Fostex TH-X00 Purpleheart Measurements and Quick Impressions

It's purple heart, not purple head!

 

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/223771738/handmade-purpleheart-wooden-dildo

You're welcome.

 

You better be careful so you dont get a splinter...

 

Why is massdrop pushing this so specific drop so hard that they're offering a free HD800/m9xx to two people chosen at random? HOW MANY TREES MUST THEY DESTROY UNTIL THEY'RE SATISFIED?

 

Well it's in-place of the TH-X00, so we're really trying to save the trees. All four cups worth of trees.

 

Oh thank goodness. Gaia is safe!

 

Moving the purpleheart drop amount from 1000 to 2000 and then adding 10 extra days seems greedy and manipulative to me. I know you guys are trying to see the market reaction and respond but it is obvious that more of these aren't going to sell and this whole thing leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Serial numbers, best of massdrop and then drop amount and duration "surprise" changes. Marketing tricks in moderation please not at all at once.

 

This doesn't seem like a marketing trick at all, but more supply trying to meet demand. This headphone doesn't seem to be a stab at creating a very exclusive limited edition where everyone keeps track of their precious serial number. In fact, I much prefer this method of increasing the number than trying to create exclusivity.

This seems like the exact same thing that happens when a band adds an extra concert because the first one sold out quick.

 

The first 250 purchasers are guaranteed a serial number below 300, starting with 1.

After the drop ends, two people will have the option to upgrade their purchase, at no extra cost, to a super sweet setup: the Sennheiser HD800 headphones and the Grace Design x Massdrop m9XX DAC/amp (more than $1,600 combined value). One person will come from the entire purchaser pool, while the other will be someone who has also previously purchased another custom product.

This looks a lot like marketing tricks to me. Not to mention, I don't even know what this "best of massdrop" thing is, it just redirects to products without any explanation. And it showed up just about when the purpleheart sales started to stop. Massdrop's terms(duration, quantity) are clearly meant to make a drop appear exclusive and consumers don't like to "miss out". I'm ok with that, just don't change the terms.

The 10 day drop extension seems really out of touch because sales had stopped 2 days before the original end date. And then Massdrop in an attempt to start up sales again is doing this hd800/m9xx thing.

I don't know if this is coming out wrong. I am a big fan of massdrop and have been a long time user. I have gotten some great deals and am impressed by the collaborations they have done. My opinion is that the products speak for themselves and that this ridiculous marketing is not necessary and is in this case offputting.

 

They are obviously trying to reach their 2000 unit goal, even though they will likely fall short. I think they've ordered 2,000 and its best not to have to warehouse and store an odd amount. I think its less exclusivity and more how they sell their products, in drops. If they offered all products at all times, it would just be a store. Their strategy is more of a group buy to get discounts.

The best of massdrop logo has appeared a couple of times, its really just their most popular items. No harm no foul here.

 

I would at least like an explanation of what the best of massdrop logo means. Otherwise I will just see it as an empty marketing device. It is clear that massdrop is a great marketing company with a successful business model. And they offer great deals to both consumers and retailers since products that are sold are not returnable, don't come with warranty and are often overstock.

That said their collaborations with audio companies are a different beast. They are a major mover in a niche market and because of that I think they have a responsibility to treat this community without smoke and mirrors. I should also say that I am grateful, because their success has infused the headphone niche with money and new well priced gear.

 

No smoke or mirrors. I think you're reading into this too much. It's a logo designating their best selling products. The fostex th-x00 was given a best of sbaf 2015 golden wang, same thing. The fact that they brought back their best selling products isn't a surprise, it's just good business. Give them a break.

At local meets HF based meets I go to, half of the people there have various forms of massdrop products, I think it's great for the hobby. Akg 7xx and Grace's and whatever else are great gateway drugs and usually represent a decent value ( and these products usually have warranties).

 

The purpleheart is 'technically' a new product, they even mention the Mahogany X00 as the 'original' Fostex on the page. It's quite clear they're trying to use the 'Best of' logo to leverage the sales and bring it into the spotlight because it surely can't be considered a 'Best of' if it's the first drop they're doing for it. Not trying to bag on Massdrop here but the various marketing tactics that @SteelCannon has brought up can get overwhelming quite easily.

 

The sbaf award and massdrop best of logo are not the same. Best seller and worthy of praise are two different things. Then again, we don't even know if the logo stands for best seller, that is just an assumption. Also, Marv awarded the golden schlong without incentive and based on merit. It seems hes just really into caulk.

 

Not really sure how else they would gauge popularity on a site like that. You'd be limited to number of sales/runs and number of comments on the drops.

Or they could just entirely be up to Massdrop staff.

 

It's based on sales guys, not comments or nefarious purposes. They sell 1500 pairs of a headphone at a clip and you are questioning why they put a best of logo next to it. They have 7 people commited to a $500 Sony mdr-z7. They obviously sell more of their co branded products, they should continue to promote these and hopefully they can form more partnerships in the future. If you guys are confused and overwhelmed by basic marketing and economics, stay away from Amazon.com or any other large retailers.

 

I am not confused or overwhelmed. I don't know why you are getting so heated up. we disagree, that is ok. You have compared the massdrop best of logo to the sbaf golden scholng, a comparison which is completely unfounded. And amazon is not a marketing company whereas that is exactly what massdrop is.


We do agree on one thing, I also hope for more collabs.

If you want to continue this conversation feel free to pm me. I have made my views known and am beginning to repeat myself.

 

There is no beef, agree we were going back and forth a bit, but just a lil Friday night fun, I enjoy offering counterpoints to arguements.

I recently sold my th-x00 as I wasn't using it a ton, but with massdrop saturating the market I hope resale value can dip down to normal used prices and I can find a used purple heart someday. That is one sexy set of cans.

 

Ehh... I can see how some of the marketing/branding is a bit hazy or not appealing, I couldn't care less about serial #s but I recognize that will move product so I have no issues with it... It's no worse than Amazon listing random MSRPs on everything as if 80% of what they carry is on sale.

Best of Massdrop threw me too, looked around for something to click for a couple seconds to find out an explanation or Best Of compilation... But again, whatever, I don't care for it but it doesn't bother me.

Complaining about the drop being extended just seems a little silly tho. Even IF you think they were confident they'd go to 2000 from the start, demand is never a sure thing and it doesn't impact you one way or the other... In fact it could be seen as a positive.

If the drop happened to sell at a faster clip, an extension basically gives you two different dates on which you could try and get in on it. I probably wouldn't even have had a chance to think about it if they only did 1,000 seeing how fast the first thousand went...

I'm not sure anyone could really guess whether that initial figure really drove figures faster. Still passed on it because I recently bought some PM-3 and I don't need several closed headphones, but man, if they do a variant based on the TH-610 w/removable cables I'm probably in.

Still tempted really, would love to hear more from others about what kinda soundstage you get from the semi closed design...

 

I like how the complaints are about website logos and "I might win a HD 800 marketing ploy" and not about how the drop size doubled without further price reductions. I think I joined the drop before the expansion but after the lowest price was unlocked so I'm not complaining because I didn't expect further price reductions. It just seems that price would be a more logical thing to complain about in this situation.