Drop + THX Panda Review (and Measurements)

Discussion in 'Headphone Measurements' started by purr1n, Jan 22, 2020.

  1. joeexp

    joeexp Don't ship this man FD-X1 ever

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    Even with LDAC as the codec, I wouldn't worry about bit-perfection so much. LDAC is a lossy codec using data compression. ... ;)
     
  2. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    I do, there's a difference when streaming LDAC from an Android phone and streaming LDAC from a higher end DAP like the Sony's.

    We all know LDAC is lossy but for a codec it is great. I don't believe we should dismiss it easily due to being a lossy codec.
     
  3. joeexp

    joeexp Don't ship this man FD-X1 ever

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    There really is no difference. I dare anyone claiming otherwise.
    LDAC = the very fine details smoothed over just a little. Fine for listening on the road.
     
  4. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Sorry if that's your experience. However, there was a difference of better fidelity when I went from SBC Codec to LDAC using WM1A + there's a difference on which device that is sending the LDAC stream. Sorry, but phones are limited on SQ since well they are the jack of all trades but master of none.

    I'm not saying that the LDAC is the end all be all, I'm saying for a lossy Bluetooth codec we shouldn't be putting it on the side and sneer because OMG LOSSY CODEC HELP ME JESUS! If the Panda does LDAC wireless then that would be useful for someone like who like to walk around in my apartment being engaged to my music, not to forced to sit in one location. I don't mind losing some fine details when I can walk around, it's better than even what SBC can do. I still have my CA Solaris + WM1A if I really need to be engaged and focus on the music.

    I'm all for more useful tech that would help with my music enjoyment. I personally found LDAC to be very good for what it is. More products supporting it is an A+ in my book. I will wait the day until we can do wireless 16/44 lossless to local devices. This day will happen, it is just a matter of when.

    Now I'll wait for more details when this starts to hit people's hands.
     
  5. joeexp

    joeexp Don't ship this man FD-X1 ever

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    I totally agree with you; LDAC is very good for what it is; Just not as good as a wired connection unfortunately.

    I didn't experience Android phones (ie LG V30) not being able to transmit Bluetooth correctly.
    Reach is more of a problem with Sony DAPs as they are mostly made of metal.
     
  6. Wildstar

    Wildstar New

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    The problem is not bit-perfection per se but, depending on version and implementation, Android can resample everything to 48 kHz with a really crappy resampler, and this will be quite audible.
     
  7. joeexp

    joeexp Don't ship this man FD-X1 ever

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    Don't know where the 48kHz is coming from; But the sound quality pretty much depends on the bluetooth transmission speed. 990kbps being the best -- 330kbps is worse than SBC.
    660kbps is LDAC's most common 'Best Effort' setting. Many phones have to manually force 990kbps.
     
  8. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    Can we keep this discussion about the headphones and move codec bickering elsewhere. TIA.
     
  9. Magnetostatic_Tubephile

    Magnetostatic_Tubephile Friend

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    I also see the lack of integrated DSP as a clearly missed opportunity. Compared to your typical "active" closed-back of nowadays, these Panda's apparently have the acoustic ("passive") qualities to become fantastic with smartly applied parametric EQ.
     
  10. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    I hope they fix the headband. More padding and with a notch they might be for me. Having have had problems with hot spots on the top of my head due to shit headbands and having a big noggin how they are now will be a nope from me.
     
  11. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Is this headband much different from the Oppo iterations? I actually thought those were quite comfortable for my square shaped head.
     
  12. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Yes. Oppos had padding.
     
  13. Huntersknoll

    Huntersknoll New

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    I got a weird question.. Can you stream two bluetooth sources to it at once? Aka having music streamed to it by my phone/DAP but also playing PS4? Just want to have some tunes while I'm grinding out some levels in FFXIV
     
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I always felt the Sony ZX2 sounded better and had its own sound compared to my Pixel 2. It's possible ZX2 is doing some processing. Or Pixel 2 as well. Other possibilities include codec, and even for a particular codec implementation and perhaps even range / signal strength or related data decimation factors. We would interesting to have an analysis tool so see what's going on with the data packets.

    But really, last thing I want to do is line up bar charts with Bluetooth SINAD of portable gear.
     
  15. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Yeah don't go on that route. I look at LDAC as a nice extra, but not the main course if that make sense.
     
  16. AGuyNamedNick

    AGuyNamedNick New

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    In Jude's video, the Drop guy said that it does in fact have an integrated DSP and that EQ might be an option in the future if there is demand. The fact that it has an apparently unused DSP chip as well as microphones makes me think that they intend to add ANC in the future. I'd guess it was just not ready at launch or is being saved for when the initial hype dies down.
     
  17. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    A little something I spotted after the latest SW Reference 4 update:

    DROP THX Panda curve:

    panda.jpg

    Here's the Oppo PM-3 for comparison:

    PM-3.jpg
     
  18. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Or, without @CEE TEE they have no idea WTF to do with the onboard hardware.
     

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