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Drop + EPOS PC38X Gaming Headset

$169

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... / OPEN BACK HEADPHONES / GAMING HEADSETS / DROP

Drop + EPOS PC38X Gaming Headset

Name: Drop + EPOS PC38X Gaming Headset
Brand: Drop
SKU: drop-epos-pc38x-gaming-headset
Price: 169 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.385417 (288 reviews)

288

$169

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Frequently bought together:

EPOS GSA50 Headphone Hanger

Dekoni Pads for Sennheiser PC37X & PC38X

EPOS GSX 300 External Sound Card

overview

details

reviews288

photos104

q&a64

discussions61

Customer Reviews

4.4

(288 reviews)

(189)

(53)

(21)

(11)

(12)

86% would recommend to a friend

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4.3

(78)

Sound

4.7

(78)

Comfort

4.5

(78)

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RJSLBS

104

Nov 3, 2021

DROP + Sennheiser PC38X review

This is a summarised version of my review posted on Everyday Listening. For a more in-depth breakdown of features and performance, see my full review linked above. Design & Build

One may expect a flimsy, creaky plastic construction from an affordable gaming headset; most of which boasting flashy designs intended to photograph well, but rarely hold up in person. The PC38X thankfully doesn’t fall into that category. While its predominately plastic build feels very lightweight, it does feel well put together with tight tolerances and zero squeaks, wobbles or creeks as you’d expect from a company like Sennheiser. The design will be familiar to Sennheiser fans, this is a slender, relatively low-profile open-back over-ear. Subjectively, they look professional and refreshingly elegant, especially in the gaming space. Of course, the yellow accents won’t be for all. Knowing this, DROP recently released an all-black variant that looks very dapper – details below. Headset Quality

Actual voice quality is also firmly good, not great. The mic doesn’t pick up bass tones well nor is it especially clear, but isn’t remotely tinny or muffled either, even with a pop filter installed. The mic did sound better, clearer and more immediate to my ears than the Master & Dynamics boom mic but not as clear as the Antlion ModMic. Unlike the ModMic, no pop filter is provided in the box and I did find this was an issue despite its in-built noise reduction. This would have been a cheap and functional addition; however, foam covers are cheaply available online for just a few dollars. Sound Overview

The PC38X has been lauded for its strict adherence to the Harman headphone target. As a disclaimer, I would like to elucidate that this does not indicate perfect balance and timbre. The target is designed, in some capacity, to find what is universally appealing rather than technically correct. In addition, bass and treble roll-off is apparent, in turn, the headphone comes across as slightly n-shaped with a slight midrange focus. Despite this, the PC38X demonstrates a superbly linear and naturally voiced response. While it isn’t an engaging headphone nor technically outstanding by any means, this gives it a huge advantage over similarly affordable models – not to mention, excellent genre and use case versatility. The smoother top end isn’t ideal for highlighting directional cues, but it is suitable for reducing listening fatigue during long listening/gaming sessions, especially at higher volumes. If you are looking for an especially clean tonality and honest midrange voicing, the PC38X hangs with the best. Comparisons

HD650/6XX ($220): At a $50 premium, the HD6XX has far more serious audiophile credentials, surely a richer pedigree for many. However, in listening you would be surprised to find the PC38X actually provides a more balanced tuning. The PC38X is tonally cleaner, clearer and more separated. It has a more open soundstage. From a cheap source, the PC38X is likely a better buy for most as it is far easier to drive. The HD6XX is a bit warmer and fuller sounding, but this also introduces some veil into its midrange that the PC38X lacks. The HD6XX has a more convincing treble response with a bit more presence and crispness. The main benefit is that the HD6XX has better driver quality throughout and is more nuanced overall. This is especially noticeable on complex tracks where the HD6XX rewards with more defined notes and less general smear. It is much more detailed in the treble and its bass is not only more textured and articulate, it also has a tighter, more assertive impact by a good degree. Using a tube amp with the HD6XX scales it up dramatically, you sacrifice a little resolution, but gain a much more balanced and euphonic signature and wider soundstage that resolves a lot of the veil I heard from SS sources. The PC38X doesn’t scale nearly as well but, of course, sounding better from cheaper sources, is the clear winner from a price/performance point of view. If you were looking for a long-term investment, the HD6XX can be considered as it scales more with better/expensive sources, opening up the avenue for future upgrades. Of course, you also have to factor in a mic into the price given it has no integrated solution. HE400i 2020 ($169): At the same price as the PC38X, Hifiman are providing an easy to drive planar design albeit with no mic. It is heavier and not as comfortable long term, but not an uncomfortable design in its own right. The HE400i is more difficult to drive, but not to the extent that a desktop stack is required. It will scale much better with a dedicated amplifier as well. Sonically, the HE400i pursues a similar kind of sound but isn’t quite as linear as the PC38X. The HE400i has a slightly more forward treble, giving it a crisper and more energetic sound. By comparison, its bass sounds slightly more laid-back. The PC38X provides a bit more mid-bass impact, the HE400i is slightly fuller in terms of voicing but also more controlled, retrieving more texture. The midrange is slightly more even on the PC38X though both have a natural voicing. The PC38X is slightly more accurate and coherent, it has a smoother articulation and slightly more body. The HE400i is slightly more revealing and articulate, it has higher resolution and resolves fine details better. The HE400i chiefly has a more present treble response. Though it isn’t a technical outlier, it is noticeably more resolving of fine detail than the PC38X which is further enhanced by its brighter tuning that brings treble more to the fore. The HE400i has better extension and air. Its soundstage is wider while the PC38X is a bit deeper. The HE400i has much clearer directional cues due to its brighter treble but arguably the PC38X has a more realistic portrayal of distance due to its more even tuning. Recommendation

