[BenF]

Are the Takstar Pro 80 still competitive sound quality for under $50? I've got the itch to replace them but I'll spend the $50 elsewhere if its not much of an upgrade.

If you love Pro 80s V-shaped sound signature, there aren't too many options...
You can try Pro 81 - Pro 80 with the genuine HPAEC840 pads (the pads must be genuine, replacement pads are not as good).
If you'll like Pro 81 more than 80, you should buy a genuine Pro 82 v2 at TakstarAudio store, there is a discount coupon in the first post https://www.head-fi.org/threads/tak...iew-impressions-and-discussion-thread.849965/

Pro 82 V2 made me retire the 1700$ Fostex TH900MK2. You can find many comparisons with much more expensive headphones in the 2nd post of the Pro 82 thread

 

[Pharmaboy]

If you love Pro 80s V-shaped sound signature, there aren't too many options...
You can try Pro 81 - Pro 80 with the genuine HPAEC840 pads (the pads must be genuine, replacement pads are not as good).
If you'll like Pro 81 more than 80, you should buy a genuine Pro 82 v2 at TakstarAudio store, there is a discount coupon in the first post https://www.head-fi.org/threads/tak...iew-impressions-and-discussion-thread.849965/

Pro 82 V2 made me retire the 1700$ Fostex TH900MK2. You can find many comparisons with much more expensive headphones in the 2nd post of the Pro 82 thread

I can't believe the work you must've put into rounding up all those links!

 

[BenF]

I can't believe the work you must've put into rounding up all those links!

Seeing how much people enjoy the (genuine) Pro 82, makes it all well worth the effort.
Usually products with such insane price/performance ratio disappear from the market very quickly - I can't believe Pro 82 is not just available 6 years later, but we even have an improved version available. We are so lucky!

 

[rjbell]

If you love Pro 80s V-shaped sound signature, there aren't too many options...
You can try Pro 81 - Pro 80 with the genuine HPAEC840 pads (the pads must be genuine, replacement pads are not as good).
If you'll like Pro 81 more than 80, you should buy a genuine Pro 82 v2 at TakstarAudio store, there is a discount coupon in the first post https://www.head-fi.org/threads/tak...iew-impressions-and-discussion-thread.849965/

Pro 82 V2 made me retire the 1700$ Fostex TH900MK2. You can find many comparisons with much more expensive headphones in the 2nd post of the Pro 82 thread

My pads have dissintergrated so thanks for the item number. I might hold on to the 80 for a little longer. They're a little too v shaped for me so I'm interested in trying the 82. I'll check out our comparisons thanks.

 

[starrysequence]

Hi, does anyone have had or experienced this ChiFi Fou- headphone before?
The seller claimed his trace pattern have beaten Meze Empyrean in all technical aspects
Saw some good reviews and got pretty interested

Link Here:
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3-c.w4002-1152657772.19.5f481e06NJWTmX&id=684278408455

Can't translate that giant slabs of words though it's all picture format.

 

[Miiksu]

@starrysequence I can't open that listing. It ask to login.

 

[Mullle Meck]

Hi, does anyone have had or experienced this ChiFi Fou- headphone before?
The seller claimed his trace pattern have beaten Meze Empyrean in all technical aspects
Saw some good reviews and got pretty interested

Link Here:
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3-c.w4002-1152657772.19.5f481e06NJWTmX&id=684278408455

Can't translate that giant slabs of words though it's all picture format.

Couldn't find your listing, but I found this one from the same seller (Teacher Tang's DIY store ):
https://www.taobao.com/list/item/684278408455.htm
Seems to be the fou-42 (non pro)
Quite low price for the ones I found (about 85$), lowest I've seen for a planar, but I might be missing something since I don't speek chinese.

Also; finer windings doesn't have to mean better, just better efficiency. This seem to be an OEM driver is a custom casing.

 

[Miiksu]

Frequency response looks promising. Its only 250€.

 

[starrysequence]

Quality seems good

Frequency response looks promising. Its only 250€.

Yes around that price. But the built looks like it may break during shipment and require some servicing from time to time...

Couldn't find your listing, but I found this one from the same seller (Teacher Tang's DIY store ):
https://www.taobao.com/list/item/684278408455.htm
Seems to be the fou-42 (non pro)
Quite low price for the ones I found (about 85$), lowest I've seen for a planar, but I might be missing something since I don't speek chinese.

Also; finer windings doesn't have to mean better, just better efficiency. This seem to be an OEM driver is a custom casing.

