If you want better Detachable cable convenience
Choose ASUS ROG Kithara. It scores 5.0 vs 1.8 for Detachable cable convenience, with a 3.9 overall score.
Drop + Epos PC38X Review
Bottom Line
Choose the PC38X for superb wired sound, wide staging, accurate positioning, a strong boom mic, and long-session comfort. Skip it if you need isolation, wireless freedom, premium-feeling construction, easy EQ software, or a gentler out-of-box clamp.
Best for
Gamers who want a wired, open-back headset with spacious sound, strong positional cues, a clear integrated mic, and long-session comfort. It especially suits quiet rooms and users who value audio quality over wireless features.
Not for
Skip it if you need strong isolation, wireless freedom, native EQ software, or premium-feeling construction. It is also less ideal if you are very clamp-sensitive or want footsteps aggressively boosted for FPS play.
Verdict
The PC38X earns unusually consistent praise for the things a wired gaming headset has to get right: sound quality, comfort, microphone clarity, and spatial presentation. Reviewers repeatedly describe a wide, immersive stage, clean and surprisingly full bass, natural mids, and useful directional cues, with several ranking it among their favorite gaming headsets. The tradeoffs are equally clear. Its open-back design leaks sound and blocks very little outside noise, the plastic construction can feel cheaper than the price suggests, and clamp is divisive until it breaks in. The fixed boom mic is generally strong but can be bulky and plosive-prone, while the lack of companion software limits EQ customization. Value depends on price, but the core wired audio experience remains the reason reviewers keep recommending it.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
47 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.022 (47%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.413 (28%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.44 (9%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.46 (13%)
-
Very negative below 1.52 (4%)
Pros highlights
-
Sound quality is the headline strength: reviewers repeatedly call the PC38X superb, detailed and unusually strong for a gaming headset. Even the more critical takes generally concede that its core audio is good.
-
Overall sentiment is strongly positive, with many reviewers calling the PC38X a favorite, a top-tier gaming headset or an easy recommendation. The dissenting reviews mainly object to price, build feel, clamp or specific FPS tuning rather than the whole product.
-
The boom microphone is broadly above average for a gaming headset, with clear speech and convenient flip-to-mute behavior. Criticism focuses on its bulky fixed design, plosives and the gap versus a dedicated microphone.
-
Long-session comfort is a major strength: most reviewers can wear the PC38X for hours with little fatigue, helped by low weight and breathable pads. The main exception is firm initial clamp, which often eases after break-in.
-
Bass is surprisingly full for an open-back headset, with repeated praise for punch, texture and control rather than muddy boom. A few reviewers prefer less bass for competitive play, and sub-bass depth is not universally strong.
-
Value depends heavily on sale price and priorities. Many reviewers consider the sound and comfort worth the premium, while others question paying close to $200 for a wired, plastic headset when cheaper or more feature-rich alternatives exist.
Cons highlights
-
Build quality is the clearest split in the coverage. Some reviewers find the plastic chassis durable and well assembled, while others call it cheap-feeling, flimsy or chintzy for the price.
-
Clamp is the most divisive comfort trait. Some reviewers call it perfectly judged, but many find it tight or pinchy out of the box and recommend letting the headset loosen with use.
-
Sound leakage is an unavoidable open-back tradeoff: nearby people can hear your audio, especially at higher levels. One owner found leakage modest at normal volume, but shared-room use remains less private.
-
The flip-to-mute boom is convenient, but it is permanently attached and fairly large. Reviewers who want a cleaner everyday headphone or modular setup repeatedly wish the mic could be removed.
-
Passive isolation is poor by design. Reviewers repeatedly note that the open-back cups let outside noise in, making the headset a better fit for quiet rooms than noisy shared spaces.
-
The cable is detachable, but the deeply recessed proprietary-style 2.5 mm connection limits easy third-party replacement. Multiple reviewers call that restriction inconvenient.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Headsets, this product is above average in Smudge resistance, Volume output, Headband adjustability, near average in Overall satisfaction, Comfort during long use, below average in Footstep sound level scaling feature, Equalizer customization, Detachable cable convenience.
Comparison summary
46 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher22 (48%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts12 (26%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower12 (26%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Footstep sound level scaling feature | 1.0 | 4.3 | -3.3 |
| Equalizer customization | 1.3 | 3.9 | -2.6 |
| Detachable cable convenience | 1.8 | 3.8 | -2.1 |
| Smudge resistance | 5.0 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
| Noise isolation (passive) | 1.5 | 3.4 | -1.9 |
| Detachable microphone convenience | 2.2 | 4.0 | -1.8 |
| Volume output | 4.9 | 3.4 | +1.5 |
| Build quality | 3.1 | 4.1 | -0.9 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Footstep sound level scaling feature
Choose RIG R5 Spear MAX HD. It scores 4.5 vs 1.0 for Footstep sound level scaling feature, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better Equalizer customization
Choose SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1. It scores 4.6 vs 1.3 for Equalizer customization, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better Noise isolation (passive)
Choose HyperX Cloud Alpha. It scores 4.3 vs 1.5 for Noise isolation (passive), with a 4.1 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Better: competitive FPS tuning The Cloud II is preferred over the PC38X for FPS-focused play.
Astro A40
- Worse: sound tuning The PC38X is preferred by the reviewer over the Astro A40's similar tuning.
Audeze Penrose
- Better: spatial awareness The reviewer found the Penrose better for spatial awareness because of stronger separation.
FAQ
Is the PC38X good for competitive gaming?
Usually yes. Most reviewers praise its imaging, direction and distance cues, but a minority found footsteps too quiet or imaging less precise in certain FPS games.
Is the PC38X comfortable for long sessions?
For most reviewers, yes. Its low weight and breathable pads work well for hours, though the initial clamp can feel tight until it loosens.
How good is the microphone?
The flip-to-mute boom mic is generally clear and above average for a gaming headset. Plosives and background pickup can still be issues, and dedicated microphones sound better.
Does the PC38X block outside noise?
No. The open-back cups provide very little passive isolation and also leak sound, so the headset is best used in a quiet room.
Can I adjust EQ with companion software?
Not through a PC38X companion app; reviewers repeatedly note that none is provided. External EQ software or a sound card can be used instead.
Does the PC38X work across PC and consoles?
Yes, the included analog cable options are repeatedly praised for PC and controller use, including PlayStation and Xbox connections.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Master Marslander
- Review score
- 4.5
Article Reviews
architeg-prints.com
Experience gaming like never before with the Drop + Epos PC38X headset delivering unmatched sound quality for true audiophiles.
- Review score
- 4.8
techradar.com
The Drop + Epos PC38X could almost be considered old now, but it’s still great. If you can find it in stock, then it’s an easy recommendation...
- Review score
- 4.4
soundguys.com
Discover why the Drop + EPOS PC38X is a top choice for gamers seeking clear audio and comfort in an open-back design. Read our full review.
- Review score
- 3.4
zdnet.com
Review: Drop's collab with EPOS (formerly part of Sennheiser) has produced an almost cult-like following among its devotees. After getting my...
- Review score
- 4.7
pcper.com
The DROP + EPOS PC38X Gaming Headset, Brought to You by Sennheiser DROP shipped us out their new EPOS PC38X Gaming Headset, the successor to...
- Review score
- 4.4
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