The Takstar, Technical Pro, Gemini Greathon, CyberX, Qpad Thread

[ferez]

they sound alright stock if your kinda new to this hobby, as you move to better sounding headphones you'll notice how bad it sounds, treble is quite harsh and sounds grainy, main reason is bcoz of the velour pads that come with it. difference also with the isk hf2010 to the hi2050 is the lack of dampening they used.,anyways here my mod.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/chi...-ear-headphones.822184/page-246#post-14236789

Thanks. Where did you get the thick pleather pads? Which headphones models' pads are compatible with the HF2010?

EDIT: ok, figured out from another thread that the HM5 will fit, luckily they are easy to obtain

Larry, trying to figure out your mod, in the photo below, which items were already in the headphone, and which ones did you add yourself? Out of the two small black foam circles, only 1 is actually needed, and does it go inside the large white foam thing?

 

[Hal Rockwell]

Is anyone still interested in other Takstar models or everybody moved to the PRO 82 thread?

I had a couple of days off, so I took the time to mod a bunch of Takstars and I wonder if it's worth the time to take some photos and write a word or two about it.

 

[ferez]

Is anyone still interested in other Takstar models or everybody moved to the PRO 82 thread?

I had a couple of days off, so I took the time to mod a bunch of Takstars and I wonder if it's worth the time to take some photos and write a word or two about it.

I would love to hear about any mods for Takstar HI-2050/ISK HF2010, struggling with the recessed vocals and grainy (is that just another way to describe "distorted"?) mids

 

[Hal Rockwell]

I would love to hear about any mods for Takstar HI-2050/ISK HF2010, struggling with the recessed vocals and grainy (is that just another way to describe "distorted"?) mids

Sorry, Dude, but HI-2050 is the only Takstar model that I didn't bother tinkering with, since I was satisfied with it from the moment I got them. The only thing I did was to relace the original pads with the Brainwavz HM5 angled velour pads.

 

[Roderick]

Is anyone still interested in other Takstar models or everybody moved to the PRO 82 thread?

I sold my pro82 and still have pro80,hi2050+qpad qh90.

I would love to hear about any mods for Takstar HI-2050/ISK HF2010, struggling with the recessed vocals and grainy (is that just another way to describe "distorted"?) mids

I don't know If anyone has tried it but maybe you could remove the metal driver cover. Theoretically it could cause some of that grainyness.

 

[ferez]

I sold my pro82 and still have pro80,hi2050+qpad qh90.

I don't know If anyone has tried it but maybe you could remove the metal driver cover. Theoretically it could cause some of that grainyness.

Thanks, i have actually thought of doing that, why is it there anyway? Only to protect the driver?

 

[Roderick]

It's for driver protection but it does propably affect sound somehow. Could be for the better even. Many Sony headphones used to have those metal covers but they ditched the design eventually for some reason. On the other hand audio technica still uses it even on their adx5000, a $2000 flagship headphone.

 

[Hal Rockwell]

I sold my pro82 and still have pro80,hi2050+qpad qh90.

I don't know If anyone has tried it but maybe you could remove the metal driver cover. Theoretically it could cause some of that grainyness.

Why did you sell your PRO 82?

I would advise against removing the metal grill from the driver. I doubt that it's there only to protect it. I think that it also plays a role in tuning the high frequencies, and if you remove it, the treble will just become too sharp to listen to.

 

[Roderick]

Why did you sell your PRO 82?

I would advise against removing the metal grill from the driver. I doubt that it's there only to protect it. I think that it also plays a role in tuning the high frequencies, and if you remove it, the treble will just become too sharp to listen to.

I sold pro82 because it had some resale value and no sentimental value unlike my previous takstar headphones. I think pro82 is better than pro80 but it is also very different. Pro82 is a big upgrade on comfort. Pro82 is propably the most comfortable headphone I've ever had. I have owned about 200 headphones. I wasn't a big fan of the all plastic build on pro82. Sony mdr-100aap and mdr-1a are a lot fancier and better built. Takstar imitated beyer build (dt770)better than they did Sony.

Some find pro82 bit v-shaped but I thought those were quite neutral with ports closed. Neutral is hard thing to get right. If you don't have high-end transparency or huge soundstage etc it sounds quite boring. I enjoy other headphones with pro82 soundsignature but those are better headphones in general. Pro82 was just...meh. good for The money of course but since superior Sony 100aap cost like 20 euros more it was a easy choice to give up pro82. Modded msur n550 with takstars p ice tag is also clearly better. Not to mention how cheap kef m500 can be had on sales these days. Pro82 was just a bit of a letdown... Seeing how great pro80 is I was expecting something alot better instead I got something slightly better and a lot different.

You might be right about the metal cover. However all the headphones with similar metal have been atleast tad bright, none darker. And generally when you add metal to acoustics it tends to sound...well metal. Bright, cold, shrill.

Afterall takstar did copy beyerdynamic housing and driver is 53mm with metal cover like on audio technica so MAYBE they did not think it through and went on with decisions other companies had made with their headphones. So maybe some other driver cover material would suit the drivers better.

