Budget accessories: Cooler, Headset, Gaming-capable Mouse and Keyboard

I'm not really knowledgeable about these things so please give me some advice. I just have a few questions as well as expectation.

1, Should I use cooler with movable fans or just buy the one without movable fans? I will try to get the one that has fans near my laptop's vents. Does cooler make my laptop get dustier? The cooler I have is the one that blow air into laptop's vent (it works tho but I think it might be the reason old laptop get dusty). Every cooler is like that or there is one that sucks air out?

2, Mouse and keyboard. I usually use wired mice since I'm not too fond of wireless mouse but I read about some Logitech wireless mice and they might actually very good. Size can be from medium to large. I don't really need super high-end and accurate mice tho. I do play video games but just not good enough to know the difference I guess. If there is mouse and keyboard set, that'd be nice.

3, I guess I'll buy a cheap mic for the headphone since I read that those headphones with mic aren't good. Look might matter a bit. As long as it's not too ugly but beauty is in the eye of the beholder so if you think it looks fine, then it's fine.

I'd prefer everything to be in mid range price. Around ~ $40 for each, the lower, the better, but I'm willing to pay more if it's REALLY worth the money.

 

1. What laptop do you have? Depending on the model, a cooler might not do much. Elevating the bottom with bottle caps is free and could do just as well.
2. Logitech G602, $50 right now but can be found on sale for $40 occasionally. Keyboard I'd recommend a tenkeyless with Cherry MX Brown switches, none are priced anywhere close to $40 though so if you can't afford one I'd stick with the laptop keyboard for now until you have the funds.
3. I'm assuming you want this for gaming. $40 won't buy you anything in terms of headphones that isn't junk, plus most of the stuff in this price range is closed back and you want open back for gaming. Koss PortaPro is $40 and even though it sounds awesome for the price and has a lifetime warranty I doubt it's what you'd want, plus it has no mic. Don't buy headsets, esp. gaming ones, as even the $300 wireless ones and Astros are junk. If you can stretch budget to $70 I'd wholeheartedly recommend the Takstar HI 2050 and a Zalman ZM-Mic1 clip-on mic. Retardedly good sounding headphone for the price, actually similar to the $300 Beyerdynamic DT 880 it's cloned from. Plus impressive build quality for such a cheap set of cans (has real metal on the earcups and headband) and are actually comfortable enough to be used straight up while most other ~$50 cans need upgraded pads before they're bearable. I used to recommend the Sennheiser HD 518 and Audio-Technica AD500X in the ~$70 price range but those days are over as they both have quirks which put them under the Takstar. The HD 518 needs amplification and the AD500X has comfort issues for a lot of people.

 

I have the Sager NP8671/Clevo P670SE. I think about using bottle caps but I'm afraid my laptop will slide off. About the headphone, I don't really care about it for gaming. I just want good sounding. I can buy a cheap mic for the headphone. Thanks for you input, would take a look at that headphone.

 

Oh OK I have a P650SG so we have basically the same laptop. Cooling is fine unless yours has a bad paste job or you're overclocking heavily. No need for a pad and it doesn't help much anyway, a couple degrees reduction for me at most and same as raising the bottom off the table. Since cooling pad adds noise you might as well run max fan speed on the laptop (FN+1) instead which reduces temps much more. And yeah, bottle caps by themselves do tend to slide around on a table, that's why I put an eraser under each cap for grip.

There's a ton of options for standalone mics for use with headphones. The studio mics popular with YouTubers and podcasters like the Blue Snowball/Yeti and Audio-Technica AT2020 are impractical for gaming as they sit on the desk or mounted on a stand and pickup background noises/vibrations not to mention expensive and overkill. Most headphone gamers tend to go with detachable lav and boom mics. Popular cheap option is Zalman ZM-Mic1 I mentioned earlier which is $10 and clips onto your headphone cable. For $20 another one is the Sony ECMCS3 which is a lav mic. Stepping up to $30 gets you the V-Moda BoomPro which is the most convenient as it unifies the headphone and microphone cables into one, however it only works with headphones that have a detachable 3.5mm cable. At $50 another super popular option with headphone gamers is the Antlion ModMic which is a boom mic that sticks onto the side of your headphone via a magnet and works with just about any headphone.

About the headphone, Takstar HI 2050 is the best sounding I tried in the sub-$100 price range (unless you're talking used or crazy sale price) that doesn't have some gamebreaking issue with comfort/fit, cable, amp requirement, build/appearance/durability, etc. I got into the audio game a bit over a year ago after using gaming headset crap for the longest time. Have bought and returned/resold maybe 20 headphones in the past year (thank god for Amazon). Most recently settled on an Audio-Technica AD900X + Zalman mic combo for competitive soundwhoring and Philips Fidelio X2 + V-Moda BoomPro for music and immersive gaming. Latter is probably the ultimate gaming headset setup as it combines audiophile SQ w/convenience (single cable for both headphone & mic). Not cheap though at $300. Hopefully my endgame as headphones is a very addictive but expensive hobby.

 

@octiceps
Dang glad this thread popped up because I was about to go for the AD500X + Zalman or Antilion mic based on your recommendation in THIS THREAD last month. Since I'm not an audiophile (yet at least) I'd rather stick to approx $100 myself for headphones+mic, so I was going to take your recommendation from then. The Takstar HI 2050 wasn't on my radar; never even heard of the brand. Sounds like a steal at ~$20 less than the AD500X. At ~$100 it doesn't seem like there's much else to consider, so for gaming purposes the 2050 is probably the frontrunner with one of those mics then. Unless you recommend the AD500X over it for purposes of gaming first, music/movies close second (as I'd like solid all-round with good positional audio, "soundstage," balanced bass and all that)? Or maybe even them 668Bs with the velour pads? Those AD500X comfort issues are troubling to hear.

Side question: AD900X have the same issues (and worth the bump in price to $148)?

@kaze no tama
As for coolers I use the very solid Zalman-nc2000 with my P650SG. Actually...more like not use it because the notebook cools well enough for me at the auto fan profile. I've had the Nc2000 for years now when I needed it for my overheating, throttle-device that Dell was calling a notebook back in 2010 (unsurprisingly, issue seems more widespread today). So now the aluminum surface of the cooler just serves as a prop for my system. Take-home is, like octiceps detailed, just propping up the back of the P650SG and running at max fan profile is practical enough to efficiently cool it.

 

@octiceps I'll probably just make something out of cardboard and eraser then. I found the Takstar HI 2050 on Amazon at ~$47 then go with the cheapest mics you suggest here.

