The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset are wired gaming headphones created by Drop and Sennheiser. They look and perform fairly similarly to Sennheiser Game One Gaming Headset, with an indented volume wheel, open-back design, and warm sound profile. They can reproduce dialogue clearly and accurately, and their bump in high-bass adds boom to in-game sound effects. Their flippable boom mic has an excellent recording quality and can separate your voice from ambient noise around you. However, they lack companion software, so you can't customize them, and they struggle to reproduce a thumpy low-bass.
Our Verdict
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset is great for neutral sound. These over-ear headphones have a very warm sound profile out-of-the-box, so vocals and lead instruments are present, detailed, and accurate. However, they lack a bit of low-bass, and their treble is slightly dark, which could particularly dull sibilants like cymbals. They don't have companion software to adjust their sound to your liking, either.
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Very comfortable design.
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Decent passive soundstage performance.
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No companion software.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset is poor for commute and travel. These headphones have an open-back enclosure, so they leak a lot of audio at high volumes, which can disturb others around you, and they don't block out any rumbles from bus or plane engines. They're also quite bulky, and their pouch doesn't protect them when you're on the move. On the upside, they have a very comfortable design and feel well-built.
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Very comfortable design.
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Bad noise isolation performance.
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Leaks a lot of audio at high volumes.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X is sub-par for sports and fitness. These headphones aren't for this purpose, so they lack an IP rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for it, and they can fall off your head with moderate movement. They also have a wired design, which can snag on something and pull them off your head.
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Very comfortable design.
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No IP rating for water resistance.
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Can fall off your head with moderate movement.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset is middling for office use. They're open-back headphones, so they don't block out office chatter, and they also leak audio at high volumes. They have a very comfortable design and have a mic, which is nice if you tend to take many calls at work.
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Very comfortable design.
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Bad noise isolation performance.
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Leaks a lot of audio at high volumes.
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No multi-device pairing.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset are wired-only headphones and can't be used wirelessly.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset is good for wired gaming. These headphones have a comfortable fit, and their flippable boom mic captures your voice clearly, even in moderately noisy environments. They also have a decently immersive passive soundstage, and their wired design ensures a virtually latency-free gaming experience. However, they lack companion software, and their controls are limited.
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Excellent recording quality.
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Very comfortable design.
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Decent passive soundstage performance.
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No companion software.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset is okay for phone calls. The boom mic does an excellent job recording your voice, even in moderately noisy environments like a busy street. However, since these are open-back headphones that don't block out background noise, you may have trouble hearing whoever is on the other end of the line.
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Excellent recording quality.
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Very comfortable design.
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Bad noise isolation performance.
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No multi-device pairing.
- 8.1 Neutral Sound
- 4.1 Commute/Travel
- 5.7 Sports/Fitness
- 5.6 Office
- 5.7 Wireless Gaming
- 7.7 Wired Gaming
- 6.8 Phone Calls
- Updated Jul 28, 2023: We've retested their frequency response using the included velour ear padding instead of the microfiber cloth padding and have added our results to Sound Profile.
- Updated Jul 12, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Jul 06, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Jun 29, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jun 29, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jun 02, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
- Updated May 06, 2021: The product has won our suggestion poll, so we’ll buy and test it soon.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X come in one color variant: 'Black'. If you come across another variant, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Headphones
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X are open-back gaming headphones made in collaboration with Drop and Sennheiser. They offer a similar overall performance to the Sennheiser Game One Gaming Headset, although they have a slightly warmer sound profile and come with an additional pair of velour earpads. However, their passive soundstage doesn't seem as immersive as the Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019.
Check out our recommendations for the best gaming headphones, the best headsets for PS5, and the best headsets for Xbox Series X|S.
The Sennheiser HD 560S are better for neutral sound than the Drop + Sennheiser PC38X. While both headphones are comfortable, the Sennheiser have a more neutral sound profile and a slightly better passive soundstage performance. However, the Drop are better if you like to game with others. They have a flippable boom mic with excellent recording quality and feel better-built.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X perform similarly to the Sennheiser Game One Gaming Headset. While both headphones are well-built, comfortable, the Sennheiser have a slightly better overall boom mic performance. However, the Drop have significantly better bass accuracy.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X are better headphones for gaming than the Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee. The Drop are more comfortable and have controls as well as a boom mic, which delivers an overall great performance. However, if you don't need a microphone, the Sennheiser offer a similarly warm sound profile with a natural, spacious passive soundstage.
While the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and the Drop + Sennheiser PC38X are both great choices for neutral sound, the Drop are a better choice for wired gaming. The Drop have a boom mic to record your voice clearly, even in moderately noisy environments. They're also more comfortable and have a mic as well as volume controls. However, the Beyerdynamic are better built.