The PC38X appeals to two core audiences. Primarily, this is for the budget-conscious enthusiast wanting an all-purpose headphone for both music and gaming. Under these circumstances, this represents a terrific and well-realised option in basically all regards. Not only is its feature and accessory set convenient for gaming, even as an enthusiast with a wealth of gear, I found myself very pleased with the tonality for pure musical enjoyment. While the treble could do with a slight bump, impedance adaptors are a possible solution for those with a powerful enough source. Conversely, this may suit those with pricier audio-dedicated headphones wanting a cheaper gaming headset. Here, I think the purchase makes less sense as these users will be better off investing in a mod-mic; there is really no reason why high-end headphones cannot be used for gaming and many have a more vibrant, substantially more detailed treble which will aid the perception of direction in these use cases. Verdict The PC38X combines all-day comfort and integrated coms with a balanced and spacious sound from essentially any source. For those wanting a headphone for mixed uses, it is hard to deny the versatility and value provided by the PC38X.

Recommends this product? Yes

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gorlami

Nov 29, 2021

RJSLBSFantastic review. How important would you say soundstage is for game immersion, especially single-player? If you had the choice between the 599, 560s, 58x, and pc38x for gaming, which would you select? for music?

RJSLBS

104

Dec 4, 2021

gorlamiThank you and sorry for the late reply! It depends on what you want. In terms of competitive I mostly play Overwatch where a good soundstage makes a big difference for flanking and awareness. For single-player games, it does help with immersion for sure because you get a nice sense of direction and distance. For instance, I enjoyed the atmosphere the PC38X provided when playing Metro Exodus, in underground sections you get a good sense of reverb off the walls that really helps to portray a claustrophobic feel. I haven't tried all of the HD headphones but incidentally, I found the PC38x was more spacious than the 6XX series. I think it depends more if you want a bit more warmth in the bass which the 5-series provides and don't need the headset mic.

(Edited)

•

LifelongCaboose

598

Nov 24, 2021

Drop + EPOS PC38x Black - Now with Less Yellow

Disclaimer: The EPOS PC38x was sent to me by DROP, they did not do anything to influence my opinion.

Introduction This review won't be like my normal ones, as I have already reviewed this headset and the review will be linked below. Drop offered to send one of these my way so I could listen and test it and assure people that this is the same as when it was branded with Sennheisers name. In fact, this is made by the exact same team, just a new name. So a very quick briefing about who EPOS is. 2 companies Sennheiser and Demant decided to join and have a working relationship. Under this joint effort, they formed Sennheiser Communication A/S. This was the team that would go to make the Sennheiser branded gaming headsets and Bluetooth headphones. So the more consumer side of Sennheiser portfolio. But recently as most of you should know by now there was a demerger and the companies split up. When this happened the Sennheiser Comunication A/S team ended up being fully owned by Demant and were renamed to EPOS (pretty much). At first it was odd that Sennheiser would seemingly give up full control but now with the sale of the consumer headphone division of Senheiser it makes a lot more sense. Part of this deal is EPOS would continue to sell the products they have worked on for years, but anything released under there time at Sennheiser would be CO branded. EPOS | Sennheiser So here we are, the Sennheiser Gaming and Communication Team is now called EPOS. If I'm not mistaken this is the first Sennheiser product to be fully rebranded. The PC38x has fully dropped the Sennheiser branding. Does this mean more will follow like the PC37x or GSP series, only time will tell. Original Review Link
Website Link For This Review

Headphone Specs:

