Drop X Sennheiser PC38X Review - Best sounding headset in 2021?
Drop X Sennheiser PC38X: drop.com/buy/drop-sennheiser-...
Become an expert on headphones: www.headphones.com/pages/rese...
Learn about headphone measurements and frequency response: www.headphones.com/pages/meas...
How frequency response impacts sound signature: www.headphones.com/pages/how-...
Podcast: theheadphoneshow.fireside.fm/
Twitter: / headph1show
Twitter: / resolvereviews
Source equipment
Amp - SPL Phonitor X: www.headphones.com/products/s...
Amp - Cayin IHA-6: www.headphones.com/products/c...
Amp - Schiit Magni Heresy: www.schiit.com/products
Amp - Cayin HA1A MK2: www.headphones.com/products/c...
Amp - Ampsandsound Kenzie OG: ampsandsound.com/products/ken...
DAC - Soncoz LA-QXD1: hifigo.com/products/soncoz-la...
DAP - iBasso DX220: www.headphones.com/products/i...
DAC - Matrix Audio X-Sabre Pro: www.headphones.com/products/m...
Headphone Recommendations:
Entry level
AKG K371: www.akg.com/Headphones/Profes...
Sennheiser HD 560S: www.headphones.com/products/s...
Sennheiser HD6XX: drop.com/buy/massdrop-sennhei...
Midrange
HiFiMAN Sundara: www.headphones.com/products/h...
HiFiMAN Ananda: www.headphones.com/products/h...
Focal Elex: drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-focal...
Audeze LCD-GX: www.headphones.com/products/a...
High End
Audeze LCD-2 (with EQ): www.headphones.com/products/a...
Focal Clear: www.headphones.com/products/f...
HiFiMAN Arya: www.headphones.com/products/h...
Sennheiser HD 800S: www.headphones.com/products/s...
ZMF Auteur: shop.zmfheadphones.com/collec...
HEDDphone (heavy): www.headphones.com/products/h...
Very high end
Rosson Audio RAD-0: www.headphones.com/products/r...
ZMF Verite Closed: shop.zmfheadphones.com/collec...
Focal Stellia: www.headphones.com/products/f...
Summit
Focal Utopia: www.headphones.com/products/f...
HiFiMAN Susvara: www.headphones.com/products/h...
IEM Recommendations:
Moondrop Blessing 2: www.headphones.com/products/m...
Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk: shenzhenaudio.com/products/mo...
DUNU SA6: www.headphones.com/products/d...
Thieaudio Monarch: www.headphones.com/products/t...
Campfire Andromeda 2020: www.headphones.com/products/c...
64 Audio Nio: www.headphones.com/products/6...
64 Audio U12t: www.headphones.com/products/6...
Empire Ears Odin: www.headphones.com/products/e...
00:00 - Intro
00:42 - Build, Design, Comfort & Features
04:50 - Sound: Objective
06:41 - Sound: Gaming Performance
07:48 - Sound: Subjective Impressions & Comparisons
10:47 - Conclusion
Another excellent review Andrew! Please also review the HD58X if or when you can. Thank you in advance.
For anyone wondering about the background noise issue on this vid, there was some weird interaction with a particular DAC/amp I was using at the time that caused this. As soon as I removed it, the issue went away. Just bad luck that I happened to have it on while recording this video. Also, the pop filter doesn't come with this headphone.
so what would you say is best for gaming? ( to be able to pinpoint where sound is coming from)
what is the pop filter going to get 2 one for my 37x and gfs 38x
Hi, can you do the PC37X? I know they are older, but I couldn't decide on whether I want to buy them or these. Thanks
I get ringing ears quite often and didn't even notice until you mentioned it lmao
think you forgot to mention how the mic mutes itself when it is upright, which is a pretty neat feature.
2:05
lol, I have this feature on my G36 that I bought for 90 EUR in 2013...
I've been using the PC28X for a month already and I'm fully happy with my purchase as a gaming headset. The fit was a little clampy out of the box but quickly broke in after 2-3 days.
Thanks - really informative. I fell into this channel on Friday, and whilst I've requirements that a slightly different to maybe most of your audience, it's been really interesting to go through your content. Sadly, in the UK this headset (and the 37X) are pretty difficult to source! Have you any recommendations for the UK market, or indication that this headset might have a planned mainstream availability?
Was expecting Chrono to review these. :) Btw. you missed pointing out that mic mutes in the upper position (the click @ 2:02).
I love these headphones over any other headphone I have. While they all have different sound signatures these are for sure my go to headphones especially for gaming, although they are good for music as well. For reference I have the DT 770, 880, HE 400i, and Sundaras. What is the closest non-gaming headset to this one? I ask because I'd like to wear these out in public but it's a little crazy with the mic. All of your criticisms are totally fair. I agree with the imaging, clamp force, etc.
