In the last few reviews we looked at headphones from the more affordable end of the spectrum, this time it’s something more exotic – Fostex TH900 mk2 with an MSRP of $1,599. Not that long ago this was the Fostex flagship and still is the top of the range among closed backs. What exactly do you get for your money? Are these headphones worth the five-fold premium over a classic studio headphone pick like Sennheiser HD 650, Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro or AKG K712 Pro?

Pros
  • Comfort
  • Very low THD

Pros list with SoundID Reference calibration

  • Neutral sound
Cons
  • Weak sound isolation
Use cases Best use case:
Mixing
Mastering
Production
Recreational listening
Tech specs Type
Closed back, Over-ear
Impedance
25 Ohm
Connector
6.3 mm stereo jack
Weight
390 g (without cable)
Require headphone amp
No
Headphone amp

It’s not that popular for headphones of this price bracket to have impedance so low. This makes them easily driveable by any device and this adds to the versatility of TH900 mk2, theoretically making them a viable option for mobile work.

Build quality

TH900’s are lighter than one might expect when looking at the oversized ear cups. Even more impressive is the fact that there are almost no plastic parts visible, most components are metal, and the 50 mm dynamic drivers are covered by a housing made of Japanese cherry birch.

The thick cable feels very high quality and should last an extremely long time. The protein leather used for ear pads and headband feels great to touch and helps to save weight further, the material is about 60% lighter than genuine leather according to Fostex. Overall the build feels sturdy and judging by the owner’s manual, Fostex has put thought into making TH900 mk2 durable, yet given how light they feel and the hefty price tag, I would get a hard case if I wanted to use them on-the-road. 

When looking at headphones residing in the €1000+ segment you’ll often find unusual designs and blatant use of expensive materials, making headphones look exotic and expensive. Not the case with the TH900 mk2’s, these are very low-key in contrast. The wooden ear cups are fancy of course, but if you have no clue about the intricate lacquer techniques used for the finish, it’s easy to mistake the material for plastic.

Sound

There’s a very noticeable boost in the higher frequencies – about 9 dB from 6 kHz onwards, this boost paired with the dip in high-mid range results in a bright-sounding overall impression. The bass boost is relatively conservative, reaching 6 dB at peak, but the low end presence is intensified by the reduced low-mid region. Overall, the frequency response out of the box is quite tricky to work with. When paired with Sonarworks calibration though, these headphones truly come to life and offer a sublime resolution, it’s so good that it’s easy to forget you’re wearing a closed-back set. This sensation is enhanced by the very poor outside noise isolation and the fact that everyone in the room with you will hear more clearly what you’re listening to when compared to average closed backs.

Channel balance

Both channels are matched almost perfect for all of the measured pairs. In the real world, this means that there will be absolutely no perceivable channel differences and the stereo image will be as accurate as it gets, and at this price point, it better be!

Comfort

The weight (which is quite low to begin with) is efficiently distributed across the head, making them feel even lighter and enhancing long listening session comfort. Ear pads cover pinna almost entirely and conform to the listener’s head shape comfortably, without exerting much pressure. This provides a relaxed fit so be careful with sudden head movements as it will cause them to slide around.

Value

This is a quality set of headphones built with impressive attention to detail. The sound, once calibrated, is among the best-closed backs. However, the gains over other great closed cans that cost less than a third of what Fostex is asking, are negligible if any.

Total Harmonic Distortion

Nothing much to write about here as there is virtually no added distortion. This means that even the lowest sub bass notes (once calibration is applied) will be played back crystal clear. The rest of the spectrum, of course, will be no problem either, but that is common for almost all modern units. Headphones from this price bracket may have quite random frequency responses, but negligible THD is one spec that most of them share.

How accurate and consistent is the correction effect among different listeners?

Open-back headphones are inherently better at this, but TH900 mk2’s perform very well for a closed-back set. Listeners with smaller heads though may perceive a few dB’s less bass due to the relaxed clamping force not delivering optimal seal. 

How much do they differ pair to pair in terms of frequency response?

Judging by our sample pool, manufacturing consistency is held to a high standard, as with most of the headphones from this price segment.

Rating

7 / 8.5 / 9

Sound rating is a weighted average of Frequency Response, Adaptiveness, Harmonic Distortion and Channel Balance scores, with Frequency Response and Adaptiveness having the greatest influence.

5 / 9 / 10

The flatter the frequency response – the higher the score. When evaluating the frequency response score with the Average calibration profile, the pair to pair consistency of the given model is taken into account – if we have measured a considerable frequency response inconsistency among multiple pairs of the given model, the score drops, as the profile loses accuracy. Individual calibration will grant perfectly flat frequency response.

7.5

Adaptiveness shows how capable these headphones are at delivering the same perceived frequency response to any listener. Headphones with high score will sound nearly identical to everyone.

9

Harmonic distortion – the lower the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) figure, the higher the score. Headphones with prominent 3rd harmonic distortion above 100 Hz will score lower.

9 / 10

Channel balance – the closer to identical the frequency response of both channels, the higher the score. Individual calibration delivers perfect channel balance.

9

Comfort – shows if headphones can be used for long listening sessions comfortably. Every model is tested by at least a few individuals.

9

Build – evaluates how well the headphones are put together, the materials used and indicates the expected longevity. Easily replaceable (and easily available) parts will boost the score. We don’t do any stress tests and very few models are used for longer than a couple of days, so this is a fairly subjective score.

5

Value – indicates the price-performance ratio of the given headphones and how they stack up against the competition. High score means that you won’t find more neutral sounding alternatives for the price.

Out of the box
With SoundID Reference calibration

Conclusion

TH900 mk2’s have almost none of the drawbacks of a closed-back headphone yet almost none of the benefits either. The sound is very open but passive noise cancellation is weak and sound leakage considerable. This is a headphone for people who appreciate headphones and the workmanship that goes into making such pair. As studio headphones they are great, yet there are better options out there, sold at more reasonable prices.

Final Rating

8.4
With SoundID Reference
Calibration Enabled
7.1
Without SoundID Reference
Calibration

Remove coloration from your headphones
with SoundID Reference from Sonarworks

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