Looks like @imackler found the secret link on the Massdrop site ... moving this from the staging area since the cat's out of the bag. Seriously, WTH do you guys do? Run a cron job to look for this stuff?

Massdrop Fostex TH-X00 Purpleheart Measurements and Quick Impressions



Looks like Will @ Massdrop is at it again. Not content to sit on their laurels, Massdrop has found a new way for us to part with our money. Must resist! Must resist, I say. BUT FFFF THESE SURE ARE PURTY. Must have! Must have! Damn you Will! I knew I should have negotiated a kick-back for this. See the photos below. I did what I could to best represent how the purpleheart looked under different lighting conditions. Chocolate brown, purple, sweet. Note that this is a preview and not a production manufacturing unit.

Photo retouching courtesy of @zerodeefex

Under indoor lighting (halogen / incandescent)

Under more natural lighting (mixed indoor / outdoor)



There are no changes to the X00 other than to the wood cups. The purpleheart wood actually does introduce its own sonic properties. (It's rather coincidental that I happen to be considering the purchase of a phono cartridge with a purpleheart body.) Purpleheart is a rather dense and tough wood known for gumming up and dulling blades and machinery. Cut it against the grain, and we will end up tearing chunks from it.



It does sound a bit different from the mahogany cups from the earlier runs. Hard to describe, but there was more of an obvious resonance play with the mahogany. The purpleheart seems tighter, yet at the same time smoother. Gone is the slight bit of treble sharpness the prior variant exhibited. However the tiny spotlit emphasis in the tape-hiss region is still present.



I can't be sure whether the changes are the result of the cups or normal variation in the drivers; however CSD plots do indicate an absence of any ringing in the lower treble region.



There are no changes to the X00 other than to the wood cups. The purpleheart wood actually does introduce its own sonic properties. (It's rather coincidental that I happen to be considering the purchase of a phono cartridge with a purpleheart body.) Purpleheart is a rather dense and tough wood known for gumming up and dulling blades and machinery. Cut it against the grain, and we will end up tearing chunks from it.It does sound a bit different from the mahogany cups from the earlier runs. Hard to describe, but there was more of an obvious resonance play with the mahogany. The purpleheart seems tighter, yet at the same time smoother. Gone is the slight bit of treble sharpness the prior variant exhibited. However the tiny spotlit emphasis in the tape-hiss region is still present.I can't be sure whether the changes are the result of the cups or normal variation in the drivers; however CSD plots do indicate an absence of any ringing in the lower treble region. @Will thinks it's a combination of long burn-in (these drivers have been around a long time, just the cups were replaced) and the wood. Anyway, what do I know? I'm just a false authority. But see measurements below.

Fostex TH-X00 Purpleheart Measurements



The frequency measurement is indicative of a less than perfect seal (assuming some leakage at the nape of the neck). The X00 can measure like bass monsters with a super tight seal, but that is not what I did there.



Click here for a comparison to the prior mahogany variant: The frequency measurement is indicative of a less than perfect seal (assuming some leakage at the nape of the neck). The X00 can measure like bass monsters with a super tight seal, but that is not what I did there.Click here for a comparison to the prior mahogany variant: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...ements-and-quick-impressions.1681/#post-42237



http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...-and-quick-impressions.1681/page-2#post-42361 Notes on these measurements:



http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...-and-quick-impressions.1681/page-3#post-42471



Frequency Response and Distortions L 0dB = 100 dbSPL





Frequency Response and Distortions R 0dB = 100 dbSPL

Notes on the midrange dip in the measurements:Frequency Response and Distortions L 0dB = 100 dbSPLFrequency Response and Distortions R 0dB = 100 dbSPL

I don't know what's up with the distortion spike in the upper mids. It could be slight driver damage from a well traveled headphone or a measurement artifact. I was in a rush to get the measurements done so I could return them.



CSD L





CSD R





CSD LCSD R

Buy it here on Friday: