Having worked (and played) in various recording studios since the mid-’80s, I’ve seen (and worn) my share of Fostex headphones. Along with AKG K240 and Sony MDR series models, Fostex cans wereeverywherein the ‘80s and ‘90s. I remember two basic versions from back in the day. There was the inexpensive T10 model, which didn’t necessarily sound great; but it was durable, comfortable, andloud. The T20 was nicer — more comfortable, better sounding, and with more isolation to avoid spill into a vocal mic — kind of a treat.
Fostex has never stopped refining its studio headphones, and the RP series (RPstands forRegular Phase, referring to the proprietary diaphragm design) has been running with the ball admirably for four decades now. With a replaceable, lockable cable system, the latestRPmk3variants win my praise for actually being user-serviceable, while many other brands of headphones have to be sent in for repair, or often are just trashed out of convenience. TheRPmk3’s newly-redesigned earcups are super-comfortable — I would actually use the word “luxurious.” At least for my head and ears, there was just the right amount of cushioning and snugness. These would be easy to wear for an all-day session.
Sound-wise, the newRPmk3cans, at 50 Ω impedance, are capable of significant volume (helpful for drummers struggling to hear a click track, for example). I auditioned two of the threeRPmk3models — theT40RPmk3, which has closed-back earcups that provide significant isolation, and theT50RPmk3, which is a classic semi-open design. To me, both sounded quite good, although perhaps a bit dark — which can translate to “non-fatiguing” of course. TheT50RPmk3seemed a bit more natural sounding, while theT40RPmk3provided a nice bass thump — perhaps the best bet for a drummer or bassist.
I was glad to check out these new twists on old classics and could see picking up a few pairs for my studio. Because of the slightly colored sound of theFostex RPmk3series, I prefer other headphones for mixing reference. On the other hand, for comfortable and efficient studio tracking — and for headphones I won’t need to repair a few times a year — my new go-to will be theFostex T40RPmk3andT50RPmk3.
$159.99 each;www.fostexinternational.com –Pete Weisswww.weissy.com