I have the TH900mk1 and have compared with my friend’s LCD-XC. The Audeze has cleaner bass and portrays the texture better, but doesn’t slam as hard as the Fostex even if you EQ the fuck out of its bass.
The main reason the TH900 isn’t as well-reviewed imo is its sound signature. People love the bass, but the TH900’s sharp treble is really the polarizing part. In comparison, the Focals don’t really need EQ and the Audeze are a step-up in terms of resolution as long as you EQ.
If you don’t really care about the TH900’s treble, then you’re good to go. But as another poster mentioned, there are also the more inexpensive E-MU Teak, Fostex TH-X00 / TR-X00, Fostex TH-610 headphones. These all use similar frame, drivers, and dampening to the TH-900, but the TH-900 has the strongest magnetic force in its driver. In practice, the TH-900 has a bit more resolution to my ears, but it’s hard to tell when comparing.
The other is build quality. I find the TH900 has slightly better materials than a less pricier model like the E-MU Teak, but the hinge is the weak point for these Fostex frames. Some can get loose over time (requiring you to screw it back in) while the worst-case ones can just snap off and require getting a replacement part.
I have the TH900mk1 and have compared with my friend’s LCD-XC. The Audeze has cleaner bass and portrays the texture better, but doesn’t slam as hard as the Fostex even if you EQ the fuck out of its bass.
The main reason the TH900 isn’t as well-reviewed imo is its sound signature. People love the bass, but the TH900’s sharp treble is really the polarizing part. In comparison, the Focals don’t really need EQ and the Audeze are a step-up in terms of resolution as long as you EQ.
If you don’t really care about the TH900’s treble, then you’re good to go. But as another poster mentioned, there are also the more inexpensive E-MU Teak, Fostex TH-X00 / TR-X00, Fostex TH-610 headphones. These all use similar frame, drivers, and dampening to the TH-900, but the TH-900 has the strongest magnetic force in its driver. In practice, the TH-900 has a bit more resolution to my ears, but it’s hard to tell when comparing.
The other is build quality. I find the TH900 has slightly better materials than a less pricier model like the E-MU Teak, but the hinge is the weak point for these Fostex frames. Some can get loose over time (requiring you to screw it back in) while the worst-case ones can just snap off and require getting a replacement part.