Fostex TH909 Announcement

[kith86]

I've had a Meze Elite delivered today. The plan was to sell up everything else and just have one good all-rounder...

That was the plan. Even the Elite can't hold a candle to the 909 when it comes to female vocals. Just asked my wife to compare them as well (she's not a headphone person). The Elite made her smile when I put Kate Bush on, the 909 made her say "wow".

So looks like I'll be selling up everything except the 909.

Interesting, have you tried to compare this vs ATH ADX5000, i hardly can audition this 909 since it's hard to find here, but as far as my listening experience, the only open headphone in this category (up to 2000 usd) than can handle female vocal best imo (not hearing 909 yet but im still trying), i just want your opinion just for reference since i didnot like meze elite either, thanks.

 

[Twizzleshnizzle]

Interesting, have you tried to compare this vs ATH ADX5000, i hardly can audition this 909 since it's hard to find here, but as far as my listening experience, the only open headphone in this category (up to 2000 usd) than can handle female vocal best imo (not hearing 909 yet but im still trying), i just want your opinion just for reference since i didnot like meze elite either, thanks.

I haven't tried the ATH sorry.

I've tried plenty of headphones that had great female vocals. HD600, Arya, ZMF Auteur, being a few examples. But without doubt the 909 is king of the hill.

I couldn't own it as my only headphone, as it's very V shaped. It also needs an amp dac setup that smooths off the edges (sabre dacs are generally too edgy, Mojo 2 is great). The energy can be amazing though.

The Meze Elite is a funny beast. I love it, but I need a better setup for it. The Mojo 2 softens it too much. Insanely my SoundblasterX G6 pairs better with it. I think it needs some edge from something like a sabre dac.

 

[Slim1970]

Giving this thread a bump. I just picked up a set of TH-909's yesterday and I'm giving them a go today. My initial chain is iFi Zen Stream => Shiit Yggdrasil A2 => Cen.Grand Silver Fox. I'm finding these headphones to be very impressive in performance and sound. Loving the bass response, speed, and clarity.

 

[Delta9K]

I just picked up a set of TH-909's yesterday and I'm giving them a go today.

I'm finding these headphones to be very impressive in performance and sound. Loving the bass response, speed, and clarity.

If you bought them new you will likely be even more impressed as you get some time on them and the drivers relax and settle in. Congratz on your pick-up!!

 

[Slim1970]

If you bought them new you will likely be even more impressed as you get some time on them and the drivers relax and settle in. Congratz on your pick-up!!

Yes, I did buy them new. They’re impressive right out the box.

 

[shalin]

Wildly underrated set of cans, snagged a cheap, low-miles demo unit at canjam and can't make myself take them off.

With a proper chain, there's stuff in my collection that has a lot more depth and sophistication, but these are the most fun pair at any price point. The comfort / performance / price ratio is insane. And everything else that's anywhere near the resolution that I own is way burlier, these can ride on my head for a whole work day straight.

The berylium driver isn't quite like anything else, it's miles less shrill than similar tech from HEDD, and lives right in between the dynamic slam of focal clears but with the depth of texture like planars and the open feel of a pair of Mezes or HD-600's crossed with a pair of nikes and a lambo. The semi-open back has a lot less sound bleed (and a little more sound isulation) than most other open backs in my collection. VS my brief experience with a pair of TH-900's, I think this helps the air be less piercing/shrill than the closed back 900's.

And they take a bass shelf of like 8db on the adi-2 without breaking a sweat, while also being pretty happy driven right off a phone dongle. Imagine if an lcd-x had 90% of the slam without needing any eq and being less than half the weight.

 

[Slim1970]

Wildly underrated set of cans, snagged a cheap, low-miles demo unit at canjam and can't make myself take them off.

With a proper chain, there's stuff in my collection that has a lot more depth and sophistication, but these are the most fun pair at any price point. The comfort / performance / price ratio is insane. And everything else that's anywhere near the resolution that I own is way burlier, these can ride on my head for a whole work day straight.

The berylium driver isn't quite like anything else, it's miles less shrill than similar tech from HEDD, and lives right in between the dynamic slam of focal clears but with the depth of texture like planars and the open feel of a pair of Mezes or HD-600's crossed with a pair of nikes and a lambo. The semi-open back has a lot less sound bleed (and a little more sound isulation) than most other open backs in my collection. VS my brief experience with a pair of TH-900's, I think this helps the air be less piercing/shrill than the closed back 900's.

And they take a bass shelf of like 8db on the adi-2 without breaking a sweat, while also being pretty happy driven right off a phone dongle. Imagine if an lcd-x had 90% of the slam without needing any eq and being less than half the weight.

Yes, the TH-909's are truly a unique sounding headphone. They are not trying to be the most technical headphones out here. Yet they have enough technicalities to compete with other top tier headphones at their price point and somewhat above.

The TH-909's have top notch clarity and great instrument separation. I love their bass performance. It's deep, it's defined, it does not bleed, and I can't detect any bloat. Just awesome bass dynamics with great impact. Maybe the one overlooked aspect of the TH-909's is they actually have a midrange. It's not lush or creamy like ZMF or the old Audeze LCD series of headphones, but it very nuanced and fills the in the rest of the frequency spectrum unlike the TH-900 series. These are keepers and a fun addition to my collection.

 

[Cat Whisperer Bob]

Purchased my TH-909’s from a dealer that was selling off a number of lightly used headphones. They’re about 1/2 price and mint condition. Couldn’t be more pleased can’t stop listening. Using them with the Musician Pegasus R2R DAC and the Liquid Platinum hybrid amp with Amperex tubes works great. And yes they are very efficient!

 

[Delta9K]

Nice pickup ! May they bring you many hours of enjoyment.

 

[Slim1970]

Purchased my TH-909’s from a dealer that was selling off a number of lightly used headphones. They’re about 1/2 price and mint condition. Couldn’t be more pleased can’t stop listening. Using them with the Musician Pegasus R2R DAC and the Liquid Platinum hybrid amp with Amperex tubes works great. And yes they are very efficient!

Love mine and love the TH-909’s tuning.

 

[Nkam]

Does anyone here with the TH909 use them with EQ to smooth out the sound more to Harman tuning?
It seems with the excellent drivers they have, they would beat a lot of headphones out on the market now.

Thanks !

 

[Delta9K]

Does anyone here with the TH909 use them with EQ to smooth out the sound more to Harman tuning?

Not I, I run all natural and love it though I suppose it can be argued that source, DAC, and amplifier and the various interconnects all play some part into shaping the final sound...

It seems with the excellent drivers they have, they would beat a lot of headphones out on the market now.

I would agree but I am biased as I really enjoy the TH909s (only headphone that I ever re-purchased another after selling). For me they fit really well into my preferences and library.

 

[sch15man]

Can anyone recommend a portable dac/amp for the th909? Something like the xduoo XD05 Plus 2? Thanks!

 

[Twizzleshnizzle]

Can anyone recommend a portable dac/amp for the th909? Something like the xduoo XD05 Plus 2? Thanks!

I always enjoyed my 909 through the Chord Mojo 2. It was a good pairing. I found anything too powerful tended to pair worse. Even the Fiio BTR5 sounded good.

 

[sch15man]

Thank you for your input!