My Panasonic HJE-70 review

[HumanBlur]

Well, got these bad boys today for 53 pounds in the UK(anyone interested where i got them, let me know). Anyway, inital impressions are very good but not overwhelming. I had previously had the ex71. I thought they were great earphones when i first got them since i had never heard such great bass from earphones. So for a long time i was happy with them, but as time drew on i really began to notice how murky the sound was. Sound across the spectrum was unclear even though the bass went low, it wasn't 'good' bass.
Anyway, the hje70 are basically an improvement on them in every way in the sound department. The bass goes as low, but you can actually make out the instrument of the bass. It's so much clearer. I have also noticed things in the background that weren't clear before. As i have said though the sound didn't blow me away exactly, but it was very good. I think the reviews from people here have led me to believe these were better than i though i didn' t live up to the hype.
One other thing is that these aren't anywhere as comfortable as the ex71. They are bigger and just don't seem to fit as well. But that's just because the ex71's are very very comfortable, not because the hje70's are uncomfortable.
So far though the sound is very crisp at all levels, most notably the bass is very well defined. BUt at the moment i feel it lacks a certain warmth in the mid/voice range. Anyway, this may improve with burn in. Stay tuned for my next update on more info next time. It's getting late and got to get up early for work. Later!

[HumanBlur]

Well, it's day 2 now, had a much more extensive listen. Previous listening was more on the train to and from work. Anyway, my review is based a great deal on the ex71's and my excellent pc speaker set up. Well let's review another point.
Isolation. Well the isolation is about the same as the ex71. I would say it's about the 'right' amount. Not to much so crossing a road is a life/death scenario but enough to be able to drown out half the train noise. So all in all horses for courses, it isolates but doesn't silence.
Next point, after more experience, these are nowhere near as comfortable as the ex71. If you are expecting to jog with them, then just forget it. Walking fast is about all you want. For me they don't stay in as well. And, before anyone asks, i have tried all the different tips. Again, it's not that they aren't comfortable, on a train sat down they're ace. I think that's about all i will say about the comfort.
Another thing is i think they look really cool. The design of them reeks of quality. It just looks like an expensive earphone rather than cheap stuff you get. Titanium build, nice and shiny, has a little weight to them (possibly a reason why the don't stay in as well as the ex71). So when you wear them, feel proud.
Lastly is the sound. I think the sound is very very good, haven't noticed any diff with burn in yet. If i have noticed anything, it i may just be fooling myself. But the sound was already very good to begin with. I will go deeper into the sound next time. BUt for now, that;s it. Anyone want photos or where i got them let me know.

[HumanBlur]

Well another update, been short of time so this is gonna be a quick one. The i've tried to see if there is any significant difference in terms of burning in, but i haven't been able to discern any. BUt i haven't had much time to listn to them in a quiet room. THe sound is still very good though. Next time i will do a comparison to the ex71 and the senn mx200. I think that may give a good idea of how much improved the sound is. I still love listening to the bass but it is really annoying because the phone doesn't stay in me right ear so well, it keeps falling out. It's because my right ear is differently sized but i never had the problem with the other phones. Even when i'm walking slow, it slowly pops out. Anyway, gotta go.

[Jackonicko]

Try using different sized sleeves. Get a good fit and the HJE70s stay in fine.

[valkolton]

I like the aluminum metal of the HJE70s, but for jogging they just don't stay in well because I think they used too much metal in the upper housing.

I especially was worried about this on our new "vibe" metal in-ear models to make them small enough that they work well during running/working out.

It all depends on how you use the headphones, the Shures, Etys also have too thick of cables and too much weight for jogging. In-ear models that weigh less than 16g and have 1.8mm-2.0mm diameter cables (2.2-3.0 is too heavy and sways) like the Bass Freq, EX71, CX300, are more optimal during physical activities. For home, studio, or at computer listening pretty much anything works.

FYI - I jogged 7-10 miles with every .1mm diameter cable from 1.8mm to 2.5mm and found 2.0mm to be the most optimal. Thick enough to be quality, yet small enough for activity weight.

Cheers...

-val

[HumanBlur]

Sorry for the long wait for an update, i'm sure some of you want to know what i think of them after having them for a weel or two. Well i personally can't say for sure if burning in headphones actually had an effect. I think the sound has settled a bit, but if i said i knew that for sure i would be lying. Valkolton, jackonicko, what are your thoughts on if burning in actually makes a difference. I also do think they phones have warmed up in the low midrange but again can't be too sure. But the sound from them are amazing. You can definetly feel you are getting your moneys worth in terms of the soind quality. You get amazing good bass.

I have listened to the classic where is the love by the black eyed peas. The bass is very clean with the bass of the stringed instruments coming in very very well. The introduction of new instruements are not hidden and easily descernible.
The next test is one fo my favourite tests. If you have seen the great Hong Kong film infernal affairs then you should have heard of it. It's the song the guys used to test the extremely expensive speakers they had. Now i'm a big fan of the mid-low range where a great deal of the human voice spectrum lies. I have set my speakers to produce this part of the sound spectrum more pronounced as the other parts. This is purely a personal preference, but i like the feeling of when the lady is singing it feels like she is just a few feet away from me rather than across a hall. Hence i tune my speakers to produce this part a little more strongly. The other parts of the shoud spectrum i like to have as accurately as possible and i tend to find that speakers tend to have far too overpowered bass. But anyway, back to topic. When listening to this song, the sound is very neutral again it feels to me that the lady is singing a distance away rather than directly to and in front of me. As i have said somewhere else this is one the biggest things i look for and a part of most speakers i find severely lacking. It's not that i think the earphones aren't good but it's more a personal preference. But thinking about it, i could just mess with the equaliser settings. That may come in a later update.

Anyway, i think i have written enough and it's getting late. And i want to answer the replies to the questions. Jack, i have used other sleeves. But they don't stick in as well as the ex71. I'm getting used to it now though but i think i've resigned myself to not being able to do much activity in them. But it's fine i wouldn't generally use them for that anyway. And i really want to get my hands on some of your models val. Especially the new vibe ones. I think you and me have the same kind of preference. But i do really like assym cables so i would get them only if you have them. And i the HJE70's are made of titanium alloy but i dont' see why they should be made of aluminium as it's still a strong enough but should be about half the weight. Any thoughts on this val? And lastly to val again, your new vibe phones, are they to you sound preference?

Anyway, written enough, it's getting late and i need sleep. Hope i can update soon but i am busy and have limited time. Theres still a lot to review on these phones but if you guys are sick of me let me know.

[goldcoaster]

gee, the hje70 are nice looking.
Do they have a swivel joint (looks like it) and does that transfer noise when they swivel?

[HumanBlur]

Yes they have swivel joint at the base of the earphone piece. I'm not sure what you mean by transfer sound though. I have tried the swivel and to me, it just seems like it can give a different feeling to the fit. The sound remains unaffected provided you have a nice seal.

[dk0013]

The HJE70s are aluminum and the case is titanium. Aluminum is less dense than titanium, so it makes sense to go with Al when strength is not an issue.

[HumanBlur]

Ah, thought the main earphones were Titanium alloy. Actually i have noticed the back shiny bit of them have become a little scratched having put them in my pocket, though more on this in my next proper update.

[dk0013]

Mine has scratches in the same place just from being in the case and having the buds clipped together, but its not bad enough to bother me. Thats an advatage Ti has over Al, its harder and more scratch resistant.