Reviews by BenF
Finally, a great Bluetooth companion for Takstar Pro 82 v2 - FIIO BTR3K!
Takstar Pro 82 thread
Left to right - Earstudio ES100, FIIO BTR3, FIIO BTR3K, FIIO BTR5, Qudelix 5K, xDuoo XQ-23, Shanling UP2, Shanling UP4.
Build/usability
Build quality is great, it doesn't get any better.
BTR3K comes with a removable plastic clip (like BTR5), unlike BTR3, which has a clip on its back permanently.
The "Volume up/down" button is much better than on BTR3, you can really feel it.
Volume resolution is 60 steps, so you can adjust it to your exact liking.
Using the FIIO Control app, you can use a 10-band equalizer (not over LDAC though), and choose different types of low-pass filters (mostly affects bass).
If you'll set BTR3K to "USB DAC first", BTR3K will still appear as the current audio deivce on your phone, but media playback on your phone will be muted.
However, if a call comes in - you will hear it through BTR3K.
I wish there was an option to turn off Bluetooth when using a wired connection, but there isn't one - so I have to disconnect BTR3K from the phone manually each time (to reduce noise interference in the wired mode).
BTR3K vs BTR3
Both have the same dimensions, but BTR3K is 2.5 grams lighter.
BTR3K looks very similar to BTR3, but it adds a balanced 2.5mm output at the bottom, and moves the USB port to the top.
BTR3K has slightly larger battery - 330mAh vs 300mAh, but both have the same battery life (up to 11 hours).
BTR3K is using Bluetooth 5.0 vs 4.2 in BTR3, but it is losing LHDC support because of this.
BTR3K is using a slightly more advanced DAC AK4377A vs AK4376A in BTR3, and has two of them.
Just like the much more expensive BTR5, BTR3K is using two independent crystal oscillators for 44.1kHz and 48kHz, reducing jitter.
Both drive 25mW into 32Ohm from the 3.5mm, but BTR3K can drive up to 78mW using the balanced 2.5mm output.
The only disadvantage in BTR3K is losing NFC, but I have never considered that feature important - you only use it once to connect to a transmitter (and not all of them support NFC anyway).
Sound impressions
BTR3K sounds exactly the same using Bluetooth (LDAC 660/990), as it does wired - so you will get consistent sound regardless of how you use it.
While BTR3K is limited to 16bit/44.1kHz and 16bit/48kHz in USB mode, I had no problem playing higher resolution files in Foobar2000, without any noticeable degradation in sound quality.
With Takstar Pro 82 v2, BTR3K was a revelation - I did not expect this level of performance from such a tiny and cheap device.
It's border-line synergy combo - but wrapped into a single device, which also provides Bluetooth!
Pro 82 v2 sounds very musical on BTR3K, regardless of connection type.
Throughout the entire frequency range, there is nothing to fault - even the bass is nearly perfect in both quantity and quality, only being very slightly improved by adding O2 amp.
BTR3K hits really hard with Pro 82 v2, and the bass has full body - really surprising for such a tiny device.
BTR3 sounded very transparent with Pro 82 v2, but the notes were too thin.
BTR5 had proper weight of the notes, but added a slight warm veil, losing the transparency.
BTR3K resolves both issues - the notes have the proper weight, while retaining perfect transparency, without even a hint of any veil.
BTR3K adds some very slight euphony to the sound, as if it has a hybrid tube pre-amp - I find this very pleasurable and accommodating in long listening sessions.
Thanks to this slightly euphonic sound, BTR3K is quite forgiving to badly recorded/mastered recordings, despite excellent detail retrieval.
Only comparing BTR3K directly vs SMSL Idea (Sabaj DA2) + O2 amp, I was able to rule it out as a synergy combo.
Standalone, it sounds better with Pro 82 v2 than any device in the picture above, except maybe Qudelix 5K - not because I think it sounds better, but only because I haven't tested it extensively yet.
Not only that, but BTR3K even sounds better standalone than SMSL Idea/Sabaj DA2, which sound a bit too dry without O2.
Unfortunately, BTR3K doesn't have the same synergy with O2 as Idea/DA2 - it sounds too perfect on its own to really benefit from an amp.
P.S. I do prefer ES100's sound for my IEMs, but I currently have 3rd one in 2 years dying on me - so can't really recommend it.
Microphone
The microphone is very good, I constantly use BTR3K for phone calls/Zoom/Teams.
Conclusion
BTR3K sounds much better than much more expensive Bluetooth receivers such as FIIO BTR5 or Shanling UP4, at a much lower price.
This is really a no-brainer, a universal device that provides great SQ over any type of connection.
If you are looking for a single device to use in any situation - BTR3K is the answer.
If you listen to music mostly at home/office, you still would be better off investing in a synergy combo for Pro 82 - Comparison of DACs/Amps
Where to get
You can get it here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000849710696.html
Its normal price is 70$, but during the 11.11 sale (which is actually 2 days - November 11th and 12th), you can use Select Coupons to get 6$ off that, and then you can get "6$ off 50$" coupon playing Energy Lab in the Aliexpress app - bringing the total down to 58$!!!
Don't miss this opportunity!
Takstar Pro 82 thread
Left to right - Earstudio ES100, FIIO BTR3, FIIO BTR3K, FIIO BTR5, Qudelix 5K, xDuoo XQ-23, Shanling UP2, Shanling UP4.
Build/usability
Build quality is great, it doesn't get any better.
BTR3K comes with a removable plastic clip (like BTR5), unlike BTR3, which has a clip on its back permanently.
The "Volume up/down" button is much better than on BTR3, you can really feel it.
Volume resolution is 60 steps, so you can adjust it to your exact liking.
Using the FIIO Control app, you can use a 10-band equalizer (not over LDAC though), and choose different types of low-pass filters (mostly affects bass).
If you'll set BTR3K to "USB DAC first", BTR3K will still appear as the current audio deivce on your phone, but media playback on your phone will be muted.
However, if a call comes in - you will hear it through BTR3K.
I wish there was an option to turn off Bluetooth when using a wired connection, but there isn't one - so I have to disconnect BTR3K from the phone manually each time (to reduce noise interference in the wired mode).
BTR3K vs BTR3
Both have the same dimensions, but BTR3K is 2.5 grams lighter.
BTR3K looks very similar to BTR3, but it adds a balanced 2.5mm output at the bottom, and moves the USB port to the top.
BTR3K has slightly larger battery - 330mAh vs 300mAh, but both have the same battery life (up to 11 hours).
BTR3K is using Bluetooth 5.0 vs 4.2 in BTR3, but it is losing LHDC support because of this.
BTR3K is using a slightly more advanced DAC AK4377A vs AK4376A in BTR3, and has two of them.
Just like the much more expensive BTR5, BTR3K is using two independent crystal oscillators for 44.1kHz and 48kHz, reducing jitter.
Both drive 25mW into 32Ohm from the 3.5mm, but BTR3K can drive up to 78mW using the balanced 2.5mm output.
The only disadvantage in BTR3K is losing NFC, but I have never considered that feature important - you only use it once to connect to a transmitter (and not all of them support NFC anyway).
Sound impressions
BTR3K sounds exactly the same using Bluetooth (LDAC 660/990), as it does wired - so you will get consistent sound regardless of how you use it.
While BTR3K is limited to 16bit/44.1kHz and 16bit/48kHz in USB mode, I had no problem playing higher resolution files in Foobar2000, without any noticeable degradation in sound quality.
With Takstar Pro 82 v2, BTR3K was a revelation - I did not expect this level of performance from such a tiny and cheap device.
It's border-line synergy combo - but wrapped into a single device, which also provides Bluetooth!
Pro 82 v2 sounds very musical on BTR3K, regardless of connection type.
Throughout the entire frequency range, there is nothing to fault - even the bass is nearly perfect in both quantity and quality, only being very slightly improved by adding O2 amp.
BTR3K hits really hard with Pro 82 v2, and the bass has full body - really surprising for such a tiny device.
BTR3 sounded very transparent with Pro 82 v2, but the notes were too thin.
BTR5 had proper weight of the notes, but added a slight warm veil, losing the transparency.
BTR3K resolves both issues - the notes have the proper weight, while retaining perfect transparency, without even a hint of any veil.
BTR3K adds some very slight euphony to the sound, as if it has a hybrid tube pre-amp - I find this very pleasurable and accommodating in long listening sessions.
Thanks to this slightly euphonic sound, BTR3K is quite forgiving to badly recorded/mastered recordings, despite excellent detail retrieval.
Only comparing BTR3K directly vs SMSL Idea (Sabaj DA2) + O2 amp, I was able to rule it out as a synergy combo.
Standalone, it sounds better with Pro 82 v2 than any device in the picture above, except maybe Qudelix 5K - not because I think it sounds better, but only because I haven't tested it extensively yet.
Not only that, but BTR3K even sounds better standalone than SMSL Idea/Sabaj DA2, which sound a bit too dry without O2.
Unfortunately, BTR3K doesn't have the same synergy with O2 as Idea/DA2 - it sounds too perfect on its own to really benefit from an amp.
P.S. I do prefer ES100's sound for my IEMs, but I currently have 3rd one in 2 years dying on me - so can't really recommend it.
Microphone
The microphone is very good, I constantly use BTR3K for phone calls/Zoom/Teams.
Conclusion
BTR3K sounds much better than much more expensive Bluetooth receivers such as FIIO BTR5 or Shanling UP4, at a much lower price.
This is really a no-brainer, a universal device that provides great SQ over any type of connection.
If you are looking for a single device to use in any situation - BTR3K is the answer.
If you listen to music mostly at home/office, you still would be better off investing in a synergy combo for Pro 82 - Comparison of DACs/Amps
Where to get
You can get it here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000849710696.html
Its normal price is 70$, but during the 11.11 sale (which is actually 2 days - November 11th and 12th), you can use Select Coupons to get 6$ off that, and then you can get "6$ off 50$" coupon playing Energy Lab in the Aliexpress app - bringing the total down to 58$!!!
Don't miss this opportunity!
rad7
Thank you!
