It’s strange that I should be the one to answer questions about audiophiles, because I’ve never considered myself one of them. And among all the areas of work with video, sound has always been the most difficult for me. But here I have three models for review – Takstar PRO 82, Takstar TS-450 and Takstar HD2000, and I have a lot to say about them.
I would like to thank Kiev shop SoundMag.ua for providing samples for testing.
Market positioning
Let’s start with the reasons why I chose these headphones. I need high quality studio monitoring models with the driest possible sound, for sound mixing. And it was the comparison of semi-professional and professional Takstar models that would allow me to understand what would suit me best. Because price is not always the deciding factor.
However, I am providing it. The Takstar PRO 82 costs about $90. The Takstar TS-450 costs almost three times less, at $35. And Takstar HD2000 is the cheapest model, priced at less than $25. It would seem that the choice is obvious….. and it is, I’m telling you right off the bat. For my job, the Pro 82s are the best fit.
Studio and audiophiles
And here, it would seem, is the end of the fairy tale, but there is a nuance. Since I do not consider myself an audiophile, I actively perceive and read reviews of other, much more professional reviewers. And all of them noted, strangely enough, all three models as an excellent choice for…. audiophiles. Not for studios, for audiophiles. That’s where, in fact, the idea for the article came from.
Because, in fact, it’s logical. Both audiophiles and professionals in the studio appreciate when the music is neutral, when the music is honest, when there are no excessive frequencies either above, below, or in the middle. But at the same time, the conventional sound resolution, the clarity of instrument distribution, and the three-dimensional scene are as cool as possible.
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Of course, for a lot of music you want to have separate headphones, because somewhere the song has an emphasis on vocals, somewhere – on bass or treble, and if the headphones have an offset in the AFC for these nuances – the experience will be better. However, it is neutral, studio headphones that fit everything at once. Not perfect, but as cool as possible. And as honest as possible.
And then there are nuances like convenience, sound isolation, equipment, peripherals and other nuances that you can appreciate even without turning on the music. And that’s where things get interesting.
Takstar PRO 82
Takstar PRO 82, for example, comes in professional packaging that I’ve often seen for sound equipment at, excuse me, concerts. And it is not surprising – Takstar PRO 82 is considered the flagship and continuation of the company’s most famous model – Takstar PRO 80, which in its time put to shame the sound quality of headphones ten times more expensive.
Therefore, the equipment, you understand, is impressive. But only if you look at it not in great detail. The handle of the case, for example, is plastic, not metal. It opens the case from the wrong side. And the only cable in the kit – yes, universal, with an adapter 6.3 mm on the thread, but the plug into the headphones themselves – 2.5 mm. Just so you only buy branded replacements, that’s all.
The headphones themselves are plastic in places, but only where it doesn’t really matter. The earcups are metal, for example. As, by the way, is the base of the 3.5mm plug, I forgot to mention that. The quality of plastic in general is hyper-cool, nothing squeaks, clicks or cracks.
The Takstar PRO 82 are adjustable in length by 2cm each way, so they are versatile. They have huge oval leatherette ear cushions and a padded headband. The stitch quality is superb, everything looks neat and cool.
Of interest – there is a bass switch on both cups, three positions. In neutral Takstar PRO 82, in fact, studio and are considered studio, and when amplified… well, they have a boosted bass. The first gain level, +3 dBa adds brightness, the second level, +6 dBa – almost simulates an additional subwoofer, which is sometimes very useful.
Some also note that it is the first level of additional bass that makes the Takstar PRO 82 sound like studio monitors. However, for professional sound mixing, it is sometimes useful to be able to change bass presets on the fly – because many modern headphones, especially gamer headphones, emphasise bass.
By the way, all changes in bass will be noticeable on the AFC graph, which is included in the instruction manual. Note that the change in bass seems to be small, but it is felt very strongly. Also not very pleasant is the subsidence from 20 to 50 kHz, and in some reviews people complained that it is quite difficult to fix it with EQ.
I will say the following about the 3D sound – these are probably the first headphones in which I noticed the shortcomings of simulated 7.1 sound. I started noticing gaps between channels, if I may say so. And honestly, I don’t know if this can be fixed with a better audio interface.
Takstar HD2000
Compared to the flagship, both Takstar TS-450 and Takstar HD2000 look much simpler. They come with minimal equipment, the cable is soldered in, 3.5 mm. Materials are much cheaper, but here the nuances begin.
The HD2000s are the cheapest “monitor” headphones I’ve ever seen. And yet they come with a 6.3mm to cable adapter, are light on the head, have a completely neutral sound transmission with an emphasis in the midrange, which is – of course – superb. Which is done mostly at the expense of the slightly bland treble.
It’s certainly not Sennheiser HD 206, but considering the price difference and the fact that it’s much easier to find Takstar here – I wouldn’t say that the choice in favour of the Germans is guaranteed. Maybe even on the contrary. At the same time HD2000 are light, comfortable, do not feel on the head and honestly – there is so much gloss on the case that it almost does not annoy even me.
Takstar TS-450 (and Takstar TS-450M)
Takstar TS-450. These headphones are interesting in that they sound better than the HD2000, but have a much less pronounced and accentuated look. There is no 6.3 mm adapter, but there is a very detailed sound, especially compared to even some slightly more expensive models. There’s a similarly compact and lightweight design.
And there is also a modification for gamers, called Takstar TS-450M. This model is no longer a studio model, but it is still balanced and of high quality. Actually, this is the first gaming headset in my memory, where the drivers are clearly visible through the membrane of the ear cushions. Therefore, the emphasis here is on the balance of sound. Which is not a very good decision for a gaming headset.
Note: SoundMag.ua representatives themselves position 450M as models for call-centres. On the one hand – I used to think that they buy models for 300 UAH per kilo, or mono-headsets in general. But, as it turned out, those models do not give such soundproofing, as it is necessary – neither on the microphone, nor from other operators.
So, if you both play and work, listen to music at home on one system, and even work with your voice and ears – then it is the Takstar TS-450M that may be more useful to you than many other models. Especially considering the price, which is almost the same as the Takstar TS-450.
Summary of Takstar PRO 82, Takstar TS-450 and Takstar HD2000
As you can see – the price really affects the usefulness and quality, but even the flagship Takstar PRO 82, or more affordable Takstar TS-450 and Takstar HD2000, will find their place and use without any problems. And considering that even the cheapest model is considered a studio monitor – yes, I recommend it.
Video about Takstar PRO 82, Takstar TS-450 and Takstar HD2000
https://youtu.be/KQhGi0LEWk8
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