Fostex TH616

Fostex build TH616 in beautiful black walnut housings, a plain finish that still reeks of sophistication, finesse and engagement. Do judge this book by its cover, at the sound quality awaiting you.

It's that delightful emphasis at the frequency extremes that makes TH616 particularly exciting news and listening for audiophiles. But that U-shaped approach also morphs to a flat line at quieter listening, granting the impression of exciting accuracy and neutrality.

Indeed, Fostex exploits the Fletcher-Munson effect to good effect in TH616, compensating where bass and treble extremes fall off at low volumes with its loudness contour.

Quiet listening won't hinder music lovers from experiencing a flat frequency response. Nor will it stunt the natural dynamic movements inherent to your precious music – TH616 is just apt at reproducing smaller detail.

And when you turn the music up, Fostex built in a driver and acoustics that keeps every note and imaging cue tidily arranged, befitting the recording when sonics are brought to SPL life.

TH616's 50mm driver is made of Biodyna. Stiff and lightweight as a diaphragm but also promising excellent damping, this biocellulose material allows Fostex to keep the large driver under control at all times even as frequencies rise, averting any harsh intermodulation due to cone modal break-up.

Notes reverberate on, providing a kind of immersion that makes an impression. Wooden grills are carved out of TH616's housings, randomising resonance points and eliminating standing waves while appearing gorgeous to boot. A one-tesla magnet keeps its driver locked down and under control at all times.

Fostex therefore have released a mid-tier headphone that makes claim to get you all the way, carving a space for itself in an ever-more competitive market with its closed-back isolation.

But for those seeking even better, browse how Fostex simply whets our appetites for what is to come at flagship level here, or browse our other headphones here.