Fostex X Massdrop TH-X00

I am putting this out there as a bit of a place holder for my impressions of the TH-X00 (mahogany) that I picked up last month. I try not to gush too much, so I will just say "I really like this headphone."

I remember the D5000 back when I was poorer and less bold in the hobby, and thinking "man, I bet I would enjoy that headphone". I was in need of a closed set due to my circumstances at the time (work = cubical, home = apartment). In my mind, it was laid back but not blurry or veiled, had rich, impactful bass that didn't overpower everything else, highs that were not piercing, mids that weren't totally sucked out. My ears were far less discerning at the time, so my unicorn fantasy was not super detailed. It was mostly about tonality and to a lesser extent timbre.

Then the D5000 was discontinued, price went up, my circumstances changed and I withdrew to the fertile fields of open cans. For a long time, I have been chasing the idea of what I thought it would sound like (which seems stupid as I type it, because it is stupid). I have listened to many other headphones in between, and entirely changed the way I approach the hobby. Yet, I remember being excited when the LCD-2 came out, because I thought "hey maybe this is it!" I also remember being so so so disappointed when the LCD-2 was not it. (Neither was the LCD-3.) I won't belabor the journey anymore other than to say, I finally got the TH-X00 and it is what my mind had built up the LCD-2 as possibly being what the D5000 could have been in my mind.

It is not the most amazing headphone ever, but tonally it is what I have wanted from a headphone (especially closed back) for a looooooooong time. And it is only ~$300!

Next week I should be able to supplement/replace this with my thoughts on things that actually matter for meaningful reviews. Those thoughts are currently spread across post-its on desks at my home and office. Oh, they are also on the little TV tray that sits on the ottoman in my basement, because the TH-X00 is f'ing fun with movies.

And in closing:

I am thrilled to be the first to publicly commend you for using purple retainer rings on the XLRs. Its those details...

 

Honestly, this might be reason enough to own one. Crazy good.

 

It's great with gaming as well.

 

I don't think my Purpleheart TH-X00 is really that comparable sonically to my 2010 LCD-2.1. The Fostex has way, way, way more (mid) bass and a V-shaped sig all over. LCD-2 mids are very much comparable to HD600/HD650 in level and quality, very much there and on par.

A very simplified and offhand comparison between my HD600, LCD-2 and Purplehearts tonally...
Bass amount: TH-X00 (mid-bass BOOM).................LCD-2 (mostly sub bass boosted)....HD600
Mids amount: HD600....LCD-2.......................TH-X00
Highs amount: LCD-2..HD600..TH-X00 (they all have quite enough)

In conclusion, HD600 is clearly the most mid-centric, it can be a bit flat & boring sometimes. LCD-2 is a very slight turn into V-shaped territory, but stays in the "neutral" camp - at least as well as HD650, imo. I've mixed on all three successfully. The Purpleheart goes all out with that V.

But I agree, TH-X00 is fun, it's all about it - maybe my tastes have just wondered into a more neutral territory. And yeah, I still like the lesser bass bleed into them mids from my D2000s (lower boost in bass). I guess I just dislike bass bleed lots. Same goes for my sold V-Moda M100 - bass-boost reaches the mids. Meh.

 

I actually agree with most of your impressions on this. First, a good LCD 2.1 is (I'm led to believe, and willing to believe) incredible. When I was finally in a position to own any LCD, it was post fazor, which from what I've read created most of the problems I had with the sound.

Second, I know it's generally a forced comparison as between open and closed. But the way the LCD was packaged by everyone reviewing was "laid back, yet resolving" which is part of what attracted me to the idea of the D5000 initially.

Ignoring that this was all fantasy, the bigger point is that the sound I was hoping for simply wasn't there with any LCD. (I have also subsequently learned that I don't really enjoy orthos.) The th-x00 is certainly more of a V (almost a W) compared to the hd6x0, but it avoids the greatest sins of many closed cans: lack of resolution, muddy f'ing bass that destroys all life, and shitty treble. On top of that it is fast, which for me creates a dynamism that is engaging.

 

Post fazor, as in fazor? I've had a few brief tests with fazor-LCD-2's. I wouldn't change my old pair for 'em, ever. The pre-fazor pairs seem to be more laid back, at least. Can't comment too precisely without my own gear.

I agree with you on the full-sized collection of Fostex-made cans on a whole. A big & fun sound that works for most. The kind of "Ooomph" that makes your not-so-knowledgeable (not meaning you) friend be wow'd immediately.

 

FYI, TH-X00 Ebonys just shipped.

 

@aufmerksam Really looking forward to your review. If you'd like to try a different amp with them, my offer to loan you the Gustard H10 is still stands. It might be fun to listen to them on it, as I'm sure it'd have more synergy than the HD650's would. Btw, if you ever decide to sell the TH-X00's let me know

 

Just giving the EBs a first listen after about 36 hours of break in. The handful of frequency response measurements on the innernets seem to correlate really well with what I'm hearing. Compared to the mahogany: tighter bass, better definition in the low- to mid-bass, better extension in the sub-bass. Sounds a little "less fun" than the mahogany, but that's probably due to less farty bass. Less "60Hz-party-boombox-bass" and more "15"-2,000-watt-hometheater-sub-properly-crossed-over-at-40Hz-shake-the-couch-bass". Seems a little smoother in the treble, specifically "ch" is more defined, less "sh" but closer to "tch". Tho not really reference material, Foo Fighters Sonic Highways, Feast and the Famine - I'm picking up the wobble of the hi-hats as they move from open to closed more on the ebony than the mahogany. I can tell that Hawkins has the felts set really loose on his hi-hat, and the way it's mic-ed picks up the wobble, which is more discernible on the EBs.

