Massdrop x Fostex TR-X00 Purpleheart Headphones Discussions | Drop

Mar 24, 2016

Hey Everyone,
Thanks for your interest in the TH-X00 Purpleheart!
This is the TH-X00 you know and love, but the Mahogany earcups have been replaced with Purpleheart earcups. Purpleheart is among the densest woods on earth, making it excellent for reducing acoustic resonance, and incredibly hard to work with.
----------------------------------------- How does this impact the sound? ----------------------------------------- Sub-bass (~50hz) through bass (~250hz) is increased ~2 db while following the same curve as the original (peak is at 50hz).
Lower midrange (~500hz-800hz) is decreased by ~5db, and where the Mahogany has a slight peak at ~600hz, the Purpleheart has a smoother climb from 500hz to 1000hz.
Midrange proper ( ~1000hz-2000hz) is essentially the same as the Mahogany.
Upper midrange (~2k-6k) is ~2db less throughout.
Highs (~8k-10k) are slightly more emphasized. Peaks and valleys are positioned differently than on the Mahogany, magnitude of peaks and valleys is similar.
Super Highs (~12k-20k) are more present. Where the Mahogany falls off at ~14k, the Purpleheart maintains presence throughout that range. This is something for the community to verify, but overall top-end extension should be improved.
CSD Graphs of the TH-X00 Mahogany showed some resonance at 3k and 6k, these mostly eliminated with the Purpleheart.
All of these are subtle changes, driven by the community’s response to the original TH-X00.
Was this section gibberish? Check out https://www.massdrop.com/article/understanding-headphone-reviews and http://www.independentrecording.net/irn/resources/freqchart/main_display.htm
---------------- Drop Details ----------------
The drop will launch at 9am EST, 6am PST on Friday, March 25th.
The Purplehearts are also serialized, with the serials starting at 1. Same as all our first drops for custom products, first 250 purchasers will get a serial below 300.
Price is set at $449.99 including free domestic shipping. Price is higher primarily due to higher material cost from Purpleheart.
Quantity is limited to 1000 units to start, possibility to increase to 2000.
Expected ship date is early August. Takes three months to produce these (gotta make sure the wood is properly dried, etc) and another 4-6 weeks on a boat to america.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OMG WTF WILL, I BOUGHT THE LAST ROUND, THEY DON’T SHIP UNTIL MAY, I WANT THE PURPLE ONES INSTEAD!!! -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well good news folks. Because this is the first time a situation like this has come up (where we’re releasing an alternative version of the product while customers are still waiting on the original to ship) we’re giving all participants of the last TH-X00 drop the opportunity to switch to the Purpleheart if they so desire.
If you want to get in on the purpleheart, join the drop, go to your transaction page, find the TH-X00 Mahogany transaction, and click "Contact Support".
I’ll be around to answer questions leading up to the launch tomorrow morning : )

Ansar

Mar 24, 2016

WillIs the driver tuned differently? Or is the sound difference all due to different wood?

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Mar 24, 2016

AnsarAll due to different woods, there's a dude who makes tons of different earcups, Lawton Audio, check him out if you want to lose an hour staring at expensive eyecandy : )

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Ansar

Mar 24, 2016

WillYeah, saw Lawton's stuff and they're crazy expensive! If it's all due to the cup then I'll probably get the cup from E-MU as I know they sell only the cups. Don't really want to wait until August. Thanks for your reply!

Vote

Mar 25, 2016

Will @Will So compared to the Original X00's. These are considered brighter?

AkumaKurono

347

Mar 25, 2016

Will"we’re giving all participants of the last TH-X00 drop the opportunity to switch to the Purpleheart if they so desire."
So does this mean the mahogany version gets redropped and allow other people to take people's place for the mahogany if they switch over to the Purple Heart?

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Mar 25, 2016

bjwNot really, the differences are pretty specific. I'd shy away from blanket statements. Checkout the attached FR. Purple is purpleheart, yellow is TH-X00 Classic.

SenorPlatano

389

Mar 25, 2016

WillWhen are the Purplehearts arriving? Nevermind, I ain't waiting till August, it's already killing me waiting until May.

joezuu

Mar 25, 2016

WillDo the changes to the upper midrange and lower treble resolve the slight sibilance issue that the originals had?

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Squee

183

Mar 25, 2016

WillCan original drop members still switch? I was at work this whole time, and just found out about this. :(

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fychen

Mar 25, 2016

WillCan you sell the wood cup separately? I had the mahogany can already

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KimbaWLion

144

Keyboard Club Member

Mar 25, 2016

WillWell I already sent in the question to support a already because I did not read the your instructions right. Guess my brain was out to lunch. I do not mind waiting. To me it is worth it. I will join the drop in a heart beat...

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Squee

183

Mar 25, 2016

WillI don't have enough money in my account to cover the price of ordering the headphones FIRST, and then getting a refund. Is there a way to join the drop otherwise?

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Mar 25, 2016

Will @Will If these are $1000 MSRP as the Original TH-X00's are, Why $49.99 more? Doesn't make sense just because the ear cups?? You say its because the ear cups but the value is the exact same?

Madotsuki

Mar 25, 2016

bjwThe Massdrop exclusive MSRP value is pretty much made up since it isn't being sold anywhere else ever really. Considering most Massdrop deals don't chop off literally $500 from the original price, it's safe to assume they just pulled a huge price out their asses to make it seem like more of a deal on a psychological level.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the price is great for what you're getting (it's a bit too steep for me, I'll stick with my AKG k7xx's) but I seriously doubt that these would actually come out to $1000 if mass produced and sold in retail.

