ROCK JAW Hydra V2 Review
Thanks to ROCK JAW for the sample.
First Impressions: These have the same
box as did the Arcana V2 so make more or less the exact same
impression. Though the Hydra, while a cooler name just do not look
anything like as pretty as the Arcana V2’s do. Those things are lush,
these are a not ugly or anything but provoke nothing more than a meh.
Still after how impressive the Arcana was I’m excited to see what there
can too. Given they sit at exactly the same price I’m unsure how they
will be differentiated.
In the ears and I’ve worked out how they
are differentiated. These are WAAAAAAAAAY more bassy. A considerably
more bass centric sound at work here. Though I am wondering if it’s the
same driver employed, the detail levels seem equally as good. Burn in
time.
Source: FiiO E7/E9 combo, Hisoundaudio Studio V 3rd Anv., HiFiMAN HM-601, 1G Ipod Shuffle, Nexus 5.
Lows: They are big. By big I don’t
quite mean the crazy level as was the Adagio III but well, there is a
bloody lot of it. Thankfully for havening cranked up the quantity it is
somewhat softened from the aggressiveness and eagerness of the Arcana.
It’s still got plenty of bounce and for its size, pretty good agility.
Its depth could do with reaching a bit lower but for this price I feel
I’m really asking for too much. This much, this controlled, more depth
would just be asking for it to flab all over the place. With that said,
what I find here isn’t the most tuneful bass. It is more than a dash
monotone like some relentless low end sub that lives in a resonant point
in a room. Yes its got great solidity but it’s just that same note
over and over again regardless of the song at play. It’s quite
annoying.
Still, I’m no basshead and the Hydra
isn’t made with me in mind. Going for this monotone, resonant monster
presentation makes what is a rather cheap IEM, give you some right ball
kicking bass. Throwing audiophile speak out of the way the bass as
presented here, its explosively powerful and teens across the world will
likely behold it in awe of its aggression.
Mids: On paper the mids are pretty
good. Rather like their siblings, the Arcana V2 but here the main
difference is that the bass here is so dialled up. The mids then are
pushed relatively into the background and for me that sucks. Otherwise
they are a fraction on the thick but reasonably cleanly delivered beside
that bass. They have a good creaminess to them, nice to see after so
much of late has felt aiming for a more dry to play up their “clarity”
when this is more human. However in absolute detail terms they are
reasonable.
The big issue though is they are so behind that massive bass. Sure bassheads will be happy but I’d be lying if I said I was.
Highs: Like the mids the highs here are
simply there to accompany the bass. Detail retrieval, like the mids
again is fair. Still these seem to roll off and lack any semblance of
bighty aggressiveness. I don’t normally want those aspects but at this
point I think I’m just looking for something to pay attention to other
than the bass. On the plus side, if you’re really treble sensitive this
is highly inoffensive. I will grant, Owl City’s “Cave In” did sound
great on them and it does go to show that despite not being obvious
about it, there is a pretty fair level of detail and quality to the
highs.
Soundstage: They don’t have the stellar
instrument separation that the Arcana’s have but here is still rather
good. The sound staging too is rather broad in its presentation. Not
so much in height but width and depth were both rather pleasing to the
ear. Just don’t get too caught up in wanting to place each and
everything at work. It’s there in a nicely size environment.
Fit: Excellent. Worn up or down these
were highly unfussed about how to get them seated. I got no driver flex
or any air pressure issues either, so an all-round thumbs up.
Comfort: Likewise with the fit there
were effortless. Silicon or foam tips it was a shove in and done.
Well aside from bass mountain kicking me in the head anyway.
Microphonics: Even worn down there was
hardly any microphonics. I’d still suggest wearing up and there is no
chin slider but for these opposed to wearing things up, you’ll get along
just fine with these.
Phone use: I gave my sister a ring and
she seemed to indicate she could hear me fine. I’m not sure how well as
she did have to ask me to repeat myself once or twice. Still, I am
sure that they would do the job and of course, I could hear her
perfectly. Naturally the play/pause/skip button worked fine too on my
Nexus 5.
Amped/Unamped: Well, I actually liked
how these sounded out of the phone more than out of more beefy sources.
The bass took a valium, stopped its relentless pounding and seemed that
bit more tuneful, its gently calmed nature got more pleasing. Given
that they come with a microphone they clearly have phone use in mind.
These VERY much suited running out of my humble Nexus 5. Pairing up to a
more powerful amps just made them so over powered, like putting an F1
car engine in a Fiat Punto. It just can’t properly handle it and so
going lurching from extreme to extreme. If you buy a pair I’d strongly
suggest not bothering to try and amp these, it does them zero favours.
Isolation: Really not bad at all for a
dynamic. They are pretty sealed, yet gave none of the corresponding
driver flex/ air pressure issues and managed to isolate very well. Sure
it’s not up to BA standards but its damn close. I’d be fine using
these on a bus or out and about in traffic. I’d even be okay with the
odd Tube trip or short flight too. Please remember, with them in look
where the hall you’re going if you would like to remain in one piece.
Build Quality: Like their siblings, I
quite like them. I like braided then wrapped cables and the little buds
seem nicely constructed too. I’d still want them to live in a real
case rather than the baggy they come with mind.
Accessories: Meh. You get 3 pair of
tips and a little baggy. The tips I don’t mend only 3 as I’ve never had
something with only 3 and had much problem but little baggies always
seem stingy. They are a nice pair of earphones, they deserve a real
little hard case.
Value: Great and not so great. If
you’re a total basshead then great, otherwise for the same money you can
get the Arcanna V2 so frankly why would you buy these?
Conclusion: So you have probably picked
up that I don’t really have much love for the Hydra V2. It’s not that
it’s a bad product, but…….well I just do not get along with its tuning.
I’m not faulting the driver or their build; there is nothing
fundamentally bad about them. The issue is, unless you want gobs of
bass their siblings just do things better. The bass here is dialled up
so and it is so aggressively punchy that I found myself track skipping
the instant anything bouncy came on. Even using them out of
fractionally mellowing Nexus 5 these were still a rip roaring set of
bass cannons. That really sums the Hydra V2 up nicely I think. It is
an unadulterated bass cannon and if that’s what you’re after then I send
you my heartiest congratulations. I’m sure that the two of you will be
very happy together.
So
while I cannot see the Hydra V2 as being the best way to introduce the
audio community to Rockjaw’s offerings I can see them sitting in John
Lewis or an Apple shop. Sitting there and appealing visually, appealing
to the mainstream crowd that most certainly do want what this has to
offer. They will absolutely adore its vigorousness. They will marvel
at its viciously punchy and aggressive bass. To that crowd I can see
the Hydra V2 being a big hit.
