Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
ESS 252 Closed-Back Headphones
01 / 04
ESS 252 Closed-Back Headphones
bookmark_border
Where's the price?
To negotiate the best possible price for our customers, we agree to hide prices prior to logging in.
344 requests
·
74 Sold
Product Description
ESS has been in hi-fi audio since the 1970s, and now the company brings its expertise in speakers to the world of headphones. The 252 headphone is particularly eye-catching, with medium-density walnut ear cups and a shiny metal frame Read More
Customer Reviews
2.8
(6 reviews)
5star(1)
4star(1)
3star(2)
2star(0)
1star(2)
search
close
Images
keyboard_arrow_downSort by: Newest
keyboard_arrow_downonteo
2
Feb 9, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
Amazing sound quality from these awesome headphones. First set of headphones I’ve owned in 20+ years. I was drawn immediately to the brand because I’ve owned a pair of their AMT-1B speakers for almost 40 years. Love them and the quality built into them, built to last for years.
Jwid
0
Dec 26, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
The headphones: Great
The cable: Not so great, it's starting to pull out on the one end
Massdrop service: Horrid after first 30 days.
Just tried to contact Massdrop about my problem, but they can't do anything after 30 days from delivery. So I'm stuck here with a faulty cable, having to wiggle and jiggle it around till it makes contact and works.
DMTTAB
98
Mar 23, 2019
JwidDid you try to contact ESS? Cables like the one on the 252 don't cost much. You could buy a 3.5mm male to male cable like this on AliExpress for 3$
Link:
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/bnUSzvC5
You could also buy a premium cable from a reputable cable manufacturer.
PandaaRun
9
Nov 29, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
Comfort:
So-so. They lack flexibility, but the pads are good. Can wear these headphones for 1 hour or 2 but longer it's hard and your head feels compressed.
Build quality:
It's pretty good. Wood and metal are everywhere, which is appreciable and rare, at least to my knowledge, at this price point. The headband is well padded and the pads are leather-like.
When you adjust the headband you feel the serious construction of this model. Very happy on that point.
Sound:
Bass: a little bit too much and lack details but still enjoyable.
Medium: Voices are in a box, a little bit muffled. You can ear the words normally, but it's not very enjoyable. Some drums are muffled too.
Highs: Very interesting, and present. Some little details appear in the background and it's enjoyable.
Overall:
For this price point, the build quality is very, very impressive. The sound present good qualities too, but not as good as what I expected. I think the sound is too dark, compressed. Some will say this is a style amongst others. I will say it's bullshit and just that the sound is a mess. But it's still listenable and enjoyable.
I won't recommend these for styles like Electro and Hip-Hop, because to me these are fatiguing.
Other more relaxed styles will be ok.
My background: simple music lover and listener.
I own these headphones (so I can compare):
- Ultrasone 880
- Beyerdynamic DT770 pro (80)
- Sony MDR-1A
- Hifiman HE-4XX
- AKG-K702
- Mitchell and Johnson GL2
WavesInSpace
0
Nov 20, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
For $100 these have great sounds - much better than almost anything at the price point.
TryANDError
11
Oct 18, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
Did you talk to your buddy as a kid through two metal cans connected with a fishing line?
Oh you did. Then you know what pair of ESS 252 headphones sound like.
100 bucks is not a lot but it's enough to expect a certain level of quality in sound and ergonomics. ESS 252 has neither.
Contacted ESS for refund. No, contact Massdrop, they said. So I did, but nothing yet.
100 bucks is not a lot but it's enough to expect a certain level of quality in sound and ergonomics. ESS 252 has neither.
Contacted ESS for refund. No, contact Massdrop, they said. So I did, but nothing yet.
Recent Activity
Related Products
Drop Refurbished
Like-new products you can trustDrop Rewards
Get $5 for every 500 points you earn! Learn more
Drop Keyboard Club
Become a member and expand your keycap collectionCollaborate With Us
For Brands & DesignersFollow Drop
- Out of the box the left ear didn't work. I reach out Drop support for this and I did get a full refund due to lack of replacement units. Nice.
- In time, a friend of mine was able to fix the issue with the left ear can, so I could enjoy for the first time the great sound this headphones can drive. Nice.
- A month ago the headband broke after many uses (was a metal piece on plastic reels), just the regular use for listening to music. Not nice.
- The earcups walnut is not wood, just a plastic-like material resembling wood. Not nice.
I wish this headphones would last longer, and I don't know if this still have a customer support because I already got a refund. For all of this, I would not recommend this.