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
The original Sennheiser Momentum was a fantastic headphone and in my opinion nudged the headphone design trajectory towards a more mature design note in both shape, function and perhaps foremost in terms of materials. The leather on steel with a somewhat understated design really appeals to me, much in the same way as the B&B P5s did a few years ago and more recently the P7s. The momentums was the first pair of headphones, other than the B&B P5, that could be worn with the business uniform. Walking around an airport with a pair of Audio technica M50s was never an alternative for me. Today there is a slew of alterantives for the business traveller and casual everyday fashionado. My one big gripe with the momentums was the fit, for my ears the cups were to small to be over-ear and as a pair of on-ear they did not really work. The half on half off design confused me and I wanted to take this oportunity to ask if this was a conscious decision in the design process? Did the design restrict the comfort process in this case? A followup to this question would be if Herr Grell thinks that a focus on design usualy leads to sacrifices, comfort or soundquality generally seems to take a hit as soon as the look and feel of a headphone takes presence.
I also wanted to ask a few questions about wireless headphones, this is a hot topic at my workplace. Many consider the ease and simplicity of Bluetooth headphones and earbuds to benefit the listening experience to the degree that the loss of soundquality is negligible. I strongly disagree, I use a portable DAC with my smartphone and a stationary DAC at my desk at work. I prefer vinyl or high quality files such as ALAC or FLAC and there is no doubt that using such devices and such files lead to a different (to avoid the word better) listening experience. Now to my question... In this age of streamed media, noise-cancelling headphones and cordless equipment where do you see the market leaning. Is the market size of people who prefer "low quality sound with ease of use" big enough to bump "cordlovers" to a nisch? I fear for the future of sound when the average end-user is unable to experience the sound upon wish a technician and artist spent many hours, resources and money. Could you put my mind at ease? :-)
Will there be another Momentum style headphones with an over-ear design and a, I would like to call it, less mature sound? I listen to a range of genres and prefer a headphone like the V-Moda M100 (or LP) that is able to hit a sweetspot where many genres sound perfect.
Stay Brilliant Rozenkreutz