Which headphones of Drop's currently available?
I have some rewards points to burn but there's no obviously good options on Drop right now for headphones Contenders Ultrasone - maybe? I don't own any Ultrasones, so curious. Looks like garbage travel headphone which could be useful also. Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro. - Maybe? I have the DT 880 Good price point, really uncomfortable headphones but could be interesting to try the upgraded version. E-MU - strong contender but $400 is a bad price point for what it is. Which of the above would you choose and why? Nothing else on Drop is relevant to my interests, because Already own 6xx 820 800 s Ether cx Garbage / Consumer grade Meze 99 - garbage bass canons, hard pass No gaming headphones obviously Sennheiser wireless - no to wireless/bluetooth Hifiman - I have 2 of drop hifimans and they make really bad cheap shit on Drop, hard pass on HE-R7DX Aeon - I own the closed, Drop refuses to address #padgate so no reason to buy open Beyerdynamic 177x - wireless, nope Too similar 8x / 560s...
Mar 28, 2024
I'll try to simplify my background into manageable chunks:
Source: Schiit Uber Stack (Magni2/Modi2) Music: Metalcore to Rock to Jazz to Classical to whatever Dave Matthews Band is, with EDM on occasion Other cans: HiFiMAN HE-400i's, which is very neutral and accurate almost to a fault. Bass is there, but doesn't shine unless I boost the frequencies via EQ. Misc: Will be using these as Gaming cans as well (have a Modmic setup). My HE-400i's have a decent soundstage, to the point where I'm unsure if the extra depth in the X2's will be substantially impactful (although I've heard they're Top 5 with respects to Soundstage -- especially for gaming).
That said, my drive to pick up either the X2's or the x00's is for the compliment to my current cans. Did you scoop your X2's via Massdrop or Amazon/3rd party (I ask as to whether I should wait for the MD X2's or just purchase them from Amazon). I'm not averse to spending $400 over $200 for the x00's honestly, just want to make sure it's what I expect them to be. I know Comfort and Soundstage is killer for the X2's, and everything else leans x00's -- but I'd love more feedback! Also, which do you use more often? I'd like to only have 2 cans in my possession, but the form and sound factors of both the X2's and x00's make me want to have 3... But my S/O would kill me :D
PS, I owe you a beer for your time -- seriously, thank you.
First, I think the X2s are among the best headphones for the money anywhere. They're entirely open so there's leakage in and out, but the imaging and sound stage is breathtaking. I listen to jazz and classical and I found them to be accurate except when in comes to really big orchestra pieces and they tend to fuzz out a bit there.
Second, all that said, the TX00s outshine the Fidelios. I love the TX00s in the following order:
1. Purple Hearts - Magical. Lively, bright, great bass, imaging. I substituted sheepskin angled pads with some I got from ZMF and I really like the mod, which improved sound stage and comfort considerably. I recommend this mod for all TX00s. Or you could go with the MAD DOG pads which are slightly more luxurious, or the BRAINWAVES Sheepskin. All are pricey but they make this my daily go to headphone.) 2. Ebony - A little richer and darker. Maybe you could use the word "mellow". Maybe the clarity in the mids (most vocals, most of a piano, etc) are a little better expressed - I'm not good with the audiophile yammer - but vocals and chamber music sound really sexy to me on the ebonys. I think I will only end up keeping the Purple Hearts to be honest, but that's because I don't have but 2 ears but I like these second best. 3. Mahogony - I think the mahogony were the Purple Hearts before they grew up. I mean, everything good about the Mahogony got better and livelier with the PHs. They are excellent headphones and maybe the price difference is compelling enough to go with these. Otherwise. I'd wait for the PHs.
One thing I think is important to consider is the price difference. I have never heard heaphones as good as the X2s under $300 and that includes the Fostex T50RPs Mk3, which would have been my first choice except you need a tractor engine to drive them.
BTW given that you mentioned the ultrasones, I can tell you, that till the Edition 7, and the 9 after...all of them sucks...not a single one could be considered hi-end in my book, the difference between the prolines and other lines, and the editions is like day and night, what is curious as they use mainly the same driver, but the rest is so different inside that the sound is like removing a thick curtain of plastic in front of the drivers....
2)I've not met a person with a music library as large or as diverse as my own, including some music where I was present when it was performed. Also multiple releases of the same song that include different masters and sources.
3)I've seen more live music than the vast majority of people I know in my professional or personal life.
4) Colored, as I use it, means "different than source, significant emphasis or de-emphasis in regions of the frequency response" so the recording differences are rendered moot in my discussion of neutral/colored.
While I wholeheartedly agree your own ears are the best judge I don't agree that over the last 50 years or so the audio enthusiast community hasn't settled on at least some agreement regarding the terminology pertinent to our discussions.