BenF
I like BTR3K sound much more than BTR5 - BTR5 is warmer sounding, and is less transparent.
BTR3K has a more natural, uncolored sound with natural brilliance.
B&O H6 would sound as good from BTR3K as it would sound over a proper desktop amp/DAC.
BTR3K has a more natural, uncolored sound with natural brilliance.
B&O H6 would sound as good from BTR3K as it would sound over a proper desktop amp/DAC.
Fake or preproduction GM200 - stay away!!!
Finally, a full review of Takstar GM200!
I will be comparing to its predecessor Pro 82s and it's OEM counterpart - MH751.
They come in a thin box, without the famous Pro 80/82 case:
GM200 is a gamer-oriented headphone, so it adapts a bit more aggressive styling:
A look at the cables:
GM200 comes with 2 cables + a 2m splitter cable, MH751 come with just 1 cable and a short splitter.
GM200 accepts Pro 82 stock cables and replacement cables from Ali (including micced) - MH751 only works with its stock cable, and there are no replacement cables to find.
Also, MH751 cable "locks in" , making it not easily removable in case of an accident - if it will be pulled hard, both cable and the socket may get damaged.
Microphone on GM200 sounds the same as MH751, except for darker background.
Comfort:
Luckily, GM200 uses the same exact pads as Pro 82 - comfort is 10/10.
Strangely, MH751 comes with pads that look the same, but don't feel the same - they are not as fluffy as Pro 82/GM200
Isolation/Leakage:
Since the cups and the pads are the same as on Pro 82 - there is just as little leakage, and excellent isolation - not enough for bus/train, but perfect for a noisy office.
I think that MH751 provides similar results, despite inferior pads.
Sound Quality:
Bass is the region that makes all the difference from Pro 82 v2. Look at the FR below:
Down to 400Hz, GM200 and Pro 82 v2 are practically identical, but below that mark GM200 start following Fostex TH900 MK2 all the way down to 80Hz, where they do part ways.
However, even at 22Hz, you can see that GM200 has 6.2 more dBs of sub-bass over Pro 82, and TH900 has only 2.6dBs more than GM200
This is another proof that Pro 82's sound was modeled after TH900 MK2.
First, Takstar puts out Pro 82 v1 - a more audiophile version of TH900 MK2, with much flatter response - no bass boost and no mids crashing after 1kHz.
Then, they put out Pro 82 v2 - with even flatter response, thanks to getting rid of the treble peak too (just look at that 7-8kHz peak of TH900 MK2 above!).
Now, they create a perfect "audiophile basshead" headphone - the bass (including sub-bass) is almost at the TH900 MK2 level, but the mids are still flat, and the treble peaks are still gone - so no V-shaped signature!
Whoever is the engineer that tuned these 3 headphones - he deserves a medal!
Of course, quantity is nice, but what about the quality of the bass? After all, MH751 measures very closely to GM200 - are they both "audiophile basshead" headphones?
The answer is "no":
As you can see, MH751 is missing the bass ports. Don't forget, even TH900MK2 is just "semi-closed" - fully closed headphones can produce a lot of bass, but the quality will suffer.
Bass ports allow GM200 to improve the quality of the bass compared to MH751, without sacrificing isolation.
.
Bass hits equally hard on GM200 and MH751, but on GM200 it has a better definition
Bass is tighter on Pro 82, but "meatier" on GM200 - just like it is on TH900 MK2.
Mids and treble sound very similar on GM200 and Pro 82 - but the tonal balance of GM200 is warmer, shifting the timbre just a bit off - not by much though, it's still better than many much more expensive headphones.
The electrostat-like transparency of Pro 82 is slightly reduced on GM200 as well.
I would say that GM200 sounds closest to Sony Z1R - they both sound like a warmer version of Pro 82 with meatier bass.
GM200 would probably have the edge on bass control and timbre, while Z1R would definitely have wider soundstage - I don't have Z1R to A/B with me, have to rely on my notes and memory.
Amp/DAC advice:
Due to the shift in tonal balance, Pro 82's "synergy combos" don't have the same effect on GM200.
GM200 sounds better from more transparent DACs - Oppo HA-2 + O2 sounds better than SMSL Idea + O2.
SMSL IQ + O2 sounds even better, especially in bass definition.
SMSL IQ alone loses on bass quality compared to SMSL IQ + O2, the O2 adds better control.
Using Little Bear P10 with SMSL IQ can add a little "oomph" in the bass and some euphony in the mids - a welcome combination for many, but too much for me.
Where to buy:
EDIT of November 16th 2020:
New coupon codes (valid until April 30th 2021):
4$ discount for purchase of Pro 82, GM200 or FIIO BTR3K (as long as their pre-coupon price is not lower than 59$) - OEYU4DN9ST62
8$ discount for purchase of Pro 82 + FIIO BTR3K, or GM200 + FIIO BTR3K (as long as their pre-coupon combined price is not lower than 119$) - XXWDVYDNM42V
20$ discount for purchase of HF580 (as long as the pre-coupon price is not lower than 189$) - 3V6A1HOA8WIQ
These are exclusive codes, please don't share them outside Head-Fi!
Pro 82 v2 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32808454492.html
GM200 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33012705103.html
HF580 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32997885429.html
FIIO BTR3K - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000849710696.html
Important: It's best to use Aliexpress Standard Shipping, because the store have experienced a few situations where Pro 82/GM200 was returned by the customs when using China Post, but never Aliexpress Standard Shipping. Also, it's A LOT faster now during the pandemic, as Aliexpress has direct deals with the local post offices in many countries.
Both SMSL IQ and P10 are on sale now too - IQ is down to 103$ from 140, and P10 is down to 58$ from 78$:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32847472836.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32882901310.html
Don't forget, the 99$ O2 is here: https://www.jdslabs.com/products/167/objective2-headphone-amplifier-b-stock/
Finally, a full review of Takstar GM200!
I will be comparing to its predecessor Pro 82s and it's OEM counterpart - MH751.
They come in a thin box, without the famous Pro 80/82 case:
GM200 is a gamer-oriented headphone, so it adapts a bit more aggressive styling:
A look at the cables:
GM200 comes with 2 cables + a 2m splitter cable, MH751 come with just 1 cable and a short splitter.
GM200 accepts Pro 82 stock cables and replacement cables from Ali (including micced) - MH751 only works with its stock cable, and there are no replacement cables to find.
Also, MH751 cable "locks in" , making it not easily removable in case of an accident - if it will be pulled hard, both cable and the socket may get damaged.
Microphone on GM200 sounds the same as MH751, except for darker background.
Comfort:
Luckily, GM200 uses the same exact pads as Pro 82 - comfort is 10/10.
Strangely, MH751 comes with pads that look the same, but don't feel the same - they are not as fluffy as Pro 82/GM200
Isolation/Leakage:
Since the cups and the pads are the same as on Pro 82 - there is just as little leakage, and excellent isolation - not enough for bus/train, but perfect for a noisy office.
I think that MH751 provides similar results, despite inferior pads.
Sound Quality:
Bass is the region that makes all the difference from Pro 82 v2. Look at the FR below:
Down to 400Hz, GM200 and Pro 82 v2 are practically identical, but below that mark GM200 start following Fostex TH900 MK2 all the way down to 80Hz, where they do part ways.
However, even at 22Hz, you can see that GM200 has 6.2 more dBs of sub-bass over Pro 82, and TH900 has only 2.6dBs more than GM200
This is another proof that Pro 82's sound was modeled after TH900 MK2.
First, Takstar puts out Pro 82 v1 - a more audiophile version of TH900 MK2, with much flatter response - no bass boost and no mids crashing after 1kHz.
Then, they put out Pro 82 v2 - with even flatter response, thanks to getting rid of the treble peak too (just look at that 7-8kHz peak of TH900 MK2 above!).
Now, they create a perfect "audiophile basshead" headphone - the bass (including sub-bass) is almost at the TH900 MK2 level, but the mids are still flat, and the treble peaks are still gone - so no V-shaped signature!
Whoever is the engineer that tuned these 3 headphones - he deserves a medal!
Of course, quantity is nice, but what about the quality of the bass? After all, MH751 measures very closely to GM200 - are they both "audiophile basshead" headphones?
The answer is "no":
As you can see, MH751 is missing the bass ports. Don't forget, even TH900MK2 is just "semi-closed" - fully closed headphones can produce a lot of bass, but the quality will suffer.
Bass ports allow GM200 to improve the quality of the bass compared to MH751, without sacrificing isolation.
.
Bass hits equally hard on GM200 and MH751, but on GM200 it has a better definition
Bass is tighter on Pro 82, but "meatier" on GM200 - just like it is on TH900 MK2.
Mids and treble sound very similar on GM200 and Pro 82 - but the tonal balance of GM200 is warmer, shifting the timbre just a bit off - not by much though, it's still better than many much more expensive headphones.
The electrostat-like transparency of Pro 82 is slightly reduced on GM200 as well.
I would say that GM200 sounds closest to Sony Z1R - they both sound like a warmer version of Pro 82 with meatier bass.
GM200 would probably have the edge on bass control and timbre, while Z1R would definitely have wider soundstage - I don't have Z1R to A/B with me, have to rely on my notes and memory.
Amp/DAC advice:
Due to the shift in tonal balance, Pro 82's "synergy combos" don't have the same effect on GM200.
GM200 sounds better from more transparent DACs - Oppo HA-2 + O2 sounds better than SMSL Idea + O2.
SMSL IQ + O2 sounds even better, especially in bass definition.
SMSL IQ alone loses on bass quality compared to SMSL IQ + O2, the O2 adds better control.
Using Little Bear P10 with SMSL IQ can add a little "oomph" in the bass and some euphony in the mids - a welcome combination for many, but too much for me.