@E.D.U. I have a spare cooler too but it's a tad small for my 15.6" HP and now too small for the 17" Clevo, not even big enough for my laptop to stand on. My laptop's highest temp is at ~80C for CPU and 70C for GPU when playing TERA. I'll try to raise the bottom to see how it's going.

 

kaze no tama, for input I suggest Logitech MK220 wireless mouse + keyboard combo - if you don't mind massive dongle. Mouse is just the right size and fee, keyboard is compact, and they are dirty cheap. However, are you sure your notebook keyboard is that bad to use external? For sound, I suggest using notebook's internal microphone(s) with some cheap yet adequate headphones.

 

Yeah man, get the Takstar. The Chinese OEM that makes these sell their headphones under a number of different brands like Takstar, Gemini, Qpad, etc. Not many non-enthusiasts have heard of them but they make some dang good stuff for the money. They make the model that Kingston rebrands as the HyperX Cloud/Cloud II, which is a very well-regarded gaming headset and one of the very few I'd be comfortable recommending, but it's more expensive, closed back (more bass + narrower soundstage), and not as good sounding as the 2050.

I hadn't yet tried the Takstar when I posted in that thread last month, otherwise I would've said screw everything else and go with the 2050. Each of those other headphones has some flaw.

The Superlux and Samson cans come with the sweatiest, most uncomfortable pleather pads I've ever felt. Swapping them out for velours is a must, hence my recommendation in that thread, and once you do, not only does comfort improve immensely but also openness and soundstage. But the Takstar still sounds better and is immediately more comfortable as it comes with velour pads by default.

The HD 518 is more power hungry than its 50 ohm impedance might suggest and bass improves with amplification due to its impedance spike @ ~100 Hz. But the worst thing is its cable which terminates in 6.3mm. Simply retarded (even the HD 600 and above don't have this) and unusable without the included 3.5mm adapter, which makes the plug humongous and a laptop breaking hazard. So you gotta spend another $15-$20 on a second 3.5mm cable (and not just any 3.5mm cable because stupid Senn uses a proprietary 2.5mm locking mechanism at one end) or a 6.3mm-to-3.5mm breakaway adapter.

If you want balanced bass the Audio-Technica AD line isn't it, and they all have the exact same issues with fit and comfort. Open airy sound, wide soundstage, and sparkle up high (I would almost call it piercing on my AD900X) is what they do best. Bass is still there (unless you're talking AD700X which has almost none) but focus is on mids and treble. Fit and comfort though is the main issue for most people. Even though the headphone is extremely lightweight, the 3D wings are simply too loose on most people to prevent the earcups from sliding down the side of your head, unless you have a ginormous skull. I've resorted to putting a rubber band between the wings on my AD900X like so, which does fix the issue but personally I think it's a bit ridiculous that you have to do this as even the $500 flagship AD2000X has the exact same wings and exact same fit issue. Oh and another thing about the fit is the earcups. They swivel side-to-side but do not articulate up-and-down. Again this is another feature that makes the design feel like it was intended for massive heads. Because on a normal-sized head, the earcups rest against the sides of your head at an angle like this \(o.o)/ instead of flat like this |(o.o)|, putting more pressure on your jaw and less pressure on your temple. This is fine for me because I usually wear glasses so the arms of the frame naturally fill in that gap up top, but without glasses I can feel the increased pressure at the bottom since this is a pretty tight clamping headphone.

Don't bother asking about the HD 558/598 as they have the exact same issues as the 518, and the HD 598 (which I had and sold) has even less bass than the AD900X. The AD500X/700X/900X all have identical build and design (so caveat emptor re fit/comfort), the more expensive models just sound better (AD700X has almost no bass though).

The Audio-Technica M50X which most people seem to blindly recommend to anyone looking for a decent headphone is not a good choice either, esp. for gaming. Closed back and almost no soundstage, very much an "inside your head" kind of sound like IEMs. Too much bass as well, they go too far in the opposite direction as the AD series. M50X is a portable Beats alternative for Top 40 listening, definitely doesn't have the flat/neutral frequency response required for a studio monitor despite being advertised as one. Overrated and overpriced IMO when the superior AD900X and A900X are the same price, which are also more comfy if they fit you right. M50X is only worth about half as much as it's selling for and I'd recommend the Sony 7506 over it for portable use. Only listened to my M50X for an hour before packing it up to ship back to Amazon.

Anyway go with the Takstar. It doesn't have as many quirks as the above headphones and when paired with a ModMic makes a great gaming headset. And sorry for the long b*tch session.

 

No way. The Clevo P67xSx/P65xSx is well above average laptop keyboard. Only meaningful upgrade would be a mechanical like I said, which is expensive.

 

Sounds like a plan. Also those temps are fine as is.

 

no, the keyboard on my laptop is pretty decent. Just that I want a keyboard since sometimes I sit on my bed and my laptop is on my desk. But I guess since a good keyboard for me is kinda expensive so I'd just buy the mouse first.

 

kaze-no-tama, FWIW MK220 costs $15 where I live.

 

Cheap wireless mice have lag, which makes them unsuitable for gaming compared to wired

 

FYI for any interested parties the ModMic 4.0 is currently $35 on MassDrop, cheaper than anywhere else. Only 11 hours left though so act fast.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/antlion-modmic-4?mode=guest_open

 

octiceps, maybe. Never had any complaints about this model, or any other recent Logitech mice.

 

I have the MX620 and M705, for non-gaming they're fine, CPI is a bit low though for 1080p (I use mouse accel off in Windows). Noticeably more laggy than the G602, which feels like a wired mouse. Hard to find a non-laggy wireless mice that's cheap, all the good ones are usually more expensive gaming ones.

Edit: Here is a cheap mouse that looks interesting, no experience with it but PC Gamer recommends it FWIW.

 

Zalman-nc2000 with my P650SG, i will have a try, i hope it won't let me down

 

TL;DR - Much appreciation to you @octiceps for the sage audio advice and opportunistic deal post. Full feedback pending for when devices are finally on-ear but I've got strong Faith in the . But you probably want to read the long deliberative stuff...right? C'mon just read it.

Spoiler: Bang! Bang!

First thanks for the awesome breakdown. Before reading your quoted post, I was digging a bit as I researched more for myself, and found all that you said to be spot on (not that I was doubting you). I'm sure you've seen it already but this VIDEO was particularly educational, only to be bolstered by your post. Great video for any audio non-enthusiast if NBR audiophiles like you are out-of-office, or just couldn't be bothered. But yeah...take the decent Takstar Pro80, smack a mic + gaudy colors on there, call it a "gaming headset", jack up the price = pro$$$fit. Aside from exploiting headset-hungry folks, here Kingston are at least doing the sound a little more justice compared to almost every other headset it seems. Either way, dude's commentary is funny but he has all his audio-related knowledge down like you. Again, spot on.

