DROP + EPOS PC38X Gaming Headset Noise-Cancelling Microphone with Over-Ear Open-Back Design, Velour Earpads, Compatible with PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox, Mac, Mobile, and More (Yellow)

Disclaimer: I'm not an audio expert or even an audiophile, so bear in mind that despite the lengthy review, I am not a qualified "expert" and this is just my opinion based on my limited experience with this product.The PC38X is a light, comfortable headset which at first glance almost gives off a cheaper vibe due to its light weight, and heavy use of plastic rather than metal materials. The weaker initial appearance is immediately redeemed by its comfort as soon as it's placed on your head, as its lightness is actually an advantage, favouring comfort - I can easily wear this all day without getting a sore head or neck. The ear pads are soft enough to comfortably fit your head and ears shape, and firm enough not to compromise the isolation. The clamping force is just right, an improvement over my previous HyperX Cloud Alpha headset which always lacked clamping force which ultimately resulted in compromised bass levels. They also come with what appears to be a spare set of smaller, softer replacement pads - clearly, Sennheiser valued comfort for this headset, which makes sense considering it is part of their selection of gaming-oriented headphones.The sound quality is good, with an extremely noticeable bass boost over the HyperX Cloud Alpha. The bass is rather well balanced, although it can sometimes overpower the mids. The high are crisp and clear; hats, cymbals, and other thin sounds are clear and can be heard through other heavier, deeper sounds. The mids such as vocals however, tend to lack that extra crispness I would hope for when listening to music. The bass may be a bit too loud to allow the mids to rise to expectations, but overall the benefits of hearing clear bass and highs alongside generally good mids makes me overlook the mids' shortcoming.These are open back headphones, so I'll add a little note here in case you are not familiar with what this means - these are not noise-cancelling, like, at all. Expect to hear almost completely clearly through your headset, and people may hear through your headset. This favours audio quality, but may not be the right choice if you are in a noisy environment, or you don't want anyone around to hear the sounds coming from your headset.The microphone's audio quality isn't the best thing in the world but it works just fine, and meets my expectations for a headset microphone. I immediately loved that the mic boom is completely outside of my field of vision when flipped up, something I had been concerned about when ordering the PC38X, coming from a headset with a removable mic. My only criticism would be that the lack of distance adjustment results in me having to lower the mic completely to prevent breathing noise from my nose, and this results in my mouth being too far from the mic to be heard clearly at times.Included is also a carrying bag which is pretty standard and nothing to call home about, but is an appreciated extra item. Otherwise, it comes with the usual cables and whatnot. The cable seems a bit small compared to what I had on my HyperX Cloud Alpha and therefore gives off a cheaper impression, but otherwise it's a nice, braided cable which has no noticeable flaws.Overall, I would recommend this headset for comfort and audio quality if you're in the market for open back headphones you can wear for hours on a daily basis, and you're ready to pay a bit more than your typical standard gaming headset. I work 8 hours shifts, and watch videos/listen to music as well as gaming outside of work hours, wearing these well over 8 hours daily. I've only ever felt my ears getting sore once, after a very long day of work and then gaming, so I don't blame the headset at all.Hope this review helps shoppers make an informed decision.

Sound quality: 5/5 - Warm bass and clean highs, rich soundstageComfort: 3/5 - Average comfort, clamping force a bit tight, but offset by how light it isI'll start by saying that I'm not an audiophile but I do have a high expectation of sound quality. My previous headset was a HyperX Cloud II which was my favorite for years. The sound quality between the two was close when I compared the PC38X against the amplified digital surround of the Cloud IIs. However the PC38X had a more crisp and clear soundstage with zero enhancements. I find that digital surround can sometimes sound a bit muddy, while the soundstage on the PC38X was wide and immersive while capturing the full integrity of dialogue, music, and sound effects. I don't think I'll ever be able to go back to digital surround when these sound so good just from hardware alone.The PROS:The bass is warm and has punch to it without being overpowering. The high notes are crisp and the quality of the sound is rich and clean. These are a good middle ground for gaming and music listening. I listened to Tartini's violin sonata and it was like hearing it for the first time, the sound was so incredible. I also play games such as Nier, Genshin, and Baldur's Gate, and the sound was immersive and directional. The PC38X are more bass heavy than an audiophile set but preserve much more sound clarity than a generic gaming headset. I absolutely love it.I'm used to wireless headsets so I was worried about switching to wired. I'm pleased to say that the cord is very light and unobtrusive.Speaking of light, this is also one of the lightest headsets I've ever worn. It barely feels like you're even wearing it.This is also my first experience with an open back headset. It's hard to describe how it feels like your ears can breathe when the sound isn't being reflected directly back into them like from a closed back set. It's extremely comfortable and much more natural feeling.The CONS:The biggest complaint I have about the PC38X is the clamping force. It's not an "uncomfortable" set, per se, but it's certainly not one of the more comfortable headsets I've worn. It's slowly breaking in, and the lightweight nature of it helps offset the tightness, but I wear glasses and I find myself pausing to stretch it out every now and then.Open backs are sort of a pro and a con depending on your environment. Do be aware that you will hear sounds through them and everyone else WILL hear everything you're listening to. My roommate has commented that they can hear them through the other room, so it's something to be mindful of.OVERALL:I personally have loved appreciating just how good everything sounds in this headset. It's just the right amount of bass and clarity. While it's not the most comfortable headset I've worn, it's not offensive either. Switching to open back has drawbacks if you live in a loud environment, but it's revolutionary in how you'll perceive sound.

What else can I say.The sound quality is pretty good for the price, and as an open-back design they let in a lot of the ambient sound which can be an advantage. In a noisy environment this might be a big drag.The open design also means your ears don’t get as hot and sweaty as a closed pair after long hours of use, but have much better sound than a typical on-the-ear style.Because they are wired they are a lot lighter than wireless, again great for long gaming. The cord could be a nuisance but I have been plugging them into my Xbox controller so no long cable all the way to the console.The mic is average, though the way it mutes when the boom is lifted is a nice intuitive way to mute and unmute. These are purely audio so there’s no direct way to PTT on the headset, and no “smart” voice activation built-in.The padding on the ears has a nice feel, soft enough for comfort but not microfiber or fake suede that gets clammy and dirty after a little while.These headphones also have a fairly light “squeeze” around your head when wearing them, which together with the low weight make them great for extended wear.One big drawback of headphones this expensive is that the construction feels relatively flimsy. Almost everything you can see is plastic, and the cup joints don’t look particularly sturdy. We’ll see how they hold up over time.I really like the appearance as well, distinct but muted, but the yellowish color is definitely not for everyone.Would highly recommend.