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Fostex launches Amazon Japan–exclusive TH909LE, a simplified-package version of open-back TH909, removing the headphone stand and using minimal packaging, priced at ¥239,800.
Limited-quantity special sale confirmed on Amazon.co.jp, observed at 15:00 on the 27th, emphasizing availability only while stock lasts.
Open-back housings use premium Mizume Sakura wood, finished in Bordeaux urushi lacquer by Sakamoto Ototsugu Shoten, with dual-layer etched aluminum vents.
Stripped of its accessories, the TH909LE effectively reframes the TH909 as a transducer-first proposition, and that shifts attention to how Fostex balances mechanical openness with control. The dual-layer vent structure is more than cosmetic: varying the effective airflow through etched aluminum layers alters back-wave impedance, which in turn moderates diaphragm damping in the upper bass and lower mids. Compared with more aggressively vented open-backs, this approach tends to trade raw spatial exaggeration for coherence, keeping image outlines intact rather than diffused. One source emphasizes “aperture ratio tuning,” which in practical terms suggests fine-grain manipulation of pressure relief to avoid the hollowed midrange that can plague lightly damped designs.
The driver architecture also invites closer reading beyond headline materials. The free-edge surround geometry is doing heavy lifting here, allowing larger excursions without the stiffness rise that often blunts macrodynamics in open designs. Coupled with a high internal-loss diaphragm substrate, this points toward a voicing that prioritizes decay cleanliness over sheer impact—bass notes are expected to stop and start cleanly rather than bloom. Some reports frame this as a comfort-oriented tuning, but technically it reflects an attempt to keep group delay in check across the low-mid transition, which is critical for maintaining tonal continuity on acoustic recordings.
Interestingly, despite the cost-reduced presentation, the signal path remains uncompromised, hinting at Fostex’s intent to preserve electrical consistency with its upper-tier models. This positions the TH909LE as less of a “budget” variant and more of a packaging rethink for listeners who already own dedicated stands and storage. From a system-matching perspective, the open architecture and controlled damping suggest synergy with neutral-to-warm amplification rather than overtly analytical chains, reinforcing the idea that the LE is aimed at long-form listening sessions rather than quick showroom impressions.
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