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'm going to come right out and say it - these might just be the best of the lot.
In most ways they are closer in sound to the HD650 than the HD600. They are fuller, warmer, bassier, thicker (pick your adjectives here) and less shrill than the HD600. Conversely, they retain more graininess than the 650, vocals seem a bit more defined, and a bit more confined in space.
They also have more punch than either, which stops me from describing them as middle ground between the two. For me, I love the extra fullness that the HD650 has over the 600, but find myself wishing for a little more of the 600's detail and precision. These deliver.
Oh man, I'm super excited to get mine now. The hype is real!
So it drops the soundstage for more a smoother tone. Sounds like an interesting headphone.
How is the headband quality? Is it like the HD600? And the weight of the headband, as I do know for myself the HD600 kinda squishes just right and the whole thing is light enough that in a long wearing session it just disappears.
Just a side question have you opened up the headphones? Does it still use the depressing gold plated spring for the contact point?
Headband feels near-identical to the HD650 and HD600, and uses the two-wing foam pad in the 650 instead of the 4-nub pad of the 600. Compared to my 650s, the paint is not as glossy.
The main cosmetic difference is that the lower half of the cups below the pivot point is matte plastic instead of glossy. It does cheapen the feel *a tad*, but they still feel like well-built headphones in the same way the 600/650/6XX do.
There are a few guides around adjusting the headband for clamping force. Some recommend a *very* gentle stretch of the whole headband etc over some books. I'd probably recommend this method, but take the pads off first to avoid squishing them (get your fingers inside and underneath the pad, feel a small plastic lip, and pull gently.
Others recommend bending the metal adjusters that pull out when you enlarge the headband. This is probably the safer method :)