Initially I have intended to write a review for HI2050. But after listening it for a period of time, I decided to give up this idea.

Even it really stunned me with its perfomance during the session, but most of time there was even more shortcomings from my source and amplication revealed by HI2050.

I think it would be more equitable to let someone who has advanced equipment to do the review. It occurs to me that one China critic's review using BEYERDYNAMIC A1 as reference. I though he has overdone. But now I can understand a bit why he did that.

So the following is my impression towards HI2050 based on my system.

This headphones will shows its strenth especially at higher volume, say 12 o'clock. The music is proceeding sedately, very much in order. Sound image is well projected and draws closer.
What I am really surprised is when I keep increasing the volume, whole image is still stable, tonnally not much dispersed! But this time my FIIO E9 amplifier start exhausting, peaks is perceptible.

When the image is enlarged, it also induces another problem. To a certain degree, deficiencies of my IPOD Shuffle was shown. Even all tracks rip into APPLE lossless format, still the treble is not refine enough.
Midrange lacks some body and texture. But bass is more acceptable due to the FIIO E5's enhancement.

The transient of this headphones is particularly good. Especially it comes to the music like Jazz. Drums sound convincing with the drum skin's temper well displayed. The spring of bass is really outstanding. More importantly the overall perfomance is full of energy. It makes my favorites like Bryan Simpson or David Benoit sound best ever!

Generally HI2050 is a neutral sounding headphones and does not has its own character. If you really want me to talk a little bit about the character, I would say it is "straightforward" and a bit "raw" in essence. Personally, I found this headphones is slightly overwhelm in treble but definitely not harsh!

I do not think high end audiophile will buy a two hundred ringgit headphones. Most probably people will buy it for their PC or laptop because it is not expensive. But it might be ended up by throwing to garage sale next day! PHILIPS SHP8900 is an good example.

What a shame!

Photos:-
[1] TAKSTAR HI2050
[2] FIIO E5(middle link) serves as "Bass Booster"
[3] Two PS AUDIO Noise Harvester is using

This post has been edited by yapte: Jan 10 2011, 08:04 PM


Attached thumbnail(s)

Someone should bulk this thing here

by the wat, nice simple review...

I could.. But I am having exams now. will take some time if I were to arrange one. T-T

How much is this TAKSTAR HI2050? If not too expensive can someone pls start the bulk.

It costs slightly more than RM200(including shipping). I bought it from a China wholesaler.

I might be able to make a bulk where it's slightly under RM200 including shipping and handling to M'sia. Hang on tight guys... Kinda bad timing for me.


Will open thread for you all when it's ready.

How it compare to philip shp8900??

It is so interesting, SHP8900 and HI2050 are polar opposites in term of sound character!

SHP8900 is not as jazzy as HI2050. It has kind of noble sheen make Chamber music sound more vivid.

This post has been edited by yapte: Jan 11 2011, 01:13 PM

Thanks for the effort of the review.

If you are using bassboost for E5, means it actually increase the mid low frequency, it still do not sound muffer as per your review. So i suppose it do not concluded as a bassy headphones if the bass boost features turned to be "off".

If that is the case, how do it show the weakness of the sources? the low is not extended after certain amount of volume?

I did not mention it is a bassy headphones in my review. I did say "bass is more acceptable due to E5's enhancement".

Your questions will only draw people's attention to my pairing system, not the headphones itself! Because it is my system sounds a bit bassy but not the headphones.

The focus is on the trancient of HI2050, which is fast and tight in bass perfomance!

This post has been edited by yapte: Jan 12 2011, 01:34 AM

Hi Man,

I'm just curious of it's signatures, i just help ppl to concluded it, coz i have to double think to understand how's the headphone signatures. as such, i put the sentence here. "If you are using bassboost for E5, means it actually increase the mid low frequency, it still do not sound muffer as per your review. So i suppose it do not concluded as a bassy headphones if the bass boost features turned to be "off"." Based on your review i can see it is not a bassy headphone.