Where to buy:
EDIT of November 16th 2020:
New coupon codes (valid until April 30th 2021):
4$ discount for purchase of Pro 82, GM200 or FIIO BTR3K (as long as their pre-coupon price is not lower than 59$) - OEYU4DN9ST62
8$ discount for purchase of Pro 82 + FIIO BTR3K, or GM200 + FIIO BTR3K (as long as their pre-coupon combined price is not lower than 119$) - XXWDVYDNM42V
20$ discount for purchase of HF580 (as long as the pre-coupon price is not lower than 189$) - 3V6A1HOA8WIQ
These are exclusive codes, please don't share them outside Head-Fi!
Pro 82 v2 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32808454492.html
GM200 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33012705103.html
HF580 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32997885429.html
FIIO BTR3K - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000849710696.html
Important: It's best to use Aliexpress Standard Shipping, because the store have experienced a few situations where Pro 82/GM200 was returned by the customs when using China Post, but never Aliexpress Standard Shipping. Also, it's A LOT faster now during the pandemic, as Aliexpress has direct deals with the local post offices in many countries.
Both SMSL IQ and P10 are on sale now too - IQ is down to 103$ from 140, and P10 is down to 58$ from 78$:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32847472836.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32882901310.html
Don't forget, the 99$ O2 is here: https://www.jdslabs.com/products/167/objective2-headphone-amplifier-b-stock/
BenF
For metal and other complicated/fast music, the bottleneck isn't GM200 - it's the sound chain.
Using "Khadas Tone Board" as a DAC and O2 as an amp, will show the true speed and accuracy of GM200.
Using "Khadas Tone Board" as a DAC and O2 as an amp, will show the true speed and accuracy of GM200.
Modotta
Thank you for the review.
I was going to buy the MH751 before reading this.
The CM model just doesn't sound worth it for the price they sell where I live.
Also, did you have any crosstalk problems with the mic?
I've seen that is fairly common with the MH751/MH752 models.
I was going to buy the MH751 before reading this.
The CM model just doesn't sound worth it for the price they sell where I live.
Also, did you have any crosstalk problems with the mic?
I've seen that is fairly common with the MH751/MH752 models.
BenF
Microphone on GM200 is slightly better (gives a darker background).
Crosstalk level is acceptable, but nor a zero.
Crosstalk level is acceptable, but nor a zero.
I have purchased H6 because I liked my H7 a lot, and multiple reviews claimed that H7 doesn't sound as good as H6, e.g. https://marco.org/headphones-closed-portable#h7
Before I purchased H7, I have compared it in the store with H6, H8 and Momentum 2. H7 was a clear winner, and I had no doubts that I have made the right choice.
However, the reviews of H6 were so great, that a few months later I have decided to give it a chance.
I've decided to go with the first revision, as I wanted to experience the more "audiophile", less bassy tuning.
This turned out to be a huge disappointment, comparable perhaps only with my disappointment from HD600.
At first, I thought that it just needed some burn-in (H7 sure did), but the sound didn't change.
Comfort:
H6's headband is wider than Takstar Pro 82, but it has less padding.
Same is true when comparing with XPT100
H6 pads are rounder and smaller than Pro 82
Same is true for XPT100
If the NVX XPT100 with the ComfortMax pads is 10 out of 10 comfort-wise, and Pro 82 is an 8-8.5, then H6 is a 7.
Surprisingly, it is more comfortable than H7, despite thinner pads - possibly due to lower pressure on the ears.
H6 and H7 pads are not interchangeable, and of course you can't use 3rd party pads either.
Isolation/Leakage:
There is very little isolation, not a great choice for noisy environments.
Leakage is an issue as well.
Bass:
Quantity is neutral, and I wish I could say that about the quality.
Bass is vert muddy, badly controlled. I don't think I've heard bass that bad since Beats Solo HD.
H7 has a MUCH better bass, closer to Pro 82' quality than H6's.
Mids:
Mids are very veiled and recessed, timbre is off. It reminds me of HD600.
Just look at this horrible FR (from Innerfidelity):
It makes the old Pro 80 sound like a mid-forward phone, not to mention Pro 82.
Treble:
As you can guess from the FR above, this is a dark headphone - nothing to write home about.
Soundstage/imaging:
Sounstage is closed in, very headphone-y
The whole presentation is very headphone-y, music is being played "at me", not around me.
Music is coming from a distance, if only I could push it closer to me...
Accessories:
H6 comes with a horrible cable, and you can't easily replace it - since the cable is showed inside the cup, the plug must be very thin.
Here is a comparison with Pro 82 and B8 cables:
However, cable isn't the reason for the bad sound - H7 sounds great with it.
Overall:
Complete and utter disappointment
Before I purchased H7, I have compared it in the store with H6, H8 and Momentum 2. H7 was a clear winner, and I had no doubts that I have made the right choice.
However, the reviews of H6 were so great, that a few months later I have decided to give it a chance.
I've decided to go with the first revision, as I wanted to experience the more "audiophile", less bassy tuning.
This turned out to be a huge disappointment, comparable perhaps only with my disappointment from HD600.
At first, I thought that it just needed some burn-in (H7 sure did), but the sound didn't change.
Comfort:
H6's headband is wider than Takstar Pro 82, but it has less padding.
Same is true when comparing with XPT100
H6 pads are rounder and smaller than Pro 82
Same is true for XPT100
If the NVX XPT100 with the ComfortMax pads is 10 out of 10 comfort-wise, and Pro 82 is an 8-8.5, then H6 is a 7.
Surprisingly, it is more comfortable than H7, despite thinner pads - possibly due to lower pressure on the ears.
H6 and H7 pads are not interchangeable, and of course you can't use 3rd party pads either.
Isolation/Leakage:
There is very little isolation, not a great choice for noisy environments.
Leakage is an issue as well.
Bass:
Quantity is neutral, and I wish I could say that about the quality.
Bass is vert muddy, badly controlled. I don't think I've heard bass that bad since Beats Solo HD.
H7 has a MUCH better bass, closer to Pro 82' quality than H6's.
Mids:
Mids are very veiled and recessed, timbre is off. It reminds me of HD600.
Just look at this horrible FR (from Innerfidelity):
It makes the old Pro 80 sound like a mid-forward phone, not to mention Pro 82.
Treble:
As you can guess from the FR above, this is a dark headphone - nothing to write home about.
Soundstage/imaging:
Sounstage is closed in, very headphone-y
The whole presentation is very headphone-y, music is being played "at me", not around me.
Music is coming from a distance, if only I could push it closer to me...
Accessories:
H6 comes with a horrible cable, and you can't easily replace it - since the cable is showed inside the cup, the plug must be very thin.
Here is a comparison with Pro 82 and B8 cables:
However, cable isn't the reason for the bad sound - H7 sounds great with it.
Overall:
Complete and utter disappointment
I have Yoga CD-990 and 2 of its clones - NVX XPT100 and Brainwavz HM5.
They all have identical sound, and they are the original CD-990 design, meaning they are identical to FA-003, not FA-003Ti.
I prefer XPT100 because:
1) CD-990 isn't available for purchase (unless you order at least a 1000).
2) XPT100 costs 80$ instead of 139.5$ that HM5 costs
3) XPT100 has superior pads
4) XPT100 includes both flat and angled pads, while HM5 comes with 2 pairs of flat pads.
The only disadvantage XPT100 has, is that's it's unavailable outside of US and Canada.
You'd have to use a forwarding service to acquire XPT100 from abroad, but considering the price difference with HM5 - it may still be worth it.
Comfort:
XPT100's headband padding is slightly wider, yet narrower than Pro 82's.
Quality of materials is equally high.
The ComfortMax pads are slightly longer and wider, and a lot thicker.
They are extremely comfortable, more than the standard Brainwavz pads.
XPT100 comes with both flat and angled pads - you should try both!
The pads are mounted on the cups using the plastic rings.
Be careful - if you purchase pads separately - they will come without the rings.
So if you purchase a bunch of Brainwavz replacement pads - you will have to move the rings around.
Despite the truly great pads, XPT100 isn't very comfortable at first.
The headband is too small, causing significant pressure on the head.
To achieve perfect comfort, you will have to stretch the headband for a while.
Out of the box, NVX's comfort is 7-7.5 out of 10 (Pro 82 is 8.0-8.5)
Once the headband is stretched, NVX's comfort is 10 out of 10.
Sound:
Out of the box, XPT100 sounds sucked out in the mids, too thin.
A short brun-in (10 hours) makes it sound like it should.
Flat pads sound a bit boring, and very "headphone-y"- I don't feel that I am experiencing a live performance, it's just music being played at me.
Angled pads are much more fun, bass is meatier when "fat" side is in the front.
Soundstage/imaging improve greatly with angled pads
Oppo HA-2 sounds great with angled pads, flat pads need a bit tube magic.
Nobosound NS-02E makes them sound great.
Little Dot MKIII warms them up too much from the headphone out, pre-amp out is much better
NFB11.32 is the same as Little Dot MKIII - headphone out is too warm/veiled, variable out sounds great.
I recommend using a transparent yet natural sounding DAC (e.g. Oppo HA-2) with a delicate tube amp.
Bass:
XPT100 has a very tight bass, with a neutral quantity.
It takes a bass boost very nicely, but you will never get the same rumble as in Pro 82/80.
The bass just gets louder, without changing its nature.
Angled pads do improve the bass a lot.
Mids:
OOT, the mids sound plain bad - thin and sucked out.
After burn-in, the situation improves dramatically, but the timbre is off.
Using Nobosound NS-02E or Little Dot MKIII's pre-amp out gives them a near-perfect timbre.
When using angled pads, the need for the tubes isn't as big as with the flat pads.
Treble:
XPT100 is slightly more sibilant than Pro 82, other than that - the treble is really good - clear, detailed and extended.
Soundstage/imaging:
Very headphone-y with the flat pads, much better with the angled pads (fat side in the front)
Accessories:
XPT100 comes in the same box as CD-990, with a whole lot of padding.
It has a 1.2m and 3m cables, 6.5mm adapter and 2 sets of pads.
Overall:
Comparing with Bosshifi B8 and Takstar Pro 82, this is a 3-way tie.
All three outperform their price point (70-80$) tremendously.
Each has it's strong points:
Takstar Pro 82:
Very fun sound, with bass that the others can't match, and mids, that despite the slight recession, might still be the clearest among the three headphones.
