Fostex TH900 Mk. II

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.