Yeah, the ridiculousness of that hindering plug is only topped by the fact that you need an adapter so specific to overcome Sennheiser's strange misstep. Side story from my amateur perspective: the first solid headphones that I remember purchasing are some $30 on-ear Sennheiser PX100's I picked up like a fortunate noob at the now-extinct (State-side) Virgin Megastores in NY! I LOVED those things and more than a decade later, jack plug issues (ironic) cause some audio dropouts due to bad connection. However IMO the PX100 sounds better than a LOT of stuff out today. Maybe I need to try and fix the thing but it's unfortunate Senn discontinued them. The follow-up PX100-II's are not the same. People are reselling PX100's for ridick prices, but those headphones placed Senn in a special place in my heart . I'll forgive them for this cable/jack size muck-up by...honorably striking them off the list with little fanfare .

Wanted to like the AD500X in particular, but those issues are too concerning. Appreciate the detailed description, glad your glasses help make them work for you.

Nuff said.

Haha. Ditto.

My research and your help have pretty much sold me. The guy from the video concludes as much for anything sub-200 even. Those Takstar's are saying HI 2 me f0' ~50 (see what I tried but failed to do there? ). I'll just watch over the next few days to see if there's any price fluctuation on them, hopefully downwards. Fortunately I can afford them as is and they seem more than worth it at that price already, but I'm just a sucker for deals * . Probably won't change from ~$52-57 on Amazon. Other Amazon sellers are cheaper but ship from China/HK, which is probably and logically not far from Takstar HQ but...not sure about seller. Out of curiosity, your thoughts on an even sweeter deal?

Oh and I got zero issues with educative b*!&#h sessions. Yours was that and then some, with a sonic boom.

Copped!...with like 1 hour to go, last person to join. Saw your post in the nick of time. Shipping is a bit slower due to bulk order/shipping connections, and it only saves ~$8 but see * directly above. Fortunately I ain't in any rush at all. Unfortunately, MassMod has a vote deal up for only the aforementioned Pro80 ATM and not the 2050's. Regardless, thanks for this. Hadn't ever even heard of the site before your post. Experiencing so many "tech" brands/sites for the first time this year (Clevo, AntLion, Takstar, Massmod). Out with the crummy old and in with the new right? Good stuff. Much appreciated O.

Edit: Follow-up to my single spoiler question. Just saw them HERE for ~36.49 shipped. Might hop on 'em right-quick even if AliExpress is another new one for me...seller seems to have good rep and customer feedback. Legit right, what do you think?

 

Yeah man, gaming headsets by and large are ripoffs. Even the audio companies do this. Case in point:

Sennheiser
PC 363D ($220) & G4ME ONE ($180) = HD 558 ($110)
G4ME ZERO ($250-$200) = HD 380 Pro ($140)

Audio-Technica
ATH-ADG1 ($280) = ATH-AD700X ($130)
ATH-AG1 ($230) = ATH-A700X ($115)

Beyerdynamic
MMX 300 ($350) = DT 770 Pro 32 ohm ($200)

An attached boom mic and a USB dongle isn't worth those jacked up prices, but at least they're based on known good headphones instead of the Logitech/Corsair/SteelSeries/Razer/Creative/Astro/Turtle Beach/Plantronics headset crap most clueless gamers eat up. Most of them never experience good sound because they're always looking for ready-made solutions and when they see the gaming headsets from audio companies sticker shock turns them away. But they don't know that standalone headphones are much cheaper and how simple it is to make your own headset using a separate mic, so they keep going back to terrible gaming headsets.

Anyway I gotta at least give props to Kingston for rebranding the very good Qpad QH-90 as its HyperX Cloud/Cloud II and not marking it up as audio companies are wont to do with their gaming headsets. Still a bit of a ripoff though compared to a separate mic + the identical Gemini HSR-1000 (which in turn is the same thing as Takstar Pro80 but $30 cheaper, goes back to what I said about the multiple rebrands of these headphones). Personally I'd still take the HI 2050 (the open-backed version of them) for comfort and gaming though.

AliExpress is Alibaba--direct-from-China sales--maybe you've heard of them, they're huge. It is a bit cheaper than Amazon and the most popular one on there so most likely genuine (although a counterfeit of a copy of a Beyer DT 880 is just too mind-blowing). I'd go for it over one fulfilled by Amazon if you're OK with the long delivery time (guaranteed receipt within 35 days) and return policy (within 7 days after receipt & pay return shipping).

 

For typing I fully understand, but why exactly do people recommend long actuation travel keyboards for gaming?

 

They actually have shorter actuation as you don't have to bottom out every key like you do with membranes

 

I'm glad the title of this thread leaves my subtle hijack of it open to interpretation...but I dug a bit deeper and thought the following information might serve to help others looking for what seem like all-round great, budget headphones (HPs). Since you likely know most of this @octiceps , much of the info is directed at audio noobs like myself, though I am slowly coming out of my noob shell. However, I did have one question at the end for you. Otherwise if anyone else cares, this is just my take from my research:

Spoiler: If you care...

These past few days I went on a budget-based, audiophile-infused journey on the Head-Fi forums. I was particularly engaged by of course, the dedicated Takstar/Technical Pro/Gemini etc. thread specifically discussing the Takstar HI 2050 and Takstar Pro80 HPs (and their various re-branded names). Both have been out for a quite a long-time and seem to take the cake hands-down for sub-$100 HPs, maybe even sub-$200. If you're curious:

-The Takstar Pro80 (closed version of same headphones) can additionally be found as the: Gemini HSR-1000 headphones, HyperX Cloud II headset, Qpad QH-90 headset

-The Takstar HI 2050 (open version of the same headphones) can additionally be found as the: Technical Pro HPT-990

It seems I can get lost in my research on potential purchases so I went through much of the thread's 239 pages . Interesting stuff and I learned quite a bit. Overall most people were split between the closed Pro80 and the open HI 2050 which seemed to pretty much boil down to whether you preferred a more open or closed sound signature. Open has the better soundstage for gaming purposes, while closed have an edge in bass and isolation plus minimize sound leakage at the cost of a weaker soundstage (more for those who travel or live/game with others around). But like you (octiceps) said, the HI 2050 appears to need zero modding out of the box, while many feel the need to buy the HM5 brainwavz "pleather" pads to replace the Pro80's generally frowned-upon stock pads. Surprisingly Kingston's HyperX Cloud II version of the Pro80 has velour pads default; more brownie points for them in that headset's regard. Then some people still mod the already comfortable HI 2050 stock velour pads with HM5 velour pads and even implement sweet -looking detachable cable mods, among other mods. I was surprised to find that it appears just changing the pads can sometimes alter the sound, with pleather pads seeming to add more bass/isolation, whereas velour pads enhanced soundstage and "plushy" comfort.

