Disclaimer: The PC38x and PC37x were sent to me by DROP, they did not do anything to influence my opinion.
Intro
The PC38x is an upgraded version of the PC37x, these are made by Sennheiser (well EPOS) in collaboration with Drop. These actually use the driver from the GSP500 but put them in the PC37x housing with a new mesh back. The PC37x have been extremely popular and for good reason, so I along with many others had very high hopes for the PC38x, and do they live up to the hype? Hopefully, I will be able to answer that.
Don't get hung up on headphone specs, they're not that useful for most people overall. But here they are.
Headphone Specs:
- Form factor: Over ear
- Transducer principle: Dynamic, open
- Frequency response: 10Hz - 30000Hz
- Impedance: 28 Ω
- Sound pressure level: 109 dB
- 2.5 m PC cable, 2 x 3.5 mm split TRS connector
- 1.5 m console cable, 1 x 3.5 mm TRRS connector
- Weight: 8.9 oz (253 g)
- Weight (with cable): 10.2 oz (290.5g)
Microphone Specs:
- Microphone frequency response: 50-16,000 Hz
- Pick-up pattern: Noise-cancelling
- Sensitivity: -38dBV/PA
- Microphone technology: Electret condenser
- Microphone pickup pattern: Bi-directional
Included:
- 2 removable cables (PC and console)
- 2 pairs of earpads (mesh knit and velour)
- Drawstring travel pouch
- 2-year manufacturer’s warranty
Build/Looks
Let's get this out of the way now, there yellow, like really yellow. I know a ton of people were worried by the pictures that they were puke green(including me), but I can happily say in person they never look like that. The yellow is very vibrant on the mic but less so on the cups as the mesh obscures it a bit. By now most of you should know I don't really care about the looks of headphones but I actually like seeing colour and vibrancy rather than just all black everything(which I'm so tired of). So I honestly like that they’re yellow but I know many of you won’t.
Aside from the colour they look like a PC37x with a mesh back. So they sit fairly slim on your head and look pretty nice. Nothing bulky, no flashy useless RGB or gamery looks, it's just a headphone with a mic slapped on the side. I much prefer a minimalist design and the splash of yellow works for me.
The build is your standard HD500 series headphone. All plastic, the plastic does feel slightly cheap but as time as shown with the HD500 series and the PC37x/Game One. They hold up fairly well. The only place I’d worry about is the Yolk which is a tad thin and may not survive being poorly taken care of.
But overall looks I like but many won’t like the yellow, and the build is good.
Cable:
I just wanted to talk about the cable briefly here, it's ok, it has a bit too much memory so it's kind of janky. It is black and yellow like the headset. It is braided so it does transfer some noise when it rubs against your shirt.
Both cables (the shorter console cable and the longer PC cable) are made the same and there mostly the same as the PC37x cable.
I'm only disappointed because I would have hoped they would have used the cables that come with the GSP500 and GSP600 which don't get all kinked up and are much softer and flow way better. There are noticeably better cables. If you ever need a replacement Sennheiser (EPOS) gaming cable look into getting one of them.
Comfort
Comfort is the Same as the PC37x and HD500 series; it's overall fairly good but has high amounts of clamp. This does ease up after use or you can very very carefully stretch it over a yoga block (or anything else) to help ease the clamp.
But so long as you're not ultra-sensitive to clamp it's comfortable and gets better as it breaks in. If you have ever worn another Sennheiser headphone you will know what to expect. The HD500 series and PC37x are very well regarded as being very comfortable, which for myself it's not that comfortable, it does ease up over time.
I do find the mesh pad to be a tad more comfortable and more breathable, but the velour pad I think feels way better against your skin.
Pretty much it's the same comfort as the PC37x but with a slightly better top padding as its split mesh (split top pads leave a space at the very top so you don't get a hot spot there). But this padding is less dense so no break-in time is needed but it will wear down faster (because the clamp is high it's not much of an issue).
So overall while comfort for me wasn't amazing and after break-in, it was fine, for most people this will be very comfortable.
Mic
At this stage there isn't a lot to say about the standard Sennheiser gaming mic, it is getting a little dated but still performs very well for a gaming mic, but moving forward it should be improved, or at least a foam pop filter should be added to help with plosives and wind noise.
Once again sorry for no mic samples, but look at any sample of Game one, game zero, gsp300, gsp500, gsp600, pc37x, and you will see how it sounds.
In 2021 it's still one of the best headset mics but still sounds like a headset mic. It offers background noise suppression which does compress the mic sound somewhat. Buts it's give and take.
It isn't removable which I personally don't mind because this isn't something you're going to be wearing outside anyways. Thankfully the flip-up mute that is featured on all Sennheiser (now EPOS) gaming headsets is still here.
