Fostex x Massdrop TH-X00 Review
Dec 11, 2015 at 1:41 AM Post #2,401 of 12,078
  I actually like these better than my Philips X2.   They make the X2 sound more veiled.  The THX seems to bring the mids forward a bit more for better guitar in rock music like Live Phish (amazing on these cans).  chunkier riffs.  The X2 is also noticeably more sssssibilant while the THX has much smoother S vocals.  Better Bass than the X2.  Deeper and more capable in the mid range and sub range.   Intimate 1st row soundstage on THX and more veiled wider soundstage on X2. 

 
That's how I felt when I had my TH600's.
 
Dec 11, 2015 at 1:56 AM Post #2,403 of 12,078
Serial # 850... Checking in. They're beautiful. I fell asleep with them on for 2-hours.:):). That's a complement. Prepared to be immersed in sound.

MacBook Pro ---> audirivana ---> resonessence herus+ --->. Thx-00.

Amazing.
 
Dec 11, 2015 at 6:04 AM Post #2,406 of 12,078
I finally got a chance to listen to these today thanks to @fjrabon and was able to compare them side by side with the TH900. The setup was m9xx as DAC into my Bakoon HPA-01M on current mode. If you search TH900 and Bakoon, you'll find universal praise for this pairing, with many saying it's the best amp for the TH900. As far as mods go, everything was stock for both headphones i.e. pads and cable.

So how do they compare? Honestly, these are very close in signature, with the TH900 being a bit more V shaped. I think a lot of people misunderstand V shape and think it means drowned out mids. It may be the case for Beats or consumer headphones, but that's not the case for the TH900 imo. Consumer headphones give a bad rep to the V shaped sound because they generally have a mid bass hump that bleeds into the mids. What sets the TH900 apart is how the bass is presented. The bass on the TH900 is more controlled compared to the TH-X00, but most notable to me is the bass boost for the TH900 is in the sub bass, whereas the TH-X00 had more of a mid bass bump. This helps the mids on the TH900 stay coherent and transparent because the mid bass isn't so boosted that it competes with the mids. Even though the mids are less forward compared to the TH-X00, it was still very clear.

I felt the TH900 was more transparent and seemed to have a blacker background as well. I think this was due to a couple things. First, the TH900 has more treble. It may bother some, but it does not bother me. Also this treble is very refined and not glaring like the treble issue I had with the AKG K812. This adds air and allows you to hear more details. Finally, I found the TH900 to have better soundstage, probably because of the cups. The TH-X00 cups surprised me in that it was quite comfortable. However, I felt it congested the sound compared to the TH900 cups.

So overall signature the TH900 to me sounds more transparent and refined due to the treble, better soundstage, and less mid bass bump to compete with the mids. The mids on the TH900 is less forward, but not in any way drowned out.

However, there is one big caveat. The sparkly treble can be polarizing and is fatiguing to some. If that's the case, the TH-X00 is probably the more appropriate headphones for you to listen to. But for those like me who don't have issues with elevated but refined treble similar to the treble of the HD800, then the TH900 are a definite upgrade over the TH-X00. Is it a $900 upgrade? Probably not, at least not in the linear sound quality per dollar sense. I think going from HD600/650 to HD800 is a bigger jump than from TH-X00 to TH900. To me the TH-X00 is 85-90% of the TH900 and you'd be really trying to get that last bit of refinement and transparency. However, I can see this difference in transparency can deter those used to TOTL headphones. I was talking to @MattTCG about why he sold his TH-X00 and I'd bet the lesser transparency of the TH-X00 compared to the likes of Ether or HD800 was a major turn off.

The verdict from me? If you have no issues with elevated refined treble and you have the money to spare, get the TH900. Otherwise the TH-X00 is a damn good value at $400, and imo, easily besting the likes of $600+ headphones like the Audioquest Nighthawk or the Audeze EL8/EL8C, and I don't mean in value here. It's comparable in value to the Hifiman HE-500 I used to have, except the TH-X00 isn't as finicky with amping which adds to the value.

Great comparison, @Sonido! I think you should post it in the TH-900 thread as well (or at least link to it).
 
Dec 11, 2015 at 6:16 AM Post #2,407 of 12,078
  Great comparison, @Sonido! I think you should post it in the TH-900 thread as well (or at least link to it).


I agree with his observations, having owned the TH-900's back in the day.
 
Someone in the TH-900 thread suggested that the THx00's may be more close to the D7000 than the TH-900.
 
It would be interesting to compare THx00 next to both the TH900 and D7000 - I'm also thinking that these are closer in sound to the D7000 if the comparison was done.
 
The treble airiness/extension, soundstage and imaging, clarity and detail of the TH-900, the technical performance puts it in another category. I don't think THx00 is quite as technically capable, and in that way, it reminds me more of the D7000. It's more focused on fun and enjoyment than absolute transparency and detail throughout all the frequencies.
 
Dec 11, 2015 at 7:07 AM Post #2,408 of 12,078
I agree with his observations, having owned the TH-900's back in the day.

Someone in the TH-900 thread suggested that the THx00's may be more close to the D7000 than the TH-900.

It would be interesting to compare THx00 next to both the TH900 and D7000 - I'm also thinking that these are closer in sound to the D7000 if the comparison was done.