Regardless I'm impressed with the mod community that has broken off for this particular model, making them all the more attractive. Sound aside, that alone is a testament to their build quality/customizability and for that price - Dang, seems too good to be true! We'll see. Both HPs appear solid for their ridiculous prices, with the cheaper HI2050's packing more value at ~$36-58 vs the Pro80 at ~$50-80. Neither require much burn-in but some reported that @ ~100 hour burn-in the highs had less shrill and the bass evened out nicely. Additionally, neither require an amp to push them but a few people said that a good amp helped unlock both HPs fullest potentials. Of course good amps seem to cost some dough, even more than for the HPs, so I'll be avoiding that unless it becomes a necessity. Again octiceps, I'm sure you know all these things already but now I understand better why you summed it all up nicely with "Yeah man, get the Takstar." It was great to learn the deeper aspects behind your recommendation of the HI 2050. Maybe someone else will find all this info useful. I might just be at the very budding stages of this audio-game habit...and I'm blaming YOU if I get hooked . Maybe I should slow my roll as I really don't need an expensive habit ATM

"Guilty" *Points to self* . Had me some Plantronics Gamescom 780 headsets that I've been using for a while. Admittedly, as "BS" as their 7.1 surround sound gimmick is, I enjoyed the effect in some games (ex. L4D2 and its source engine handled it well). Glad I can look forward to the real thing done with a single, larger 53mm driver driver that also pushes better sound in every way.

If the "53mm" didn't give it away, I did finally go for the HI 2050 from AliExpress. $36.49 shipped (from China)! I agree that my mind would be equally blown from an inception-level type of counterfeiting haha. If anyone chooses to use AliExpress, like with eBay, be sure to pick a seller with some diamonds and more than a few orders/good feedback and rating. Of course free shipping might take as long as 35 days but some receive it in half that time. I'm patient. I also learned that for any defective product my seller will pay return shipping or let you keep the HP while still giving you a refund. My feedback will likely follow upon receipt of the HPs, if anyone is interested. I won't yet have the experienced ears required to write anything remarkably technical but I'll try to give my best impressions at that time.

Regardless, the reviews on the HI 2050 in the aforementioned Head-fi thread were far too positive to pass them up at that price, just like octiceps summed up. For anyone interested, some good reviews include THIS and THIS. Even THIS Amazon one was hilarious as the guy compared them to a $700 pair of HPs. Of course the $700 ones win overall (it better!) but incredibly the ~$30 HI 2050 actually take some sonic categories! That should show how capable they are, as they could easily be priced at ~$150-200. I'll probably ignore the HM5 velour pad mod until I have at least tested out the stock, which are probably more than good enough already. Some, HERE and HERE, were saying the HM5 velour pads gave their 2050s more clarity, bass, isolation and even more comfort. However, I couldn't tell if it was placebo/diminishing returns because there were others that didn't find the upgrade worth it. Octiceps, what you think; you think those HM5 velour pads, which cost almost as much as the HPs , are worth it over the stock velour? I very likely won't bother with the cable mod either. Hope that helps someone.

TL;DR = I'm awaiting delivery of the ~$36.49 Takstar HI 2050 (from AliExpress). Based on octiceps recommendation, my deeper research revealed them to be the king of the sub-$100 HPs and even one of the best at the sub-$200 range. Their identical but closed version, the Takstar Pro80, are equally lauded maybe even more so. At their budget prices, they seem like total steals. I'll try to provide my impressions of the HI 2050 when I receive them.

 

Yeah besides being more comfortable they can definitely alter the sound. Velour is a lot more breathable of a material than pleather and lets more sound through. For example cover your mouth with a bathrobe and sing really loud, then do the same with a piece of leather/pleather. You'll notice with the bathrobe that more sound gets out and you can feel your breath on the other side, while the leather/pleather vibrates more, blocks more sound, and traps more heat. Same general idea with pleather vs. velour earpads.

I didn't feel like the Takstar pads needed to be replaced immediately like the Superlux and Samson pads. I say get the headphone in and see how it feels first. The Brainwavz velour pads look like they're thicker and have a flatter surface, so they'll seal better against the head.

 

Yea, I had figured as much. Thanks for explaining the physical science though. It was more that pads can be something the "non-initiated" might never think would have an effect on HP sound...until they think about it.

I didn't feel like they needed to be replaced either; it's probably more just audiophiles being audiophiles in their nature to tweak their HPs. I was already planning to try the stock first so you confirmed my notion. Excited to test them out. Ordered three days ago and the AliExpress seller appears to have already shipped the item. What's also nice is that AliExpress don't release the money to the seller until I confirm receipt of the item (or 35 days after shipment). Good protocol.

 

Objective 2 currently $70 @ MassDrop. Endgame headphone amp for vast majority of people, as good as anything under $1000. Headphone > file > amp > DAC, that's the audio chain in terms of importance.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-o2-amplifier?mode=guest_open

Sorry, had to post it...

 

The real gimmick is those true surround headsets with multiple little discrete drivers in each ear. The sound quality from those is just awful.

Virtual surround is not a gimmick, it is genuinely useful in games that don't already have a "headphone" mode that does binaural audio, which is most of them. Most game engines treat headphones like full-range stereo speakers, meaning you get left-right panning only and no front-back or up-down positional cues. A virtual surround DSP takes a 5.1/7.1 signal and converts it to stereo using HRTFs, thereby preserving all the positional data in the original surround signal to make it sound very 3D and surround-like even on a stereo headphone. Paired with an audiophile open-back headphone with a wide soundstage, it's not only very immersive but a great advantage in picking out sounds in competitive FPS AKA soundwhoring.

The Plantronics GameCom 780 is a closed-back gaming headset though so audio quality is poor and the surround DSP its USB sound card uses is Dolby Headphone, which I used on my Essence STX for a couple years before switching to Razer Surround, and it's probably the worst-sounding virtual surround solution as it applies too much reverb and makes you feel like you're in a giant echo chamber. Other virtual surround like Razer Surround, SBX Pro Studio Surround (part of the X-Fi MB3 software included with the P650SG), and the older Creative CMSS-3D all sound more natural than Dolby Headphone.