I think something important to note for a headphone/headset of this type, and especially in this price bracket, is amplification - this thing isn't designed to need or benefit much from an amp, unlike the 58X, 6XX or some of the planar options at this price point. While on their own, they may be similar in price, if you were comparing the 38X vs a 6XX with even something like a Zen DAC combo unit, you're really comparing $170 to something closer to a $400 package (or 450 with a mic on top), and the kind of person that's usually going to be looking for a headSET is rarely interested in stepping up that far in budget, or informed enough to know to add that pinch of salt. Did enjoy the review though, great work as always! Just think amplification is an important talking point you shouldn't forget when talking about products like these. Oh, another thing I'd be curious to hear this compared to is the TYGR 300R since they're targeting a very similar market segment (just without the mic, in that case).
Yeah that's definitely another piece to it.
Fatherless pfp.
Is there no noticeable difference? I bought this headset and the sennheiser gsx 1000 amp but he plays on ps5 and Im on PC, so I feel a bit of a disconnect in terms of control and capability. Anything helps and is appreciated.
I had the a much better experience with my unit for positional audio. I feel like everywhere I heard and expected people to be, they were exactly there. Bring up 8k on Realtek helped a bit more to hear reloads and shuffling better. Overall this is probably the best all in one headset I think I've tried. For FPS the Cloud Alpha comes in close second, only because 1) there is echo problems and AEC causes the mic to fall right below audible in critical scenarios. 2) Busy comms get very cluttered quickly with the Alpha where they stay quite separate from game audio on the PC38x. I got mine for $125 after tax and I think that is a good price. I think few "gaming headsets" perform at their price point. I'd catch them on sale.
Just got it today in 2023. Sounds epic
I see you have the Cayin HA1A mk2 on the shelf behind you on your right. Its featured in the intros of some of your vids, for the love of god, please do a review of it.
I love mine, and with the low impedance, they work wonderfully straight out of the PS5 Dualsense controller. It's also worth noting that these do come with two cables and two sets of pads.
How's the comfort and compatibility with the ps5? Compatibility as in if the ps5 party/mic setting mess with anything.
@@blanketyblank9827 comfort is fantastic. I haven't had any issues with the mic, but I don't play multiplayer games.
@@tylerstravis thanks for the reply, been watching reviews on these for the past few days and the biggest complaints I've seen are the comfort. So I think I'm gonna try then out and hopefully they're fine, will definitely be an upgrade from my $60 turtle beaches lol.
@@blanketyblank9827 I'm used to Sennheiser, but keep in mind that you can't return them.
@@blanketyblank9827 the complaints are usually about clamp force is what im assuming which can loosen up over time and can be very comfortable
Any way you could do a brief overview of gaming performance in future headphone reviews? I understand if it takes too much time to play games enough to get a good idea
Very interesting. And it echo's Crinacles' review. I hope you do more low end headphone/headset reviews. ie Arctis Pro / Cloud II Wireless / MH751's. Same thing with the chi-fi IEMs. I understand it's probably more interesting for you guys as addic.. hobbyists to review the expensive high end stuff, but I think you'd probably get a fairly large influx of new viewers who could then springboard into the other stuff. *cough* get sucked into the endless void which is this hobby *cough*
Hi ! Thank you for the review, I'm sad this headset is not available in France... Did you heard the Beyerdynamic MMX300 Gen 2 for comparison ?
They deliver to UK so they might to France too?
They deliver to France. You can bought them on amazon.com for ~200€ including import fees, or directly on drop but you'll have to pay ~40-50 import fees.
I installed a pair of 3rd party earpads to replace what came with my PC38x headset because the pads that came with them (both pairs) had a somewhat small ear space (depth was fine though). I also placed them over a box overnight to stretch out the band a bit to lessen the clamping force. I was upgrading from my venerable SPH9500 headphones which were still an enjoyable experience for music but not the best for gaming. I've not tried many other headphones/headsets so I can't do much of a comparative analysis, but I'm extremely pleased with the gaming experience using the PC38x headset. I can't imagine finding a better headset for both music and gaming in this price range.
My experience with Sennheiser G4me Ones is close to what you have described in the review (I still own it and use it daily). For music, HD650/6XX is a tier above for sure. I also found that although it's marketed as a gaming headset, strangely, the ability to accurately determine precise direction in game via sound cues is much more difficult than the HyperX Revolver and HyperX Cloud Mix. The sound quality of the mic on this line of headsets are fantastic, but the swivel to mute feature died a year into use for me. I can still feel and hear the "click" when the mic triggers the point to mute, but it will not mute anymore...
The body is the game one but the drivers are taken from the gsp 500
I just ordered this on Amazon (black version). Should I return it for the Turtle Beach 700 gen 2? I mostly play FPS games.
@@mr_red13 I have not used headphones from Turtle Beach before so can't help there. My Game One is going strong though. I still use it as my daily.
This video reminded me to re watch lcd gx review video! ❤️
I ended up getting an lcd gx on eBay, it was b stock but brand new for 650. It’s definitely worth it to my ears and head (comfort).