 

[ginetto61]

... I have the BDT 880/600 ...

Hi and sorry to jump in. May i ask you just why you have settled on the 600 ohm model ? the dt880 could be my very next buy. Actually i have an old version 600 ohm but i am afraid it is not working properly.
Thanks a lot, gino

 

[Adide]

Hi and sorry to jump in. May i ask you just why you have settled on the 600 ohm model ? the dt880 could be my very next buy. Actually i have an old version 600 ohm but i am afraid it is not working properly.
Thanks a lot, gino

Theoretically the 600 Ohm variant is the most stable because of the large impedance will draw most curent/power from source hence will not compete with other consumers (source itself or cable - these two will sum up as "source output impedance").
Practically you will not have the risk of impedance miss-match at an impedance this large - miss-match typically occurs when source output impedance x 8 > headphone impedance.
https://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/headphone-amp-impedance.html

The downside is you will alwyas need an amp for it to sound good. I use the xDuoo in my signature to drive it.

Being the most stable and controlled due to above reasons means the Edition models (the only ones rated 600 Ohm) are considered being targeted towards music lovers/audiophiles.
https://support.beyerdynamic.com/hc...d-Edition-models-of-DT-770-DT-880-and-DT-990-

This article concludes: "In general, it can be stated that the resolution and precision of the high mids and highs is slightly better at higher impedances."
https://support.beyerdynamic.com/hc...-and-DT-990-Edition-differ-in-terms-of-sound-

You can find owners reviews here:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/beyer-dynamic-dt-880-premium-600-ohm-headphones.6934/

For me, is the best phone I have so far (either over-ear or IEM - I don't do on-ear or buds). I don't have enough praises for it, the reviewers (most of them) say it all.

Actually i have an old version 600 ohm but i am afraid it is not working properly.

Are you amping it properly?

 

[ginetto61]

Theoretically the 600 Ohm variant is the most stable because of the large impedance will draw most curent/power from source hence will not compete with other consumers (source itself or cable - these two will sum up as "source output impedance").
Practically you will not have the risk of impedance miss-match at an impedance this large - miss-match typically occurs when source output impedance x 8 > headphone impedance.
https://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/headphone-amp-impedance.html

The downside is you will alwyas need an amp for it to sound good. I use the xDuoo in my signature to drive it.

Being the most stable and controlled due to above reasons means the Edition models (the only ones rated 600 Ohm) are considered being targeted towards music lovers/audiophiles.
https://support.beyerdynamic.com/hc...d-Edition-models-of-DT-770-DT-880-and-DT-990-

This article concludes: "In general, it can be stated that the resolution and precision of the high mids and highs is slightly better at higher impedances."
https://support.beyerdynamic.com/hc...-and-DT-990-Edition-differ-in-terms-of-sound-

You can find owners reviews here:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/beyer-dynamic-dt-880-premium-600-ohm-headphones.6934/

For me, is the best phone I have so far (either over-ear or IEM - I don't do on-ear or buds). I don't have enough praises for it, the reviewers (most of them) say it all.


Are you amping it properly?

Hi thank you very much for the precious advice. Today i have a small system because i am far from home where all my best stuff is stored I am listening from a isk 2011 driven by a smsl dp3 player. I was listening to the vintage version of the dt880 / 600 ohm with a Aune x1s and the sound was just ok But i am ready to buy a new one in order to get a definitive headphone and in top conditions
I will look for the amp you mention as i guess you have already tried many. Thanks a lot again

 

[Roderick]

Actually i have an old version 600 ohm but i am afraid it is not working properly.

If it is VERY old it can have oxidized cables or just some gunk on driver surface that prevent it from working normally. I had old dt990 which looked good on the outside but sounded bad. On closer look the cable had seen better days and the driver was very dirty. Beyerdynamic drivers are porous and sometimes even sticky, they gather dirt like no other. (skin particles hair, dandruff)

 

[ginetto61]

If it is VERY old it can have oxidized cables or just some gunk on driver surface that prevent it from working normally.
I had old dt990 which looked good on the outside but sounded bad. On closer look the cable had seen better days and the driver was very dirty.
Beyerdynamic drivers are porous and sometimes even sticky, they gather dirt like no other. (skin particles hair, dandruff)

Hi thanks a lot for the very interesting advice. I have always thought about a possible decay of drivers performance with years. I have another "vintage" can, the akg k501, of which i like the naturalness ... I did not know of the porousity issue.
I must precise that i listened to them for a very short amount of time mainly to check if they were working and they worked. As i said i am in a transitory situation living in a very very small flat.
I will test them again asap. I have also at hand a very good Auralic Taurus to try. I also listened to it and while i found it noiseless and very clean i also found it a little flat and sterile ? maybe too clean ? i see many people here in this beautiful place using hybrid headphone amps with extreme satisfaction. Tubes have indeed some kind of magic. However the dt880 are in pole position for the next buy. I am still in the learning phase now, gathering confirmations about their qualities. Thanks a lot again.

 

[hitesh93041]

Has anyone here tried the Takstar TS 450?