Drop + EPOS PC38X Gaming Headset $192.29 Delivered @ Amazon Japan via AU

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trippy on 17/09/2023 - 11:58 amazon.com.au (470 clicks)
Last edited 04/10/2023 - 14:13 by 3 other users

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This well-reviewed gaming headset currently sells for US$169 + shipping directly from DROP, so this deal from Amazon Japan seems like a good price. Seems like fairly quick shipping, so must be in stock. It used to be called the Sennheiser PC38X, but I assume this is still exactly the same headset (correct me if I am wrong).

Here are some reviews:
- DMS: PC38X - The Gaming Advantage?
- The Headphone Show: Drop X Sennheiser PC38X Review - Best sounding headset in 2021?
- Hardware Canucks: The Best Gaming Headset Right Now - PC38X Review
- Badseed Tech: Drop + Epos PC38X: One of the BEST Gets Better!
- Joshua Valour: PC38X Review | Float Like A Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee
- Z Reviews: DROP+SENNHEISER PC38x (Z Reviews)

Price Update (24/9): $190.64 -> $192.29

Price History at CamelCamelCamel.

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• 

  Carrian on 17/09/2023 - 12:01

  -1

  would recommend. best headset i've ever had.

• 

  jasswolf on 17/09/2023 - 12:05

  -3

  Well and truly overpriced for the audio quality it brings, but you're right that this is a low price.

  In this price range you can buy a proper pair of open back headphones and pick through a number of different microphone solutions, typically ending up with a better quality outcome even if you expressly want a boom mic. The HIFIMAN HE400SE Stealth and non-Stealth, the AKG K612 Pro, the Sennheiser HD 599 and 560S, are all much better headphones.

  It used to be called the Sennheiser PC38X

  There are two variations sold on Drop, and one of them used to use the Sennheiser branding. In truth, this is a product from Epos Audio that used some of Sennheiser's parts and tooling under a partnership agreement, but that came to an end when Senova bought Sennheiser's consumer division.

  This was the last product from that partnership. Given the mediocre technical quality for the price, I'm happy things have changed.

  • 

    trippy on 17/09/2023 - 12:11

    In this price range you can buy a proper pair of open back headphones and pick through a number of different microphone solutions, typically ending up with a better quality outcome unless you expressly want a boom mic.

    Which headhones and mic would you recommend that would cost $190? Gaming requires excellent imaging and soundstage (which the PC38X apparently have), so that would be a requirement.

    • 

      jasswolf on 17/09/2023 - 12:12

      +3

      Already ammended my post to give options: K612, 599, and 560S fully qualify in this price range.

      PC38X doesn't have a wide soundstage for an open back, and its imaging has flaws.

      • 

        trippy on 17/09/2023 - 12:17

        But those are all more expensive, and you would have to add extra for a mic. I have the 560S and they are ok for gaming, but I prefer the Hifiman Sundara. Have you got the PC38X so you could give a quick summary of what you think they are missing?

        • 

          jasswolf on 17/09/2023 - 12:18

          @trippy: They've all been on sale for under $190 before, all in the last 12 months.

          I don't have them on hand, but the detail level is barely above Koss on-ears, the imaging is worse, the tonal balance slightly better, and soundstage narrower. All for 6x the price.

          • 

            trippy on 17/09/2023 - 12:22

            @jasswolf: Something like this would turn a pair of 560S into a headset, but that would take the total cost to double of the PC38X.

            • 

              jasswolf on 17/09/2023 - 12:25

              +2

              @trippy: You'd probably get that for half the price at most on AliE.

              Students - who are most of the people looking at this deal - had access to a $143 pair of HD560S just the other day. Seems to be part of a larger push by Senova/Sennheiser to get their manufacturing, QA/QC and logsitics costs down.

              I expect we'll see a huge sale on the HD560S through Oct-Dec, or if not some substantial product revisions and discontinuations.

• 

  notaccel on 17/09/2023 - 12:17

  EPOS closing so not surprising to see them priced to clear

  • 

    jasswolf on 17/09/2023 - 12:21

    Not closing, moving out of consumer audio, something that they've always sucked at and bungled despite having had access to Sennheiser's wealth of knowledge.

    • 

      lulzenberg on 18/09/2023 - 15:45

      They almost made the perfect headset with the 370s.. but then chose micro usb. I'm looking at importing some gd audeze maxwell's now just to get a decent replacement with 80% of the battery life.

• 

  brotherfranciz on 17/09/2023 - 13:39

  -1

  Highly recommended as a gaming headset by YouTube audiophiles across the board (including the highly-regarded Crinacle): BadSeed Tech: What GAMING Headphones do AUDIOPHILES Use?

  • 

    johnnytran on 17/09/2023 - 14:17

    +5

    "A TL;DR: while I found the PC38X to be an exceptionally well-tuned headphone, the staging and imaging is so compressed that I cannot, in good faith, recommend it as a headphone purely for gaming. It is a great headphone for music listening, but ironically this gaming headphone isn’t the most appropriate for gaming."

    https://crinacle.com/guide/gaming/

    • 

      jasswolf on 17/09/2023 - 14:19

      +1

      Bingo… they all tried to farm opportunities with Drop via that video campaign. I'm guessing Corsair and Drop were in their ears at that point about their - then embargoed - potential acquisition.

      Probably were trying to keep Drop independent, but their march towards falling apart began before the pandemic.

      • 

        DeToxin on 21/09/2023 - 17:30

        Interested on your thoughts about some people commenting that for gaming specific headphones, some compression is good?

        • in this context they are suggesting that headphones without any compression will hurt your ears after having to listen to gunshots for some period of time.

        I have a pair of g pro X wireless headphones which I bought mainly for the wireless connectivity and decent built in mic, but now I have a dedicated mic and am looking for something that might be more comfortable for long gaming sessions. Wireless not so much of a factor anymore.

        • 

          jasswolf on 21/09/2023 - 17:38

          +1

          @DeToxin: Most modern shooters have an audio mix setting which will apply a compressor in-game, or you can use software, including some headset software.

          Better that than having botched audio for everything.

  • 

    tonyamazing on 17/09/2023 - 22:03

    I've + you for sharing the video. I was suckered too, but without your share we wouldn't have had the discourse

• 

  kbw on 17/09/2023 - 18:43

  +2

  I'm guessing some money changed hands under the table to make all the reviewers rave about these for competitive gaming, as someone who plays FPS games at a relatively high level I can say from experience with these and several other headsets and headphones they're actually quite poor, I 100% agree with Crinacle's review linked above.

  If you just want a headset that's plug and play to game with your friends without caring about competing there's cheaper options available, and if you do care then this is a terrible option.

• 

  SmoothCactus on 17/09/2023 - 21:41

  +1

  Reviews for this on are very fascinating… I've never seen a more clearer indication of money moving under the table for a product as blatantly.