JVC FD01: A new contender for best DD IEM?

Quick thoughts on a first pass, using the song “Sat In Your Lap” by Kate Bush that has both a lot of treble energy and powerful lows:

12mm no good, still too strident and harsh. Sounds hot.

13mm much better, lots of detail but a balanced sound.

14mm bass sounds wooly, not sure why.

15mm more relaxed, less energy up top.

However the differences between 13mm and 14/15mm are subtle, whereas going from 12mm to 13mm is a major difference.

Timbre and tone are both terrific. Resolution is excellent. It doesn’t sound like the Andromeda, my baseline, but I get more of a sense of being “in the room” as it were. It helps that these new Kate Bush remasters are exquisitely textured and that plays to the strengths of DD drivers.

 

After more time with these, I am even more impressed. They sound best out of a balanced source like my ZX2 or even better my GOV2+, but straight out of my iPhone with the dongle is pretty darn good too. The timbre really makes a huge difference, making me feel much more like I’m hearing real instruments in a real room. As amazing as the Andros are at pulling out details and imparting space between instruments, the BA drivers ultimately sound less true to life to me than good DD drivers. Vocals sound especially good, rich and detailed and full of emotional content.

Currently running them from my GO using the Shanling M0 as a transport, and I am very happy.

 

Swab rolling was a bit of a dead end. @james444 has done the work and really hit the sweet spot with his mod. Different materials result in a lot of trial/error with strip length just to reach the same endpoint as the ‘offical’ mod using the standard material.

I’m preferring Ortofon tips over Spiral Dots. Perhaps it’s something to do with the weight of the shells but I could never really achieve a secure fit with the JVC tips. Ortofons are secure, super comfortable and don’t really seem to affect the FR as I have noticed they occasionally can do with other earphones.

 

This week I had decided to order one when the next eBay promotion comes up, and it just happened — 15% off today until 6pm PT. I will receive it in a couple of weeks. I was focused on single driver DD because I listen mostly to classical and want natural, realistic reproduction of acoustic instruments. My main headphone is HD6XX and currently I only own a couple of low end IEMs (1More Triple Driver and Tin Audio T2 Pro), so looking forward to hearing the FD01.

I will certainly try the mod, but I was wondering if anybody has tried foam tips. My Tin Audio T2 Pro was too bright for me until I used Comply, which made it quite nice (the stock foam tips didn't make enough of a difference).

Has anyone compared the FD01 to the IE 800S? It's another IEM I was considering. I will be able to compare them at the Sennheiser store in SF.

 

I didn't have my FD01 when I auditioned the IE800S, but afair I was a bit underwhelmed by the Senns. If you search @shotgunshane's IEM thread, I'm sure you can find my impressions somewhere. Imo the FD01 are definitely better IEMs (though not based on direct comparison).

Anyway, if you have the opportunity to compare them at the Sennheiser store, feel free to share your own findings here.

As for foamies, I don't have Complys that fit the FD01, but from my experience I somewhat doubt that they can make as much of a difference as the DIY filters.

 

Today I tried for quite a while the FD01 alongside the Fw10000, and several other dynamics, including the Xelentos, the Dita Twins, the Faudio Major, the Dunu 4001 (hybrid). I have tried most other top DD in the past (Dita Dream, RE2000, Vega, Altas, etc.).

Not yet sure what to make of the Fw10000. It sounds very good, sometimes very good, with great realism on chords and male vocals, an airy stage and a very cohesive presentation. Somehow there is something I miss, maybe some speed, or some excitement in the treble. Not sure yet. Besides I find it ugly and unwieldy.

What I am sure of is that I like the FD01 a lot, that it is much better value (FW10000 is close to 2k). Of course the sound unmoded is fatiguing, and I was listening with the LPG. I am quite confident that with the mod it would be a great pairing with my WM1Z.

 

Thanks for your brief comparison with the FX10000. I can assure you that the modded FD01 is significantly less fatiguing than stock.

 

Interesting impressions. Thanks. I look forward to trying the FW10k. I heard prototypes of the twins months ago but I completely don't remember how they sound. I'm very lukewarm on the FAudio Major. A little too warm/smooth for my tastes. The Dunu is right up my alley and I really like it. As is the FD01, though I agree it is a bit fatiguing as is. Did you get to try the different material nozzles? I couldn't really hear any appreciable difference. Modding the FD01 seems like an interesting proposition, one that I'm sure James put a bunch of trial and error time into. The Xelento seems like an odd one out that isn't quite in the same league as the others IMHO.

 

See measurement at the bottom of first post.

 

Maybe I should have checked out the Dunu more, but I can't listen to too many things at the same time. Is it good？The Fw10000 is definitely one to consider. It sounds...different from the rest.

 

Hello, I would be interested in knowing what your top contenders are. I listened to listened to most and haven't found happiness yet.

 

¡Hola! I wouldn't say I've found happiness yet, either.
Here're my thoughts on the ie800S and Atlas, the last sentence is really my take on it.

 

Hello again. Here you mean where? I didn't see a link. I owned the IE800s for a while. They are excellent however I find them somehow lacking space to breath, there is a lot of...density around the mids and they feel sometimes a bit crowded. Besides the cable is utter crap at this price.

The Atlas, while much better than the Vega, felt super dominated by the bass.

 

¡Whoops!
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...o-new-atlas-and-comet.6089/page-5#post-231668

The ie800s is far from perfect. It's flaws don't bother me as much as they might others and its strengths play to my preferences, that's as good as is possible for now.
Definitely room for improvement in high end DD!

 

I think you might like the Fw10000, it goes in that direction I feel.

 

Decided to listen to the FD01 again. So much untapped potential. Too hot as is but it has such a natural sounding spread of harmonic peaks. Deceptively comfortable. Makes me really want to try James' mod.

 

I'm getting a pair of the FD01's on Monday, so I made up a template for the swab mod, thought I'd share it.

Grab this PDF, print it out at 100%: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MGZ4CtFUV-O5fIkBjLMQVqqLbjGs2RcH/view?usp=sharing

There are multiple ways you could use this template, but I used it to trace cut marks onto the alcohol swab, like this: https://imgur.com/a/j14TxTI

 

Great idea! Thanks for mocking this up.

 

Thanks to @james444 for bringing the FD01 to our attention and inventing the simple yet effective mod. I received my FD01 a few days ago. I purchased from eBay where the price ranges from about $370 to over $400. I waited for an eBay sitewide 15% off sale and my final price was $315. Shipping from Japan to California took about 2½ weeks.

I'll have listening impressions after spending more time, but I'll begin by saying how impressed I am with the build quality. With its tiny spring loaded latching system for the nozzle and smooth rotating body, it has that Japanese style of jewel-like high precision and craft.

I found a good way to create the gauze strips for the mod. I used these alcohol pads from Walgreens ($5 for the box), but this technique will work for any that come in individual packets.



Measure and draw a pattern for strips directly on the sealed packet. This one is for 3 sets of strips in the center.


With scissors, follow the lines and cut right through the foil packet.




You end up with single layer pieces of gauze clinging (while the alcohol is still damp) to foil backs.
There was no need to unfold the gauze or separate the layers. It all happens automatically.

 

Love it how you guys come up with all kinds of creative ideas to make things easier!