The Fostex TH900 remains one of my favourite headphones despite its detractors who want vocals like the singer has a meter wide mouth and suggestions that its sonic signature is coloured and therefore not deserving of any suggestion that it is a reference level headphone.
I later realized I was mistaken when I thought that Fostex did not make headphones in their own names. There is the T50RP which is cherished for its planar magnetic drivers. What happened is that it is one of the most modded headphones around. In fact, I understand that there is a headphone maker which made its name leveraging off the T50RP drivers. The consensus was that these were great drivers but Fostex had not realized the potential by poor enclosure and implementation.
After Fostex flexed its developmental muscles by releasing the TH900 which was heads and shoulders above the Denon D7000 it used to produce for Denon, everyone sat up and took notice. Including myself. So, when it was announced that Fostex was coming up with a new open headphone leveraging off and improving on the T50RP drivers, it sent more than a ripple of excitement in the head-fi community in Singapore. Particularly, when the announced price would place it lower than the Audeze LCD2.
Claire was kind enough to inform me when the TH500RP arrived at Jaben Singapore. Her modus operandi is simply to send me a photo of the gear she wanted to let me know had arrived. Simple but effective strategy. I suppose I responded much better to visual stimuli. After all, a picture does paint a thousand words. J
Even though I have plenty of choices and have in recent times been known to be open to being persuaded to let go of my cans, the TH500RP retains its place, alongside its more visually impressive sibling the TH900, in my little collection of full sized headphones comprising most of the top tier Grados, the LCD 2 & 3, HD700 & 800, Hifiman HE-6, HE-5LE, HE-560, HE-500, HE-1000, AKG K702 & K812, Stax SR007 MK1 & MK2.5, SR 009, SR L700, the Final Sonorous X and the Abyss.
Home Desktop Headphone Set Up
As a background to what I hear from the TH500RP, I think it is important to be able to compare differing experiences in the context of the rig in which it is hard. My chain comprises an Auralic Aries (with external linear PSU), connected via a Audiquest Diamond USB 3 cable to a Bricasti M1 DAC and then JPS Superconductor V RCA to the Cavalli Liquid Gold. Power cord for the DAC is a Tralucent Uber power cord, and power cord for the Liquid Gold is a JPS Kaptovator power cord. Power to the components of the desktop rig and sources is fed through an Isotek Aquarus and all the power cords use US plugs. Mains power is fed to the Isotek Aquarius via a Tralucent Uber power cord.
My Synology DS 414 and a Seagate Backup Plus HDD (connected directly via USB to the Aries) are powered by the new Plixir Elite BDC Power Supply kindly customized for me by James Soh of Sound Affairs in Singapore. James had also helpfully suggested that I run a separate switch for the audio components away from the wifi access point. The switch is also powered by the Plixir Elite BDC Power Supply that James customized for me. The Aries and the Synology DS414 NAS are connected via the dedicated switch by a pair of Ranko Acoustics OCC audio LAN cables.
Build Quality
The build quality of the TH500RP takes a few cues from the TH900 – the headband is based on the same idea, while the ear pads seem to be the same. In place of the lovely urushi lacquer ear cups, there is this flat aluminum ear cup with perforations. The cables are very much the same as those of the TH900 and comes with a ¼ inch plug.
As with the TH900, there is no possibility of cable rolling as the cables are not detachable. Again, the ear pads are covered with pleather, the protein leather made from egg shell membrane. I would assume that the same caution, as with the TH900, to be exercised in keeping them dry or the pleather may degrade. The same precautions should be exercised in respect the stress point where the ear cups swivel on a joint. This had displayed fragility in TH900s in some cases.
Comfort and Isolation
Like its older sibling, the TH500RP ear pads are comfortable. And the weight of the headphone is really well distributed. The clamp force of the headphone is as gentle as on the TH900.
The TH500RP being an open can offers minimal isolation.
Music Genres
As confessed in one of my other reviews, I am a music person. J I do enjoy most genres of music. My music collection extends from medieval to classical to contemporary music. It is a pretty epic and complete collection, if I may say so myself.
Like its older sibling, the TH500RP is versatile: it is at least competent with all genres. Again, I do enjoy it with jazz and acoustic vocals. It is also very nice with Mandopop vocal tracks. One category it does less well with is probably full orchestral classical music. Its soundstage is not as wide as I would like it probably because of its slightly rolled off trebles.
To be fair, generally, it is an easy headphone to enjoy.
Sound Quality
The sound quality of the TH500RP is pretty good. I frankly think it is on par with the LCD 2 and 3. Which is pretty impressive at its price point.
The TH500RP is quick and nimble as one would expect from a planar-magnetic. The trebles are smooth, albeit not as extended as I would like. The mids are rich and textured wihout being too forward or fatiguing. The bass is deep and tight. It may not have the same slam and impact as that of the TH900 but it is nonetheless of good weight.
In fact, I would say that the TH500RP is probably slightly more neutral than the TH900. Only pity is the treble roll off. The lack of immediate bass slam as there is in the TH900 is perhaps due to the fact that it is not a closed can or it may be that the RP driver just doesn’t generate that sort of power as the 1.5 Tesla driver of the TH900.
Pairing
I currently run my TH500RP with the Cavalli Liquid Gold. On a desktop amp as this, I cannot understand or appreciate the oft-cited complaint that it lacks bass, whether quality or quantity. I can only guess that, being planar magnetics, the TH500RP are hungry for driving power and need power to show off its true nature.
Conclusion
Fostex has done a good job in breathing new life into the much loved and modded RP drivers. While the sound is generally balanced and neutral, it would have been a more complete package and even better value for money if the trebles had been more extended. That should however not take anything away from the Fostex TH500RP. It showcases what Fostex is capable of. It only leaves me eager to see what else Fostex comes out with in the headphone arena.
