Here's a little update on my experiences with the Th-900s and the Ultrasone Signature DJs that I posted in the "Basshead Club" thread, but I thought you guys might be interested too. My kids and their friends are on Spring Break this whole week. Had to take my rig out to the Garage to get some peace and quiet! It's nice having an all-in-one in these situations.
Comparing them isn't as easy as I thought it might be. For one, the Fostex make every one of my other headphones sound
muffled in comparison. Their open nature and huge 3D image are much more similar in character to the HiFi Man HE500s than to the Signature DJ in my opinion. An HE500 on Steroids is a good characterization for these. Comparing them directly to the Signature DJs is not really a fair comparison considering they do cost twice as much... Having said that, if you don't directly compare, the Signature DJ's would be a fitting end game for many a Basshead. I love them and I plan to keep them as my portable rig. The Fostex are far too fragile feeling for me to haul them around with much confidence.
I'm guessing you probably want to know mostly about how the BASS compares so I won't keep you in suspense. Looking at the frequency charts it would seem like the Th-900 should blow the DJ's away, but it's really not the case in terms of
perceived quantity. On some tracks the Th-900s have more and on others the DJs have more. It's very close. Overall, the Th-900 has more, but not enough to spend the $1000.00 for.
The reason the Fostex cost two grand is because of whatever magical material they made the drivers out of. The Bass is
extremely musical. I am hearing things from the Fostex that I've never heard before and I promise you, I have never used that phrase before. My Father was an Audiophile and I grew up around high end speakers and amps my whole life. He had Fischer and Marantz when those names meant something. The Th-900s are as close as I've come to that level of audiophilia since I began this hobby.
Anyway enough about the Th-900s.They cost two grand, so they
better be awesome, and they are... And guess what? That doesn't mean a thing when we are talking about the Signature DJ's. They are still the best bang for the buck I've found for a true Basshead, and if I'd never heard the Th-900s they'd be my end game.
If you can afford the Th-900s do it. They are just simply the best headphones I've ever heard in my life. No exaggeration. If not, get the Signature DJ's and know you've got one of the best Basshead 'phones in the World. The list of elite Audiophile Basshead Cans is very short
and very expensive and the Th-900s are not well suited to rough use like the DJs are. Bottom line: If you can manage to get both and use the DJ's for portable and the Th-900s at home, that's the best of all worlds. They are both worthy contenders for the Basshead Hall of Fame.