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91% would recommend to a friend 
Dekoni Blue by Fostex Planar-Magnetic Headphones
01 / 06
Dekoni Blue by Fostex Planar-Magnetic Headphones
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Product Description
This new variant of the renowned T50RP MKIII is a collaboration between Fostex and Dekoni, a company well loved on Drop for its excellent line of headphone pads. Done in a distinctive light blue, these headphones feature Fostex’s proprietary planar-magnetic drivers and come installed with Dekoni’s Elite Hybrid ear pads Read More
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Customer Reviews
4.3
(144 reviews)
5star(85)
4star(39)
3star(8)
2star(7)
1star(5)
By Feature
Build Quality
4.1
(11)
Sound
4.3
(11)
Comfort
4.5
(11)
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keyboard_arrow_downmetasynergy
25
Jan 4, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Really surprised by how much I liked these, but expect to shell out for a powerful amp
These headphones are warm, with booming bass that is still nice and tight. The closest thing I have to compare them to in terms of bass is the DT 990s, but these don't have the high intensity treble that comes with the German-murder-cans. T50RP is not by any means neutral, but I came from Sennheiser and really like the forward mid that lets me hear vocals. These are a nice compromise overall between the Sennheiser's and the Beyerdynamic's sounds that I know. Very fun to listen to pop music and electronica. The sound-stage is probably the widest of anything I've ever tried. They are pretty comfortable and I don't think I've ever found the sound fatiguing. I don't know if I would buy them for a friend or family member unless I was also giving them a capable amp, but that is my only hesitation recommending them.
Now for the long, rambling, old-man part of my review. You know, where I tell you my life story to build credibility. It took me a while to warm up to these. When I first got them out of the box, I was pretty happy with their build quality, but had to wait for my DAC and AMP to arrive to enjoy them (or really even try them). These are a complete no-go without something at least a little beefy for a power supply; they are incredibly inefficient. After I finally had an amp that could drive them, I was actually kicking myself for impulse buying something that didn't really fit my collection, and was swapping around between cans and listening to different music, and kind of forgot what I was doing and thought I had a different pair on, and got really into it and realized I was wearing the T50RPs and that I really enjoyed them. I basically have the opposite of the choice-supportive bias as a base mindset. I always feel like I probably spent to much and could have gotten something better for my money.
I know some reviewers have said they don't really consider the T50RP to be good until you have 8 W per channel, and I don't know about that, but I can comfortably listen to most of my headphones at around 20 (out of 50) on my SH-8, but these can go all the way up to to 45 before I get uncomfortable. I also have an FX-Audio DAC-X6 at the office and with the jumpers on that in high gain I usually listen to my music at about noon on the volume dial.
Just for reference, I got my start with the Senn. HD 280 Pro, and you could say I like the Sennheiser sound signature because I also own the Senn. HD 58x, the Senn. HD 6xx, and the Senn. HD 598. I also own the Hifiman 4xx, and Beyerdynamics DT 990 (250 Ohm) so it took a while in my rotation before I got back around to these and really started to listen to them. Also my daily drivers (actually for driving, not just a saying here) are the Bose 700s. If it weren't for the ANC I would have kicked the Bose to the curb in a heartbeat. Probably my worst $400 impulse buy ever. Don't get me wrong they are nice, and I like them a lot (most of the time), but a part of me is always there, saying "For $400 they could be a hell of a lot better." But they made me feel feelings when I listened to music so I had to keep them.
Also, side-note to a side-note, I settled on using the Hybrid pads for these, and the extra velour pads fit the Beyerdynamic DT series and really improved my DT 990s for me. I was actually considering reselling the 990s until I got the velour pads on them and they tamed the beast a bit (along with a little bit of felt pad between the driver and my sweet tender eardrums). So if you have considered pad rolling a compatible pair of headphones but didn't want to shell out for good pads it's something to consider.