@@storage-space4927 I'm hoping I can save up for a easy to drive sub 1000 headphone as a jump from my entry level gears. Used focal clear, lcd gx and Ananda are on the top of the list at the moment. Not sure when I'll save up enough though.. 😅 Congrats on such terrific deal! ❤️
@@prabinpaudel5572 definitely check eBay! Worlds best headphones is an authorized dealer so you get new b stock headphones for a good price and full warranty! I sold many of my mid tier headphones and had some money saved up to get the GX and definitely worth it. But again this is very subjective and if you can try a pair out check them out.
@@storage-space4927 That's the problem I live in Nepal. Hope you've heard of the country. There's no chance of demo. Or even return stuff. Directly buying from abroad will break my back with taxes and tarrifs. I have to make my relatives in USA or Aus buy stuff for me and wait for them bring it along. So I try to buy stuff with least negative reviews. 😅 After buying some entry level gear I know the kind of tonality I wish my headphone to have. Gx seems close to the target. ☺
@@prabinpaudel5572 ouch :( I have definitely heard of Nepal and I am sorry I didn’t even give a thought to were you lived. Not sure about your traveling situation and also with Covid making it harder to travel it would be hard for you to take a trip to California and visit the audeze shop or something of the sort:/ I wish I could help you out in some way to get a way for you to demo these.
I didn't know you played competitive games. I'd love to see some recommendations at different price brackets for what you think the best competitive gaming headphone is.
I think in one of the podcasts he mentioned that he was in relative top of USA in Starcraft 2 at some point, playing on stage and all.
I had mine for 6 months now, connected to sound blaster g6, sounds really great, been playing overwatch and warzone with it!
How’s the footsteps for warzone??? Do you know clearly and loud where they are coming from
@@ANG3LS21 just the Headset and no Amp/Dac , it sounds good , i can hear the positional foot steps on Low boost ingame sound. But a lot better with DTS spatial sound on windows.
@@cooperdriz6516 ahhh nice! What’s your settings on it!?
@@ANG3LS21 the headset is plug and play, no software.
@@cooperdriz6516 why without amp/dac?
Could you please comment on the Focal Celestee vs. the DCA Aeon2 in terms of the technical performance?
I've been using the 6XX's for gaming for a long time, and yeah you just kinda adapt to what you're used to. You mentioned how hearing where things are in front of you might be important, but for me I find it to be the least important. I can see things in front of me, so when I hear something that I don't see I know it's to my side or behind me.
You don’t see enemy in front when there is something between you. 6xx are imo one of the worst for gaming and I tried many many headphones. But of course when you’re used to something, you don’t know it’s bad unless you compare with something better
How would these compare to the seinheiser hd560s? I'm trying to decide what headsets I want. I don't want a dedicated mic. I'm looking for a headset that you can either attach a mic to it or comes with. I also need to figure out what dac amp to use. I'm coming from hyper x clouds lol
slight correction here, since i know its easily missed by someone who is an audiophile and likely have several good amps and dacs laying around lol, the pc38x is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than the other higher end sennheiser options like the 6xx. the pc38x has very low ohms, you can plug it straight into your controller or pc and itll perform at full capacity. if you try the same thing with a 6xx, u essentially are nerfing the headset making it sound worse, as its ohms are around 300 compared to the pc38x's 38 ohms. so while yes u could spend the extra 50 bucks or whatever it is on a better headphone like the 6xx, the reality is u will be spending several hundred more than that on amps, dacs, and a mic on top of that. the 6xx for gaming is essentially and realistically closer to a 400-500 dollar headphone for someone who is just getting into real headphones instead of the 40 dollar walmart ones. the pc38x on the other hand is a real headphone that is truly only 160 or so dollars, no amps or dacs or modmics needed lol. that being said, if ur playing on PC and ur motherboard is a budget board and doesnt have upgraded audio, you will need a dac anyways, so... there are several factors that play into which headset is a better investment. 90% of people will find the pc38x as one of the best options available. THE best option available by far if u only buy sennheiser and are on a budget. now if you already have an amp and dac, and dont mind spending the extra 100 dollars for the headphone itself AND a modmic; the 6xx is indeed a better headphone. well i only just now realized this video is 2 years old so im kinda embarrassed now lol ...
have a Sennheiser PC38X. I have it hooked up to a UGREEN USB-C to 3,5mm jack. It sounds fine, but it doesn't get very loud. I want to add more volume to my headphones and use Dolby Atmos. I'd imagine that this will be more than adequate to give me more volume given the very low impediance (32 ohms) of my PC38X.
I’m wondering what you would think about the Logitech g pro 2019 edition ($100 gaming headset)
First, this is an absolutely fantastic review -- puts most YT audio reviewers literally to shame, and that includes some of the really big ones. Second, someone said that he'd have a hard time *not* recommending these headphones as an audiophile, music-listening solution, at least in their price-point. Is that hyperbole? I mean it's still a gaming headset: Do people really buy this for music?
Any thoughts on the best setup for a ps5? Have wired Astro’s/mix amp but have to use their splitter and lose out on getting the full use of my monitor. I don’t mind having dedicated headphones and mic separate. I get a little lost on what setups work best!