The Philips SHP9500 are better for neutral sound, while the Drop + Sennheiser PC38X are better for wired gaming, particularly if you're looking for audiophile headphones with a mic. The Philips are more comfortable, have a more neutral sound profile, and their passive soundstage performance is better. However, the Drop have a boom mic that captures your voice clearly, even in moderately noisy environments. They're also better built.
The Philips Fidelio X2HR are better for neutral sound while the Drop + Sennheiser PC38X are better for wired gaming. The Philips have a more neutral default sound profile and a better passive soundstage performance. However, the Drop have a boom mic that's able to capture your voice clearly, even in moderately noisy environments.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX and the Drop + Sennheiser PC38X are both great choices for neutral sound, but the Drop are more suitable for wired gaming. The Drop have a boom microphone that's able to capture your voice clearly, even in moderately noisy environments. They're also more comfortable and have volume as well as mic controls. However, the Sennheiser have a more consistent frequency response.
While the Sennheiser HD 599 and Drop + Sennheiser PC38X are both great headphones for neutral sound. The Drop are specifically designed for wired gaming. Their boom mic records your voice clearly, even in moderately noisy environments. These headphones are also better built and have volume and mic controls. However, the Sennheiser are more comfortable.
The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless are better overall gaming headphones than the Drop + Sennheiser PC38X. The SteelSeries have a virtual soundstage feature, though we don't currently test its performance, and their mic has a better noise handling performance. They can also be used wirelessly, support Bluetooth for more casual use, and are compatible with SteelSeries Engine software, which offers a graphic EQ and presets to help adjust their sound to your liking. However, the Drop are more comfortable and have more consistent audio delivery.
The Logitech G Pro X Gaming Headset offer a more customizable wired gaming experience than the Drop + Sennheiser PC38X. The Logitech are compatible with G HUB software, which allows you to customize their sound using a graphic EQ or presets. They can also be used with a wired USB connection. However, the Drop have a more immersive passive soundstage and a better overall boom mic performance.
The Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 are better wired gaming headphones than the Drop + Sennheiser PC38X. While both headphones are comfortable, the Astro have better controls, are better built, and are compatible with Astro Command Center software, which allows you to customize their sound using a graphic EQ and presets. Some users have reported issues when using the companion software though. They also have a virtual soundstage feature, although we don't currently test its performance.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X are slightly better gaming headphones than the HyperX Cloud Alpha S. While both are similarly comfortable, the Drop have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their boom mic offers better overall performance. The HyperX are better-built and are compatible with HyperX Ngenuity software, though it doesn't offer much customization.
SteelSeries Arctis Pro GameDAC and the Drop + Sennheiser PC38X have different strengths, and you may prefer one over the other. The SteelSeries are more customizable gaming headphones thanks to their GameDAC. They're compatible with SteelSeries Engine software, which offers a graphic EQ and presets so you can adjust them to your liking. They have better controls and have a closed-back design, which allows them to block out a bit more background noise. However, the Drop are more comfortable and, thanks to their open-back design, have a more spacious passive soundstage. Their boom mic also offers a better recording quality.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X are better wired gaming headphones than the RUNMUS RGB K1 Gaming Headset. The Drop are more comfortable, better-built, and their sound profile is more neutral, which some users may prefer. They also have a better overall boom mic performance, and they come with an additional pair of velour earpads.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X and the Beats Solo Pro Wireless have different strengths and depending on your usage, you may prefer either one. The Drop are wired gaming headphones that are more comfortable, have a wider, more spacious passive soundstage, and their boom mic delivers a better overall performance. However, the Beats are better for casual use. They're better-built, are wireless, which some users may prefer, and they have ANC, which helps block out a great amount of noise around you.
Test Results
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X has a similar look to the Sennheiser Game One Gaming Headset. The frame has a gray satin finish, while the ear cups and mic have primary yellow accents. These headphones are only available in this color. Unfortunately, you can't detach the mic for a more casual look.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset is very comfortable. Even though these headphones have a high clamping force, you don't really feel it, and they feel light on your head. The headband is comfortable, and you can swap out the microfiber ear pads for ones with velour padding included in the box. They should be comfortable enough for long gaming sessions without causing too much fatigue.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset has sub-par controls. Just like the Sennheiser Game One Gaming Headset, there's only one control: a volume wheel on the right ear cup. You can also flip the mic upwards to mute it. The volume wheel has a circular indentation to help you turn the wheel, and it stops when you've reached the min and max. However, it can be hard to know which is min and which is max.