 

Saw that a few days back. Good the looking out. Guess it's a good one, but I didn't bother researching it. Reason being: 1) fortunately, the HI 2050 should be fine without one; we'll see, 2) my purchase of one is akin to a commitment on my end to something more. After the HI 2050, I'm guessing I wouldn't want to downgrade but only want to (hopefully) go up in SQ and...$. I'm not sure if I'm ready to make that commitment yet. Plus they seem to be community-designing it to ship in September, the ship time being the concern. Unless you think this is that good a deal to pass and/or more essential for the HI 2050 than I've learned, I feel in a few years I can find something for at least the same price or cheaper; if I can avoid an audio addiction until that time. Then these two DAC/AMP combos HERE and HERE seem well-received and go for a similar price as that single AMP. I don't think I'm looking for Amps or DACs but a combo would be a better buy, no?

Never experienced excessive reverb or ever found the PCG780 too poor at the effect, but then again I haven't experience any other surround sound in HPs outside of the PGC780. Therefore I'll probably come to the same conclusion as you did in due time. I saw your post on the other forum about SBX and I'll be sure to use it if the game lacks the "headphone" mode or is otherwise lacking in the sound department. To be clear, if that's the case your take would be to use the "surround sound" setting in SBX and Scout Mode? Or will scout mode even be necessary with the HI 2050, since it seems to excel in the mids? Great explanation though.

Ready to do me some o' that!

 

No worries man, I get you're just starting out. For me though this is a special deal and too good to pass up. Those combo units are OK for the price but can't compare to an Objective 2 for pure performance.

Edit: This part is interesting...

I can't tell you what you prefer so play around with the surround and Scout Mode settings. I would leave all the other enhancements off though. FWIW I remember my 2050 being a fun-sounding headphone and having a bit of a V-shaped signature.

 

You couldn't help but throw that little edit in there huh...interesting indeed. He mistakenly says the Cloud headsets are ~32 Ohms when they're actually about 60, but I guess that doesn't change the point you're making. Honestly, I read as much on the Head-Fi forums, some saying an amp made a worthwhile difference with the HI 2050 some saying not. I was tempering myself with the "diminishing returns" argument but now...I guess have 8 days to think about it. Thanks a lot (sarcasm) .

 

Sorry, I'm such a bad influence. Definitely listen to the headphone first before jumping the gun. However I can't turn down an O2 for $70 when it's one of the best amps at any price and cheaper than buying the parts and building one yourself.

BTW I bought another headphone yesterday. Oh god help me.

 

^^^This. That's what I'm trying to avoid because that'd be me getting way ahead of myself. But for you, hey it's something you enjoy, understand and can afford. Just don't tell me you bought THESE?

As for that O2, the fact that a 1000+ people have joined to purchase it over a few days speaks to its quality. I'll probably just let you take this one and report back in the Fall from tests with your growing headphone collection . With how successful this drop might be, stands to reason they'll run another one.

 

So, what was it and was it any good? Wild guess, HD 600?

As Aliexpress proceeds to test all manner of my patience, I stumbled upon these other sub-$100 " sleepers." You ever tried them? I love their detachable cable set-up and they're very much like your X2's in appearance, which IMO are straight-sexy AF. Not exactly the same quality as the X2 and pads ain't removable but reviews indicate Philips ain't messing around. Man...I might be catching this audio bug.......

 

The HD 600 along with the 800 are definitely on my list to try (I've already demoed the HD 650 and 700) but nah, it was the little brother of the ever popular M50x, the M40x. I needed a portable beater for using on the bus and train. I returned it though. While it's more neutral (less bassy) and, at half the price, a much better value than the M50x, the L and R side drivers were mismatched on mine, which was very apparent when tested with a full range sweep. Seems to be a common QC issue with the M40x, guess they gotta cheap out somewhere. I also found the treble to be a bit artificial and tinny sounding.

Ha told ya so. It's been, what, a month now? You should cancel the order.

Yeah I had one for a while but gave it away after upgrading. They're good not exceptional but definitely a contender with the HD 518 and AD500x/TAD500 in the sub-$100 range. Probably one of the best options, all things considered. No major sound, comfort, build, or cable quirks. In fact the standard mini-stereo connection is probably the best feature as it lets you slap on a V-Moda BoomPro for an awesome gaming headset and makes replacement cables a cinch. Sound-wise it's a bright headphone and lacks deep bass, you hear the bass rather than feel it. Because the pads are a little thin, the drivers sit closer to your ears than the ATH-AD series and Fidelio X2, so soundstage is somewhat intimate like the HD 518 and Takstar 2050, although it is more open than those two.

If you decide to cancel the Takstar order, Newegg has the SHP9500 on sale today for $45 (use promo code EMCAWKN23). Great $75 gaming headset when paired with a BoomPro mic.

 

Nice. Supposedly HD 600s might be overall better when compared to the pricier HD 650 & 700. Though Senn's cabling choices are still too laughable. The HD 800 strikes me as endgame-ish but we'll see when your wallet gets you there. Maybe you got the K7XX, AD2000X and/or some HiFiman's on your list?

That's just funny and annoying. These HPs ain't cheap so if that's the level of QC with that particular line, I'll definitely be avoiding it. At least we know what the "M" stands for.

Yea...yea...Ordered July 21st so almost. Supposedly arrived in the US only this past Mon. "Free Shipping" from China definitely means we'll get it to you when we get it to you. Must have used the slowest batch shipment method at every point. Can't say I was blindsided. Therefore, sunken cost principle will likely win out in this case. Cancelling or "opening a dispute" now might be somewhat futile. I went ahead and purchased the HM5 velour pads which arrived a while back, so I don't want to deal with returning those either. I also can't return the Modmic (Massdrop). So...I'll exercise some Zen patience...for at least another week.

Thanks for looking out with the promo code, seems like the SHP9500s are on sale at Newegg often. If I'd spotted them during my initial search a couple weeks back, I very likely would have paired them with a BoomPro at that price and called it a day. Their aforementioned appearance and sweet cabling system are nice pros to me. HI 2050 may still edge them out in comfort (with HM5 velour) and build. If the SQ is mostly a wash between the two, I'll be satisfied with the HI2050...when I get them. But Philips definitely has my attention now, especially with that X2. An X2 may be in my future or possibly an "X3," if it's not a step back from the X2.

 

Nope, not interested in any of those. K7XX build is uninspiring and the very similar sounding HD 600 is already on my to-do list plus much easier to obtain. AD2000x has thin pads and I've already told you my fit issues with the ATH-AD line. HiFiMan has too many reported build and QC issues.