I later realized I was mistaken when I thought that Fostex did not make headphones in their own names. There is the T50RP which is cherished for its planar magnetic drivers. What happened is that it is one of the most modded headphones around. In fact, I understand that there is a headphone maker which made its name leveraging off the T50RP drivers. The consensus was that these were great drivers but Fostex had not realized the potential by poor enclosure and implementation.
After Fostex flexed its developmental muscles by releasing the TH900 which was heads and shoulders above the Denon D7000 it used to produce for Denon, everyone sat up and took notice. Including myself. So, when it was announced that Fostex was coming up with a new open headphone leveraging off and improving on the T50RP drivers, it sent more than a ripple of excitement in the head-fi community in Singapore. Particularly, when the announced price would place it lower than the Audeze LCD2.
Claire was kind enough to inform me when the TH500RP arrived at Jaben Singapore. Her modus operandi is simply to send me a photo of the gear she wanted to let me know had arrived. Simple but effective strategy. I suppose I responded much better to visual stimuli. After all, a picture does paint a thousand words. J
Even though I have plenty of choices and have in recent times been known to be open to being persuaded to let go of my cans, the TH500RP retains its place, alongside its more visually impressive sibling the TH900, in my little collection of full sized headphones comprising most of the top tier Grados, the LCD 2 & 3, HD700 & 800, Hifiman HE-6, HE-5LE, HE-560, HE-500, HE-1000, AKG K702 & K812, Stax SR007 MK1 & MK2.5, SR 009, SR L700, the Final Sonorous X and the Abyss.
Home Desktop Headphone Set Up
As a background to what I hear from the TH500RP, I think it is important to be able to compare differing experiences in the context of the rig in which it is hard. My chain comprises an Auralic Aries (with external linear PSU), connected via a Audiquest Diamond USB 3 cable to a Bricasti M1 DAC and then JPS Superconductor V RCA to the Cavalli Liquid Gold. Power cord for the DAC is a Tralucent Uber power cord, and power cord for the Liquid Gold is a JPS Kaptovator power cord. Power to the components of the desktop rig and sources is fed through an Isotek Aquarus and all the power cords use US plugs. Mains power is fed to the Isotek Aquarius via a Tralucent Uber power cord.
My Synology DS 414 and a Seagate Backup Plus HDD (connected directly via USB to the Aries) are powered by the new Plixir Elite BDC Power Supply kindly customized for me by James Soh of Sound Affairs in Singapore. James had also helpfully suggested that I run a separate switch for the audio components away from the wifi access point. The switch is also powered by the Plixir Elite BDC Power Supply that James customized for me. The Aries and the Synology DS414 NAS are connected via the dedicated switch by a pair of Ranko Acoustics OCC audio LAN cables.
Build Quality
The build quality of the TH500RP takes a few cues from the TH900 – the headband is based on the same idea, while the ear pads seem to be the same. In place of the lovely urushi lacquer ear cups, there is this flat aluminum ear cup with perforations. The cables are very much the same as those of the TH900 and comes with a ¼ inch plug.
As with the TH900, there is no possibility of cable rolling as the cables are not detachable. Again, the ear pads are covered with pleather, the protein leather made from egg shell membrane. I would assume that the same caution, as with the TH900, to be exercised in keeping them dry or the pleather may degrade. The same precautions should be exercised in respect the stress point where the ear cups swivel on a joint. This had displayed fragility in TH900s in some cases.
Comfort and Isolation
Like its older sibling, the TH500RP ear pads are comfortable. And the weight of the headphone is really well distributed. The clamp force of the headphone is as gentle as on the TH900.
The TH500RP being an open can offers minimal isolation.
Music Genres
As confessed in one of my other reviews, I am a music person. J I do enjoy most genres of music. My music collection extends from medieval to classical to contemporary music. It is a pretty epic and complete collection, if I may say so myself.
Like its older sibling, the TH500RP is versatile: it is at least competent with all genres. Again, I do enjoy it with jazz and acoustic vocals. It is also very nice with Mandopop vocal tracks. One category it does less well with is probably full orchestral classical music. Its soundstage is not as wide as I would like it probably because of its slightly rolled off trebles.
To be fair, generally, it is an easy headphone to enjoy.
Sound Quality
The sound quality of the TH500RP is pretty good. I frankly think it is on par with the LCD 2 and 3. Which is pretty impressive at its price point.
The TH500RP is quick and nimble as one would expect from a planar-magnetic. The trebles are smooth, albeit not as extended as I would like. The mids are rich and textured wihout being too forward or fatiguing. The bass is deep and tight. It may not have the same slam and impact as that of the TH900 but it is nonetheless of good weight.
In fact, I would say that the TH500RP is probably slightly more neutral than the TH900. Only pity is the treble roll off. The lack of immediate bass slam as there is in the TH900 is perhaps due to the fact that it is not a closed can or it may be that the RP driver just doesn’t generate that sort of power as the 1.5 Tesla driver of the TH900.
Pairing
I currently run my TH500RP with the Cavalli Liquid Gold. On a desktop amp as this, I cannot understand or appreciate the oft-cited complaint that it lacks bass, whether quality or quantity. I can only guess that, being planar magnetics, the TH500RP are hungry for driving power and need power to show off its true nature.
Conclusion
Fostex has done a good job in breathing new life into the much loved and modded RP drivers. While the sound is generally balanced and neutral, it would have been a more complete package and even better value for money if the trebles had been more extended. That should however not take anything away from the Fostex TH500RP. It showcases what Fostex is capable of. It only leaves me eager to see what else Fostex comes out with in the headphone arena.