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Headphones, Personal Listening Gear Personal Listening at its Best |
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#1
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Fostex Massdrop TH-X00 Ebony
So while browsing Massdrop my eyes caught the Fostex TH-X00 variant. For those not familiar with Massdrop, the basic concept is people vote on products they want to see in a group buy and often the manufacturer agrees on modifications to the product to make them unique and appealing to the group buy participants. This was my first Massdrop purchase. Massdrop is not only for audiophiles but have other products as well.
The Fostex/Massdrop TH-X00 in Ebony arrived today. They were fairly priced and promised a different acoustic signature than the regular Fostex model it is based on which is what the group wanted or agreed on I should say. For anyone interested, you can read up on them here to see what's different. https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdro...ony-headphones. Obviously these are produced in rather small quantities and that makes them unique and obviously different than the regular production model. Good for collecting purposes. Having taken the Fostex TH-X00 for a test drive with various amps this afternoon, it is not only a great looking headphone with the Ebony hardwood cups but also sounds great. A rather romantic, warmish tonal balance without any treble peaks other than voicing them with a slight bump for sparkle in the presence to brilliance region so as they don't sound too rolled off up top. These headphones lend themselves very well to listening to acoustical instruments and vocals since the whole midrange is rather smooth all the way across. Nothing jumps out at you, they have a very nice, relaxed and romantic ease and flow to music. These headphones are built to impress with musicality and not any particular audiophile criteria strength per say. These are more on the Macro than Micro side. Kick back, put these on and enjoy your favorite music without analyzing it but simply relax and soak it all up. These are closed headphones and as such offer good sealing from the outside world and won't bother anyone else around. Not very sensitive at 94dB so a good partnering amp is in order but not overly demanding either judging by the ease and flow at lower volumes so far. The 25 ohm impedance will likely allow them to be partnered with any portable gear unless you want rock concert levels. Build quality seems to be outstanding and they are very good looking cans. Ebony wood is difficult to photograph! . Last edited by jdandy; 12-21-2017 at 06:53 PM. Reason: enlarge photos |
#2
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#3
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The iPhone drives them to adequate levels. I just confirmed that fact for those who may be inclined to use these with a portable device.
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#4
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I would like to know how you compare the Auteur headphones with the Massdrop Ebony? Thanks for your reply!
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#5
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jake18a... Welcome to AA!
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Ivan FLORIDA MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES CAPE COD MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES |
#6
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Welcome to AA Jake18a. I personally prefer the ZMF Auteur and I have the limited edition Blackwood but the Fostex Massdrop Ebony for the money is an absolute bargain. Fantastic bass, smooth highs and a very nice midrange. The ZMF Auteur midrange is even more engaging and musical but at 3x the price! All in all the Ebony pleases across the board. I have a friend who went through a few dozen headphones but when he bought my pair of Fostex Ebony he said his quest for a headphone is now over.
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#7
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My wife's Massdrop Rosewood are really nice. The sound is warm and smooth.
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#8
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#9
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Yes indeed.[emoji126]
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#10
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I have a pair of the purplehearts. I really like them, but they are a bit more fatiguing to wear than my Massdrop 7x00’s.
They are still a statement piece as far as headphones go though [emoji41] |
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