Form factor: Over ear
Transducer principle: Dynamic, open
Frequency response: 10Hz - 30000Hz
Impedance: 28 Ω
Sound pressure level: 109 dB
2.5 m PC cable, 2 x 3.5 mm split TRS connector
1.5 m console cable, 1 x 3.5 mm TRRS connector
Weight: 8.9 oz (253 g)
Weight (with cable): 10.2 oz (290.5g)

Microphone Specs:

Microphone frequency response: 50-16,000 Hz
Pick-up pattern: Noise-cancelling
Sensitivity: -38dBV/PA
Microphone technology: Electret condenser
Microphone pickup pattern: Bi-directional

Included:

2 removable cables (PC and console)
2 pairs of earpads (mesh knit and velour)
Drawstring travel pouch
2-year manufacturer’s warranty

Changes Not a lot has changed here.

Gone is the controversial yellow that I still actually prefer, it is now replaced with simple, yet popular black.
The cable is also now all black and a slightly different material but the same quality. But I have to frustratingly talk about this yet again. The cable is packaged in a folded up bunch meaning there will be lots of kinks in it. This is not how cables should be packed, roll them up in a circle to prevent kinks from forming in the box. Please change this eventually. If I'm not mistaken the GSP5500/600 already does this, so all EPOS products should as well.
The velour pads are slightly different, but this is most likely just normal pad batch variation. They're a bit softer and thicker in texture. They're also slightly less plush. But extremely close. Also do note this was comparing the pads to the brand new PC38x velour pads on my second PC38x unit.
Gone is the white Sennheiser logo and branding and replacing it is a black glossy EPOS logo and branding.
The cloth bag no longer has a white DROP logo but just a small black +.

Graphs

Disclaimer: My measurement rig is an industry standard clone. So it's accurate up to 3k compared to most GRAS rigs. Over 3k it's fairly off so ignore that tell I get a better calibration. When I talk about tonality and tuning it's based mostly on what I hear.

Above are the averaged measurements of the 2 Sennheiser PC38x units I have along with the new EPOS PC38x. As you can see they are very close. There is some deviation that is audible between units and that's just bass extension and upper mids like shown in the graph. But it's not too bad and falls into the excepted unit variation and seal variation. For anyone wondering if it is maybe pad variation, that does make up for some differences but when measuring with all the same pads they remained slightly different. But fall close enough to be considered the exact same.

This is just something I don't think I ever posted measurements for but have spoken about a lot. This is what happens when you use the volume wheel and why I tell people not to use it. It's fine to use to quickly lower volume if you need to, but when your actually using the headset keep it maxed and adjust volume on your source. As the wheel gets lower the bass blooms really bad making the headset sound muddy and slow and just bass gets a lot worse. So when you put on your PC37x, PC38x or make sure you turn the volume wheel to max and adjust via your source. I actually would just tape the wheel in place if I daily drove this. Conclusion So what does this all mean? Well, this is just a long winded way of saying the Drop + EPOS PC38x Black is still the exact same headset as the Drop + Sennheiser PC38x Yellow. So if you were at all nervous about this name change and worried that this may somehow not be the same headset you originally wanted, fear not, it is the same just now in a much more neutral and consumer-friendly black colour. 5 Stars I would recommend it.

(Edited)

Recommends this product? Yes

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LifelongCaboose

598

Dec 12, 2021

Microphonics is normal on braided cables. I didn't find it that bad or worse than the average braided cable but it wasn't great. IMO rubber cables are just better. How sensitive your mic is will also depend on what you have it plugged into, the placement of your mic and your mic settings.

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MrJuiceMane

Jan 13, 2022

Oops. Just saw this. Here you go if you haven’t already found it. I didn’t like the braided cable either for the same reasons you stated. It also kinks easier. NewFantasia Replacement Audio... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P73QRH1?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

erickong

7412

Audiophile Moderator

Dec 2, 2021

Verified Buyer

Disclaimer: Drop sent me this headset to review, the following opinions are my own. This review is based on my experience with the PC38X. I'll include some comments at the end from my friends that also tried them. I was not paid for this review. Your experience with them might vary since the review is based on my subjective ears, thoughts, and opinions.

