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
Have you gone down this rabbit hole? Do you hear a difference? Is it worth it? I'm curious what your experiences are.
My experience: I studied audio engineering in university. The science side of my brain constantly tries to remind me that the differences I may perceive, if any is negligible, or placebo. Nevertheless, I had a custom set made that terminates to a 3.5mm TRS on both ends so that I can try it with all the heaphones I own that have detachable cables. As a caveat, the last time I went to an audiologist to get my hearing tested, I was able to discern up to 18khz. So... not perfect hearing. That was 3 years ago. I don't know where my hearing is now.
With that said and with all my logic telling me I shouldn't really hear any difference, my experience says otherwise. Immediately there was an undeniable difference in amplitude. This made A/B testing a bit difficult to get the volume leveled. Once I figured out the matched volumes, I proceeded to analyze the sounds coming through my headphones. There is a discernible change in sonic properties. It's slight, but unmistakenly there. Since this is my first and only audiophile cable, I can only speculate what other cable designs do to the signal.
The thing is, when changes in sound properties is slight like in this scenario, the more those subtle differences are subject to be increasingly affected by the listener's physiology. The unique pinna of our ears affects how we discern positioning and the space that we're in. A slight change in the mid frequencies may make a sound perceptually really close for one person while the same sound might feel not as close to someone else.
What I heard with my cable is a slight boost in the mid-high frequencies. It didn't affect anything else. Soundstage stayed the same. Stereo separation is the same. However, to someone else, the same change in the mid-high frequencies may open the sound stage because that increase in mid-high matches how their pinna filters sound waves that are far away before it enters their ear drum.
Perhaps this must be why some people hear great differences when they switch to different cables. (Small changes in signal / huge perceptual effect).
What it's worth: To me, personally, the gains in signal clarity is nice, but that's achievable with a modertely well built cable specially for short runs from a desk amp to your chair or the floor if you enjoy your music laying down. If the desire is to get those subtle differences in sonic properties, a well implemented EQ works much better for that I think. I won't be selling my cable. I actually like the boost that it gives, but now that my curiosity is satisfied, these will be the first and last audiophile cable I'll be purchasing.
Of course I say that now, but I guess I can never say never.