Sound
Like all my future reviews this will be in 2 sections, with some extra notes after.
Frequency Response and Tonality:
The PC38x is a shockingly neutral headphone. It’s not perfect as it is slightly dark and has a bit of rolled off bass, but easily one of the most balanced headphones I have ever heard.
If I had to nit-pick, like I said the bass is a bit rolled off and the treble is a tad dark, but the upper mid-range and mids are also a bit forward and nasally. The Bass roll-off isn't a big deal overall but the slightly darker treble does continue into the air region. The lower mid-range is also ever so slightly recessed. But overall the headphones sound very neutral under 1k and over 1k slightly nasally and a bit dark but very balanced.
Weirdly the FR isn't tuned to either of the 2 traditional ways gaming headsets are tuned. It’s not v-shaped for immersive fun and it doesn't really have any tuning quirks of a competitive fps headset. It's not bright, it doesn't have slightly forward mids, there is no big bass roll-off. It's very much tuned for a musical tonal balance.
This doesn't mean it's bad in games by any means, just because the FR isn't perfect for FPS it still holds up better than most gaming headsets in that regard.
Tonality/FR Grade: A+
Technical Performance:
Technical performance I want to start by saying for the price it hits average to above average at everything for its price. So keep that in mind while you read through the rest.
Detail
This is really the area where it does the worse, its definitely an HD500 series level headphone, which is a shame since the tuning is so darn good. Clarity is overall fine but it doesn't do an amazing job with Micro Detail as it has a sort of dull edge to it. It's not a low res headset or anything. You also won't get a lot extra out of it with better source gear. Since it's fairly efficient and easy to drive it doesn't have a lot of scalability.
Soundstage and imaging
As a gaming headset, this should be the selling point. The staging is not overly wide and isn't narrow. It’s slightly below average in terms of width. Better than an HD6xx but not as wide as the new HD560s or the HD599. No weird 3 blob staging either. But staging isn't the most full.
Imaging is a different story. Under $200 it's good. IT may even have the best imaging out of any HD500 series headphone. Positioning within the stage is fairly accurate and it has a nice full center image.
Dynamics
Dynamics overall is fine, it is punchy enough, it doesn't come across as slow or dead sounding at all. It's just a tad dull, the slam is just a little blunted. They almost sound a little over dampened in a way.
But the slightly compressed dynamics are kinda good for gaming, so things like explosions or gunshots won't overwhelm what you are listening for.
Timbre
Nothing really worth noting here, the average for the price, no noticeable metallic sound.
Technical Grade: C
Sound Conclusion
The tuning is fantastic, putting it in the top tuned headphones at any price. But the technical performance lets it down slightly, at its price it's not terrible, in fact like I said at the beginning, the sound is overall average to above average in all ways. So this is a gaming headset that can trade blows outside of gaming headsets. Which is very impressive. But not surprising as the PC37x was already better than most gaming headsets, and the PC38x sound wise is better in most ways over its predecessor.
But with such a good tuning I just wished it performed better as well and like I said earlier it offers great sound for games and still sounds great for music.
In terms of using this for music, it does very well, but at its price, you can do better. But in terms of a gaming headset, it's still the best on the market. Which many of you will say “isn't that obvious it's a gaming headset” and well in general just because something is marketed for gaming does not mean it's even good at gaming or really at anything. The PC38x offers average sound quality, great gaming performance, and a steller tuning.
I can complain all day about how I wish a certain part was better, but the fact of the matter is at $170 there isn't another gaming headset that even comes close to this. The tuning is also better than most headphones, but it can't quite keep up with other open-back headphones in terms of sound quality.
I'm honestly extremely happy because I knew the GSP500 driver had potential but the housing was the aspect that was limiting it and this is proof. If you're someone who is interested in how pads and housing can make all the difference, listen to the GSP500 and the PC38x and you can see how the same driver can sound very different. This really is what the GSP500 should have been. When this goes on sale if it drops to let's say $150 this is going to be an amazing value.
Notes:
Volume Wheel:
You do get a small volume wheel on the side of the headset, but in general aside from quickly muting, I wouldn't use it as it does make them sound worse and isn't perfectly linear. Just keep it all the way up.
Pads:
The pads tuning wise don't change a lot, you get a little card that shows the FR comparison which is fantastic to include. Companies need to include FR graphs more often. But the scaling is a little odd and it doesn't list the rig they used.
The mesh pads do perform a bit better in games but they do something slightly odd that almost makes the headset slightly less detailed. If you mainly are using it for games and like the feel of the mesh more then use them. But in general, I'd recommend using velour pads.
Power Requirements:
Easy to drive any modern motherboard, modern game console, or half-decentUSB usb soundcard can power these. These are very easy to drive, you can power them off pretty much anything that isn't terrible.
