JVC HA-FW10000 in-ear headphones Test

 High-end in-ear headphones can have a completely different design. Some manufacturers are experimenting with hybrid models, others put 5-7 armature drivers in each earphone, and JVC HA-FW10000 in-ear headphones still manage to pack planar emitters into a mini-format.

JVC developers, in the course of creating their best in-ear model, decided to go a completely different way, combining high technology with Japanese traditions and the main canons of High End.

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Reason and Celebration

Until recently, JVC headphones were not widely represented in the Asian market and rarely fell into my field of vision. As it turned out, the company has been continuously and very actively developing this line of business for many years, thanks to which in its homeland, in Japan (and in several European countries), JVC as a headphone brand is in the top sales, confidently competing with such monsters as JBL, Sony, Audio-Technica, and Apple. There is no way to achieve such results on cheap models for the mass market alone – this requires a solid technological base, and JVC has it.

At the heart of JVC’s modern hi-fi line is Wood technology – and its choice was not accidental. JVC has had plenty of experimental models based on other technologies, and among them, there is even an EISA award winner. At the moment, the company also produces very interesting models based on other technologies, but they belong mainly to the middle price segment – and all older models are included in the Wood series.

The current flagship of the line – the JVC HA-FW10000 model – was released for the 10th anniversary of the branded “wooden” series. Although this happened a long time ago, in 2018, it is still the main reference in terms of quality and the main donor of technology for other models. JVC HA-FW10000 in-ear headphones

love for nature

The first association that arises when you hear the phrase “wooden diffuser” is, of course, Wood Cone Acoustics and popular JVC stereos that were equipped with it. It was a real High End in its format – and the memories of the Wood Cone series are extremely positive. But it is one thing to make a sufficiently large speaker cone for acoustics out of veneer, and it is quite another to implement the same technology in microformat.

At the heart of the headphone speaker of the Wood series is a completely traditional diffuser made of PET plastic. First, a carbon coating is applied to it, which increases the overall rigidity of the structure. After that, the thinnest cut of natural wood is glued onto the working surface of the diffuser – only 50 microns thick. 

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This layer of wood is thinner and more transparent than tissue paper, but at the microscale of headphones, it can significantly change both the resonant properties and the transient response of the cone.

There are many headphones (including those in the JVC range) that are equipped with carbon-coated cones. As a rule, such headphones sound very accurate and dynamic and have an excellent attack, but the nature of the sound of such models tends to be analytical and studio.

The combination of wood and carbon base significantly increases the stiffness of the cone. At the same time, the wooden surface gives the same advantages as paper, but, being denser, it allows you to avoid blurring and fuzzy sound both at the macro level and in small nuances.

In addition, a natural cut of a tree is a monolith formed by fibers of different densities, which have completely different ability to propagate resonances. Because of this, the wooden part of the cone absorbs resonances over a wide frequency range, helping to avoid the resonant peak that plastic, carbon, metal metalized, and other cones made of a homogeneous material inevitably have.

 

In addition to wood core cones, the loudspeakers boast a solid titanium cabinet with an integrated acoustic lens, a copper-plated aluminum voice coil, and a powerful magnet system. The inner frame of the JVC HA-FW10000 case is also made of titanium, and the outer part is made of Japanese maple with repeated impregnation with the traditional Urushi varnish, which creates a durable coating with high hardness and wear resistance.

Sound tuning is also done with natural materials obtained in the traditional way – the same as centuries ago. The shells of the headphones are partially filled with sound-absorbing materials: silk fibers and Japanese craft paper Awa Washi. Silk adjusts the amount of treble, and paper is responsible for the bass.

The solution is extremely interesting and makes it possible to control the frequency response with high accuracy – it all depends solely on the degree of perfectionism that the developers will show because you only need to choose the ideal ratio of materials.

 

design and high-end

It is easy to see that the approach to sound tuning is in line with the best traditions of High End. A classic transducer that combines natural wood and high-tech carbon, the use of craft materials for precise frequency response correction, and the widespread fight against reflections – all this indicates the developers’ attention to the smallest details. And many more nuances reinforce this impression.