Recommends this product? Yes
metasynergy
25
Jan 27, 2020
I feel like you are making some big assumptions about me. I see 12 other cars during my 1 hour morning commute. I do not live in a populous area.
Logistics
13
Apr 21, 2022
They're made to take up to 3W. I have other cans made to take 3W, and they don't come to life without a minimum of a few hundred milliwatts, and are very alive at over 2W. I'm confident you will get better results investing in a Schiit Magni for amplification.
TiffanyPoodleslide
1402
Oct 9, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
Let me start by saying that I have been a long-time mod-er of the TP50.
Possibly the most mod-ed headphone on the planet, with versions that are now production mods by entities such as Modhouse, Mr. Speakers...and a kit available from Mayflower.
They've done a very good job of building a set of cans that bring some of the BEST results of years of customer mods and experiments to a single set of ready-built headphones.
These are NOT a neutral, analytical reference set of cans..they ARE a pleasing, somewhat bass-forward-but-not-overwhelmingly-so headphone.
They have a nice warm V-sig that presents a bass-forward sound, but the bass is clean and doesn't eat the rest of the graph from below.
They present details with a decent amount of clarity, especially when powered by a nice amp, such as the JDS Labs "The Element", which tends to be a go-to solid state dac/amp for me; I have two of them so that I can experience that in a couple different settings. :)
They present a sound that I was striving for when I was doing my own mods.
The semi-open back improves the stage, IMO, which really was the point- without that, these would definitely sound claustrophobic, as many closed-backs tend to do...
They are nice, straight from the box, and a 24 hour run in just makes them better. :)
The comfort here, at least for ME, is rather divine.
For a more portable experience, I turn to these again and again.
And I like just trucking these into the bedroom for a fall-asleep listen...I mean they soun d good enough, and are comfy enough to just drift away when I want to.
They are light and sort-of "cocoon-y", IYKWIM.
In a very nice way.
They look smart too.
These will not replace my other cans which I use for serious listening.
But these are certainly getting plenty of work for portable and less focused listens, like when I am doing paper work, or typing reviews on Drop or reading a novel...times when I don't want a heavy set of electrostatics drooping over my cranium yet still want a decent quality listen.
I will likely buy another set of these on a future drop, just so I can see if adding a couple personal mods has any benefit... yet still keep a pair that hasn't gone El Destructo.
;)
(Edited)
raansire7
1507
Jan 6, 2020
TiffanyPoodleslide"And I like just trucking these into the bedroom for a fall-asleep listen..."
I love doing that! It's such a nice-feeling way to conk out! 😁👍
modernfoodsafety
28
Jul 20, 2021
checkVerified Buyer
One of the best out of the box...
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
j4c0b14n
12
Sep 21, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
Love these headphones.
They are super comfy and I love them first and foremost for that fact.
I cannot speak to the quality of the sound as I have definitely damaged my ears past being an audiophile while playing live music for decades without protection.
These have definitely made my at home recording more enjoyable as I have discarded some horrible beats to use.
For the quality of sound that I can experience, these are great!
I cannot speak to the quality of the sound as I have definitely damaged my ears past being an audiophile while playing live music for decades without protection.
These have definitely made my at home recording more enjoyable as I have discarded some horrible beats to use.
For the quality of sound that I can experience, these are great!
EkinnE
104
Feb 6, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Great for the cost of admission; Excellent compliment to 6xx's
I am impressed by these cans for the price. I can't comment on the nuances of sound like many of the reviewers here, but I can say I am satisfied for my listening habits with the value 1-2 combo of the Sennheiser 6xx's and the Fostex Dekoni blues. I feel like they compliment each other's strengths and weaknesses.
When I want vocals, strings, highs and mids, 6xx's. When I want a bassier, fun experience, on come the Dekoni blues. The Fostex's do need some power to really enjoy, you aren't going to plug these directly into an iphone and call your grandmother to tell her about the experience. With a good dac/amp, you will really enjoy pop, rap and especially electronic music with these. Very comfortable to wear for long periods.