The M stands for monitor . Idk if it's bad QC or just the e-tailer I keep ordering from. It could've been B-stock or something, has happened before because when I bought my AD900x they sent me a used one at first so I asked for a replacement. TBH I never would've heard the mismatch on my M40x if I was just listening to music, but I play test tones on all my headphones cuz OCD . I actually like the M40x a lot, I'd recommend it over the M50x any day esp. since it often goes on sale for half as much and sounds better IMO. An M50x with less bass is a good description. It's probably the most neutral headphone I've heard under $100. It seems like cheap headphones almost always have to be EQ'ed somewhere but I didn't have to touch these. I can see how these would be good as studio monitors. I can hear recording flaws in songs that I don't get on some of my more expensive headphones. Great build quality as well. I really wanted to keep these, maybe I would have if I wasn't so OCD about the frequency response difference.

I'll probably give the M40x another shot when it goes on sale again and cross my fingers for a good pair. I'm still looking for a portable sub-$100 beater but nothing else looks as interesting. I could go the Chinese OEM route with one of the Yoga CD-880 rebrands like the NVX but they look huge/dorky and don't fold.

Yeah the SHP9500 seems to be going on sale a lot recently. I heard Philips discontinued it, maybe they're clearing them out. The Takstar 2050 has more comfortable stock pads (which are removable as well unlike the SHP9500) but the Philips can fit bigger heads and has better build quality. I never had a chance to directly compare their sound but from what I recall the Takstar had more bass but the Philips was smoother/more natural. Frequency response graph indicates the Philips is a mid-centric headphone with some treble emphasis. It would probably make a great gaming headphone if it had a wider soundstage like the open Audio-Technicas.

 

Understood. Ah yes, ATH-AD rubber bands and " \(o.o)/." Funny, the K7XX popped up on MD again yesterday, selling out quickly too. HD600 do probably have more reference grade sound. Hmm...get the feeling you won't be bothered but maybe you should take up the mantle as NBR's resident HP guru by creating a HP thread for all your HP experiences and such. Call it "Aural with Octi" or something ...puns.

Oddly makes me want those Philips more. Supposedly Takstar might be discontinuing the HI 2050 too, so I'll sit. Takstar may or may not be replacing the 2050 with THESE, which don't seem to be on sale yet (2050 now absent from their site). Relatedly, maybe THESE (Pro80 replacement?), which also appear to be new, could have beater potential if you go the Chinese OEM route and if they ain't bass crazy; or possibly THESE? I am glad however to hear the HI 2050 have more base than the SHP9500. HM5 velours should also slightly enhance lows over stock. I prefer a little feel to it rather than only hearing it.

 

Interesting, thanks for the find. I'll wait for pricing and reviews and then maybe I'll take a look.

 

Got them today! China-frickin-ly. First external impressions: Construction is pleasantly surprising. Decent, thick cable. Nice stock pads. Only just fit fully extended. First sonic impression (only stock so far): Hmm...This patient dog will take its time assessing the size of this bone . More later.

 

I hope you don't believe in the pseudoscience of "burning in" headphones with pink noise for 50-100 hours

 

Ha, you may be glad to know that I haven't lost myself to that.......yet.

I was however trying to exhaust every and all likelihood of a burn-in effect by quickly amassing hours all while thoroughly enjoying the crap out of my rejuvenated music library. At this point (8/16/15), I haven't even got to any games or movies yet and I'm already gaining a whole new appreciation for music as an art, and for sound via headphones. The clarity, the balance, the imaging, the layering, the separation, the nuances (Ha! So not meaning to sound pretentious).

What I'm trying to say is I'm loving these so much that I didn't know if a brief post in this thread would sufficiently relay my novice impressions about these headphones. I then considered dedicating those rookie impressions to a whole new thread...ehhh. I considered even more not wasting time writing anything, time that could be spent losing myself in the sound produced by this major sleeper [Yes, I feel like I can already call them that confidently without even needing to account for their absolute STEAL of a price tag]. Truth is, there's so much more on them in the Head-Fi forums and from far more seasoned ears than mine. That being said, I settled in the middle and felt compelled to try to put together a "little" something in this thread, hopefully something of substance (still a work-in-progress).

*My apologies if I wrongly use terms or descriptions because, as you know, I'm in my budding stages as an audiophile.*

Takstar HI 2050 Review : "Star on a Budget"

Frequency Response Curve


sourced from HERE

Lows: Satisfyingly tight impact without overpowering their mids or highs. Any less than this volume in bass would have disappointed me, so it feels about right for my tastes. Sub-bass is oh-so-subtly felt, which I like. Bass-heads may balk but if they give these time, they might think differently. Those craving neutrality will probably call them somewhat overbearing in this department. I imagine they strike a fun balance in that grey area between neutral and rumbling. Overall, I'd describe the lows as pleasantly healthy especially as these are my first true set of open, circumaural headphones. In brief comparison, my Plantronics Gamecom 780 Headset (PGC780), though closed, produced noticeable weaker and sloppier lows.

Mids: One word, crisp. Another one, detailed. They just always come through, albeit they may be a smidge forward but not OP; and I actually find that aspect to be delightful. In the full context of musical sound, the vocals are as well-defined as my untrained ears have ever heard them. I now see (or hear) why open cans are generally regarded as having a more realistic sound representation vs. their closed counterparts. Another aspect, I very much love is the sub-vocal and echo pick-up by the HI 2050. It is nothing short of ear-opening and has so far led to the most "oh-I've-never-heard-that-$#%!-before-in-this-song" moments. Comparatively, my PGC780 struggles with recessed mids that also get muddled.

Highs: A bit bright, as their FR curve above will corroborate. None-the-less, they are clearly present with minor fault as far as my amateur ears are concerned. I do not find them to be sibilant or harsh to any noticeable degree. No treble trouble for me means I just kinda get high off 'em. My PGC780 are definitely not as capable nor as detailed. Yeah..."headsets"... ; well the vast majority at least. [EDIT] After a few hundred hours experiencing a much greater variety of music, there were some songs that came off a bit fatiguing due to the highs. In these highs-heavy songs the HI 2050's presentation approaches the threshold of being unbearable to my ears (think high-pitched triangle bell type of ringing sounds). Fortunately it's not too common an experience, meaning it could just be the recording but it's worth noting.

* Overall, although they're not the most neutral out there, personally the 2050 strike a respectable yet very enjoyable balance between their lows, mids and highs. *

Other Musical Aspects: [Soundstage] Being open headphones, these are expected to be typically better than closed headphones or headsets, and they do not disappoint. Musically I can hear everything quite nicely in 3D space, most especially noticeable in live orchestral performances for example. I imagine this will translate very favorably into games. It can obviously be wider since there are open headphones that exhibit a wider soundstage than these; ie. Superlux 668B, Audio Technica AD series and pricier etceteras. I can only imagine what those sound like. [Imaging] In those same orchestral pieces, every instrument is realistically distinguishable. It is equally impressive in other musical genres how I can easily isolate and focus on layered beats, percussion and synthesized effects. Really, really awesome stuff to my virgin ears. [Separation] Nice and clean, L+R. [Leakage] They actually don't leak sound as much as I expected but...they are open [period]

Externals: IMO, the 2050 is a decent-looking set of headphones. I also find the overall construction to be pretty good. If you factor in price, I'd go as far as calling it solid. The welcome mixture of metal and hard plastic parts do a crazy good job mimicking Beyerdynamic's DT 880, aside from cup shape. I really don't foresee any durability issues over its lifetime.

