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
My version has the balanced 2-pin connector -- a 2.5mm TRRS plug. Because my portable music player is still several weeks out, I haven't been able to listen to these earphones. However I have ordered a 2.5mm TRRS to 3.5mm TRS adapter from Null Audio in Singapore. So it's a waiting game once again.
In the meantime, here are all other "soundless" impressions:
1. Acoustic seal is amazing. After insertion into the ear, just wait 3-5 seconds for the entire auditory world around you to vanish -- without any of that discomfort or pressure sensation you get from compressed foam earplugs.
2. Comfort is excellent. These are my first CIEMs. I own a pair of Shure SE425s and some too-embarrassing-to-be-named IEMs. None of them comes close to the comfort of a custom fitted IEM.
3. The Linum BaX cable is really thin and light, but quite strong and reassuring in the sense that you know it won't disintegrate. It does tend to tangle, so some care is needed when unrolling and re-rolling the cable.
4. The fit is perfect. I took a photo of the CIEM in my ear, and it follows the contours of the ear very well and "locks" into place.
All that is left is to actually hear them...
Color-wise, I was torn between the maple and bloodwood (like mahogany), but chose the maple in order to have a less conspicuous design.