At a look
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Great sound for shooters
- Ultra easy setup
- No bells and whistles
- Microphone could be mounted on the left or proper
Cons
- Expensive
- Poor availability
Our Verdict
Fostex upgrades the T50RP MK4g a microphone and thus the provides the “Plus” title. Reduced to the necessities—the sound and a purposeful microphone—the Fostex T50RP MK4g is a implausible gaming headset that shines with its spatial audio, particularly in aggressive shooters. On the entire, nonetheless, it’s not straightforward to advocate to everybody as a result of it’s very specialised and there are cheaper headsets with extra features.
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Fostex is a conventional Japanese producer of high-end audio tools that’s in all probability solely recognized to lovers. The most costly headphones, for instance, value nicely over $2,000. In 2024, the corporate launched a brand new version of considered one of its hottest studio headphones: the Fostex T50RP MK4.
What the producer in all probability didn’t anticipate was that these headphones would grow to be an insider tip amongst Japanese avid gamers. In order to raised enchantment to this goal group, Fostex printed a second package deal for the machine and easily added a “g” to the product title—for “Gaming”. Just a few months later, the producer added a “Pro”, enclosed a microphone after which launched the third model, the “T50RP MK4g Pro”.
So why do Japanese avid gamers go for a wired headset that prices round $250? Two causes: Firstly, it’s perfect for shooters and secondly, it does away with extraneous bells and whistles—in reality, it has none in any respect.
So how do the headphones sound? Really fairly balanced. Somewhat emphasised within the center, extremely detailed, however general very balanced.
Fostex T50RP MK4g: Design
It begins with the packaging: The Fostex T50RP MK4g is available in a easy printed cardboard field and lies there wrapped in bubble wrap. The scope of supply features a microphone into which the 2-meter-long cable with 3.5mm combo jack plug are built-in. If you wish to separate the sign into output (headphones) and enter (microphone) as a result of your PC has separate sockets, you will have an acceptable splitter. Most consoles and laptops, nonetheless, have an acceptable socket.
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The technical information, together with a small connection diagram, is solely printed on the field. A compact instruction handbook is included, however the perform is definitely self-explanatory. It’s a wired headset. Plug goes in, sound comes out and goes in by way of the microphone. No witchcraft. The simplicity can also be mirrored within the weight: with out the microphone, the mannequin weighs simply 330 grams.
The headphones themselves are simply so simple as the packaging and scope of supply: They’re fully black, the earpiece shells are product of admittedly considerably cheap-looking plastic, and the headscarf and ear pads are lined in synthetic leather-based. The two steel rails for adjusting the size of the headscarf are in all probability essentially the most putting characteristic.
Cables protrude between them, connecting the 2 earpieces and giving the headphones a contact of non-utilitarian industrial design. Probably essentially the most attention-grabbing characteristic of the Fostex T50RP MK4g is which you can join the microphone to the left or proper shell, as either side have a socket.
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The headset additionally has a small distant management on the cable, which you should use to mute the microphone and modify the headphone quantity. Fostex has opted for a slider relatively than a wheel which is relatively uncommon, however works nicely sufficient.
In phrases of development, the Fostex T50RP MK4g are semi-open headphones, which signifies that they let by way of extra ambient noise than closed headphones, however lower than open headphones. This compromise permits for a fairly pure sound with out letting too a lot exterior noise by way of. The match can also be extra snug than with most closed headphones, which is definitely helped by the thick, comfortable ear pads.
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Inside, Fostex makes use of magnetostatic drivers, typically additionally referred to as planar-magnetic drivers. In phrases of each value and high quality, the know-how lies someplace between essentially the most broadly used (electro)dynamic drivers and the dearer and rarer electrostatic drivers.
Fostex T50RP MK4g: Sound
So how do the headphones sound? Really fairly balanced. Somewhat emphasised within the center, extremely detailed, however general very balanced. While steadiness is usually fascinating in lots of different areas, it’s not often the case with audio merchandise. This is as a result of in the commonest use case—music within the client phase—balanced sound usually goes hand in hand with a sure flatness, which is definitely additionally depending on present developments.
For instance, when you have a look at the present music panorama, you’ll understand that it has, by and huge, had a bias in the direction of bass for over 10 years. Balanced headphones just like the Fostex T50RP MK4g can’t reproduce this significantly nicely as a result of they merely don’t have sufficient oomph within the bass. But that’s hardly shocking, as a result of the Fostex is primarily a studio headphone. People use them for mixing in recording studios, the place this attribute is explicitly desired.
It simply so occurs that this sound profile can also be perfect for aggressive shooters, the place the main target is much less on how a lot energy a weapon has and extra on the place the opponents are positioned. The emphasised mids are significantly useful right here, whereas the bass and treble play a subordinate position. What’s extra, the headphones supply extremely good spatial audio, i.e. they’ll present very nicely the place one thing is positioned within the recreation – with none digital encompass sound or comparable applied sciences that simulate spatiality. It’s actually fascinating and the principle cause why these headphones have grow to be an insider tip.
Eugen Wegmann
Fostex T50RP MK4g: Microphone
Basically, there’s not a lot to criticize in regards to the microphone of the Fostex T50RP MK4g. It’s largely an extraordinary condenser microphone on a versatile arm and with a small foam pop guard. It sounds good—no extra, no much less. It’s greater than satisfactory for communication through Discord and the like.
My solely actual criticism is its omnidirectional attribute: because of this the microphone picks up sounds from any path (roughly) equally loudly, together with ambient noise that doesn’t come from the path of your mouth, similar to road noise by way of an open window. Fostex would in all probability have completed higher with a cardioid sample.
Is the Fostex T50RP MK4g value it?
With the improve to the headset, Fostex has lastly nailed it with the T50RP MK4g, at the least for all those that don’t need any pointless bells and whistles. The firm treatments many of the criticisms in my unique conclusion with the microphone alone.
What stays is that the Fostex T50RP MK4g remains to be a relatively costly product for a comparatively restricted goal group. This is as a result of the overwhelming majority of avid gamers will favor a wi-fi headset for its flexibility alone, permitting them to do little issues round the home whereas they await the subsequent match with out lacking it or having to drag the cable out of the socket.
The largest downside for American shoppers is availability. Being a little bit of a distinct segment Japanese band, Fostex merchandise aren’t offered all over the place and lack of availability is much more pronounced with the T50RP MK4g than with the fundamental mannequin, because it’s at present solely obtainable from a really restricted variety of suppliers within the U.S.