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Takstar Pro 82/GM200 Review, impressions and discussion thread

Which headphones do you want Pro 82 to be compared with?

  • Total voters
    39
  • Poll closed .
Jun 18, 2019 at 5:41 PM Post #2,762 of 4,538
I've noticed that TakstarAudio ran out of SMSL Idea, so I asked Ellie when it will be back in stock.
She said that SMSL factory doesn't make Idea anymore :astonished::anguished::angry:

I've checked the official SMSL store, and it seems to be running out of Idea too - only 10 red ones are left, other colors are already sold out.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32828992184.html

I don't know if SMSL will resume production of Idea, or if they will make something else in this form factor - and almost certainly ruin the synergy with O2 and Pro 82.
Those of you who don't have Idea yet, should consider buying it NOW, while you can.
It's 80.83$ (on mobile), and you can get 6$ off with Select Coupons, and then another 5$ or 10$ off with your Mid-year Sale coupons, bringing the price under 65$.

You can get a "5$ off 50$" coupon here: https://sale.aliexpress.com/__pc/2019Mid_YearSale1.htm
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The 10$ coupon can be exchanged for coins in the app:
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Even if you don't have O2, you can always get it later, or just use Idea alone.
 
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Jun 19, 2019 at 6:45 PM Post #2,763 of 4,538
I bought this little DAC - D1-Mini :https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32878993587.html
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I was hoping that it will sound like EL-D01, and provide bass boost on top of it.
Unfortunately, the VT1620A doesn't provide the same cold sound that PCM2704 gave to EL-D01, so the synergy with FIIO E6 and Little Bear P10 was lost.

By itself, D1-mini doesn't provide much upgrade over high quality laptop/smartphone output, but the bass boost works well, providing 5-6dB boost and turning Pro 82 into a bass cannon (if people are interested, I can measure it).
Of course, when bass boost is activated, transparency is decreased due to warmer SS.

Playing 24/96 music is a welcome addition too.

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Jun 20, 2019 at 9:51 AM Post #2,764 of 4,538
Jun 20, 2019 at 10:24 AM Post #2,765 of 4,538
Very interesting! It looks physically like the CoolerMaster MH-751/752, but has the 3-port bass slider of the Pro 82 which the CollerMaster does not... some sort of OEM hybrid? The reviews reference the extreme comfort, so it certainly seems like the Pro 82.

For $50 shipped, it's worth checking out...

In all candor though, I'm not as enamored with the Takstar PRO-82 as I used to be, as the Takstar HF-580 planars just beats it on so many levels and has become my go-to value proposition.
 
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Jun 20, 2019 at 10:28 AM Post #2,766 of 4,538
heavyharmonies said:
Very interesting! It looks physically like the CoolerMaster MH-751/752, but has the 3-port bass slider of the Pro 82 which the CollerMaster does not... some sort of OEM hybrid? The reviews reference the extreme comfort, so it certainly seems like the Pro 82.

For $50 shipped, it's worth checking out...

In all candor though, I'm not as enamored with the Takstar PRO-82 as I used to be, as the Takstar HF-580 planars just beats it on so many levels and has become my go-to value proposition.
Click to expand...

Yeah, looks like the Polsen HPS-A40 might be closer to the Pro 82 than even the CoolerMaster variant, having the 3-port bass sliders unlike the CoolerMaster's, as you noted.

I see you've already ordered it... :D I agree, at that price, it seems worth checking out.... I look forward to your reporting back when it arrives.
 
Jun 20, 2019 at 2:35 PM Post #2,767 of 4,538
Jun 20, 2019 at 2:42 PM Post #2,768 of 4,538
If it ends up being the same as the Pro 82 performancewise, it will be great for U.S. residents, as the order fulfillment from B&H is quite good (I placed my order this morning and received an email about 2 hours ago that it had been shipped).

Even with state sales tax, a net delivered price of US$53 is a good $15-25 below the price of the Pro 82 from Aliexpress. Admittedly, probably won't get the nice storage case, but that's likely a good tradeoff for many folks.
 
Jun 20, 2019 at 3:39 PM Post #2,769 of 4,538
heavyharmonies said:
Very interesting! It looks physically like the CoolerMaster MH-751/752, but has the 3-port bass slider of the Pro 82 which the CollerMaster does not... some sort of OEM hybrid? The reviews reference the extreme comfort, so it certainly seems like the Pro 82.

For $50 shipped, it's worth checking out...

In all candor though, I'm not as enamored with the Takstar PRO-82 as I used to be, as the Takstar HF-580 planars just beats it on so many levels and has become my go-to value proposition.
Click to expand...

well...the 580s aren't anywhere close to the same price though are they? I mean anyone looking for cans under a $100 isn't going to look at the 580s - good deal though they may be. I already have the Hifiman HE-400i for my planar itch so I'm good there. :D
 
Jun 20, 2019 at 5:00 PM Post #2,771 of 4,538
heavyharmonies said:
...In all candor though, I'm not as enamored with the Takstar PRO-82 as I used to be, as the Takstar HF-580 planars just beats it on so many levels and has become my go-to value proposition.
Click to expand...
I'll believe that when you'll own as many HF-580s as you have Pro 82s :jecklinsmile:

I used to be into planars too for a while, but outside of AB1266, they are beaten quite easily by dynamics and electrostats.
Loved the planar bass, but couldn't get natural timbre in the mids (except for Abyss AB1266).

heavyharmonies said:
If it ends up being the same as the Pro 82 performancewise, it will be great for U.S. residents, as the order fulfillment from B&H is quite good (I placed my order this morning and received an email about 2 hours ago that it had been shipped).

Even with state sales tax, a net delivered price of US$53 is a good $15-25 below the price of the Pro 82 from Aliexpress. Admittedly, probably won't get the nice storage case, but that's likely a good tradeoff for many folks.
Click to expand...
You can get a guaranteed Pro 82 v2 for 52.5$ (no state sale tax here!) during the MId-Year Sale on Ali - https://www.head-fi.org/threads/tak...scussion-thread.849965/page-184#post-15013865
Anyway, the sale on B&H ends tonight, and then the price should go back to 99$ - the normal price is hardly attractive, especially for a headphone which may or may not be tuned differently.
 
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Jun 20, 2019 at 5:55 PM Post #2,772 of 4,538
BenF said:
I'll believe that when you'll own as many HF-580s as you have Pro 82s :jecklinsmile:
Click to expand...

Well, I'm half way there (4 Pro 82, 1 HF-580, 1 HI-3050).

I used to be into planars too for a while, but outside of AB1266, they are beaten quite easily by dynamics and electrostats.
Click to expand...

Different preferences, I guess. The clarity and sparkle of the 580/3050, along with the wider soundstage, just makes everything better to these ears.

Now admittedly, the cost disparity between the Pro 82 and the HF-580 was less when I originally purchased each (~$75 for Pro 82 and ~$160 for HF-580). It's still almost a $100 difference, but it's not a 4x difference.

Many of us here have spent anywhere from $20 to $500++ on headphones, and both of these headphones are in the bottom half of that range, performing comparatively better than most other cans in their price range (in my opinion).
 
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