[jwong]

Actually, because of the current sale and the available Ali/seller coupons, it's cheaper to buy Pro 82 and Idea the normal way, without the Head-Fi discount.
Aliexpress offers a 5$ off 35$ coupon, valid until May 12th: https://sale.aliexpress.com/country@US/__pc/New_Fashion_Arrivals.htm
After this discount, Pro 82 v2 is only 53.85$! https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...g-game-stereo-headset/314156_32808454492.html
Idea is 66.5$ after the 5$ Ali coupon and "5$ off 69$" seller coupon - https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...E9018Q2C-DSD512-32Bit/314156_32809153098.html
Unfortunately, the 5$ Ali coupon can only be used once, so if you are buying both, here is a "2$ off 15$" Ali coupon you can use on one of them instead: https://coupon.aliexpress.com/getCoupon.htm?p=poWHYrSQuRVEmLmRxLZkq098EW2XYI19XyiTpo3cJwj1s2k4Z/H9Cw==

I don't recommend DX3 Pro, because I am not a fan of AK "Velvet Sound" - its sound is "smoothed", like you wrote

EL-D01 does sound harsh on its own, but it sounds magical with P10

It's a tough choice, but considering that P10 is the same price as usual, and seller offers no coupons - I'd go with the Idea, which will also play many formats EL-D01 can't.
You can always buy P10 later, just like the 99$ B-stock O2 - so you'll have two synergy combos, each one offering a different sound!

Thanks for the advice. I could never get the v2 down to $53.85 (pricing came up the same for me on the app vs the web site). But close enough. And I went for the version with the case anyway, which ended up at $60.20 after two coupons.

I found a used Idea on Amazon for $45. It's got a long ship time, but hopefully it will show up around when the headphones do.

And Slayzel, I just got a Fidelio X2HR today. I don't have the Idea yet obviously, but I will say it's sound is MUCH less source dependent than the Pro82. It even sounds pretty good straight out of the EL-D01 so I think it would work perfectly well with the SMSL Idea.

 

[Slazyel]

Thanks for the advice. I could never get the v2 down to $53.85 (pricing came up the same for me on the app vs the web site). But close enough. And I went for the version with the case anyway, which ended up at $60.20 after two coupons.

I found a used Idea on Amazon for $45. It's got a long ship time, but hopefully it will show up around when the headphones do.

And Slayzel, I just got a Fidelio X2HR today. I don't have the Idea yet obviously, but I will say it's sound is MUCH less source dependent than the Pro82. It even sounds pretty good straight out of the EL-D01 so I think it would work perfectly well with the SMSL Idea.

Thats nice to hear! When you receive the Idea please share your toughts on it with both pro 82 and x2hr ^^

 

[RedHarlow]

I need a short replacement cable any recommendations?? Please don't respond with the crappy grey bose one.

This is my second and I got a loose connection again. The build quality is garbage.

Faster shipping time than AliExpress appreciated.

 

[BenF]

Wow, $66,50 is amazing. Almost the same as the 62$ it was on the anniversary day. I bought the NX4 DSD for $122 that day and i'm enjoying it but i have to tell you that for almost half the price the idea would be a better choice. Pro 82 is so easy to drive that i'm using the balance mode with DAC mode only on mu NX4 DSD and it has plenty volume. I think an amp would not even be necessary with SMSL IDEA and PRO 82 as it is so easy to drive, so i think i will sell my nx4 dsd where i live, can sell for the same price. So that's it, waiting for the SMSL Idea! Thanks for the coupon, benf.

You are welcome!
An amp isn't necessary with SMSL IDEA - it will drive Pro 82 perfectly well to ear-splitting levels.
But adding O2 to the Idea turns Pro 82 from a great headphone to a TOTL headphone - the low end becomes better controlled.

Just a question: I plan to buy a Fidelio X2HR in the future, do you think smsl idea would be great for it too? Maybe my nx4 dsd would be better for that model, but if you have experience with both i would like to know your opinion.

Idea will drive X2HR just as good as Pro 82.

 

[BenF]

I need a short replacement cable any recommendations?? Please don't respond with the ****ty grey bose one.

