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Massdrop x Fostex TR-X00 Ebony Headphones
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Massdrop x Fostex TR-X00 Ebony Headphones
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5.9K requests
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1.8k Sold
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Free Returns in USA
Product Description
When the Massdrop community asked for a closed-back headphone that redefined price-to-performance expectations, the TH-X00 was our answer. Made in collaboration with Fostex, a brand that’s produced innovative audio gear since 1949, these headphones feature ebony ear cups, a magnesium alloy frame, and Fostex’s signature biodynamic drivers Read More
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keyboard_arrow_downCEE_TEE
3480
May 30, 2018
In the original product proposal to Fostex, yes...removable cables were requested.
Though It was in the original requirements, it didn't make it into the original version of the TH-X00 as Fostex is very methodical and careful.
They spent years working on their removable cable system to make it their version of perfect. They could have done it in a few weeks, but it wouldn't have been a true Fostex solution.
Removable cables for the TH-X00 line is one of those features that the community never stopped pushing for and we never stopped requesting.
This feature is so important to the community and to the headphones, that we renamed them: TR-X00 (The “R” is for removable.)
If you haven’t been following the journey of the first Mahogany version of the headphone into the Purpleheart and Ebony wood variants, we offer three different wood types for different aesthetics and slight sound signature variation.
However, since launch- the most requested (demanded!) change has been the ability to remove or swap cables.
Why? I’m so glad you asked!
If you develop any issues with the cables over time, you can replace them. If you need a specialized cable to connect to gear or wish to have a personalized cable, you have options.
(In the discussion comments which follow, please let us know if you modified your TH-X00 to accept removable cables and how you are using them now…Matt Takaichi is paying attention and sourcing cables for the community. We’ve transferred the comments from the original headphone drop pages so that none of your contributions have been lost.)
Thank you for your support of this headphone, it has been a true success due to community feedback and participation. FYI, this latest change is the only one that we have planned for the series, we don’t have any other surprises on the horizon at the moment. (I know somebody is going to ask me!)
For now, the time has come and the TR-X00 is available for ordering on June 1st!
Though It was in the original requirements, it didn't make it into the original version of the TH-X00 as Fostex is very methodical and careful.
They spent years working on their removable cable system to make it their version of perfect. They could have done it in a few weeks, but it wouldn't have been a true Fostex solution.
Removable cables for the TH-X00 line is one of those features that the community never stopped pushing for and we never stopped requesting.
This feature is so important to the community and to the headphones, that we renamed them: TR-X00 (The “R” is for removable.)
If you haven’t been following the journey of the first Mahogany version of the headphone into the Purpleheart and Ebony wood variants, we offer three different wood types for different aesthetics and slight sound signature variation.
However, since launch- the most requested (demanded!) change has been the ability to remove or swap cables.
Why? I’m so glad you asked!
If you develop any issues with the cables over time, you can replace them. If you need a specialized cable to connect to gear or wish to have a personalized cable, you have options.
(In the discussion comments which follow, please let us know if you modified your TH-X00 to accept removable cables and how you are using them now…Matt Takaichi is paying attention and sourcing cables for the community. We’ve transferred the comments from the original headphone drop pages so that none of your contributions have been lost.)
Thank you for your support of this headphone, it has been a true success due to community feedback and participation. FYI, this latest change is the only one that we have planned for the series, we don’t have any other surprises on the horizon at the moment. (I know somebody is going to ask me!)
For now, the time has come and the TR-X00 is available for ordering on June 1st!
JJDeviloper
191
Apr 5, 2019
CEE_TEEAnother improvement would be replacing the plastic fork connectors on the sides with metal, like the E-Mu Teak headphones seem to have.
gusdn95
16
Jul 17, 2016
Anyone tried gaming (FPS:CSGO) with this? how is the imaging?
I will be using them for music, gaming, and e-drums. Should I be considering different headphones?