Spoiler: How they look?

3. Takstar HI 2050 Lounging by E.D.U. posted Aug 16, 2015 at 12:25 PM

In terms of headband extension, I can see the 2050 running small for some as I barely got them to fit over my head and around my ears at full extension; and I'd probably call my head normal-sized. Therefore, big-headed buyers beware; though supposedly bending the metal yokes outward helps a little. To nitpick, the adjustment mechanism's action is O.K. but leaves a bit to be desired in lock stiffness. However, clamp pressure is fine.

Spoiler: Fully Extended Comparison

6. Fully Extended Takstar HI 2050 Vs Fully Extended Plantronics Gamecom 780 by E.D.U. posted Aug 16, 2015 at 12:25 PM

The cable is thick, manageable and about 6-7 feet long, a couple feet too long for my more proximal notebook needs. Unfortunately it is not detachable, but almost looks like it could have easily been (I had to resist the strong urge to yank it out). I may try a detachable cable mod later when I summon up the gumption and necessary tools.

Spoiler: Cmon' you know you wanna yank it!

4. The Detachable-looking, Non-detachable Cable by E.D.U. posted Aug 16, 2015 at 12:25 PM

Lastly, great stock pads. The pads' comfort combined with the light weight of the HPs lend often to situations in which I forget that they're on. They most definitely do not require any pad mods. However, despite my ears being contact-free when properly contained within the cups, I still think they would be a tad shallow for some. That's where the thicker HM5 velour pads should help (impressions of those below).

Gaming: [EDIT; Added to section later] Taking after the above, gaming on the Takstar HI 2050's is fun. I've found myself to be more of a purist in that when gaming I try to avoid surround sound DSP programs as much as possible. I want the headphones to do all the work and the game's sound to inherently provide the directional cues + ambiance. Unfortunately not all games are appropriately sound-engineered for headphones nor is every headphone capable enough. The HI 2050's, however, are definitely capable enough, at least with the games I've tested so far (ex. L4D2 and COD: Black Ops). Being open headphones, their soundstage enabled me to pinpoint enemy locations with relative ease. I was sufficiently immersed into whatever environment I found myself. Although I get the feeling that it's not quite at true "sound-whoring" levels, it's definitely more natural-sounding and better than my PGC780 (which relied on Dolby DSP).

Movies/Shows: [EDIT; Added to section later] A pleasant experience. You gain a greater appreciation for the sound departments: everything from the explosions and subtle ambient cues in a movie scene to the realistic presentation of crowd applause being behind you during a live audience show. It is all well presented, enjoyable and welcome.

Additional Info:

*Musical impressions are made on stock pads from digital music files: WAV audio files (1000+ kbps), Apple Loseless files (800-1000 kbps), MP3 & AAC Files (~128-320kbps), and even some Youtube videos .*

*My source is the Clevo P650SG with its respectable Realtek ALC892 audio codec, on Win 7 Ult 64-bit. No external amps, DACs or EQs are used, as I don't have any of the devices yet . That being said, I personally don't feel like I am missing anything in the sound presentation at all, both L + R, and I am comfortably running at 25-30% system volume (gotta protect them ears). My 4th gen iPod Nano needs about 50% of max volume to get them to a similar level, however there appears to be a very slight loss of crispness to the sound; don't ask me how how I seemed to sense that. On both, volume can be increased to high levels without noticeable distortion but I never run it that high anyway. All-in-all, as Master Yoda would say: Efficient headphones, these are.* [EDIT] A decent DAC/Amp makes a noticeable difference. Cleaner L+R separation, tighter sound overall and a touch more air to the presentation. It's not an astronomical difference but it's definitely noticeable and much welcome.

Spoiler: Favorite Musical Experiences...so far

Gurren Lagaan OST by Iwasaki Taku (Soundtrack)=> Thought I loved the anime enough but the 2050 somehow made me love it more by amplifying my appreciation of Iwasaki Taku's awesome accompaniment. The 2050 handles what seems like challenging, multifaceted tracks surprisingly well. Tracks come to life in every way.

An Evening in Vienna! by Miami Symphony Orchestra - Eduardo Marturet (Classical) => Simply put, I feel like I'm at the orchestra. I don't ever need to attend another live performance, not that I attend any. Impressive soundstage and imaging.

Concerning Hobbits by Howard Shore (Soundtrack)=> Again highlights the good imaging and soundstaging capabilities of these headphones. Song draws me right back into Tolkien's rich world.

Virtual Barber Shop: At times quite a surreal yet very realistic aural experience through these headphones.

...and of course I also equally enjoyed my hip-hop/rap, R&B, dance, alternative, pop, rock genres and more (MJ's Bad, Thriller and Invincible albums are awesome through these!). I listen to almost everything, well maybe except heavy metal. Conclusion: an amazingly versatile set of headphones.

Purchase Experience: More on my research & purchase history is chronicled throughout this thread. To summarize the HP purchase, I ordered them through AliExpress for 36.49!!! Order was placed on July 21. Delivered on August 14. Now I've learned that "free shipping" from China means "long-@ss wait" (but definitely worth it, in this case). No boxes but packaging seemed sufficient.

Spoiler: Bang!...

1. Takstar HI 2050 Lands From China (in No Hurry) by E.D.U. posted Aug 16, 2015 at 12:25 PM

Spoiler: ...Bang!

2. The Bubble Wrap From Bubble Wrap Envelope by E.D.U. posted Aug 16, 2015 at 12:25 PM

Included Accessories: 4-5 foot extension cable, 6.3mm adapter jack, manual (yeah, with zero English in it), warranty card and quality control card stamped 7/9/2015 for me. Unless I'm confusing something, I did not however see the authenticity card that I was led to believe accompanied these. I must say I couldn't care less about that anymore because if the counterfeit of this product sounds this good, I'll take two or three please.

Spoiler: Some Accessories

7. Accessories by E.D.U. posted Aug 16, 2015 at 12:25 PM

Burn-in effects: If I'm being honest to myself (which we all must strive to be...of course), at about ~20 hours in I am not noticing any changes. [EDIT] After a couple hundred hours of listening, I've lost count, my ears honestly detect no burn-in changes with these headphones. It is what it is. I do however believe in brain and headphone burn-in from simply listening to music (the pink noise stuff is too much ).

