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
Updated 3/9 I’m happy to announce the third (and final) batch of HD 6XX has arrived at the warehouse! The headphones are going through quality control checks and will soon be prepared for shipment. We’ve emailed those of you who are in this final batch, and we expect your headphones to start shipping next week. Thank you all for your patience throughout this fulfillment process. We’re glad to be shipping these headphones ahead of schedule, and we hope you enjoy the HD 6XX!
Updated 3/6 The second batch of headphones has arrived at the warehouse and is now being prepared for shipment! This batch is about 3,900 headphones and we’ve sent an email to those who are in this second fulfillment. As of this morning over 1,800 headphones have shipped, and the third (and final) batch is expected to arrive at our warehouse by the end of next week. I’ll provide an update next week with the current fulfillment status.
Updated 3/2: Hi Everyone, We have an update on the shipping status of the Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX Headphones. Sennheiser will be shipping the headphones to our warehouse in batches. Once each batch arrives it will go through quality control checks, and will then be prepared for shipment. We will be shipping out the batches based on when members joined the drop. We’re excited to announce that the first batch of headphones has arrived and is now being prepared for shipment! This batch is roughly 2,000 headphones and we’ve sent an email to those who are in this initial fulfillment. The next batch is already on the way and is expected to arrive at our warehouse by the end of next week. I’ll provide an update next week with the current fulfillment status. We are on track to have all units ship by our estimated ship date of March 28.
Update - Monday Mar 5th Yeehaw - I got an email at 7:40 this morning EST that my package has shipped. Super excited. Thanks Massdrop.
* For those wondering I ordered on Nov 22, 2017 for the March 31st, 2018 Ship Date 6XX drop.
**Update: Got shipping notification 3/5 with tracking. Woo!
3/5/18 Update: Received an email from Massdrop today with a tracking number, nearly a month earlier than expected shipping date to boot. Currently on their way.
3/7/18 Update: Delivery has been updated from 3/10 to 3/9. All-in-all it has been 7 days from first email saying that they were shipping earlier than expected (3/2), to receiving a tracking number (3/5), and then to delivery (3/9).
Headphones will not CHANGE your life!
Hopefully I will be part of this next shipment! The wait is killing me! :)
Oh well my Magni 3 arrives today :)
Update 3-8-18: Just got my tracking number! 3-14-18: Scheduled delivery is today, but the headphones haven't moved since Monday 3-12-18! They're probably going to be delayed another day... :(
Just want to know so that I can be home to receive it.
Basically Schiit was hacking around Microsoft taking 2 years to offically support something that Linux and MacOS have supported since the month it came out (USB audio 2.0), so you can stream 24/96 over usb
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/audio/usb-2-0-audio-drivers
Seriously, I wasn't expecting this kind of immediately obvious difference. All this from Spotify "extreme" with an iPad air 2 as a source/DAC. Even my wife will be impressed with the SQ.
The clamping force was very tight on my head. Link for YouTube video to reduce clamping force. https ://youtu.be/iNxK-NwSR5U
Edit: Pun not intended. Also, is this shape okay? The cups are closer together on this type of stand, does that rule out the compression or would it still be there?
https://www.amazon.com/Qadira-wooden-headphone-Walnut-Finish/dp/B014F37W9E/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1520624607&sr=8-9&keywords=headphone+stand
I know what you're thinking--his head is big, but don't worry his ears are small!
On the other hand, if you're not into reptiles, you can commission a life-sized bust of your very own head here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/238103541/custom-full-size-portrait-bust-in-the?gpla=1&gao=1&utm_campaign=shopping_us_GallerySasso_sfc_osa&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_custom1=0&utm_content=11303289&gclid=CjwKCAiA_ojVBRAlEiwAOLRxI22emOqXq0Hs8rj7gs6xyiXuKHO6e2zvcUTE3dfBO-GrkkMhgd-XZRoCV78QAvD_BwE
It does cost just under $10,000, but damn it--you're worth it!
Hope this helps :)
Lasher
Lasher
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06VXGYL97/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A22N8GH2JVZ3DS&psc=1
Should I be worried or is the email goblins still making their way to Somali to deliver my email? Then I shall prepare a grand reception... o > o and a coffin just in case your little guy doesn't make it over here. No seriously though I didn't get an email is that normal?
And just a note to anyone at MD who may be following along...I DIDN'T GET MY DAMN EMAIL YET!!!
The path of the audiophool is not kind to my wallet :')
Maybe that's just the romantic thought of a broke student, though. Lots of time, no money.
Cheers.
I feel like to fully appreciate the HD6XX you need an OTL amp.
Then the monitor riser for my Jotunheim will arrive on Tuesday so I can move it back home and set it up there. (Currently in my office because well, I don't have any headphones at home that needs it.)
I did get that walnut headphone stand just now though, I was lucky enough that the three pieces of walnut wood is close enough in color so it doesn't look weird, but sadly the polish on the wood is a bit lacking and is not smooth like a baby's butt. Going to research on how to smooth it up as I don't really like the current slightly rough feel on the sides...