The Fou42pro is 1799 Yuan and the upgraded magnets (N40 upgrade to N52) + wire is 550
at 600Ohms this thing is not easy to drive, hehe.

https://www.stereo.com.sg/sennheiser-hd650.html

Now that HD650 is selling at S$369 at our local store I'll probably need to choose between these two.

 

[RueCalintz]

So my ISK MDH9000 gave up the ghost it seems. At least one ear did. I think it was the lightning storm, but it would be weird if a spike just outed one ear, even when linked up to USB soundcard and that soundcrad linked up to my keyboard. But it is what it is.

Opened it up, tried both ears, and it seems the left ear is just proper dead, the speaker itself, so I guess it's time to buy a new pair of closed back headphones.
So, in the past years, has there been any other headphone that surpasses the ISK MDH9000(AKA Akai Professional 50x, Lyxpro HAS-30, Freeboss MDH9000 etc) in it's price bracket(30-60 USD)?

It's been a number of years, so I figured there may be something better by now(or if not, I just buy another pair, they were good headphones before the death). Basically some closed backs that are:
Warm
Bassy(but not muddy and not 'flat' or neutral)
Wide enough soundstage
Adjustable
Replaceable cables
Detailed
Solid build
Over ears

Also, keep in mind I'm in Brazil, so ebay and Amazon purchases are pretty much off the table(so any second hand headphone purchases are likely not gonna do).
In the meantime, I'll be going the thread to see if I can find something.

 

[Pharmaboy]

So, in the past years, has there been any other headphone that surpasses the ISK MDH9000(AKA Akai Professional 50x, Lyxpro HAS-30, Freeboss MDH9000 etc) in it's price bracket(30-60 USD)?

I think the answer is no. You can get other relatively inexpensive closed back headphones whose sound is "in the ballpark" of the ISK MDH9000 & its clones--such as the Status CB-1 (link below). I owned one and IMO it's similar to, but not quite as good the ISK MDH9000 and clones:

https://www.status.co/products/cb1

You could also try a low-end Philips open-back that some rave about, the SPH9500 (still available) and its update, the SPH9600 (link below). I never heard either, but have read reviews of them, including this comparison of the 2 Philips models (2nd link):

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-SHP9...fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc&th=1

https://homestudiobasics.com/philips-shp9500-vs-9600/

I have no how easy/difficult/expensive/inexpensive either of these headphones are in Brazil.

 

[Daniel Qi]

Here is one that gets good feedback. Would love to try it. It's the Bosshifi B8.

Used it before，the sound is more attractive than its looks.

 

[RueCalintz]

I think the answer is no. You can get other relatively inexpensive closed back headphones whose sound is "in the ballpark" of the ISK MDH9000 & its clones--such as the Status CB-1 (link below). I owned one and IMO it's similar to, but not quite as good the ISK MDH9000 and clones:

https://www.status.co/products/cb1

You could also try a low-end Philips open-back that some rave about, the SPH9500 (still available) and its update, the SPH9600 (link below). I never heard either, but have read reviews of them, including this comparison of the 2 Philips models (2nd link):

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-SHP9600-Headphones-Open-Back-00/dp/B08B477BHS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1CDV45XR8IGWK&keywords=Philips+sph960&qid=1673905490&s=electronics&sprefix=philips+sph960,electronics,79&sr=1-1&ufe=app_do:amzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc&th=1

https://homestudiobasics.com/philips-shp9500-vs-9600/

I have no how easy/difficult/expensive/inexpensive either of these headphones are in Brazil.

Thanks a lot.
I have two open backs already, but the MDH was my only closed back. Seems like replacement it is then.

 

[Pharmaboy]

Thanks a lot.
I have two open backs already, but the MDH was my only closed back. Seems like replacement it is then.

I've owned 3 of the ISK MDH9000 clones. I gave 2 away and kept one. I own a number of headphones that are very high quality and cost much more than these clones. But when I go on vacation, I take my Marantz MPH-2 + original FiiO e10K, and I am very happy with that sound for 2 weeks. The sound of these clones is very musical and good for my tastes.

I also use my MPH-2 for burn-in duties of new amps or DACs (150 hrs in my basement burn-in system), and I always am surprised all over again at how pleasing the sound is.

 

[Chris A22]

hi . i also want to buy budget closed back cans , i live in Greece , what are the buying options-links for mdh9000 or isk9999 or clones or cb 1 or equivalent ?
i saw smthing in aliexpress for mdh9000 or HD9999 , are there any fake ones in the market i should avoid?
https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32797984254.html
https://m.aliexpress.com/item/1005002996674061.html?gatewayAdapt=Pc2Msite