Post by solderdude on Jun 8, 2018 9:51:11 GMT
The Mitchell & Johnson JP1 DJ is a semi-closed headphone intended for portable and DJ usage.
The most remarkable aspect of this headphone is that it is a 2-way system with a dynamic driver and an electret driver for the higher frequencies.
It finds its origin in the Sharkk ‘Bravo Hybrid Electrostatic Headphones’ kickstarter project.
This is not the same headphone though as the dynamic driver is different but is related.
The JP1 DJ is also available (at a lower price) as the Verisonix N500.
Verisonix also supplies this as OEM so the Mitchell& Johnson is actually a Verisonix N500 with a different name on the cups.
The engineering of it seems nice.
Steel parts, real leather (headband) and a nice looking Cherry wood is used for the cups.
It retails for around € 680.- ($ 600.- as well as £ 600.-) which is quite expensive for a headphone.
The headphone cable is dual entry. The cable itself doesn’t care whether the connectors are inserted in the left or right cup. It is always connected the right way because the TRS sockets in the headphone itself determine what is left and right cup, not the cable.
The cable as well as the metal headband are microphonic which means you can hear mechanical contact sounds in the headphone when the cable rubs against clothes or the headband is handled/touched/adjusted etc.
It is not annoyingly loud though but can be heard.
As mentioned before the ‘special’ thing about this headphone is the fact that 2 drivers are used. One dynamic range driver (full range) and an electret, filtered at approx. 700Hz.
An electret driver is basically an electrostatic driver but without the needed external high bias voltage.
The ‘bias’ voltage is impregnated as a static charge in the mebrane istelf, thereby eliminating the need for an external bias voltage.
It still needs a high plate voltage though. In this case this is done using small transformers within the enclosure. They can be small as they only need to handle high frequencies so small ferrite cores can be used.
Below the (angled) electret driver is seen as well as the high pass filter capacitor (10μF bipolar capacitor) and the small ferrite core transformer
Below the PCB with the transformer on it the rear side of the dynamic driver can be seen. The PCB mounted so close to the driver is asking for reflections though.
The specs say: 32Ω and those measuring the DC resistance will find a nice 33Ω which is the DC resistance of the voicecoil of the dynamic driver. There is a hidden ‘problem’ though. The electret is fed via a small transformer inside the cup which is coupled through a 10μF bipolar capacitor (high pass filter). The DC resistance of its primary winding is 2.7Ω. At 20kHz the impedance of the headphone measured almost 4Ω which is extremely low. This means that when the output resistance of the source is a few Ω already the upper treble will be considerably lower.
Totally not suited for higher output resistance amps and sources. This headphone thus is quite amp picky/dependent.
The design of this headphones appears ‘closed’ which the product folder also suggests. In reality the headphone is partly open between the baffle and the cups. In between that gap the sleeve of the pads is present but this doe not seal it completely.
Sound thus leaks in and out though that gap. The headphone thus doesn’t isolate well. Even the Denon D2000 isolates more…
For this reason I characterize the JP one as semi-closed and not as closed/sealed.
The headphone comes in a nice box which includes a hard carrying case, a braided cable with 3 x a 3.5mm TRS jack plug. Also included is a 6.3mm adapter and an airplane adapter.
Below the frequency response of this headphone.
This headphone seems well constructed with nice materials and has a nice looks. Comfort is decent for my head. The pads do get sweaty with longer listening sessions.
For € 680.- one should at least expect a good quality headphone.
Those looking for a highly detailed hi-fi headphone with a neutral tonal balance can skip this headphone.
Not suited for classical, Jazz or other well recorded material. Better suited for Pop music and rock music for instance.
This headphone is said to be aimed at the DJ’s. The tonal balance and cup swivel say that would support that.
It’s low power rating , however, and possibly price point as well as the small 3.5mm TRS connectors at the bottom side of the cups that may break when dropped on a console as well as the low impedance at higher frequencies makes this headphone not really suited for this kind of work.
The HD25 or HDJ2000 or ATHM50X are better recommendations for DJ’s.
Before one suggests … ‘well perhaps this headphone wasn’t broken in yet’ I have to disappoint. This is a used headphone with quite some hours on it already.
The electret seems to be just a gimmick. The exteremly low impedance at 20kHz, the poor measurements and not really hi-fi sound is not worth the MSRP.
Based on looks and build quality I would not pay over € 150.- for this headphone. And most of that figure would be for the wood cups and looks. Soundwise I find € 50.- already too much.
Microphony of the cable and headband also is something that is somewhat disappointing despite the looks and feel of the supplied cable.
One can easily say that the sound quality is not on par with the mechanical quality.
The small adjustment range of the cups, the comfort level, the sweaty pads also do not help this headphone either.
A slightly cheaper and also well made alternative would be the Meze 99 classic or the AQ Nighthawk.
So what’s the final verdict ?
Is it all bad or does it have some positives as well?
For portable usage some extra bass/lows usually doesn’t hurt, some bass lift is even desirable on the go. Also when one only plays the headphone at a very low levels the bass boost works well enough to make the overall sound ‘full bodied’.
Playing directly from a player with the bass dialed down -8dB and treble lifted +2dB the sound is more neutral.
Those looking for a neutral headphone or electrostat sound should look elsewhere.
Not suited for desktop amps nor mixing consoles. Also not really suited for DJ’s either.
Those looking for a warm bassy headphone with subdued treble that needs to be driven directly from a phone are in luck. For this application it isn’t half bad. Not great either but usable. The sound signature is something one can get used to. Nighthawk lovers can relate to this. For them this may be a nice side grade (not upgrade)
One has to bare in mind that the isolation from outside noises is rather poor making them less useful when looking for isolation.
