Fostex x Massdrop TH-X00 Review

[marts30]

  oh man I am gona get soooo much hate, but I think the th-x00 are hyped to the moon. They are good headphones, yes! - very good, but everyone made it sound like they beat the crap out of headphones costing 3x 4x 5x times more (open or closed, heck ppl were bring up lcd -2's vs th-x00), that is not the case, seriously. Just speaking sound quality wise, they are not above (comparing a semi closed to open) 560, lcd-x. Again they are very good value, and build it excellent - it just seems that everyone thinks they can be compared to headphones costing several several times more. They are excellent headphones for the 399$ mark, but so are HD 600, X2. 
Just my opinion, feel free to disagree.  

 
I think they're great, and competing with cans costing 3-4x as much is just about preference. I paid 2x more for the HD800 and I didn't like them much... TH-X00 suit me much more.
 
Then you have some who own both the TH-900 and TH-X00 and say they are remarkably similar, despite the 900 costing 3x more. Same build, smoother sound. Then you have some who exaggerate the differences because of said prices.

 

[fjrabon]

oh man I am gona get soooo much hate, but I think the th-x00 are hyped to the moon. They are good headphones, yes! - very good, but everyone made it sound like they beat the crap out of headphones costing 3x 4x 5x times more (open or closed, heck ppl were bring up lcd -2's vs th-x00), that is not the case, seriously. Just speaking sound quality wise, they are not above (comparing a semi closed to open) 560, lcd-x. Again they are very good value, and build it excellent - it just seems that everyone thinks they can be compared to headphones costing several several times more. They are excellent headphones for the 399$ mark, but so are HD 600, X2. 
Just my opinion, feel free to disagree.  

I think the general consensus has been that they're incredible values for headphones in their category: closed, bass heavy headphones. I don't remember seeing anybody say they're objectively better than Audeze, HE560, etc. a few have said they prefer the signature, but that's preference rather than objective outperformance.

Yes they're going to have trouble competing with the LCD3. The LCD costs 5X as much, requires a substantially more expensive amp and is open.

I prefer my HE400i to the THX00. But I also realize that comparing an open, planar to a bass heavy closed headphone and saying the THX00 disappoints in comparison is a bit silly. I can't use the HE400i at work. I can use the THX00 at work and it provides a very fun can.

Some people like them a lot personally, but can you show the people who you are claiming said these are better in an objective sense than the HE560, LCDX, HD800, etc?

 

[wahsmoh]

They're probably the best closed headphones that have came out in the past 5-10 years though. Judging by what people have posted, it has been a long time since a reasonably priced woodied closed dynamic headphone has been launched. Think back to the D2000, D5000, D7000 or the ATH-W1000 series and then there really hasn't been anything else. When people imagine themselves spending under $500 for a closed-back reference wood headphone that is brand new and Fostex have struck gold.
 
Also, if you compare the TH-X00 to an open dynamic headphone like the HD600 which costs between $300-399 brand new then you're still talking about a killer deal. The HD600s are some of the best headphones ever made, but even they don't do what the TH-X00 is capable of doing. That is masterfully replicating the sound of any genre of music.
 
The HD600s don't have enough sub-bass to be capable of handling modern dance and hip-hop music. They are better for genre specific music like rock, acoustic, or classical where you don't have electronic basslines but real instruments. The TH-X00 fill a void where people want headphones that are "reference" but are tuned so that modern music can sound enjoyable.

 

[fjrabon]

They're probably the best closed headphones that have came out in the past 5-10 years though. Judging by what people have posted, it has been a long time since a reasonably priced woodied closed dynamic headphone has been launched. Think back to the D2000, D5000, D7000 or the ATH-W1000 series and then there really hasn't been anything else. When people imagine themselves spending under $500 for a closed-back reference wood headphone that is brand new and Fostex have struck gold.

Also, if you compare the TH-X00 to an open dynamic headphone like the HD600 which costs between $300-399 brand new then you're still talking about a killer deal. The HD600s are some of the best headphones ever made, but even they don't do what the TH-X00 is capable of doing. That is masterfully replicating the sound of any genre of music.

The HD600s don't have enough sub-bass to be capable of handling modern dance and hip-hop music. They are better for genre specific music like rock, acoustic, or classical where you don't have electronic basslines but real instruments. The TH-X00 fill a void where people want headphones that are "reference" but are tuned so that modern music can sound enjoyable.

