Drop + Ultrasone Signature X Headphones

Nov 18, 2022

Hey Everyone! Drop sent me a demo Signature X a few days ago… first thing I checked for, the hot mic’d blast of harmonica in “Postcard Blues” by Cowboy Junkies… no wincing! And there’s a fair amount of bass too!! It’s still early days of testing for me… drop a song recommendation in the replies and I’ll describe how the headphone handles it! (try using https://songwhip.com/create if you can… great tool for sharing songs!! Postcard Blues, for example, is at https://songwhip.com/cowboy-junkies/postcard-blues).

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Zbell

Nov 21, 2022

Appreciate the response, @Evshrug! You're impressions are really insightful and helpful, just wanted to make sure about the integrity of the impressions/review because we all know there are some bad actors out there. With that said, honest impressions and reviews are vital for the audio community who can't easily test these products at the local store, so keep up the great work!

Nov 21, 2022

ZbellThanks so much Zbell! Yeah, it’s a good question and something reviewers should always be sensitive about. I think even people at a manufacturer ought to try to anticipate what people will like or not like, or land somewhere in the middle with something divisive. Even when I did work at Sennheiser, I made an announcement (and paused my YouTube channel, though eventually I started doing educational things until I got too busy with work and family), and I still think it was important to let people have an idea of what they would get. My first review on Drop was for the PC37X… and Axel Grell read it, called me up, and that’s how I got my job with Sennheiser. If something similar happens again, I’ll make sure to share 😉 I can’t help answering questions… I used to answer questions for people at electronics stores, but last time I was at Best Buy I literally heard a couple look at me (in my winter coat, lol) and say “He looks like someone who knows about cameras, let’s ask him.” It’s just my nature. I think companies SHOULD have someone to answer questions and try to help point out the benefits and weaknesses of different products… Drop has enough products to find something that is a good fit. I think this will fit people that like a bass-strong, darker headphone that had a bit more treble added back in, want something that works well with Mobile sources, and don’t mind pleather pads that pin the ears back.

(Edited)

Nov 21, 2022

Early Impressions:
Pros: +No harsh treble +Fun but clear bass +warm lower mids and polite upper mids. +low masking and decent resolution for the price +S-Logic works, fairly clear and good soundstage in a closed headphone +High sensitivity = easy to drive from laptop or smartphone dongle. +cushy headband +lightweight +most of the weight and clamp is distributed. +folding +easy to clean, pads aren’t sticky +my sample came with a 6.5mm coiled “studio” cable, a 3.5mm cable, and another 3.5mm cable with TRRS connector and an inline microphone on the cable for smartphone and gaming use. +sparkling gray circles around “Signature X” logo add fun pizazz. Cons -“No Nonsense” studio build reminiscent of Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, tough and light plastic but creaks when adjusting. -Firm clamp. -Folding mechanism allows earcups to flop around when not in use. -The type of circumaural pads that press the edge of the outer ear flat on your head, so some of the clamp pressure is on your ears. Overall: I think people looking for a closed-back headphone that sounds more open than cheap closed headphones ought to take a look. It’s a good headphone to wear while walking around. The warmer sound signature was not what I was expecting from the brand, the tone is overall a pleasant surprise. The S-Logic 3 does seem to add a more “speaker like” feeling of soundstage, combined with the bass grunt. My first two cons aren’t really a problem while wearing the headphone, and I feel like it would survive school life or most studio life (folds to fit into a small bag, but the included case is nice!). If you want a artsy object, get the Meze Noir… but the rough and tumble Ultrasone sounds less “small space” and more open. I think it’s important people expect this to be a closed headphone that probably touches the outer edge of the ear, making YMMV very true here: I know some people can marathon this style of earpad, but I like to take a break and let my ears relax after every hour of listening. Anecdotally, my wife specifically found these earpads MORE comfortable and less weird than my fully circumaural headphones like the HD 560S. I have kept coming back to it because I’ve been enjoying the sound.