Edit: Some more impressions after spending more time with them: The EBs are a little more intimate, headstage is a little less diffuse than the mahogany. The EB has better high frequency extension, though the mahogany seems to add a little more body to metal/percussion instruments/clicky bleep bloop EDM. This could change with further break in.

Edit the two: Spent the better part of the work week swapping between the EB and mahogany (and HD650M as reference). EB has better inner detail/microdetail. Plucked bass guitar strings are a good way to quickly hear the difference between these two headphones, in terms of microdetail. However, the mahogany presents a wider, but less specific, headstage, so, when coupled with the more pronounced bass/mid-bass, it still sounds more "fun" - bigger, more exciting without being more dynamical. Macro and micro dynamic abilities between the two are the same, or indiscernible to me. I'm hoping the EB's headstage opens up a little with some more burn in, because it's sort of turning into a deal killer for me. Or, I'm getting "wowed" by fake audiophile "air" in the mahogany.

 

New Ebony drop

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-fostex-th-x00-ebony-headphones

 

That's why it provide extra long permanent cable for movie

 

I wish I had yours (and other peoples) confidence of modding things, I''m too scared i'll screw it up.
Anyways, that's an interesting take on the different dark vs bright reviews people are giving. Unfortunately, between this and my Amp/Dac (micro iDSD) I'm one of those people who are hearing it as quite bright (which is rather odd considering I come from AK271's which have basically zero bass).

Question to you all though: What are some headphones with similar price range, physical characteristics (i.e. woodie with metal parts, closed/semi closed, over ear) but sound a wee bit darker and warmer (I don't necessarily mean a straight up "more bass and less everything else", I am a bit sensitive to overdone bass). Mostly cuz I find these HPs+iDSD micro combo to be a BIT bright and cold (at least now, I'm hoping they settle in a bit warmer).

I am LOVING the details, resolution and soundstage (imaging/transparency) on these btw, HOLY CRAP. I remember when I first listened to SRH840 that feeling of "DEAR GOD". After a day of listening to th-x00 my facebook status was: "holy crap, if this is what music is supposed to sound like, IDK what the hell i've been listening to the last 20 odd years but that wasn't it". I thought, from the reviews, that the lack of mids would bother me, but though I sometimes feel it, it's a lot less bothersome (if at all) than with my previous HPs, the details on the mids are quite good to my ears. I just wish i could tone down the highs a WEE bit.

 

Oh hey, I didn't think Audio Technica pads would work. Those HP's look like the most comfy things in the world btw, would love those pads then.

How does it change the sound? does it have that insert thing or did you have ot hack the insert in?

OOOH I like the sound of that, if that's what the alpha pads do love it. Mine are still burning in and present to my ears as a bit too harsh in the upper regions

Oh yea the wood finish.. I honestly don't like the shiny finish they've done. I'd rather not have it be so shiny, makes it look fake.

Also: one more vote for the alpha pads I see.

BTW, have you heard the longer unplugged version of "Hotel California"? (from "Eagles MTV Second Night"). I find a good copy relatively hard to get, unless you buy the CD outright from amazon or something, but MAN listening to that unplugged version on these headphones, WOW!

 

Does anyone have a Fostex Th-x00 mahogany with Schiit Jotunheim? My DAC is Modi MB.
Do they pair well?

Considering to jump on the mass drop today. The thx00 have a permanently attached cable, should I wait for a e-mu teak drop instead?
How hard is it to recable these?


My other HP are HD650 & T90. Also considering Focal Elear in the future. Possibly HD800.

 

Maybe it's just me but these headphones are almost unlistenable with that stock cable. I don't mean in terms of sound, in terms of inconvenience and comfort (weight). My amps are within arms reach, so this cable was always wrapped up in a bundle on my lap to reduce weight and to avoid hanging into vicious feline territory.

I re-cabled them (which is actually quite easy if you like soldering) with some cheap microphone cable and navy colored paracord. I'd be bullshitting if I claimed any audible differences but that's beside the point. The XLR is nice though.

I keep the stock cable around just in case I need a finesse weapon with reach.

 

Well, hello there beautiful. Look what the postman left for me today! I'm calling this photo "All in the Family". Can you guess why?


First impressions: What a smooth sound! Treble is a bit laid back for my taste but holy bass attack, Batman! The mids and lows are really, really nice. Even with less than 15 minutes in listening I can already say that I greatly prefer this sound signature to my Meze 99 Classics. They sound like they should cost a lot more than the $90 difference between the 99 Classics and the TH-X00's. My one word 15 minute summary is: smooooooooth!