FiiO JD7 Review
FiiO JD7 Review
FiiO goes Harman
Pros: + Harman target curve
+ Musical and engaging
+ Plenty of sub-bass/bass extension with good technicalities
+ Dynamic and impactful
+ Balanced mids and smooth treble
+ Open sounding with good imaging
+ Suitable for most kinds of music
+ Easy to drive
+ Premium looks and excellent build quality
+ Detachable cable
+ Plenty of ear-tips and a carrying case
Cons: – Not the most refined and resolving
– Slightly lacking in treble extension and energy
– Bass can sound a little hollow
– The cable is slightly thick
The review sample was kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t receive monetary or any other kind of compensation and I don’t use affiliate links.
The price of the JD7 is $99 and you can buy it from here.
Jade Audio
As you may already know Jade Audio is a subsidiary brand of FiiO.
A stylish, technological, and youth-oriented brand aiming to provide high-quality yet cost-effective audio products with an excellent listening experience for the younger generation all around the world.
Previous products include the JD3 and JH3 earphones while all FiiO USB DAC dongles of FiiO (KA1, KA2, KA3) and the PL50 LPS are also branded as Jade Audio.
Jade Audio (FiiO) JD7
The JD7 is the flagship earphone of the brand and it features a 10mm dynamic driver with an internal and external magnetic circuit setup that greatly improves the magnetic flux density so that the driver can push more air for a more effortless sound. The JD7’s driver is put into a dual-layer housing where each layer features a damping system to better control unwanted vibration and resonances resulting in lower distortion – ultimately resulting in a quicker-sounding driver with deeper bass.
With the JD7 you can get great sound almost out of any source. Its magnetic conductivity enhancer increases the magnetic flux generated by the drivers to over 1 Tesla, resulting in a sensitivity of 108dB, meaning that even your phone can easily drive the JD7.
The JD7 features a polymer diaphragm with a PU gasket, specifically chosen for its unique and favorable characteristics. The polymer diaphragm is stiff enough so that there is minimal unwanted vibration and movement during large driver moments, yet is still responsive enough to quickly move according to analogue signals as they come.
The semi-open design of the JD7 has sonic benefits by allowing for a softer yet more natural sound in a wider soundstage. On top of that, the semi-open design balances air pressure in the JD7’s housing which eliminates pressure on the eardrum and ultimately protects your ears, for long fatigue-free listening.
Full technical specifications are available here.
Design, fit and build quality
The JD7 has a premium appearance, identical to the much more expensive FA7S and is made from the same high quality materials.
The lightweight and compact sized ear-shells are very comfortable to wear offering a tight and stable fit that doesn’t cause any irritation even after a prolonged time of use but the semi-open design doesn’t help with the noise isolation which is good but not the best.
The JD7 ear-shells are made of 316L stainless steel with metal powder that goes through an injection molding process and is sintered at 1000 degrees in a process called metal injection molding.
Cable
The JD7 has a detachable cable with MMCX connectors that is made from monocrystalline silver plated copper.
The anti-tangling sheathing is a little thick and adds stiffness to the cable but it has a low microphonic noise and it seems to be very durable.
The actual quality of the cable is very good for the price but it should be noted that most of the Chi-Fi competition now comes with modular plug cables.
Accessories
The JD7 package includes the plastic HB1 storage case, three pairs of white balanced silicone ear-tips, three pairs of the FiiO’s HS18 ear-tips, one pair of medium sized black memory foam ear-tips and a MMCX quick removal tool.
Listening impressions
The JD7 was left playing music for about 100 hours in order to fully settle down.
With an impedance rating of 32Ω and 108db/mW of sensitivity, the JD7 is very easy to drive and you can use it straight out from your phone headphone jack.
But the truth is that it scales surprisingly well for the price so you can do a lot better with a USB DAC dongle or a DAP like the iBasso DC03 Pro or the FiiO M11S.
