Fostex TH900 Impressions & Discussion Thread - Page 200

Quote:

Originally Posted by BournePerfect 

Then let's just say: so far-underwhelmed. :/

-Daniel

Maybe they need to grow on you... But from my experience with D7000, it was also very underwhelming, do not understand all the appreciation at all = absolutely unreal bass (like subwoofer, no real bass guitar) and treble (harsch, thin/lacked texture) along with recessed mids.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BournePerfect 

Then let's just say: so far-underwhelmed. :/

-Daniel

I'm still on the fence after months of ownership. There are days & songs I really like it, other days the excess treble and somewhat recessed mids keep bothering me (even on the same amp...). They are certainly colored, and thus may be more polarizing because of it. Three things from my experience:

- Give it some time, try it with various genres or maybe a new album you don't have a preconception of from prior listening on other 'phones

- Give it some time ≠ burn-in (the sound signature never really changed for me after all that time, only the music & setup I listened on made a difference)

- Since you seem to be using it with a ZD: I found it particularly tricky to match well with my tube amp (& tube selection) than almost all my other headphones, despite otherwise being very easy-to-drive and pleasant-sounding... try different tubes, or even amp?

I found the TH-900 sounding quite perfectly balanced (in my opinion) off my DACport with 1 ohm output impedance. Unfortunately or perhaps fortunately, I haven't experienced any higher end DAC/amp though I will be upgrading when I find something better that is USB powered.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustA 

 

Maybe they need to grow on you... But from my experience with D7000, it was also very underwhelming, do not understand all the appreciation at all = absolutely unreal bass (like subwoofer, no real bass guitar) and treble (harsch, thin/lacked texture) along with recessed mids.

That is not my experience with the D7000s at all.. I'm extremely sensitive to treble and had no trouble with the treble on the D7000s and actually enjoyed it very much; as far as the bass, it was much better controlled and enjoyable compared to anything else in the price range (note street price on the D7k was around $700) - and of course the TH900s are a step up audio experience to the D7k in every respect.

I imagine maybe you were not amping the D7000s or maybe amping with a colder sounding amp like the Icon HDP which was not synergistic with the Denons at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ahzari 

That is not my experience with the D7000s at all.. I'm extremely sensitive to treble and had no trouble with the treble on the D7000s and actually enjoyed it very much; as far as the bass, it was much better controlled and enjoyable compared to anything else in the price range (note street price on the D7k was around $700) - and of course the TH900s are a step up audio experience to the D7k in every respect.

 

I imagine maybe you were not amping the D7000s or maybe amping with a colder sounding amp like the Icon HDP which was not synergistic with the Denons at all.

I've tried several amps with D7000, from warm E11 to analytic O2 (both <1 output impedance)... I've tried some others. The bass was quite well controlled especially with O2 but it was unnatural - no real bass guitar, much more "one-note bass" (almost no sub-bass). Also that subwooferish sound (resonance around 125 hz) didn't please me very much. LCD-2 completely destroyed D7000 in terms of bass.

I am also very sensitive to treble to that extend that I occasionaly find LCD-2's treble to be on the edge of what I find suitable. D7000 were much more brighter and harsh, painful to my ears everytime... Not to say they lacked texture in treble as well. Transparency was also an issue with D7000, they were a bit grainy.

Mids were quite fine on D7000 but LCD-2's mids are simply better. More neutral, more full.

D7000 just sounds too unnatural to me... I was very disappointed. I feel D7000 performed very well for a closed/semi-closed headphone and I can easily imagine some would prefer them to LCD-2 because from the technical perspective, those two are not far from each other. However, LCD-2 are just much more natural-sounding to me, regardless the genre.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustA 

 

I've tried several amps with D7000, from warm E11 to analytic O2 (both <1 output impedance)... I've tried some others. The bass was quite well controlled especially with O2 but it was unnatural - no real bass guitar, much more "one-note bass" (almost no sub-bass). Also that subwooferish sound (resonance around 125 hz) didn't please me very much. LCD-2 completely destroyed D7000 in terms of bass.

 

I am also very sensitive to treble to that extend that I occasionaly find LCD-2's treble to be on the edge of what I find suitable. D7000 were much more brighter and harsh, painful to my ears everytime... Not to say they lacked texture in treble as well. Transparency was also an issue with D7000, they were a bit grainy.

 

Mids were quite fine on D7000 but LCD-2's mids are simply better. More neutral, more full.

 

D7000 just sounds too unnatural to me... I was very disappointed. I feel D7000 performed very well for a closed/semi-closed headphone and I can easily imagine some would prefer them to LCD-2 because from the technical perspective, those two are not far from each other. However, LCD-2 are just much more natural-sounding to me, regardless the genre.

