Reviewed Jun 2010
Details: Second generation of JVC’s comfort-oriented budget IEM
Current Price: N/A (discontinued) (MSRP: $19.95)
Specs: Driver: Dynamic | Imp: 16 Ω | Sens: 101 dB | Freq: 10-23k Hz | Cable: 3.9’ I-plug
Nozzle Size: 5.5mm | Preferred tips: Stock single-flange
Wear Style: Straight down
Accessories (2.5/5) – Silicone single-flange tips (3 sizes), foam tips, and double-sided shirt clip
Build Quality (3.5/5) – Housings are rubber-covered plastic and feel like they will last. Cabling is soft and flexible, with decent relief on either end
Isolation (2/5) – The Air Cushion fitting system makes for a very shallow insertion but the FX67 seems to isolate slightly more than the FX66
Microphonics (3.5/5) – Fairly bothersome and exacerbated by the fact that the FX67 cannot be worn cord-up. However, the new shirt clip helps
Comfort (4.5/5) – The Air Cushion fitting system leaves a space between the earphone housing and the ear; combined with the angled nozzles and soft rubber-covered housings this results in a completely unobtrusive fit
Sound (4.5/10) – The HA-FX67 use the same drivers as the older HA-FX66. The sound they produce is basically identical – slightly warm and fairly smooth. Bass is strong and impactful but a bit slow and lacking in control. Low-end extension is quite impressive. The lower midrange is obscured slightly by the bass end and the mids are recessed overall. Clarity and detail are fine, though they can’t compete with the Meelec M9s or Soundmagic PL30s. A tiny bit of sibilance is present in the treble but it’s not nearly bothersome enough to be a con. The treble is bright and not as recessed as the midrange but lacking in detail and extension. The overall sound is fairly spacious but the poorly controlled bass makes the low end sound more boomy and closed than would otherwise have been possible. Overall it’s a fun, tap-your-toes type of sound that can be both engaging and relaxing. Not audiophile by any means but perfectly tolerable for a budget set.
Value (8/10) – Though it may seem like JVC has made nearly no changes to the AirCushion in the three and a half years since the FX66 was released, there is one major difference between the FX67 and FX66 – the price. In 2007 the AirCushion was very difficult to find for less than $35. The FX67, however, is retailing for under $20 at the outset – the market price of this level of performance has fallen twofold, which is about what I would have expected. Because of that, the AirCushions remain a decent set of earphones for the price, especially for those concerned primarily with comfort.
Pros: Very comfortable, durable, decent sound
Cons: Subpar isolation
One Response
I’m motorcyclist, and i found those are the best for me! They perfectly fit in my ears, don’t come off when i put my helmet on, feel comfortable 🙂