FiiO JD7 Review – Harman King
FiiO’s new JD7 features a single 10mm dynamic driver with an internal and external magnetic circuit setup that dramatically 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 result in a quicker-sounding driver.
The JD7 ear units are made of 316L stainless steel. This results in a comfortable wearing experience, making it highly durable and resistant to wear and tear.
Included with the JD7 are FiiO’s brand-new ultra-thin HS18 ear tips.
Unsurprisingly, build quality is top-notch, and if the FiiO JD7 is one of the most affordable IEM the brand has to offer, they don’t feel like a cheap knock-off, far from it. There are no steps, no cracks, no bruises, just one smooth surface all over the shell, and it feels perfectly balanced in the hand.
The shell is made of one solid, 316L stainless-steel body – the same found on luxury watches – that shall withstand the test of time with ease. Even the cable got more attention, compared to the JD3 and JH3. Not only is it detachable, it also sports the same monocrystalline silver-plated copper wires found on the FA7S, but with a different and thinner build.
The cable isn’t as good as the one provided with the upper level: the tangle-free sheath takes more time to untangle, and you don’t get the awesomely useful swappable termination system. But, for the price, it’s hard to complain.
What’s in the box
Specs
- Style: 1DD
- Drivers: 1x 10mm semi-crystalline PU Polymer diaphragm
- Socket: MMCX
- Cable: silver plated copper – 3.5mm L-shaped jack
- Shell: 316L stainless steel
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20 KHz
- Impedance: 32 ohms
- Sensitivity: 108dB
- Sound Isolation (up to): 20 dB
- Cable length: 120 cm
- Weight: 8.3g (per ear)
- Price: $99
I would like to thank Fiio for providing me with the review sample of JD7
Sound
The star of the show is probably JD7’s Harman Curve tuning. To put it in simple words, the Harman Curve is a “proven” tuning designed to sound good for most people based on extensive research and testing. Of course, every one of us has slightly different ears and hearing abilities, but in general, the Harman Curve is supposed to sound universally pleasing. It’s a common tuning because of its reliable popularity, emphasizing the bass and upper-middle registers, making it a good fit for mainstream music genres and listening tastes.
The JD7 follows the Harman Target tuning, which should please most listeners, if not all. And yes, it sounds very pleasing to me. The bass is on the higher side for my tastes, but other than that, I liked the JD7 a lot, sounds “just about right”.
Lows
The FiiO JD7 has an elevated, impactful, and full-bodied bass reproduction. The sub-bass is slightly more prominent than the rest of the bass range, however, the bass feels abundant altogether. The textured, powerful bass contributes to the fun factor of the IEM. It’s tuned in a way (Harman 2019 curve v2) to prevent the bass from bleeding into the lower midsection. The detail level is also good. The JD7 performs well in this regard, the bass is controlled, very powerful, and quite exciting to listen to.
Mids
The midrange has a very natural and realistic feeling, and vocals and most instruments sound accurate and “just right”. The JD7 isn’t particularly thick or warm, but they always sound correct, with good transparency and resolution.
The transition from upper bass to lower midrange is smooth. Despite the slightly recessed upper bass, this transition is one of the smoothest in IEMs at this price range. The lower to middle midrange has a neutral amount of body and is neither tilted toward thick nor thin. As a result, while some male vocals may lack a bit of body and power, the JD7 provides good vocal clarity. For the upper midrange, the JD7 again shows some great control. It has a calm upper midrange.
Highs
The transition from upper midrange to lower treble is impressively coherent. There aren’t any signs of sibilance or sharpness in this region. With the foam tips, you can further tame the treble, however, I am perfectly satisfied with the performance of the silicon tips. You won’t have to worry about harshness, and the JD7 is very relaxed up top and non-fatiguing.
Even so, the mid-treble still shows a good amount of sparkle, and this allows instruments such as piccolos and crash cymbals to be “correct”. The treble extension is quite good and is on par with the best performers in this price range. The FiiO JD7 extends way up to the upper treble and remains smooth and silky sounding.
Technical performance
The sound stage is one of the strongest parts of the FiiO JD7 without a doubt. Especially in terms of width. Separation-wise things are very good, you get excellent stereo imaging and positioning with very good sharpness and focus. The JD7 is good on details, and also very good in terms of overall resolution and transparency. It has great micro detail ability and realistic timbre.
Sum-Up
The FiiO JD7 is priced right below USD$100, which puts them squarely into the most competitive and crowded IEM marketplace. There are very many good-performing IEMs in this price range. But there are few as the shell quality goes. JD7 feels premium from the first moment. And it sounds easily as good as twice expensive competitors. If you have the budget and love the Harman-style sound give them a try, and you will be a happy person.