JVC FWX1 VS Yanyin Canon II

At $380, the Yanyin Canon II lands in a competitive mid-tier alongside sets like the AFUL Performer 8 and Mangird T2. It’s a hybrid (1DD + 4BA) with a tidy, well-behaved cable and minimal accessories. The shells are medium-large, a bit chunky, with glittered faceplates whose typography/alignment may irk design sticklers; comfort is generally fine at a desk but fit stability can be mediocre during movement or sleep. Two recessed dip switches (tool required) mainly tweak bass by about ~1 dB—best treated as a “both up” vs “both down” toggle rather than four distinct tunings.

Tonally, Canon II reads as neutral-leaning and relaxed: modest upper-mids, a touch dark up top yet still well extended, and a bass shelf that carries some mid-bass “stank” beyond pure sub-bass emphasis. The result is natural timbre with an overall dry presentation—bass has weight without lingering rumble. Technicalities are solid but not showy; imaging/separation is the weak link, skewing more cohesive than dissected, and sitting a bit behind what would be hoped for at this price.

Versus the AFUL Performer 8, Canon II is the warmer, fuller, slightly darker take with more bass presence, while P8 runs brighter/leaner and stages/separates better. If the brief is “neutral with extra bass body” and pleasing timbre, Canon II ticks the box; if headstage and pinpoint placement lead the priorities, P8 makes more sense. Final verdict: a solid 4/5, with tuning versatility and tonality as the draws, and imaging as the compromise.

Super* Review original ranking