Intro: I was using my on-board audio to power the headset (MSI B450 GAMING PLUS). My DAC/Amp does not have a line-in port for the microphone. But I did try my DAC/Amp when listening to some music. I’ll talk about the other headphones that I am use to, the music that I listened to, and the games that I play in the following sections. Build Quality: I haven’t handled the PC37X or the original PC38X, but based on the online pictures, it does not look like the build quality was changed for the EPOS version. The hinges did not pull hair. The microfiber-like material for the earpads and headband pad will likely attract a lot of dust/hair/dandruff. The clamping force is pretty high and the force gets noticeable during long sessions with them on. The headset is mainly plastic in construction, so I am curious if it will flex and hold a new shape. The HD line by Sennheiser uses metal bands, and the after some stretching and use, the clamping force lightens up. Sound: Audio-out and line-in will vary based on what ports you use (front, rear, or a DAC/amp). The people that I was talking to on Discord while testing these said that I was super quiet when I was using the rear ports of my MOBO. My PC case is the Phanteks P300 and the front ports were louder, microphone input, than the rear ports. The problem with the front ports is that the mute wouldn't work and sounds would bleed through. People in Discord calls told me that a buzzing noise was coming through even though I was muted (mic arm up). Audio from YT videos would register in Discord. I don't think that it's caused by the openback design. It is most likely caused by my setup. No issues with the rear ports though. I let other people try this headset with their PCs and they did not run into this issue. I tried using the headset with my Pixel 3a via the TRRS cable and my friends in the Discord call said I sounded "tinny". There is a lot of rumble from the bass and that causes the treble/vocal clarify to be sacrificed. It's super fun just to bump to bass heavy song (beginning Hand of God by Jon Bellion and Line of Sight by Odesza). For more critical listening like soundstage, separation, and clarity, they fall short. During the choir portion at the end of Hand of God, it wasn't as crisp and clear as some other headphones that I have listened to. I had a similar experience when listening to Heavy with Hoping by Madeon, the vocal should move you and pierce you. The vocal should be centerstage and sound as clear as your own thoughts. In terms of gaming, I am not super focused on sound quality and such when I am in-game during a fire fight/team fight. I am talking with friends and focused on the gameplay. The sonic performance of the headphones/headsets become secondary at that point. Positional sounds are fine in shooters (my usual game genre). When I am really analyzing the sound, they are muddier and less focused than my daily drivers (HD58X and ESP/95X). The sound is almost distant (plugged into my DAC/Amp).

Comparison: This section is my attempt at comparing the PC38X with headphones that I am familiar with, and some that you might have listened to. Hopefully the comparison will help those that are on the fence decide if the headphones/headset are right for them. Bass: TH-X00 > PC38X >= HD58X > HD8XX >= ESP/95X (fenestrated sheepskin pads) > HE4XX > X4 Treble: HD8XX > X4 > ESP/95X (fenestrated sheepskin pads) > HE4XX >= HD58X > TH-X00 > PC38X I'm obviously comparing audiophile headphones to a budget / entry-level headset. This makes the comparison a bit unfair. The quantity of bass was great (rumble, sub bass), but the quality was definitely not the same. Comments from Friends: Friend 1: Sounded way better after plugging them into my Schiit stack. Did not like them as much as the Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro when they where plugged straight into the MOBO. But after using them with the Schiit stack, they sounded a lot closer to the Beyers, and I couldn't notice a difference for a while. I was told that the mic quality was good and the mute feature is really nice. Friend 2: I like the PC38X more than the Astro A10s and Razer Pro Shark V2 that I was using previously. The PC38X fits better over the ears when compared to the Razer headset. Final Thoughts: As a cost-effective, more entry-level headset, it does the job without breaking the bank. The volume adjust on the headset and mute feature are useful. I like the pure black colorway and the long cord is nice for when I am doing stuff around my desk/setup. Rating out of 5: 4/5 Recommendation: Would recommend to a friend

Recommends this product? Yes

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EfiM

Apr 4, 2022

Verified Buyer

I'm not an Audiophile BUT

These headphones changed everything about my daily enjoyment of my PC setup. I previously had the Logitech G533 wireless gaming headphones which I thought got the job done fine for zoom calls, gaming, video editing, and listening to Spotify. My friend kept egging me to get something close to audiophile headphones for a LONG time. I caved and bought the EPOS PC38X and I cried listening to my favorite song for the first time on this headset, my friends on Discord said my voice quality was 100000x better and clearer, and I can now hear sound effects and footsteps in online games I never knew where there before on my Logitechs. These headphones are awesome! They fit on my head so well and (I have long hair) I noticed my hair wasn't getting ripped to shreds when taking them off, and they are far lighter and thinner than my other headphones. These are going to stay with me for a very long time :)

Recommends this product? Yes

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Garrett450

Aug 7, 2022

Verified Buyer

Broke after only 3 months of use

first off, i have PC37X and they are great, lasted forever , bought the 38s thinking i would upgrade but the right ear makes a vibration " crackling sound to where these are unusable. I never dropped them and have only had it for 3 months where it was treated well. Maybe just unlucky and bad soldering.