First you have to sand it down with medium, then fine sand paper--'till you get it just the way you want. Then apply one or two coast of Watco Tung Oil (no joke). The Tung oil seeps into the surface to protect and seal the wood (and the work you just put into it). The finished product has a nice, soft glow, very smooth, but not shinny or glossy--more like the sort of finish you see on Danish furniture. You can get a small can at Home Depot or Lowes. Here's a link to the product page: https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/watco/tung-oil/
It's going to be your Masterpiece!
Not impressed. Just like most cheaper Sennheisers, the headband is waaaaay too tight and shaped for narrow heads. Feels like a vice. I don't like the bare metal supports, nor the exposed foam on the underside of the headband, feels cheap af. The special massdrop "color" doesn't seem to be there. Of course the cable with the adapter is dumb, they should have left the 1/4" plug on there instead of the mini adapter. My everyday use 559s sound just as good and are built so much better. I'm replacing the cable and will let them break in before I judge too much on the sound, but so far the fit and feel is not making me want to keep these.
I own 205, 280pros, 380pros, 559, and now this 650 clone, and over the last 35 years of being a dj and editor (video and audio), I've used almost every brand imaginable.
EDIT: Later that night...
If you expand the band all the way, they fit MUCH nicer for large heads. My older 280 pro headband snapped when I stretch the headband out... And I had 205s on 6 final cut pro editing suites, couldn't even put them on the top of my head. The 559s fit perfectly.
Anyhow, all that doesn't matter now... I had time to really listen to them tonight for a few hours, and they're much better than my old cans, maybe not in the fit, but they sound soooo much clearer than I thought. A bit bright, but less "canny" than the 559s. So yeah, have a Snickers before you write a review. I was convinced I didn't like them, so initially I didn't like them.
If you're coming from a $20 pair of crap headphones then you should be able to hear a difference, if you can't then well, I guess you know you don't need to move any higher than the $20 pair since you can't hear a difference. Better invest the money elsewhere that will make a difference for your entertainment experience. Maybe your opinion on this will change a bit when you have the higher power amp, but again I don't think it'll be a HUGE difference unless your current setup is lacking in power to drive the headphones.
Adapter being "dumb" because it's a 3.5mm is also not a very sound argument. This change was made because this is Massdrop, most people's device and source is probably not going to need a 1/4" adapter, so the 3.5mm change is for convenience for the masses. If you don't like the cable just buy a replacement cable for your device, I bought a balanced 4 pin XLR for this headphone because I know I'm not going to use the 3.5mm. Again, this was already noted very clearly on the drop, it shouldn't be a reason for complaint.
It sounds the same as your 559 and not as well built. Welp. I guess you only need to spend $70 for headphones then :D b. Great way to save money! Now go flip the 6xxs online for $250 and make some $$$ ! YEAH!
Currently the Andromeda is able to satisfy my need for musical enjoyment, and while I don't think the 6XX will beat my beautifully machined emerald colored aircraft aluminum goddess I'm sure it'll be a different kind of experience, and it's more comfortable to wear headphones when I'm at home. (Gotta give my ear canals a bit of rest from being violated 8 hours a day, even if it's by a beauty like the Andromeda.)
The 650s which the 6XX is based on is known for its good low end and extremely spacious sound-stage, and very good detail retention. This may also be a reason why you're really liking it on gaming and movies, where the sound-stage portion of the headphone gets to shine at its best. In terms of music, depending on what you usually listen to, the 6XX may not get to flex its most solid muscles due to the way the music/ song was recorded, and as a result fall flat on expectations.
IF you want an "okay I'm done" experience, maybe go for a pair of STAX and see how you like them. (I would rec the L300 or L700) That pair of "headspeakers" was quite an experience at least for me. However the band/ foam/ and everything besides what it sounds like is complete garbage and cheap plastic D: ... So lots of DIY you will need to do to make them comfortable... maybe.
But yeah, once you get used to the sound, you'll always wonder if something else is better, I've already tried my best to curb that feeling, but I still time to time have that "mighty need" to go buy myself a Schiit Yggdrasil because... well I just heard too many good things about it but the price tag and the extremely long warmup time is what's holding me back... for now...
So far so good. Great sound, a much bigger soundstage compared to my ATH-M40x headphones.
For me, even at an uncomfortable level of volume, sound leakage is pretty minimal. Much less than I expected! Either I listen at very low volumes or some people are just overreacting.
Edit: Actually I tried the initial idea of just using the foam now, and wow. It fits EXACTLY in my drawer. It's very snug and it looks super clean (sorry for the crappy photo).
