fostex t50RP, what is the main problem with them stock?

[mrconfuse]

Is it the resonance/lack of bass the main issue or something else? I'm not a bass head so I can eq or bass boost the phones from an amp. As for resonance, I don't think i noticed much. My main concern is the soundstage. I like big soundstages, I want to feel like I'm in the audience and not next the performer. The sound stage on the AKG 701/702 is awesome but from what I can tell people are saying that the Fostex has SQ close to the LCD-2/stax (when modded). I don't plan on modding it initially so how bad will it be in stock form? If need to can it be modded to give a bigger soundstage without changing anything else?
 
 

 

[Head Injury]

You should beware of claims of how they sound once modded. Many of the people who rave about the simpler mods like Rastapants are the ones who built them, and it's inevitable that they'll have a strong emotional attachment to a headphone they put so much work into. I have no doubt they sound fantastic, and I really want to get my hands on a pair, but I think comparing them to Stax is a little silly. If anything, it belittles the work Stax puts into their headphones.
 
Judging by the graphs, the problem with it unmodded is the lack of sub-bass and the dip in the upper mid-range/lower treble. They're basically all lower mid-range and mid-bass with a treble peak.

 

[DaBomb77766]

Some people seem to absolutely hate it in stock form and some think it's not bad...I never had too many problems with it stock, myself.  But it's still nothing special by itself.
 
It's not just a lack of bass that's the problem, it lacks treble stock too, and it's actually kind of difficult to bring that out even with modding.  But the bass is easily fixed by removing the felt over the vents on the back.  It's not like it utterly lacks bass or anything stock though, it's still there, and honestly I felt like it was about as much as something like, say, my HD595 - but I definitely prefer it with more than stock, as does pretty much everyone else, it seems.
 
 
But it improves tremendously with mods - it's not a minor change.  If nothing else, I'd highly recommend at least switching the pads to the SRH840 ones, they improve comfort quite a bit and also the sound a little.  Especially if you stuff some tissues or something in the back - something I recommend you try with the stock pads too.
 
The headband mod is highly recommended too.

 

[mrconfuse]

hmmm, okay cause I'm debating if i should return the Fostex and get the AKG k702. The soundstage on them is amazing but I didn't know how the mid's & treble compared to the Fostex. I tried the AKG at the store and they sounded good but I didn't a really good long listen
 
 
 
 

 

[DaBomb77766]

I'd strongly recommend trying a few mods, but unfortunately you won't be able to return it afterwards even if they are reversible...unless you can scrape every bit of residue out of the cups.
 
The easiest and most easily reversible mods to do are the earpads and headband mod - order the SRH-840 pads from somewhere and try out the headband mod as shown here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/452404/just-listened-to-some-fostex-t50rps-today-wow/2895#post_7782196
 
Of course the headband mod won't change the sound at all, but it makes them far, far more comfortable.

 

[Draygonn]

Modded T50RPs will have better SQ than the k702 but its a closed can so getting a large soundstage is an uphill battle. My Fostex orthos have a small soundstage, one reason I listen to my HD800s a lot. leeperry and LFF have mentioned getting good soundstages out of their mods. Try posting in the T50RP thread, it's very active.

 

[liamstrain]

I have both the Stock T50RP and the 702s...
 
Really it depends on what you want out of them. The 702, to my ears, have much better treble, detail and soundstage. The T50RP have better bass response, and really have a nice tonality in the mids (perfect for voice/cello/acoustic guitar, etc.). 
 
I think the 702 are easier to eq to a more neutral presentation (albeit maybe a touch bass light). They felt less peaky, less finicky, so those have become my de facto reference set (running a parametric eq and a crossfeed plugin). 
 
But I do find myself reaching for the fostex pretty regularly. *shrug*
 
I guess I'd say, for the price they run, and qualities they do have, you should keep them. 

 

[Lorspeaker]

i find the stock T50RP kinda cool in sound signature...
i prefer it warmer.
its clear but not fantastically clear like a 940.
No issues with the soundstage i tot it was bbigg,
 
i prefer the Q701 slightly to the K702, there is more body to the bass.
 
 

 

[liamstrain]

Quote:

 
i prefer the Q701 slightly to the K702, there is more body to the bass.
 
 

Many people say this, but it is not backed up by measurements - the K70X vs. Q70X series have virtually identical sound signatures. If one is less expensive than the other, and you don't care about green paint - pick whichever is cheaper/you like the look of. 

 

[Lorspeaker]

Quote:

Many people say this, but it is not backed up by measurements - the K70X vs. Q70X series have virtually identical sound signatures. If one is less expensive than the other, and you don't care about green paint - pick whichever is cheaper/you like the look of. 

post #24
 
i listened to both side by side once... i definitely heard differences.
 
 
 

 

[RexAeterna]

Modded T50RPs will have better SQ than the k702 but its a closed can so getting a large soundstage is an uphill battle. My Fostex orthos have a small soundstage, one reason I listen to my HD800s a lot. leeperry and LFF have mentioned getting good soundstages out of their mods. Try posting in the T50RP thread, it's very active.

i don't know about that. i actually managed to give mine a more open sound than even my k601's. if people worked on enclosed speaker cabs they know the flaw of the enclosure of the fostex. not very hard to figure out to be honest. just need to use little imagination.

 

[mrconfuse]

Can you tell me how you manage to increase the soundstage?

 

[liamstrain]

Quote:

post #24
 
i listened to both side by side once... i definitely heard differences.
 
 
 

Fair enough. Tyl's measurements show very little difference between them (sample variation covers the difference).
 

 
His take: 
 
Quote:

After seeing the measurement data I would say that other than the cosmetic differences, both headphones are identical. The slight differences observed could possibly be accounted for by the added "Q" badge on the outside of the earcup behind the driver, and improved manufacturing processes over time.

 
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/akg-quincy-jones-q701-sound-and-measurements
 
But we're off topic. I just wanted to address that I don't think any sonic differences are worth recommending one model over the other.