The pitch for Drop and Hifiman's HE-R7DX headphones is pretty simple: bring the essence of audiophile-grade audio down to an affordable level. At $99, these cans ought to be a solid starter for budding audio enthusiasts, promising great audio even if you're driving them from a standard phone or computer rather than a powerful DAC. In fact, Drop's page promises "excellent isolation, impressive details" and even "open-back-level soundstaging". It sounds like a winning formula, but do the HE-R7DX live up to their billing? We tested the HE-R7DX for two weeks to find out.
The first thing you'll notice getting these headphones out of the box is the design, which is simplistic but somewhat retro, with large navy blue plastic earcups and a black, textured leather headband that’s become Hifiman’s trademark feature, complete with small metal forks connecting the two components together. I’ve seen some complaints that the design is perhaps a little uninspiring, but to me, there’s a certain minimalistic and refined quality to the HE-R7DXs that make them seem a lot more expensive. You won’t find anything in terms of additional controls on the underside of the headphones for controlling volume or the like - that’s all left to the host device - and as these are headphones rather than a headset, there's no mic included either. Connectivity is kept nice and easy with a simple 3.5mm audio jack on the end of what is quite a chunky cable, and in the box, you also get a 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter to allow use with more professional-grade audio equipment.
Admittedly, these are some of the odder fitting headphones I’ve tested with very little in the way of adjustment apart from on the headband. There’s no real swivel on the earcups, apart from the natural swivel when you put them on your head. The HE-R7DX are also some of the looser fitting cans I’ve used, as they simply rest on your head, as opposed to clamping around your skull. It’s a sensation that takes some getting used to but aids in making these an especially comfortable fit for extended periods of listening. They weigh in at 338g, which is heavier than a lot of the similarly priced gaming headsets I’m used to, but in the headphone world, the HE-R7DXs are quite light, which just aids in making them even more comfortable.