(Edited)

Dec 11, 2022

I should start by stating some news... I just started doing consultation for DROP in December this year!! However, these impressions/descriptions predate this gig, and DROP gives me no sales incentive or kickback, and my opinions are my own and don't represent DROP's. Long term credibility is more important to me, and DROP too. I wish I had heard the Beyer DT177X GO... closest headphone I've heard is the mainstream DT1770. And I don't have it side-by-side for comparison, haha, so take my impressions with a grain of salt. However, Ultrasone definitely does things differently! The biggest, most clear cut difference is the sense of soundstage in a closed back headphone. IF you're used to a DT770 and DT1770, and other mid-fi closed back headphones, that will set these Ultrasone apart. I didn't find the DT1770 to be particularly tizzy or glaring in the treble (which was the main thing I noted as an improvement over the old three-digit models, a small difference that makes all the difference for my enjoyment, and for which I applaud Beyer!), but if anyone was concerned about Beyer highs, this Signature X is probably a safer bet. The DT 177X GO does have more earpads though (velour and leather), and the DT770 and it’s descendants have been trusted studio headphones for a long time (remember, I haven’t heard the DROP version or compared side-by-side). This is the first Ultrasone I've heard, but the DROP team I talked to said they specifically made it less dark than the Signature Pulse it is based (bassed?) on. While it is not enough to make this a V-shaped headphone in my opinion, I do think it has enough highs to better round out the bass-emphasized signature, and prevent too many of those nice spatial cues from being masked. I also just saw Zeos' review of the Signature X... it's a 30-minute discourse, but I will say it got me interested in pad swapping! The pads are my main gripe with this headphone... I understand that the smaller cavity space has a certain, possibly desired effect on the sound, as well as the pads pinning the ears back, BUT I have a bunch of Dekoni Beyerdynamic pads (Maybe the angled Dekoni for Fostex pads will work too?) around from when I used to consult for Dekoni, so why not try different pads out? The Ultrasone has less of the "cuppy" resonance and wooly sound of my G4ME ZERO closed gaming headset, so with more comfortable pads this Signature X may actually take over closed gaming headset duties for me. I feel like ANC cans actually can sound really good... problem is that they tend to be tuned similar to Bose, which has it's appeal, but has given the tech a bit of a stigma by association.

(Edited)

Waddie

Dec 11, 2022

EvshrugI have discovered the cheaper Elegia, with pad mod, idea, with EQ too if must and am considering. Just saying this quickly in response and am digesting your kind answer.

noix_rouge

Nov 18, 2022

Hey if any Drop marketing guys reading this : If you're gonna make claims about 'Harman Target Curve' then at least show us the curve !

mensrea

Nov 17, 2022

I suspect at least a few people are waiting on the FR graph...

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tinyman392

267

Dec 5, 2022

mensreaFR graphs finally up. I can kind of see what they mean in their description. It looks like a very dark headphone though.

Dec 5, 2022

tinyman392It’s pretty dark… or bass focused, which is kind of the same thing from different perspectives. Water halfway in a glass is both half empty and half full. But it all boils down to what I said in my impressions: this is best for bass lovers, and DJ’s who work in noisy environments (where background noise reduces the listener’s perception of bass… this would also apply to people commuting by bus or train). With that said, it’s not like the highs are missing or the bass is flubby. That’s one of the things that doesn’t show on the FR Graph: despite the emphasis, the bass is pretty tight instead of wub wub sub. That helps the other frequencies have details, along with pretty good transducer performance when it comes to impulse response: I bet the square waves are sharper on the Signature X than the V-Moda M-100 which was quite a popular basshead headphone (Val called it “modern audiophile), and though both have semi on-ear pads (to pin your ears down) I can wear the Ultrasone for longer (about an hour) than my M-100 with stock pads (about 30 minutes). I had read good things about Ultrasone’s S-Logic as well, and it helped me separate the layers of soundstage distance and direction better than I expected. And though the treble is muted, it is still fairly defined and not fuzzy. I talked with people at Drop, and they said that a little more highs presence is part of what makes this exclusive Signature X different from the Signature Pulse they were based on: https://ultrasone.com/produkt/signature-pulse/ Therefore, I would not say this is a headphone for people who only stick to the Harmon Curve, or a “studio reference” type of sound, but it’s a bold headphone with a unique flavor. Hopefully this still reads as consistent with what I have been saying so far.

