JVC HA-MX100-Z overhead headphones: real music from a past life

Old love never rusts! JVC – just three letters, but in such a quivering, well, in the pure form – three, seven, ace … After hearing about the new monitors JVC, I began to get closer to the strange novelty to listen to them live and at the same time to touch my past life. Curiosity mixed with nostalgia and the initial reverence for the brand wouldn’t let me rest day or night. And what? The studio monitors found me by accident. And immediately pulled into the Victor Studio sound space. Anyway, headphones meet, headphones put on your head. And turn on. Listening to the JVC HA-MX100-Z studio monitors today.

Overhead headphones JVC HA-MX100-Z

Specifications

Sensitivity:	107 dB
Playable frequency range:	10 Hz – 40 KHz
Impedance:	56 ohm
Maximum allowable power:	1.5 watts
Connector:	3.5 mm
Weight:	265 g

Looks and ergonomics

The package of new JVC monitors is covered by a professional equalizer on top. The headphones themselves are also visible – like a diamond in an expensive setting. A quick glance at the picture leaves no doubt: “produced by VICTOR STUDIO”. On the back is a street photo of the famous studio, as if inviting you to come in and see how legends are made.

Serious monitors in the package never offer too much. JVC HA-MX100-Z set also consists of headphones and instruction papers. What else does a real music fan need?? Only music.

The headphones themselves have a distinctive studio look. The color is black, the side of the cup is made of metal aluminum, I think and the rest is plastic. The headband covered with the leather substitute is imprinted with the words “produced by VICTOR STUDIO”.

Very pleased with the headband telescopic plate for adjustment. Usually you have to guess the size of your head again and again, but the new JVC monitors have notches – they click once and you can forget about your head. Well, very comfortable moment.

Assembling is solid, five plus. No backlash, gaps and other “cherries soon to be ripe. In general, Japan! The cable is rubber-coated, 3 meters long, the jack is 3.5 mm, by the way, looks very cool, like a piece of silver jewelry.

Cushions are made of synthetic leather, oval shape, nothing special, made for work only. The form factor itself – the so-called “On Ear”, does not completely cover the ear, and lies slightly touching the top of the ear lobe and earlobe.

Headphone sits on your head airy, not pressing, although much depends on its size. In the case of my head, I had to shake my hair a bit before I managed to catch a wave of the most pleasant sound. If the ears are loose or somehow crooked, the bass and the whole mass of the sound will leak to the side through the gaps. And when the ears fit harmoniously, the music will touch the most intimate soul strings. In general, it’s good for those who have big head – in this case the monitors will stick, it’s too tight..

Sound

The main listening was done on a MyST DAC 1866OCU V.2, JVC SU-AX7, Lotoo PAW Gold and QLS QA360. All sources of the headphones played at the appropriate level. I especially want to mention the great synergy with MyST DAC 1866OCU V.2.

The sound is even, neutral, refined, without obvious peaks and dips, a little bland, but without obvious cracks and distortions. The pitch is a little bit flat, the sound swirls more in width, on the run-up in different directions, and the situation with the depth is much more prosaic.

For a closed type headphone, the space is very well drawn. No jamming or reflections. The detail is good too. The musical material is quite expansive, with a well defined stereo panorama.

If you make allowances for smooth monitor feed, I liked how JVC HA-MX100-Z sounded in all genres, which I have listened to. There are some minor nuances, though, but the subgame plays close to the way you’d expect from live music.

For example, Sepultura – Ratamahatta sounds simply amazing. I expected that the sound doesn’t have enough mass or tilted to the treble, but monitors played so cool that I didn’t notice the storm outside the window, just sat up and had a great time.

The bass has an enviable percussion, tight and quite decent punch, the bass is fast and crisp, like a samurai katana. The guitar riffs and stabs are above reproach, and the vocals are crisp without any peaks or intrusiveness. All clear and to the point, with no unnecessary ringing. Class! Just don’t forget that studio monitors need a good source-amplifier. I recommend listening to them, for example, with MyST DAC 1866OCU V amplifier.2. New JVC monitors just merged with this device in ecstasy.

Or here’s an example from “another era”: David Bowie -Young Americans. The composition sounds easy and effortless. Each instrument breathes, lives, the musical canvas is wide and clear, in silver tones. Emotions JVC HA-MX100-Z transfers beautifully! David Bowie’s vocals are clearly delineated in space. Although the overall feed is quite wide, I did not fall into any gap, the space is tightly filled with sounds – everything in its place.

Very light, detailed, musical and with the right expression. Pleased with the overall smoothness across the board. Great!

Bottom line

The woofer is tight. Bass is not much, but it’s fast, punchy and clear. It lacks just a little depth, but otherwise no complaints. Fans of pumping and lifting in this register have nothing to do here.

The midrange is very informative, detailed, even, smooth and yet with proper expression. The picture they draw is very musical and intelligible. It’s a great middle piece…

The tweeter is basically pretty clean for a dynamic model – no obvious joints or distortion. There is a slight hint of accent and crumbliness, but this moment is not critical. The high frequencies do not cut your ears, they do not strain, in some places they “sound in the voice”, and in some places they roll back in muffled. So, the playback depends more on the audio track and the recording-mastering.

Conclusions

Very nice, detailed monitors – it’s impossible not to fall in love! They captivate at once, and in 15-30 minutes you become “addicted” to the monitor type. You don’t want to take your headphones off and you don’t want to part with them. On the second day this beauty made me wonder where I could get the money for my old love in a new guise. Although I have quite a rich collection of decent headphones! Didn’t expect to get into the swing of things again… Cool, nothing to say.

The price of JVC HA-MX100-Z studio monitors at external internet sites stabilizes around 20 000 Dollars. I think this price tag is well within my reach.

Sound, build, appearance, materials.

Set. To its full potential, requires a good and powerful sound source.