I agree with the sentiment overall, but I think the Ether C's might want to argue with being the best closed headphones in the last 5-10 years .

 

[The Third]

I think the general consensus has been that they're incredible values for headphones in their category: closed, bass heavy headphones. I don't remember seeing anybody say they're objectively better than Audeze, HE560, etc. a few have said they prefer the signature, but that's preference rather than objective outperformance.

Yes they're going to have trouble competing with the LCD3. The LCD costs 5X as much, requires a substantially more expensive amp and is open.

I prefer my HE400i to the THX00. But I also realize that comparing an open, planar to a bass heavy closed headphone and saying the THX00 disappoints in comparison is a bit silly. I can't use the HE400i at work. I can use the THX00 at work and it provides a very fun can.

Some people like them a lot personally, but can you show the people who you are claiming said these are better in an objective sense than the HE560, LCDX, HD800, etc?

Excuse me for constantly going off-topic, but if one prefers the planar sound, would a HE-500/HE-560 be as good a tool for music production as a HD800?

 

[lvince95]

I agree with the sentiment overall, but I think the Ether C's might want to argue with being the best closed headphones in the last 5-10 years .

There's always a strange lack of LFF and more recently the ZMF when talking about closed backs. Not sure about the Ether C, but the LFF and the ZMF are a class above the Fostex I have in my books.

 

[Haris Javed]

I think the general consensus has been that they're incredible values for headphones in their category: closed, bass heavy headphones. I don't remember seeing anybody say they're objectively better than Audeze, HE560, etc. a few have said they prefer the signature, but that's preference rather than objective outperformance.

Yes they're going to have trouble competing with the LCD3. The LCD costs 5X as much, requires a substantially more expensive amp and is open.

I prefer my HE400i to the THX00. But I also realize that comparing an open, planar to a bass heavy closed headphone and saying the THX00 disappoints in comparison is a bit silly. I can't use the HE400i at work. I can use the THX00 at work and it provides a very fun can.

Some people like them a lot personally, but can you show the people who you are claiming said these are better in an objective sense than the HE560, LCDX, HD800, etc?

 
sure, why the heck not. I don't mean ppl on Headfi, I mean ppl in general.
 
I am not going to list the site/s I don't know the headfi rules, and I don't want to start anything. I am just giving my .02 cents.
 
"I am currently comparing the Fostex X00 with my modded LCD 2.2. Set up is Gumby into BW1 through ISO-MAX (Balanced for the Audez'e and SE for the X00).... Call me crazy but the Fostex kills the 2.2 in the lows and overall soundstage. Funny thing, for the same level on the volume pot the volume in the 2.2 is about 75% as that of the X00. Any thoughts?"
 
"Man, cannot believe how much fun and engaging this HP is. In 2014 I bought and sold the TH 900 and I was second guessing this for a long while. At less than 40% of that price, I get this - lovely low-end without disturbing the mids and certainly not as sibilant as the 900. Pairing it with the BW is comparitively more neutral than is pairing with the Liquid Carbon (my two cents)"
 
both headphones above are 2 - 3 times more, someone even compared it to an HE-X, can be found easily by googling it, I am saying that yes they are excellent headphones for the money, I think the build alone is phenomenal, even the sound is Excellent! - but I don't understand where the leaps and bound analogies come from.

 

[snusBOX]

Just heard this tune on the FM in the car grabbing some dinner, anyone that could see how it plays on the TH-X00?
 
First time my original car speakers could not handle a track lol. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYM-RJwSGQ8

 

[wahsmoh]

I agree with the sentiment overall, but I think the Ether C's might want to argue with being the best closed headphones in the last 5-10 years .

Hey that's fair. I heard the Ether Cs once and they really did do a lot for me. I was amazed at the spaciousness and speed of the drivers. I would love to compare them with the TH-X00. The Ether C didn't suffer from the typical T50RP driver haze. There has always been a problem with "air" when I hear any T50RP mod. They don't sound as open as they could and maybe that is why Dan went through the labor of modifying the Alpha Prime driver completely with the V-planar knurling and manufacturing new drivers for Ether and Ether C.

 

[fjrabon]

   
sure, why the heck not. I don't mean ppl on Headfi, I mean ppl in general.
 
