obzilla
1000+ Head-Fier
They're good all year every year.
Fostex TH900 Impressions & Discussion Thread
- Thread starter MuppetFace
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I had all 3.
Bass extension: TH900 > LCD-XC = Eikon
Bass speed/impact: TH900 > Eikon > LCD-XC
Treble speed/impact: TH900 > LCD-XC > Eikon
Isolation: LCD-XC = Eikon > TH900
Design: TH900 > LCD-XC > Eikon
Value: TH900 > Eikon > LCD-XC
Accuracy: Eikon > LCD-XC > TH900
Fun: TH900 > Eikon > LCD-XC
The Eikon is good at everything but not great with a clunky build.
The LCD-XC has a lot of treble quickness/slam but not the bass. It's also heavy.
The TH900 is the most fun with the most bass and treble quickness/slam.
Also, the Eikon will have limited availability. You’ll either have to find one used or wait for special releases that ZMF will do b/c it’s been partially discontinued.
Since the arrival of our beautiful daughter *cough*little gremlin*cough* 8 weeks ago, the majority of my listening is now having to be done with portability at the forefront.
227qed
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Thanks for the info, great write up!
I just wish they weren’t so expensive now. Last time I was thinking of buying them they were like $1200.
227qed
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I just noticed that the Eikon was absent from the website. Maybe there’s something new in the pipeline that will take its place.
ZMF said that the Eikon will come back in limited runs, but is currently off the website along with the Auteur (which is being slightly redesigned) to make room for production of the new Atrium open release. As far as I know there isn’t a direct replacement in the works but who knows, maybe the Eikon will receive a similar redesign treatment. They are working on an Atrium closed and a sub $1000 headphone but idk if that will be open or closed or timeline for it.
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I recommend fenestrated pads for the OG tuning and stock pads for the anniversary tuning.
Selling stock pads, dekoni fenestrated sheepskin, and a headband cover if anyone's interested.
Selling stock pads, dekoni fenestrated sheepskin, and a headband cover if anyone's interested.
Lickumms
500+ Head-Fier
For anyone wondering the measurements on the screws that go into the wood cups they are as follows:
Self Tapping
Head Diameter 3.37mm
Head Width 1.43mm
Screw Length 7.5mm
Screw Diameter 2mm
Self Tapping
Head Diameter 3.37mm
Head Width 1.43mm
Screw Length 7.5mm
Screw Diameter 2mm
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inseconds99
500+ Head-Fier
Does anyone have a link to the FR Graph of the the anniversary tuning Vs the regular?
Joining the TH900 club! 
I just measured and reviewed my blue here (external link) with comparisons to the EMU Teak, but I don't have the regular version. The measurement rig I use is also different from ie. Crinacle or Oratory's. The anniversary tuning seems to have fuller mids and less bass boost. But I'd really need to measure the OG to be sure.
My biggest takeaway from pad rolling is that the EMU pads or similarly the Accessory House Denon pads make the TH900 a lot easier to listen to. Mids are much fuller and smoother. In stock form I still enjoy it but it is really track dependent - classical, jazz, and accoustic music sound brilliant but poorly mastered rock or metal can be overbearing. The biggest difference between EMU pads and Accessories House pads is that the latter further reduces the upper treble peak at around 11-12khz, so that is recommended if you find the treble too sparkly.
The TH900MK2 SB is pretty much my end game closed back. You can choose between two types of tuning with pad rolling, and there's also the option of swaping to different wood chambers offered by EMU and Lawton Audio. There's endless potential to this headphone.
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I combined the plot above with another from https://headphonetestlab.co.uk/test-results-manufacturers-e-h-fostex-th900.
No idea how accurate this is.
According to this, the anniversary tuning seems to have less bass and the 500 Hz notch shifted lower.
Because it has less bass, it should sound thinner, brighter, and have more mids.
No idea how accurate this is.
According to this, the anniversary tuning seems to have less bass and the 500 Hz notch shifted lower.
Because it has less bass, it should sound thinner, brighter, and have more mids.
Great work. Generally I found my measurement more comparable to Crin's and Oratory1990's. I don't have their expensive GRAS rig although mine also complies with the IEC standard. But then again even on the same type of rig there's unit variation of the measurement rig itself and the headphones, along with other factors like positioning, averaging, smoothing etc. So a direct comparison is often difficult.
While we know the anniversary tuning isn't the same as the original, my guess is the difference wouldn't be that large.
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