1:32 This kinda model's can stand for at least +8 years dude :D I have still my PC 363D, same "plastic core". Just ordered this though, going to save the PC 363D for spare :P Cheers
How are the Celestees for gaming, somewhat comparable to the Clears?
Resolve, please review the Avantone Planar. It is supposedly more neutral than even the Sundara!
It's not. Also, check Max Settings review of if - he was fairly thorough.
@@ResolveReviews thanks, I watched it. His unit was defective however which invalidates his review. If you scroll down and read the comments on his video, as well as the Head Fi thread, you will see people commenting that their experience of it is literally polar opposite of what Max is saying.
@@phetmoz if it actually is defective that's an issue, but I gotta be honest, I trust his opinion over folks on head-fi generally, even though I do also have differing opinions from him at times as well. The main thing we can rely on him for is that he's not at all persuaded by price or purchase justification, which is unfortunately a major issue in forum threads in general.
@@ResolveReviews yeah I hear you. But it is very suspect that people are reporting that their experience is absolutely opposite of his - particularly in sound stage. Max described it as shockingly narrow, basically mono. Other people, actually most, are saying it's just a hair behind the Sundara in terms of width. Something fishy is going on. I think it deserves a review by you :)
Would this be better for FPS games vs something like the Turtle Beach 700 Gen 2? In terms of tracking opponents, not features.
Can I ask - do you actually enjoy the harman Target yourself as an audiophile? _ as opposed to other shifts in frequency response. Bluntly - what is your actual ultimate preference? Seems Harman is just everywhere - and i know its supposed to be some magical consumer populist response - but for you, as somone who is actually more acquainted with high end audio gear and as a result, im assuming someone who has a specific taste in headphone frequency response - Whats your preference?
Check the video we did on the Harman target, I covered it there. There are some criticisms, but also most people have the wrong idea about what it is.
I hope this fits over my Pimax
I wouldn't worry about durability with these. HD 500 series chassis and variants like this are as tough as it gets. I got a Game One and Zero here both have been abused, slammed into the desk in gamer rage, dropped on the floor etc for years no issues. And yeah the comfort does break in over time quite well. I used to get annoyed at gaming headsets musical performance. These days I start to wonder if gaming performance and music performance might be diametrically opposed, at least for shooters. I used to find the Game One good for gaming and too strident for music. Another example, take the DT 1990 and the HD650. Guess which one I reach for for shooters and which ones for music. Its not even close. FYI you got some noise in this video at about 5.5kHz sounds like electronic interference. Had to do an EQ sweep to hear it after reading comments. I had this before but at 10kHz was a noisy switching power supply. Keeping cables away from power and getting a good quality Mogami / Van Damme starquad XLR cable helps. Dynamic mics seem more susceptible to interference than condensers ime. Hmm this comment is starting to look like an essay... Hi, Resolve! :D
Hiiiii. Yeah the issue was some DAC/amp I was using at the time. It caused interference. I had to do a lot of filtering even just to get it to where it is now - it was most audible at 10khz, but I dropped that with a parametric EQ.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow That explains that, I initially looked at 10kHz and couldnt hear it and found it closer to 5. I did think that was odd.
The TYGR 300R continues to impress me with it's excellent gaming performance and music performance. It's not a flagship music headphone, but for the price and ability to do both, it's one of the best in my opinion. Sub-bass is lacking ands can benefit from a bit of EQ boost for music, but imaging, sound stage, detail, and resolve for it's price is excellent compared to other options in this price point.
@@jasonfranciosa Beyer need to make the TYGR 300R available in general markets without the Fox Mic. At least here in the UK the only way to buy them without the mic is direct from Beyer and now thanks to Brexit, Beyer wont ship to the UK :( The headphone thats doing it for me right now as an allrounder is the HD560S, its a jack of all trades master of none kinda thing. Really wanna try the TYGR tho.
@@WheezyTech The HD560s is great. I had it for a little while. The tuning of the 560s is superior in my opinion, as are the mids without EQ, but the imaging, sound stage, comfort, and detail I find the TYGR to be a bit better. Both are wonderful all-a-rounders. My biggest complaint with the TYGR is the bass bump and sub-bass roll off. If they shifted that bump down by like 100hz so it had a sub-bass boost and the bass bump started a bit lower, it would be nearly perfect. From my understanding, the TYGR 300R is the DT990 driver that has been retuned to get rid of the piercing highs of the 990.
They are comfortable af. And sound GREAT. 12hz they go down too
I wonder how the MMX300 compares to this one.
Stop it doesn’t matter enjoy these
What headset would you recommend for fps gaming?
Please review the Monolith M1570.
It actually comes with two different cables. One is a shorter cable better suited for portable devices, and the other is the longer one you showed here.
Mine came only with one long cable EDIT: It came with 2 cables actually. Sorry for the misinformation.
@@atyne_marDid You atleast get the extra pads?
Any updates on comfort? I’ve read other reviews and they all say they are comfortable which is probably at the top of my list for headphones.
