Fostex TH808

Fostex TH808 is an open-back over-ear headphone derived directly from the TH909 flagship — sharing the identical 50mm BioDyna driver but housed in a matte black walnut enclosure with machined aluminium components in place of the TH909's Japanese-lacquered maple. The TH808 sits above the TH818 in Fostex's lineup with a wider stated frequency range (5–45,000 Hz) and a housing material with a distinct acoustic character. Black walnut — used in lutherie for its density and internal damping — gives the TH808 a darker, more focused housing resonance compared to the acacia of the TH818. Hand-assembled in Japan.

TH909 driver in a black walnut housing: identical resolution, different acoustic character

The 50mm BioDyna transducer with a neodymium magnet at 1.5 T magnetic flux density comes directly from the TH900 series — a bio-cellulose and composite fiber diaphragm combining low specific gravity with high Young's modulus and high internal loss, translating to fast transient response and midrange clarity without smearing. The 5–45,000 Hz frequency range extends deeper at the low end (5 Hz versus 12.5 Hz in the TH810/818) and higher into the ultrasonic region (45 kHz versus 40 kHz), reflecting differences in housing tuning and acoustic loading. At 25 Ω impedance and 100 dB/mW sensitivity, the TH808 drives from a portable amplifier or headphone output of an audio interface or instrument without issue; the 1,800 mW maximum input rating ensures compatibility with high-output desktop headphone amplifiers. The matte black walnut housing shows individual grain and texture variation per unit; machined aluminium components complement the wood, reducing resonance and keeping weight in check.

Low-resilience earpads and dual-sided cable routing

The TH808's earpads use low-resilience urethane foam covered in high-grade synthetic leather — identical in construction to the TH909's pads, conforming to the shape of the outer ear and improving passive isolation at the rear of the cup. The cable is routed bilaterally via Y-type dual 2-pin connectors with rhodium-plated contacts on a gold-plated base, providing mechanical symmetry and even cable tension across both sides. Included cable: 3 m, 7N oxygen-free copper, terminating in a gold-plated 6.3mm plug. Balanced connection is supported via the separately purchased XLR cable (ET-H3.0N7BL). A synthetic leather carrying pouch is included.

KEY FEATURES

• Open-back over-ear design derived from flagship TH909 — identical driver unit
• 50mm BioDyna driver: bio-cellulose diaphragm, neodymium magnet, 1.5 T magnetic flux density
• Matte black walnut solid wood housing + machined aluminium components
• Low-resilience urethane earpads + high-grade synthetic leather covering
• Y-type dual-sided cable routing: 2 x 2-pin connector, rhodium-plated on gold-plated base
• Detachable cable: 3 m, 7N OFC, gold-plated 6.3mm plug
• Balanced XLR connection supported via ET-H3.0N7BL cable (sold separately)
• Internal wiring: 7N OFC
• Included: synthetic leather carrying pouch
• Hand-assembled, manufactured in Japan

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Type: open-back, over-ear
• Driver: 50mm BioDyna (bio-cellulose + composite fibers), neodymium magnet, 1.5 T
• Frequency response: 5 Hz – 45,000 Hz
• Impedance: 25 Ω
• Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW
• Maximum input power: 1,800 mW
• Weight: approx. 370 g (without cable)
• Housing: solid matte black walnut + machined aluminium
• Earpads: low-resilience urethane foam + high-grade synthetic leather
• Cable connector: 2-pin, rhodium-plated on gold-plated base (Y-type, dual-sided routing)
• Internal wiring: 7N OFC
• Included cable: 3 m, 7N OFC, 6.3mm gold-plated plug
• Balanced cable: XLR ET-H3.0N7BL (sold separately)
• Accessories: synthetic leather carrying pouch
• Manufacturing: hand-assembled in Japan