Fostex X Massdrop TH-X00

They are clearly in the same family of my D2000s, no surprises there. I still don't know, is it the same driver? The Denons need a few db cut in the lows to get rid of excessive boom... Some have reported "bubble-wrap" type marks in the cups lacquer, have you noticed this?

I'm getting my pair next week, unless DHL screws things royally, since they're here in Finland now, nice. Thanks for your impressions!

 

Ah, very thorough "measurements" by means of tympanic membranes and real music! I like it!!

 

My right cup has very faint "bubble wrap" marks underneath the Fostex logo. I can only see them when I hold the can under a light and tilt it a certain way.

 

Bubble wrap marks on mine too, looks like they didn't let the lacquer cure long enough before packaging.

 

That's disappointing.

 

Just auditioned mine. Very happy. They are everything that I had hoped the Ethers would be, but weren't. I can see the bubble wrap witness on the right cup only. I plan to pull out some of my guitar polishes to see if I can work it out. I am not picky enough about aesthetics of a set of cans to pout too much if they remain that way.

 

Anyone who's heard both the originals and the purplehearts have any thoughts?

I've buying a pair off a guy on Head-Fi after loving the originals just really want more of the same. Really just want the new finish because they were already right around what I'd consider perfect. Personally anyway.

 

Slightly more V-shaped, but mostly the same. If you're going for a fun sound I like the Purplehearts more.

 

Absolutely what I'm going for. Love them for video games and movies in particular. I own and have gone through plenty of flatter headphones but I loved the THX00 for just being fun. After hearing HE-560's HD 800s etc the X00's low end was a revelation to me truth be told.

Glad to hear the feedback pretty sure I'm going to go through with the guy.

 

Had a little mini meet at my house on Thursday night. Since the TH-X00 PH were not mine, i had no care for the blemishes in the cups and what not. If i had actually paid and waited for these, i would have major buyer remorse given the way they sounded. They looked nice though. The sound didnt work out for me.

In summary I was unimpressed by extreme mid bass flab, recessed mid, and the lack of perceived clarity (game over). I felt that bass had a woolly push that you could feel that against your head, but it did not Punch like i expected a semi/closed headphone to. Im not even a basshead, HD600 bass is more than sufficient for me.

Whiz Khalifa - On my level
ATB - Here With Me
Infected Mushroom - Scorpion Frog

 

Damn, that's quite a counterpoint to the OP's write-up, @Jh4db536. The TH-X00 continues to divide, I guess. But then that seems to be the nature of closed cans. A lot of wonky shit can go on with their sound.

 

Yeah, I can't argue with your reception of the Purpleheart since you did provide reasons that are logical and internally consistent with your standards.

I am absolutely loving the Purpleheart and think it is frankly a masterpiece of tuning on what was originally a flawed but promising driver. They play better than any headphone I own, save perhaps the Andromeda, with certain albums very important to me but which are either unlistenable, boring, or otherwise problematic on more conventionally well-received headphones. I probably will not be able to sell these for a long while, if at all, primarily for that reason. I think they are more similar than different to the Mahogany, but I definitely prefer these for my intention in buying this headphone in the first place, which was for a fun yet refined listen through a semi-closed back enclosure.

 

My initial thoughts are that the bass is tight and punches very well, especially compared to the HD600. Better treble too, cymbals are reproduced much clearer without getting sibilant like with the DT990. Best track that illustrates this is RATM's Killing In The Name. I've probably listened to the intro at least 15x in the last few hours (the bass drum hit at 0:09 sounds particularly amazing). The hi-hat sounds very accurate and natural; it's barely audible on the HD600, painfully harsh on the DT990, and just shy of sibilant on the HD800S.

So far, I'm very happy with the PH. Bubble wrap marks suck, but at this point slight QC issues seem to be par for the course for all of my Massdrop exclusive purchases (two wooden headphone stands with poor finishes/construction). We'll see if my opinion changes as I listen to them more.

 

Okay, to put this another way: unlike other overpriced crap, these certainly are priced more than fairly, indeed veritably a steal, based on the sonic enjoyment they provide. They are essentially making me reconsider whether I need my HE-6, and I love that headphone. Highly unlikely I sell it, but tonight the Purpleheart is winning.

 

I just got mine on Friday so maybe 15 hours on them but really loving them. Playing them in a different setup from my 650's (which are at my work apartment) but loving how the purple hearts sound. Nice full energetic sound. No bubble wrap marks on mine that I can see. Love the long cord as well. So far out of the park - I will take them with me and use with mapletree amp and metrum dac at my apartment later this week (where I can also compare more directly to the hd 650's).

 

Loving mine so far, the finish is absolutely stunning (hope they put some sunblock in there though ). Extremely similar tone to mahogany, but bass seems a bit punchier imo.

My left cup was loose out of box, which was throwing the balance off as measured by @Serious, but I was able to tighten it back up and seems to be running normally to my ear.

 

How do you do that? Mine has a loose right cup...

 

1. Get a fine tip Philips head screwdriver
2. Rotate the pads off
3. Back out the 4 screws connecting the baffle to the frame (screws seem really soft, be careful not to strip the head)
4. Gently pull cup/baffle assembly back from frame
5. Back out the 4 screws connecting the baffle to the cup slightly, then retighten (didn't want to risk messing up the threading so I just backed them up slightly, and be very careful not to over torque)
6. Check for tightness by trying to wiggle baffle and cup gently
7. If tightened, reattach baffle/cup to frame (once again, be careful not to over torque)
8. Put pads back on
9. Take a shot
10. Listen to music
11. Do a happy dance

 

Does anyone have any good experiences with larger pads? The stock pads are hurting my ears after about an hr or so.

 

Apparently everything sucks besides the Alpha Pads

https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/3wxszz/measurements_of_various_pads_on_the_thx00/

Anyone else have any inputs on replacement pads? Wonder if the ZMF Omni pads would fit on these