These are below average for comfort for me. Pads are on the hard side. Combined with the clamp, comfort is not the best. KSC75 with headband mod = comfort kings for me.
@@brianm2850 that’s weird how for you they are not comfortable but for me the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever had for gaming. I also have the Sony Pulse which I couldn’t stand for longer then 15 min others said they were very comfortable.
@@Oilerrocker yeah, comfort is a very subjective thing. I got use to the PC38X, but for me they just aren't top tier comfort for my head. I'm using it's cousin the HD 560s right now and I think the comfort is vastly better. I don't really buy headsets anymore, but I was always curious about the comfort of the MH751. Say what you want about Z Reviews, but his takes on build and comfort are pretty solid and he goes into good detail on those aspects of headphones in his reviews. He said those are "Comfort Kings".🤷♂️ I'm saving up for an used HD 800, so no more hp purchases untill then.
Goldplanar has an AMT headphone out GoldPlanar GL850
Do you have a recommendation for a pop filter for the pc37x/pc38x? I'm looking at Amazon and not sure which to get.
I still have my 558 modded for VMODA boom mic and removed back foam. Would these be an upgrade at all?
Is there any different between new Epos pc38x vs the Senhisers one
Can i use this to listen to music?, i'm looking for a gaming headphone that i can use for both gaming and listening to music, currently using my sony xm4 for gaming
What would make a better gaming headset pc38x or hifiman deva pro, soundstage and imaging wise
How do they compare to a HD599?
So if you don't recommend this for gaming, what do you recommend?
Could you link the mic cover?
Try to use the mic all the way down at chin level, it should help with plosives.
How do these stack up to the GSP 600?
Is it better than the Sennheiser GSP 600?
How do these compare to the Astro A50?
Curious what do you recommend for imaging for gaming over this
Sennheiser HD560S is solid
Here's a gaming review and comparison between PC38X of those. kzhead.info/sun/fs-Spr5lnJ6Fkqc/bejne.html
Another oldie would be HD599, more bass
Where did you get that pop filter, please answer
Bought the PC38X on discount for 130 buck. Upgrading from my PC37x
I was thinking about getting HD560s to use with my modmic wireless or getting these for the convenience factor. Went for HD560s and now, thanks to you, I know it was the right choice, especially since treble doesn't bother me at all. It's a great replacement for my HD660s, which is great when pads are new, but loses all the detail advantages and gets bloated bass once pads get old. For my my use new pads don't even last 4 month, which makes keeping the pads new waaay too expensive, so I genuinely think that 560s is better than the HD600 line
I agree with 660s longavity issue. If you use them a lot you need to buy new pads regularly and new pads cost like 40€+, also cups have squeeking issue after some time. But I still think they’re worth it and I don’t like 560s.
@@atyne_mar for me, after using 660 for 2 years and getting 560 - at first 560 sounded less full and came out quite tiny, after a couple of days of switching between the two - my 660(probably would be different on new pads) sounds like it has more bass, less highs, less detail, more forward mids, more condensed soundstage. After a week of comparing - I prefer 560s on most songs, but on some I prefer 660. The issue is that with worn pads some songs just sound bad on 660, while everything sounds good and realistic on 560. So at first I didn't like 560 either, but I think it was because I was too used to 660 sound.
What pop filter did you use for this?
I'm really curious how the Razer Blackshark v2 Pro compares to this. A friend gifted me one, so I'm very curious how it holds up.
I had Razer and returned it due to very poor mic quality. Sound was ok but for me PC38X is different class especially directional sound. Tested both on Warzone on PS5.
@@tommyzee589 Thanks for the info! I'm very curious to try out the PC38X one of these days, for sure!
It doesn't compare at all
Tygr 300r review
I have both, Tygr300s really sound like you are in a room with speakers like DMS said. 38x's smaller stage, decent imaging and more Bass. But not very comfortable. Takes a while to break them in also.
@@oldandslow8994 I do as well and I always find myself wearing the 38x more. Tygr is by far the most comfortable. But for gaming, I have a better experience with positional accuracy (Direction and Distance) with the 38x. When I go back to Tygr, its a learning curve and I struggle.
@@oldandslow8994 on my country pc38x cost 135$ and tygr cost 225$ do you think tygr is worth extra 90$ over pc38x ? i will be using it for music more than gaming
@@shera3142 what kind of music? Do you prefer a more V shaped sound or more open and and airy?
@@oldandslow8994 i like pop music. and i never had any headphone beside dt 990 pro 250ohm which is v shaped so i never experienced any other type. and I'm more into punchy bass headphone
2:25 What size of a pop filter can I use on these? I couldn't figure out the right size until now, could someone help me out with that?
Man is this available in the UK? I can't find it anywhere online over here 🤦♂️
Just bought mine from USA.I COULD NOT FIND TO BUY THEM ON LINE FROM EUROPE
you said these werent the best for spacial / positional awareness in gaming, and that other headsets did the job better. can you quickly list what you think would be better options for gamers in this genre?
