Just listened to some Fostex T50RPs today... WOW! - Page 400

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Originally Posted by kalbee 

I want to know how you'll manage to place the drivers in properly. If you don't mind, keeps some picture updates :D

 

Was going to start modding my fostex today but got carried away :< oh well, tomorrow maybe.

Thanks.  Yes, that would have been my intention.  However I reviewed the potential transplant Sony headphones a bit more and found that the headband would have been quite a bit more uncomfortable than the existing Fostex band, which really doesn't bother me.  Also, the Fostex ear pads are really working out well for me.  Since I installed a new "Y" cable into cups a bit less than a week ago, I was on the search for a small, black circular, plastic cap to apply some super glue to so I could cover the 3.5MM jack in the left ear cup.  I found the specific item today at the auto parts store which ended up being a piece of plastic in a package of other components designed to hold the door skins onto a car door if you've ever removed them.  I figure it will make my Fostex 'phones look a bit more finished after the cable re-work.

I'm now not so sure I'll look into a transplant project as I originally thought.  My crystal ball is featuring a pair of Hifiman HE-5LE headphones in the vision.  I'm ready to make the leap a but further.  Though, i think I'll miss how the Fostex are essentially completely enclosed, which makes them a great pair of 'phones in many situations.  The Hifiman, on the other hand, would have to essentially be relegated to home use as I wouldn't believe that I'd be carrying them to work daily as I do with the Fostex.

Some details to work on though.  That's the fun of it.

If anyone is looking to trade out their Fostex T50RPs, there's a trader in the forum looking to trade a pair of Grado SR-60 headphones for the Fostex.  I know with me, personally, I've had the flavor of too many higher end Grados and now the modified Fostex so I really couldn't move back to a SR-60.  At this point, I don't think I'd trade my pair of modified / enhanced Fosted T50RPs for 3 pair of Grado SR-60 headphones.  Yes, I think that much of these Fostex 'phones.

Mr Speakers, where are you? After the tease of your latest mod,"BETTER THAN LCD2", with graph..... I am sure I am not the only one. Sometime later this week is HERE..Git er done! Really, thanks for all you have contributed to this thread/phone, anticipation.

You must have a really good set.  Don't get me wrong, the bass on the Wooden T50RP is pretty stunning as is the mids, but the highs and soundstage don't come close to the Grado, even the SR-60i's.  Well maybe the soundstage is similar, but the Grado's just sound so much more refined to me, even the SR-60i's.  The SR-60i's plugged into the Bottlehead Crack going into the Wii sounded amazing.  I watched a few Netflix shows on there like The Last Airbender Series and stuff and everything was so lifelike.  The Wooden T50RP does a good job at this as well, but I still prefer the Grado's for some reason.  I moved on to the SR-325i's and to my amazement they really weren't THAT much better than the 60i's.  Of course they really weren't burned in enough but still.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by wje 

If anyone is looking to trade out their Fostex T50RPs, there's a trader in the forum looking to trade a pair of Grado SR-60 headphones for the Fostex.  I know with me, personally, I've had the flavor of too many higher end Grados and now the modified Fostex so I really couldn't move back to a SR-60.  At this point, I don't think I'd trade my pair of modified / enhanced Fosted T50RPs for 3 pair of Grado SR-60 headphones.  Yes, I think that much of these Fostex 'phones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jschristian44 

You must have a really good set.  Don't get me wrong, the bass on the Wooden T50RP is pretty stunning as is the mids, but the highs and soundstage don't come close to the Grado, even the SR-60i's.  Well maybe the soundstage is similar, but the Grado's just sound so much more refined to me, even the SR-60i's.  The SR-60i's plugged into the Bottlehead Crack going into the Wii sounded amazing.  I watched a few Netflix shows on there like The Last Airbender Series and stuff and everything was so lifelike.  The Wooden T50RP does a good job at this as well, but I still prefer the Grado's for some reason.  I moved on to the SR-325i's and to my amazement they really weren't THAT much better than the 60i's.  Of course they really weren't burned in enough but still.
 

I've had many Grados.  I've pared everything down to the Magnums v.4 in Honduran Mahogany as my "Keepers."   I've had my Fostex apart at least 1 dozen times tweaking and re-tweaking items to narrow down to a desired sound that I was looking for.  Initially, the Fostex didn't impress me at all as I was awaiting the supplies to move forward.  However, with things in place along with a new Canare cable, the sound is quite beautiful.  Sound stage, detail, etc. are really quite good.