I am not going to list the site/s I don't know the headfi rules, and I don't want to start anything. I am just giving my .02 cents.
 
"I am currently comparing the Fostex X00 with my modded LCD 2.2. Set up is Gumby into BW1 through ISO-MAX (Balanced for the Audez'e and SE for the X00).... Call me crazy but the Fostex kills the 2.2 in the lows and overall soundstage. Funny thing, for the same level on the volume pot the volume in the 2.2 is about 75% as that of the X00. Any thoughts?"
 
"Man, cannot believe how much fun and engaging this HP is. In 2014 I bought and sold the TH 900 and I was second guessing this for a long while. At less than 40% of that price, I get this - lovely low-end without disturbing the mids and certainly not as sibilant as the 900. Pairing it with the BW is comparitively more neutral than is pairing with the Liquid Carbon (my two cents)"
 
both headphones above are 2 - 3 times more, someone even compared it to an HE-X, can be found easily by googling it, I am saying that yes they are excellent headphones for the money, I think the build alone is phenomenal, even the sound is Excellent! - but I don't understand where the leaps and bound analogies come from.

1) he said "the lows and soundstage" only, not overall performance.  I don't think he said "the THX00 objectively beats the LCD2.2 and is an objectively better headphone."  Yes, the THX00 has more bass than the LCD2.2, that's pretty easily verifiable with FR graphs.  And I think the soundstage of the pre-fazor LCD2.2 is pretty bad, so that's not that big of a deal either.  If he'd said that the THX00 was more detailed, or had a smoother response than the LCD2.2, sure, fine, object to that, but you're complaining about something that is literally factually verifiably true.  The THX00 does have more bass than the LCD2.2
 
2) The THX00 is certainly less sibilant than the TH900, again, easily verifiable as fact by FR graphs.  He didn't say the THX00 is objectively better, just stated a clear fact, that they have more mids and less sibilance than the TH900.  The guy apparently couldn't handle the sibilance of the TH900 and lack of mids.  Lots of people can't.  That doesn't mean they're objectively awful headphones, simply that if very intense treble isn't for you, I'd steer away.  Many people would and should prefer the THX00, it is certainly more neutral than the TH900.  Now the TH900 has inarguably better sub bass and soundstage than the THX00, but that doesn't matter if the treble is like an icepick to you, which it is to some.

 

[fjrabon]

 
Hey that's fair. I heard the Ether Cs once and they really did do a lot for me. I was amazed at the spaciousness and speed of the drivers. I would love to compare them with the TH-X00. The Ether C didn't suffer from the typical T50RP driver haze. There has always been a problem with "air" when I hear any T50RP mod. They don't sound as open as they could and maybe that is why Dan went through the labor of modifying the Alpha Prime driver completely with the V-planar knurling and manufacturing new drivers for Ether and Ether C.

the Ether C isn't a T50RP mod is it?  I thought both Ethers were from scratch Mr. Speakers designs?

 

[wahsmoh]

 
the Ether C isn't a T50RP mod is it?  I thought both Ethers were from scratch Mr. Speakers designs?

I didn't say it was, but I mentioned that it sounded better than the T50RP mods that Mr Speakers is known for making as well as other manufacturers. I said though at the end Ether and Ether C were done because of the T50RP flaws.

 

[fjrabon]

  Excuse me for constantly going off-topic, but if one prefers the planar sound, would a HE-500/HE-560 be as good a tool for music production as a HD800?

sure.  Though I suppose it also depends on what you mean by "music production"
 
I think, in general, mixing with any headphone is a bad idea.  Tracking doesn't need a good headphone, and usually needs a closed headphone to avoid mic leakage.  editing needs high detail, in which case the HD800, HE560, HE500 are all great.

 

[chenjy9]

There's always a strange lack of LFF and more recently the ZMF when talking about closed backs. Not sure about the Ether C, but the LFF and the ZMF are a class above the Fostex I have in my books.

I might get some hate for this, but I like the TH-X00 a lot more than the ZMF Vibro. I have never listened to the LFF yet though.

 

[lvince95]

I might get some hate for this, but I like the TH-X00 a lot more than the ZMF Vibro. I have never listened to the LFF yet though.

You're fine mate, we all have different tastes. Never heard the Vibro, only Blackwood and Omni. I preferred the LFF over them though