Resolve here, I would personally take an hd560s
You mentioned that this might not be your pick for gaming. What headset do your recommend for gaming?
I'd probably go for an HD 560 s personally. No mic though... So that starts to get more expensive.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow would the 560, pc37x or pc38x be better than 598 se? I have been using the 598 se for the past like 9 years every day 8 hours a day. I was thinking about getting a dedicated headset for gaming. I ordered the cloud 2 because the got good reviews saying they have good audio, but they sound awful compared to the 598. I am going to return them, so I need something else. Thanks for the help.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow I also ordered the gsp 300 because it was on sale (80 cad), but I might cancel that and get something better.
It depends on the type of games you test the headset with
On console, the volume knob on this is a godsend if you don't happen to have an amp by the tv. It's super convenient. For a potential 39x version, I wish for two things: 1) Removable mic. 2) Improved comfort.
Nice
Any opinion about the sound using the velour pads?
Pretty much the same
@@TheHEADPHONEShow thanks!
There is noticeable difference actually - velour are slightly thicker/warmer and less shouty, sound more natural to me.
@@atyne_mar This is true, there is clearly a difference with the type of pads used
I wonder if Drop has consistency issues with these. You and Crinacle both found its positional imaging really mediocre, while Zeos, DMS, and Josh all consider it the pinnacle of headphones for gaming.
To be fair imaging is influenced highly by the size and shape of your ears. Best way to judge imaging is to average what reviewers say. Cos unlike with frequency response measurements where we can measure with an averaged fake ear, predicting imaging from measurements isn't so easy. So all imaging judgements are rather subjective based on our own ears. At least that's how I understand it.
Or maybe they got paid to overhype the headphones. All 3 of them got their pair from drop. It's all about making money on KZhead through sponsorships. Unfortunately, money makes most people compromise their integrity. The best advice is to try it out yourself.
definitely needs the pop-filter, but pretty good with it on
I think you're supposed use the mic all the way down at chin level in order to avoid plosives, not near your mouth.
@@zahitemremetin606 Yeah good point. I'm wondering why it didn't come with one. Do you think it's worth getting a pop filter on Amazon? Or is it best to just keep the mic down like you mentioned.
@@Princeton_James I mean one is free, so before spending any money try the free method. I'dont have PC38X but I have GSP 300 and the mic has the same form factor as PC38X. I'm using it all the way down and it works fine.
He just used it wrong, I've had 10+ sennheiser headsets and all the mics have sounded way better when using it 2 CM BELOW your mouth level. Sounds better and removes those 'plosives.
They need to drop different colors, I would so buy these if the yellow was replaced with a dark blue or just all black.
as a headset, especially as a work headset, i love the 38x specifically for the volume control. it's essential, when different callers have different gains on their respective phones/headsets/mics. i will agree to disliking being a bumble bee tho. and i don't feel the 38x are substantially better for gaming than my focal clears.
Are you comparing a $1,500 headphone to a $180 headset? That in itself shows how good these are for the money....
@@Nonx47 it's incredibly unfair a comparison to make, between a "gaming" headset and what would be an endgame headphone for many. But it's not a compliment to the 38X. for a headset marketed towards gaming, i practically only use it for business. the comfort isn't there, and the imaging+staging is great, but not good enough for me to overlook the discomfort over time.
Just a note, KZhead auto-generated subtitles with language as Korean.
This isn't discussed enough to me and i have tried over 20 different types of headphones, gaming and HiFi. From DT1990s price point and down. IMO gaming headphones are not 1 headphone for all games type of situation. It all depends on what game and how the sound design was intended. For people who just play FPS like CS or Valorant definitely go for Imaging 1st then sound stage. Then there are games you just want atmosphere and deep bass with crisp highs. So you would choose something more punchy maybe closed back. Is the game open world? Or is the game in doors. Then i would choose either open back or closed depending on the environment. I have spent a lot of $$$ trying to find the perfect pair and Dac combo and have realized that there isn't one size fits all.
Agree. I have a pair of focal clear and drop he4xx. When I got the focal I was going to sell the hifiman until I played videogames with them. With the clears and valorant I'm able to hear footsteps of the enemies around corners and I know exactly what corner they are coming from. But I can't tell how far are them. They sound too close. This is an advantage on competitive gaming but it ruins the immersion of single player games. My character footsteps are right in my ears, the wind is too loud, the crickets are too loud, everything is on your face, there is no deepness. And the same happens on movies, the voices of people sound weird, like they were recorded with cheap mics. While with the he4xx I can't tell exactly where the footsteps are coming from, but I feel more immerse, and its bass adds to that sensation. What would you recommend for immersive gaming out of all the headphones you have listened to? I'm looking to upgrade my hifimans for gaming only
@@juanp756 what is your current DAC amp combo? Are you on PC or console?