But my real question is. how does it shown the weakness?? It can be amp or the headphone itself. But normally the problem existed for both problem. I would like to understand more, is it the amp problem or the headphone problem, that's why i ask "If that is the case, how do it show the weakness of the sources? the low is not extended after certain amount of volume?"

Sorry to make you misleading, my poor language. no offence taken man, if the product are good, i can sell it anytime

hhihihi...

Can u show us the drivers?? from there probably can 'estimate' its bass characteristics

Thank you for your very informative take on the TAKSTAR HI2050.

"SHP8900 is not as jazzy as HI2050. It has kind of noble sheen make Chamber music sound more vivid."
- Does that mean you prefer the SHP8900 when it comes to Classical/Orchestral music?

why would you put e5 in the setup there? it just degrades the overall sound quality of the setup IMO

I assume that is because what he got? Not everyone own high end rigs. Since he got it, he uses it.

It is alright, nothing to be sorry about! Yuheng.

Okay let me explain this way.

First, listen to your MP3 player directly. Then connect to your amplifier. A good(low noise) neutral amplifier should sound same as your source but much bigger and deeper soundstage when set at higher volume.

Now the critical part is, can the headphones shows you that kind of larger sound. Because a "bad" headphones will show colouration(vibaration) or fraction(diaphram) in sound if feed by a more powerful amplifier, especially at high volume.

If the headphones sounds like a "grand version" of your source. It means both of your amplifier and headphones are neutral and faithful to your source(my HI2050 and E9 sound this way).

At this point, You can "see clearer" at the sound now. Because the sound not only larger but closer. Then you will realize the music treated by Shuffle is bit artificial. This kind of artificial sound is only created by player but not from your amplifier or headphones. It will become more noticeable if you play it through a more revealling system.

---

Added on January 13, 2011, 2:13 amSorry! Bro, I do not dare to open the headphones! LOL! Probably can show you the photo from the website later.

---

Added on January 13, 2011, 2:48 amIt just my personal preference, I like my music sounds a bit more bass.

Degrades the sound? Not really.

The most difficult part is, you have to fix a proper volume for IPOD Shuffle and FIIO E9.

In this case, E5 is not only a "Bass Booster". More properly, it is a "pre-amplifier" because I use E5 to control the volume, not E9. E9 only serves as a "power amplifier".

Strange? Not so strange if you know about the gain and distortion principle of an amplifier.

Increase the volume will get more gain but also generate more distortion at the same time.

So the key is to find the right balance between gain and distortion for the components

---

Added on January 13, 2011, 2:55 amYes. The impression is based on my existing FIIO E9 setup.

This post has been edited by yapte: Jan 13 2011, 02:56 AM

it seem all ATs headphone is a coloration headphone..So this is bad headphone hehe..I spend US1.4K Headphone with alot coloration. So this is a bad headphone lae.lol

lol

nothing will explode maaaa....even those bayer's and senn open up their headphone upon arrived at home

if it is not a direct copy then probably it wil have screws that holds the driver in place...

if it is a direct copy, then it is a tool less job to take out the driver...

but just make sure u do it slowly if u decide to dismantle to avoid the thin wires from snapping off the solder joints...

LOL! The coloration I refering here is those caused by vibration. It is not pleasant to listen actually.

It is true that many loudspeaker companies tweak their product by adding some coloration, which they think is positively help the music sound more musical.

---

Added on January 13, 2011, 11:29 pmHey bro! I better to let the sifu do lah!

Anyway, you can see its photo on their website, http://www.ksheng.com/goods-181.html

Tell us about it after you see it. Thx!