Conclusion
The conclusion is fairly simple. This is simply the best gaming headset on the market. If all you care about is performance in games (mostly fps) then this is an easy buy. Even in terms of just gaming for fun, it does fairly well because of its great neutral tuning.
The only use cases this falls short is if you're looking for something purely for music or if you're looking for a V-shaped immersive sound, this won't offer the best for either of those. It can do above average at both of those but if that is your main focus look elsewhere. It's more of a Jack of All Trades.
The fact that the PC37x is $120 makes the PC38x a bit hard to sell at $170. I think the PC38x needs to drop down to about $150 to be truly a great value. But even at $170 if you want an all in one, that just sounds fantastic and is easy to drive and use, this is an easy choice.
The PC38x is going to be the king of “Gaming Headsets” and I can happily recommend this, for console use this would be my go-to option since it is an upgrade from the PC37x. But if you only care about Sound quality maybe pass on it, if you only care about FPS performance and don't care about good sound maybe skip it. But if you want a perfect allrounder or god-tier tuning, then this is perfect.
Pros:
- Average Sound Quality
- Amazing Tuning
- Great Gaming Performance
- Solid Mic with Flip-up mic feature.
- Very lightweight
- Good comfort
- Console and PC Cables included.
- Two sets of pads included.
Cons:
- Only available from Drop (currently) making buying it from outside of the USA a little tricky.
- High clamp
- Slightly compressed Sounding Mic
- Limited in terms of resolution
Comparisons
VS PC37x
Simply put, the PC38x does almost everything better. The FR of the PC37x is actually slightly better in terms of comp fps performance, it does not extend as deep in the bass and has more warmth in the upper bass and lower mids (the only downgrade for gaming fr wise), and a slightly recessed midrange, also a little brighter. Pretty much it's more V-shaped, the PC37x is kind of a more balanced HD599. While the PC38x is even more balanced and neutral.
But when it comes to Technical performance, I'm happy to say it's just a plain upgrade in all ways from microdetail to speed to dynamics. The only parts that are better are lateral imaging and it can position a smidgen more.
The PC38x is a slight step over the HD599 and is better tuned, the PC37x is a slight step below the HD599 and is also better tuned.
So both are good, the PC37x is an easier pill to swallow at its full price, while the PC38x needs to be on sale or you need to be willing to pay a tad more for a pure upgrade.
So the PC38x is the better headset but is the price worth it? That's hard to say. Testing them with a day separating them, id argue no improvement for gaming and decent sonic improvements with huge tuning benefits. But back to back, testing I may prefer the PC37x a touch more for FPS games with bad sound engines and the PC38x for games with good sound engines. So it's going to depend on what you're playing.
But for music, my lord is the PC38x a step up because the tuning is so fantastic.
VS HD599
The HD599 is almost out of date now. It really doesn't do anything better than the PC38x, aside from wider staging. But everything else is either the same or a step-down.
If you own an HD599 don't upgrade to the PC38x just EQ your HD599. But overall the PC38x is a better headphone than the HD599. The HD599 with a bit of EQ is slightly better for fps.
But like I said the HD599 is kinda out of date. In general, if I need a mic I'd take the PC37x or Game one over the HD599 unless the HD599 was closer to $100.
VS HD560s
Review had some sort of coding bug where it didnt show an important disclaimer in this segment I have instead just updated this to reflect my opinion after retesting the HD560s.
VS HD58x
So this is a weird one. The HD58x is supposed to be a budget way to get an HD600 series headphone. It offers the same style of narrow 3 blob staging and has the same forward upper midrange that makes vocals pop. But from a technical performance, it is a fair bit behind the HD6xx. It's kinda an HD599 driver in an HD600 housing. Giving you HD599 performance but HD6xx presentation.
Compared to the PC38x it's kinda strange. They are both priced the same, the HD58x is a downgraded HD6xx and the PC38x is an upgraded HD599 with a mic. Technical performance-wise they come close to each other. But the PC38x has an advantage as it's better in games. But the HD58x isn't that much better for music unless you prefer the smaller staging. So honestly overall I'd take the PC38x over the HD58x for most people
They trade blows at every turn but the better staging kinda edges out the HD58x. Some may prefer the slightly better imaging of the HD58x and the more intimate staging, but the weird 3 blob shape really hurts it in games and its benefits don't really make a strong push for it for music, unless you want the HD600 series sound but need to spend less.
VS HD6XX
Still the best Value Sennheiser on the market.
Similar to my conclusion for the HD560s this is just plain better sound-wise, but the stage on these are famously narrow and have a 3 blob shape to them that really makes them not good for FPS.
So again if you're looking for something to use in games grab the PC38x, or if you want a more balanced tuning, but for everything else, the HD6xx wins this.