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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2016 0:04:05 GMT
After the success of the last drop another batch has been announced. 1000 units: www.massdrop.com/buy/fostex-x-massdrop-th-x00Orders aren't expected to ship until early May so quite surprised just how many folk (just under 600 thus far) are willing to stump up $399 so far in advance. Especially so soon after Xmas.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 27, 2016 7:17:51 GMT
It surprises me as well. People buying them on trust as well. I womder how many might appear on the second hand market soon in any case. Some don't get on with the th900 sound and find it a bit strong in the treble. I felt that to some extent at first but I think I must have become accustomed to them.
In some ways, the D2000 is easier to get on with. If I find the top too razor like, then I often resort to the Debon which shaves that edge off a bit but retains quite a similar sound. I wish that I'd got my hands on a d5000 or d7000 while I had the chance as well now.
If Massdrop pushed out 1000 Denons, I reckon they'd fly because they were a lower price and if I'm honest, pretty close.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2016 10:59:44 GMT
I've seen a few TH-X00 up for sale but mainly US based sellers. They get snapped up quickly and usually for full retail price. With the 3 month wait 'til the next shipment I imagine the used market will remain buoyant. From my experience of the TH-X00 and from what I've read of the TH-600 / 900 I suspect the TH-X00 will for many likely be the most 'agreeable' and least polarising of the Fostex range. Agreeable does not necessarily equate to best though. The TH-X00 sated my desire for another D2000 and I feel they're relatively similar sounding going purely on memory. TH-X00 perhaps a bit smoother and better balanced with a bit less bass quantity, but unmistakeably a Fostex. That said if Massdrop could somehow uncover a hidden cache of Denons they wouldn't last long! I seem to recall reading an announcement on Head-Fi a few months back saying that someone (Creative I think?) was working on a new range of premium headphones. 3 variants and aside from branding and perhaps wood used they looked the spit of the D2000, 5000 & 7000. They hadn't hit the market at that point so no impressions on how they sounded in comparison to the Denons, but suspect Denon must have sold the rights on. I can't for the life of me finding it again though and google spits up no results so starting to wonder if I'm losing my marbles...who knows maybe it was an elaborate April fool's joke
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Jan 28, 2016 8:17:42 GMT
You are looking for THESEThey don´t seem to be available (yet) Wonder if they ever will be though. Maybe the market would be too small and maybe Foster wants to sell more Fostex versions as they probably urn more on direct selling than OEM ?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2016 11:57:12 GMT
That's them - thanks for the link Frans! Just one of them that looks like the old Denons then. Sure there was more - my memory really ain't what it used to be Looks like they were exhibiting at CES early this month but whether the finished product will see the light of day I don't know. Seems a long time since they were announced. You do have to wonder if Foster has just wooed away a load of potential customers by dropping the TH-X00 onto the market (and updating the TH-900)...it'd better be good if the speculated price of $700 USD is correct!
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 28, 2016 13:53:15 GMT
I think that the pricing is a bit dodgy as well. The gap between the th600 and 900 is pretty wide and perhaps a lot of the cost of the th900 might be just that finish perhaps? I like the th900 a lot but I don't really think the pricing is completelt fair. Thing is.... How do they determine a price?
I's like to get hold of a th600 just to compare actually because even the d2000 stands up really well against the th900. The d2000 is just a tad softer in the treble, but that's really not a bad thing. Bass is perhaps a bit looser.
Great shame that Denon went down the plug hole. They were a great series of headphone. I got mine for nothing as well!! Just an afternoon playing in a shop.
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Post by jhelms on Feb 1, 2016 0:16:32 GMT
I have had a set of these only for a bit over 24 hours. Initial impressions:- These are a ridiculous value... Just a damn fine headphone. I cannot think of anything in its price range I would like to listen to more... even with only 24 hours of ownership. I say that with confidence. Simply musical and non fatiguing. Really? $399? - For my head and ears, they are very comphy. The pads are a bit odd. Build quality is excellent. I do not care for the light mahogany finish but with this sound, I can deal. - Sound signature is not neutral, not dry, not boring, not flat, not sweet - but it is lovely and fun but not in the ugly sense. Very lush with all the bass one could desire + and it digs DEEP. If bass is in the track.. bass you shall have - and it is not flabby... not muddy.. it is tight and clean. I know quite a few friends that would consider it bass heavy... and they are but I love it. One thing that really stands out... No matter the bass level in the music, the rest of the spectrum does not muddy up or smear. This is rather interesting and something I generally only hear with multi-driver home setups. Strings and vocals are very nice... thick yes.. but does not step to far out per my taste and what I like. As I said before, this is a musical (more home audio like) headphone that can actually deliver on rock / even metal recordings. I am tossing all genre of music at it and each time I find myself with a smile thinking... it just did that... and I LIKE IT. So many cans can do certain genre right and others terrible. I am not finding a single category that this headphone does not deliver decently per my signature preference and even surprising me on some tracks. - This is a VERY efficient headphone - super super easy to drive. Whoever the engineers at Fostex are... they are kindred spirits in sound signature / taste to my ears. The 600's and 900's I really, really love and