Fostex TH909

This traditional Japanese art form undertaken by the Sa-kamoto Urushi Factory established over 100 years ago earmarks this Fostex flagship as a heirloom to be passed down for generations.

Urushi applied over closed-back Japanese Cherry Birch cups allows Fostex to showcase the significance of each TH909, hand-built in Japan.

Such allure and prestige invites us to put these featherweight and light-clamp headphones on, to be totally immersed in the incredible sound they produce.

TH909 addresses the clamour to adapt the original TH900 for exclusive listening in quiet home and office environments, promising something more tonally neutral and evenly-balanced while remaining unmistakably Fostex.

Double-layered etched metal grills are used as openings to TH909's housings, randomising resonance points and eliminating standing waves while appearing gorgeous to boot.

A soundstage that already breathed naturally on TH900 blossomed and reached its climatic zenith in TH909. Centre-image and depth are produced especially realistically.

TH909 grabs you and shakes you in one massive dynamic movement, also thanks to its 50mm driver that moves plenty of air.

Made of Fostex's famous Biodyna biocellulose material and guaranteed huge excursion by a 1.5 tesla magnetic circuit, TH909 effortlessly produces a bass that is flat and linear in nature, without any sort of mid-bass bloat.

More air and space allows for male and female vocal fundamentals to emerge, and their overtones dissipate magically into the ether around.

TH909's Biodyna is stiff and lightweight as a diaphragm material but also promises excellent damping. Biocellulose allows Fostex to keep the large 50mm driver under control at all times even as frequencies rise, averting any harsh intermodulation due to cone modal break-up.

TH909's highs sparkle and decay spectacularly as a result. Its notes start and stop on a dime, transients properly defined without smear or bleed – clearly a low-distortion affair for even-handed and natural music reproduction throughout.

Find out why Fostex earned Gold Awards from Major HiFi and Soundnews when you listen to TH909. Also browse the rest of Fostex's artisan handcrafted headphones here, or our other cans here.