It comes down to personal taste here I guess.. I got rid of the LCD2 almost as fast as I got them with a huge preference towards the D7000s.. I really thought the LCD2s rev2 were overrated, the bass only slightly better than the D7k to my ears, but the mids were lacking and the treble was veiled. The LCD3 on the other hand I really enjoyed but the lack of comfort helped with my decision to purchase the much more comfortable and equally excellent TH900.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustA 

 

I've tried several amps with D7000, from warm E11 to analytic O2 (both <1 output impedance)... I've tried some others. The bass was quite well controlled especially with O2 but it was unnatural - no real bass guitar, much more "one-note bass" (almost no sub-bass). Also that subwooferish sound (resonance around 125 hz) didn't please me very much. LCD-2 completely destroyed D7000 in terms of bass.

 

I am also very sensitive to treble to that extend that I occasionaly find LCD-2's treble to be on the edge of what I find suitable. D7000 were much more brighter and harsh, painful to my ears everytime... Not to say they lacked texture in treble as well. Transparency was also an issue with D7000, they were a bit grainy.

 

Mids were quite fine on D7000 but LCD-2's mids are simply better. More neutral, more full.

 

D7000 just sounds too unnatural to me... I was very disappointed. I feel D7000 performed very well for a closed/semi-closed headphone and I can easily imagine some would prefer them to LCD-2 because from the technical perspective, those two are not far from each other. However, LCD-2 are just much more natural-sounding to me, regardless the genre.

would love to hear that bright lcd2 you are talking about.mine was veiled and dark....alomst...almost like the hd650. regarding d5/7000. good headphones.nice timbre,air,decent soundstage,good clarity. terrible bass and mids were recessed hence i sold them.

im reading impressions that the fostex mids are recessed as well, which is worrying to say the least since im looking for a closed headphone and this is basically the only option.

Quote:

Originally Posted by midoo1990 

would love to hear that bright lcd2 you are talking about.mine was veiled and dark....alomst...almost like the hd650. regarding d5/7000. good headphones.nice timbre,air,decent soundstage,good clarity. terrible bass and mids were recessed hence i sold them.

im reading impressions that the fostex mids are recessed as well, which is worrying to say the least since im looking for a closed headphone and this is basically the only option.

LCD-2 rev2.5 and veiled? No way! But well, there are people who find T1, K701 and HD800 to be perfectly neutral. And there are some who find anything but Grado recessed as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BournePerfect 

Then let's just say: so far-underwhelmed. :/

-Daniel

Is this in regards to the TH-900 or the D7000?

I only ask because I think any one who enjoys music, even if you have drastically different taste than myself, would in some way see how people enjoy the TH-900s.

If this is in regards to the D7000s, then while I loved those cans, I can understand how someone found some of the aspects of that can unsatisfying.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustA 

 

LCD-2 rev2.5 and veiled? No way! But well, there are people who find T1, K701 and HD800 to be perfectly neutral. And there are some who find anything but Grado recessed as well.

There is no official LCD-2.5 from Audeze.  Or did I miss it.  I though the official last release was 2.2 ?  Point me where the official 2.5 release is located.  I'm out the loop.

Quote:

Originally Posted by preproman 

There is no official LCD-2.5 from Audeze.  Or did I miss it.  I though the official last release was 2.2 ?  Point me where the official 2.5 release is located.  I'm out the loop.

It's not official... But the version with angled connectors is quite often told as "rev3" or "rev2.5". If you check the article on innerfidelity, there most probably are slight differences in performance, especially in treble region. But I don't care honestly - I just have the newest revision, find it comfortable and sounding balanced to my ears.

http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/Audeze_LCD2LCD3_graph_LCD2throughtheages.jpg

I think once I get the schiit balanced stack for my LCD's I'm going to use my Yulong D100 if I decide to get the TH 900. My D7000 pair well with it since the dac section is still one of the best for the price and with low output impedence. I know it's only a $400 combo but I think since it works wonderfully with the denons it should have good synergy with the TH900, until I figure out what I would want to upgrade to, if necessary. What do you guys think? And has anyone used the TH900 with the D100?

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustA 

 

It's not official... But the version with angled connectors is quite often told as "rev3" or "rev2.5". If you check the article on innerfidelity, there most probably are slight differences in performance, especially in treble region. But I don't care honestly - I just have the newest revision, find it comfortable and sounding balanced to my ears.

 

http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/Audeze_LCD2LCD3_graph_LCD2throughtheages.jpg

Why, if it's not official from the manufacturer?  It's only LCD-2.1 and LCD-2.2.  That's the official releases from Audzez.

I was just about to order the TH900 from TTVJ for $1800 as "the deal of the day" mentioned before, but now its back to $2k. On his site it said the deal expired 1/13/13, I guess I'll shoot him an email see if I can still buy at that price.