Since the JVC HA-FW10000 model was released for the anniversary of the Wood series, it received a special design: the headphones are an allusion to the clarinet – a woodwind instrument with numerous metal parts. The hint as a whole is obvious: it is understood that the Wood headphones are also a kind of musical instrument that has its character, but at the same time accurately plays the notes.

Secondly, an external module with a cable connector not only helps to position it in a convenient way – it contains a shock-absorbing insert inside, which isolates the standard MMCX coaxial connector from the case. In this way, vibrations from the cable are damped outside the main body of the earpiece.

 

The cables themselves are also unusual: their conductors have a multi-strand construction, and in the center of each is a silk thread that acts as a mechanical damper and a means of removing static charge. The entire length of the cable is 4-core.

The wires leading to the plus and minus of each channel extend from one connector to another and do not have any additional connections or ramifications in the signal path. The copper conductors are naturally oxygen-free and highly purified, and the double insulation creates good protection not only against mechanical damage but also against the microphonic effect and the transmission of micro-vibrations.

Perfectionism, manifested in every detail, is the main difference between High-End class devices and all the others. In pursuit of absolute perfection, developers strive to eliminate the slightest negative factors at any cost and, as a result, get the opportunity to raise the sound quality one or more steps higher.

And that is why the JVC HA-FW10000 is an absolute, one hundred 100 High End. But enough about hardware and philosophy. It’s time to talk about sound.

hear it all

The first acquaintance with the JVC HA-FW10000 in-ear headphones model is reminiscent of a fascinating attraction, the explanation of which should be sought somewhere in the depths of science called “psychoacoustics”.

At the very beginning, the sound is completely unimpressive and even confusing – the bass is not enough, the upper ones also seem to be lacking, the middle is a bit bright, and it is not clear what is happening at all. As if you are listening to a recording of the mid-60s on a tube radio of the same year of release.

A few minutes pass, the hearing adapts – and the sensations change radically. The bass, it turns out, is in place – it is exactly as much as necessary quantitatively, and, when required, the headphones confidently play very low notes.

There are enough upper frequencies and a feeling of air – at the same time they do not cluck, do not drill the brain, as happens with rebar models, but they also do not feel squeezed or failed. The middle is fantastically detailed, lively, and realistic, with an incredible elaboration of timbres and the smallest shades.

 

Then there is another change in perception: it is worth sorting out 5-10 familiar tracks – and persistent addiction to the sound begins. These are no longer strange Japanese headphones with an incomprehensible sound, this is “my charm”, which no one under any circumstances can take away. The reason for this is the amazing ability of the JVC HA-FW10000 to reproduce any music very tasty and juicy.

I started with the first Creedence Clearwater Revival album, for which I thought these headphones should have been perfect – and they did! Then, somehow imperceptibly, through a kaleidoscope of genres and eras, I got to the album “Nebylo” by Tequilajazzz – and the sound was still exceptionally interesting, detailed, and accurate. There were no thoughts that the headphones were not suitable for listening to Tequila. Quite the contrary: the JVC HA-FW10000 was perfect for this!

Along the way, I managed to listen to literally everything, including very intricate genres. The playlist included new age, eurodance, metal, progressive of all sorts, classics of different scales, experimental electronics, the notorious Japanese drums, and a ton of free jazz. In a word – everything that only had enough imagination.

And as a result, absolutely everything (even drums) was very interesting to listen to. The music was absolutely natural, exciting, and realistic. Any live recording literally breathed energy, immersed in the atmosphere, and did not let go of attention for a second. In a word – mysticism and witchcraft, not otherwise.

