JVC HA-FX103BTA review: Xplosive bass!
JVC KENWOOD has launched a couple of earphones in India and every model comes with unique traits that are designed for various consumers. After reviewing the JVC-HA-FX65BN that offered active noise cancellation, we now take a glance at the JVC HA-FX103BTA, a pair of in-ear monitors that are designed for those that favour the bass impact to line the mood pumping.
The JVC HA-FX103BTA fall into the brand’s Xtreme Xplosives series that are around for quite few years. This model builds upon the previous generation, the HA-FX102 and has improvements that are attuned to the days like 8mm Neodymium drivers, a rugged build and a convenient in-line microphone.
Design, Build
The JVC HA-FX103BTA are available four colour options — Black, Blue, Red and Green which may be a great move since it allows the buyer a choice of their favourite colour. Upon unboxing these earphones, the primary thing we noticed was that it had been extremely lightweight which matches an extended way in reducing unwanted ear fatigue. We used them for a couple of hours within the gym and there was no noticeable pain to report.
While the general design is light, we did have a complaint regarding the load distribution. The earphones have a chunky in-line remote which pulls towards the proper which makes using it quite obvious. Also, thanks to this feature, it tends to tug the proper earbud out which gave us the impression that it might come undone. The cable found on the JVC HA-FX103BTA is sort of short which also doesn’t really help with the general weight distribution. However, we've to mention that it's built well and that we see ourselves using it for quite a while without worrying of accidentally breaking it.
The earbuds are fitted during a plastic construction with the outer-end sporting the XX branding. this is often a nod to the Xtreme Xplosives line-up from where it originates. A neat design choice here is that JVC has used angled nozzles here which permit them to take a seat snug within the auditory meatus . This goes how to make sure that you simply get that passive noise isolation. The brand has also thrown in two more sizes of ear tips. So, this suggests that there's a complete of three sizes of tips — small, medium and enormous . It’s imperative that you simply try all sizes so as to urge the simplest possible fit.
There is a three-button layout on the in-line microphone and accessing them while wearing is definitely manageable. Also, thanks to the spacing between the buttons, you'll notice fewer accidental presses. This module also features the micro-USB charging port and it's concealed permanently measure also which helps in protecting it from unwanted splashes.
Lastly, there's a pleasant plastic case that comes along side the JVC HA-FX103BTA which helps in protecting the earphones when not in use. This case can house not just the earphones but the supplied ear tips and micro-USB cable also .
Performance
The JVC HA-FX103BTA is meant for those that love that tiny extra bass response and therefore the earphones serve it in scoops. Featuring an 8.5mm Neodymium driver, you get a particularly punchy mid-bass and underlying sub-bass which will most definitely please bassheads the planet over. However, while it's a sufficient bass impact, it doesn’t have the restraint so as for it to sound clean. So, what you get may be a little bit of distortion which leaves you wanting.
Due to the over-emphasis on the bass, we found the midrange to be a touch recessed and this was pretty evident on the lower mids. If you are doing happen to possess an equaliser on your smartphone, we recommend tuning the settings for a far better listening experience. just like the mids, we noticed that the highs didn't have any noticeable definition — without an equaliser. Again, an equaliser should go how in ensuring that they're sibilant with some amount of detail.
As far as sound isolation goes, these earphones offer many passive noise cancellation and this is often mainly thanks to the planning and therefore the right pair of ear tips. Ambient sound does have a bent of seeping in, but it’s not such a lot which will ruin your experience.
Battery life is a neighborhood for us where there's the foremost amount of bother. These earphones are rated at a mere 5-hour of playback and this falls behind the competition pretty drastically. With battery life being a subjective experience, we recommend that you simply hear these with the quantity set at around 60 to 75 per cent to urge the foremost out of them.
Verdict
The JVC KENWOOD HA-FX103BTA is priced at Rs 3,999 (selling for as low as Rs 2,999) in India and for what you catch on may be a pretty costly affair. Sure it does have a bass response which will leave the bass-lovers engaged; but we feel that there are way better options within the market that provide far more than what these do like the OnePlus Bullets Wireless, the Sony WI-C310, the 1MORE iBFree Sport et al.
