Fostex

Fostex have outdone themselves with TH610, resetting expectations for what Head-Fi should come to expect from a three-figure closed-back headphone. Hi-Fi Choice rated it near-perfect. Coloured but correct – with a flat, linear bass, tons of mid-range space, detail and sparkle, and highs that extend into the ether – the U-shaped TH610 is as trustworthy and yet fun as they come. [See Product Desc. For More] Fostex build TH610 in beautiful matte finished 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. TH610'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 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. A one-tesla magnet keeps TH610's driver locked down and under control at all times. Fostex have 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 by design and easy-to-drive nature from humble amplification. Hi-Fi World say TH610 is among the best. 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.

After opening up TH900 with TH909, Fostex have repeated the trick at the entry-level, doing the same to TH610 and bringing you their open-back TH616.  As opposed to its closed-back, measured-for-monitoring brethren, TH616 is full of exuberance. Tuned to show off the passion and energy a historic company like Fostex have for releasing hits, this latest limited-edition is full of zeal and life. Fostex's big Biodyna drivers sit below black walnut wood cups and plumb the depths of potent, emphasised bass – together with a sense of mid-range space and treble sparkle that hint at products many times more expensive. [See Product Desc. For More] 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.

Fostex replace Urushi cherry birch with black walnut for TH808, but don't for a second think of this open-back headphone as a step down from the flagship TH909. If anything, the move to all-black wood tone belies the seriousness and maturity of TH808. TH808 brings Fostex's famous TH900 dynamic punch as always but does so with a newfound solidity and gravitas, with its new walnut housing proving additionally capable of controlling transients and prevent the performance from getting excessively carried away. The mature one against TH909's exuberance, TH808's blinged-down appearance might present itself more tastefully too, to those who found Fostex's bright Urushi lacquer finish, and sound to match, too much. [See Product Desc. For More] TH808's double-layered grills still appear instantly recognisable and distinctive to the brand. It too 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. Costs saved on the finish certainly get transferred over to its sound, with a greater silence between notes granting the impression of better dynamic range reproduction and sophistication over its more flamboyant – and more expensive – TH909 cousin. Double-layered etched metal grills are used as openings to TH808'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 TH808. Centre-image and depth are produced especially realistically. TH808 grabs you and shakes you in one massive dynamic movement, also thanks to its 50mm driver – the same one featuring in the TH900 and TH909 – that moves plenty of air. Made of Fostex's famous Biodyna biocellulose material and guaranteed huge excursion by a 1.5 tesla magnetic circuit, TH808 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. TH808'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. TH808's highs sparkle and decay naturally as a result, without the harshness that some felt lingered on TH900. The former's 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. PW Audio make a perfect cable pairing for TH808, with No.5 setting you up nicely to begin on HiBy Music's R6 Pro II, before Moloch elevates affairs for a RS8 partnership. Also browse the rest of Fostex's artisan handcrafted headphones here, or our other cans here.

A modern classic. Fostex distinguished themselves at the top of the luxury headphones list with TH900 and continue to do so – a pinnacle of sound quality, design and handcrafted build quality.  Whether in striking stock Bordeaux Red, or limited-editions Pearl White and Brilliant Purple, TH900s are instantly recognisable for their hand-applied Urushi lacquer finish. [See Product Desc. For More] 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 TH900, 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. TH900 debunks so many myths about closed-back headphones. There is nothing small about the way this Fostex stages, its larger-than-life personality projecting sonic images and soundstage far beyond the confines of its wooden cups. Centre-image and depth are produced especially realistically. These have to be heard to be believed. TH900 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, TH900 effortlessly produces the lowest bass. 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. TH900's highs sparkle and breathe naturally, with a transparency ahead of its time for what was capable behind closed cups. 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 Major HiFi's Gold Award when you listen to TH900 via our music players, and upgraded via PW Audio's No. 5 and No. 10 cables. Also browse the rest of Fostex's artisan handcrafted headphones here, or our other cans here.

Let's open up about a new modern classic. Fostex performed the ultimate factory mod on their defining TH900 and opened up its cups to give you TH909, for an exciting yet reference sound quality at home. It's a keeper for Headfonics, and there was never a boring moment for Headfonia. Hi-Fi Choice awarded 5 ⭐. Double-layered grills confer open-back status to legendary Fostex sound via TH909 – which are still instantly recognisable for their hand-applied Urushi lacquer finish. [See Product Desc. For More] 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.