In this video I tested two of Fostex’s flagship planar magnetics: the TH1000RPmk2 (closed-back) and the TH1100RPmk2 (open-back). These are honestly expensive headphones, but they’re also some of the nicest-looking Fostex has made—real wood cups with that dyed-in-the-wood pigment look, plus a redesigned magnesium alloy headband and a suspension strap that sits close to your head. The pads are big and fluffy, and I like that the new pad mechanism makes it easy to twist off for mods. They also switched to a standard 3.5mm connector, which is just way more convenient. Sound-wise, I actually prefer the open-back TH1100RPmk2, and it’s not that close. The funny part is the open-back sounds bassier to me, with more sub-bass and mid-bass, while still being more detailed and more “studio” accurate overall. Vocals are pushed forward in a way that reminds me of that HD600-style presentation, and the midrange is genuinely impressive for a planar—no usual mid dip. The treble can get a little spicy (just a tad too bright up top), but the tuning is so natural that I could see people using this for real critical listening. If you want open-back, I’d go blue (TH1100RPmk2); if you want closed-back, I’d still consider other Fostex options like the TH910 depending on what you’re after.