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

[dirkpitt45]

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What in particular don't you think you'll like about the HD650s?
 

Some people say they're less detailed. And the slow bass was also something I'd like to avoid, I could really notice that with the m50s when I had them at the same time as the hd600s. I really like the detail I can get from the hd600s and DBA-02s, but the hd600s have even less bass the dba-02s lol. I've never actually tried the hd650s, originally I was going to buy them, but then picked up the 600s on impulse and I am pretty happy with them. I was going to decide what to do once I build the bottlehead crack I ordered, but if these Fostex's can possibly have near the 600s detail with more impact/bass presence then I'll be a happy camper. 

 

[maverickronin]

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Some people say they're less detailed and more lush and musical. And the slow bass was also something I'd like to avoid, I could really notice that with the m50s when I had them at the same time as the hd600s. I really like the detail I can get from the hd600s and DBA-02s, but the hd600s have even less bass the dba-02s lol. I've never actually tried the hd650s, originally I was going to buy them, but then picked up the 600s on impulse and I am pretty happy with them. I was going to decide what to do once I build the bottlehead crack I ordered, but if these Fostex's can possibly have as near the 600s detail with more impact/bass presence then I'll be a happy camper. 

My T50RPs don't have any of those problems.  The mids are just right.  They make things that sound lush which are supposed to sound lush (delicate female vocals) and things that are supposed to sound harsh (death metal growls) sound properly harsh and don't get smoothed over like on my HD650s or SE530s.  I'm not exactly sure I'd call the mids more "detailed" (I never really liked that description) but they definitely have less grain and a more natural tone and timbre.  I'd be more comfortable calling the treble more detailed but that could just be a perception of less grain.  They also lack the peaky highs that a lot of dynamics have.  That's a very good thing for me and its the reason the HD650s used to be my headphone of choice.  The bass extends far deeper than my HD650s and it has better definition and impact as well.  As far as I can tell its just as fast as it's supposed to be.  I don't really think you'll be able to turn them into basshead 'phones (not sure if you're after that) but they can sure put out more bass than you'll get from a typical "audiophile" headphone.
 
Of course all of this really depends on how you mod them, so YMMV a lot.

 

[leeperry]

Well yeah, it's good to repeat again that this phone is far from PNP. Stock, they really sound meh...and if you have big ears, the earpads will be too narrow IME.

 

[dirkpitt45]

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My T50RPs don't have any of those problems.  The mids are just right.  They make things that sound lush which are supposed to sound lush (delicate female vocals) and things that are supposed to sound harsh (death metal growls) sound properly harsh and don't get smoothed over like on my HD650s or SE530s.  I'm not exactly sure I'd call the mids more "detailed" (I never really liked that description) but they definitely have less grain and a more natural tone and timbre.  I'd be more comfortable calling the treble more detailed but that could just be a perception of less grain.  They also lack the peaky highs that a lot of dynamics have.  That's a very good thing for me and its the reason the HD650s used to be my headphone of choice.  The bass extends far deeper than my HD650s and it has better definition and impact as well.  As far as I can tell its just as fast as it's supposed to be.  I don't really think you'll be able to turn them into basshead 'phones (not sure if you're after that) but they can sure put out more bass than you'll get from a typical "audiophile" headphone.
 
Of course all of this really depends on how you mod them, so YMMV a lot.

Well you've just convinced me to buy a pair Pretty much exactly what I'm looking for, and tweaking just adds to the fun! 

 

[joelpearce]

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Ladies and gentlemen, I proudly present:  RASTAPANTS.
 
The only detail this doesn't show is that I have covered the inside vent with the same stiff poly felt that I use on the back of the driver, and it is 75% closed off by electrical tape.  I spent a fair bit of time tuning the bass by having the electrical tape outside the vent, and going from no to full coverage.  This gave me the best bass performance, with good soundstage.  Sounds quite nice on piano, vocals, guitar, jazz.  Still absorbing how large symphonic sounds but chamber is very nice.
 
And yes, they rock with reggae...  Listening to Burning Spear Live in Paris as I type...
 

Thanks.
 
Covering 75% of the vents was the last little piece for me.  I've just spent the last hour going through as much of my music as I can with these.  I keep finding ways to mod mine that I like, but then I find something that feels a bit off--some frequency that isn't right that messes up bass or male vocals or female vocals or busts up clarity in the high end.
 
I've had more chills in the past hours then I ever have since getting into this hobby.  LeePerry would probably be unhappy with the soundstage, but this is the first time I've gotten midrange as sweet as some of the other orthos I've heard, without losing the more clear and extended highs, and I have bass response right down to 20hz.
 
