JVC's HP-FXC50 earphones promise to get closer to your eardrum

They may not conduct sound through your bones, but JVC's new HP-FXC50 earphones at least promise to pump sound deeper into your ears than your usual earbuds. That's apparently done simply by using a longer and thinner sound driver than usual (measuring 5.8mm in diameter), which can be "installed in the sound channel" of your ear. According to JVC, that not only cuts down on sound leakage, but makes the earphones more comfortable to wear as well (assuming you can get them back out). If that's got you sold on 'em, or at least hasn't scared you off, you can look forward to them being available in Japan in early August for just ¥4,000 (or about $38).

[Andrew Kim @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:42PM]

JVC's new slogan...

If the volume doesn't kill you, the infection will!

[Grant @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:58PM]

JVC's New slogan:
"We sound so good, you let us inside of you"

[Matt @ Jul 22nd 2008 10:34PM]

IN SOVIET RUSSIA MUSIC LISTENS YOU!

[Mr.Tech @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:56AM]

JVC, Hearing loss is only a fragment of your imagination.

[EdZ @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:44PM]

JVC's new slogan: "Canalphones? What are those?"

[OneLove @ Jul 23rd 2008 1:13PM]

JVC: Your ass was our second choice.

[Mike @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:49PM]

Is this a good thing? The sound is even closer to your eardrum so you become deaf even faster?

[aardWolf @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:50PM]

I was thinking the same thing. What could possibly go wrong?

[Sarig @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:46PM]

Yeah, I've only used headphones the last years. Always found my ears hurt after the small thingies, and that was even before they introduced the plugs that actually goes into your ears.

But then, I'm worried about my hearing, whereas studies show that a large percent of teenages have hearing damage due to loud music and don't give a damn, so I suppose I'm an exception :)

[Sean @ Jul 22nd 2008 10:52PM]

they'll finally take over your eardrums.

[Mic2000 @ Jul 23rd 2008 3:27AM]

@Sarig
You are not an exception, me 2 are using earplugs in a Disco. More and more people are getting are of it, but still it will be to late

[BratPAQ @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:47AM]

its all in the noise isolation, the better the isolation, the less the outside noise, lesser noise means lower volume from MP3 player because you dont have to compete with outside noise anymore to hear your music. so it ay mean you are actually saving your hearing rather destroying it...that is until a car hit you because you cross the street and you cant hear its horn because of noise isolation. XD

[Jonathon @ Jul 28th 2008 12:42PM]

The volume required is relative to the distance from your eardrum and also its ability to isolate outside noise. If you can perfectly block outside noise, then you don't have to compensate for that. Use some common sense here. If there are three speakers all playing at the same volume, one 10 feet away, one 1 foot away, and one 1 inch away from your ear which one will appear "louder"? So, using that same comparison if you wanted them to appear to have uniform "loudness" the speakers further away would be louder. As a side bonus, these would require less energy to drive thus improving your source units battery life.

[El Taco @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:51PM]

this is just gross. Next thing you know, it will be touching the ear drum. I don't see how these could be called comfortable.

[maveric101 @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:22PM]

ugh, and they would get so gunked up...

[Kris @ Jul 23rd 2008 1:37AM]

But imagine the bass notes when they are actually vibrating on your eardrum ;)

[Charles Lee @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:53PM]

I'd be worried if the connecting cord somehow got yanked. That could really hurt.

[HarmfulDose @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:55PM]

Is it just me or do those pictures look a bit obscene???
They look like......nah....

[Grant @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:56PM]

gynecology diagrams FTW!

[John @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:57PM]

Yea, it's you.

[ahow628 @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:05PM]

I am pretty sure I just got an erection looking at those pictures...

[Ignatius @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:36PM]

Are you sure it isn't an earection? HEE HEE.

[Grant @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:56PM]

i see the fact that a lot of people aren't comfortable with cramming shit deep into their ears effecting the sales of these.
That just does not look comfortable.

[VeganTnT @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:56PM]

I'm confused... I have a pair of Shure E500PTH. When I have them in (with no sound) I can't hear a thing. So how would getting the driver closer to my ear drum make the sound better?

Also, with the driver so close wouldn't it be more likely that and unexpectedly loud mp3 or in the case of the iphone a call or sms could rupture something?

