Fostex ET-H3.0N7BL

The Fostex ET-H3.0N7BL is a high-end detachable replacement cable specifically designed for premium Fostex headphones. This 3-meter balanced cable is made from 7N grade OFC (Oxygen Free Copper), offering an exceptional purity of 99.99999%. Equipped with a gold-plated 4-pin XLR connector and rhodium-plated terminals, it provides a balanced connection solution for demanding audiophiles owning the Fostex TH900mk2, TH909, or TH610 models.

Exceptional Build Quality

The ET-H3.0N7BL cable stands out for its use of premium materials and meticulous construction. The 7N grade oxygen-free copper (99.99999% purity) ensures lossless and uncolored audio signal transmission. This exceptional purity eliminates impurities that could affect sound quality, delivering a faithful reproduction of every musical nuance.

The Y-shaped design of the cable ensures balanced signal distribution to each earcup, while its generous 3-meter length offers appreciable freedom of movement during listening sessions. Weighing only 130 grams, it remains lightweight despite its robustness, ensuring the comfort of your audiophile headphones is not compromised.

The rhodium-plated terminals on the headphone side ensure a reliable and durable connection, resistant to oxidation and multiple plug/unplug cycles. The gold-plated 4-pin XLR connector on the amplifier side optimizes electrical conductivity while resisting corrosion, ensuring the longevity of your investment.

Advantages of Balanced Connection

The ET-H3.0N7BL cable offers a balanced connection via its 4-pin XLR connector, representing a significant improvement over standard unbalanced cables. This technology completely separates the left and right signals, reducing interference and crosstalk between channels.

Balanced connection offers several notable acoustic advantages:

• Reduction of background noise and interference
• Improved channel separation
• Increased sound dynamics
• Better detail definition and soundstage

To fully benefit from these advantages, a headphone amplifier compatible with balanced connections and equipped with a 4-pin XLR output is required.

Compatibility and Versatility

The Fostex ET-H3.0N7BL has been specifically designed to be compatible with Fostex’s high-end headphones equipped with detachable connectors. It fits perfectly with the following models:

• Fostex TH900mk2: the flagship model, a premium closed-back dynamic headphone
• Fostex TH909: the open-back version of the TH900mk2, offering a wider soundstage
• Fostex TH610: a more accessible yet still high-end model

This cable is an ideal alternative to the original unbalanced cable (model ET-H3.0N7UB) supplied with these headphones. It allows audiophiles to fully exploit the potential of their equipment by using a balanced connection when their audio setup permits.

Differences with the Standard Cable

Compared to the original unbalanced cable (ET-H3.0N7UB), the ET-H3.0N7BL mainly differs by its 4-pin XLR connector instead of the 6.35mm stereo jack. Both cables share the same build quality with 7N OFC copper and rhodium-plated terminals on the headphone side.

The balanced cable is slightly heavier (130g versus 120g for the unbalanced version), a minimal difference explained by the different construction of the XLR connector. This slight weight difference does not affect daily comfort during use.

In terms of price, the balanced ET-H3.0N7BL cable is generally offered at a slightly higher price than its unbalanced counterpart, reflecting the increased complexity of its design and the sound advantages it provides.

Technical Specifications

General Specifications

• Type: Y
• Length: 3 m
• Weight: 130 g

Materials and Construction

• 7N OFC copper conductors (99.99999% pure)

Connectivity

• 2-pin rhodium-plated connectors on the earphone side
• 4-pin gold-plated XLR connector

Compatibility

• Fostex TH909
• Fostex TH900mk2
• Fostex TH610