Recording - March 2017 - 40

EarsOn
HEADPHONES
ON REVIEW

Fostex TR-Series Dynamic Headphones
Dynamic drivers-as open as you want them to be
In our March 2016 issue, we reviewed the RP-Series Mk3

headphones from Fostex. The RP (Regular Phase) headphones,
with their foil-etched film planar drivers, are a design type that's
been a Fostex staple for years, and this series was interesting because
it provided users with their choice of three enclosures: open-back,
closed-back, and semi-open. With the new TR-Series, Fostex is
offering the same choice, now in a comfortable, lightweight design
with a more conventional dynamic driver.
At the end of this review, we'll discuss the different sounds of
the three models-the open TR-70, the closed TR-80, and the
semi-open TR-90. But first, we'll go over the many things these
headphones have in common.

TR on the outside
Each TR-Series headphone comes with two sets of interchangeable earpads, two interchangeable 3-meter (10') cables-
one straight and one coiled-that share a gold-plated
screw-on 1/4" TRS adapter, and a drawstring carrying bag.
The cables have a TRS minijack at one end, and a locking
TRRS minijack that attaches to the left earcup. The manual
features a diagram that shows how the positive and negative
signals from the two drivers are brought out to the TRRS port
and combined to TRS with a shared ground in the cable.
Aside from the distinctive earcup caps for the three enclosure
styles, the three TR-Series phones look and feel identical. All
of the models weigh around 300 grams (about 10.5 ounces)
and feature the familiar Fostex padded headband and sliding
adjustment bars to fit the user's head.
On each of the three designs, the extra-thick contoured earpads
are a joy to wear for long periods and greatly ease potential fatigue.
While one can swap the thick earpads for the thinner ones without
tools, it takes a minute or two of fiddling to do properly. Your own
comfort needs may be different from mine (some people really hate
thick earpads) and there's no dramatic difference in audio quality
40

RECORDING MARCH 2017

| Reviews by Mike Metlay

after changing earpads, so you should feel free to choose and use
the pads that work best with your head and ears.
Also the same from model to model is the extremely light
weight of the overall design. There's basically no listening fatigue
with any of these models; they hold to the head in comfort and
it's easy to forget you have them on. This isn't all that unusual for
open designs, but in a closed or semi-open headphone it's a real
revelation. About the only issue you might run into is having them
stay in place if you have a smaller-than-average head.

TR on the inside
The TR-Series phones all have 40 mm drivers that offer 100 mW
maximum input power handling and a 5 Hz-35 kHz frequency
response. Sensitivity varies by model and by impedance; these
three models are actually six, because each one is available in
either a 250Ω or 80Ω impedance. We tested the 250Ω models.
The 250Ω impedance requires a slightly higher-power headphone amp than other headphones (they're intended to travel
between professional and hi-fi headphone amps), but the
various D/A converters and interfaces in my home and office
studios had no trouble driving these headphones to comfortably
(and uncomfortably!) loud levels. If I ever heard any issues with
level, it would be on laptops and iOS devices with less powerful
direct minijack outputs, but these were minor differences at best.
If you're really concerned about such applications, Fostex makes
all three of these headphones available in an 80Ω impedance
to accommodate those devices. I didn't test the two impedances
head to head, so I can't comment on whether there's a difference in audio quality between the two, but I would suspect such
differences to be negligible in nearly every use case.

TR on the ears
All three of the TR headphones demonstrate remarkable
clarity and presence, with an ever so slightly mid-forward audio
signature that makes it easy to work with lead vocals, guitar,
and other center-stage sound sources. Highs are smooth and
defined without being overly shrill or crisp; one doesn't hear

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - March 2017