[PeteC @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:39AM]

Yeah, getting it closer seems a little silly, in theory i guess perhaps you could perhaps run it quieter if it's closer to the drum to start with. It is however, the quality of the driver that makes the real difference, hence the price differential between the Shures, Etymotics of the world and the standard high street type phones. I'll stick with some Shures.

[VeganTnT @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:59PM]

I'm confused... I have a pair of Shure E500PTH. When I have them in (with no sound) I can't hear a thing. So how would getting the driver closer to my ear drum make the sound better?

Also, with the driver so close wouldn't it be more likely that and unexpectedly loud mp3 or in the case of the iphone a call or sms could rupture something?

[bartoron @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:00PM]

If by best you mean the worst earbuds of all time, then yes I agree with you.

[Jon Doe. @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:03PM]

see that isn't even a troll comment. A troll posts something that can be disputed. Even Apple fans know Apple's earbuds suck ass HARD. As in liposuction hard.
Come on man. If you are going to try and start a flame war try harder. Like this is a rip off of an Apple patent. (Don't mention which one, because it will cause even a larger stir.) But come on. If you are going to troll be the best damn troll you can be. This is just sloppy.

[John @ Jul 22nd 2008 10:15PM]

But you can't put a price on trendy

[Crowe @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:51PM]

Teenagers are now going to be deaf at the age of 20 if this keeps up

[Kris @ Jul 23rd 2008 1:47AM]

Um...Wait... What?

[JPN @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:07PM]

That font looks so....PSP.

[Haikibutsu @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:07PM]

Just... Ignore.

This is his 9th account.

[ZombieLeftovers @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:08PM]

ORLY? Which, the iPod or iPhone ones?

[JPN @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:08PM]

And does this read right to left or left to right?

[Nitin Mehra @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:12PM]

Just a gimmick!!!

I have a shure SE420 and quite a bit of people find this earphone a bit too intrusive, now imagine shoving it down deeper. Can't be too much fun.

On a side note though the diagram above looks like the handout with tampon box held sideways :)

[phanbouy @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:24PM]

just how deep ya goin with that 420 there?

[Nytrojen @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:13PM]

Just enough to tickle his sinuses

[ed @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:14PM]

Khan Noonien Singh: You see, their young enter through the ears and wrap themselves around the cerebral cortex. This has the effect of rendering the victim extremely susceptible to suggestion. Later as they grow follows madness and death.

[spass @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:17PM]

Are you the guy that got banned multiple times and now uses Ocean XXX as name?

[INTE @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:19PM]

BOSE IN-EAR are defineately the best!!

[Roger @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:23PM]

He's so turned on by the Apple earphones that he even struggles to spell properly.

[Don Corleone @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:34PM]

103dB right next to the ear drum should be enough to drown out the voices in my head.

[ethana2 @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:48PM]

Reminds me of the wife of some villain from X men.

..you know, with the drill..

[ajoan0077 @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:55PM]

Nah thats not loud enough for you young people!!!

152dB is the 'Hip' thing to do.....god what has happened to audio these days?!?!?

next thing you know there going to invent a lossy codec that claims to be "near MP3" and everybody will be using it including record lables and next thing you know....theres no such thing as Un-compressed audio!!!

Damn shame.

[Nytrojen @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:11PM]

You made yourself sound 399 years old. Not everyone's an audiophile, and generally speaking, most young people can't afford $3000 amplifiers with 24bit DAC etc etc etc. So unless you're planning on funding and schooling them, I suggest you let off.

P.S: No-one uses the term "hip" these days, unless it's inreference to your next operation.

[ajoan0077 @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:13PM]

I was being sarcastic..jeez

Im only 24 and im not an audiophile (cant afford to be one at the moment)...i just enjoy high quality audio thats all.

[Eric @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:20PM]

@nytrojen

You don't have to spend much on HQ audio, despite what the fools who review stereo equipment say. A decent set of headphones can be had for under $100, if you don't care about bragging rights.

[HOOPER @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:35PM]

I don't want my headphones "installed" in me, thanks.

[tnn @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:41PM]

I'm sure they sound as bad any other as long they are using a single driver system. And if you don't have the money for a dual og triple driver system, at least get one from a company that have the audiophiles on the board and the technology to make all-range drivers - I can recommend Ultimate Ears, Shure and Westone if you what proper in-ear earplugs.
Whatever you do, don't just stick with the Apple iPhone headphones ;-)