Bosshifi B8:
Excellent for long sessions of relaxed listening
NVX XPT100:
The most neutral of the three, sound can be tuned by using flat/angled pads, the only one that benefits from tubes, amazing comfort.
If you are planning on buying a 300-400$ headphone from a major brand, just buy these 3 instead and keep the change.
They all have identical sound, and they are the original CD-990 design, meaning they are identical to FA-003, not FA-003Ti.
I prefer XPT100 because:
1) CD-990 isn't available for purchase (unless you order at least a 1000).
2) XPT100 costs 80$ instead of 139.5$ that HM5 costs
3) XPT100 has superior pads
4) XPT100 includes both flat and angled pads, while HM5 comes with 2 pairs of flat pads.
The only disadvantage XPT100 has, is that's it's unavailable outside of US and Canada.
You'd have to use a forwarding service to acquire XPT100 from abroad, but considering the price difference with HM5 - it may still be worth it.
Comfort:
XPT100's headband padding is slightly wider, yet narrower than Pro 82's.
Quality of materials is equally high.
The ComfortMax pads are slightly longer and wider, and a lot thicker.
They are extremely comfortable, more than the standard Brainwavz pads.
XPT100 comes with both flat and angled pads - you should try both!
The pads are mounted on the cups using the plastic rings.
Be careful - if you purchase pads separately - they will come without the rings.
So if you purchase a bunch of Brainwavz replacement pads - you will have to move the rings around.
Despite the truly great pads, XPT100 isn't very comfortable at first.
The headband is too small, causing significant pressure on the head.
To achieve perfect comfort, you will have to stretch the headband for a while.
Out of the box, NVX's comfort is 7-7.5 out of 10 (Pro 82 is 8.0-8.5)
Once the headband is stretched, NVX's comfort is 10 out of 10.
Sound:
Out of the box, XPT100 sounds sucked out in the mids, too thin.
A short brun-in (10 hours) makes it sound like it should.
Flat pads sound a bit boring, and very "headphone-y"- I don't feel that I am experiencing a live performance, it's just music being played at me.
Angled pads are much more fun, bass is meatier when "fat" side is in the front.
Soundstage/imaging improve greatly with angled pads
Oppo HA-2 sounds great with angled pads, flat pads need a bit tube magic.
Nobosound NS-02E makes them sound great.
Little Dot MKIII warms them up too much from the headphone out, pre-amp out is much better
NFB11.32 is the same as Little Dot MKIII - headphone out is too warm/veiled, variable out sounds great.
I recommend using a transparent yet natural sounding DAC (e.g. Oppo HA-2) with a delicate tube amp.
Bass:
XPT100 has a very tight bass, with a neutral quantity.
It takes a bass boost very nicely, but you will never get the same rumble as in Pro 82/80.
The bass just gets louder, without changing its nature.
Angled pads do improve the bass a lot.
Mids:
OOT, the mids sound plain bad - thin and sucked out.
After burn-in, the situation improves dramatically, but the timbre is off.
Using Nobosound NS-02E or Little Dot MKIII's pre-amp out gives them a near-perfect timbre.
When using angled pads, the need for the tubes isn't as big as with the flat pads.
Treble:
XPT100 is slightly more sibilant than Pro 82, other than that - the treble is really good - clear, detailed and extended.
Soundstage/imaging:
Very headphone-y with the flat pads, much better with the angled pads (fat side in the front)
Accessories:
XPT100 comes in the same box as CD-990, with a whole lot of padding.
It has a 1.2m and 3m cables, 6.5mm adapter and 2 sets of pads.
Overall:
Comparing with Bosshifi B8 and Takstar Pro 82, this is a 3-way tie.
All three outperform their price point (70-80$) tremendously.
Each has it's strong points:
Takstar Pro 82:
Very fun sound, with bass that the others can't match, and mids, that despite the slight recession, might still be the clearest among the three headphones.
Bosshifi B8:
Excellent for long sessions of relaxed listening
NVX XPT100:
The most neutral of the three, sound can be tuned by using flat/angled pads, the only one that benefits from tubes, amazing comfort.
If you are planning on buying a 300-400$ headphone from a major brand, just buy these 3 instead and keep the change.
BossHiFi B8 sounds as good as it looks, and it's quite a looker:
The pair in the picture is a year old, and was used a lot - yet it shows very few signs of usage.
Comfort:
B8's headband is much wider and thicker than Pro 82's.
Same goes for HM5.
B8's pads are as long as Pro 82's, slightly narrower, yet thicker.
HM5 pad is slightly larger and quite thicker.
If NVX XPT100 with ComfortMax pads is 10 out of 10 for comfort, then both B8 and Pro 82 are around 8.
Pro 82's pads are made of a better material, but B8's pads are thicker to compensate for that.
Both are Over-Ear.
Sound:
Bosshifi B8 can sound perfectly neutral or slightly warm, depending on what you are comparing it with.
Compared to HD600, Momentum 2.0, B&O H6 v1 and H7, ATH-ESW9A, B8 sounds neutral with great clarity.
Compared with Pro 82 and Stax L300, B8 sounds slightly warm with a very thin veil.
B8 is about as warm as Stax L700.
B8 sounds warmer OOTB, becomes a little more neutral after burn-in.
Bass:
B8's bass isn't as tight as Pro 82's, but it has longer decay.
You can tune B8's bass by blocking the bass ports on top of the pads.
The effect is very small, and doesn't affect other frequencies.
This is very different from Pro 82, where tuning bass pretty much ruins the sound all over the FR.
The effect is so small, that I can't even describe what exactly it is for sure.
Maybe scotch tape doesn't have the best sound blocking characteristics, other materials might have larger effect.
The default tuning (all 3 bass ports open) sounds great, I always use it like that.
Mids:
Best part of B8, perfect for vocals, especially female ones.
Tonality is near-perfect.
Treble:
Polite, yet detailed and extended.
Because B8 is more neutral than Pro 82, its treble has less energy, but nothing is missing.
Sensitivity:
B8 is very easy to drive - 106dB, 16Ohm
Pro 82 requires a lot more power - 96dB, 32Ohm
Soundstage:
B8 has a very good, wide soundstage, that always presents a believable picture.
Availability:
You can get it from Aliexpress/eBay at 70$-80$.
Sometimes there are listings around 60$ - they look too good to be true.
Overall, B8 is perfect for long sessions of relaxed listening.
Very musical, don't think it will do too well with games.
It scales up with better equipment, and sounds best from transparent SS components - doesn't need the tubes' coloration.
Oppo HA-2 and NFB-11.32 (coax in, variable out) sound great.
Comparison with Takstar Pro 82:
B8 and Pro 82 do not compete, they complete each other.
B8 is neutral/warmish, Pro 82 is slightly U-shaped.
If something doesn't sound best on one of them, just try the other one.
If you'll have both, you may not need another closed headphone for a very long time
B8 comes with only 2 accessories: 1.2m 3.5mm/3.5mm cable and a 3.5mm/6.5mm adapter.
The cable is great, I use it for many other headphones.
The pair in the picture is a year old, and was used a lot - yet it shows very few signs of usage.
Comfort:
B8's headband is much wider and thicker than Pro 82's.
Same goes for HM5.
B8's pads are as long as Pro 82's, slightly narrower, yet thicker.
HM5 pad is slightly larger and quite thicker.
If NVX XPT100 with ComfortMax pads is 10 out of 10 for comfort, then both B8 and Pro 82 are around 8.
Pro 82's pads are made of a better material, but B8's pads are thicker to compensate for that.
Both are Over-Ear.
Sound:
Bosshifi B8 can sound perfectly neutral or slightly warm, depending on what you are comparing it with.
Compared to HD600, Momentum 2.0, B&O H6 v1 and H7, ATH-ESW9A, B8 sounds neutral with great clarity.
Compared with Pro 82 and Stax L300, B8 sounds slightly warm with a very thin veil.
B8 is about as warm as Stax L700.
B8 sounds warmer OOTB, becomes a little more neutral after burn-in.
Bass:
B8's bass isn't as tight as Pro 82's, but it has longer decay.
You can tune B8's bass by blocking the bass ports on top of the pads.
The effect is very small, and doesn't affect other frequencies.
This is very different from Pro 82, where tuning bass pretty much ruins the sound all over the FR.
The effect is so small, that I can't even describe what exactly it is for sure.
Maybe scotch tape doesn't have the best sound blocking characteristics, other materials might have larger effect.
The default tuning (all 3 bass ports open) sounds great, I always use it like that.
Mids:
Best part of B8, perfect for vocals, especially female ones.
Tonality is near-perfect.
Treble:
Polite, yet detailed and extended.
Because B8 is more neutral than Pro 82, its treble has less energy, but nothing is missing.
Sensitivity:
B8 is very easy to drive - 106dB, 16Ohm
Pro 82 requires a lot more power - 96dB, 32Ohm
Soundstage:
B8 has a very good, wide soundstage, that always presents a believable picture.
Availability:
You can get it from Aliexpress/eBay at 70$-80$.
Sometimes there are listings around 60$ - they look too good to be true.
Overall, B8 is perfect for long sessions of relaxed listening.
Very musical, don't think it will do too well with games.
It scales up with better equipment, and sounds best from transparent SS components - doesn't need the tubes' coloration.
Oppo HA-2 and NFB-11.32 (coax in, variable out) sound great.
Comparison with Takstar Pro 82:
B8 and Pro 82 do not compete, they complete each other.
B8 is neutral/warmish, Pro 82 is slightly U-shaped.
If something doesn't sound best on one of them, just try the other one.
If you'll have both, you may not need another closed headphone for a very long time
B8 comes with only 2 accessories: 1.2m 3.5mm/3.5mm cable and a 3.5mm/6.5mm adapter.
The cable is great, I use it for many other headphones.
rprodrigues
@BenF
Have you already auditioned the Akg k371? If so, how the B8 stand against the it?
For me, the k371 has too much bass, so I would like to get a cheap alternative with less bass...
Have you already auditioned the Akg k371? If so, how the B8 stand against the it?