the TH-X00 is NO exception. I am very OK with spending $400 on a bargain headphone such as this. If I had to pick on them at all.... I think I like them better with a slight/smooth -2dB cut starting at 300hz and down to 40hz (playing on eq). Gets rid of a little thickness and weight without taking away much from the signature. For me - this does vocals justice, especially female vocals and takes an odd artificial weight off the leading edge drum skins. Try it - bet you will agree. The cable is thick - good quality but WAY to long for my liking. You can feel the individual twisted pairs inside. The 6.3 is HUGE. Not a fan. You just have to hear them - they are clearly Fostex in the best sense. For the asking price and performance.... is this the bargain of 2016? I do not want to start a hype train or get on one but these are great. Wondering if Fostex took note of the massdrop crowd and thought... we are going to slap these X series headphones around a bit and give them something to talk about
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Post by husafreak on Feb 11, 2016 6:03:06 GMT
Yep, that is what I am feeling too. After listening to a pair of HD600's with a lousy Creek headphone amp for over 20 years I am thrilled to be listening to a set of Fostex TH-X00's via an Ember II. Honestly, I had no idea how pleasant headphone listening could be. I play everything imaginable through them and can't stop grinning. I was thinking maybe a guilty pleasure but there are just so many experienced headphone jockey's saying same, it has got to be the real deal. I know it is actually, I went to see Black Sabbath in San Jose last night and was reminded how important fantastic bass is to live music, Sabbath sounded incredible, the engineers just killed it. I came home and listened to a bit more today through the Fostex, even going back to their first album, these cans get it right, stuff I never really heard before, besides countless listens over a lifetime (and even learning to play half those songs on guitar). I should just send Geezer a pair, wish I had the sac to do that.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 11, 2016 7:49:58 GMT
Bass quantities in headphones seems to be quite different from person to person. I find many a little thin down there in comparison to the real thing. Bass probably dies a lot quicker in a headphone than in a room as well, which may account for why I prefer it to be slightly raised in headphones.
In live shows though, there are all kinds of reverberatins going on and we adapt very readily. If you record a 'bootleg' the quality is normally quite dreadful and yet, out ears can decipher what's going on quite easily when actually there!!
I really like the th900 for the same reason. The bass is deep and hits nicely. Plus the feeling of 'space' imside the cups within the sound as well.
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Post by husafreak on Feb 11, 2016 16:52:07 GMT
Well put. Reading your post I'm thinking about room interaction. Luckily at the concert I was on the floor hearing direct sound from the PA so the bass was very controlled, surprisingly like the bass on the Fostex. Even given my ears tricking me into hearing what I wanted to hear from the mighty Sabbath! I shy away from boomy bass or speakers that create that "subwoofer" sound in my living room, not my cup of tea. This has a lot to do with room modes interacting with the bass. Producing boomy, slow, or lingering bass. I can't stand that sound. Some criticize the Harbeth SHL5+ speakers I have in my living room for being bass shy but they are perfect for me. I certainly heard some headphones recently that had way too much bass bloat, the Master & Dynamic MH40 and V-Moda Crossfade X-100 were not to my liking. So the Fostex are a surprise, they seem to be able to do powerful, articulate bass, and even "sub" bass, in a way that even pretty expensive home speaker systems just cannot.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 11, 2016 17:22:02 GMT
I heard YES play live many years ago now and I was also facing the speakers. That lovely fluid and rumbly bass I heard is reproduced well by the th900 as well. It has a treble element with its sound as well, full of harmonics. Possibly, poorer headphones might not be reproducing those stringy harmonics which really gives it definition.
The X00 is supposed to be a great listen and I must admit, I am quite curious as to what has been done with them.
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jello
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Post by jello on Feb 16, 2016 11:37:49 GMT
Fostex recently announced the TH-610I wonder if it's essentially a retail version of the TH-X00 or something completely new? I really like the more natural looking cups used on the 610 and the detachable cable is a very welcome addition. The hard-wired cable is my biggest grumble with the TH-X00 and the older Denon headphones. Pricing should be interesting. I predict it'll be well north of $399
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 16, 2016 11:56:30 GMT
I net it will be pricey as well. I'm womdering about a sale of the old th600 and th900. It would be nice if they dropped. I'd be tempted even though I have a th900!!!
Anything around the cost of the dy1770 would be real competition.
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jello
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Post by jello on Feb 16, 2016 12:08:23 GMT
Based on nothing in particular I'll put my money on $699 / £549. I'm not sure if we'll see any drops on the other models or not. Whilst not technically discontinued TH600 stock seems to have dried up so I suspect production has been put on hold for the time being at least. The TH900 was 'refreshed' recently I believe (detachable cable and possibly some tweaks?) so depending on demand that may keep prices up. Perhaps stores will clear out old TH900 stock though at a discount....we can only hope
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 16, 2016 12:18:16 GMT
The trend for these big prices is becoming the norm which is a bit worrying really. Leaves pricing open for others and someone then has to take a chance to try one. It just makes me feel that the old faithful DT990 is a bargain really.
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