InkedandScreened-Support

765

Inked & Screened

Mar 25, 2016

bjwI can't speak on their materials costs but I buy a lot of wood for our laser engraved clock line and the purpleheart we buy is 2-3x more expensive than Cherry, or Walnut and it is a lot more difficult to work with as you have to apply heat to the wood after molding it to get the deep purple color to come out.
I think it is safe to assume any increase in price is solely based on them using the purpleheart.

slumdwag

Mar 25, 2016

bjw"Price is set at $449.99 including free domestic shipping. Price is higher primarily due to higher material cost from Purpleheart."
That's from Will, The wood comes from overseas and is difficult/expensive to work with.

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Meringo

166

Mar 25, 2016

InkedandScreened-SupportA little insider note, Purpleheart is abundent right now and on sale via a lot of the sources. Supply and demand. Demand is incredibly low. What an easy way for them to make $50 more. Despite knowing this, I ordered anyway.
On a seperate note, Purpleheart turns kind of a black color over time. i wonder if they did anything to prevent that.

WNovizar

Mar 25, 2016

WillAlready contacted support, hopefully they will upgrade my order. Thanks

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freewill1983

Mar 25, 2016

Will @Will - Can you clarify where is this made? Not that it makes a difference, but it kind of does!!

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Mar 25, 2016

freewill1983Made in the PRC

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Mar 25, 2016

SenorPlatanoyeah, i brought another pair while waiting for THX00 -___- so painful

Mar 25, 2016

TakangMe too ...I was supprised how well the beyerdynamic DT990 600 ohm's sounded. More than a little curious about the Fostex T50RP's sound only $139 bucks

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KTMD

195

Mar 25, 2016

ExnortonI watched Zeos Review on YouTube for the Fostex T50RP MK3s. He makes them sound amazing and I almost bought a pair. After his review was published, Amazon sold out...

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Mar 25, 2016

KTMDI know mine are on backorder

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KTMD

195

Mar 25, 2016

ExnortonI want to purchase these too, but the whole back order thing and price went up from 139 to 150. Also jumped into this and the DT 990/600. I'm just going to be homeless...

Mar 25, 2016

KTMDI'm sort of used to having the wait for headphones of late

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Mar 25, 2016

KTMDSave me a spot under the bridge. Maybe Massdrop will donate a few big boxes for us to sleep in, with their logo on the sides

fallofdave

Mar 25, 2016

WillIs there anyway to confirm we are one of the first 250 people? (I bought right as the drop opened, but didn't hit refresh until a couple minutes later when it later said 254 bought)

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JoeBi

Mar 26, 2016

WillAre you really going to charge 2000 people for $450 and take their money for 5 months?! Is that even legal?

asdflord

Mar 26, 2016

JoeBiThat isn't unusual at all for this site... I've waited 7 months before for some of the custom keyboard runs. Been waiting since December for another keyboard. The upside is that the stuff doesn't really lose value.
Think of it as a present to yourself later in the year. If you just want to "buy something" you might want to shop elsewhere.

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needhelp

331

Mar 26, 2016

JoeBiit means it would cost $800 if they sell it in a shop

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Mar 30, 2016

Willhi Will, if I want to switch to the Purpleheart, do i need to pay the drop first then go to transaction page? how come I cant see "Contact Support"? thanks

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CobraTaco

Mar 30, 2016

TakangGo to your profile transactions, find TH-X00 contact support link. And tell them you'd like to upgrade to purpleheart. Then they will tell you that you need to sign up for this drop, and they will refund the mahoganys. Credit card refunds take about 2-3 days and paypal refund is supposedly faster. This drop won't be charged until the end of the drop period so you have that much time to scrounge up the 449.99 for the purplehearts. If you need the refund to get this drop then you might be running out of time!

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Mar 30, 2016

CobraTacook thanks, let me try

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Mar 30, 2016

CobraTacohi, just quick question: what if before Aug, I find another pair of love (say second hand TH900 or TH610). Can I cancel the order of Purpleheart and get full refund? many thanks

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Omnicide

Mar 31, 2016

TakangNope.

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Mar 31, 2016

Willhi, I join the drop and want to switch to TH-X00 Purpleheart last night and again just 1 min ago. but no body contact me for the refund and the payment... did i miss any step? thanks

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Stengell

Mar 31, 2016

TakangDid you contact support on the mahogany drop and ask them to cancel it? and ofc. it takes more then 5 minutes for them to respond (i got answer back within a day)

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Mar 31, 2016

Stengellyeah, I join the drop, didnt pay. then I contact support said "I like to switch to Purpleheart please help me with refund and payment"

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Stengell

Mar 31, 2016

Takangeeeh not sure you can join a drop without paying (aka entering your credit card/paypal info)

Mar 31, 2016

Stengellah, so i have to pay Purpleheart before get refund of the original ?

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Mar 31, 2016

TakangYes

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Mar 31, 2016

bjwthank, just did ~ Purpleheart better be good ~ longest wait ever for a product -__-

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Mar 31, 2016

TakangMy pleasure. Just make sure you contact support to cancel the previous X00's you have. I also can't really say if it will be worth the wait or not.

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Stengell

Mar 31, 2016

bjwdid it just for the color :-O so sexy

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Mar 31, 2016

bjwhi, another quick question, how long will MD response on the switching?