For me, the k371 has too much bass, so I would like to get a cheap alternative with less bass...
BenF
Don't have AKG371.
B8 definitely isn't a bassy headphone, it has a good high quality bass with a light mid-bass boost:
B8 definitely isn't a bassy headphone, it has a good high quality bass with a light mid-bass boost:
I don't get it.
I really don't get it.
Why is CAL! so popular?
It's even on Tyll's "Wall of Fame" - for "Over-Ear Sealed" (!?). How can it possibly be "Over-Ear"? The pads are very small, how can Tyll file them under "Over-Ear"?
He has a large head with man-sized ears - these pads are definitely not built to surround an adult man's ears.
Comfort is definitely an issue, but isolation is an even bigger one - according to Tyll's measurements, there is no isolation whatsoever under 1kHz.
CAL! can't even handle A/C noise in the office.
Small pads will do that to you...
As you can see, the entire CAL! pad is only slightly larger than Takstar Pro 82 pad's opening
Difference in material quality is obvious too.
HM5 pads are even larger, and much thicker than Pro 82
Headband padding is very thin and narrow, doesn't cover much of it
Pro 82 on the left, CAL! on the right.
Sound:
CAL! has an L-shaped FR, but it sounds U/V-shaped, not dark at all.
It doesn't really excel at any range of FR, but the sound is very well balanced all over the FR, and this creates an illusion of a very good headphone.
This illusion disappears very quickly when you start A/B-ing them with better headphones.
Here is a comparison with Takstar Pro 82:
Bass - Pro 82 is extended down to 15Hz, CAL! stops at 20Hz, and has a lot less energy there than Pro 82 at 15Hz.
Quality of CAL!'s bass is mediocre at best - its pads don't seal.
Pro 82's much larger pads play a big role in its amazing bass quality - it has a much greater impact and better decay.
Mids - CAL! has a slightly warm veil. It's not as thick as HD600's, but it's there.
Pro 82 removes this veil, and adds A LOT of detail.
Treble - CAL! has a very polite treble. It doesn't go very far, but it's still not "dark" - it's just missing some detail and energy.
Pro 82 adds the missing parts, while not getting "hot".
Overall CAL! sounds quite small and congested.
I can't help but think that using larger pads from a better material could improve CAL!'s SQ, but this comparison is stock.
CAL! doesn't scale up well - it doesn't sound any better through Oppo HA-2 than through a Rockboxed Sansa Clip+
Current price of CAL! on Amazon is 62$, and it has spent most of the past 6 months between 60$ and 70$, even though last December it was under 45$.
Takstar Pro 82 is currently 67$ on Aliexpress - only a 5$ difference.
And this difference disappears when you add the sales tax.
I bought CAL! last year for 50$, and still I'm disappointed from its value proposition.
At 62$, it's moving in the wrong direction - It belongs in the 30$-40$ area.
I really don't get it.
Why is CAL! so popular?
It's even on Tyll's "Wall of Fame" - for "Over-Ear Sealed" (!?). How can it possibly be "Over-Ear"? The pads are very small, how can Tyll file them under "Over-Ear"?
He has a large head with man-sized ears - these pads are definitely not built to surround an adult man's ears.
Comfort is definitely an issue, but isolation is an even bigger one - according to Tyll's measurements, there is no isolation whatsoever under 1kHz.
CAL! can't even handle A/C noise in the office.
Small pads will do that to you...
As you can see, the entire CAL! pad is only slightly larger than Takstar Pro 82 pad's opening
Difference in material quality is obvious too.
HM5 pads are even larger, and much thicker than Pro 82
Headband padding is very thin and narrow, doesn't cover much of it
Pro 82 on the left, CAL! on the right.
Sound:
CAL! has an L-shaped FR, but it sounds U/V-shaped, not dark at all.
It doesn't really excel at any range of FR, but the sound is very well balanced all over the FR, and this creates an illusion of a very good headphone.
This illusion disappears very quickly when you start A/B-ing them with better headphones.
Here is a comparison with Takstar Pro 82:
Bass - Pro 82 is extended down to 15Hz, CAL! stops at 20Hz, and has a lot less energy there than Pro 82 at 15Hz.
Quality of CAL!'s bass is mediocre at best - its pads don't seal.
Pro 82's much larger pads play a big role in its amazing bass quality - it has a much greater impact and better decay.
Mids - CAL! has a slightly warm veil. It's not as thick as HD600's, but it's there.
Pro 82 removes this veil, and adds A LOT of detail.
Treble - CAL! has a very polite treble. It doesn't go very far, but it's still not "dark" - it's just missing some detail and energy.
Pro 82 adds the missing parts, while not getting "hot".
Overall CAL! sounds quite small and congested.
I can't help but think that using larger pads from a better material could improve CAL!'s SQ, but this comparison is stock.
CAL! doesn't scale up well - it doesn't sound any better through Oppo HA-2 than through a Rockboxed Sansa Clip+
Current price of CAL! on Amazon is 62$, and it has spent most of the past 6 months between 60$ and 70$, even though last December it was under 45$.
Takstar Pro 82 is currently 67$ on Aliexpress - only a 5$ difference.
And this difference disappears when you add the sales tax.
I bought CAL! last year for 50$, and still I'm disappointed from its value proposition.
At 62$, it's moving in the wrong direction - It belongs in the 30$-40$ area.
Arthur Li
There need to be more de-hyped reviews like this on Head-fi. So many mediocre stuffs got hyped, especially in the "budget-fi" segment. I think many people hyping these uninspiring products are new to the hobby, coming from Bose, Skull-Candy etc. and haven't heard any decent sounding cans before - hence over-estimating their new toys.
I used to love Takstar Pro 80. In fact, I bought two of them (still have both).
I have even recommended them to some of my friends (who ended up being very happy with them).
However, Pro 80s were too U/V-shaped for me, and it took forever to burn them in to get rid of the extra hot treble.
I've moved on to better cans, but kept my eye on the inevitable replacement.
The replacement was teased for months, and as soon I saw one for sale, I jumped on it immediately.
This may be the first one to get out of China, but it's definitely not the last one...
Meet the Pro 82:
It comes in the famous Takstar case.
I chose the black ones over the silver ones - no regrets here!
Gorgeous headphones, plain and simple.
It comes with a soft case, 3.5mm/6.5mm adapter and a 2.2m cable (2.5mm inside the cup, 3.5mm on the other end).
Takstar continues the tradition of providing cables that are too long.
Edit 28 Dec 2017: in the new revision that is being currently sold,the cable has the perfect length - 1.6m.
Now let's get to it!
Comfort:
Comfort is greatly improved compared to Pro 80.
The pads are larger, thicker and made of better materials. They are fully "over ear" for me, when Pro 80 was a definite "on-ear". If the NVX XPT100 with the ComfortMax pads is 10 out of 10 comfort-wise, and Pro 80 is 6.5 at best - Pro 82 is an 8 at least.
Pressure on the head is acceptably delicate, yet the headphone sits securely.
Above you can see a ComfortMax pad sandwiched inside Pro 82.
As you can see, it is slightly larger, and quite a lot thicker.
Judging from my experience with Pro 80 (and others), putting much thicker pads instead of originals will
likely have a negative effect on the sound, but I may experiment later with other pads of similar thickness.
Isolation/Leakage:
There is very little leakage outside, if AC is on in the room - no one can hear what I'm listening to from 2 feet away.
Isolation from outside noise - these are perfect for a noisy office, but not for bus/train/plain.
Another reason not to replace pads - I'm quite sure other pads will result in worse leakage/isolation.
Bass
It's fantastic! Great impact with a full body, followed by a perfect decay.
Such bass is hard to find in headphones at any price, impossible at this price point.
However, to attract "bassheads", Pro 82 has a new feature - bass boost.
You can boost the bass 3dB or 6dB, and (according to Takstar) it shouldn't affect FR over 300Hz:
Well, this graph is absolutely incorrect. Using 6dB boost totally ruins the sound, and while 3dB
doesn't have as much of a negative effect, it's still unpleasant. Not only does the bass becomes flubby,
but the tonality of everything changes too, Pro 82 sounds hollow and honky. Strongly advise to stay away from this feature.
So is this not the headphone for bassheads? Not necessarily. Take a look at the graph above -
the bass is already boosted 5dB over the mids. So this is definitely a bass-heavy headphone.
It will still attract audiophiles, because it doesn't bleed into mids, and the quality of bass is up to the highest standards.
Going back to the graph above, don't expect the bass to be linear down to 20Hz - there is a drop-off below 80Hz.
The headphone is specced down to 10Hz - I could still hear quite a lot at 15Hz - so a healthy subbass is present.
Here you can see the bass ports closed (no bass boost)
Here can see the bass ports fully open - a 6dB boost.
Mids:
The mids are somewhat recessed - this is a U-shaped headphone, but not as much as Pro 80.
The timbre of voices is nearly perfect. If only they would step forward a bit!
I think it's because of the recessed mids that I find myself listening at slightly higher than usual volume - at lower
volume Pro 82 doesn't sound as impressive.
Treble:
This is the most surprising part.
Pro 80 had a very hot treble, which took several months of heavy usage to tame.
Still, it could be too hot sometimes, and sibilance would raise its ugly head occasionally too.
Pro 82's treble is as detailed and brilliant as Pro 80s, but it doesn't get too hot, and it avoids sibilance like a ninja.
Here is a great track to test sibilance:
Even before Taylor Swift starts singing, Brad Paisley (the host) sounds like a love child of Duffy Duck and Silvester on most headphones.
Not on Pro 82! All the detail is still there (this is not a dark headphone), but sibilance is totally gone!
Gaming:
I am not a gamer, but I can promise you this:
a) With Pro 82's bass quantity and quality, explosions will be EPIC!
b) With Pro 82's clarity, you will have no problem hearing your teammates/enemies
c) Pro 82 has a larger soundstage than Pro 80, but keep in mind - this is a music-oriented headphone, so it may not be the best in directional cues
d) You can use a BoomPro cable (if you have one already) with a 3.5/2.5mm TRS adapter,
or you can buy this 2.5mm/3.5mm cable with a microphone:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Upg...ack-Cable-Mic-For-Bose-Quiet/32810246600.html
Also, you can just buy a proper USB microphone.