ZedPotts
51
Aug 13, 2016
It's not just "some leakage." It sounds really similar to not having something on your ears - the ported design is very very pronounced. They maybe obscure like 4 db
PixelPusher21
139
Aug 13, 2016
Specs do not mean anything to the people who are asking this question. They want to know if these headphones isolate and they do not. Source - I own the mahogany already.
oneraj4u
3
Mar 1, 2018
Why would anyone buy these here? A little Googling and I found them cheaper or the same price. These are definitely not discounted
ridhuankim
669
Mar 12, 2018
Look at this on eBay - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F290843397189
If you want to use 3.5mm plug then you cannot avoid physicakly modding(cutting out some parts of internals to make sufficient space for the jacks). As a result, it is irreversible.
If you want to perform without making physical modification, this is the only jack you can use.
If you think this mmcx jack is weak, it is not! Just make sure you tighten the nut properly and you will be alright.
If you want to use 3.5mm plug then you cannot avoid physicakly modding(cutting out some parts of internals to make sufficient space for the jacks). As a result, it is irreversible.
If you want to perform without making physical modification, this is the only jack you can use.
If you think this mmcx jack is weak, it is not! Just make sure you tighten the nut properly and you will be alright.
ridhuankim
669
Mar 12, 2018
ridhuankimThe only thing that you will actually use physical force and actual mod is the pin on the mmcx jack.
I had to bend it a little towards inside as you can see in the photo.
I could have cut it short too but you decide.
MusicLover
566
Jul 30, 2016
I bought the Mahogany and Purplehearts and now with just a couple days before this drop ends on the Ebony I would love some help with my decision to keep or cancel the Ebonys. Thanks
anthony477
49
Jul 22, 2016
I was so ready to hand Massdrop another $500 but this drop concerns me. Between possible QC issues with the wood cups, disallowing people in the PH drop to change, and only 400 of the 1K sold I feel like I should fight the urge to drop the money for now. Some lucky lad is gonna get my sub 20 buyer serial.
SchiitElement
1
Jul 24, 2016
The fact that you wont let it go, makes you just as much of a "troller", what difference does it make to you, what? - you want to force someone else to accept your opinion, you haven't shown any facts to backup what you're claiming & yet you're demanding facts from another board member... unreal
UrVAITguy
484
Jul 24, 2016
SchiitElementI'm sorry if I offended you or your boyfriend, but I let that argument go when I said, "We just have to agree to disagree." Sorry that other commentors on this discussion agree with me and that your only way to vent that frustration is with your cute lil poop emote to every comment I've made.
Have a nice day. :D
Have a nice day. :D
rawitat
69
Dec 20, 2016
Just got mine today. Very beautiful. I like the finish quality and wood quality better than the E-MU Teak Ebony (yes, I also have one).
Here's the shot along with its brothers, the Mahogany and Purple Heart.
Here's the shot along with its brothers, the Mahogany and Purple Heart.
rawitat
69
Dec 22, 2016
On the side note, and this is entirely personal preference. I do prefer the look of the X-00 Ebony over the E-MU Teak Ebony. I personally feel that the all-black design of the headband matches the look of the cups better than the silver of the E-MU.
However, as I noted, this is entirely personal preference.
However, as I noted, this is entirely personal preference.
thebrassthief
146
Dec 22, 2016
rawitatI feel bad that the struggle to chose between the E-MU and these are that I think the Fostex look so much better than the E-MU.
Calaverasgrande
1486
Mar 1, 2019
ebony makes for a darker aesthetic and a smoother, more refined sound signature.
snake oil garbage
Djdaniel
64
Mar 10, 2019
If you even knew have the stuff you said you'd realize the difference nylon and steel string is as impeccable. Ebony on a piano through simple acoustics and reverberation. Even thickness of the wood from lawton mods can affect the sound stage aswell as the grain of wood all varies from unit to unit. So maybe your ears are just lacking, but timbre of wood is a very really thing. The fact you bring up such woods like rosewood over pine moots your point the sounds are distinct.