It's quite similar to what Mr Speakers has done.    In front of the driver, it still has the suede but the driver is bare.  There is a single piece of felt on the back of the driver, over a piece of Micropore on the center square only (as a bit of a reflex dot).  I still haven't tried Paxmate, but I have my defoiled Dynamat on the cup, and filling those baffle holes.  This sounded excellent, but they still sounded a bit raw, and some of the frequencies were blurring together.  Vocals sometimes sounded a bit distant or muddy.  Covering some of the vent holes has put in the last piece of the puzzle.  They still have a solid quantity of bass, but it's punchy--maybe even Ultrasone punchy.  The mids are now front and center, maybe even forward.  The highs are clean and clear without being harsh.  The soundstage is narrow but deep, creating a really cohesive sound structure.
 
These are starting to take on the best qualities of the other headphones I've owned.
 
Also, this is the change that really makes these cans sound like orthos again.  They are really fast and really smooth.
 
 

 

[wualta]

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Could anyone tell me when the Mk2 were introduced? and if there is much of a difference compared to the MK1

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AFIK the only difference is that the MKII have better designed pads that don't let all the bass leak out.  The MKI pads are wrinkly and the MKII pads are smooth.  

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I think it was 2009.

Our Russian friend PDOT showed us the new pads in early 2008, so we suspect the switchover was earlier than that, probably mid-2007. It might have been even earlier; we just don't know. So any headphone from 2008 should be fine, assuming the pads are original.
As maverickronin says, the old pads had a delicate, papery surface texture and were very lightweight, with a squarish cross section. Rumor has it that the old pads had a durability problem in pro use, thus the switch. Whether Fostex actually intended to reveal the bass capabilities of the new tiny driver, we'll never know. MR is also correct in saying that the only thing "Mk 2" about the current T50RP is the pads. The headphone itself hasn't changed since its intro 9 years ago, not in any significant way, at least.

 

[dorkvader]

"Just listened to some Fostex T50RP's today... Wow!"
My order from BH came in just now. Apparantly my room-mate (who was still asleep at 1:30 when I came in) slept through UPS delivering them, so I had to pick them up from the neighbors.
 
@Dirkpitt45, Maverickronin convinced me to get them, too. Get yours soon, before they sell out again, and you have to wait months and months for them to come back in stock.
 
Since my only basis for comparison is an AD900 and an SR-225i, I must say I'm impressed by the amount of isolation. I got these for portable use (yeah, that's right. I think I'll build a good buffer sometime soon.) so I'll be pretty happy that they'll block out those awful buses.
 
Like any new headphone, I fire up an album I know to see how they compare with how I remember it. In this case, it was Nightfall in Middle Earth (1998) (2007 remaster) by Blind Guardian. It's been a few months since I last heard it, and the album has a lot of cool sounds on it. I am running it out of my rockboxed sansa fuze.
 
I was pretty impressed. They're way more bassy than my other headphones, but it's not too overpowering. I imagine it won't take too long to get used to.
 
The #1 issue that I have with them is that the very top of my head is a little uncomfortable against the headband. The pads are very comfy, however.
 
If anyone is in the VT area you can expect to see me walking absolutely everywhere with these. I'm impressed with the sound, especially in comparison with the price. It fits the genres I enjoy for portable use (Hard rock, metal, anything with heavy drumming and noisy guitars: It helps me keep my walking pace up).
 
They look pretty sturdy (so they can wither the slings and arrows of being crammed into my backpack on a frequent basis) so they exceed expectations. Hooray Fostex! Lastly, they will probably turn heads with their awesome styling.

 

[dirkpitt45]

I ordered a pair before I posted that Though B&H said my credit card address I entered didn't match the one listed on my credit card. Even though I've used that card to order from them at least 3 other times... Have to call them now, hopefully I don't miss out on them since they're sold out already. 
 
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"Just listened to some Fostex T50RP's today... Wow!"
My order from BH came in just now. Apparantly my room-mate (who was still asleep at 1:30 when I came in) slept through UPS delivering them, so I had to pick them up from the neighbors.
 
@Dirkpitt45, Maverickronin convinced me to get them, too. Get yours soon, before they sell out again, and you have to wait months and months for them to come back in stock.
 

 

[maverickronin]

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The #1 issue that I have with them is that the very top of my head is a little uncomfortable against the headband. The pads are very comfy, however.

I got a replacement HD580 Headband cushion from Sennheiser for my pair since the headband is pretty uncomfortable stock.  The pad is only $8 but its another $8 for shipping and then they waited two weeks before they mailed it in a bubble mailer marked for about a $1.50 in postage.  Along with my extra large earpads they make it decently comfy despite all the extra weight of the dynamat I added.
 
You might want to look around for another place that sells it or find a different solution though.

 

[leeperry]

The #1 issue that I have with them is that the very top of my head is a little uncomfortable against the headband.

bend it manually to a sharper angle, and you'll be just fine.

they're sold out already.

they're available in other shops, but you'll have to buy two pairs to get free shipping: http://www.proaudiosolutions.com/product-p/t50rp.htm

 

[Graphicism]

Today I received my Fostex T50RPs...
 
Impressive for the price, quite neutral across the spectrum with decent extension. Rather light in bass and slightly rolled off highs in comparison to my DT880s, the midrange is slightly more forward which I love. I'll listen to these a few more days before I attempt any mods, I suppose my aim would be for more bass impact and treble detail as long as they don't turn shrill or metallic sounding.
 
