Jvc ha-s140

[JK98]

After using the JVC HA-S160 for over a year and loving it, I decided to try this new compact JVC headphone. The HA-S140 is open with foam earpads, while the HA-S160 is closed with pleather pads. While the HA-S160 is closed, it doesn't isolate that well due to its small size.

The sound of the HA-S140 is okay, but not quite as good as that of the HA-S160. The HA-S140 feels very lightweight and flimsily built(lacking a metal band in the headband which the HA-S160 has), while the HA-S160 feels very ruggedly built. These are so close in price that it makes sense to buy the HA-S160 and avoid the HA-S140. The metal band in the headband of the HA-S160 makes such a difference in terms of fit and comfort. I hope JVC comes out with a new open headphone with a metal band in the headband and build quality similar to the HA-S160.

[Marvin the Martian]

You should post some pictures of them.

[JK98]

Originally Posted by Marvin the Martian

You should post some pictures of them.

http://av.jvc.com/product.jsp?pathId...L029128&page=1

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by JK98

http://av.jvc.com/product.jsp?pathId...L029128&page=1

Well, I was thinking more along the lines of ones you'd taken yourself....that product page doesn't really give you a good look at them. A side-by-side with the S-160 would be nice....

[JK98]

Sorry Marvin, but I am too lazy to photograph them. The HA-S140 doesn't look like much anyway. It does look lightweight and cheap, which is what it is. Anyway, I suggest that people avoid it and get the HA-S160. Not that the HA-S140 is so bad. It is okay for a $10 headphone. It just isn't great like the HA-S160.

http://av.jvc.com/product.jsp?pathId=135

[Marvin the Martian]

Well, I'll give you bonus points for honesty.

[The DarkSide]

Originally Posted by Marvin the Martian

Well, I'll give you bonus points for honesty.

You never did that with me,...you called me "lazy",...

[CDMP3PlayerFan]

These are the first comments I've found on-line concerning the HA-S140 headphones. I have both the HA-S140 and HA-S160 and I prefer the overall sound of the 140. Out of the box (without equalizer adjustment) I've found the sound of the 160 to be very bassy, so much that with some types of music it overwhelms the music and are almost uncomfortable to listen to.

The following are two of the tracks I had an issue with:

You Tube

You Tube

You Tube

You Tube

That's not the case with the 140s (the bass is there, but it's not as overwhelming and sounds more balanced). I've found the 140 very comfortable to wear. I agree that adding a metal backbone to the headband would be a welcome improvement.

[skip252]

I haven't heard the HA-S140 but I have the HA-S160 and they are probably my favorite cheap headphones. I've had them for a few years and have either gifted or recommended them to a least another half dozen other people. I've never heard a single comment about overwhelming bass.

What I hear most often is that they sound surprisingly good for the price and the sound is nicely balanced. I think of the bass as being pleasant and smoothly presented. I guess what's too much bass is a matter of preference.

[CDMP3PlayerFan]

Originally Posted by skip252

I haven't heard the HA-S140 but I have the HA-S160 and they are probably my favorite cheap headphones. I've had them for a few years and have either gifted or recommended them to a least another half dozen other people. I've never heard a single comment about overwhelming bass.

What I hear most often is that they sound surprisingly good for the price and the sound is nicely balanced. I think of the bass as being pleasant and smoothly presented. I guess what's too much bass is a matter of preference.

That's likely true. I'm not a great fan of bass and that colors my preference when it comes to headphones. It could be that enough bass for me might be inadequate for others. For me, the HA-S140 are a good low-cost set of headphones, but they are likely not for everyone.

It seems that nowadays that there so much focus on bass (with some headphones I've seen indicate how much bass they have as a selling point) in headphones. I prefer a more balanced sound, but what's balanced for me may not be for someone else. One of the reasons I've been seeking out new headphones is the Sony earclips I used to use had very little bass response and that has led me to seek out something better.

[JK98]

Originally Posted by CDMP3PlayerFan

These are the first comments I've found on-line concerning the HA-S140 headphones. I have both the HA-S140 and HA-S160 and I prefer the overall sound of the 140. Out of the box (without equalizer adjustment) I've found the sound of the 160 to be very bassy, so much that with some types of music it overwhelms the music and are almost uncomfortable to listen to.

The following are two of the tracks I had an issue with:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMT2jq-suyU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAxwl1HXjpM

That's not the case with the 140s (the bass is there, but it's not as overwhelming and sounds more balanced). I've found the 140 very comfortable to wear. I agree that adding a metal backbone to the headband would be a welcome improvement.

If you stretch the headband on the HA-S160 so it gives less pressure, then the headphone won't provide as much bass. Some seem to say that the HA-S160 doesn't provide enough bass. Imo the bass it gives is just right. I would like to find different earpads for the HA-S160 to increase the comfort. Perhaps velour ones? That would also decrease the bass though.

[CDMP3PlayerFan]

Originally Posted by JK98

If you stretch the headband on the HA-S160 so it gives less pressure, then the headphone won't provide as much bass. Some seem to say that the HA-S160 doesn't provide enough bass. Imo the bass it gives is just right. I would like to find different earpads for the HA-S160 to increase the comfort. Perhaps velour ones? That would also decrease the bass though.

Thanks for the information. I haven't considered altering the headphones, when I'm unsatisfied with a set of headphones I usually just try different pairs until I find one that suits me. The low cost of the HA-S140 (in the same price range as the HA-S160) made it easy to give them a try.

I haven't found either the HA-S160 or the HA-S140 uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time, although I've found that the S160 stay in place better. Of the earpads I've tried, I've found that foam is the most comfortable.

[JK98]

The lack of a metal band in the headband on the HA-S140 is what I don't like about it. This also cause it to not stay in place as well, and to provide less bass. If only they had used the headband on the HA-S160 to make the HA-140 it would have been really nice. I guess the metal though probably adds quite a bit to the manufacturing cost.

[JK98]

Originally Posted by CDMP3PlayerFan

Thanks for the information. I haven't considered altering the headphones, when I'm unsatisfied with a set of headphones I usually just try different pairs until I find one that suits me. The low cost of the HA-S140 (in the same price range as the HA-S160) made it easy to give them a try.

I haven't found either the HA-S160 or the HA-S140 uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time, although I've found that the S160 stay in place better. Of the earpads I've tried, I've found that foam is the most comfortable.

Here's an idea. Find foam pads that will fit over the HA-S160 earpads. This will decrease the seal the headphones give, and decrease the amount of bass. If you can't find foam to fit over it, you could use cloth, then cut a hole in the center of the cloth, so the treble won't be blocked.


I just stretched out the HA-S160 even more, so now it gives very little pressure, around the same as the HA-S140. The bass is decreased quite a bit. This does decrease the isolation though.