Dekoni Blue by Fostex Planar-Magnetic Headphones

Dec 17, 2019

Joe3tree months lateh...

But anyway, good news is he has vegan options (I think) with the Velour or Choice pads (synthetic leather and suede), and everyone wins.

(Edited)

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Bad.hombre

Oct 5, 2018

As of now, these headphone are available on Dekoni website for the same price (until Oct. 31 https://dekoniaudio.com/) and on Amazon with prime free one-day shipping (who knows how long https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BWJ976T?tag=amz-mkt-chr-us-20&ascsubtag=1ba00-01000-org00-win70-other-nomod-us000-pcomp-feature-scomp-wm-5&ref=aa_scomp.) Kinda undermines the whole point of Massdrop if the group buy doesn't net an improved price point.

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daniele1976

Oct 18, 2018

I don't riceive the slappa case....

Oct 31, 2018

daniele1976Still? Dekoni sent a message in the discussion here that there was an issue with the shipper, and they sent out the cases.

LazYevgen

133

May 25, 2018

T-X0 is a shitty shit that should be only considered as source for the argon mode... sound is just TERRIBLE... hope that Ryan can fix it... but it will be around $200+
So as for me Argons or 60 are clearly the winner here.

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MarcSpence

180

May 28, 2018

Poor guy got a dud.. 4xx scale very well and are amp depedant like most good cans... They sing on my Burson SS and lafigaro 339 tube...serious bass on my 339... I kept my 4xx and returned my he560 due to crap plastic yoke that broke in a week...also, IME planars need some break in time compared to dynamic cans...This is a very subjective hobby

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Oddfellow

Jun 15, 2018

thanks for insight. so the 4XX and the blue sound distinct enough from each other to warrant purchasing both?

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ImaginaryNumbers

Jun 24, 2018

I was very interested until I realized they kept the T50RP's awful proprietary jack with the same badly-designed locking mechanism. I've had two different variants of the T50RP, the MR Speakers Mad Dog (modded MK2) and the standard MK3, and both work perfectly except for that awful locking mechanism that prevents cables from making proper contact with the headphones. My sound keeps cutting in and out on one side and/or both. This has happened with both sets of headphones after a year or two of careful use. Both fostex's cable and a V-Moda one that's often recommended as an alternative make t he same unreliable connection, so that I'm constantly messing with the cable to get the sound to come out from both sides. I still can't believe Fostex hasn't done away with the stupid thing because this series of headphones sounds fantastic and is built like a brick otherwise. As things stand, I'm unwilling to waste join a drop for yet another pair of headphones that will crap out on me for the same reason.
Is there any possibility we could get a special version of the T50RP (or a similar headphone) for the same price, but without that poorly designed locking mechanism?

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Moonwolf

Jul 23, 2018

That’s a lame excuse. It’s worse than telling you are holding the phone wrongly. ‘Rub the cable!’ That’s what Fostex solution to its customers? That company is seriously wrong. Not willing to change the known issue when confronted by massdrop, that speaks something about the company.

Jul 19, 2019

MoonwolfTo be fair, Fostex stopped using the coating that was causing the poor connection issue, so cables on new units don’t need a layer polished off. So, they did change based on the known issue.

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GuyInPittsburgh

509

Oct 30, 2020

Drop's new business model of offer less at a higher price must mean they hired a new bigwig who more than likely drove his prior company into bankruptcy but convinced the board of directors at drop that they can increase revenue while simultaneously reducing expenses. Hey Drop, don't be too surprised when you're on the brink of bankruptcy next. If you happen to work for Drop then now might be a really good time to start polishing up that resume..... You're going to need it soon.

Solderboy23

297

Feb 4, 2019

I thought massdrop was suppose to be about getting collaboration products at discounted prices? You can get these on Amazon or eBay for $199.99 all day every day with much quicker shipping. Why would any one buy this here for the same price but an added 6-8 week wait. Makes absolutely no sense.