It had been a bit over a week since I last had my Magnums on and they're being worn at the moment.  Sure, the Grado / Magnum sound will tilt a bit more towards detail of the detail side and some limitations will need to be addressed on the Fostex.  But, that doesn't mean that the Fostex down not offer flexibility.  Where my Fostex are at the moment, I feel as though I could or would consider them a benchmark phone.  During the middle of the week, I was seriously looking at taking time to transplant the Fostex drivers into some cups from another manufacturer.  However, I gave it serious consideration and decided against it.  I feel that if there were some gain, it would probably be minimal - yet, I'd have to provide a larger time sacrifice.  

Now with the Fostex done and in a posture where I'm quite happy with them, I now will be awaiting the arrival of a pair of Hifiman HE-5LE headphones, which I'll be very eager to see how they fare on an ortho vs. ortho trial.  I'll also be able to test the Hifmiman against my Magnum v.4 headphones, not on an ortho test, but on an open cat test to see where the differences fall.  While the HE-5LE does run $699 new, many are offering them for $450 or so on the forum here.

I compared my LCD-2s to BMF V6.3 modded Fostex T50 RPs last night.  While I really enjoy listening to the T50s, the LCD-2s have them beat hands down on soundstage.  When listening to Diana Krall or Sting live recordings, the LCD-2s make you believe to a degree that the performers are in front of you (no where near like a good set of speakers in a good room though) and the band is spread out across the stage.  You get that same width feeling with T50s, but the depth is not there IMO.

The LCD-2s being open backed is probably the main difference contributing to the better soundstage.

I have had a hard time determining depth on any headphone I've heard. Speakers just downright beat most (if not all) headphones when it comes to soundstage and imaging, as you said. 

The HD 6XX series has great soundstage depth. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelle 

While I haven't had that much exposure to the higher end cans, I can tell you from the pair of hd25-1s and hd580s that I own, there is a very distinct and explicit quality of depth and soundstage presented in the open back hd580s. Even though the hd25s are very detailed and you can hear the separation between instruments, the sound is just a bit more airy, natural, and realistic with the 580s. I have yet to get this quality from my t50s, although I'm not quite done with modding yet. I also have never heard a good speaker system...

I had the HD598s for a while, which are known for their soundstage and imaging. While they could occasionally fool me into thinking I was listening to speakers, that feeling would disappear as soon as it came.

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Originally Posted by hans030390 

Quote:

I had the HD598s for a while, which are known for their soundstage and imaging. While they could occasionally fool me into thinking I was listening to speakers, that feeling would disappear as soon as it came.

 

 

You've probably never listened to the HD800 then. :P

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Originally Posted by DaBomb77766 

You've probably never listened to the HD800 then. :P

I'd like to. :(

My T50RP where I've got them so far sound pretty open (better than any other closed cans by far) - until I put on the HD 600.  The HD 600 sounded pretty open, until I tried the HD 800...  It's still no pair of good speakers in a good room, although I'd say it sounds more spacious than many lesser speakers.  Just certainly not my Infinities...

Just started modding mine... though really, I just tried doing one idiotic thing. On such a forum, I'm sure I'd be burned tied to stake!

My original plans didn't work out because... well, the usable cup depth was smaller than I was planning to use, especially with the cables running around.

When I get time I'll do my real mod but for now I seem to have made the treble (or whatever higher frequencies) more audible by simply cutting a piece of 1"x1" loose leaf (lined!) and loop taped it to what seems like the built-in reflex dot in the cup. Well, my basis was simple... the more vibration inducing frequencies can be dampened partially by the tape. Since it's located above the reflex dot, it essentially does the same thing but over a larger surface. Higher frequencies are more directional, so this spot will essentially get the most of it. The Hilroy lined sheet used is thinner than, say, copy/printer paper, but also more compact so would reflect more than should absorb. Maybe those fax paper would be even more effective...? Yes, I decided to try adding extra resonance by trying this..!

Anyway, that's just me being bored and trying random things lol. I don't really have better headphones with FR I prefer to serve as benchmark and goal. Will hopefully start the paxmate sometimes this week. and some proper messing around.

I have no idea about LCD-2, but my modded T50 is better than my CK10, more detailed, larger soundstage, more natural sounding, less colored. CK10 is one of the better IEMs out there I think.