 

Stunning detail, wide frequency range, limitless dynamic possibilities, and a specific presentation of music led me to the only right decision – to test the magical properties of the model on an impartial measuring stand that cannot be deceived by these high-end tricks of yours!

measurement

On the frequency response graph, three unusual moments immediately catch your eye. The first is the absolute linearity of the characteristic right up to 2 kHz. I have never seen such a smooth schedule of such duration before. Usually, the frequency response is already trying to bend somewhere in the region of 200-300 Hz, and for all headphones, it begins to noticeably drift away around 1 kHz or earlier. This is pure physics – in these areas, the influence of the headphone case, the ratio of the internal volume and the load chamber that the listener’s ear creates, etc. affect.

I will not name specific headphone models – I will only say that they are all of the medium-high segment and they were randomly selected from the general mass. All in-canal and many full-size models give just such a picture.

As for the graph of harmonic distortions, JVC HA-FW10000 is trying to convince us that they are not the product of magical forces or the creation of an alien civilization. With a very good, but achievable with real headphones, distortion corridor of 0.25 … 0.1% in the 60–2,000 Hz section, the graph dances fervently in the bass zone, rising locally to 3–4%.

outcome

JVC HA-FW10000 in-ear headphones are exceptionally original and original headphones: both in terms of appearance and in terms of engineering solutions. In technological terms, this is a whole exhibition of achievements – after studying the model in detail, even in the High-End paradigm, it begins to seem that half of the bells and whistles are redundant.

 

However, it is enough just to listen to these headphones to believe in absolutely all the audiophile excesses that the JVC HA-FW10000 is filled with. It is completely unclear what exactly creates all this magic. I don’t even want to change the cable to an alternative one (for example, balanced). What if the magic disappears?

FAQs JVC HA-FW10000 in-ear headphones

Q1: What type of drivers do the JVC HA-FW10000 use?
A1: The JVC HA-FW10000 in-ear headphones utilize 10mm dynamic drivers, providing a robust sound with good bass response.

Q2: What is the frequency response range of the HA-FW10000?
A2: The frequency response range of the HA-FW10000 is 5 Hz to 40 kHz, allowing for detailed sound reproduction across a wide range of frequencies.

Q3: Are the JVC HA-FW10000 headphones suitable for high-resolution audio?
A3: Yes, the HA-FW10000 headphones are designed to support high-resolution audio, making them ideal for audiophiles seeking superior sound quality.

Q4: How do the wooden housings impact the sound quality?
A4: The natural wood housing enhances the sound quality by providing a warmer and more natural audio signature, contributing to a richer listening experience.

Q5: What kind of ear tips are included with the JVC HA-FW10000?
A5: The headphones come with various ear tips, including both silicone and foam options, allowing users to choose the best fit for comfort and noise isolation.

Q6: How long is the cable for the HA-FW10000?
A6: The cable length for the JVC HA-FW10000 is approximately 1.2 meters (3.94 feet), providing adequate reach for most audio devices.

Q7: What is the weight of the JVC HA-FW10000 headphones?
A7: The JVC HA-FW10000 headphones weigh approximately 5 grams (without the cable), making them lightweight and comfortable for extended use.

Q8: What is the impedance of the HA-FW10000?
A8: The impedance of the JVC HA-FW10000 is 16 ohms, which allows it to be easily driven by a variety of audio sources, including smartphones and portable music players.

Specifications

• Type: In-ear headphones (earphones)
• Driver Type: 10mm dynamic driver
• Frequency Response: 5 Hz to 40 kHz
• Impedance: 16 ohms
• Sensitivity: 106 dB/mW
• Maximum Input Power: 200 mW
• Connector: 3.5mm gold-plated stereo mini plug
• Cable Length: Approximately 1.2 meters (3.94 feet)
• Weight: Approximately 5 grams (without cable)
• Material: Made with natural wood housing for enhanced sound quality
• Noise Isolation: Passive noise isolation for improved listening experience
• Accessories: Comes with various ear tips (silicone and foam) for a customizable fit

Features

• Natural Sound Quality: The wooden housing contributes to a warm and natural sound signature.
• Lightweight Design: Designed for comfortable, long-term wear with minimal fatigue.
• High-Resolution Audio Support: Suitable for high-resolution audio playback.