Recommends this product? No

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Garrett450

Sep 5, 2022

pretty sure you only have like 2 weeks to return it

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Jyri_Drop

454

Outreach

Sep 6, 2022

Garrett450We offer 30 day return policy but the warranty for PC38X is 2 years if I remember correctly.

AimlessFrown-ISR

Aug 16, 2022

Verified Buyer

great product

Amazing clear sound, really makes a difference in VR games. The only negative is that the price dropped by 30$ a few days after I received mine :(

Recommends this product? Yes

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iamconfusion

Dec 8, 2021

Verified Buyer

Best headset I have ever owned

I really wasn’t sure about getting my first open-back headset for gaming, but man do I love these. After have bad and mediocre headsets like the Astro A10 and Corsair Virtuoso (my current headset), I knew I needed something that was top tier. These are the most comfortable and best sounding headphones I’ve ever experienced, and everyone so far has said the mic quality they are hearing is impressive to say the least. I also wanted to go back to using wired headsets since I want one headset for all three platforms I play on (PS5, XSX, and PC), and these check every box. I highly doubt I’ll buy another headset for a very, very long time. I cannot recommend them enough!

Recommends this product? Yes

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Physickz

Nov 19, 2022

Verified Buyer

Next Level 👍

Hands down the best gaming headset on the market, don't ever discontinue this DROP. I don't just game on this, i watch movies which is epic, and i listen to music too, not sure if i can add links to this review but i will anyway, i know DROP are an American company and as my dude here is also from the U.S and not that well known (Americans are not for DnB) going add this here as i think it shines, cleanest bass I've experienced, not the heaviest, but it is an open back after all! https://youtu.be/ZvPshowyebE Will anything ever top this headset for an all round experience? lol this is worth twice as much in my opinion, if you're outside the states and are contemplating this but not sure because of the fees etc, just do it, you wont be disappointed, their customer service is some of the best I've dealt with too, much love guys and thank you for making my gaming/sound experience so much better, kind regards Matt 🎶🎮🌒

Recommends this product? Yes

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aosi87

Oct 13, 2022

Verified Buyer

I had bad luck

I was so exited to get my new set of PC38X, i prepared a set of tests and other tools to hear the magic of those divers, everything when fine until i had to test volume and bass (driver quality) my left and right drivers started to rattle, left side start doing it at 95% volume up, my right starts at 85%. So i guess there is something inside or just poor build process on my case, well it happens. Pros:

Even with the rattle issue the sound is impressive, compared to my Cloud2 and old beyerdynamic
The mic is way better than the Cloud2, sound is crisp, it does not capture bleeding noises or does buzzes or anything, super nice to have
Are comfortable, i can use them hours and is easy to adjust and flexible.
It has build in mute and volume controller, not great not bad.
Includes another set of ear pads (also comfy).

Cons:

The build quality is not a key point in this ones is understandable but still there is similar priced headphones with better quality materials. (the head band adessive is already peeling of and this is a brand new pair.
the cord makes a lot of noise if rubs against something, the same happens using the volume controller build in.
Looks like the build quality is way down on my pair, but after reading multiple reviews looks like its happening every now and then.
No detachable mic.
In my case the bass broke the experience and the drivers hahaha

I got a great deal on them and is a shame i will have to return them. I would recommend if they drivers were perfect and the build quality better, instead i think ill get the older versions or the PC37X instead, cheaper and similar features and sound quality.

Recommends this product? No

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Solo_Danny

Oct 2, 2022

Verified Buyer

Best Gaming Headphones

Probably the best gaming headphones you can get right now for the money. It has really good, full, clean deep bass. Not as thick or rumbly as a closed back but impressively deep for being open back. Mids are tuned to be full and natural sounding. The highs are tuned to be clear, crisp, and detailed but smooth. It's a very balanced and natural sound. Because of the full bass it sounds great for music too. They also get very loud and are driven easily by most devices because of the high sensitivity and low impedance. It's perfect for gaming because of how big the soundstage is, you can here things all around you, it's really cool. For comfort, it has a fairly tight clamping force out of the box. It's still comfortable but can cause pressure on the sides of your head with certain glasses. Over time it loosens up a little and becomes more comfortable while still fitting snug. The mic is very high quality, picks up good bass tones and sounds full and clear. My first pair had a issue where at high volumes the right earcup would distort, I contacted customer support and they sent me a new pair after I returned the faulty one. The new one is much better, and I can only get it to distort on very specific tracks at very high volumes, unlike the last one that distorted on most tracks. So yeah their customer support is good. The headphones are expensive but they're completeley worth it.

(Edited)

Recommends this product? Yes

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