The tracking on this Fedex "Smart"post is still in their smartpost facility in Chino, meaning they're probably done for the day, and will then travel to some other “sorting” facility in some other place within California tomorrow, THEN if they are feeling merciful they'll send it to a USPS facility, OR they can ship it to yet ANOTHER Fedex sorting facility, unapologetically add more dates to your delivery date, until finally they get around to ship it to the USPS facility where it'll go to my local post office for delivery the next day.
At this point I just pray it arrives by the already delayed date of 21st from today, instead of potentially sometime next week as I can see happening at the rate this is going.
Seriously gotta stop using Smartpost... please. @AveryC
Usually I'd say a solid state is more "edgy" in terms of sound, it has a certain sharpness that's very noticeable in the mids/highs, well, let's just say it sounds a bit more artificial, though the truly good ones will be able to alleviate most of that feeling.
The tube amp will be more "round", that is a bit more relaxed and warm. I haven't listened to a whole lot of them to give you any useful comments regarding them, but overall they will have a more organic sound than the solid state.
It is all dependent on a person's personal taste though, some may prefer the crisp and somewhat artificial sound of a solid state (it is by no means a bad sound, just think of it like an enhancer on your photos, it makes things pop out more, but at the same time it takes a bit of the smooth texture out of the original photo) While others would like to hear a more relaxed way of presentation with the tubes, so something that's not as boomtastic or sharp, but delivers a rich, warm sound that has the feeling of effortlessness to your ears.
What would you recommend Ray as something sensible for the 6XX?
1. On-board dacs/amps are usually not that great at creating a good soundstage, sometimes you will feel like music is smashed together in one plain on each side, making it a bit hard to pick apart the different sounds, especially in music where there's a lot going on at once. In that regard external ones are better at accurately presenting the soundstage and separating the different sounds.
2. On-board dac/amps are a bit harsher in their treatment of sound, things will sound more rough and artificial in that regard. A good external DAC/amp will have a smoother presentation, things will sound more dynamic and less artificial. This also depends on the recording of course.
3. Less hiss/ no hiss, on-boards depending on the grounding can have a lot of interference and noises when you plug in your headphones, if this is a problem you will want to get an external dac/amp to hopefully eliminate the problem. This usually happen to more sensitive headphones but it could also happen to the 6XXs if your computer's circuitry is just that bad... D:
4. On-board dac/amps takes no space on your table, external dac/amps take up too much space on your table.
First to be clear, I have no in-depth idea of the actual sound differences between a Delta/Sigma DAC and a the new Multibit DAC. If the extra $100 made a significant difference in hear-able sound quality, I'd be okay with it. My understanding is that it won't at this point, especially with the music files I have now, so I nixed that option and stuck with the Gen 2 Delta/Sigma DAC (adds $100 to the Jot's base price, rather than $200).
Next point was the Jot vs the Lyr3 decision--I decided to stick with the Jotonheim for now. I would also note that when fully pimped with optional tubes, that new Lyr3 ends up well north of seven-hundred smackers! My general feeling about tube amps is: when, and if, I chose to go that route (I can smell the Kool-aid from my house, but so far, haven't drunk any), I'd like go with a more traditional multi-tube amp (if for no other reason than they heat a room better).
So, my final order to the short order cooks at Schiit: one Jot, hold the Multibit, with a side of Gen 2 DAC!
Final cost, as originally ordered: $500. And hopefully, it's shipping today (Damn it!).
"Tonight when I chase the dragon The water may change to cherry wine And the silver will turn to gold"
Or it may not!
While that may sound great on paper, in reality a Multibit dac by itself is a lot of work to get it to reach its full potential, at least the case of just adding a Multibit dac in, or, getting a Modi 2 Multibit/ Bifrost Multibit. You need a very clean source if you're going USB, with RCA there may be other issues that arise, overall you will have to spend EXTRA to get the output signal going into your Multibit dac to be perfect before you can appreciate fully what it has to offer. That in my opinion is not something I'm looking forward to, as that's more and more money and gears piled onto this setup chain.
This means that if you just get the Multibit dac and plug it in like you normally would the Delta Sigma, the difference may not be an upgrade, but more of a sidegrade that has a different sound signature, that in my opinion is not worth the extra $100. I would rather just get the Schiit Yggdrasil and not have to worry about all this USB mumble jumble. I get the highest quality Multibit sound Schiit has to offer, and I don't need to end up buying a ton of other gears that just further takes up space.
So for me, if I'm going Multibit, I will get the best it has to offer, if not, just stick with the Delta Sigma and don't worry about Multibit until you have enough capital to get an actually good one.
I agree with you about not trying to half-ass a Multibit system. Keeping in mind that prior to this morning, most folks were good with a Jotonheim and the prior Gen 1 DAC, as it was. With the Gen 2 installed, I already feel like I'm getting some kind of upgrade, all be it one that evidently, few people have even heard. News at 11:00!
But yeah, if going Multibit at least get a Gumby, or just straight up a Yggy, which will cost an arm but hey at least you still got the leg!
On the Dark Voice 336se, very nice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGvLR14juDc