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
EDIT: Do I need a soundcard to get the most out of these headphones? If so, which one do you suggest? If not, do I need to download audio in high bitrate, always, to enjoy the most out of the headphones? Or can I simply hear better, more clear and enjoyable audio on sites like Youtube.
I have a Matrix M-stage hpa3u+ which I am perfectly happy with. People like Modi2 stack too. A lot of people complain how picky K7xx is when it comes to amp, so read through forums to check how the amp of your liking pairs with k7xx. My HD6xx sounds acceptable with my tiny fiio q1, but k7xx (surprisingly with just 62 ohms) sounds bad.
K7xx is also pretty revealing, so even with an amp badly recorded youtube audio sounds sibilant. I don't have the same problem with HD6xx because treble is rolled off a bit.
In terms of sound, I would say that that the Sennheisers are warmer, but the AKGs have a wider or more open soundstage. In terms of how they sit on your head, the Sennheisers clamp a bit more due to the metal construction of the headband, whereas the AKGs can sink a little due the elastic band; both have very comfortable pads. Overall, I think the Sennheisers are better suited to listening for extended periods of time, but the AKGs have a more accurate sound reproduction if you're a purist. Both sets have amazing sound quality for the price (assuming you get the massdrop-branded Sennheisers because buying the HD 650s elsewhere is ~$100 more expensive), but it's up to personal preference in the end.
DISCLAIMER: Prior to this comparison, the HD 650 had significantly more burn-in time than AKG K7XX (as in years vs. single-digit hours).
I recommend getting something like the Chord Mojo or something in the mid level as you will definitely get 95% of the capability of the headphone and enough resolution to satisfy your next headphone upgrade. If you get something lesser, you'll definitely have the urge to upgrade your source when you get better headphones. Also consider that you'll more life out of electronics as they don't have much wear and tear.
I would only recommend something from the low end if you're just a casual user or a background listener and are not that picky.