You'll get better audio too.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/MK-...ting-Singing-Skype-Recording/32735518891.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/201...unt-Holder-Clip-with-Locking/32773172782.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/USB...dio-Braodcasting-KTV-Karaoke/32767347400.html
Driveability:
It's 32Ohm and 96dB - fairly easy to drive.
DACs/Amps:
Comparison of DACs/Amps
Comparison of Pro 80 and Pro 82 frequency responses:
Pro 80 FR
Pro 82 FR
It is crucial to understand that the red and blue lines in the Pro 82's FR must be ignored - they represent the "bass boost" feature.
The green line is the only one we care about.
Pro 80 - The mids are about 7dB (from 300Hz to 3.5kHz) recessed compared to the bass
Pro 82 - The mids are about 3dB (at 1KHz) to 5dB (at 300Hz) recessed compared to the bass
Conclusion - Pro 82's mids are less recessed than Pro 80's
Pro 80 - The treble has a sharp dropoff of 8dB from 3.5kHz till 4kHz, followed by a sharp rise of 15dB till 5.5kHz
Pro 82 - The treble has a much slower decline of 10dB from 1.2kHz till 3.5kHz, followed by a slow rise of 15dB till 8kHz.
Conclusion - Much slower changes in frequency response are the reason why Pro 82's treble doesn't get as hot as Pro 80,
and clarity is improved. Moving the peak from 5.5kHz to 8kHz must have contributed to removing sibilance.
Conclusion:
This is a huge improvement over Pro 80 - all over the frequency range.
Comfort and isolation are improved as well.
All of the impressions are OOTB through Oppo-HA2 .
I'll put it to burn-in, but I honestly can't see it improving much over what I'm hearing.
Once it's burned in, I'll compare it to some of the other closed/semi-open headphones I have - you can vote (up to 3 votes per user) which headphones you want to compare with Pro 82.
I will do at least 5 comparisons - so every vote counts!
You can vote in the poll on top of the review/impressions thread:
https://www.head-fi.org/f/threads/takstar-pro-82-review-impressions-and-discussion-thread.849965/
Where to buy:
EDIT of November 16th 2020:
New coupon codes (valid until April 30th 2021):
4$ discount for purchase of Pro 82, GM200 or FIIO BTR3K (as long as their pre-coupon price is not lower than 59$) - OEYU4DN9ST62
8$ discount for purchase of Pro 82 + FIIO BTR3K, or GM200 + FIIO BTR3K (as long as their pre-coupon combined price is not lower than 119$) - XXWDVYDNM42V
20$ discount for purchase of HF580 (as long as the pre-coupon price is not lower than 189$) - 3V6A1HOA8WIQ
These are exclusive codes, please don't share them outside Head-Fi!
Pro 82 v2 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32808454492.html
GM200 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33012705103.html
HF580 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32997885429.html
FIIO BTR3K - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000849710696.html
Important: It's best to use Aliexpress Standard Shipping, because the store have experienced a few situations where Pro 82/GM200 was returned by the customs when using China Post, but never Aliexpress Standard Shipping. Also, it's A LOT faster now during the pandemic, as Aliexpress has direct deals with the local post offices in many countries.
Don't forget, the 99$ O2 is here: https://www.jdslabs.com/products/167/objective2-headphone-amplifier-b-stock/
Warning about some other stores:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/tak...iscussion-thread.849965/page-30#post-13871997
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/tak...iscussion-thread.849965/page-62#post-13966787
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Ori...or-Computer-recording-K-song/32811235476.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Gen...or-Computer-recording-K-song/32811589590.html
EU residents can buy from Headphoniaks (79 euro with a case): https://headphoniaks.com/en/shop/takstar-pro82-2/
Couple hints for purchasing at Aliexpress:
1) Purchase from a seller that offers ePacket. Usually the free shipping options (China Post, Singapore Post and Aliexpress Standard Shipping) take 3-6 weeks to deliver worldwide.
ePacket usually takes 2-4 weeks.
2) Purchasing using Aliexpress mobile app gives an extra 1% discount.
Sometimes, there are additional mobile-only discounts.
I have even recommended them to some of my friends (who ended up being very happy with them).
However, Pro 80s were too U/V-shaped for me, and it took forever to burn them in to get rid of the extra hot treble.
I've moved on to better cans, but kept my eye on the inevitable replacement.
The replacement was teased for months, and as soon I saw one for sale, I jumped on it immediately.
This may be the first one to get out of China, but it's definitely not the last one...
Meet the Pro 82:
It comes in the famous Takstar case.
I chose the black ones over the silver ones - no regrets here!
Gorgeous headphones, plain and simple.
It comes with a soft case, 3.5mm/6.5mm adapter and a 2.2m cable (2.5mm inside the cup, 3.5mm on the other end).
Takstar continues the tradition of providing cables that are too long.
Edit 28 Dec 2017: in the new revision that is being currently sold,the cable has the perfect length - 1.6m.
Now let's get to it!
Comfort:
Comfort is greatly improved compared to Pro 80.
The pads are larger, thicker and made of better materials. They are fully "over ear" for me, when Pro 80 was a definite "on-ear". If the NVX XPT100 with the ComfortMax pads is 10 out of 10 comfort-wise, and Pro 80 is 6.5 at best - Pro 82 is an 8 at least.
Pressure on the head is acceptably delicate, yet the headphone sits securely.
Above you can see a ComfortMax pad sandwiched inside Pro 82.
As you can see, it is slightly larger, and quite a lot thicker.
Judging from my experience with Pro 80 (and others), putting much thicker pads instead of originals will
likely have a negative effect on the sound, but I may experiment later with other pads of similar thickness.
Isolation/Leakage:
There is very little leakage outside, if AC is on in the room - no one can hear what I'm listening to from 2 feet away.
Isolation from outside noise - these are perfect for a noisy office, but not for bus/train/plain.
Another reason not to replace pads - I'm quite sure other pads will result in worse leakage/isolation.
Bass
It's fantastic! Great impact with a full body, followed by a perfect decay.
Such bass is hard to find in headphones at any price, impossible at this price point.
However, to attract "bassheads", Pro 82 has a new feature - bass boost.
You can boost the bass 3dB or 6dB, and (according to Takstar) it shouldn't affect FR over 300Hz:
Well, this graph is absolutely incorrect. Using 6dB boost totally ruins the sound, and while 3dB
doesn't have as much of a negative effect, it's still unpleasant. Not only does the bass becomes flubby,
but the tonality of everything changes too, Pro 82 sounds hollow and honky. Strongly advise to stay away from this feature.
So is this not the headphone for bassheads? Not necessarily. Take a look at the graph above -
the bass is already boosted 5dB over the mids. So this is definitely a bass-heavy headphone.
It will still attract audiophiles, because it doesn't bleed into mids, and the quality of bass is up to the highest standards.
Going back to the graph above, don't expect the bass to be linear down to 20Hz - there is a drop-off below 80Hz.
The headphone is specced down to 10Hz - I could still hear quite a lot at 15Hz - so a healthy subbass is present.
Here you can see the bass ports closed (no bass boost)
Here can see the bass ports fully open - a 6dB boost.
Mids:
The mids are somewhat recessed - this is a U-shaped headphone, but not as much as Pro 80.
The timbre of voices is nearly perfect. If only they would step forward a bit!
I think it's because of the recessed mids that I find myself listening at slightly higher than usual volume - at lower
volume Pro 82 doesn't sound as impressive.
Treble:
This is the most surprising part.
Pro 80 had a very hot treble, which took several months of heavy usage to tame.
Still, it could be too hot sometimes, and sibilance would raise its ugly head occasionally too.
Pro 82's treble is as detailed and brilliant as Pro 80s, but it doesn't get too hot, and it avoids sibilance like a ninja.
Here is a great track to test sibilance:
Even before Taylor Swift starts singing, Brad Paisley (the host) sounds like a love child of Duffy Duck and Silvester on most headphones.
Not on Pro 82! All the detail is still there (this is not a dark headphone), but sibilance is totally gone!
Gaming:
I am not a gamer, but I can promise you this:
a) With Pro 82's bass quantity and quality, explosions will be EPIC!
b) With Pro 82's clarity, you will have no problem hearing your teammates/enemies
c) Pro 82 has a larger soundstage than Pro 80, but keep in mind - this is a music-oriented headphone, so it may not be the best in directional cues
d) You can use a BoomPro cable (if you have one already) with a 3.5/2.5mm TRS adapter,
or you can buy this 2.5mm/3.5mm cable with a microphone:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Upg...ack-Cable-Mic-For-Bose-Quiet/32810246600.html
Also, you can just buy a proper USB microphone.
You'll get better audio too.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/MK-...ting-Singing-Skype-Recording/32735518891.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/201...unt-Holder-Clip-with-Locking/32773172782.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/USB...dio-Braodcasting-KTV-Karaoke/32767347400.html
Driveability:
It's 32Ohm and 96dB - fairly easy to drive.
DACs/Amps:
Comparison of DACs/Amps
Comparison of Pro 80 and Pro 82 frequency responses:
Pro 80 FR
Pro 82 FR
It is crucial to understand that the red and blue lines in the Pro 82's FR must be ignored - they represent the "bass boost" feature.
The green line is the only one we care about.
Pro 80 - The mids are about 7dB (from 300Hz to 3.5kHz) recessed compared to the bass
Pro 82 - The mids are about 3dB (at 1KHz) to 5dB (at 300Hz) recessed compared to the bass
Conclusion - Pro 82's mids are less recessed than Pro 80's
Pro 80 - The treble has a sharp dropoff of 8dB from 3.5kHz till 4kHz, followed by a sharp rise of 15dB till 5.5kHz
Pro 82 - The treble has a much slower decline of 10dB from 1.2kHz till 3.5kHz, followed by a slow rise of 15dB till 8kHz.