This post has been edited by yapte: Jan 13 2011, 11:29 PM

hi there, hope you can help me on explaining my questions, still very new in audiophile world, willing to learn more from all shifu.

im confusing here, a good neutral set up able to boost up/increase the staging as you explained, would you mind to explain more on the set up pairing with the headphone you reviewed?
good example as what type of neutral amp you using, as you explained using neutral amp, which are E5 and E7 you using now, do it really consideras neutral? as we know that with the E5 added in, you explained "the bass is sufficient/tolerable" (sorry i kinda forgot this part) with bass boosted, but shouldnt neutral be the balance of all range frequencies? with higher volume in neutral amp able to increase the staging, is it consider neutral? or coloration?

i did try with E5, E7 and E9 before, they are great amplifier indeed, but can them consider as neutral amp?
neutral, uncolor can be good with alot of set up, but you must able to love them, is it uncolor? without effect on amp pairing? or the dynamic is the increasing part that we might missed out?

As explained by you, you did mentioned that the artificial of music is mainly comes from player, not amplifier or headphone with the set up you using now.
lets take an example, what if i use an expensive player that cost sky bomb of price, connect through out a sounded digital headphone, is it consider my player will be my bad source in the chain? what can i do to improve it? better amp? headphone?

just my humble opinion, im still very new on audiophile, hope i dont sounded harsh and sorry for my bad english

This post has been edited by windboy: Jan 14 2011, 12:25 AM

Hi,

I think you might get the different theory as me. No offense taken please, we resumed it to be pure discussion.

If you are pairing an extra amplifier in your setup, it can be adding gain (higher volume) or resume the same gain power (make no difference of volume), Regardless on the volume, the soundstage can be wider, or remained the same, it is just how's the amp designer tuned on it.

If you get vibration on higher volume, it can be amplifier, headphone or your sources. Ok this is out, and generally we do not use this point to judge whether the headphone is good or bad, by louder the volume.

And if you get the "grand version" of your music, means you get the sound you wan, it can be coloured, and it can be V Shape with absent of mid, it can be high extended, it can be digital, or it can be musical (non-digital)it will not show how neutral the amp or the headphone.

Neutral is neutral, coloured is coloured, it still do not show whether the headphone are good, or bad. It is purely on how you demand your desired sound. Nothing wrong with colored, or nothing good to be neutral. That is just to be fair to everyone

Ok all this have out of the topic. We can resumed the discussion. I m just curious on how this headphone sound, so i raised some question, but i think i managed to get my answer from your reply. Thanks for your effort of this review

This post has been edited by yuheng: Jan 14 2011, 12:39 AM

lol the headphones looks like an egg....its oval in the pics...

the drivers , well can really tell, but its gonna sound typical I guess

I am not a sifu anyway. Here is just some point of view.

When you listen to a sound, if you can hardly tell whether it is warm or bright, then this sound in a sence means neutral to you. But it might be different to others.

Why involve E5? Because without E5's Bass Mode, my system sound a bit less in bass to me. In HIFI world, you can get the bass quantity that you want through the speakers positioning. But we can not achive that in headphones world.

Headphones sounds digitally, really? I am not sure, still new as a headphonist. In my life I never heard a loudspeakers sound digitally on its own. Provided the sky bomb priced player is very much "analouge" or natural in sound. Why it can become "digital" sound through a pair of headphones. I just do not understand!

If you own a High End player means you need a High End power conditioner, High End power cables, High End racks, High End headphones amplifier, High End interconnect cable, High End headphones, High End headphones cable and a credit card "swipeable" to 100k . It is that simple! LOL!

---

Added on January 14, 2011, 4:04 amThanks for your concerns! I appreciate that!

If we have a chance to own an ultimate headphone system or home audio system. What will you expect? Let me tell you my answer first: I hope it can be as "real" as possibe in music reproduction. "real" is "real", threre is nothing do with colouration! I can take a coloured system or headphones because I have to compromise. The reason is I can not afford a 500k Hifi setup. Sad!

I never expect my idea of getting E5 involved can become an issue!

Perhaps I should let my system to "answer" the remaing questions!

I will organize a small appreation gathering for this China Combo(more correctly, it is a Trio actually! LOL!). Guys! If you are interested or you have a better idea, please let me know.

Will post a thread as invitation in future, probably after Chinese New Year. See you later, guys!



