[ButtUglyJeff]

  Is the TH-600 outer cup magnesium or plastic or some such... ?

 
I believe its a magnesium/aluminum alloy...

 

[plakat]

Fostex states that as "magnesium die-cast housing":
http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/products/TH-600.shtml

 

[xtianst]

feels like the DSLR camera body 

 

[Jazic]

It's less open sounding but the bass is a bit more pronounced. The change isn't huge

 
Are they more comfortable?

 

[Jazic]

When I did A-B the 600 and 900, I went for thr 600 as the 900 lower mids is thinner than 600. With female vocal, it just lack the body. The upper mids goes to 900 though but I just couldn't get used to 900 mids.
I ended up buying the 600, but it only lasted me for 6 months before I changed it for LCD-X

I did the exact opposite.
 
I got the LCD-X then got the TH600's for the sake of having a closed pair. Still have both but many do I love my X's and now TH600's. Still trying to find a new pair of pads for the TH600. 
 
I also found the 900's exactly the same way. The 600 seemed to have more meat to my ears even though it was scooped. I wouldn't call either sibilant but the 900's were definitely higher up on the scale of sibilance than the 600's to my ears. 

 

[NotaLefty]

Do you like your LCD-X more than your TH600? 

 

[Jazic]

  Do you like your LCD-X more than your TH600? 

 
LCD-X: Very sterile and flat sounding. That said once your ears adjust to the sound sig they are so so very sweet to listen to. The bass doesn't pop like with the TH600 but when it hits you get a more euphoric feeling imo. The treble is much more detailed and sparkly whereas the TH600 seems to shine or glare too much. The mids on the LCD-X are classic lush Audeze. Guitars crunch exactly as you they are recorded and if they sound bad its not the fault of the headphones, its most likely the track. In short the best way I can describe the LCD-X is as being extremely transparent. Soundstage is much wider as well and you can feel the air in between instruments better.
 
TH600: I find these to be more fun sounding. They boom with bass compared to the LCD-X. The mids to me sound a bit recessed but that's coming from the lush sounding LCD-X and Audeze house sound so pretty much everything sounds scooped unless those are on my head. Highs are more forward and more active sounding just like the bass. Soundstage is a tad smaller but it is still very spacious and doesn't leak sound as much as the LCD-X. 
 
 
If I had to choose one I'd choose the LCD-X and never look back. If I lost the LCD-X, I would buy another in a heartbeat. I would likely do the same with the TH600 but it would be second in line behind the LCD-X. 
 
Also take this with a grain of salt because the LCD-X is more than double the price. 

 

[NotaLefty]

Thank you. Do you happen to have heard the LCD-2 and Denon D2k? I'm thinking of going just LCD-X or LCD-2F and Denon D2k. 

 

[Jazic]

I actually had the LCD-2.2 (non-fazor) and liked it so much I sold it... typical Head-fi move there I know, I solid to it and used the funds to upgrade to the LCD-X and I'm glad I did. 
 
The LCD-2.2 was warmer sounding and more lush but it felt as though it had a veil over the sound sig yet it was still very articulate and detailed. I think this comes from the scooped treble peak that makes it warmer sounding. I also had the privilege of hearing the LCD-3 at Moon-Audio in Cary, NC and realized the 3 had the same issues as the 2 with rolling off the treble. It sounded incredibly good and I'm sure once my ears adjusted to the sound sig I would be fine with it but comparing the LCD-X and LCD-3 I preferred the X hands down. It had the thing that the 3 felt like it was missing. With a more even and flat frequency response it feels more transparent to the music you're listening to. The bass and mids seem to be crispier with the X due to the lack of as much cut off high end.
 
I have not had the pleasure to hear the D2000. I have only heard the TH600 and TH900. I preferred the TH600 because I found the highs on the 900 to be a tad bit too sibilant but not to the point of being harsh. I also liked the boomier and more fun sounding bass of the 600. Also with the price being around half I found it a no brainer. 
 
Ninja EDIT:
If I had to choose between the LCD-X and LCD-2.2F, I'd choose the LCD-X obviously but if money was an issue and I had $700 to burn, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to get the LCD2.2F from the forums used. I'm not sure how to get the LCD-X pads or if they've just upgraded them since the time the LCD2.2-nonfazor was made but the pads on the LCD-X are the best I've ever worn. 

 

[Gethyn]

I've made a few lucky purchases recently getting a brand new pair of Audeze LCD 2.2s for a great price, then a new pair of Fostex TH600s for $400 and this week new Fidelio X2 for $240. I have tried lots of headphones and wanted a pair to upgrade from my old, but still lovely, HD580s.

I adore the Audeze for their warmth and natural sound, together with the fantastic bass and mids. The Fidelio does a pretty good job compared with the Audeze so these will be my 'upstairs' pair. The Fostex are quite different and I like them for their detail, clarity and punch. If I want to listen to pop or some rock and want a fun sound then the TH600s will be perfect. For more laid-back, intimate listening then the Audeze will do the job.

The TH600s are also very light and comfortable and I barely know I am wearing them. I like the understated black design and the overall quality feel.

 

[moriez]

^ Sweet! Enjoy your gear.
 
I miss the TH600's amazing punch. Just for that I'd like to hear them again.

 

[Jazic]

Did a quick, easy and cheap mod that makes it a bit easier. 
 
I put a rubber band to shorten up the super long V and used some velcro to help roll up the cord some to shorten it. 
 

 
I was also curious about the pads so I removed them and took the cups off. I ended up putting a donut shaped piece of felt to help the sibilance which really isn't bad to begin with but I wouldn't argue with it being a little smoother. 

 

[Jazic]

Just got the ring off fairly easily for the first time and it was as stiff as a 16yo on viagra. Just make sure you pull into the inside circle instead of away and it'll pop out pretty easily. 
 

 

 

[The Life]

Having lurked on this thread for the past few months, I've come to the conclusion that I'm the only person in the world who finds the TH600 to be a much more enjoyable headphone than the TH900. I originally owned the TH600 for a few months and loved it to death. In every way that I could enjoy a headphone, I found the TH900 to be exemplary. Even the recessed midrange eventually grew on me. Having read everywhere that the 900 was a even more refined version of the 600, I decided to get that as well. I wanted to love the TH900, I really did, but the TH600 just would not let me. The little ways in which the TH900 "improved" on the TH600, the lushness, the increased bass, the smoother treble, etc. all served to make me yearn for TH600's "cleaner" sound. This is not to say that I did not enjoy the sound of the TH900. It's just that, as much as I would enjoy it, every time I would put on the TH600 after listening to the TH900, an involuntary smile would creep up on my face.

I returned the TH900 and got the LCD-XC (for several reasons, only closed headphones are viable options for me) and, again, as great as they sounded, they served only to highlight for me what I found so amazing about the TH600. I have returned the LCD-XC as well and, for the time being, I am content in my belief that the TH600, despite being relatively modestly priced, is the best closed-back headphone in the world (for me)...at least until I get my hands on a pair of W3000ANVs

 

[plakat]

(...) for the time being, I am content in my belief that the TH600, despite being relatively modestly priced, is the best closed-back headphone in the world (for me)...at least until I get my hands on a pair of W3000ANVs

 
If you've never heard the W3000 you should not expect too much from them, their signature is rather special and quite opposite from the TH600.
 
As for preferring the TH600: I can somewhat understand that as I sometimes find the TH900 bass too overwhelming, but still enjoy its smoother treble presentation.