Just listened to some Fostex T50RPs today... WOW!

[Nevod]

Maybe ask Fostex themselves?

 

[symphonic]

It'll be great if they are the same. 2012 will be a banner year for driver harvesting!
 
I will try to find some weight scale to measure the T50 driver with. Do you have any microphones with which to measure the frequency response?
 
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Well, they are also labeled with the same model name on the pictures he showed. "FOSTER dp29 sz1d". Other people in the Ortho thread have opened their Fostex headphone and found the same driver designation. I know what Smeggy said, but I just find it hard to believe that they're different when they're the same size, weight (330g), now have the same housing (color and all, unlike what Smeggy reported), the same writing designating the model on it, etc, etc. 
 
In pictures like this one or this one, you can see that the T50RP has the exact same model printed on the driver housing. 
 
Before the MKII refresh, I'm 100% certain that they had different drivers. After the MKII refresh, I find it difficult to believe. 
 
Edit: I found evidence of what Smeggy was talking about!  It appears that the T40RP from late '10 had a different white driver housing. The T40RP from early '11 in the Headfonia article had a black driver housing just like the T50RP. We'll see what type of housing the T20RP has for me when it arrives for me. 
 


 

 

 

[satwilson]

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So it looks like I won't be using the suspension headband at all. I decided to use the padding from my messenger bag that I removed from the strap a while ago. It fits just about perfectly and stays in place once I put the headphone on so don't really have to use anything to keep it in place for now. It does improve comfort by a good amount so pressure isn't directly at the middle of the headband now.

Check out my headband mod, it's in the WIKI.
 

 

[HDMan]

After listening to the Stax with the A8 Realiser, in no way does the T50RP compare in realism or soundstage. Essentially, as good as the T50RP is for the money (modded), it is still a closed can.
 
But you all already knew the 007 would kick it's butt

 
Might have to sell my perfectly modded T50RP's now, aarrggghhhhh, plaspemy, lol. (they will be up in the for sale section soon)

 

[bluemonkeyflyer]

On second thought...why in the world would a monkey ever question a rhythmdevil?
 
I spent some time with the hand compression-friction mounted technique to temporarily hold ear pads in place vs fully installing and completely sealing the ear pads. rhythmdevils is correct and I am WRONG!  I compared some favored test tracks with both methods. Fully installing and completely sealing the ear pads is essential to achieve full SQ potential. What sounds bass light and thin with VERY firm hand compression sounds full, rich, and balanced with the pads correctly mounted. The friction method is only good for estimating the SQ.
 
Tip-of-the-Hat to rhythmdevils' experience and knowledge...and a New Year's Resolution to not get too big for my britches.  

 
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I used to do the pad friction mounted technique sometimes for pad rolling, and I think it gives you a general idea for that purpose, but I question whether you get a good enough seal to judge them properly.  Sometimes pads sound different when they're properly mounted.  You could add some temporary sticky stuff like some rope caulk (takk) or tape or something. 
 
Would also be cool to find a way to keep the cups together without using the screws.  I saw your tape trick earlier, but that leaves the screw holes empty, which can create vents into the pad enclosure and change the sound compared to having them filled with screws.  At least in other phones it does. Maybe not so much in the T50rp if it doesn't vent, or if venting doesn't make a very big difference.  You can always just plug them temporarily with some putty.  

 

 

[leeperry]

 

After listening to the Stax with the A8 Realiser, in no way does the T50RP compare in realism or soundstage. Essentially, as good as the T50RP is for the money (modded), it is still a closed can.
 
But you all already knew the 007 would kick it's butt

 
Might have to sell my perfectly modded T50RP's now, aarrggghhhhh, plaspemy, lol. (they will be up in the for sale section soon)

Don't listen to high end gear if you can't afford it

and don't fall for the "new toy" syndrom either. I've often read ppl complaining that the stat sound wasn't dynamic enough, and these things let very high voltage flow around your brain, and I'm talking about 580VDC here. The good side is that you won't have to worry about using cellphones afterwards, coz their EMF pollution is mostly peanuts in comparison ^^
 
My T50RP has its side vents fully open, it's anything but closed sounding and is as semi-open as you can get

 

[Nevod]

Well, that is sad news, but nevetheless, there may be more modding options which will bring us closer. Who knows what are real limits of the driver.

