Massdrop x E-MU Purpleheart Headphones

Following the success of the Massdrop x Fostex TH-X00, we teamed up with another brand that Foster manufactures headphones for, E-MU Systems, to bring you a new pair of purpleheart headphones—this time smaller, lighter, and perfectly suited for on-the-go use. The Massdrop x E-MU Purpleheart features handcrafted solid wood enclosures and biocellulose drivers, like its full-size relative, with a more understated aesthetic and a warm, appealing, non-fatiguing sound. Easy to drive from your phone (no amplifier or adapter required), these make an excellent entry point to the world of wood headphones.

These closed-back headphones feature matte satin in place of the TH-X00’s glossy finish, with no external printing to distract from the beauty of the unstained wood. Named for its deep eggplant color, purpleheart is one of the densest woods in the world, which makes it especially good at reducing acoustic resonance. Combined with the 40-millimeter biocellulose drivers, this results in detailed, balanced highs and deep, warm bass: a sound signature that, like the headphones’ overall look, should recall Denon’s popular D1000 series. The soft protein leather ear pads ensure hours of listening comfort, and the slim, lightly padded headband bears a silk-screened Massdrop logo on the left side. Finally, because these cans weigh less than half a pound, you might forget you’re wearing them at all.

The man behind all of E-MU’s wood headphones—including the highly reviewed E-MU Walnut—is Chan Ming Tat, an early founding engineer of Creative Labs. In his position at E-MU Systems, he has found headphones to be a great outlet for his love of wood products. To learn more, check out this video from InnerFidelity.