Review on Fostex T20RP 🎧 MK3 Open-back Professional Studio Headphones by Manni Diaz

Before I begin my list of praises, let's start with a few caveats. First, they are designed for desktop listening with an amp. If you need portable headphones, look elsewhere. If you're looking for something that sounds good when connected to your phone, keep looking. I tested them connected directly to my iPhone and computer and the result was unsatisfactory. You have to crank the volume up to around 60% to reach normal volume, and even then these headphones don't sound quite right: highs, lows and mids mix and struggle to resolve fine detail and separate instruments properly. You get muddy, stretched bass, tinny, unfocused highs, and some noise just disappears. In a word, without an amplifier they sound unmusical and even broken. If you're looking for a pair of cans that sound great without the extra kit, I can't stop you from buying them. You will be disappointed. However, if you already own an amp or don't mind buying one and want something like $500 for $160, I can't recommend them enough. Even with my USB powered amp like the Schiit Fulla 2 the sound goes from a loud mess to sound card heaven. Serious. I've never heard anything this precise, textured, balanced and accurate for less than $300. Everything just sounds right. The soundstage is wide enough for good instrument separation and deep enough for good imaging, although none of that is impressive for the T50RP. Where they really shine is in their frequency response. Bass is tight and articulate (as opposed to the monotonous waves found in smaller headphones), highs are clicky and sparkling without being too fatiguing, and mids are warm and smooth. However, I wouldn't describe the sound as "flat". In any case, they tend to have a "dark” sound with a pronounced mid-bass. Sub-bass fans might be disappointed by the lack of boom, but for me the sound is tight enough to make low-key music sound fun without going overboard. Another warning: because they are so revealing, bad recordings sound BAD. I have read this caveat hundreds of times in reviews and on audio forums for other products and have never found it to be correct. These are true. This will compound any error in the main file or recording, but if you have a quality source (I stream Spotify at 320kbps) you should be on cloud nine most of the time. I have two recommended mods that mirror what many other reviewers have said: Replace the included ear pads and cable because they are awful. The Brainwavz replacement memory foam earpads for large in-ear headphones, brown are AWESOME earpads - I can't recommend them enough for the price and they will transform the T50RP's fit and comfort that is sorely missed the box. Equally important, they improve the sound by creating a better fit to the head. As for the cable, you can find it harmless and keep it to yourself. I tried going this route at first, but the lock cable is uncomfortable, sometimes snaps, and has a poor mic (plus a tendency to snag on clothing). Buy V-MODA Extended Audio Cable (Black) and don't look back. I know what you're thinking: If I need to buy an amp, pads, and cables, these aren't ACTUALLY $160 headphones. It is true. They're more like $275 headphones, but even at that price point, they're amazing. It's also possible that your anatomy fits the standard ear pads better than mine, in which case they look more like $250 headphones. Of course, if you already have an amp, these are the headphones of the century. Either way, with the obligatory amp, these headphones are MUCH better than their weight. My Schiit Fulla 2 is a tiny USB powered thing that still provides more than enough power for them - I almost never turn the volume knob past 1/3. Don't believe claims that you need a big, high-power amp to drive them - overkill is always the name of the game for audiophiles. However, more power tends to result in better detail and balance at lower volumes, and the JDS Labs Objective2 amp I use with them is perfect. Of course, if you already have a high-current, 2W per channel into 50ohm Class A headphone amp and a multi-bit DAC, I'm sure it will sound even better. :)