In any pair of planar magnetic headphones, the listening experience is defined by the drivers. In the HE-X4, the drivers don’t disappoint. For uncompromising responsiveness and sensitivity, we implemented a dual-sided magnet driver array that uses magnets on both sides of the diaphragm membrane to generate sound waves. We also tuned each driver for maximum efficiency to minimize distortion and give the HE-X4 a unique sonic character. On the exterior, the HE-X4 retains much of what made the HE4XX a fan-favorite: large earcups, plush earpads, and a lightweight build. Where it surpasses its predecessor is the headband. We worked closely with HIFIMAN to make the slider connections more durable and improve headband strength overall—giving the HE-X4 uncompromising comfort alongside immersive sound.

Founded in New York City in 2007, HIFIMAN has always kept its ears close to the audiophile community. Case and point: Dr. Fang, company founder and head engineer. Dr. Fang started out as an active contributor on Head-Fi, regularly attending local meetups while pursuing his doctorate at Columbia. When he realized his PhD research could be relevant to his passion—the music-listening experience and the audiophile products that improve it—he started talking with forum members and meetup attendees about what they’d like to see in the next generation of headphones. With his first designs, HIFIMAN was born. In the few short years since its inception, HIFIMAN has released several highly regarded audio products, all while keeping close ties with the audiophile community. At Drop, we couldn’t imagine a better way of doing things.

Designed for entry-level listeners and enthusiasts in search of a refined feature set, the Drop+ THX AAA ONE Linear Amplifier is a slimmed-down version of our beloved THX 789 linear amp. It does away with the 789’s balanced inputs and outputs in favor of a single-ended output and an all-new preamp output, which is perfect for connecting to powered speakers. Of course, it also features THX’s legendary AAA technology to deliver detailed amplification with next to no distortion, as well as three gain stages to drive headphones at all impedance levels. Sleek and desktop friendly, it makes a powerful pair with the HE-X4.