These headphones are fairly breathable, thanks to their open-back design. They still trap in a bit of heat, but it shouldn't be too noticeable during casual gaming sessions. Even though they're not for sports, if you wear them during moderate physical exercise, they can make your ears feel warmer and cause you to sweat more.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset isn't very portable. The headphones can't fold into a more compact form, and their ear cups can't swivel to lay flat. They also have a bulky design, making it harder for you to take them with you on the move, and their carrying case doesn't offer a lot of additional protection.
The case is sub-par. It's made of thin fabric, which can help keep dust from accumulating, but it won't protect the headphones from impacts or water.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset has a good build quality. The frame is mostly made of plastic with metal grilles on the ear cups. The braided audio cable feels very sturdy too. Although we don't currently test for it, the headphones don't have an IP rating for water resistance, which is to be expected for gaming headphones. Their headband also feels like it could break over time.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset has fair stability. These headphones shouldn't move around if you're wearing them during casual gaming sessions, but they can easily fall off during moderate physical activity. They're not designed for this use, though.
- Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset
- 1/8" TRRS to 1/16" TRRS cable
- Y-splitter cable
- Velour pads
- Pouch
- Manual
Using the microfiber ear cup padding, these headphones have a very warm sound profile. Although they lack thumpy low-bass, they have extra boom to help bring out sound effects in your game. Dialogue and instruments in soundtracks are also forward, clear, and detailed. Unfortunately, they don't have companion software, so you can't adjust their sound to your liking.
If you swap out the microfiber padding for velour padding, you'll get a touch more bass and a slight boost in airiness due to added high-treble. However, vocals and instruments are slightly more veiled due to a dip in low-treble. There's no difference in noise isolation or leakage, though. You can see a frequency response comparison between the velour pads and the microfiber pads here.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset has good frequency response consistency. While the headphones deliver bass quite consistently, their treble delivery can vary according to their fit and positioning. You may need to adjust them each time you wear them to get a more consistent sound.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X have great bass accuracy. The low-bass is underemphasized, so mixes lack thump and rumble. The rest of the range is overemphasized, adding extra punch and boom, which can help emphasize sound effects. However, some users may find this to be a bit muddy.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset has outstanding mid accuracy. The range is very flat and even, although a little overemphasized. As a result, vocals and lead instruments are accurate, clear, and detailed.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X have good treble accuracy. The low-treble is fairly neutral, so vocals and lead instruments sound present and detailed. However, a dip in the mid-treble weakens and dulls sibilants like cymbals. These headphones are also somewhat prone to inconsistencies in their treble delivery due to their fit and positioning. The response here represents the average treble response, and your experience may vary.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset's peaks and dips performance is great. There's a prolonged peak in the bass range, adding a touch of extra thump, punch, and boom. A dip in the mid-mid nudges vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix, while another peak in the high-mid to low-treble makes the upper harmonics of these sounds harsh. Another dip in the mid-treble dulls sibilants like cymbals.
These headphones have excellent imaging. The weighted group delay's response falls below the audibility threshold, resulting in tight bass and transparent treble reproduction. The left and right divers of our unit are also well-matched in phase, frequency, amplitude response. This is important for the proper placement and localization of objects (voices, instruments, video game effects) in the stereo field. While there's a peak in the phase response in the high-treble, it's not audible when listening to music or other audio content. However, these results are only valid for our unit, and yours may perform differently.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X's passive soundstage performance is decent. The soundstage is perceived as if sound is coming from inside your head rather than from speakers placed around you, and it seems small. On the upside, it seems more spacious and open-sounding than closed-back headphones.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset's weighted harmonic distortion performance is good. There's a couple of peaks in the treble range at moderate volumes, but it can be hard to hear with real-life content. That said, most frequencies fall within good limits, so your audio sounds fairly clean and pure.
These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid in this configuration.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X's noise isolation performance is bad due to the open-back design. They don't block out any bass-range noise like the rumble of bus or plane engines, as well as office chatter. They also barely reduce the high-pitched hums of an AC unit.
These headphones have a poor leakage performance. Their leakage is concentrated across a broad range and sounds fuller than that of closed-back headphones. If you're listening to audio at a high volume, others around you can hear your audio.
The mic's recording quality is excellent. Your voice sounds clear, full-bodied, and easy to understand.
The mic has good noise handling. It can separate your voice from moderate ambient noise around you, so you shouldn't have too much of a problem being understood by whoever's on the other end of the line.
These headphones come with a 1/8" TRRS to 1/16" TRRS cable and a Y-splitter to 1/16" TRRS cable.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X Gaming Headset has full audio and mic compatibility on PCs when using the analog cable.
When using their analog cable, they have full audio and mic compatibility on PS4 and PS5 consoles.
The Drop + Sennheiser PC38X have full audio and mic compatibility on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles via an analog connection.