Takstar capsules are now widely available from takstar themselves

[Wordsushi]

@Wordsushi
This appears to be similar to the one in the V10
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EHFy30r

Yeah, that's it. It's also in their V47. They put them up on Ali, but nobody is really noticing them.

 

[DaveLTX]

On a sidenote, is that supposed to be based on a M7? Or I'm drunk

 

[DaveLTX]

Thanks, Dave. I was already contemplating I was missing something

No result for "Desheng" either. But I can't read Chinese...

https://shop204739071.taobao.com/ca...8f6b41U2PGfG&search=y&catName=%DF%E4%CD%B7#bd

There's another Desheng store selling more of their SDCs rather than being LDC focused

 

[soliloqueen]

takstar has a ton of different subsidiaries now, this one (deshang jieyun), their capsule factory, is run by jian'e huang, who is a super nice guy. takstar has an interesting history. IIRC, they were founded as factory by superlux, but then became separate, perhaps due to tension between taiwan and the PRC. no mention of takstar being a superlux brand originally on takstar's website, but there are still tons of old expired patent records of that being the case. Maybe the chinese government bought it? or their foreign investment was aggressively downgraded...

 

[DaveLTX]

takstar has a ton of different subsidiaries now, this one (deshang jieyun), their capsule factory, is run by jian'e huang, who is a super nice guy. takstar has an interesting history. IIRC, they were founded as factory by superlux, but then became separate, perhaps due to tension between taiwan and the PRC. no mention of takstar being a superlux brand originally on takstar's website, but there are still tons of old expired patent records of that being the case. Maybe the chinese government bought it? or their foreign investment was aggressively downgraded...

Great to hear he's a nice guy, I'll just buy takstar capsules from now on
That explains the similarity between Tak and superlux, I've been a huge fan of both of them
I still have a PCK200 and CM60 from 2016, now I have a PC K600

I would point to the latter rather than chinese goverment buying them as much as plenty of people love pointing to chinese government buying companies

 

[soliloqueen]

The average Chinese capsule costs about $9 to make. They sell them for 13 to trading companies that sell them to you for $20 to $30. Cutting out the middleman is a great idea. $18 is not a bad price at all.

 

[DaveLTX]

The average Chinese capsule costs about $9 to make. They sell them for 13 to trading companies that sell them to you for $20 to $30. Cutting out the middleman is a great idea. $18 is not a bad price at all.

I can't find most of the capsules here from other sources anyway so it's even better that he's decided to sell directly

 

[Emmathom]

Hi !
I've emailed Takstar to know where to buy their capsules.
I was also interested by their SM-18 Pro which could be (?) a kind of AKG C414 style.
SM-18 Pro is named TAK55 for europe market : https://takstarmall.com/products/takstar-microphone-tak-55
Anybody tested a SM-18 Pro or TAK55 ?

Their answer to my email is attached (we don't sell capsule appart mics...) even if I believe that JLI CTS-2 is indeed a original Takstar

 

[oscarhuang]

As far as I know Takstar does not sell capsules separately. And I also heard that Lewitt should also be from Takster (not sure).

 

[DaveLTX]

As far as I know Takstar does not sell capsules separately. And I also heard that Lewitt should also be from Takster (not sure).

They do now, from a subsidiary.

 

[oscarhuang]

It looks like the frequency curve of their capsules is perfect. I will buy one and try to see if it is the same as their marked frequency curve.

 

[DaveLTX]

Takstar CTS3 capsule
I am trying it on a "M103" board with a trafo and it sounds good without the high endyness of K87 capsules

 

[Khron]

Takstar CTS3 capsule
I am trying it on a "M103" board with a trafo and it sounds good without the high endyness of K87 capsules

Looks a lot like an edge-terminated K67. I could be wrong, but even as they are, i think generally(?) these franken-capsules, while they do have some top-end lift, it's not as sharp and obnoxious of a peak as the "usual" center-terminated K67/87's coming out of the Far East. I'll have to see when i can quickly measure some of my mics with such capsules to double-check this hunch(?) of mine.

 

[DaveLTX]

Looks a lot like an edge-terminated K67. I could be wrong, but even as they are, i think generally(?) these franken-capsules, while they do have some top-end lift, it's not as sharp and obnoxious of a peak as the "usual" center-terminated K67/87's coming out of the Far East. I'll have to see when i can quickly measure some of my mics with such capsules to double-check this hunch(?) of mine.

Probably closer to a edge K67 it might be but end result is what matters

Top end lift is far less obnoxious than the K87 capsules I tried with a circuit without deemp so make of that what you will

 

[AdamFrisen]

https://shop204739071.taobao.com/ca...8f6b41U2PGfG&search=y&catName=%DF%E4%CD%B7#bd

There's another Desheng store selling more of their SDCs rather than being LDC focused

I found these in Taobao (could not find Desheng):

Are these Takstar capsules? ISK-BLUE-CTS-X?

 

[DaveLTX]

I asked a representative of Taskstar store in Alibaba (I think it was), then she wrote twice they don't sell CTS-2 capsule.

I found these in Taobao (could not find Desheng):

Are these Takstar capsules? ISK-BLUE-CTS-X?


View attachment 132336

View attachment 132337

It can be found in ISK mics but the manufacturer is Desheng... which is takstar's subsidiary.
The first result for 得胜 is takstar. In china, Takstar is known as 得胜

Does that clear it up?

 

[AdamFrisen]

It can be found in ISK mics but the manufacturer is Desheng... which is takstar's subsidiary.
The first result for 得胜 is takstar. In china, Takstar is known as 得胜

Does that clear it up?

Thanks. I wish I could read Chinese so I could order samples. The prices are very reasonable for DIY considering also these seem to be one of the best capsules for U87-ish build.

 

[AdamFrisen]

So to have the full picture of the resemblance:

Takstar homepage: https://en.takstar.com/product/type/75.html

I see nr 2 on the plastic ring.



And in the pictures from Taobao of ISC CTS-2 (both sides):



I see nr 2 on this as well.

 

[AdamFrisen]

Hmm... who is programming Takstar home pages...
Link to find microphone capsules doesn't work (https://en.takstar.com/product/subT...Microphone Capsule&proCategoryAttrItemIds=206)

but if you enter product URL like this you will find CTS-1 as well:

https://en.takstar.com/product/type/76.html

Then I also see resemblance for ISK CTS-1 and the picture in Takstar about CTS-1. I see nr 3 in the plastic ring on both:


From Taobao:

 

[AdamFrisen]

Now the product pages at Takstar are gone for CTS-2 and CTS-1.

https://en.takstar.com/product/type/75.html



https://en.takstar.com/product/type/76.html



Whatever reason, it doesn't feel as a safe bet trying to get a genuine Takstar CTS-1 & CTS-2.