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Miracles in Audio, by luck, by good choices,by design or by tweaking...

I owned a low cost headphone for many years, the Fostex TH7B, first version( a new one close version exist Fostex TH7BK), semi-open headphone...I was never completely satisfied by any headphones I ever owned: Hifiman 400, Stax basic lamda, Stax 5 gold,Akg 340,Akg 701, beyerdynamic 990, and T150... Because in each of them with all their qualities I never listen to at the same times, a confortable headphone with natural timbre and voicing, with a good imaging and a realistic soundstage(not too close to my ears)...


For the last days I tweaked this Fostex, to damp his internal resonance I used sorbothane, I put some shungite stones at the exterior part of the cups and I use some Herkimer diamond in the interior pads( 3 at 120 degree) … Now this low cost headphones crush all my others if I sum all his qualities... For example his mids and voicing cannot beat the AKG 340 but among all my other headphones it is the best that is near that mids and it is more confortable, and with longer cable than the 340...His imaging is better and more realistic than the 340 etc etc...It is the same if I compare with the others...


His most important qualities is natural timbre and clear imaging,very precise pinned point accuracy and natural, so clear it crush for that ALL the others to dust...In the French audio circle the reviews were more than very positive few years ago...Diapason d’or and choc Classica...I am not the only one impressed buy the ratio quality/price... But remember that thesae reviewers dont tweak their headphone...The difference between before and after the tweaks are staggering...


Yes Miracles happens in Audio: cost is under 100 American dollars... Few years ago they cost me 50 bucks new... I never dreamed that I will go back to headphones...


I will enjoy your miracles stories of any kind ….My best to all...
128x128mahgister
mahgister's avatar
mahgister OP
13,214 posts
 
The Fostex TH 7 B was so extraordinary headphones modified, with his 3-d soundtage and imaging that I am in love with Fostex and pick one of the first portable orthodynamic headphone in existence, the Fostex T10 in mint condition for 75 bucks with the original box...I will modified it with micro crystals and some sorbothane damping...I hope some miracle! :)

My last and unique ortho, the Hifiman he 400, was good but I did not never love him truly like all my other headphones... And his cheap construction did not last more than 6 years of care and the 2 cups break without reason suddenly months ago...Paid 300 dollars I was in no mood to buy some other Hifiman...Now the Fostex T10, very sturdy constructed, for a fraction of price, is the promise of new sound horizon... The Fostex TH 7B paid 50 bucks new is so good that I am afraid to buy anything that cost more than 100 bucks...

Me among others I rather should know that an audiophile experience does not necessitate big money but big ideas to begins with...But human nature is so that even me sometimes forget that... :)

My best to all silencious or mute reader of this thread...
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I had a very similar experience using my vintage SONY MDR-V700 headphones after my very non-exhilarating experience with HIFIMAN 600 earbuds, which after 250 hours of burn in still sounded like @%&#*%. The SONY are transparent, full range and dynamic by contrast. I have a confession to make. I pulled the trigger on some fo.Q thin damping tape, 2 sheets, and a set of those cute CD stabilizers they also sell. Direct from Japan. By no small coincidence I also placed an order with a seller in Japan for a Zed Zeppelin III SHM CD. 
mahgister's avatar
mahgister OP
13,214 posts
 
Geoff the Fo.Q tape I used act subtly but complemented successfully the sorbothane I use to damp the Fostex headphone...


If you remember it I will like a report about the tape effect for your ears...
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I got the thin fo.Q tape mostly for CDs but also for power cord plugs, wall outlet covers, Schumann Freak USB devices, back of TV panel, Walkman CD Player case, TV connectors, headphone a frame.

I suggest removing the Sorbothane. And burning it. 🔥 You’ll thanks me later. 🤗 the reason you thought the tape was subtle because Sorbothane is over-kill in the sense it over does it. It’s what the Japanese company Acoustic Revive calls over-dumping. 
mahgister's avatar
mahgister OP
13,214 posts
 
Without sorb the Fostex would not be to my liking... And remember you must use the right duro and if possible apply some pressure on the sorb. (duro 70 for headphone)...The Fo.Q tape act subtly in the higher frequencies for my Fostex and refine the effect of the sorb...They complement one another for my ears...

The Fostex are made with 2 plastic cups, almost impossible to overdamp them... I damped them progressively and at each addition of sorb they transformed itself for the better...I owned no other headphone so cheap that outclass everything I had listen to for natural timbre(except Akg340) and holographic 3-d imaging like AKG 340 but with a 3-d sounstage unlike them.... The AKG 340 is a mythic quality can and this cheap Fostex improve on them for the soundstage … Without sorb. nor Herkimer diamonds and micro crystals they dont compete tough with this TOTL AKG..
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