I have added the V-moda cable from Mayflower (16$) and a leather comfort strap from Dan Clark/Mr.Speakers (15$). These two add-ons pushed the 170$ to a 200$ investment but I am very happy with the expenditure.
Initial playlist from various genres to test them out after 20 hr burn in:
Dark Side of the Moon album - Pink Floyd
Masterpiece - The Temptations
I Got the... - Labi Siffre
Eminence Front - The Who
I Robot - The Alan Parsons Project
Shook Ones, pt II - Mobb Deep
Hip Hop - Dead Prez
Survival of the Fattest - Eelke Kleijn
Realizer - The Crystal Method
The Grand Finale - Edward Scissorhands OST
Duel of the Fates - Star Wars: Phantom Menace OST
Mountains - Interstellar OST
Recommends this product? Yes
iripthekut
15
Mar 11, 2022
checkVerified Buyer
Arrived Padless
My set didn’t come with pads so I wasn’t able to use them. I returned them, but these were already sold out so I wasn’t able to get a replacement.
Kevo970
10
Jul 20, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
My unit is defective and Massdrop can only refund the order - but I really want to keep these headphones!
Phone calls and emails to Fostex\Dekoni have been ineffective thus far and I am on the verge of hoping I am still in a reasonable time frame to return the headphones to MD.
The issue I am having is that around 55Hz and lower, there is a very audible buzzing or rattling sound in the right channel. I tested it with a tone generator and it is extremely repeatable (and very annoying\distracting when actually listening to content).
Phone calls and emails to Fostex\Dekoni have been ineffective thus far and I am on the verge of hoping I am still in a reasonable time frame to return the headphones to MD.
The issue I am having is that around 55Hz and lower, there is a very audible buzzing or rattling sound in the right channel. I tested it with a tone generator and it is extremely repeatable (and very annoying\distracting when actually listening to content).
EcchiWhale
110
May 14, 2019
Kevo970Got this too but the rattling is very light so it's not too noticeable.
KwijteHenk
12
Nov 8, 2022
checkVerified Buyer
NO WARRANTY
Decent sound quality and fun bassy headphones, however.
after 2-3 months owning these the small cable on the left earcuff broke inside the husk my sound is constantly cutting out, despite me almost never adjusting the hight of the headphones.
I mail Drop.com, they tell me there is NO WARRANTY and nothing they can do to help me, except direct me to some fan page.
then I contact Dekoni directly, just to ask what my best options would be to fix my headphones
AND THEY DON'T EVEN RESPOND.
Recommends this product? No
nicdub
74
Jul 20, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
There are moments I love these and moments I’m underwhelmed. But overall, it was a good purchase. I think the more you listen, the more accustomed you become to the sound.
factsvsfeelings
17
Aug 18, 2019
nicdubNo its just that planar magnetic headphones benfit big time from burn in.
MikeAJ
7
Nov 19, 2022
checkVerified Buyer
Audio intermittently cuts out after 6 months
As others have stated in their reviews, after a few months of use I also started getting audio clipping. After messaging their customer service rep on Dekonis forum site, Sam Roney, who I believe is their head honcho, emailed to send in the Dekoni Blues and they would send a replacement as they didn't repair them, but only did swaps. I had to send him a couple emails after just to get Rma instructions including the address on where to send the headphones. In return I received a weird email with information not even related to the issue, but fortunately it did have the returns department shipping address, so shipped them last week. Yesterday I got a response email from Sam stating "Our engineer has looked them over and problem was caused by user error (Cable was pulled from the headphone, which cause PCB to be unseated). To continue with the out of warranty repair, the charge will be $140 dollars"... This was not the case. The cord was not pulled and the cans were handled with care the short time I used them. This is frustrating as I just wanted a change of pace to my old reliable hd600 which I've had since the early 2000's without major issue. Guess I'll stay with what works.
(Edited)
Recommends this product? No
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