I really don't get the praise it gets by some reviewers.
More info can be found HERE
The most remarkable aspect of this headphone is that it is a 2-way system with a dynamic driver and an electret driver for the higher frequencies.
It finds its origin in the Sharkk ‘Bravo Hybrid Electrostatic Headphones’ kickstarter project.
This is not the same headphone though as the dynamic driver is different but is related.
The JP1 DJ is also available (at a lower price) as the Verisonix N500.
Verisonix also supplies this as OEM so the Mitchell& Johnson is actually a Verisonix N500 with a different name on the cups.
The engineering of it seems nice.
Steel parts, real leather (headband) and a nice looking Cherry wood is used for the cups.
It retails for around € 680.- ($ 600.- as well as £ 600.-) which is quite expensive for a headphone.
The headphone cable is dual entry. The cable itself doesn’t care whether the connectors are inserted in the left or right cup. It is always connected the right way because the TRS sockets in the headphone itself determine what is left and right cup, not the cable.
The cable as well as the metal headband are microphonic which means you can hear mechanical contact sounds in the headphone when the cable rubs against clothes or the headband is handled/touched/adjusted etc.
It is not annoyingly loud though but can be heard.
As mentioned before the ‘special’ thing about this headphone is the fact that 2 drivers are used. One dynamic range driver (full range) and an electret, filtered at approx. 700Hz.
An electret driver is basically an electrostatic driver but without the needed external high bias voltage.
The ‘bias’ voltage is impregnated as a static charge in the mebrane istelf, thereby eliminating the need for an external bias voltage.
It still needs a high plate voltage though. In this case this is done using small transformers within the enclosure. They can be small as they only need to handle high frequencies so small ferrite cores can be used.
Below the (angled) electret driver is seen as well as the high pass filter capacitor (10μF bipolar capacitor) and the small ferrite core transformer
Below the PCB with the transformer on it the rear side of the dynamic driver can be seen. The PCB mounted so close to the driver is asking for reflections though.
The specs say: 32Ω and those measuring the DC resistance will find a nice 33Ω which is the DC resistance of the voicecoil of the dynamic driver. There is a hidden ‘problem’ though. The electret is fed via a small transformer inside the cup which is coupled through a 10μF bipolar capacitor (high pass filter). The DC resistance of its primary winding is 2.7Ω. At 20kHz the impedance of the headphone measured almost 4Ω which is extremely low. This means that when the output resistance of the source is a few Ω already the upper treble will be considerably lower.
Totally not suited for higher output resistance amps and sources. This headphone thus is quite amp picky/dependent.
The design of this headphones appears ‘closed’ which the product folder also suggests. In reality the headphone is partly open between the baffle and the cups. In between that gap the sleeve of the pads is present but this doe not seal it completely.
Sound thus leaks in and out though that gap. The headphone thus doesn’t isolate well. Even the Denon D2000 isolates more…
For this reason I characterize the JP one as semi-closed and not as closed/sealed.
The headphone comes in a nice box which includes a hard carrying case, a braided cable with 3 x a 3.5mm TRS jack plug. Also included is a 6.3mm adapter and an airplane adapter.
Below the frequency response of this headphone.
This headphone seems well constructed with nice materials and has a nice looks. Comfort is decent for my head. The pads do get sweaty with longer listening sessions.
For € 680.- one should at least expect a good quality headphone.
Those looking for a highly detailed hi-fi headphone with a neutral tonal balance can skip this headphone.
Not suited for classical, Jazz or other well recorded material. Better suited for Pop music and rock music for instance.
This headphone is said to be aimed at the DJ’s. The tonal balance and cup swivel say that would support that.
It’s low power rating , however, and possibly price point as well as the small 3.5mm TRS connectors at the bottom side of the cups that may break when dropped on a console as well as the low impedance at higher frequencies makes this headphone not really suited for this kind of work.
The HD25 or HDJ2000 or ATHM50X are better recommendations for DJ’s.
Before one suggests … ‘well perhaps this headphone wasn’t broken in yet’ I have to disappoint. This is a used headphone with quite some hours on it already.
The electret seems to be just a gimmick. The exteremly low impedance at 20kHz, the poor measurements and not really hi-fi sound is not worth the MSRP.
Based on looks and build quality I would not pay over € 150.- for this headphone. And most of that figure would be for the wood cups and looks. Soundwise I find € 50.- already too much.
Microphony of the cable and headband also is something that is somewhat disappointing despite the looks and feel of the supplied cable.
One can easily say that the sound quality is not on par with the mechanical quality.
The small adjustment range of the cups, the comfort level, the sweaty pads also do not help this headphone either.
A slightly cheaper and also well made alternative would be the Meze 99 classic or the AQ Nighthawk.
So what’s the final verdict ?
Is it all bad or does it have some positives as well?
For portable usage some extra bass/lows usually doesn’t hurt, some bass lift is even desirable on the go. Also when one only plays the headphone at a very low levels the bass boost works well enough to make the overall sound ‘full bodied’.
Playing directly from a player with the bass dialed down -8dB and treble lifted +2dB the sound is more neutral.
Those looking for a neutral headphone or electrostat sound should look elsewhere.
Not suited for desktop amps nor mixing consoles. Also not really suited for DJ’s either.
Those looking for a warm bassy headphone with subdued treble that needs to be driven directly from a phone are in luck. For this application it isn’t half bad. Not great either but usable. The sound signature is something one can get used to. Nighthawk lovers can relate to this. For them this may be a nice side grade (not upgrade)
One has to bare in mind that the isolation from outside noises is rather poor making them less useful when looking for isolation.
I really don't get the praise it gets by some reviewers.
More info can be found HERE