The Fostex TH900mk2 is a premium pair of headphones specially designed for audiophiles who want nothing but the best sound quality. This is the latest iteration of the TH900, and like its predecessor, the MK2 version also comes with a hefty price tag. If you are willing to invest so much in a pair of high-end headphones, you certainly should go for a headphone amp of equal caliber.
You should aim for a headphone amp that will complement the Fostex TH900mk2 sonic strengths and also suit your preference. We will show you a list of the best matching headphone amplifiers which you can get and partner up with the TH900mk2 headphones after we have studied and learned more about them.
Table of Contents
Sonic Characteristics of the Fostex TH900mk2 Premium Headphones
The Fostex TH900mk2 immediately gives off a sense of elegance while pulling your attention towards its striking red cherry birch housings which are finished with Japanese traditional “Urushi” lacquer. TH900mk2 is a closed-back design headphone and with such a prestigious look, you might be thinking to wear them outside for the world to see but the noise isolation capabilities are not good enough. Some of the outdoor noises will eventually intrude on your music listening experience and it is preferably to be used inside a quiet room.
It is very comfortable to wear them and even after long hours of using the Fostex TH900mk2, you won’t feel discomfort. The tightness is just right and it is meant for casual listening. If you decide to wear the premium headphones during your exercise, the likelihood of them falling off is high. Any major head movements may cause the TH900mk2 to slip off a little. It has an impressive frequency response of 5Hz to 45kHz. These Fostex premium stereo headphones are not difficult to drive as well and this gives us a lot of amplifier choices to go for.
More Details on Fostex TH900mk2 at Amazon
The stereo imaging and separation are precise, able to define each musician and put enough space between them. This is also partly supported by the spacious soundstage projected by Fostex TH900mk2. It is really impressive for a closed-back headphone to have such a level of wide and deep soundstage without sounding unnatural. The highs can be a bit too bright-sounding for some listeners, especially when playing at high volumes. We should be careful when pairing a headphone amp that might excite the higher frequencies too much.
Fostex TH900mk2 is an entertaining headphone with a warmish sonic characteristic, partly due to its rich bass performance which is as expected from a closed-back design. It is more than capable of digging deep into the bass extension and produces the subsonic low-ends with authority. The bass reproductions are not only powerful but also well-textured and detailed. Still, playing the TH900mk2 at loud volume might make the bass responses too pronounced. Bass fanatics should certainly check out this pair of premium headphones.
The punchy performance and warmth of the Fostex TH900mk2 make it suitable for most music genres. The highs may be a little highlighted but don’t sound overly cringe when really pushed. With a little more control and tightness on the low-end delivery, it would have been better. All in all, the Fostex TH900mk2 does lack a bit of music refinement and is not revealing enough. If you want higher overall accuracy and a more detailed music presentation, please have a read on Fostex T50RP MK3 Studio Headphones as this particular Fostex headphone model is made for professionals.
Fostex TH900mk2 Specifications
- Wearing Style: Headband
- Transducer Principle: Closed-Back, Dynamic
- Frequency Response: 5Hz-45kHz
- Sensitivity: 100dB
- Impedance: 25 Ohms
- Weight: 390g (0.86lbs)
Best Headphone Amps to partner with Fostex TH900mk2
The Audio-gd HE-9 is one of the best high-end headphone amps to partner up with the Fostex TH900mk2. Most of the Audio-gd headphone amplifier’s sonic traits will complement the TH900mk2 dynamic headphones really well. Such as the large soundstage which the HE-9 can project, the ability to bring out more details from the music, etc. The very polished background of the Audio-gd HE-9 helps the listeners to focus more on the music being played and gives a cleaner overall sound reproduction.
Not keen on spending too much on a headphone amplifier? Then perhaps the Schiit Audio Valhalla 2 will be an ideal choice for you. This is a triode OTL headphone amp and preamp with more than enough power to drive the Fostex TH900mk2. The Valhalla 2 allows us to immediately enjoy the music being played with its precise staging, low noise background, richer and warmer musical performance. It has tight bass control and will complement the Fostex TH900mk2 well. Tube rolling is an option too.
More Information on Schiit Audio Valhalla 2 at Amazon
The DarkVoice 336SE is another amazing headphone tube amplifier with a modest price tag and will match well with your Fostex TH900mk2. DarkVoice 336SE is able to deliver music at a larger scale and makes it sound grand. It is a musically refined headphone amp and digs deep into the bass extension which will be great for the Fostex TH900mk2 headphones. More importantly, the 336SE amp does not add more brightness to the highs. In the future, you can also swap the stock tubes to others if you want to alter the sonic characteristics.
To have a seamless overall sound reproduction, sometimes matching the headphone with an amplifier that is made by the same company will be an excellent idea. The Fostex HP-A8mk2 is one such headphone amplifier and is of the same caliber as the Fostex TH900mk2 headphones. It also comes with a built-in D/A converter which some headphone enthusiasts might find useful. The Fostex HP-A8mk2 is capable of projecting a spacious soundstage with depth and it is very revealing as well, providing us with plenty of music details.
More Details on Fostex HP-A8mk2 at Amazon
If you are in search of a portable headphone amplifier with its own in-built DAC then the Chord Mojo will definitely be an exceptional choice to go for and will be a worthy match for your Fostex TH900mk2 stereo headphones. The Chord Mojo has won many accolades over the years, all thanks to its extraordinary sonic performance and amazing sound quality. This is an entertaining and dynamic portable headphone amp, with the ability to unravel plenty of music details including subtle nuances. Mojo’s rich and warm sonic characteristic will suit the TH900mk2 too.
More Information on Chord Mojo at Amazon
For headphone enthusiasts who have tight budgets and still want a good headphone amp that will match well with the Fostex TH900mk2. You might want to check out Schiit Audio Vali 2+ and it is a tube hybrid amplifier with enough power to efficiently drive the TH900mk2 headphones. The Vali 2+ has a clean and clear sound reproduction with agile music delivery. For such an affordable headphone amp, the sonic performance we are getting is well worth the investment. Furthermore, you can alter the sound quality to your liking by tube rolling.
More Information on Schiit Audio Vali 2+ at Amazon
To Conclude
The Fostex TH900mk2 works better with tube headphone amplifiers and you might want to audition a few of them to find it out personally. We are not saying that solid-state headphone amps are not suitable, as long they don’t add too much brightness which may make the TH900mk2 sound overly harsh. The headphone amps listed here are well worth your time to consider and hear them out. Do use your own Fostex TH900mk2 headphones when auditioning any potential headphone amps.
