Fostex TH900 Impressions & Discussion Thread - Page 18

Of course it isn't the Denon but even if it only was a beefed-up version of the D7000 which made it 10% better I'd still be interested since I know how good the Denon(s) actually are.

Anybody tried the AH-A100 by the way? They made me decide to sell all my other portables. Take into consideration though that I have not much need for portables and 1 pair is enough for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuppetFace 

The earpads on the TH900 are a bit different compared to those on the D7000. They seem to have a more uniform thickness across their circumference, rather than a thicker and thinner part. I'll post some pictures of them soon. I'll also post some side-by-sides of the TH900, D7000, and W3000ANV.

 

Are the pads leather on the TH900? How's the overall thickness compared to the stock Denon pads?

I wonder if J$ pads would fit and what the effect would be.

The pads are eggshell membrane protein leather.

Idemitsu is the name of the Japanese firm who makes Grancuir, the name for it.

"Gee, I adopt Idemitsu Grancuir on the leather of the pad. I realize comfortable feel by protein combination derived from an egg. Furthermore, I realize the lightweighting of 60% of real leather comparison."

(source, product description on Rakuten Global Market: http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/audio-s/item/th900/) 

Made out of eggshell membrane proteins.

They also say on Idemitsu's website that it is "polyurethane coated fabric" (ppleather?), product page: http://www.idemitsu.com/technofine/product/leather/protein1.html.

That's a luxurious fabric used in, among others, expensive cars. Fostex are animal conscious, I would choose a synthetic leather to a real one any day (and thank to Audez'e for choosing to offer both! and no I'm not vegan). Every time people read "pleather" they seem almost repulsed... come on, you eskimo...

I have never had real leather around my ears but I am sure high quality pleather can achieve same levels of durability and comfort.

MuppetFace when you read more on the Idemitsu website link I gave, the eggshell membrane protein coated pads outperforms leather in two of the three test conducted (or at least that's how I interpret it, read on).

The one test where leather remained superior... comfort measuring test (strong correlation between the measured parameter and the comfort of the patient. Humidity that arises in the car as the patient sweats, when reduced / better controlled improves comfort -- remember this is car leather, but it should provide, I think, the same goodness to your ears on your headphone, because it's the same material touching the same skin and dealing with very similar humidity and temperature changes and conditions!

"""Comfort evaluation

Presentation for the Society of Fiber Science and Technology, Japan (joint research with the University of Toyama) 
The relationship between comfort and moisture absorption was clarified through sweating simulation experiments and actual sitting experiments, using protein leather as the test material.

"""

I think this one has to do with absorption of the ambient humidity, real leather is a bit better... PVC big looser

One of the two following graphs shows the protein leather (Idemitsu Grancuir) more absorbent and desorbent that real leather though, which is a bit contradicting of the ^first^ test.

Basic performance test... [it's not clear which one would be the best at this point, but the protein leather is being more differentiated from the PVC than the real leather, so that's why I say the protein leather "outperforms" the real leather on those two charts]

""   ""

On the left is the amount of humidity absorbed in 3 hours and then reverse phenomenon for another three hours. Looks like Idemitsu has better porosity and absorbs / drys better.

On the right is the calorific movement, it's not about humidity, it's about heat transfer. You can transfer more heat (change it's temperature) more quickly than the protein leather, by skin contact. No idea how this improve comforts, maybe it provides a better equilibrium with your body temperature this way.

Anyway word is : this leather is made for better comfort! It's Japanese-created and documented.

(I'm not trying to modifying your opinion on leather or anything, and I tried to be the most objective possible in my interpretation, giving you all the data and not hiding any: those charts and test are all that there is on their website.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beagle 

It is the Denon. Only a fool would pay $2300 US for it.

It's one thing to say you think something sucks or is overpriced. It's another thing to denigrate another person. In this case it's MuppetFace, albeit you've done so your usual indirect manner. You also don't know what you are talking about. While this headphone has some similarities to the D7000, it obviously isn't the Denon. For obvious reasons, I trust what MP has to say about it more than you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppleheadMay 

I wonder if J$ pads would fit and what the effect would be.

jMoney Denon pads have one of the weirdest shaped openings of any earpad.  It's either specifically shaped to change the FR of the Denon to fix something wonky about the driver, or it's contributing to the uneven sound of the Denon headphones.  Of course both phones are made by Fostex, but the TH900 has much more traditionally shaped earpads.  I generally just wouldn't recommend buying Denon pads in hopes of swapping them on other headphones. 

I have them lying around anyway and am about to order the Fostex.

They probably won't sound right indeed, that's if they do fit at all, I have no idea if they have the same diameter.