This is my second and I got a loose connection again. The build quality is garbage.

Faster shipping time than AliExpress appreciated.

I've had a lot of problems with cables when I used to use wired headphones while walking around.
It stopped as soon as I started using Bluetooth instead.

 

[Slazyel]

You are welcome!
An amp isn't necessary with SMSL IDEA - it will drive Pro 82 perfectly well to ear-splitting levels.
But adding O2 to the Idea turns Pro 82 from a great headphone to a TOTL headphone - the low end becomes better controlled.

Idea will drive X2HR just as good as Pro 82.

Would you say Idea alone would get at least 80% of the quality of Idea+O2?

Also, isnt JDS Atom a better option now? It's newer and costs $99, same price as B-Stock O2.

 

[BenF]

Would you say Idea alone would get at least 80% of the quality of Idea+O2?

Idea alone is great, but O2 brings in perfection.
It's really hard to quantify SQ, it's close, but O2 makes a noticeable difference.
You probably won't feel that there is an improvement required, until you'll get O2 and hear the difference.

Also, isnt JDS Atom a better option now? It's newer and costs $99, same price as B-Stock O2.

Synergy is hard to find, so no.
B-Stock O2 is just regular O2, JDS doesn't have stock of scratched cases.

 

[stryed]

Anyone have a list of compatible cables that are of quality? The potayus I bought keep on dying on one side, one after the other. They were always willing to resend new ones free of charge but QC is terrible.
Am pretty much desperate to find a proper cable....

 

[BenF]

Anyone have a list of compatible cables that are of quality? The potayus I bought keep on dying on one side, one after the other. They were always willing to resend new ones free of charge but QC is terrible.
Am pretty much desperate to find a proper cable....

I've had problems with the Poyatu one as well, this ones works great: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Upg...ack-Cable-Mic-For-Bose-Quiet/32812479789.html

 

[BenF]

Ali's sale is about to end, and they give away a "3$ off 20$" coupon in the mobile app - go to the account and clip it.

Here are the other coupons:
"5$ off 35$" coupon: https://sale.aliexpress.com/country@US/__pc/New_Fashion_Arrivals.htm
"2$ off 15$" coupon: https://coupon.aliexpress.com/getCoupon.htm?p=poWHYrSQuRVEmLmRxLZkq098EW2XYI19XyiTpo3cJwj1s2k4Z/H9Cw==

 

[BenF]

For those of you that want to squeeze every last detail out of Pro82, you should try SMSL IQ: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/SMS...208-32bit-768kHz-HI-RES-OLED/32846485308.html
Only 114$ after Ali and seller coupons until the sale is over at midnight PDT.

It is much better tuned than the more expensive Topping NX4 DSD, doesn't sound as cold and aggressive.
It also has a balanced output, which works great with this cable: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4-4...o-Cable-4-poles-L-L-R-R-to-2/32919156482.html .
Review here: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/tak...scussion-thread.849965/page-135#post-14280846

 

[filthyweeb]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Ear...977.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.fc0c4c4dpE4Pti
Also good option without mic is 6.6 euro im currently using this one and works pretty good.

 

[BenF]

Less than 10 hours left for the Aliexpress sale - if you want to take advantage of discounts and coupons (see posts above), hurry!

 

[HiCZoK]

It must've been posted before but does someone have measurements for coolermaster mh751? How is the bass? Especially compared to PRO82 on each setting. I've heard it's very lite on the bass but then, there are people saying otherwise. I do want to find entertainment in games, movies and soundtracks music, Bloodborne ost is awesome in car but less so on my porta pro. I also listen to some edm and 8bit/chjiptune/synth which like full bass too. For the comparison - I've sold brainwavz hm5 because they sounded super flat and boring.
I was considering going wireless because hyperx cloud flight have pretty good measurements on rtings... but there is something about pro82/mh751 that interests me. I don't much care about the price too... but being cheap is a nice bonus

 

[RedHarlow]

I've had problems with the Poyatu one as well, this ones works great: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Upg...ack-Cable-Mic-For-Bose-Quiet/32812479789.html

Sorry these cables are trash. Got two of them and the last one lasted one month.