Review Time!
JVC Xtreme Xplosives HA-FX1X vs. Monoprice Enhanced Bass Hi-Fi Noise Isolating Earphones - Black
Case:
The XXs come with one, the Monoprice buds don't. Pretty simple.
Cord:
The XXs have an awesome looking red pvc coated cord. It doesn't tangle easily, stays in place when wound, and feels like it provides decent protection for the wire inside. Pretty much the standard for all quality headphones/buds. The Monoprice buds have a cloth wrapping on the wire. It tangles extremely easily, does not stay in place well when wound, feels like there is barely any protection for the wire, and will definitely fray over time. Holding it up to the light, you can see it has already started to fray 24 hours out of the box. IMO, cloth is the single worst thing to ever happen to cords.
Comfort:
As I stated in an earlier post in this thread, I find the XXs very comfortable for an in-ear headphone. I can wear them for hours on end without thinking about them.
Despite how awkward the Monoprice buds look, they are actually pretty comfortable! Far more so than I expected. From the couple hours of testing I did today, I think they're equal to the XXs in this category.
Most important.. Sound!
Tested with: Metal (Mudvayne, Mastodon, Kittie), Dubstep (Liquid Stranger, Skrillex), Trance/techno (Chemical Brothers, Massive Attack), Rap (Bone Thugs, Dre, Wayne), and Alternative/softer (Beatles, Modest Mouse, Radiohead)
XXs- Earth shattering, but clear, bass. I mean these things can pound with the right music. Mids are clear and smooth. Highs are where these struggle a little bit when listening to metal. Perfect amount for rap, dubstep, techno, and alternative in my opinion. Overall, they provide a rich and full listening experience. For metal, I still prefer my Beats Studios.
Monoprice- Wow.. And not a good wow. For a 14mm driver, I expected some basstacular ear rape. What I got was clear, but very faint, bass. Mids are decent but lacking in comparison to the XXs. Highs are crisp, clear, and have a nice attack. For my tastes, the lack of low end really ruined the experience. Sharp and clear, but not rich and full.
Outcome:
The clear winner here are the JVC XXs in almost every category. I probably won't be using the Monoprice buds for anything but movie watching on a noisy airplane. The XXs bass can be a little overpowering cranked to the volume needed to hear voices and drown out airplane sound simultaneously.
Since I was so hard on the Monoprice buds, I will say, I'm a huge Monoprice fan! I buy a large box of stuff I barely need from them monthly. This product just isn't one of their best.
Anyways, hope this helps at least one person get their perfect pair of budget earbuds. I've fallen in love with mine all over again after this little comparison
-Trip
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