JVC FD01: A new contender for best DD IEM?

This a good pairing. Good opportunity to introduce this great DAP, Dethonray Dtr1. Super powerful and clean sounding.

 

Has anybody had time with the super $$$ fancy JVC IEM the FW10000 Victor or whatever its called. Its certainly out of my price bracket but considering its always sold out and the apex of the wood family I'd be interested in some opinions. Hopefully ill get to hear a set at CanJam London but i'm not holding my breathe.

 

The forum search function returned this:
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...ender-for-best-dd-iem.6500/page-7#post-239339

 

It has some qualities but lacks excitement to me, I prefer the modded FD01. And definitely not worth the price difference.

 

Thanks @Mimouille that was a great read and I actually ended up surfing the whole thread. Interesting to see how few TOTL pure DD's are in the market compared to the flood of BA/hybrid/customs that are now available.

 

To be honest, things that's truly impress and survive the hype are rare. Solaris, FD01, Faudio Major is not bad.

 

I gave the FW10000 a listen at e-earphones, so it's only a short impression. They stood out to me as the most realistic IEMs with the classical music I listened to. I also agree with Mimouille that the FD01/FD02 go in a similar direction, and the price difference is huge.

Takeaway for me from listening to IER-Z1R, Solaris, Audio 64 Tia Fourte, IER-M9, FW10000, Andromeda and others was that the FW10000 were extremely natural and realistic. Exciting? The Z1R was the most exciting one for me, but I just would not be sure if I'd like that excitement all the time?

Went home with the FD02 and the Sony EX800ST, and am very happy with those.
The modded FD02 feels very musical to me, with very natural timbre, smooth, detailed, extended.
Silky treble, powerful bass, when needed. Could be a bit more detailed and faster in the bass, but it's a very coherent and convincing sound as it is.

 

For the past 8 months or so, my two rigs have been:

1) JVC FD01 balanced out of the GO2VA - 75%
2) MD+ balanced out of the Sony ZX300 - 25%

Set up 1 is the best portable audio I've heard. Better than the ZX2 and Andros by a not small margin, for my tastes at least. Much more authoritative/physical. Better mids. Comparable clarity.

I've hardly been on this site because its such a good setup I don't feel the need to keep striving towards audio nirvana. I fear for the day when one of the two pieces breaks or is lost, and both are discontinued. This is not HF FOTM hyperbole. I really don't want to have to get back in the game and be temped to spend thousands of dollars for a sound that I like as much.

The MD+ and ZX300 are fine. A technically competent, balanced sound that does nothing obviously wrong including being overly sterile. But it's several levels below the first setup, and never gives me the holy shit moments of the first rig. Also, the ZX300 battery drain is pissing me off, but that's a whole 'nother issue.

 

Does the FD01 sound any good out of the ZX300?

 

Yes

 

These are $278.26 shipped to the US right now on Amazon JP. Add ~$50 and you can get one of the 500 unit limited edition ones that also come with a phosphor bronze nozzle. (Nevermind, they don't ship the special edition here.)

 

Good but the GOV2A is a big step up.

I like the MD+ out of the ZX300 over the FD01s.

 

I can't seem to put in a non-Japanese address though...

 

There's a checkbox or radio button above the address that you have to click.

 

At risk of losing any scant credibility I may have had, I'll retract this. I've done more listening with the FD01s and ZX300, balanced.

FD01 + ZX300 >> MD+ + ZX300.

The FD01 are not as dynamic or spacious as with the GOV2A, but still very good.

I'll attribute my 180 to:

1. Burn in of the ZX300 balanced output. I had only listened to the pairing early on, pre burn in and it sounded congested.
2. My tin ears

and/or

3. The lack of replicability in listening tests to ascertain moderate differences.

 

Are you talking about the modded FD01 or stock?
If modded as suggested by James444, which length of the alcohol pad strip did you go for?

I keep enjoying my Micropore taped FD02 but have a pair of AK T8iE MKII coming and am very curious as to how these 2 will compare...

 

Around 700& setup, sounding better than some 3k setups.

 

Like the KSE1500? =P How do they compare, btw?

 

They don't, the KSE1500 is not the same use at all. But being different tech, the KSE1500 is faster and had more sheer transparency. However the modded FD01 is a much easier all-rounder. And more portable.