JVC Xtreme Xplosives Earbud Review
What was tested:
- JVC HAFX1X Headphone Xtreme-Xplosivs, bought through Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004M8SAJ4/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00
- Tested for about 10 days with a MBP 15", early 2011 on a variety of music & applications
Sound: 6/10
These earbuds have surprisingly good sound for $20 headphones. While the mids are pretty washed out & hollow, and it has a tendency to crackle on symbol crashes & the like, the bass is absolutely killer. Noise cancelation could be better, but is made up for by sheer volume; easily 2.5 times as loud as Apple’s (I haven’t tested the new EarPods, but people I’ve talked to who tried them said they were nothing revolutionary.) With most earbuds I’ve used, 80-90% volume is comfortable listening. With these, I can’t hear a thing that’s going on around me at about 25%.
One other thing I noticed is that there’s quiet but distinct static. It’s not bad enough to notice when you’re listening to something and it isn’t constant, but I’m worried it could get worse over time.
(If you need the volume louder than this, I think you have bigger problems than needing new headphones!)
In summary: audiophiles are going to find the hollow mids very annoying, but then, audiophiles don’t buy $20 headphones. If you care more about a pounding beat than crisp, well-rounded sound, and are constantly frustrated by audio that’s too dang quiet, these are going to serve you well.
Comfort: 5/10
These earbuds aren’t the most comfortable things in the world. If you’re just sitting at a desk, they’ll be fine, but you certainly won’t ‘forget they’re there’, as it seems every manufacture of ear-worn anything claims about their products. And they’ll fall out if you don’t get them in there snugly (which you should do if you want the bass to be properly impactful). You could probably jog with them in without quite as much trouble as apple’s pitifully ill-secured earbuds, but I think you’d be much better served buying an over-the-ear headset.
Like most earbuds with a rubber ring holding them in place, they have a few different rings for different sized ears. I use the smallest one, but since I’m used to Apple earbuds which rest on your ear rather than tucking in them, I had to undergo a bit of an adjustment period where they were uncomfortable to wear for long spells. I’m fully used to them now; they’re definitely less comfy then Apple’s phones overall, but they stay in place reasonably well and have a significantly better seal.
Durability: 6/10
While I’m pretty under-qualified to judge their durability after only having them one week, from what I’ve seen & felt I get the feeling they’re going to last me a good while. The wires are moderately resistant to tangling, the housing is made from that plastic that’s tough-but-not-completely-infelxible, and the 'joints’ of the wires seem adequately resistant to bending. I don’t know how the speakers themselves are going to hold out over time, of course, but the housing & wires seem to be built quite well. One concern I do have is if the wires short out; as I said before, the static has me worried they aren’t properly fortified.
Obviously, the only accurate test for this category is time, but barring that measure they seem tough enough to survive if you take good care of them. If you’re the kind of person who burns through a pair a month because you’re stuffing them in your pocket or tossing them across the room, however, you’re probably going to burn through these just as fast.
Worth the price: YES
Ultimately, these are $20 earbuds, and they certainly deliver on that price. Even if you buy them online, you’re going to pay less than you’d pay for Apple EarPods, and you’re probably going to get a better, longer experience out of them.
Should you buy: YES
If you’re looking for a good set of medium-price earbuds for general use, these are going to do exactly what you need. For me, their biggest selling point is the fact that they’re extremely loud, so even if something is mastered way too low (like an adorable cat-playing-the-piano video, for example) I can crank these up and fully enjoy the absolute cuteness. (and then blow out my eardrums when my Skype rings in the middle of it.) These are a solid pair of earbuds with an emphasis on raw power rather than fidelity. They’re going to suit my needs just fine.