CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS
Lobby => Headphone Measurements => Topic started by: Marvey on November 14, 2014, 04:50:46 AM
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This is not a bad headphone at all. Not bad. Quite good. I know we've tended to focus on higher end stuff at Changstar, but this one should be a welcome addition for those with more modest budgets. We are having a $100-$150 headphone shootout later this year and unfortunately the Takstar Pro80 didn't make the the final cut of seven. However, an anonymous benefactor has sent these into Changstar for evaluation. While I won't be throwing in the Pro80 into the shootout (comparing seven headphones at once will be difficult, much less adding one more), I will at least say a few things about it. Keeping this short as usual.
- Snug fit around the ears, but decently comfy. Pads aren't some sort of high-grade goat scrotum-skin, but are utilitarian synthetic material that does the job. Clamping force is light-moderate.
- Metal gimbals are quite sturdy. Maybe just a grade below the Beyer stuff which is very sturdy (same cannot be said of Beyer drivers, IMO, they tend to die every now and then)
- There is a notable low-mid bass bump. Not horribly excessive and the bass hump does not intrude into the mids. The mids sounds really clean - low distortion.
- Treble has some minor issues dependent upon recording. I can't quite make it some. Snares depending upon how they are tuned can sound too sharp and unnatural. Also sometimes, there is some funky stuff in the upper mids around 4kHz (similar to the harshness and edge of the AD2000). Hard to put my finger on and it's really recording and instrument tuning dependent. Probably indicative of spotlit peaks. Either way, I don't hear any severe ringing. Most people may find the issues minor.
- Midrange seems really accurate and flat.
- Nice clean. Not the most resolving.
- Oh, the box. THE BOX. Yes! The BOX! That is a nice touch. Thank you China manufacturing!
- This is a great
$125 headphone. I mean $69.50 headphone. - Buy for the box if you don't like the headphone.
- This is LEADERBOARD shit for $70.
- I think some mods can lessen the low/mid treble issues.
Oh, I decided to only attach a photos of the box.
Now taking questions. Ask away on specifics or relatives to other headphones. Will answer if I feel confident that I can give a good answer.
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Measurements
- A little bit hot around 8kHz. Ideally, I'd like to see this area roll off a bit. Some ringing after the dip at kHz. Distortion spike between 3-4khz Most likely the cause of that harsh edgy snare sound.
- One channel has less bass then the other, but otherwise excellent matching. I took several measurements removing headphones and always got same result. The slight bass level imbalance could be do to pads.
- Mids are flat.
- Bass distortion is kind of high, but I didn't hear it that way necessarily. 45db down for 2nd order at 100Hz isn't too shabby at all though.
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Yup. those takstars are really good stuff. the HI2050 is even cheaper but it's less good than the pro80 and it's not delivered with this fabulous box ;) . two friends had a deal , one wanted the box and the other wanted the headphones so they bought the whole package together. lowest prices ever for so goof box and headphone ;)
Thks for the review !
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I'm interested in that box! Does a HD6x0 fit in that?
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We are distributing Takstar stuff in Russia. Wanted to order something under our brand as well, but they dont seem interested. Their stuff is very good. My personal favorite is Takstar TS-662. It sounds as close to Senn 650 as ~50$ headphone can. For few days I even prefered it to actuall sennhs, until got accustomed and started to notice its small flaws.
I can take measurements if there is any interest, we have most of them.
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I'm interested in seeing measurements of the other models.
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Thanks for getting these in. I always thought they sounded similar(but a little better) than my proper fitting momentum. At like 1/5th the price. Construction is good I've had mine for over 2 years now and still look new, pad quality feels a little less than premium but has held up very well.
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Thanks for getting these in. I always thought they sounded similar(but a little better) than my proper fitting momentum. At like 1/5th the price. Construction is good I've had mine for over 2 years now and still look new, pad quality feels a little less than premium but has held up very well.
If pads are replaceable, they should be a pretty fun good sounding headphone to last quite a while!
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Hmm, measurements kind of look like the preliminary/experimental results from my UE6000. I don't suspect they sound TOO similar subjectively, but measurements are similar (i.e. big bass boost, but fairly flat, if slightly rough, mids and treble). I'd love to check these out!
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I can't believe they come in that box. I always heard these were great cheap headphones, along with the gemini ones..
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Seens pretty nice, managed to grab one for US$46 on aliexpress sale (whithout the box) they should arrive in some months :)p6
Any worth improvements with some cheap amps like the magni or the vali? (Not going to buy them, just for science)
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Any worth improvements with some cheap amps like the magni or the vali? (Not going to buy them, just for science)
Nope?
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I'll give the Takstar a go on the Vali tonight.
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Will you be modding these?
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Possibly with something very simple, like TP.
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Vali = slight hiss. bassy, warm, full bodied bloomy sound. maybe a bit too much.
Magni = actually pretty good.
This is a pretty darn good starter headphone for $70.
BTW, the Senn HD558 will fit inside the Takstar box. It's tight fit, but can be improved if you are willing to cut small parts of the foam out.
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The funny thing is that you liked their midrange and some guys claim that the Brainwavz HM5 velour pads improves the midrange...
I've bought it (mostly because comfort) and they should arrive in some months, I'll try to give a feedback and try to compare with the stock pads (a noob comparison, of course). :)p6
(http://www.mp4nation.net/brainwavz-hm5-velor-memory-foam-earpad-suitable-for-other-large-over-the-ear-headphones-1pc, and if someone is going to buy it, yeah it's just one piece, you need to buy two units)
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I hope this thread necromancy isn't frowned upon, but it's really interesting to see these measurements. I think the roll off (or lack thereof) in the 10kHz+ treble is really quite impressive for a headphone that doesn't claim to use any exotic materials or technology. I was listening to the Takstar Pro 80 today to compare it against my shiny new AKG K553 and I was really reminded again just how great a headphone it is for the price. It's a little depressing that more people don't mention it.
It's my second unit after my first unit was eaten by an amplifier, and it seems that Takstar has made some revisions. My new unit has a straight cable instead of the previous coiled cable. Build quality seems to have improved slightly too, because my new unit is actually symmetrical instead of slightly bent like my old one. I wonder if a new unit would measure any better?
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I want to do a detachable cable mod on it, anyone has a nice video guide showing how to do it on any headphone?
I've seen some videos on youtube, but IDK if they're good enough ::)
I was really reminded again just how great a headphone it is for the price. It's a little depressing that more people don't mention it.
Add Brainwavz HM5 earpads and it became much more comfortable.
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You know, I got a pair of these a while back. I should get measurements posted soon. I took a brief peek at measurements but didn't save results. Subjectively and as measured, they are incredibly U-shaped. Actually, ¯¯\__/¯¯ shaped is a better way to put it. Thankfully, the bass is more or less in-line with the treble, so it's not too displeasing to listen to. I won't bitch for the price, and I bet they can be tuned up nicely with mods. Build quality and included box alone almost make it worth the price.
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BTW, Solderdude said he was going to get one, wonder if he plan to do some mods on it...
This is how it looks with the HM5 pads, the velour changed the sound, although I don't know to explain exactly what has changed, sorry. ::)
Probably the ones of pleather should keep the sound the same.