Fostex TH900 Impressions & Discussion Thread

[MuppetFace]

Hey Ahzari, glad you got to try out the TH900. It's a great headphone isn't it?
 
I know exactly what you mean when you say it didn't "wow" you but that it was still excellent. It's the same kind of reaction I had when I first listened to the SR-007 as well. The more time you spend with it however, the more it charms you I think. Right now I'd say it's definitely my favorite dynamic headphone, ahead of the Signature Pro, W3000ANV, and Qualia.
 
I'm VERY curious about how the TH900 performs with the Super 7, especially compared to the ZDSE.

 

[gzone3lement]

 
Quote:

Hey Ahzari, glad you got to try out the TH900. It's a great headphone isn't it?
 
I know exactly what you mean when you say it didn't "wow" you but that it was still excellent. It's the same kind of reaction I had when I first listened to the SR-007 as well. The more time you spend with it however, the more it charms you I think. Right now I'd say it's definitely my favorite dynamic headphone, ahead of the Signature Pro, W3000ANV, and Qualia.
 
I'm VERY curious about how the TH900 performs with the Super 7, especially compared to the ZDSE.

 
Even more ahead of Qualia? Really?

 

[BrainFood]

If this thread starts creating a buzz around the 900, it might keep the price up-  what with it all supply and demand.  Sometimes these threads can be counter-productive, imho 

 

[MuppetFace]

 
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Even more ahead of Qualia? Really?

 
 
They're two very different beasts.
 
The Qualia excels second-to-none in certain areas, and in that sense it has a definite "wow factor." It also has its share of obvious flaws in my opinion. Ultimately, it's sophisticated but uneven and requires the listener be in the right mood to fully enjoy it.
 
The TH900 on the other hand is much more even-tempered, less fussy, less idiosyncratic. It's tonally more balanced and situationally more versatile. Whereas the Qualia has a very strong, abrasive, and almost overwhelming character, the TH900 is more subtle, natural, effortless, and playful.

 

[rgs9200m]

I didn't like the Qualia at all when I heard it at a show. It made me nervous from the get-go.

 

[MuppetFace]

 
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I didn't like the Qualia at all when I heard it at a show. It made me nervous from the get-go.

 
 
It's definitely not for everyone. It typifies that cold, sterile "analytic" sound signature that gets bandied about in audiophile discussion.
 
Another factor to keep in mind is that it's one of the most fit-dependant headphones ever made. When you ordered it from Sony, they required you to get it custom tailored at their store to fit your head. Add to that the rarity of finding Qualia headbands in different sizes on the used market, and it's definitely not an ideal situation. Some people have even resorted to modding the earpads by sewing in sponges to get a better fit.

 

[Ahzari]

 
Quote:

Hey Ahzari, glad you got to try out the TH900. It's a great headphone isn't it?
 
I know exactly what you mean when you say it didn't "wow" you but that it was still excellent. It's the same kind of reaction I had when I first listened to the SR-007 as well. The more time you spend with it however, the more it charms you I think. Right now I'd say it's definitely my favorite dynamic headphone, ahead of the Signature Pro, W3000ANV, and Qualia.
 
I'm VERY curious about how the TH900 performs with the Super 7, especially compared to the ZDSE.

 
Yea its a great headphone, I can't comment on the Super 7 vs the ZDSE but compared to my more speedy/neutral WA6SE I felt like the Super 7 warmed my Signature Pros up a bit and made them a smudge more bassy, I actually felt it was a tad overly bassy when coupled with the TH900s, but still very enjoyable.

 

[Anaxilus]

 
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Yea its a great headphone, I can't comment on the Super 7 vs the ZDSE but compared to my more speedy/neutral WA6SE I felt like the Super 7 warmed my Signature Pros up a bit and made them a smudge more bassy, I actually felt it was a tad overly bassy when coupled with the TH900s, but still very enjoyable.

 
Those tubes were selected for the HD800.  I think the Signature Pros benefited.  They remind me of an Ultrasone version of a SA5000.  The amp sounds/measures flat/neutral regardless of the tubes btw.  Could be the WA6 just sounds brighter/thinner?  Woo site has the WA6 at .58 watts, the S7 is 3 watts.  It might have been the Jazz CD warming things up too doing a Patricia Barber number on the ears or the Marantz.  

  Craig amps can do bright and analytical no problem.  Just drop a Shuguang in the driver.  Not my thing.
 
Nice meeting you too and thanks for letting me hear the Sig Pros.

 

[MuppetFace]

 
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They remind me of an Ultrasone version of a SA5000. 

 
 
That's a rather interesting way of describing the Signature Pro. I like it.

 

[Ahzari]

 
Quote:

 
 
Those tubes were selected for the HD800.  I think the Signature Pros benefited.  They remind me of an Ultrasone version of a SA5000.  The amp sounds/measures flat/neutral regardless of the tubes btw.  Could be the WA6 just sounds brighter/thinner?  Woo site has the WA6 at .58 watts, the S7 is 3 watts.  It might have been the Jazz CD warming things up too doing a Patricia Barber number on the ears or the Marantz.  

  Craig amps can do bright and analytical no problem.  Just drop a Shuguang in the driver.  Not my thing.
 
Nice meeting you too and thanks for letting me hear the Sig Pros.

 
Oh I actually have the WA6SE which runs at about 2 watts 

 

[Anaxilus]

 
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Oh I actually have the WA6SE which runs at about 2 watts 

 
Ah cool!

 

[Ahzari]

Hey MuppetFace, did you have to deal with US customs when you got your headphones delivered from pricejapan; I thought anything over $200 could become a headache for importing..

 

[MuppetFace]

 
Quote:

Hey MuppetFace, did you have to deal with US customs when you got your headphones delivered from pricejapan; I thought anything over $200 could become a headache for importing..

 
 
My experience with customs leads me to believe it's something of a crapshoot. I've had very expensive items go right through without incurring much in the way of fees, while much less expensive things have ended up costing. Some officials seem to be much more zealous while others are more lax, and I suppose it boils down to who's on duty that day.
 
With PriceJapan, when using Fed-Ex (which has replaced DHL for them) the packages tend to speed through customs because Fed-Ex will pay the fees automatically, but then you have to reimburse Fed-Ex. If I recall it's usually between 20 and 60 bucks.

 

[Ahzari]

 
Quote:

 
 
 
My experience with customs leads me to believe it's something of a crapshoot. I've had very expensive items go right through without incurring much in the way of fees, while much less expensive things have ended up costing. Some officials seem to be much more zealous while others are more lax, and I suppose it boils down to who's on duty that day.
 
With PriceJapan, when using Fed-Ex (which has replaced DHL for them) the packages tend to speed through customs because Fed-Ex will pay the fees automatically, but then you have to reimburse Fed-Ex. If I recall it's usually between 20 and 60 bucks.

 
Thats good to know, i'll keep pricejapan on my radar, or maybe by the time I'm ready to buy MoonAudio will have them in..

 

[k3oxkjo]

 
Quote:

 
 
Thats good to know, i'll keep pricejapan on my radar, or maybe by the time I'm ready to buy MoonAudio will have them in..

 
FWIW, I ordered and paid for mine from Moon Audio April 12, no word yet. Even though the web site says "in stock", LOL.
 
I didn't get a real indication of when to expect them, when i called they told me they were "in Customs", (Japan or US I don't know) and the gentleman had that sound like "why are you calling us?" My guess is that they don't "stock" them but order on an as needed basis. Or not... they are not too communicative.
 
Kevin