Summary – Fostex AMS-TH610 Headphones
The Fostex TH610 headphones are quite simply the headphone for bass lovers – they can produce stunning lows with deep bass that resonates through the entire headphone structure. They are also aesthetically pleasing headphones that come with a full black walnut wood design that provides an exquisite feel – they are very nice headphones to hold and wear. The TH610 comes equipped with 50mm neodymium drivers and dual diaphragm for extended highs and natural sound reproduction. It comes with a 6.3mm gold-plated stereo standard plug which needs to be plugged into a headphone amplifier for best sound performance. The headphones are pretty comfortable to wear with plush and soft ear padding that feels good on the ears. The TH610 has a frequency response between 5 Hz to 45 kHz, a sensitivity of 98dB with an impedance of 25 ohms and a maximum input power of 1800mW. It also comes with a leather-like pouch for easy storage. Overall, the Fostex TH610s are among the best headphones we have tested that deliver deep lows with a warmer sound signature in a full walnut wood enclosure – check them out if you are a bass lover.
The Pros & Cons
The Pros: The Fostex TH-610 deliver high-fidelity sound performance with full-range sound and great attention to detail. The midranges on the TH-610 are particularly good and well-pronounced. The impedance on the TH610 is only 25 ohms which means that it can be used with smartphones. The bass on these headphones can go jaw-dropping low down to 5 Hz.
The Cons. The leather cups are a little large and can make yours warm after prolonged use. The matte wood cups are scratchable and require extra caution while handling.
Sound Performance
The sound performance of the Fostex TH610s is really impressive with a very smooth and refined sound signature. The acoustic drivers are capable of delivering high-fidelity sound that feels faithful to the audio recording and audio source. The highs are crystal clear with very smooth treble ranges – the timbre response on the TH610s was sublime without any harshness. Because the TH610s have such a wide frequency response from 5 Hz to 45 kHz, it delivers practically full-range sound quality that you can actually hear and feel the difference – you can even pick up details in the music which you might not have noticed before. The midranges on the TH610s are a true winner – they are clearly defined and do not cross over into the other frequency bands which gives the TH610s a pretty unique sound signature. The midranges pick up nuances and acoustic in the music which are brought forward in the audio recording. The bass response on the TH610s is naturally strong and hits really hard but never overwhelming. This means that you could use the TH610s to listen to bass-heavy music genres as well as vocal and instrumental music and get consistent high-fidelity sound performance regardless of genre. The TH610s also provide really good sound separation and great soundstage for a pair of closed-back headphones, presenting a good spatial image of the sound.
Design and Build Quality
The Fostex TH610s are essentially closed-back headphones which provide really good sound isolation and better bass impact. Compared with the Sennheiser HD 800s, the TH610s lack the soundstage that the HD 800s provide but have better bass response and full-range sound performance. The walnut finish on the TH610s looks really exquisite and gives the headphones a premium vibe – they look great when worn on the head or while holding them. The headband is fully adjustable and is well-padded for comfort when resting over your head. The ear pads are also very soft and comfortable to wear, although they may cause your ears to feel slightly warm after prolonged periods of use. The TH610s come with detachable cords which are tangle free and easy to hook up to your amplifier or audio source. Construction-wise, the TH610s are very solid and durable headphones and look aesthetically stunning. The only downside to the TH610 walnut wood finish is that it can be easily scratched, so handle these headphones with care.
The Verdict?
Fostex has a reputation for designing quality headphones that deliver deep bass, and this headphone is no exception. The Fostex TH610s are high quality walnut-wood type headphones and are able to bring out the unique acoustic properties of walnut wood nicely. These high-end headphones are very comfortable to wear and come with walnut cups which look and feel stunning. The sound signature on the TH610 is best described as fun and slightly darker – they produce very crisp highs, detailed midranges and the bass response has plenty of depth. Where these headphones shine is in the level of detail that you get with the midranges which surpasses most headphones we have tested. It also has some of the widest frequency ranges from 5 Hz to 45 kHz which delivers full-range sound quality. The build quality of the TH610 headphones is simply top-notch and feels very comfortable to wear without exerting too much clamping force, although the soft padding on the ear pads may cause your ears to feel warm after some time. We would also recommend burning in these headphones for up to 12 hours to optimize the sound quality and run these headphones through an amplifier to bring out the sound quality. Overall, the TH610s are definitely headphones that you would want to check out that provides exceptional sound quality with a unique walnut-wood sound signature and construction.
Be sure to check out our top picks for the best bass headphones and audiophile headphone reviews for high-end listening.