I not too long ago took the plunge into high-end audio with my very own headphone and Amp/DAC set-up: Sennheiser HD 650 headphones with the Schiit Magni and Modi stack. Now, I will admit that is removed from a $1,500 Sennheiser HD 800 S or $4,400 Focal Utopia set-up, two headphones I’ve solely had the temporary pleasure of testing, however I like my Sennheiser HD 650s, and this Black Friday deal on their Drop collaboration cousins makes for a less expensive entry into high-end audio than most.
What you are getting is basically the identical headset because the Sennheiser HD 650, which was as soon as upon a time the corporate’s flagship pair. The distinction actually comes down to color—the HD 6XX is available in a beautiful midnight blue—and worth. The Drop x Sennheiser pair is surprisingly low cost for a headset kind of equivalent to the HD 650.
The necessary factor is the sound profile of the HD 6XX is stored the identical because the HD 650, so you are still going to benefit from the high-end audio that everybody’s been raving on about for years now. Which means a really balanced combine proper the way in which by way of the frequencies, although with usually very clear and crisp response on the mids and highs. The bass is rather less than you would possibly anticipate in comparison with your normal gaming headset, however there’s nonetheless a beautiful resonance there that does not muddy up the audio elsewhere by being too overpowered.
As a pair of open-back headphones, you possibly can anticipate a light-weight and ethereal sound that avoids being overly punchy or piercing. That is nice, as long as you are in a quiet area. Being open-back, you do lose the noise isolation of a closed-back pair of headphones, however actually that is a trade-off I would make day by day of the week.
This pair is exceptionally snug, too. They’re frightfully mild, which makes for straightforward listening over lengthy durations, but additionally the gentle and enormous ear cups actually assist unfold that weight out round your ear, fairly than press on it.
I’ve additionally thrown within the Drop x Sennheiser HD 8XX headphones if anybody needs to make the leap on the rethink of Sennheiser’s present flagship. They’re presently underneath $1,000, which is sort of a saving from the widely dear HD 800 S that they are primarily based on. The precise HD 800 S cans are extra effectively acquired, however once they’re round $500 dearer, I can see why many select to go for the Drop pair and put that cash in direction of a DAC/amp.
Talking of which, you may wish to choose up a DAC and amp to actually get probably the most out of both headphone. Drop provides one itself, the O2, although I have not tried it personally. My very own setup makes use of the Schiit Modi and Magni, which works wonders, although it’s a bit pricier for each discrete fashions.
You may additionally want a discrete microphone for those who hope to speak in sport with these in your head. I take advantage of a Blue Yeti X, although there are heaps of great microphones for streaming and gaming on the market, and some for pretty cheap, too.
