A New Bass Beast? Fostex TH808 Review

Fostex isn't a new company, they've been making reel-to-reel recorders, loudspeaker drivers, and headphones for over 50 years. What is new is the introduction of a $1000+ high-end headphone made for audiophiles and professionals. The TH808 is priced at $1299. The TH909 came out 5 years ago, meaning that this is the first major open back release in this price point for a while. However with a plethora of options from almost every brand, Fostex is going to have to compete with options like the Audeze LCD-X, Sennheiser HD800s, and HifiMan Arya Organic. Let's find out if the TH808 is worth it's high-end price point in the TH808 review.

What's in the Box?

• TH808 Premium Open-Back Dynamic Headphones
• Φ ¼” / 6.3mm gold-plated stereo standard plug
• Leather pouch
• Owner’s Manual

Looks and Feel

The most striking feature on the Fostex TH808 to me was the inclusion of high-grade black walnut. As a fan of furniture, hollow-body guitars, and mid-century modern homes, I absolutely loved the way that they are presented. The wooden housing is strengthened by aluminum parts and excellent assembly. These headphones feel sturdy and durable, with a flush fit on all of the major components. At a reported APPROXIMATE weight of 370g, these aren't absolutely air-like. Upon further weighing, I found out that the models I got are actually 397g. I'm not saying that Fostex made an error in their measurements. Organic materials don't all have uniform density.

Plushy earpads and an ultra-soft leather headband made these incredibly comfortable to wear during hours of testing. I particularly enjoyed how secure everything felt without pressing into my head or ears. I was thoroughly impressed by how little noise came into the listening environment. I'm not sure how Fostex managed to make everything sound so isolated without the earpads digging into my head and no ANC, but this is nothing short of brilliant.

Design

Fostex Φ50mm Neodymium Magnet with their 'BIODYNE' diaphragms make a welcome appearance here after being utilized in the TH900 series. I noticed some great sensitivity at 100dB/mW. These headphones aren't hard to drive at all, making these incredibly dynamic. Listening to quiet music, or music with colorful dynamics made songs feel palpable and interesting. I was able to hear detail in incredibly nuanced music that pulled me into the compositions. Listening to "Morgondagen Inställd I Brist På Intresse" by Apati was specifically enjoyable, as sections switched from saturated to clean guitar sounds dramatically. This is undoubtedly because of Fostex sensitive design.

The TH808 comes stock with a 6.3mm gold plated input cable constructed from OFC copper. A balanced XLR cable is available for purchase but doesn't come stock with headphones. In my estimation, the 3 meter cable doesn't follow the same quality standard that the headphones do. The cloth braiding creased quickly while I used it, and the plastic piece on the cable doesn't feel sturdy. They're absolutely usable but if I were purchasing these headphones, I'd quickly opt in for an upgrade.

Soundstage

I was most impressed by the headphone's soundstage when listening to them. Comparing them to other open-back headphones, I'd call it a medium soundstage. It doesn't feel unnaturally large, but they don't sound shallow either. The 50mm driver brings some great verticality to the staging, allowing different parts to rise and fall with music. Listening to songs on Tidal optimized for Dolby Atmos gave detailed depictions of the stereo image.

What I dislike out of some very wide headphones is when sounds that are close and centered in the mix still feel spread out beyond where they normally would be. The TH808 aren't like this, and are able to process stereo imaging fantastically. Sounds that are dry and close feel tangible, while echoing processed wet sounds are opaque and ethereal. "Down by the River" by Neil Young has a particularly interesting feel, as all the rhythm guitar parts are panned hard left, with the soloing guitar track hard panned right. It genuinely felt like I was in a room full of amps, with the band facing each other and me in the center. I'm having a difficult time thinking of any sub $1500 open-back with a better sound stage.

Listening Impressions - Fostex TH808 Review

Lows

Lows and mids are certainly the focus of the Fostex sound signature. I'm not surprised considering their TH909 headphones have some of the boomiest bass out of any brand. The TH808 is no exception, with a warm resounding low character. Songs that 'thud' and 'bap' still have the rawness that some bassheads may be looking for depending on how the volume is dialed in. When these booming beasts are tamed by limited volume, they have an ultra clean presentation of bass frequencies.

Saturated bass guitar and low-pitched voices sound welcomingly fizzy and rich. "Cut the Cord" by Necrot had a decadent brutality that filled out the sonic space with harmonic complexity. Modern high-gain metal sounds oppressively rich on these, and the bright mixes are supplemented by the headphones bassy character. Rap and RnB also feel like I'm swimming through a pool full of caramel. The rich sweetness of 808s and kicks are supported by this bass signature. In total, the bass was responsive and clean.

Mids

Mids in boosted bass headphones can present a problem for designers in a lot of ways. If the bass extends into a big low-mid boost, music can sound gritty, fuzzy, and muddy. If there's a dramatic shelf after the bass frequencies, there's a certain boxy hollowness that makes music feel empty. Where these sit is way warmer than 'flat', but there's enough high mid information to still give sounds a shape.

Fostex expert tuning makes the bulk of many song's musical information sound present. Guitars, voices, keys, and drums all ring out in an unmistakable way. There's enough grit for these elements to growl when they're up, but the texture of these sounds remains clear and dynamic. Songs mastered for radio have the shininess in vocals that fans of pop music will be accustomed to, but there's a full character that these mixes sometimes miss. Fostex have done a great job in their presentation of the midrange. 'Mid-aholics' should really take a look at the TH808.

Treble

Out of all of the frequencies, I have to be honest that the highs are the most understated. There's enough presence for the sound to have a shape, but there really isn't enough for you to get a strong sense of the colors of certain parts. This isn't a bad thing if you're very sensitive to highs, have hearing loss in the lower register, or you just don't like listening to too much treble.

I have to admit that I personally don't mind the warmness of headphones. That being said, if you really enjoy the voicing of bright headphones, don't pay too much attention to these. I noticed a loss of glassy attack in acoustic music, due to how much the lows can be boosted. That being said, listening to "Nardis" by Bill Evans set my mind at ease. All of the clicking of the upright bass was gone and I was left with a rich timbre flooded with overtones.

Summary

Fostex new addition to their catalogue fits right into the lineup with a similar sound signature to their predecessors. These aren't a 'do-it-all' style flat headphone, and the designers working on this product have undoubtedly added a signature character to this model. Elegant styling, luxurious soundstage, thudding lows, and clear mids make a lot of information stand out. At the same time, the only option of an average unbalanced cable and subtle highs mean that not everyone is going to be running to pick this pair up. The TH808 does what it does well, and it does what it doesn't focus on adequately. If you're a fan of the Fostex sound or bass in general, these would be a great addition to your collection.