T.Fernandez

801

Collabs

Nov 17, 2022

Stickied

Introducing the Drop + Ultrasone Signature X. Our first collab with legacy German Brand Ultrasone. Something of a dark horse brand Ultrasone has been around for a long time but was less known in Audiophile circles. They are known mainly in Europe for their professional DJ headphones and some uber high end models like the Edition 10. After listening to several models within their Signature Series Line up we decided to try and make our own tuning that used the Harman Target as a reference point. While the goal was not to get as close as possible but rather as a template for the low end response. The engineers at Ultrasone went through several iterations before landing on the tuning for the Signature X. The result was a slightly dark but wonderfully punchy sounding headphone that still has some shimmer to the highs. They are well suited to many modern recordings and bass heavy genres but we also found them to be great with live recordings where the high energy and room acoustics shine. Let your ears be the judge and give the Signature X a shot. Let us know if you’d like to see more Ultrasone models in our store for future collaborations.

TheFiresInside

Feb 10, 2023

T.FernandezMore Better :] More. Collabs. Better. :D

PopZeus

386

Feb 14, 2023

Just got an email regarding the DDF issue and it sounds like Ultrasone will providing replacements with the waveguides properly installed! Also, penatcon cables and thicker pads?! Even if my replacement doesn't come with those additional tweaks, I'm glad they're listening to the reasonable bits of feedback. It rarely happens so it's great when companies do this.

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PopZeus

386

May 10, 2023

All 3 stock cables lock on my set. Are you saying all of yours fail to lock? If so, then your issue might be the cup. But I think the cup is made up of a few different pieces and so it's a distinctly different issue than the DDF. Sorry to be delivering bad news! However, if the audio is unaffected, then it's sorta up to you on how big of deal you want to make it with The Powers That Be.

Vote

Rilchu

May 10, 2023

PopZeusYes that is exactly what I’m saying but it looks like they are sending new pairs out cause I got the email about the DDF and it’s showing something being sent to me soon I believe. I also don’t have any current orders with Drop. So hopefully it will be a new pair and it won’t be an issue after that. Also thanks for replying.

spartaman64

Nov 17, 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L34S4Tt1EuQ this is what i think of whenever i hear ultrasone lol

tinyman392

267

Nov 17, 2022

spartaman64I miss this man. One of the most unbiased reviewers that ever existed.

Nov 18, 2022

spartaman64That was my first thought too… having just received a demo sample, my first impression is that it passes the “Postcard Blues” test from the Cowboy Junkies “Trinity Sessions” album! More testing to follow… What was that saxophone track he used? lol definitely sounds like a torture test 😂

(Edited)

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MCPatD

Jan 4, 2023

January 31 now? That's quite the delay.

Vote

Jan 13, 2023

Well, I’m helping to improve communications, as well as @HoffmanMyster , and Drop as a whole aligned with the effort to increase communication. You’re right, without communication it is easy to think the delays can be solved with pressure, and people here and Reddit certainly have. Delays sometimes happen, but usually they can be rectified within the normal shipping time estimates. But this time, the logistics issue at Drop’s partner warehouse can’t be resolved with pressure or in a quick timeframe.

It’s like there is a warehouse full of goods in boxes labeled by an inventory system, but the inventory system is down, so each item has to be manually separated and matched to each order. This is currently affecting everything at this warehouse (DROP or otherwise), and the situation was exacerbated by the volume of holiday orders. And then, the Ultrasone's arrived while there was no receipt system to add them to inventory. DROP was always going to email customers when we did our investigation into why it was taking longer than the outside of shipping estimates, but the community team decided to let everyone know what was happening, and what DROP is trying to do to work around the issue till things are back in order. That’s still the latest general information we have; if necessary, individual updates will go out if things deviate from the plan. Here’s the link again, so it doesn’t get buried: https://drop.com/talk/122307/shipping-status-update-january-2023

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