Conclusion - Much slower changes in frequency response are the reason why Pro 82's treble doesn't get as hot as Pro 80,
and clarity is improved. Moving the peak from 5.5kHz to 8kHz must have contributed to removing sibilance.
Conclusion:
This is a huge improvement over Pro 80 - all over the frequency range.
Comfort and isolation are improved as well.
All of the impressions are OOTB through Oppo-HA2 .
I'll put it to burn-in, but I honestly can't see it improving much over what I'm hearing.
Once it's burned in, I'll compare it to some of the other closed/semi-open headphones I have - you can vote (up to 3 votes per user) which headphones you want to compare with Pro 82.
I will do at least 5 comparisons - so every vote counts!
You can vote in the poll on top of the review/impressions thread:
https://www.head-fi.org/f/threads/takstar-pro-82-review-impressions-and-discussion-thread.849965/
Where to buy:
EDIT of November 16th 2020:
New coupon codes (valid until April 30th 2021):
4$ discount for purchase of Pro 82, GM200 or FIIO BTR3K (as long as their pre-coupon price is not lower than 59$) - OEYU4DN9ST62
8$ discount for purchase of Pro 82 + FIIO BTR3K, or GM200 + FIIO BTR3K (as long as their pre-coupon combined price is not lower than 119$) - XXWDVYDNM42V
20$ discount for purchase of HF580 (as long as the pre-coupon price is not lower than 189$) - 3V6A1HOA8WIQ
These are exclusive codes, please don't share them outside Head-Fi!
Pro 82 v2 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32808454492.html
GM200 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33012705103.html
HF580 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32997885429.html
FIIO BTR3K - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000849710696.html
Important: It's best to use Aliexpress Standard Shipping, because the store have experienced a few situations where Pro 82/GM200 was returned by the customs when using China Post, but never Aliexpress Standard Shipping. Also, it's A LOT faster now during the pandemic, as Aliexpress has direct deals with the local post offices in many countries.
Don't forget, the 99$ O2 is here: https://www.jdslabs.com/products/167/objective2-headphone-amplifier-b-stock/
Warning about some other stores:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/tak...iscussion-thread.849965/page-30#post-13871997
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/tak...iscussion-thread.849965/page-62#post-13966787
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Ori...or-Computer-recording-K-song/32811235476.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Gen...or-Computer-recording-K-song/32811589590.html
EU residents can buy from Headphoniaks (79 euro with a case): https://headphoniaks.com/en/shop/takstar-pro82-2/
Couple hints for purchasing at Aliexpress:
1) Purchase from a seller that offers ePacket. Usually the free shipping options (China Post, Singapore Post and Aliexpress Standard Shipping) take 3-6 weeks to deliver worldwide.
ePacket usually takes 2-4 weeks.
2) Purchasing using Aliexpress mobile app gives an extra 1% discount.
Sometimes, there are additional mobile-only discounts.
This review is about E100 MK1, currently not available anymore.
All E100 and E100A sold after mid-2015 are MK2 and MK3 - however they are not marked as such.
This earbud caught my eye because I thought it was the most beautiful earbud ever.
I bought it purely for its looks, didn't have high expectation for the sound.
Build Quality:
When I received it, it looked more plastick-y than in the pictures, but still very beautiful.
It also came with 3 pairs of doughnut foams - a rarity these days.
The build quality is great, cable and plug are very good.
Cable is totally non-microphonic, best cable I ever seen.
Fit:
They look quite large, but I didn't experience any fit issues.
Due to their shape, they can't be pointed directly into the ear canal, but even angling them a little makes a lot of difference.
Sound Quality:
I listened to it out of the box - and was pleasantly surprised. It was clear this would be a top contender. I've burned them for a couple of days, and enjoyed them for the last few weeks.
Baldoor did a great job tuning these - very balanced and clear. They sound practically identical to TG-JL1.
At first, I thought it was another incarnation of TG-JL1, but it seems to have a single diaphragm.
I would say that these are 95% of TG-JL1. Not sure if I could tell them apart in a blind A/B session.
Compared to Yuin PK1, the EarBell has a bit more bass, lusher mids and less bright (although well extended) highs.
Price/availability:
The price on Amazon and eBay for US head-fiers is 15-16$ shipped, non-US members can buy on Aliexpress at 18.99$ shipped.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Berta-bell-e100-earbud-earphones-for-apple/1512302769.html
There is also the version with a microphone at 25.6$ shipped, but I don't know if it sounds as good. Introduction of additional circuitry often decreases SQ.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/BALD...-HIFI-mobile-music-headphones/1887813227.html
Conclusion:
At 15-20$ (depending on your location) this is an excellent balanced earbud - a very rare occasion. Most earbuds in this group sound veiled and boring - but not E100.
The discussion/impressions thread is here:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/711844/dasetn-tingo-baldoor-earbuds-reviews-and-impressions
My current earbud ratings are
TG-38S = TG-JL1 > E100 > BE5 > PK1 > M760 > M1 >= ANV3SE > PK2 = ANV3 > M2C > M3 > ES10 > AP8
Or in terms everyone can understand
16$ = 31$ > 19$ > 95$ > 160$ > 26$ > 15$ >= 100$ > 80$ = 70$ > 50$ > 13$ > 6$ > 12$
All E100 and E100A sold after mid-2015 are MK2 and MK3 - however they are not marked as such.
This earbud caught my eye because I thought it was the most beautiful earbud ever.
I bought it purely for its looks, didn't have high expectation for the sound.
Build Quality:
When I received it, it looked more plastick-y than in the pictures, but still very beautiful.
It also came with 3 pairs of doughnut foams - a rarity these days.
The build quality is great, cable and plug are very good.
Cable is totally non-microphonic, best cable I ever seen.
Fit:
They look quite large, but I didn't experience any fit issues.
Due to their shape, they can't be pointed directly into the ear canal, but even angling them a little makes a lot of difference.
Sound Quality:
I listened to it out of the box - and was pleasantly surprised. It was clear this would be a top contender. I've burned them for a couple of days, and enjoyed them for the last few weeks.
Baldoor did a great job tuning these - very balanced and clear. They sound practically identical to TG-JL1.
At first, I thought it was another incarnation of TG-JL1, but it seems to have a single diaphragm.
I would say that these are 95% of TG-JL1. Not sure if I could tell them apart in a blind A/B session.
Compared to Yuin PK1, the EarBell has a bit more bass, lusher mids and less bright (although well extended) highs.
Price/availability:
The price on Amazon and eBay for US head-fiers is 15-16$ shipped, non-US members can buy on Aliexpress at 18.99$ shipped.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Berta-bell-e100-earbud-earphones-for-apple/1512302769.html
There is also the version with a microphone at 25.6$ shipped, but I don't know if it sounds as good. Introduction of additional circuitry often decreases SQ.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/BALD...-HIFI-mobile-music-headphones/1887813227.html
Conclusion:
At 15-20$ (depending on your location) this is an excellent balanced earbud - a very rare occasion. Most earbuds in this group sound veiled and boring - but not E100.
The discussion/impressions thread is here:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/711844/dasetn-tingo-baldoor-earbuds-reviews-and-impressions
My current earbud ratings are
TG-38S = TG-JL1 > E100 > BE5 > PK1 > M760 > M1 >= ANV3SE > PK2 = ANV3 > M2C > M3 > ES10 > AP8
Or in terms everyone can understand
16$ = 31$ > 19$ > 95$ > 160$ > 26$ > 15$ >= 100$ > 80$ = 70$ > 50$ > 13$ > 6$ > 12$
aaDee
soundstage is very narrow, isnt it BenF?
HotSoup
I have a pair of $60 Sony MDR-EX310, would it be worth buying these or is the pair I have better? From the high praise I am very interested in hearing these, but I'm on a very tight budget(plenty of other gear I am looking at).
blackbelt730
The Amazon link appears to be broken and there are multiple sellers with these under different names. Which one should I get? Please give an Amazon link and a description of how to get these to actually fit in your ear.
I have the real version 2.0, not 2.1 (with the clip).
Build/Design:
I didn't like the provided tips, used the small Sennheiser tips: http://www.ebay.com/itm/110976313070 - much better.
When I plug the Pistons into Audio-GD NFB-11.32, they sound horrible, unless I pull them back a little.
I resolved this issue by using a CTIA to OMTP adapter that came with Philips SHE3590, which is weird, since none of other headphones need it.
This doesn't happen with FIIO E12.
I hate the buttons placement on the remote - keep pressing wrong buttons.
SQ:
Initially, the Pistons were too bassy, even after a long burn-in period.
I have modded them, removing the screen protector and the foam inside. To keep the drivers protected, I have used a small thin napkin:
The bass cleaned up, and mids and treble stepped forward from behind a curtain.
Now these sound like a baby RE-262.
Recommended for "audiophile bass-heads".
Build/Design:
I didn't like the provided tips, used the small Sennheiser tips: http://www.ebay.com/itm/110976313070 - much better.
When I plug the Pistons into Audio-GD NFB-11.32, they sound horrible, unless I pull them back a little.
I resolved this issue by using a CTIA to OMTP adapter that came with Philips SHE3590, which is weird, since none of other headphones need it.
This doesn't happen with FIIO E12.
I hate the buttons placement on the remote - keep pressing wrong buttons.
SQ:
Initially, the Pistons were too bassy, even after a long burn-in period.
I have modded them, removing the screen protector and the foam inside. To keep the drivers protected, I have used a small thin napkin:
The bass cleaned up, and mids and treble stepped forward from behind a curtain.
Now these sound like a baby RE-262.
Recommended for "audiophile bass-heads".
BenF
You've got v2.1.
According to BHazard, it doesn't need to be modded, sounds good as it is.
According to BHazard, it doesn't need to be modded, sounds good as it is.
thatBeatsguy
Hey Ben,
Did the price you pay for include shipping? I was wondering about that since I got my pair for just $16. DIfference is, it was shipped to my door by land, so yeah.
Did the price you pay for include shipping? I was wondering about that since I got my pair for just $16. DIfference is, it was shipped to my door by land, so yeah.