 

[HDMan]

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Don't listen to high end gear if you can't afford it

and don't fall for the "new toy" syndrom either. I've often read ppl complaining that the stat sound wasn't dynamic enough, and these things let very high voltage flow around your brain, and I'm talking about 580VDC here. The good side is that you won't have to worry about using cellphones afterwards, coz their EMF pollution is mostly peanuts in comparison ^^
 
My T50RP has its side vents fully open, it's anything but closed sounding and is as semi-open as you can get

LOL, you aint heard open sounding until you try the Stax. Trust me, the T50RP's are CLOSED in sound.
 
But yes, many Stax models are bass light unless you spend the megabucks and lash out for the best, then you get it all, plenty of bass in the 007's and 009's.
I can afford it

 
Is there any clinical studies to prove the amount of EMF, or if it is harmfull in the way it is generated from Stax earspeakers.
 
I think my computer screen drains my energy more so than headphones, and cellphones send and recieve radio signals that can pass through your brain as they move about.
 
Anyhow, this discussion has been had in other threads that I searched, couldn't see any real proof of serious EMF and some Stax listener's going on 20 years vouch for there health.
 

 

[DaBomb77766]

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Don't listen to high end gear if you can't afford it

and don't fall for the "new toy" syndrom either. I've often read ppl complaining that the stat sound wasn't dynamic enough, and these things let very high voltage flow around your brain, and I'm talking about 580VDC here. The good side is that you won't have to worry about using cellphones afterwards, coz their EMF pollution is mostly peanuts in comparison ^^
 
My T50RP has its side vents fully open, it's anything but closed sounding and is as semi-open as you can get

Well it's a high voltage but I don't think the current is very high is it?  I mean static electricity is tens of thousands of volts and it's usually not particularly dangerous.  The only danger here is that you will get shocked period, rather than having no ill effects whatsoever if you touch the cable of a normal pair of headphones.

 

[liamstrain]

Just changed to the 840 pads on my otherwise stock T50RPs... not sure I can tell a significant difference in sound. Maybe a bit better mid-bass response. Mostly they are just a hell of a lot more comfortable.
 
Thanks to my wife for the pads as a stocking stuffer.

 

[hans030390]

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LOL, you aint heard open sounding until you try the Stax. Trust me, the T50RP's are CLOSED in sound.

Not saying the T50RPs sound like open headphones, but my modded T50RPs sound more open than they do closed. 
 

 

[dogwan]

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Not saying the T50RPs sound like open headphones, but my modded T50RPs sound more open than they do closed. 
 

X2
 
In direct comparison mine sound almost as open as my HD600's on a modded M-stage. Yet still not quite as open sounding as either my K701's or K401's. I find that pretty impressive.
 
-Dogwan

 

[HDMan]

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X2
 
In direct comparison mine sound almost as open as my HD600's on a modded M-stage. Yet still not quite as open sounding as either my K701's or K401's. I find that pretty impressive.
 
-Dogwan

Well the 007's and the K1000's are in a different league, so if the K701's sound more open then?
 
I admit that I have got mine pretty close to sounding open, when listening to them for a while you think that, but when you switch to something highend and open, then the apparent becomes obvious.
 

 

[dogwan]

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Well the 007's and the K1000's are in a different league, so if the K701's sound more open then?
 
I admit that I have got mine pretty close to sounding open, when listening to them for a while you think that, but when you switch to something highend and open, then the apparent becomes obvious.
 

Yeah, well K701's and HD600's are about as "highend" as I can get on a student budget.  Of course nothing gets as "highend and open" as my highly modded servo-driven Acoustat full range electrostat's (acquired before I had to return to being a student and before I started getting into headphones), but that would be comparing apples and oranges. Sort of like comparing K1000's and DIY modded T50rp's.

 
 
 
Seriously though, I was merely affirming that mine have a deceivingly open sound for what they are. And that is in comparison to my humble gear.
 
 
 
 

 

[devouringone3]

Can I ask quickly if there is any harm (sonic degradation or increased oxidization type of harm) in covering with plasticine the exposed orange part of the driver, on the baffle, where the wire contacts are being made. I don't think I ever seen that on any pictures posted here... I'm about to damp my baffle and while at it I'm thinking of plasting 100% of the baffle's surface and leaving only the driver exposed to air.