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GiantHeadphoneSquid

639

Feb 4, 2019

Solderboy23You can currently get these from DigitalDJGear for $190 (use the promo code HOLIDAY5 listed on the site banner) https://www.digitaldjgear.com/dekoni-audio-blue-fostex-dekoni-audiophile-hifi-planar-magnetic-headphone . This is the likely seller you'll get these through Amazon with in US anyway, although you do lose Prime speed shipping (they still offer free in US). I used a repeat customer discount code to pick these up for $180 over the weekend. They also don't charge tax ;) I already own 2 Slappa cases (they're great, and about $20 on their own), but tbh my T60 is a very tight squeeze in it because of the adjustment sliders. . . YMMV

Solderboy23

297

Feb 5, 2019

Still not even close to worth it

zep483

657

Jan 27, 2019

I wonder if these would be unique turned into argons...

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May 1, 2019

Tal (Dekoni’s co-founder and sound engineer) actually told me that graph came straight from Fostex, so it’s a good graph. The thing is, though, it’s all about how you look at the graph and line up the comparison. Modding a headphone, “you can’t add what isn’t there, but can take away what is.” Nip a little treble in the sibilants region here, tuck the mids and smooth the transition from bass there, and you get the Blue. Most people instinctively base their sense of volume off of the vocals and majority of instruments, which happens in that midrange area. So, if you matched volume at 1000 Hz (as most do) or slightly higher, you’d see that the graph is showing a substantial increase in bass (and extension), as well as a bit of treble emphasis spikes to prevent it from being masked by the bass increase. You should always think of comparing Freq curves relative to the mids, mentally doing what a computer cannot and keep in mind a couple spots along the midrange spectrum. ZMF makes great headphones, I was hanging out with Zach and Bev just recently at AXPONA. Chill, relaxed, yet passionate people, love ‘em!

LowFi42

263

May 1, 2019

EvshrugExtension is a term used to describe the gradient of a specific section of audio reproduction relative to the other frequencies, and in this case both the blue and t50 have equal curves and equal gradients when concerning sub bass, causing bass extension to be exactly the same. If we are being picky, you can see that the difference between left and right of the T50rp represents a greater difference than the difference in bass response between the Dekoni Blue and The Fostex T50rp. The Blue has no benefit regarding bass extension. For example, If you took a HD 600 and boosted the entire bass frequencies by 5db, extension would still be exactly the same, its just that the entire region of bass has become louder. Or in easier terms, we can see that with the Blue's and the T50rp, 30 hertz is still the same difference in amplitude in comparison to 90 hertz with both headphones - identical extension. I also think that relativity is a key factor when analysing a headphone. Even If you align at 1khz, it doesn't disguise the fact that the mid-bass region is over 5 times louder than the midrange as you're suggesting. Take care.

MannyAkim

136

Jul 23, 2018

I had the T50RP, they require a butt load of power. I had my Schiit Asgard 2 at 1 o'clock to get great sound out of these.
If you guys are looking or considering a different type of planar-magnetic headphones, then look up GTR, it's $199.99
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gt-r-planar-magnetic-headphones-design#/

Jul 31, 2018

I know nothing about Advanced or their GT-R, save that the crowdfunding campaign hasn’t reached their goal (60% with a month to go), and that it doesn’t deliver until an estimated November 2018. Also, crowdfunding is not buying a product... it’s a risk, an investment in trust that the company will succeed to deliver. Could it be awesome? I don’t know, but I like to see companies succeed and grow.
The Dekoni Blue, that is a known quantity for me. I have one. Warm, exciting, and fun, this “official mod” has extra bass and “solid” sounding mids but is tastefully fun, a contender against the dynamic driver Philips Fidelio X2 but a complimentary contrast to the AKG K7XX and Sennheiser HD 6XX. It’s an easy recommendation for EDM, trance, hip hop, and pop, really effective at conveying the energy and emotion of tracks without sounding as blurred and slow as cheap bassy headphones. It may lack the ultimate refinement of top of the line headphones 4x the price, but it’s most of the way there and clearly better than typical mainstream products.
Hopefully this provides some idea of the character of the Blue, so people can gauge for themselves if it seems like it suits their taste.