This post has been edited by yapte: Jan 14 2011, 04:04 AM

In fact i never doubt of why you using a E5, i just conclude that your headphone character are not bassy type, Coz after E5 it still sound neutral to you. That is the only thing i said if you wan to refer back to my post.

ok, let cut it now. Maybe we can have a face meet, it clear all the doubts then Enjoy your new music

hi there, no problemo, just a healthy discussion, im still on learning process as well.

neutral sound, if you mean if whether cant tell whether it is warm or bright, it is consider neutral sound,
what if i cant tell warm or bright, but the headphone presented with alot sparkling high, or muffled mid low, overpowering bass, it is consider neutral as per you explained?


yea i had tried some headphone, example if you said player with ana sound, but what if one of the element in the chain caused the digital sounding?
the headphone,amp,dac, do it still mean the expansive player problem?
in player i can mean on expensive portable music player, not necessary CDP.

in hifi world, the most easiest way to achive bass , most important is how you tune your system, not a must for positioning management, because it's just a part of it, cable, harmonix, amp, power,cdp and many more can be the issue.

just my humble opinion

Can anyone has Ipod Shuffle enlighten me... Can it play Apple lossless format? I don't own one thus I don't know.

First of all, the deficiency that you are saying, least treble etc are originated from your Ipod Shuffle DAC for sure. Thus the reviews cannot be consider fully justified.

Do you have other headphones that you can compare with? Did you burn in before you test?

If it is a direct copy of DT880, the signature should be 'more neutral' and has some treble overwhelming issues. Have you tried a real DT880 before?

This post has been edited by walabies: Jan 14 2011, 12:09 PM

can you put some other headphones in the review for comparison?

it's meaningless to say 'treble is good, etc, etc' without comparison, because the reader cannot imagine how the headphone sounds like

*just my 2 cents

Any direct comparison between HI2050 and HD668B?

Please go through my thread properly. I never said anything about least treble. I just said it is not so refine!

I own SUPERLUX HD668B & HD681, PHILIPS SHP8900.

I never tried DT880 before. To me, HI2050 is just one of my headphones and it is not a direct copy for sure(please take a browse on their website if you can read chinese).

Why not have a listen to how it performs rather than keep attacking?

If people laugh or even despise on my thread, that is not so important because I am just an enthusiat who want to share some impression.

But you are different, walabies! You are representing the most pioneer headphones specialist store in this country. Every comment you made, people will pay more attention. Because you are exposing yourself what kind of standard you have or how good you are in this business.

More importantly, please show us your well demeanour rather than keep attacking other's product like a lousy salesman!

It really sounds offended, I know. But no regrets!

Let stop the war now. Please continued with the discussion. So sorry if you felt offended, we seriously do not wish you to have this feeling, We just wish to understand more on the products and we might be able to sell it as well

Sorry and please continued with the discussion.

This post has been edited by yuheng: Jan 15 2011, 10:09 AM

After 2nd thought I think I might have asked too much questions. No offense, I just want to know more about this headphone. Who knows it is good we might carry it next time? As a seller I must be more open minded.

Wow, how come TS so "emotional" about Yuheng and Walabies' questions? I read through the whole thread, I still think they never critic on your headphone or your set up but you seems to be over sensitive on their quiries.

If TS's aim is not to share your finding on the phone, what for you start the thread? Might perhaps just start a selling thread.

Again, I got nothing against TS nor siding Yuheng or Walabies, I just feel its unfair to them when you reali "against" them.

I received my HD668B not long ago. This is just a first impression before it gets full running in.

It is more transparent and gentle compare to HI2050.

I agree with those users modifiy their HD668B by BLUE TAC because the damping of this headphones is a bit light.

---

Added on January 17, 2011, 4:56 pmIf you ever ask the audiophile sifus, what is the most important thing in HIFI? They will tell you one answer: "room acoustics".

It means if you do not own a proper treated listen room, your sytem might sound good but never at its best! Luckily we are headphonist, hew!

Perhaps in headphones world, people referring the "not so natural sound" as digital sound, I think.

This post has been edited by yapte: Jan 17 2011, 04:56 PM