[KimbaWLion]

Not that I own a LOT of headphones but I currently have Senn HD600s and Audeze LCD 2.1s. I have a few different IEMS too.
 
I joined the drop partly because of the hype of Fostex Headphones. I keep reading and reading but I am truly wondering if I truly gain anything.
$399 for me, as well as a lot of others, is serious change. I will never be able to go into the super high end and that is okay with me.
 
What it comes down to for me is do I gain sound that I will really enjoy. From what I see here I should. Opinions are truly welcomed.  
I just want to make sure that the $399 is well spent money. The thread has a variety of things to say on this. I also have to wonder if saving for something else is a better choice too!
 
As I said some help is appreciated.

 

[Alchemist007]

I'm considering passing on these and saving for something even better, I was thinking electrostatic but I'll have to do my research. I like my bass and soundstage but I want the vocals to not get as muddled as they seem to with my X1, was thinking X2 but they have the QC issues that I can't fully invest a couple hundred at with confidence...might as well take that as initiative to leap farther.

 

[fjrabon]

  I'm considering passing on these and saving for something even better, I was thinking electrostatic but I'll have to do my research. I like my bass and soundstage but I want the vocals to not get as muddled as they seem to with my X1, was thinking X2 but they have the QC issues that I can't fully invest a couple hundred at with confidence...might as well take that as initiative to leap farther.

it's a big leap into the world of electrostats, good luck.  I've almost pulled the trigger on a $5000 or so Stax SR009 setup a few times, but just can't bring myself to spend that much on a setup that I can only really listen to in a single spot in my home, and would thus make up about 10% of my listening.  But the sound simply stuns me every time I get a chance to hear them.  Lower end electrostat setups, I've been very meh on them.  Even the SR007, I wasn't *that* crazy about.  But the SR009, man, it will change your headphone life once you hear it.  There are times when I almost regret ever listening to one.  To me though, if you are going to go electrostat, just step up and get a SR009 with a BHSE or KGSSHV Carbon.

 

[1800yolk]

hi fjrabon /img/forum/go_quote.gif
i see that you own the Shure SRH-840s. those were my first "real" cans, and i loved them a whole bunch. I know it's in a completely different price range, but would you say they're similar bang/buck? is there anything the 840s have over the x00? thanks!

 

[Billheiser]

I'm wondering how right is it to be comparing these to the X2? Closed vs open...? Aren't opens considered better, or is the th-x00 just that much better?

I enjoy both TH-X00 and X2.  If I had to choose just one, it would be the X2.  YMMV.

 

[fjrabon]

  hi fjrabon /img/forum/go_quote.gif
i see that you own the Shure SRH-840s. those were my first "real" cans, and i loved them a whole bunch. I know it's in a completely different price range, but would you say they're similar bang/buck? is there anything the 840s have over the x00? thanks!

Yes, I'd say similar bang for the buck.  I still use my SRH840 when I need a bit more isolation than the THX00 provides, or if i just want to throw it in a messenger bag for a starbucks mobile office session.  The SRH840 is certainly more durable than the THX00 (the THX00 tends to get white "ding marks" pretty easily if you don't baby it.  And it definitely isolates better than the THX00.  Soundwise the THX00 is pretty clearly superior, though the SRH840 has smoother transitions from bass to mids to treble, as it's more of a traditional U shape than the sort of "w" shape the THX00 is.  The SRH840 rings a bit more than the THX00, so that makes the THX00 a bit faster and a bit better imaging accuracy than the SRH840.  I still love both, but if I had to choose, I wouldn't even think for a second about picking the THX00.
 
from my review:
 
= is, well, equal
> means perceivably better, but not a major difference
>> means much better
>>> is substantially superior
>>>> + is “in a completely different league”  
 
THX00 Vs Shure SRH840
 
Linearity: SRH840>THX00
SubBass (clarity, smoothness, control, linearity, extension): THX00>>>>>SRH840
MidBass (clarity, smoothness, control and linearity): THX00>SRH840
Midrange(clarity, smoothness, control and linearity): SRH840>THX00
Treble (clarity, smoothness, control, linearity and extension): THX00=SRH840 (THX00 a touch more treble extension, SRH840 a bit more linear)
Soundstage: THX00>>SRH840
L/R Imaging: THX00 > SRH840
Depth/layering imaging: THX00 > SRH840
Speed: THX00 >> SRH840
Comfort: THX00 >> SRH840
Isolation: SRH840 >>> THX00

 

[bavinck]

[COLOR=3B3B3B]Yes, I'd say similar bang for the buck.  I still use my SRH840 when I need a bit more isolation than the THX00 provides, or if i just want to throw it in a messenger bag for a starbucks mobile office session.  The SRH840 is certainly more durable than the THX00 (the THX00 tends to get white "ding marks" pretty easily if you don't baby it.  And it definitely isolates better than the THX00.  Soundwise the THX00 is pretty clearly superior, though the SRH840 has smoother transitions from bass to mids to treble, as it's more of a traditional U shape than the sort of "w" shape the THX00 is.  The SRH840 rings a bit more than the THX00, so that makes the THX00 a bit faster and a bit better imaging accuracy than the SRH840.  I still love both, but if I had to choose, I wouldn't even think for a second about picking the THX00.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=3B3B3B]from my review:[/COLOR]

[COLOR=3B3B3B]= is, well, equal[/COLOR]
[COLOR=3B3B3B]> means perceivably better, but not a major difference[/COLOR]
[COLOR=3B3B3B]>> means much better[/COLOR]
[COLOR=3B3B3B]>>> is substantially superior[/COLOR]
[COLOR=3B3B3B]>>>> + is “in a completely different league”  [/COLOR]
 


