JVC's HP-FXC50 earphones promise to get closer to your eardrum
By Donald Melanson 
posted Jul 22nd 2008 5:37PM
posted Jul 22nd 2008 5:37PM
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).
JVC's new slogan...
If the volume doesn't kill you, the infection will!
JVC's New slogan:
"We sound so good, you let us inside of you"
IN SOVIET RUSSIA MUSIC LISTENS YOU!
JVC, Hearing loss is only a fragment of your imagination.
JVC's new slogan: "Canalphones? What are those?"
JVC: Your ass was our second choice.
Is this a good thing? The sound is even closer to your eardrum so you become deaf even faster?
I was thinking the same thing. What could possibly go wrong?
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 :)
they'll finally take over your eardrums.
@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
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
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.
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.
ugh, and they would get so gunked up...
But imagine the bass notes when they are actually vibrating on your eardrum ;)
I'd be worried if the connecting cord somehow got yanked. That could really hurt.
Is it just me or do those pictures look a bit obscene???
They look like......nah....
gynecology diagrams FTW!
Yea, it's you.
I am pretty sure I just got an erection looking at those pictures...
Are you sure it isn't an earection? HEE HEE.
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.
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?
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.
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?
If by best you mean the worst earbuds of all time, then yes I agree with you.
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.
But you can't put a price on trendy
Teenagers are now going to be deaf at the age of 20 if this keeps up
Um...Wait... What?
That font looks so....PSP.
Just... Ignore.
This is his 9th account.
ORLY? Which, the iPod or iPhone ones?
And does this read right to left or left to right?
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 :)
just how deep ya goin with that 420 there?
Just enough to tickle his sinuses
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.
Are you the guy that got banned multiple times and now uses Ocean XXX as name?
BOSE IN-EAR are defineately the best!!
He's so turned on by the Apple earphones that he even struggles to spell properly.
103dB right next to the ear drum should be enough to drown out the voices in my head.
Reminds me of the wife of some villain from X men.
..you know, with the drill..
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.
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.
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.
@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.
I don't want my headphones "installed" in me, thanks.
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 ;-)