Hyde
1119
Mar 11, 2019
I've owned Denon D2000 (plastic cup), E-Mu Teak, Th-X00 Mahogany, TR-X00 Ebony, and auditioned the TR-X00 Purpleheart the other day, and you can hear the difference on all of them.
Tonality difference would be kind of like Mahogany -> Purpleheart -> Ebony where purpleheart is kind of the middle ground. But I think there is still enough difference for one to prefer one over another.
CEE_TEE
3480
Jul 13, 2016
Hi Everyone!
Last year we worked with the community and Fostex to develop the successor to the D5000, at a comparable price. This resulted in the Fostex TH-X00 Mahogany and a great success. During the course of that development, we were able to audition and measure a variety of woods, each producing a different sound signature. The recent TH-X00 Purpleheart we launched has a slightly more “fun” sound, offering a bit more bass and treble compared to the original Mahogany.
During our discussions with Fostex, and in addition to the dense Purpleheart wood, there was one more type of wood that really stood out due to physical properties. That wood has now been developed in the TH-X00 and we are very happy to announce...
The new Fostex TH-X00 Ebony will be available this Friday, July 15th.
Why Ebony? The density and rigidity of headphone driver housings have an impact on the sound. Headphone modders know this and add different materials to the inside of headphone cups to increase these properties, thereby affecting the tuning and performance of the headphone. Ebony is prized for its hardness and density as well as its beauty, so it was high on our list during discussions with Fostex to create a couple of additional TH-X00 wood editions.
Why did it take so long to release? Trying to source Ebony with the density that we were looking for led Fostex through a number of different suppliers and samples until the right wood was found.
Physical Differences Ebony is so dense, there is an obvious increase to cup weight. There is some natural variance between species of the same wood and different samples, but for comparison…our quick measurements found single cups to weigh:
Mahogany 30g Purpleheart 50g Ebony 80g
Ebony cuts with a smoother unfinished surface texture. Inside the cups (behind the driver) there is a progression in rougher to smoother surface texture going from Mahogany to Purpleheart to Ebony.
Sound Differences We’ll let others compare and review with subjective impressions, but the measurements that we have show the Ebony TH-X00 to have the flattest frequency response so far.
Additional Observations Bass - Ebony has the deepest bass extension of any TH-X00 editions. Mids - Where the Mahogany & Purpleheart lose some steam in the 3-4kHz region, Ebony maintains a smoother descent. Mids are more present without harsh transitions. Treble - Where the original TH-X00 has a peak at 9kHz, Ebony (and Purpleheart to a degree) reduces that area and chance of harshness while leaving the 10kHz+ sparkle.
Summary Mahogany is “The Original”. Purpleheart is the “fun” one. Ebony is “The Original”, refined.
Important News With this installment of the series and refinement of the original version, it is a fitting time to announce Ebony as the <last wood> we plan on developing for the TH-X00 platform. Nope, we’re not going to release 50 different wood varieties of the TH-X00. We have other categories of headphones to work on for you. :)
Please Note Due to the difficulty of sourcing properly seasoned Ebony we are unsure if we will be able to produce more than 2,000 units of this edition.
Drop Details Specific to Ebony -Pending TH-X00 orders for Mahogany or Purpleheart cannot be canceled to join this drop. -Production lead time for Ebony wiill take 4 months from the end of the drop to leave our warehouse. -The price for the Fostex TH-X00 Ebony Edition is $499.99 shipped.
Sneak Peek I’ll be walking around with one of only two Ebony prototypes this Saturday at the July 16th Head-Fi Wikia Meet….please stop me for a look and a listen!
Last year we worked with the community and Fostex to develop the successor to the D5000, at a comparable price. This resulted in the Fostex TH-X00 Mahogany and a great success. During the course of that development, we were able to audition and measure a variety of woods, each producing a different sound signature. The recent TH-X00 Purpleheart we launched has a slightly more “fun” sound, offering a bit more bass and treble compared to the original Mahogany.