[COLOR=3B3B3B]THX00 Vs Shure SRH840[/COLOR]
 


[COLOR=3B3B3B]Linearity: SRH840>THX00[/COLOR]
[COLOR=3B3B3B]SubBass (clarity, smoothness, control, linearity, extension): THX00>>>>>SRH840[/COLOR]
[COLOR=3B3B3B]MidBass (clarity, smoothness, control and linearity): THX00>SRH840[/COLOR]
[COLOR=3B3B3B]Midrange(clarity, smoothness, control and linearity): SRH840>THX00[/COLOR]
[COLOR=3B3B3B]Treble (clarity, smoothness, control, linearity and extension): THX00=SRH840 (THX00 a touch more treble extension, SRH840 a bit more linear)[/COLOR]
[COLOR=3B3B3B]Soundstage: THX00>>SRH840[/COLOR]
[COLOR=3B3B3B]L/R Imaging: THX00 > SRH840[/COLOR]
[COLOR=3B3B3B]Depth/layering imaging: THX00 > SRH840[/COLOR]
[COLOR=3B3B3B]Speed: THX00 >> SRH840[/COLOR]
[COLOR=3B3B3B]Comfort: THX00 >> SRH840[/COLOR]
[COLOR=3B3B3B]Isolation: SRH840 >>> THX00[/COLOR]

I have always heard the sr840 as linear, but YMMV. The treble on the 840 is its strong point imo.

 

[daigo]

I ended up cancelling my participation in the drop after a morning of soul searching and research.  My stable of closed phones already hit on most of what these might offer so it was best to let someone else snap a set of these up.  My wallet thanks me for my restraint in the end.

 

[fjrabon]

I have always heard the sr840 as linear, but YMMV. The treble on the 840 is its strong point imo.

yeah, I think the SRH840 are a bit warm, but much closer to linear than the THX00.  I go back and forth on which treble I like better between the THX00 and the SRH840, but they're both probably my two favorite trebles on closed headphones.  The 840 has a bit of treble overshoot, which can ring a tiny bit, making its treble a touch grainy to my ears, whereas the THX00 treble is a bit smoother, though still very present.  The transition from upper midrange to lower treble on the THX00 is a tiny bit problematic, but the middle and upper midrange are gloriously smooth, detailed and present without even a hint of grain or harshness, despite the somewhat elevated 8-10kHz peak.

 

[burritoboy9984]

The angled BW are a bit smaller than the non angled ones according to description on Amazon UK and some people mentioned that they didn't fit the ring. Not tried myself.

 
I have the angled BW. They are a tad smaller, but will stretch around fine.

 

[Barndoor]

I have the angled BW. They are a tad smaller, but will stretch around fine.

How did you get on with the stock pads and how do the angled pads compare to you?

 

[paradoxology]

Well, I'm in. I hope the second batch is qualitatively as good as the first, both cosmetically and in terms of the sound. Fingers crossed! 

 

[AzraelDarkangel]

Very tempting, but I don't get paid for 2 days (probably be sold out) and I'm wanting to get Audio-Technica AD1000x, magical vocals.

 

[Bostonears]

I'd be more inclined to buy these if they were higher impedance. I have no intention of ever taking phones like these on the go, and I can barely crack the volume knob on my desktop amps when using low impedance phones.

 

[1800yolk]

  Yes, I'd say similar bang for the buck.  I still use my SRH840 when I need a bit more isolation than the THX00 provides, or if i just want to throw it in a messenger bag for a starbucks mobile office session.  The SRH840 is certainly more durable than the THX00 (the THX00 tends to get white "ding marks" pretty easily if you don't baby it.  And it definitely isolates better than the THX00.  Soundwise the THX00 is pretty clearly superior, though the SRH840 has smoother transitions from bass to mids to treble, as it's more of a traditional U shape than the sort of "w" shape the THX00 is.  The SRH840 rings a bit more than the THX00, so that makes the THX00 a bit faster and a bit better imaging accuracy than the SRH840.  I still love both, but if I had to choose, I wouldn't even think for a second about picking the THX00.
 
from my review:
 
= is, well, equal
> means perceivably better, but not a major difference
>> means much better
>>> is substantially superior
>>>> + is “in a completely different league”  
 
THX00 Vs Shure SRH840
 
Linearity: SRH840>THX00
SubBass (clarity, smoothness, control, linearity, extension): THX00>>>>>SRH840
MidBass (clarity, smoothness, control and linearity): THX00>SRH840
Midrange(clarity, smoothness, control and linearity): SRH840>THX00
Treble (clarity, smoothness, control, linearity and extension): THX00=SRH840 (THX00 a touch more treble extension, SRH840 a bit more linear)
Soundstage: THX00>>SRH840
L/R Imaging: THX00 > SRH840
Depth/layering imaging: THX00 > SRH840
Speed: THX00 >> SRH840
Comfort: THX00 >> SRH840
Isolation: SRH840 >>> THX00

wow, that is quite comprehensive! head-fi should really have you on the payroll
 
it's a tough choice, because i listen to a lot of hip hop, where that subBass would be fantastic to have, but sonically is all over the place. I also enjoy lots of indie bands, where the upper midrange you mentioned in your long review might suffer. at the same time, while i loved the 840s, i grew out of them and think i need a step up, and as far as bang/buck goes buying a $400 pair of headphones, i probably can't beat the x00. So I think I'll stay in the drop. Thanks for the input! I will hold onto my T50RPs and spend time modding them into a linear, neutral sound while i'm waiting on the x00, and when they come i'll have something to compare them to. sadly the 840s broke due to wear and tear. my fault, not theirs.