Fostex X Massdrop TH-X00

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by Rotijon, Nov 24, 2015.

  1. Darko

    Darko Acquaintance

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    I had a dream last night that I was walking down the street and found a TH-X00 tree. The headphones were free to be picked from the tree to anyone who wanted one. Maybe it's a sign...
     
  2. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    Not sure if this is the best place to put this, but I'll try it to start ...

    I'm leaning towards selling my Purpleheart TH-X00 (and, as mentioned a couple of posts back, they are cosmetically perfect), as they just don't get that much use given all the other stuff I have hanging around.

    I was thinking about re-terminating them for balanced use (and making a balanced to SE adapter out of the existing connector) and having a play with them in that configuration before doing so, however. And I find myself wondering it that'd be something that would generally be seen as a benefit, or if I'd just be better off leaving them stock and selling them that way.

    Any thoughts welcome.
     
  3. imackler

    imackler Key Lime Pie Infected Aberdeen Wings Spy

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    You should follow this modded one on ebay and see how it does. Might be interesting: http://www.ebay.com/itm/MODDED-Fost...653720?hash=item360aa27818:g:aJwAAOSwmLlX97O4
     
  4. Dino

    Dino Friend

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    I have the original Mahogany ear cup TH-X00. The first thing that I thought when I opened the box and saw all of that cable, is how much sense it would have made if Fostex had done exactly what you are describing @Torq . And I still wish they had. I really enjoy mine single ended, but it would be nice to hear it balanced. So what you are describing would make your Purpleheart much more desirable to me, if I were in the market.

    But how representative I am of potential purchasers, I don't know.
     
  5. PoochZag

    PoochZag The Shadow knows - Friend

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    I spent a healthy amount more on a used HD800 mainly because the cable was reterminated as so with adapter (and person was at SBAF), so there's that. As @Dino said though, how representative am I or "we" though, especially since the TH-x00 bleeds over into "regular consumer" territory.

    In Reddit-land (a place I still go when bored and I've read all of here and Deadspin...) I see a lot of complaints about length and thickness, but not necessarily lack of XLR. There's some cable mods of them there because of this, just like the one @imackler linked. So idk, I bring Reddit up as an example of more the "audio-conscious regular consumer" crowd you might be selling to, but I find it hard to believe it would be deleterious if it's not beneficial.
     
  6. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    I hadn't thought about that looking for other modded sales, so thanks for that!

    And thanks for the commentary in general ... I'd offer them here first I expect. I'm leaning towards re-terminating them and will see from there.
     
  7. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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    Re-termination might lend itself to less potential buyers. As with all those Fostex TH... phones, they could be used with most anything as a source...
     
  8. Dino

    Dino Friend

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    They would have this.
     
  9. neogeosnk

    neogeosnk Friend

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    I'm terrible at soldering so I sent off my x00 to PeterEK on etsy. It's a bit expensive but think this is totally worth it. The re-sale value question, should be high for headphones with a shorter cable/balanced or something adaptable. He's been backloged for about a month so there is definitely demand for this.
     
  10. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    Dude... this is like when i remodeled my kitchen. the GC was constantly bitching about resale value. I, on the other hand, enjoy cooking IN MY KITCHEN, not in someone who might eventually want to buy my house's kitchen. FFS, they're your headphones. There's little downside to going balanced. NB: I reterminated my TH-X00s with Blue Dragon and went balanced before I even hooked them up...

    build or buy a 4-pin XLR to SE 3.5mm converter.
     
  11. Dino

    Dino Friend

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    This is like when someone responds to a post without really reading it first.
     
  12. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    If I was even vaguely intending on keeping them, there wouldn't be a question.

    It's more about not spending the time to hack mine up just to see how much they benefit from being balanced (and then mostly as an additional data point in my gear history) prior to selling them, vs. making a currently quite desirable, limited edition (and even further limited numbers available that don't have cosmetic defects), into something less appealing*.

    If I sold them on Head-Fi, I'd be taking full advantage of their limited status.

    If, as I am much more inclined to do, I sold them here ... well, someone will be getting a rather nice deal.

    (*For me, I definitely steer away from buying used gear (even very lightly used) if it's been modified. Now, if I know the work or practices of the person doing the mod, that makes a genuine difference, and might even be desirable. But if we were talking a Gustard X20 with Tweak Audio mods, then I wouldn't let it in the house - let alone pay for it.)
     
  13. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    Well, it was a slow night, fiancé is at ACT with her mother, and the storm it doth approach ... so I broke out the Scotch (a loose euphemism for "took the cap off an already-2/3rds-consumed bottle), grabbed my dykes, fired up the solder-pot and iron and went to town ...

    ... and it is done (I think I'm supposed to exclaim "It's alllliiiiiiiive!" here, particularly in light of the storm, but I won't):

    TH-X00-Balanced.jpg

    They really are very pretty. I shall be irritated if they wind up turning black over time.

