Fostex TH1100RP Audiophile Planar Magnetic Over-Ear Headphones

Utilizing a newly designed flat-diaphragm RP driver for superior sensitivity and improved transient and frequency response, the TH1100RP from Fostex are premium planar audiophile headphones with an open-back design. Sporting a solid maple wood housing with a distinctive Japanese Hon-Ai indigo dye finish, the TH1100RP is as much a tool as a work of art.

The TH1100RP delivers accurate and delicate reproduction of everything from heavy bass to ultrahigh frequencies for a clear sense of localization and an ideal soundstage. Newly adopted magnesium alloy mechanical parts in the housing base plate and hanger help to reduce the weight of these headphones by 20% compared to aluminum components. Comfort over long listening sessions is an important factor, which is why the TH1100RP features comfortable silk-protein synthetic leather earpads and a plush sheepskin headband. The detachable Y cable features gold plating on the 1/4" end and rhodium plating on the 2-pin ends for earphone connections. These headphones include a leatherette pouch.

Newly Developed Premium RP Driver

The RP technology all-surface-driven planar diaphragm driver, which has been improved since 1974, has been newly developed with a planar diaphragm that is larger than that of the conventional T50RPmk3/mk4 RP driver. In addition to increasing the number of magnets that sandwich the diaphragm and adopting a newly designed pattern shape for the printed coil, the magnetic circuit components have been redesigned to optimize the magnetic flux distribution, thereby suppressing unwanted resonance in the diaphragm and enabling a sharp response in the rise and fall of the sound.

This simultaneously achieves high sensitivity, smooth frequency response, and excellent transient characteristics, enabling accurate and delicate reproduction from heavy bass to high frequencies, thereby realizing the ability to express a transparent sound image in space with a clear sense of localization.

Traditional Japanese Hon-Ai Dyeing

The solid hard maple wood housing, known as a material for guitars, is dyed with Awa indigo from Tokushima Prefecture, which has long been valued for its high-quality dyeing. The wood is carefully dyed one by one by skilled craftsmen, resulting in a deep indigo color that beautifully reveals the unique grain of the hard maple wood.

Dyeing with Hon-Ai, which is made exclusively from the plant indigo, allows hard maple’s heavy specific gravity to be utilized without adding unnecessary color to the sound, allowing the user to enjoy deep bass and clear, extended highs.

Refined Mechanical Design

The open-back TH1100RP reproduces a natural soundstage with high resolution and creates a less-tiring listening experience through the use of double-aluminum-etched parts in the housing aperture and careful fine-tuning of the aperture ratio and each internal part. Magnesium alloy is relatively new for mechanical parts such as the housing base plate and hanger, and reduces weight by 20% compared to aluminum. Rubber packing is used for the rotation mechanism to eliminate excess vibration as much as possible. The design concept of taking every detail of each part into consideration has further improved the wearing comfort.

Comfortable Ergonomics

The newly shaped earpads, which are asymmetrical to optimize wearing comfort, are made of low-resilience cushions and silk-protein synthetic leather that is three times more durable than conventional earpads, ensuring a comfortable fit even over long periods of listening. The head pad and headband are made of sheepskin for a supple, comfortable fit and a texture that changes with use.

Detachable OFC Cable

The headphone cable is detachable and is made from 7N-grade high-purity OFC (oxygen-free copper), free from impurities for enhanced transmission performance. The detachable cable features gold plating on the 1/4" connector end, ideal for corrosion resistance and conductivity, while the earphone connections sport 2-pin connectors with rhodium plating, which provides excellent hardness, abrasion resistance, and resilience against corrosion. Optional alternative cable types are also available from Fostex.

EAN: 636827310017