After a couple of hours of listening you can’t fail to notice some certain similarities between the FiiO FD5 and JD7 tunings.
It seems that the FD5 was taken as the basis for tuning the JD7 but this time with a frequency response to more closely match the Harman (in ear) target curve.
From the sub-bass up to the lower treble both earphones sound almost identical, at least as far as the frequency response is concerned, then there is a deviation to further adjust to the Harman target instead of the more V-shaped tuning of the FD5.
The JD7 is an excellent example of a Harman oriented tuning with good sub-bass extension, mildly emphasized bass, balanced but not recessed mids and a smooth but still well extended and airy treble.
Great sub-bass extension and a tastefully emphasized bass make for a fun and youthful sound signature that feels at home with most kinds of music, modern and classic alike, as long as you don’t mind the touch of bass coloring that mildly affects the tonality of the lower pitched instruments.
The mid-bass is not too accentuated so it doesn’t cloud the mid-range which sounds clear, present and articulate.
Technicalities are surprisingly good, the bass is fast, controlled and well defined layering while it doesn’t sound hollow or bloated.
The presentation is weighty and full bodied, the bass is punchy and impactful with plenty of dynamic contrast.
The mid range is balanced and transparent, very easy to the ear without inducing sibilance or fatiguing vocals.
The presentation is full bodied with a natural sounding timbre, voices and instruments are represented with a mostly realistic and lifelike tonality.
The JD7 is very musical and emotionally engaging, an earphone that can provide many hours of easy listening with all kinds of music without really disappointing since it doesn’t have any major sonic flaws.
The treble is not the most refined or resolving but it offers plenty of airiness, transparency and detail retrieval without sounding artificial, metallic and in no way harsh or bright.
The tuning is smooth and controlled, the JD7 is forgiving but without lacking too much in extension and sparkle, it is not dull or slow sounding but don’t expect a high spirited and energetic sound signature with plenty of inner analysis.
Thus said the Harman target curve is not addressed to the tuning extremity fans or the die hard critical listeners, it was made with the aid to please the majority of the users and with all kinds of music by providing an easy and hustle free listening experience with plenty of cozy warmth and the JD7 greatly succeeds in doing so.
And moreover with the added benefits of having technicalities that punch well above the price point and a really open and spacious sounding soundstage.
Truly enough the JD7 offers the listener a widely extended soundscape with precise imaging and good depth layering for the category.
The truth is that I am not the most loyal admirer of the Harman target curve but in this case I will have to admit that listening to classical music with the JD7 was a much better and enjoyable experience than expected at least when I was not in a critical listening mood.
A note about the HS18 ear-tips
The JD7 comes with a pair of HS18 ear-tips pre-installed from the factory and while they are more comfortable than the stock they mildly affect the frequency response and the overall texture of the sound.
You must switch to the normal ear-tips before making any final judgment because using the HS18 ear-tips results in a tuning with less extended sub-bass, not that emphasized bass and considerably leaner and drier texture with restrained dynamics than the white balanced ear-tips.
Compared to the FiiO FD3 ($109.99)
The FD3 is essentially the poor man’s FD5 with an almost similar tuning but much lesser technicalities.
Compared to the JD7, the FD3 has a more “V” shaped tuning with a sharper, brighter treble and a more analytical character with deeper detail retrieval and a more energetic type of sound.
The JD7 is warmer, fuller and weightier on the bass with greater dynamic impact but the FD3 is slightly more controlled and tight although leaner, drier and not as lush sounding in the mid-range.
Subjectively speaking, the JD7 is more beautiful and premium looking but they both offer the same comfortable user experience while the FD3 is much more effective in blocking outside noises.
In the end
If you are a fan of the Harman target curve and you don’t want to spend a fortune to treat your ears then look no further.
The JD7 is tuned as closely as possible and furthermore it has great technicalities for the category, it is easy to drive, it has premium looks, excellent build quality and a comprehensive accessory pack.
Copyright – Petros Laskis 2023.