HM5 velour pad change effect: Purchased HERE from Amazon. Compared to the stock pads they are a softer fibrous texture and have a softer filling (memory foam). They are also slightly thicker with a flatter contact surface. [EDIT; Added to section later] I thought the Takstar HI 2050's stock pads were comfortable (which they are) but these take it up a notch. I'll keep it simple, for comfort alone, the HM5 velours are undoubtedly worth their asking price. Fortunately to me, they didn't noticeably change the sound signature from the stock velour pads. Note: if you're switching from pleather pads, there will likely be a difference; comparatively, velour pads => less bass, less isolation, more soundstage, and typically more comfort. If you have headphones that are compatible with these pads, I wholeheartedly recommend them.

Spoiler: Pad Comparison

5. Stock Pad Vs HM5 Velour Pad by E.D.U. posted Aug 16, 2015 at 12:25 PM

Antlion ModMic 4.0 (Muteless) Impressions: Purchased HERE from Massdrop. [EDIT; Added to section later] Decent microphone. I did have to mess with the Windows microphone properties more than expected to get to a satisfactory voice level (upped mic boost and enabled two Windows "Enhancements:" DC offset cancellation and Noise Suppression). Otherwise, I've been told I'm heard well enough over VoIP and when gaming. Background noise pick-up is minimal to non-existent, which is nice. Also the ModMic's magnetic, headphone-attachment mechanism works very well. However, if there's one thing the PGC780 excels at, it is its microphone. IMO the PGC780's mic is impressive, even more so now. It pains me to say, but it edges out the ModMic in vocal reproduction. The PGC780's mic has a cleaner reproduction overall. That said, I am happy with the ModMic. Here's something to ogle at:

Spoiler: Ogle Away! Ogle Ogle Ogle! (Love that word)

On Full Mod Display by E.D.U. posted Oct 12, 2015 at 5:46 PM

Spoiler: ModMic anyone?

8. Antlion Modmic 4.0 (Muteless) by E.D.U. posted Aug 16, 2015 at 12:25 PM

Sub-$100 HP competitors that were considered: Superlux 668B, Audio Technica AD500X, Takstar Pro 80 & Philips SHP9500.

My Headphone/Headset History (those of some note ): Sennheiser PX100, Shure SE215-CL, Bose QuietComfort 2, Monster iSport Livestrong, Bang & Olufsen A8, Plantronics Gamecom 780

My Future Headphone Hopefuls (in order of my current interest, as of October 2015): AKG K7XX, Philips Fidelio X2 (*drool*), Beyerdynamic DT 1770 (closed), Sennheiser HD650 & Sennheiser HD600

P.S.: The Takstar HI 2050 may (or may not) be getting the official discontinuation axe soon. Rumor mill rumblings. If so, don't ask me why silly! Ask Takstar.

*(For reference below, my ranking hierarchy = Bad, Average, Good, Great, Excellent)*

Big-Bada-Boom Conclusion: As I embark on my headphone-infused audiophile journey, the Takstar HI 2050 now are a personal reference upon which I can build, and to which I can compare all of my prior less capable headphones/headset (some more so than others). Many an audio enthusiast, aka. audiophile, would call these a good set of HPs, and when price is factored in maybe go as far as calling them great. I think they'd be happy with these in their collection. For any budget-oriented, entry-level audiophile (noob) like myself seeking their first full-sized, open headphone experience, I would not only deem the 2050 as a great choice but quite frankly an essential one (hype not included). Seriously give these high value, budget stars a try because they're easily worth much more. I've enjoyed them so much, that as I presently shoot up the audio-gateway drug that is the Takstar HI 2050, I'm already left wondering: what in the world do truly great/excellent headphones sound like?


To end, hats off to you @octiceps for this recommendation. I'm officially hooked.

Spoiler: Taking it off for O

*No headsets were harmed in the formation of the above impressions * Also no more long posts for me this year. SMH.

 

What a read! Glad you're enjoying the honeymoon period with these. But watch out, the rabbit hole goes deep. Once you've got the upgrade itch it's all over.

 

Thanks for reading. Very much pleased with them but I fully hear ya now on that itch. I also know money doesn't grow on trees so I'm going to milk this honeymoon for as long as possible. In other words, I'm glad I've found the rabbit hole but instead of jumping right in, I'm going to find some rope and lower myself down controllably .

That being said...if I see an X2 at around the $229 I've learned they dropped to during Amazon's Prime Day circus show, all bets might be quite frickin' off (maybe that week in November); though they seem to be well worth the $300 MSRP. I totally expect you to help in keeping my priorities in check (who am I kidding ).

 

Not into audio stuff in general but reading this thread makes me want one.

I wonder if they can make a wireless version of the HI 2050.

 

Wireless and audio quality usually don't mix, not w/o spending a lot of extra money on for example Sennheiser's top-of-the-lines. But even then you're making getting similar SQ to their wired cans costing hundreds less.

 

impressive, how about for FPS gaming with this tasktar HI2050? can it beat AD700? or they the same?

with AD700 so many people say they can know where the footstep come from.

 

I'm sure it would cost more. But if people consider driving the HI 2050 with a phone acceptable, why can't they use whatever that's available in a (relatively) good SQ phone, build it into the wireless HP and power it just like the phone, it would be no worse than driving the 2050 with a real phone, right?

 

Huh?

 

The second sentence should have been "but if people consider driving the HI 2050 with a phone acceptable".

 

They'd have to change the design of the headphones to accommodate the built-in DAC, amp, and batteries. If you're fine with the sound that comes out of a phone, fine. But what happens if want to upgrade any part of the audio chain ? You're SOL. Not to mention, you wouldn't be able to plug it into a sound card with a virtual surround DSP or MixAmp to game on PC or console. Like I said, SQ and wireless don't mix. Wireless cheaps out on too many steps of the audio chain. The market that cares about wireless and the market that cares about hi-fi are mutually exclusive for the most part. Besides, the 2050 is not a good candidate for wireless as it's not a portable can--big, doesn't fold, and leaks sound in and out.

Ofc usual caveats re wireless, i.e. interference, latency, and lossy audio, apply here as well esp. when you're talking the cheap stuff...

 

finally got the Takstar HI 2050 yesterday together with Zalman mic but there is one thing that bugs me about the headphone. It's not loud enough, or to be precise, less loud than my earphone. Is headphone supposed to be like this? I don't know if I need to configure anything but I tried the loudness equalization option but it's just a bit louder, hardly noticeable.