
    As a side note, I also checked the cable that came with my FDX1 sample: it looks different from the FD02 cable and identical to the higher quality FD01 cable.
     
  8. Metro

    Metro Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,590
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    San Francisco
    They followed your instructions to the letter. Here you can see them opening packets of alcohol swabs, and measure, cut and insert them into nozzles.

    [​IMG]
     
  9. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,773
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    small island claimed by China
    C'mon, they have leading edge tech in Japan. It's being done by robots with AI that will be able to predetermine each user's preferred FR curve based on your listening profile.

    They'll borrow two of these from Mitsubishi.

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Metro

    Metro Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,590
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    San Francisco
    Just checked my FD01 package... it's made in China.
     
  11. james444

    james444 Mad IEM modding wizard level 99

    Pyrate Flathead IEMW
    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,100
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Vienna, Austria
    Last night I put the FDX1 with yellow-green (reference) filters through my usual test routine of 35 selected music tracks. And while they didn't show a weakness on any of them, I got the overall impression that they sounded just a smidgen warmer and more mid-bassy than how I remembered my modded FD01.

    So I measured them on the miniDSP EARS today, and lo and behold:

    (DF-compensated. green = FD01 reference filters, blue = FX01 reference filters left, red = FX01 reference filters right)
    [​IMG]

    Side notes:
    • Difference in high treble peaks is probably due to different filter lengths between FD01 and FDX1.
    • Channel matching on the FDX1 is excellent!
     
  12. james444

    james444 Mad IEM modding wizard level 99

    Pyrate Flathead IEMW
    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,100
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Vienna, Austria
    FWIW, here's a comparison of impulse responses taken from the above measurement. Thought I'd put it out, since I can spot a slight difference between the FDX1 (blue L + red R) and the FD01 (green). However, for lack of personal experience, I'll leave it to the more experienced members here to comment on potential significance of said difference...

    [​IMG]
     
  13. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,773
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    small island claimed by China
    This is good for me personally as I EQ the mid-bass up a bit with modded FD01. Does the bass sound any tighter to you on the FDx1?
     
  14. james444

    james444 Mad IEM modding wizard level 99

    Pyrate Flathead IEMW
    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,100
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Vienna, Austria
    I haven't done any A/B listening yet. Impulse measurements might point to a slight difference in transients though.
     
  15. james444

    james444 Mad IEM modding wizard level 99

    Pyrate Flathead IEMW
    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,100
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Vienna, Austria
    JVC FDX1 Measurements Dump...

    Disclaimer: non IEC-compliant, for illustration purpose only. All graphs are diffuse field compensated.


    FDX1 filter comparison:

    (red = white filters, green = yellow-green filters, blue = blue filters)
    [​IMG]

    Personal remarks:
    • White filters are equivalent to FD01 stock tuning (all three FD01 nozzles measure basically the same). Too much upper mids and treble energy in my book. Extremely detailed, but fatiguing.
    • Yellow-green filters are "reference" tuning, slightly v-shaped with a touch of warmth, yet still very detailed and pretty close to my idea of neutral.
    • Blue filters are "relaxed" tuning, warmer and more easy-going than "reference". Works particularly well when you're out and about, where a little tilt towards the lower frequencies comes in handy.

    FDX1 vs. ER4S:

    (red = white filters, green = yellow-green filters, blue = blue filters, orange = ER4S)
    [​IMG]

    Personal remarks:
    • Even though bass seems close, FDX1 has noticeably more perceived punch (DD vs. BA)
    • ER4S has slightly more forward mids and sounds more intimate. FDX1's slight v-shape and better treble extension create a more airy and open sound with larger soundstage.

    FDX1 vs. UERM:

    (red = white filters, green = yellow-green filters, blue = blue filters, magenta = UERM)
    [​IMG]

    Personal remarks:
    • FDX1 has better sub-bass extension in comparison to UERM's slight roll-off.
    • UERM sounds a tad more intimate due to slightly more forward mids.
    • UERM's highs sound harsher and more prone to sibilance than FDX1's (with yellow-green and blue filters), due to peaks in lower treble.

    FDX1 vs. EX1000:

    (red = white filters, green = yellow-green filters, blue = blue filters, black = EX1000)
    [​IMG]

    Personal remarks:
    • FDX1's slight bass-lift makes it sound a tad more punchy and "fun" as compared to EX1000.
    • Mids are actually pretty similar, however EX1000's upper mids and treble peaks make it sound rather harsh, particularly on higher volume.
    • FDX1's treble (with yellow-green or blue filters) sounds silky-smooth in comparison to EX1000's.
     
  16. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,102
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Seoul, South Korea
    Just to make sure, as long as it is properly damped with a reasonably low source impedance, the JVC isn't as wildly sensitive to output Z as the Andro is, is it?
     
  17. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    May 28, 2017
    Likes Received:
    7,976
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Vancouver BC
    Being a single DD, the impedance profile is probably flat as a pancake and therefore not at all varying with amp OI. Mfr spec impedance is 16 ohms and sensitivity 103 dB/mW, so any reasonable portable amp will drive it (Purr1n mentioned this in the other thread). Shanling M0 has been mentioned as a good synergy.
     
  18. james444

    james444 Mad IEM modding wizard level 99

    Pyrate Flathead IEMW
    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,100
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Vienna, Austria
    Like @Biodegraded says, easy to drive from pretty much any reasonable source. Even the TRN BT20S wireless earhooks drive them nicely, in case you want to go true wireless for little money:

    [​IMG]

    Been on a short hike today with this combo and the blue filters, very decent SQ for outdoor activities.
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2019
  19. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,773
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    small island claimed by China
    So the FDX1 with white filter measures identically to the stock FD01 on your rig?
     
  20. james444

    james444 Mad IEM modding wizard level 99

    Pyrate Flathead IEMW
    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,100
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Vienna, Austria
    By and large, yes (+/- 2dB).

    The only thing I'd like to investigate further is the difference in bass. Even though it's just a minor one, but the FDX1 sample is consistently a little bassier than the FD01, even with the white (empty) filters.
     

Share This Page