    I didn't shorten the cable for now, other than to cut the end off at about the 2ft mark, so it's only an 8ft run to the balanced connector. If I keep them I'll (or will have PeterEK) mod them for removable cables (me and wood-working tools is a bad thing), and worry about the length then. It's easier to cut them down than to extend them (at least if one wants to maintain cosmetic coherence).

    Cut-off end converted to a balanced to SE adapter:

    TH-X00-TRS-Adapter.jpg

    A few notes if you want to do this to your TH-X00/variants:
    • The sheathing on the cable is really nice. Super easy to work with. Cleans up beautifully with the quick application of a lighter. Very solid. No hassle getting the connector boots over it (a far cry from trying that with paracord or TechFlex).
    • Cable is four-conductor. Mine had two brown, ground, wires, then blue for the left channel and pink for the right. Figuring out which is left and right is trivial with a continuity check from the TRS connector (tip + sleeve is the left channel).
    • Finding the correct ground wire for each ear-cup is easy, with no need to dismantle anything. You can do it with a continuity or resistance check. I prefer to use an LCR meter in L (inductance) mode, since it'll generate a signal (mine defaults to 1KHz) you can hear.
    • There is some kind of fiber mixed in with the conductors in the cable. An extra second or two in the solder pot while tinning the ends of the cable will vaporize it, otherwise it causes inconsistent tinning. Be careful though ... don't keep it there so long that it starts to melt the outer insulation on each wire!
    Other thoughts ...

    Well, I was rather surprised at the level of cross-talk while probing the thing before cutting off the end of the cable. I'm sure that's down to the low impedance of the drivers, but it was more pronounced than I'm used to hearing.

    Comparing them SE vs. balanced, back to back, the bottom end is a usefully more precise, there's a touch more space/air higher up and detail has improved if not hugely, at least to a noticeable degree. Not sure the difference is big enough to warrant going with a balanced amplifier if you don't already have one, but if you do ... well, it's a quick and easy mod and definitely worth the ~$8 in parts and half and hour to to.
     
  14. philipmorgan

    philipmorgan Member of the month

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    I got my sheepskin Dekoni earpads for the TH-X00 (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/dekoni-premium-earpads-for-fostex-th-x00) a day or two ago.

    They're comfy! :) I haven't given them an all-day trial, but will this week.

    They don't change the sound of the headphones dramatically for me, but do seem to bring out the high midrange more which makes the PH's sound somewhat less bassy and more balanced.

    They don't have a plastic sheet backing plate behind the pads like the stock pads do:

    IMG_9917.jpg

    They also don't have the slight concave curve that the stock pads do:

    IMG_9913.jpg

    I did some measurements of the stock vs. Dekoni pads, averaging 5 measurement runs each to hopefully compensate for the difficulty of getting precise measurements on these phones.

    TH-X00-Dekoni vs. Stock pads.png

    TH-X00 Stock Pads CSD.png

    TH-X00 Dekoni Pads CSD.png
     
  15. WNovizar

    WNovizar Facebook Friend

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    Are those Dekoni pads has a bigger hole for your ears than stock pads?
     
  16. philipmorgan

    philipmorgan Member of the month

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    Dekoni pads on right: http://dsh.re/89a7d

    http://dsh.re/10bcb

    They are deeper than stock but about the same opening size.
     
  17. Huxleigh

    Huxleigh Almost "Made"

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    My observations of the alteration in the TH-X00's presentation brought on by swapping out the stock pads for the Dekoni lambskin variant mirror @philipmorgan's. I also appreciate the added depth, as the extra space between the driver and one's ears seems to yield a mild improvement in soundstaging. Though this could just be a perceptual difference related to the boosted upper mids.

    I wouldn't say that the Dekoni pads are a mandatory purchase, however. If one prefers a more euphonic, intimate sound, I'd stick with the stock pads. Also, the Dekoni pads don't seal quite as snugly due to the TH-X00's mild clamping force. Memory foam requires a bit of compression to "set" naturally, and I don't see that happening much with these pads. There's also a modest increase in overall weight and a slight loss of breathability, although lambskin is far more resistant to moisture and other wear than pleather. Those listeners with more prominent ears might find the Dekoni's additional interior space more comfortable, although the dimensions of the openings remain the same. I find the stock pads slightly more comfortable, myself.

    I'm enjoying the change, overall. I've come to love the Purpleheart for its unique, dynamic sound. The Dekoni pads introduce a bit more balance and "openness" without detracting from its lushness. Driven by the M3 built by @fishski13, my TH-X00 has never sounded better.
     
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2016
  18. Dr. Higgs

    Dr. Higgs Boson - Member

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    Finally got around to re-terminating my Purple Hearts to XLR and IMO soundstage and instrument separation seem to have improved quite a bit. Well worth the cheap cost of an XLR plug and some soldering time.
     