Initially I hooked these up to my tube amp and the left speaker didn't work at all, minutes later the left turned flatulent with bass and after about 5-10 minutes sorted it's self out and balanced quite nicely. Anyway I immediately tried them on my solid state and they sounded fine... was this because my tubes needed to power up... I'm unsure because it takes a matter of seconds with my DT880; albeit I usually wait 10, 15 minutes before any critical listening.
 
Furthermore they're rated at 50ohm and yet unlike my other low-ohm headphones they don't humm with the tubes, the only other headphone to be silent like this in my 600ohm Beyers, what's going on there?
 
Well all-in-all I'm impressed and looking forward to hearing these cans change with time/mods.
 

 

[tdockweiler]

I finally got my pair received on Thursday to exactly how I want them. I think. I'm ashamed to say I was up until nearly 4 trying every kind of configuration I could come up with. On my first attempt they sounded absolutely horrible. I didn't do enough research into this beforehand, but did apply blu-tack etc to the baffle and back of the cup. I also removed the foam on the vent. I was so disgusted with the results at first. I was going to use some Dynamat but I'm glad I didn't. Online that stuff costs only $19, but locally it's $30. I bought some because I'm stupid, but didn't use it and returned it for my $30.
 
I didn't have any felt at the time, so I used some thick foam. It's the kind you'd see in a $10 "memory foam" pillow. Believe it or not, it actually made them sound very very good! I was shocked at the difference in sound. They then sounded nearly as good as everyone was saying. Since my ears were so fatigued I went to bed.
 
Today I picked up some different types of felt and even some special tape (killed the mids, so I removed it). My plan was to start over and keep the blu-tack on.
 
First thing I did is to make sure I didn't go overboard on the blu-tack. I then put some felt like material inside the cup. It's Sham-Wow type stuff, but it didn't cost me $20! BTW they even sell that stuff at the dollar store! I put one piece down and then checked to see what it sounded like. Not good at all and it didn't "Wow" me like the night before. What the heck is going on?
 
One thing strange I've noticed is that when you close the side vents or add the vent foam, it kills the sound. At least for me. Mine is open. I tried closing parts of the vent to get a change in the sound, but I liked it fully open.
 
So I opened the headphone back up and added some more felt. Not overkill at all. Once again the sound just wasn't anything special. Still pretty good. I also noticed that changing out different earpad backings made a difference in the sound. I tried some AKG foam behind the earpad, but it killed the mids and made them bassier. I have some speaker fabric and that seemed to work the best, but I like them kind of without anything over them.
 
So anyway, the sound didn't wow me at all. Perhaps that foam I used before really made them sound great? Couldn't hurt to try that again.
 
I made a round cutout of some foam and cut out a square in the bottom to keep the vent open. This piece of foam is almost touching the back of the driver. Still quite thin.
 
I put everything together and the sound that really impressed me the night before was back! It's not the Aska foam and it's much lighter, but just as thin, but not hard. Why would that make such a difference? The mids are now sooooo good and maybe a little forward it seems like. The treble hasn't really been changed much. The sound is now fairly balanced and everything sounds natural. Bright songs that would drive me crazy on any headphone, still do. I want that. The bass is now not bloated and as good as I remembered. The bass is so good on these and makes my HD-650's bass almost like a joke. What's funny about these headphones is how clear they are.
 
Unfortunately my ears are now ringing and tired due to all this modding. I'll be able to listen to them more tomorrow. For some reason adding that foam was what caused the biggest difference in the sound! I tried some pillow stuffing but that was terrible and drowned out the mids somehow.
 
It's really quite amazing how every tiny thing, no matter how small can change the sound.
 
EDIT:
 
I don't know if this is my imagination, but it seemed like whenever I added more material to the cups, the mids would come forward a little more. Only when I added that foam (nearly touching the driver) did they sound extremely good. They may be very very slightly too forward now. Maybe if I trimmed a little off the foam, the mids will be less forward. I'll see tomorrow. It could be they sounded too forward because my ears were just ringing and I'm tired. I'm going to try these for gaming too, just for my own amusement.

 

[immtbiker]

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I got a replacement HD580 Headband cushion from Sennheiser for my pair since the headband is pretty uncomfortable stock. .

May I ask how you attached a 580 headband to the Fostex? Do you have pictures and perhaps a small tutorial? Or did you just use the cushion.
I, personally, don't find the T50RP headband to be uncomfortable.
 

 

[Anaxilus]

Welcome to the club tdock!  

 

[maverickronin]

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May I ask how you attached a 580 headband to the Fostex? Do you have pictures and perhaps a small tutorial? Or did you just use the cushion.
I, personally, don't find the T50RP headband to be uncomfortable.
 

It's just the cushion not the whole headband and its stuck on with double sided tape.
 
I don't think its that uncomfortable stock, but when you start mass loading/damping the cups and baffle with blutak, dynamat, and/or plasticine they get a lot heavier.