@@oldandslow8994 i play on both. My current stack is schiit eitr -> schiit modi multibit -> cth amp
@@juanp756 Sorry for the wall of text, but really need you to see my journey so you don't waste money. Looks like you already have a really good setup for Music. I have really been on hunt lately for a really good THX kick in pants sound. Like you get from the Theater or a good home surround system. Something with a lot of punch and crunch. Also enveloping at the same time. Maybe I am missing the movie theaters. I went through my stage of trying to find the best imaging and micro detail kick for music but it wasn't translating to gaming. Not much atmosphere. Like you said crickets in your face. I was really apprehensive to try a gaming headphones coming from HIFI Sundaras/1990s. I guess you could say I was a HiFi snob. LOL. Then i asked myself how do you know what they are hearing and who I was to judge when I haven't even heard their setups. So the expensive journey began with a lot of returns to come. To try and not go into to much detail. I am currently outputting the 5.1 off a G6 into a Astro Mixamp pro for pc with the Dolby enabled. The mixamp also allows me to get the 5.1 off the PS5 with an in line hdmi to optical convertor. I also run the optical from my LG CX. I then have been using the Tygr300, 38x, Dt770s, HD58x. all with good results. Movies off the TV are really good. This is also with messing with a good EQ setting on the Mixamp though. Only issue is Mixamp doesn't have much power. Your HE4xx are a very fun sounding headphone and I might have to give them ago soon. Sorry for being long winded.
@@oldandslow8994 thanks, I have been trying dolby atmos on windows and it did improved the experience, even if the games aren't mixed with it. I guess the astro do something like that but with eq.
My PC38X does not get loud enough when plugged directly into my pc. Yes, all of my volume settings in Windows is at 100% as is KZhead, Discord, Apple Music, and game settings. Any ideas on how to fix, short of buying a separate amp?
If it doesn't get louder enough for you, then yeah you need an AMP. Would love to help recommending one, but I haven't researched anything on Amps and their qualities for price etc...
Anyone know what the owner of this channel is using for gaming headset?
He rec'd HD 560S for open & DT 700 Pro X for closed as "budget" pics in another video. HD 800S for no limit spending, otherwise.
Still can't decide between PC38X and TYGR 300R for PS5 gaming (mostly single player games). I have an DT 1990 which I love for my PC setup, so I don't think I'll be lost with the TYGR 300R but it could be interesting to try a different pair of headphones. What do you think ? I'll be using them directly from the PS5 controller.
What did you go with?
Can anyone tell me what microphone he's using in this video?
This or the Hyperxcloud orbit?
tried them few weeks ago at my friends home, those might be good for games, music suck with this: to bright no bass
This headaet or hd 58x?
Does anyone know if there is a Sennheiser headset with amp that is compatible with PS5?
Currently it is $129...should I not wait and just but it?
Thank you for the review, Resolve. I was asked for a recommendation for a gaming headset today. Wonder how it compares to the Hyper X Cloud II. Also wonder how it compares to the Ultrasone for 3k, you reviewed not long ago. Just kidding.
I’ll have to check but I don’t think a windscreen came with mine. Does anyone know if it’s supposed to come with one? If not, where can I get one for it?
Try to use the mic all the way down at chin level, it should help with plosives.
Have you tried the akg 712 pro I wonder how those stack up with these
k712 is very atmospheric, great for large scale shooters like bf or squad, but it’s not very competitive because of strange and muffled midrange
What wait, you got a pop filter with yours!? Goddammit I didn't get one!
Pop filter doesn't come with it.
Use the mic all the way down at chin level, that should solve the plosive issues.
How would these sound on ps5
this or tygr 300r?
If these aren't the best for gaming at this price point then what are the best?
It strongly depends from what game, what type of sound do you like, what is comfortable for you etc. I myself would recommend pc38x/58x/tygr300r/he400i2020 for competitive shooters, K712 for atmosphere in large scale shooters, and 58x for narrative driven games with lots of voicovers. I use them all and I can’t tell which one are definitely best. Each have issues and each are better at something else.
I love the yellow accent.
Same
I just want something at this price point closed with a mic, I did seperate mice for half a decade and its just annoying to me at this point.
This is a solid review, I just wish it took more into account people who want a good single-player game / cutscene listening experience as well when gaming rather than just being able to pinpoint footsteps in Call of Duty being the only standard gamers care about. Most headphone reviewers do this and its tough to find anyone who bothers to mention that in a review. Edit: Also I know this is a headphone channel, but referencing the HD650 when it costs 30% more and probably needs an extra amp to drive it for console gaming makes little sense.
This has been my struggle. I don't really play competitive games or fps. I'm currently trying out the X2HR, which are very configurable have sounded great to me, and the 38X will be here tomorrow so I can compare them. I've heard nothing but "the 38X is the best gaming headset ever". So we'll see.
@@Katastra_ Did you end up keeping the 38X?
@@tobgg I did! I found that the X2HR, while I liked the sound and comfort of the X2HR, their weight was noticeable and the pair I got had a weird treble spot that bothered my ears that I couldn't isolate. That along with the convenience of the built in mic had me keeping the 38X instead.