During our discussions with Fostex, and in addition to the dense Purpleheart wood, there was one more type of wood that really stood out due to physical properties. That wood has now been developed in the TH-X00 and we are very happy to announce...
The new Fostex TH-X00 Ebony will be available this Friday, July 15th.
Why Ebony? The density and rigidity of headphone driver housings have an impact on the sound. Headphone modders know this and add different materials to the inside of headphone cups to increase these properties, thereby affecting the tuning and performance of the headphone. Ebony is prized for its hardness and density as well as its beauty, so it was high on our list during discussions with Fostex to create a couple of additional TH-X00 wood editions.
Why did it take so long to release? Trying to source Ebony with the density that we were looking for led Fostex through a number of different suppliers and samples until the right wood was found.
Physical Differences Ebony is so dense, there is an obvious increase to cup weight. There is some natural variance between species of the same wood and different samples, but for comparison…our quick measurements found single cups to weigh:
Mahogany 30g Purpleheart 50g Ebony 80g
Ebony cuts with a smoother unfinished surface texture. Inside the cups (behind the driver) there is a progression in rougher to smoother surface texture going from Mahogany to Purpleheart to Ebony.
Sound Differences We’ll let others compare and review with subjective impressions, but the measurements that we have show the Ebony TH-X00 to have the flattest frequency response so far.
Additional Observations Bass - Ebony has the deepest bass extension of any TH-X00 editions. Mids - Where the Mahogany & Purpleheart lose some steam in the 3-4kHz region, Ebony maintains a smoother descent. Mids are more present without harsh transitions. Treble - Where the original TH-X00 has a peak at 9kHz, Ebony (and Purpleheart to a degree) reduces that area and chance of harshness while leaving the 10kHz+ sparkle.
Summary Mahogany is “The Original”. Purpleheart is the “fun” one. Ebony is “The Original”, refined.
Important News With this installment of the series and refinement of the original version, it is a fitting time to announce Ebony as the <last wood> we plan on developing for the TH-X00 platform. Nope, we’re not going to release 50 different wood varieties of the TH-X00. We have other categories of headphones to work on for you. :)
Please Note Due to the difficulty of sourcing properly seasoned Ebony we are unsure if we will be able to produce more than 2,000 units of this edition.
Drop Details Specific to Ebony -Pending TH-X00 orders for Mahogany or Purpleheart cannot be canceled to join this drop. -Production lead time for Ebony wiill take 4 months from the end of the drop to leave our warehouse. -The price for the Fostex TH-X00 Ebony Edition is $499.99 shipped.
Sneak Peek I’ll be walking around with one of only two Ebony prototypes this Saturday at the July 16th Head-Fi Wikia Meet….please stop me for a look and a listen!
JamesX
552
Jul 16, 2016
They already said that you can't cancel/upgrade your current orders. You'll have to buy and sell your Mahogany.
aman1420
172
Jul 16, 2016
The difference is very minor - chances are you wouldn't even notice any sonic differences even if you compared them side-by-side. I know they're marketing them as the "refined" version of the mahogany, but check the frequency response graphs - the differences are very minor. The drivers are the same in both headphones - you're only getting charged extra for a change in the wood cups (which you can buy from other places anyway like E-MU or Lawton). IMO, the mahogany is the best value and one should only buy these if aesthetics are really that important/these will be treated as their "endgame" headphones. Otherwise, not worth the extra cash. There is not shitty or average version. They are all basically the same with very minor sonic differences. You're just paying for different wood cups.
hsubox
24
Dec 9, 2016
Just received mine, but won't be able to open it until I get home. Can't wait to give them a try! Will be listening on a Schiit Bifrost, feeding an Asgard 2. But will also try it with my Little Dot 1+. Will post some impressions after some hours.
MojoJohn
1
Dec 15, 2016
I got lucky, I got number 7 which happens to be my birthday :-)
have only listened a few hrs but they do sound great. Use them with a Chord Mojo, thinking about making the cable shorter and terminate with a good quality 3.5mm plug to make it more usable with the Mojo.
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