  19. Dino

    Dino Friend

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    I feel lucky to have normal sized ears. :) (Maybe they are teeny-tiny, I dunno.) The stock pads on my TH-X00 (Mahogany) fit comfortably and the headphones sound really good to me.

    I don't think I would be satisfied with the TH-X00 as my only headphone. But listening to HD650 (stock) and TH-X00, alternating according to my mood and amplifier (and probably program material) have satisfied me since before I joined SBAF. I have only added HD650 (mod) to my rotation and these three headphones have kept me very happy.

    I think spending the $400 for the TH-X00 actually saved me money. I enjoy reading about many headphones on SBAF. Some awaken feelings of desire, then I start thinking that I have three totally different sounding headphones that I thoroughly enjoy and I have ended up feeling that is enough for me, so far. (Other headphones are still interesting to read about.)

    Reading the post by @Torq inspired me. I will end up doing that sometime in the future. Probably after I get a Jotunheim (and a soldering station, etc).
     
  20. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

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    TH-X00 Purplehearts... After a few months, here's some thoughts, featuring bunch of comparisons to Denon D2000. (I've used them Fostex's through my Moby/Duet DACs and Duet's hp out/Lyr 2.)

    They look the part!
    [​IMG]


    Looks, comfort, cable
    • I don't give a hoot about bubble wrap marks. They are very, very difficult to see in my usually darkly lit apartment. Also, that very cool color & wood grain are hard to see well here - looks great in bright light though.
    • The earpads should totally be thicker. That smaller opening is ok for me, but my D2000 is way more plush on the head and clamp less (maybe because they are quite old). Are these tiny pads all about sound?
    • The headband adjustment doesn't extend a lot, but just enough for my big melon. I've had few pairs I need to extend fully besides these: M80 (too small), M100 (bit too tight), K701 (too small), CAL!. Others have had adjustment to spare. (D2000 has one more "click"/dent of adjustment, so no wonder there.)
    • The cable is what it is - long & thick - not a big deal. But it not being detachable might be one day. This is 2016, and these cost lots. This is a minus, no way around it.
    • I haven't used these with a mobile device, but could imagine they'd work ok there too - maybe a 3,5mm with a screwable 6,3mm (like the D2000) would be a good idea. I'm not going to have that standard 3,5mm-adapter sticking out of my phone - it just might break the output with any sideways force.

    Sound
    • The bass is monstrously huge, you have to want that to get on with these (or D2000). Ok, there are many hp's with more, but not at this range of quality or price that I've heard (do ones exist?). It is quite clean though, but somewhat slow with all that mass it's producing.
    • Listening to RATM's Renegades or some of Dr Dre's beats these are a huge amount of fun!
    • The bass unfortunately bleeds some into the mids, I'd like less mid-bass bloom & force. D2000 has way clearer separation of bass and mids. There's clearly extra boom (upper bass) & bloom in comparison.
    • Mids are very laid back, which is quite ok, it's what I expected too. There's more of them vs D2000.
    • BUT, there is a dip in the upper mids / low highs that makes things like vocals, drum transients etc. sound distant. (Maybe in the presence region, 4khz-ish?) This isn't happening with the Denons...
    • ...Which makes snare drums & distorted guitars (palm-muted especially) sound more snappy and present with my Denons.
    • Highs are much less upfront than the D2000s, which seem more lively & snappy up top. Some call them too bright, I mostly disagree. Both tunings work for me. The Denons have some weird coloring and spikes up there in comparison, though. If you like lively (but colored) highs and more of a subs thump, them Denons provide.

    Conclusions
    • The PH's have a very warm tone to them, no way around it. That extra boost in mid-bass and smooth highs make them sound like a "HD650'fied" version of the D2000. I'm not sure they needed it.
    • This comparison has been quite a revelation for me... Damn it, I think I like the D2000 better! They were about half the price and have been deemed too boomy, slow and whatever. But, when compared to the PH they've got that big bass that doesn't boom too high in the FR or make the overall sound too warm for me. They have lots of snap, crackle and low pop that I just love.
    • BUT, trying to be somewhat objective here - TH-X00 PH are a big win for fans of smooth highs, mid-bass warmth and cool looks.

    • About my sound preferences... I love me some great sub-bass and lively highs to go with them (D2000 without the big bass should be ear-murder, I bet). Also, I like to have the presence region "present" and upfront (think HD600).

    Stuff I noticed
    • The Purplehearts look better, but don't feel any better made. The Denons have some nice touches, like rounded edges of that lower part that terminates the headband adjustment. That silver color looks more spiffy too.
    • D2000's headband and pads look a lot like real leather in comparison, which I guess it isn't either. (There is no way it's the same material, though.) Could the Denon's have real leather?! Sure looks like it... So, D2K's materials seem better.

    [​IMG]

    And there's that Fostex-story wrapped, cheers folks! :headbang:
     
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2016

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