BenF
I paid 27$ with air shipping. 16$ was the price before the hype.
The review thread is here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here
JVC HA-S680 is the next generation of HA-S400 and HA-S500, with the carbon nanotube technology.
Just like them, it's not meant to be sold outside of Japan
Nevertheless, here we are!
They utilize a 40mm driver, but it's not the same driver as in S500 - it is the next generation!
Output sound pressure level: 102dB/1mW
Playback frequency: 8Hz ~ 26.000Hz
Impedance: 32Ω
S500 is louder (106dB/1mW) and has 1 Khz less extension at the top.
I own S400, so I will be using it for comparison.
Sound Quality - upon receiving them, I gave them a short audition. They sounded nothing special, but I had good reasons to believe they would improve:
1) It took me over 200 hours to fully burn-in my S400s, and they didn't sound great until the process was finished.
2) These are Japan-only headphones, and Japanese usually keep the best stuff to themselves
3) SQ was scaling up with better sources - always a good sign.
So I started burning them with this noise:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rnrj5g0mmbldj58/ZhYIByMYOE/White-Pink-Brown%20Noise%20%28For%20burn%20in%29.wav
12 hours in - Small changes here and there
24 hours in - Oh my god, did they burn in already? All the frequencies sound so much better,
especially the bass. I compared them to S400, and it became clear that there
was still a long way to go - the bass wasn't as tight and vocals weren't as emotional.
48 hours in - Now this a clearly superior headphone to S400.
Sound is balanced, similar to S400's sound signature, but the bass hits harder
(although just as tight) and the larger pads helped improve soundstage and
imaging. Instrument separation is better too. The vocals are very engaging.
72 hours in - No audible differences.
This is where I believed that this is a new improved driver, and not just an old repackaged one.
The old driver took over 200 hours to burn in, but they perfected the formula and the new one is done in 48!
There are a few significant design changes in S680 - 1) Bass ports 2) Larger pads
The bass ports are necessary for the harder hitting bass, what surprises me is that the bass is still just as tight as before, despite increase in volume. There is no leakage into the mids either.
Comfort - the larger pads increase both soundstage and comfort. For some people, especially women, these may be around-the-ear,
for me they are still on-the-ear. However, they are much more comfortable then S400, because they press on the more remote parts of the ear.
I've tried the Shure HPAEC840 pads - they are too big, may need to be modified to fit properly.
BrainWavz HM5 pads are a perfect fit, but have the same effect as on S400 - soundstage improves, but the bass becomes a little boomy. The HM5 look like they were made for S680, on S400 they looked monstrous.
Isolation - the larger pads make it better, but the bass ports make it worse. They are OK to use in an office, but not on a mass transport. Sound leakage is minimal, can be used in a library.
Overall, this is a fantastic portable closed phone, my new #1, ahead of HA-S400 and ATH-ES700.
They scale well with better equipment, but aren't hard to drive.
They also make a decent desktop speaker - I can put my NFB-11.32 on high gain and volume at 1-2PM - the sound fills the room
Price - I have bought it from White Rabbit Express for 96$ including shipping.
I've asked one of my Japanese eBay sellers to list it, and he listed all 3 models for 80$ including shipping!!!
I guess the pioneers always pay a price...
The black one is here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Victor-JVC-HA-S680-B-Black-color-Outdoor-type-Headphone-Carbon-Nanotube-F-S-/281216875091
The red one is here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Victor-JVC-HA-S680-R-Red-color-Outdoor-type-Headphone-Carbon-Nanotube-F-S-/271332332176
The white one is here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Victor-JVC-HA-S680-W-White-color-Outdoor-type-Headphone-Carbon-Nanotube-F-S-/271333864823
I've bought some audiophile items from him before, he's really good.
Also, you can buy them directly from Kakaku for 65$-75$ depending on color and your location:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/75#post_10051650
Other users' impressions:
Painful Chafe:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/75#post_10054263
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/75#post_10054585
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/210#post_10125322
MichaelGordon:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/195#post_10122273
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/225#post_10126378
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/285#post_10171649
yay101:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/270#post_10170918
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/285#post_10171599
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/300#post_10173065
GeneralPsycho:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/330#post_10185348
The burn-in procedure:
1) Use https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rnrj5g0mmbldj58/ZhYIByMYOE/White-Pink-Brown%20Noise%20%28For%20burn%20in%29.wav
2) Adjust the volume so that the middle noise is too loud for comfort
3) Take the headphones off, and add another 20-30% volume
4) Keep burning 24/7
5) Give it at least 48 hours
6) Once burn-in of the driver is done, please let your brain burn-in as well - it will take a few days for the brain to adjust to
the sound. At first, the brain will refuse to process the soundstage and clarity that HA-S680 can produce, but it will give in
eventually.
JVC HA-S680 is the next generation of HA-S400 and HA-S500, with the carbon nanotube technology.
Just like them, it's not meant to be sold outside of Japan
Nevertheless, here we are!
They utilize a 40mm driver, but it's not the same driver as in S500 - it is the next generation!
Output sound pressure level: 102dB/1mW
Playback frequency: 8Hz ~ 26.000Hz
Impedance: 32Ω
S500 is louder (106dB/1mW) and has 1 Khz less extension at the top.
I own S400, so I will be using it for comparison.
Sound Quality - upon receiving them, I gave them a short audition. They sounded nothing special, but I had good reasons to believe they would improve:
1) It took me over 200 hours to fully burn-in my S400s, and they didn't sound great until the process was finished.
2) These are Japan-only headphones, and Japanese usually keep the best stuff to themselves
3) SQ was scaling up with better sources - always a good sign.
So I started burning them with this noise:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rnrj5g0mmbldj58/ZhYIByMYOE/White-Pink-Brown%20Noise%20%28For%20burn%20in%29.wav
12 hours in - Small changes here and there
24 hours in - Oh my god, did they burn in already? All the frequencies sound so much better,
especially the bass. I compared them to S400, and it became clear that there
was still a long way to go - the bass wasn't as tight and vocals weren't as emotional.
48 hours in - Now this a clearly superior headphone to S400.
Sound is balanced, similar to S400's sound signature, but the bass hits harder
(although just as tight) and the larger pads helped improve soundstage and
imaging. Instrument separation is better too. The vocals are very engaging.
72 hours in - No audible differences.
This is where I believed that this is a new improved driver, and not just an old repackaged one.
The old driver took over 200 hours to burn in, but they perfected the formula and the new one is done in 48!
There are a few significant design changes in S680 - 1) Bass ports 2) Larger pads
The bass ports are necessary for the harder hitting bass, what surprises me is that the bass is still just as tight as before, despite increase in volume. There is no leakage into the mids either.
Comfort - the larger pads increase both soundstage and comfort. For some people, especially women, these may be around-the-ear,
for me they are still on-the-ear. However, they are much more comfortable then S400, because they press on the more remote parts of the ear.
I've tried the Shure HPAEC840 pads - they are too big, may need to be modified to fit properly.
BrainWavz HM5 pads are a perfect fit, but have the same effect as on S400 - soundstage improves, but the bass becomes a little boomy. The HM5 look like they were made for S680, on S400 they looked monstrous.
Isolation - the larger pads make it better, but the bass ports make it worse. They are OK to use in an office, but not on a mass transport. Sound leakage is minimal, can be used in a library.
Overall, this is a fantastic portable closed phone, my new #1, ahead of HA-S400 and ATH-ES700.
They scale well with better equipment, but aren't hard to drive.
They also make a decent desktop speaker - I can put my NFB-11.32 on high gain and volume at 1-2PM - the sound fills the room
Price - I have bought it from White Rabbit Express for 96$ including shipping.
I've asked one of my Japanese eBay sellers to list it, and he listed all 3 models for 80$ including shipping!!!
I guess the pioneers always pay a price...
The black one is here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Victor-JVC-HA-S680-B-Black-color-Outdoor-type-Headphone-Carbon-Nanotube-F-S-/281216875091
The red one is here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Victor-JVC-HA-S680-R-Red-color-Outdoor-type-Headphone-Carbon-Nanotube-F-S-/271332332176
The white one is here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Victor-JVC-HA-S680-W-White-color-Outdoor-type-Headphone-Carbon-Nanotube-F-S-/271333864823
I've bought some audiophile items from him before, he's really good.
Also, you can buy them directly from Kakaku for 65$-75$ depending on color and your location:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/75#post_10051650
Other users' impressions:
Painful Chafe:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/75#post_10054263
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/75#post_10054585
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/210#post_10125322
MichaelGordon:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/195#post_10122273
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/225#post_10126378
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/285#post_10171649
yay101:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/270#post_10170918
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/285#post_10171599
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/300#post_10173065
GeneralPsycho:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/690493/the-jvc-ha-s680-s400s-and-s500s-big-brother-is-here/330#post_10185348
The burn-in procedure:
1) Use https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rnrj5g0mmbldj58/ZhYIByMYOE/White-Pink-Brown%20Noise%20%28For%20burn%20in%29.wav
2) Adjust the volume so that the middle noise is too loud for comfort
3) Take the headphones off, and add another 20-30% volume
4) Keep burning 24/7
5) Give it at least 48 hours
6) Once burn-in of the driver is done, please let your brain burn-in as well - it will take a few days for the brain to adjust to
the sound. At first, the brain will refuse to process the soundstage and clarity that HA-S680 can produce, but it will give in
eventually.
BenF
Oh, I see. So that's why Amazon kept marking only the red ones "Japanese import".
I wonder if the same distinction exists in s680.
I wonder if the same distinction exists in s680.
BenF
If you like S400, you are pretty much guaranteed to like S680.
The problem with SZ2000 is that it is a 350$ headphone, and in best case scenario it will sound like one. With S680 at 81$, you have an unlimited upside and you can spend the rest on a DAC/Amp or your girlfriend.
The problem with SZ2000 is that it is a 350$ headphone, and in best case scenario it will sound like one. With S680 at 81$, you have an unlimited upside and you can spend the rest on a DAC/Amp or your girlfriend.
FiNNiu
JVC or Meizu HD50?
