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

[PhaedraCorruption]

 they also have the T40
 

 

[mrspeakers]

Ladies and gentlemen, I proudly present:  RASTAPANTS.
 
OK, so it's not that big a deal, but they sound pretty sweet now.  Plasticine is cool, for $10 you can get a rainbow assortment of colors. 
 

 

 
And on the ear-side...
 

 
The foam in the ear cup is Akasa to kill ear/phone reflections. 
 
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...
 

 

[Blasto_Brandino]

Are you gonna make a walkthrough?

 

[mrspeakers]

see earlier post, jus added pics.

 

[MrJohnny]

Do these phones sound great for rock n Roll!?

 

[Blasto_Brandino]

ahhh i see thank you! btw, are those J$ pads? where do I buy?

 

[mrspeakers]

I mostly listen to rock and electronica.  
 
I think some people will find them dark, they're certainly not overly bright.  But I find them much more engaging than my 650's, which I just don't find myself reaching for any more.  
 
I've been listening to Amy Mann this morning, and really enjoy it.  There is a real absence of grain, which partially is why these sound "dark," I believe.  My theory, and I could be wrong, is that the orthos' symmetrical magnet/transducer structure really radically decreases distortions other driver types experience as their voice coils move through a less uniform magnetic field, and this reduces the distortion.  'Stats would have the same effect.
 
Since most distortion is high-order harmonics of the fundamental waveform, we perceive distortion as "brightness," but to me I hear it as grain, or excess energy up top.
 
So these have a markedly less "in your face" presentation on cymbals, for example.  But after you get used to it, you hear there's a real clarity to how each different cymbal sounds, from high hats to crash, you hear that each is a unique sounding instrument.  A lot of phones just make them sound like buckshot in a frying pan.
 
Optimist, by Radiohead, really sounds great.  You can hear the volume of each drum, and the guitar has that great crunchy sound you get with a tube amp.
 
I'd like to eek a little more detail out of the bass, but short of going woody, I'm not sure how to get there.  
 

 

[leeperry]

short of going woody, I'm not sure how to get there.

cocopants \o/

And we all know that coconuts sound good, because Patrick says so

 

[immtbiker]

Quote:

Ladies and gentlemen, I proudly present:  RASTAPANTS.
 
OK, so it's not that big a deal, but they sound pretty sweet now.  Plasticine is cool, for $10 you can get a rainbow assortment of colors. 
 

 

 
And on the ear-side...
 

 
The foam in the ear cup is Akasa to kill ear/phone reflections. 
 
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...
 

Ya mon. I have a lot of old Burning Spear. If you like them, then you might want to checkout Michael Franti and Spearhead's last couple of albums. Michael's lyrics are intense and his music an music quality is quite good.
I saw him live at the Nikon Theater in NYC on his "Yell Fire" tour, and it was a very rewarding experience.
 

 

[Jonclarke]

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

 

[maverickronin]

Quote:

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

I think its been a few years.  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.  Lots of places still use the old pictures but I don't you'll be likely to get a MKI since they haven't been made in a few years.  If you're going to switch to better pads anyway then it shouldn't matter.

 

[Jonclarke]

Thanks, i may buy a set used that were purchased in October 08 but have hardly been used.
 
i am going to mod them, but not sure how easy it will be to get different pads in England

 

[dirkpitt45]

How would these (modded of course ) compare to the hd600s? I love the hd600s clarity and detail, but they don't have much bass and I don't think I'd like the 650s. Looking for something similar to the clarity, detail, and smooth mids that the hd600s have, but with more bass. 

 

[maverickronin]

Quote:

How would these (modded of course ) compare to the hd600s? I love the hd600s clarity and detail, but they don't have much bass and I don't think I'd like the 650s. Looking for something similar to the clarity, detail, and smooth mids that the hd600s have, but with more bass. 

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

 

[immtbiker]

I think it was 2009.