Fostex TE-02n IEM Measurements

Discussion in 'IEM Measurements' started by purr1n, May 26, 2016.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Fostex TE-02n IEM Measurements

    20160526_122808.jpg

    See general measurement notes before digesting the plots below: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/note-on-iem-measurements-changelog.2153/

    Fostex TE-02n Frequency Response
    FTE2 FR.png

    Good bass and mids, but yeah, subjectively these do have a bit of stridency and sizzle. The 12kHz peak is a measurement artifact. And as usual, anything past 8-9kHz could be inaccurate.

    Fostex TE-02n Distortion
    TE02n HD.jpg

    Fostex TE-02n Impedance and Phase (electrical)
    Fostex TE-02 Z.png
    Ignore the funky stuff at 50Hz. I am in Australia and using power adapters to go from 230V to 110. Around 38 ohms and stable. Should sound consistent for most sources.

    Blu Tac Mod: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...e-02n-iem-measurements.2154/page-3#post-80584
     
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2016
  2. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    This is a great iem for modding. Removing the metal plate over the nozzle, adding a hifiman filter and a little dot of blue tak in the center really made a difference. Tames the sizzle and gives it a little more rumble.
     
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Well what do you know? Christian left a bag with another pair with the metal plate removed and a small strip of gauze like material in its place. Here is the FR.
    TE-02 mod.png
     
  4. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    That's one of james444's earlier mods. I think our latest attempts tame the treble even more so. Great sound for $30.
     
  5. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    Might be worth noting that both of these measurements are the TE-02n. The N is the latest generation of the TE-02. The previous generation was the WP variant (TE-02wp). Looks like I'll be sending CeeTee my modded TE02n soon and he'll send to Marv for measurements as well.
     
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Done on the "n". Typical Fostex!
     
  7. james444

    james444 Mad IEM modding wizard level 99

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    Thanks for the graphs! I have no way of doing measurements myself, so this is very helpful.

    Back-story: the older Fostex TE-02wp has been an inside tip on the German HiFi-Forum for quite some time. The new higher impedance TE-02n variant has even more potential in my book, but its stock tuning is extremely lean and analytical and a bit sharp in treble. Still, as shotgunshane says, it's a great IEM for modding and I've spent many hours doing just that.

    The modded pair I sent to Christian has its rear vent enlarged and its stock nozzle filter replaced by my own solution. I also pierced a tiny hole through the diffuser membrane in front of the driver. The result suits me very well, a little fuller and less sharp than stock, but still extremely clear and detailed throughout the frequency range. Subjectively, I'd rate this SQ easily at eye level with my very best IEMs, which is quite a feat for a $30 cheapo.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    However, I'm in my fifties and pretty tolerant to treble, so when I sent a modded pair to shotgunshane, it came as no surprise that he found it a tad hot "up there". At his suggestion, we tried another approach (based on my earlier DN-2000J blu-tack mod) and this, together with a hifiman filter, finally seems to do the trick for him.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2017
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Very cool. I am looking forward to the modded units. These do a lot of things right. I like the timbre from. I imagine these would be quite amazing for $30 if the treble could be tamed.
     
  9. james444

    james444 Mad IEM modding wizard level 99

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    With the modded pair you have at hand, you can try using two layers of damping strips instead of one. There ought to be some spare alcohol swab in the bag, simply cut off two thin strips for each side and place them above each other. The strips should only be about as wide as shown below, since wider strips tend to produce spikier results.

    Not sure I like the overall tonality with two strips better than with one, but treble defiinitely strikes me as more polite that way.

    [​IMG]
     
  10. MuZo2

    MuZo2 Friend

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    Just bought them based on measurements here and James mods and comments here and on HF. Is there a impression thread here?
    What tips were used for measurement?
     
  11. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    My modded set is with CeeTee. Due to the blue colored tack I've used, he's dubbed them the Smurf Mod. Lol, can't wait to see Smurf mod measurements!
     
  12. james444

    james444 Mad IEM modding wizard level 99

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    No impressions thread so far, I'm afraid. I'm pretty sure the measurements have been done with stock tips, since these were the only ones included in my package to CeeTee.

    Like I said earlier, we tried two mod versions and I'd recommend to try the Blu-Tack / Smurf Mod first, because it's much easier and consists of only two steps:

    1. Remove the metal front filter. Just stick a needle through one of the holes and lever it off:

    [​IMG]


    2. Underneath you'll see a plastic cross-bar. Press a small ball of blu-tack against the center of the bar:

    [​IMG]

    That's it! The result should sound noticeably smoother than stock, and the amount of blu-tack used will determine the amount of treble damping. A tiny ball will give you a more analytical sound signature with outstanding clarity, whereas a larger ball will increase warmth and decrease clarity.

    If you want even more damping, you can follow shotgunshane's example and use a hifiman filter in addition to blu-tack.
     
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2017
  13. MuZo2

    MuZo2 Friend

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    Yeah I wish they sell that filters . I found another iem also have different value filters.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  14. MuZo2

    MuZo2 Friend

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  15. Serious

    Serious Inquisitive Frequency Response Plot

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    Those measurements look very different. In what way do they remind you of them?
     
  16. MuZo2

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    Tonality, though Maxell have more extension and airier.
     
  17. MuZo2

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    Do you guys get resonance from the housing?
     
  18. stratocaster

    stratocaster Friend

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    Of all the cheap iems I have been trying recently, these are the ones I definitely prefer due to their neutral sound. The treble does not bother me, although it is a tad uneven up there, yet together with the fast bass it makes these quite resolving. These are really hard to beat at their price.

    compensated.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2016
  19. MuZo2

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    Compared to TFZ series ?
     
  20. stratocaster

    stratocaster Friend

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    I prefer these. Faster bass, no midrange shout, no treble roll-off, better fit (for my ears), better tonality. The instant I put them in and turned the music on, I knew I would like them. But I am more into neutral sounding stuff anyway.
     

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