The treble airiness/extension, soundstage and imaging, clarity and detail of the TH-900, the technical performance puts it in another category. I don't think THx00 is quite as technically capable, and in that way, it reminds me more of the D7000. It's more focused on fun and enjoyment than absolute transparency and detail throughout all the frequencies.

Yeah, I agree that it's the closest thing we have to a D7000 reincarnation. The D7000 was my go to can for a few years, and the THX00 definitely is closer to the D7000 than the TH900.
If I had to sum up my feelings in my listening session with @sonido (who is a super cool guy I look forward to future listening sessions with) it would be this:

I enjoyed the THX00 more while I appreciated the TH900 more.
 
Dec 11, 2015 at 7:57 AM Post #2,409 of 12,078
I finally got a chance to listen to these today thanks to fjrabon and was able to compare them side by side with the TH900. The setup was m9xx as DAC into my Bakoon HPA-01M on current mode. If you search TH900 and Bakoon, you'll find universal praise for this pairing, with many saying it's the best amp for the TH900. As far as mods go, everything was stock for both headphones i.e. pads and cable.

So how do they compare? Honestly, these are very close in signature, with the TH900 being a bit more V shaped. I think a lot of people misunderstand V shape and think it means drowned out mids. It may be the case for Beats or consumer headphones, but that's not the case for the TH900 imo. Consumer headphones give a bad rep to the V shaped sound because they generally have a mid bass hump that bleeds into the mids. What sets the TH900 apart is how the bass is presented. The bass on the TH900 is more controlled compared to the TH-X00, but most notable to me is the bass boost for the TH900 is in the sub bass, whereas the TH-X00 had more of a mid bass bump. This helps the mids on the TH900 stay coherent and transparent because the mid bass isn't so boosted that it competes with the mids. Even though the mids are less forward compared to the TH-X00, it was still very clear.

I felt the TH900 was more transparent and seemed to have a blacker background as well. I think this was due to a couple things. First, the TH900 has more treble. It may bother some, but it does not bother me. Also this treble is very refined and not glaring like the treble issue I had with the AKG K812. This adds air and allows you to hear more details. Finally, I found the TH900 to have better soundstage, probably because of the cups. The TH-X00 cups surprised me in that it was quite comfortable. However, I felt it congested the sound compared to the TH900 cups.

So overall signature the TH900 to me sounds more transparent and refined due to the treble, better soundstage, and less mid bass bump to compete with the mids. The mids on the TH900 is less forward, but not in any way drowned out.

However, there is one big caveat. The sparkly treble can be polarizing and is fatiguing to some. If that's the case, the TH-X00 is probably the more appropriate headphones for you to listen to. But for those like me who don't have issues with elevated but refined treble similar to the treble of the HD800, then the TH900 are a definite upgrade over the TH-X00. Is it a $900 upgrade? Probably not, at least not in the linear sound quality per dollar sense. I think going from HD600/650 to HD800 is a bigger jump than from TH-X00 to TH900. To me the TH-X00 is 85-90% of the TH900 and you'd be really trying to get that last bit of refinement and transparency. However, I can see this difference in transparency can deter those used to TOTL headphones. I was talking to MattTCG about why he sold his TH-X00 and I'd bet the lesser transparency of the TH-X00 compared to the likes of Ether or HD800 was a major turn off.

The verdict from me? If you have no issues with elevated refined treble and you have the money to spare, get the TH900. Otherwise the TH-X00 is a damn good value at $400, and imo, easily besting the likes of $600+ headphones like the Audioquest Nighthawk or the Audeze EL8/EL8C, and I don't mean in value here. It's comparable in value to the Hifiman HE-500 I used to have, except the TH-X00 isn't as finicky with amping which adds to the value.

To be fair, Matt does flip a lot of new headphones within days, e.g. Alpha dog.
 
Dec 11, 2015 at 9:54 AM Post #2,410 of 12,078
Anybody in the uk familiar with the Yodel customs process? Mine are at Heathrow (about 5 miles from me)

In Customs
Consignee Contacted for Payment
Thu, December 10, 2015 at 13:24
HEATHROW, GB
Hi, I'm just catching up on posts on here and have seen yours and immediately have to ask (without evening looking any further foward) have you seen any change at all, as I have exactly the same message anout Heathrow customs, and Yodel (sigh!!) have no update yet, but say it's still on target for delivery today. I'm the other side of London to you.
And how on earth are Heathrow customs meant to contact us? Or do they mean Yodel? Or Massdrop for that matter???
Cheers
 
Dec 11, 2015 at 10:15 AM Post #2,412 of 12,078
  Has anyone tried Lawton Angel Pads on them?

My girlfriend ordered them for me for one of my Christmas gifts, will report back when I get them.
 
Dec 11, 2015 at 10:25 AM Post #2,414 of 12,078
I'm still waiting for my pair.  (Montreal.)

Have you tried the Canada Post tracking number ?  I don't think that we will have an update until the package will be in Canada...


Same in Calgary. Massdrop usually takes 3-4 weeks to get here fyi.
 
Dec 11, 2015 at 10:29 AM Post #2,415 of 12,078
MD has been ignoring me for a whole week now about the lost package, UPS made horrible mistakes and MD just made it worse, if they don't reply today I will call the bank to revoke the payment. 
 

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