Closer Examination, Build Quality, and Comfort

The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X is a rare example of a gaming headset with an open-back ear cup design. That means the rear of the built-in speaker drivers, of which there is one in each ear cup, aren't sealed off inside the ear cups. Instead, the ear cups are perforated, which lets the sound leak out freely. The main goal is to achieve a more airy and natural sound with a wider soundstage and fewer distortions that could otherwise be caused by having sealed ear cups, especially in the lowest part of the frequency spectrum. In video games that mainly translates into precision, the ability to pinpoint your enemies as naturally and as quickly as if there in person. There are other benefits to using an open-back headset, for sound quality and everyday usability, but that insane accuracy and spatial awareness are what will initially impress you the most. Why aren't all gaming headsets open back? Because they're less convenient to use—as simple as that. Anyone sitting close to you will be able to hear what you're listening to. Likewise, you'll hear and get distracted by everything in your immediate surroundings. Even your mechanical keyboard will be audible and potentially annoying while playing a quieter game. With that being said, open-back headsets are quite obviously meant to be used by gamers who have their own separate gaming dens and don't have anyone in their proximity while plowing through their favorite games. Don't interpret this as a critique, it's merely an inherent characteristic of the design.


Both ear cups are covered with a metal mesh. On the right side is a smooth volume knob, taken directly from the Sennheiser Game One. Its outer edge is perforated, so it takes next to no effort to spin in either direction. I'm a big fan of having the volume dial built into the ear cup instead of having it on an in-line remote control, as I will always know exactly where it is. Consequentially, I don't have to fumble around my chest or lap area to find it, as is the case with many other analog gaming headsets with in-line volume knobs.


The entire headset, including its headband, is made out of plastic. Drop and Sennheiser went with a dense variant of the plastic, resulting in a headset that feels very sturdy while keeping the weight below 300 grams. There are several logos on the PC38X, with the more obvious Sennheiser ones on the headband and above both ear cups. The Drop logo, as well as the exact model of the headset, are subtly engraved into the inner sides of the headband.


The ear cups can be moved up and down the frame to cater to various head sizes. Their movement range is quite wide, so you should be covered regardless of head-size.


The ear cups also have a lot of freedom to move around the part of the frame that holds them attached to the headband. This again works well in terms of the headset being adjustable to various head sizes.


The earpads are large and surround the ears completely. Both the mesh knit and velour variants offer plenty of padding. The inner side of the headband is padded with foam and covered in a mesh-knit fabric as well. I'd rate the overall comfort of the PC38X exactly the same as the Sennheiser Game One: excellent. However, you do have to give it a week or two to fully settle in. Out-of-the-box clamping force is fairly high—my largish head initially found the headset too tight—but it does loosen up after a bit of a break-in. After that happens, the PC38X transforms into a very comfortable gaming headset.


As I've already mentioned, the Drop + Sennheiser PC38X is bundled with two pairs of earpads, one of them covered in a mesh-knit fabric, while the other utilizes velour. The mesh-knit fabric earpads are installed by default. This is a notable change compared to the Game One, which only came with velour earpads. Replacing the earpads is a simple affair. I'll discuss the differences in sound in the sound-performance section of this review.


The microphone isn't detachable, but can be pivoted, so moving it out of your peripheral vision if it's not being used is possible. Another way to hide it from sight is to push it all the way down, which has it fall slightly below the chin. It remains completely usable in that position, which comes as great news to gamers who are easily distracted by their headset's microphone. To mute the microphone, simply pivot it upwards. This is a quick and convenient way to mute the microphone as you don't have to look for a button or an in-line remote somewhere along the cable. You'll hear a distinctive "click" once the microphone passes its "muting" point. The exact angle where this happens is depicted in the third photo above.


The microphone head is massive, which would explain why it has no trouble picking up one's voice even when it isn't very close to the mouth. The rubberized arm of the microphone can be bent to adjust the exact location of the capsule, and it's perfectly capable of keeping it in place.


The headphone cable is detachable and replaceable. Sennheiser doesn't use a regular 3.5-mm audio port on its headphones, rather opting for a 2.5-mm version of the connector. You can get a 2.5-mm-to-3.5-mm audio cable without too much hassle, just not as easily and cheaply as an ordinary 3.5-mm cable. Using a 3.5-mm cable and just sticking a 2.5-mm adapter onto its end isn't a viable option as the hole that hides the connector is fairly deep. You should stick to the original cables if you need to replace the supplied ones. On the upside, both supplied cables lock into their place securely. There's pretty much no way to yank them out by accident.


The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X comes with two cables. The 2.5-meter one terminates in a pair of 3.5-mm 3-pole (TRS) plugs, while the 1.5-meter one uses a single, angled 3.5-mm 4-pole (TRRS) plug for console and mobile device connectivity. Both cables are braided and leave a good impression in terms of build quality.