Better just buy a good sounding headphone like HE400SE or the 6XX and a separate mic.
listening to this with them on can confirm they slap harder than an abusive dad on a 6 pack of stellas
I freaking *LOVE* my PC38x for discord + gaming (prefer 560S and 6xx for music)!! I have a sort of V-Shaped jaw that makes the extra clamp force suuuper appreciated!! Edit: I should note this is an imaging king and that is where I draw a massively different opinion from Andrew here - the stereo imaging on these is the best of any I own and I suspect better than ANYTHING in the Hifiman (for example) lineup for the combination of soundstage and imaging. And no, none of the stupid OS/external settings like Sonic or Dolby Atmos change that. Again, though, I think my head’s shape is what made such a different experience than Andrew’s in the subjectives like the comfort, but I dare say you are objectively wrong about these headphone’s combined soundstage and imaging qualities: This is a stereo imaging BEAST with nearly no rivals straight out of the box compared to any other headphones I’ve worn (with the monolith amp/DAC) - straight out the box this thing competes with the 800s + an amp/DAC in that regard.
Check Crin's review, he's said very similar things about the imaging.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Right, but you could conversely check reviews from Joshua Valour, DMS, or Badseedtech which echo sentiments very similar to mine. I might want to loan you a desktop PC because I highly suspect this has to be a motherboard/configuration issue. My problem is we could really narrow down this category to someone’s ability to pinpoint a spot in numbers, and I suspect the numbers would show players using the 38x having a distinct, if not massive, advantage in video games very consistently.
@@sephondranzer Well, to be clear I do use a desktop PC haha. I used to be a competitive sc2 player (still GM hah). The thing is, while I like all the reviewers you mentioned, my impressions line up much more closely with Crin's (and Metal571 back when he was still doing it). People can have different impressions haha.
@@ResolveReviews It’s true, audio gets super subjective in those regards. As long as you’re confident you used the headphones right. Edit: Just realized you guys are 2 completely different Andrews... my bad 😅 I would still say while I trust your expertise and honesty (both you and Mr. Lissmore), I think this thing should blow away any of the headphones it was compared to in this review in terms of XYZ imaging (where is my enemy in terms of the X, Y, and Z axis with respects to me in this game).
I pre-order this ones yesterday. This will be my first time moving away from the gaming bullshit like Astros, SS and Turtlebeach. I also bought my first game/dac combo for this headsets. I hope I’m blown away whenever I pair all this stuff together.
Have you blown away?
@@zahitemremetin606 I have in fact been blown away. I got the PC38x and 58x paired with a DAC/AMP combo and it was a game changer. If you get this makes sure to also get a DAC/AMP combo because I didn’t consider them a big deal without the AMP/DAC, they were okay without it but not really game changer. It’s like plain headphones get you from 0 to 25 and when hooked to an AMP/DAC is from 25 to 100. I use the 58x as my main headphones tbh. The PC38x are good for gaming but they had a little bass on it which make them amazing for music but a small downside for FPS gaming (which is all I do). I don’t know which one is better is for music tho. I’m leaning more for music in the PC38x rather than gaming. The 58x Jubilee are both great for music and gaming which is why are main and whenever I’m not lazy I’ll connect my PC38x for music and movies, but is rare because again, I’m lazy. I’m dragging this too much. My point is that you can’t go wrong with any of this specially if paired with a AMP/DAC combo.
@@TOKYOminttt which amp/dac did you get?
@@zahitemremetin606 I got the schiit modi 3+ and the heresey. They are pretty good for $100 price range. There’s a lot of reviews for them in KZhead.
@@TOKYOminttt are you still using the same headphones or you upgraded to something different?
I own the PC38X and I agree with most of the review. I do however think the review is missing the discussion of sub bass, which the 6xx does not have. I cannot speak about the 560 as I have not heard it, but having a gaming headset that reproduces the sub bass frequencies that are so enjoyable in home theaters while gaming is something the 6xx cannot do. This headphone offers a larger stage than the 6xx, slightly less treble detail which can lead to headaches while gaming, a great frequency response, and rumbling sub bass. It makes one of the most enjoyable headsets to use for hours without fatigue. I’m wondering if the pinpoint imaging issue you are referring to has more to do with the game audio and not the headphone? The digital position of players in a game is not the same as recordings from a sound stage, but how video game imaging is produced is tech beyond my knowledge.
Angled drivers are actually standard practice these days, so there's no real advantage there. It's honestly fine, just not as good as some Beyers I've heard.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Which beyer was the best one in terms of imaging?
i just got one for 135$ it's gonna be arrived in couple days
Where from?
So what would you say are the best headphones for gaming without getting up to flagship prices?
It strongly depends from what game, what type of sound do you like, what is comfortable for you etc. I myself would recommend pc38x/58x/tygr300r/he400i2020 for competitive shooters, K712 for atmosphere in large scale shooters, and 58x for narrative driven games with lots of voicovers. I use them all and I can’t tell which one are definitely best. Each have issues and each are better at something else.
@@atyne_mar Thanks for the reply.