This time, I’m reviewing the DROP + Grell OAE1 headphones. It’s promoting for $199 USD.
Disclaimer: Neither DROP nor Grell Audio are associated to Headfonia. They despatched me the OAE1 freed from cost to be featured on Headfonia.
DROP + Grell
Drop (previously Massdrop) is a California-based e-commerce platform that caters to many pastime fanatics, together with audiophiles. Its most well-known providing is the collaboration with Sennheiser, which birthed the venerable HD6XX, a extra budget-oriented model of the HD650. I’ve personally purchased from them many instances, and sometimes, they provide some deep-cut decisions.
Grell Audio is the brainchild of Axel Grell, an acoustic engineer who’s most identified for his work with Sennheiser. He’s the writer of the HD6XX collection of headphones, in addition to the HD800 and the much less favored HD700. His first foray as an unbiased producer was with the TWS 1 true wi-fi IEMs, which built-in the tuning expertise of Sonarworks SoundID.
DROP + GRELL OAE1
With the OAE1, you possibly can certainly inform that Grell is lastly cooking with gasoline. There’s Sennheiser DNA when wanting on the velour pads and the HD650-like grille. The headscarf meeting could be very minimalistic, with curved rods going inside a padded heart part.
The true story, nonetheless, is what’s happening contained in the Grell OAE1. As you effectively know, the primary distinction between listening to audio system and headphones is that the latter have to simulate the naturally occurring sound coloration that occurs between the loudspeaker and your ears. It’s known as the head-related switch operate, and it’s basically what’s tried by the assorted headphone goal curves.
A flat-measuring headphone sounds unnatural as a result of its absence.
I’ve been part of HRTF analysis executed by Sonarworks, and customarily, the goal is to attain zero tonal shift between enjoying the identical materials on a speaker and headphones. Grell’s most well-known headphone, the Sennheiser HD650, is a testomony to the truth that it’s doable. After the HD580/HD600/HD650, Grell continued his work and launched the Sennheiser HD800, which is understood for its spacious sound.
The principle flaw of the HD800 is that it’s a tad too spicy within the treble area, and many individuals have tried rectifying it by using EQ and in depth bodily mods. It’s protected to say that Sennheiser’s dream headphone could be the one with the spatial rendering of an HD800 and the tonal response of the HD650 (or HD600), and perhaps some further low-end.
Axel Grell makes an attempt to recreate a extra speaker-like presentation within the OAE1 by angling the motive force in order that it sits extra in entrance of the ear. The HD800 driver can also be positioned at an angle with respect to the ear, however right here it’s extra excessive. Sounds good in concept, however does it work? Dangle tight and discover out!
You should purchase the DROP + Grell OAE1 for 199$ USD at DROP.
Options
- Open-back over-ear headphone, open baffle acoustics
- 40mm biocellulose dynamic drivers
- 12 – 32 000Hz (-3dB), 6 – 44 000Hz (-10dB) marketed frequency response
- 38 ohm load impedance
- 93.8dB/mW or 106dB/V
- Weight: 375g with out a cable
- Enter connectors: 2.5mm TRS
- Cable jack: 3.5mm TRS (6.35mm adaptor included)
- Cable size: 1.8m silver-coated OFC
Casing
I used to be granted the prospect to overview the DROP model of the Grell OAE1, which is cosmetically totally different from the common OAE1 Signature. DROP wish to make their collab variations of assorted gear extra inexpensive by slicing down on the packaging, and the OAE1 isn’t any totally different.
The field is made out of uncooked cardboard, however seems to be good due to the shiny sleeve it’s in. Inside, there’s a fashioned shell that holds the headphones along with the cable. Over the headphones, we additionally get a large-format person and security guide. I just like the field resolution, it’s sturdy sufficient however not so fancy that I’ll should assume lengthy earlier than tossing it within the recycle bin.
Construct High quality
I received’t mince phrases, the DROP + Grell OAE1 is constructed like a tank. The entire mechanical elements are made out of steel, and I can’t actually see them failing on me anytime quickly. There’s motion solely the place it’s designed, and the scale changes work fairly effectively.
A lot of the headphone earcup is roofed by a steel grill to make sure the again of the motive force is well-ventilated. The grill is sturdy sufficient that solely drops from appreciable heights will dent it. The earpads are velour with the within coated in fenestrated nylon mesh.
The cable entry resolution is kind of ingenious, with an inlet on either side that accommodates the custom-molded 2.5mm jack. You’ll be able to plug it into both facet, and the channels can be assigned appropriately. The cable itself isn’t too stiff, and the material cowl retains it from tangling.
All in all, the Grell OAE1 is a perfectly made piece of package and exudes a know-how possible collected by many years of labor at Sennheiser. There aren’t any elements that will counsel untimely failure, and certain solely the padded headband might begin falling aside given sufficient time.
Consolation and Ergonomics
Regardless of being constructed to the best commonplace, the Grell OAE1 doesn’t agree too effectively with my head. I’ll add that I’m reasonably cranially endowed, however I’ve seen individuals with even larger heads than mine. To get match, I’ve to increase the earcups to their max, even when most different headphones go away a step or two further.
The OAE1 stays on the pinnacle by combining a substantial clamp and sitting on the highest of the cranium with the padded part of the scarf. At 375g, these headphones are by far not the heaviest on the market, however they’re hugging the edges of your head like there’s no tomorrow. The HD6XX-series headphones additionally do it, however loosen up with time or stretching.
One other ache level for me is the scarf, which varieties a stress hotspot on the highest of my head. It doesn’t occur instantly, however after round two hours it turns into annoying. I feel the ergonomic design of the OAE1 wants extra work, as there are far more cozy headphones on the market.
Isolation
The Grell OAE1 is an open-back design, so there’s sound leaking out and in of the earcup. It’s not as open as some planars the place you hear your environment like there’s nothing blocking them, however don’t count on to make use of these in a library or an open-plan workplace. My spouse was particularly aggravated that the leaking sound of music was fairly muffled.
Sound Signature and Technicalities
My primary testing system for the DROP + Grell OAE1 was the Topping x Holo Centuarus driving the DROP + SMSL HO150X, Feliks Euforia EVO, and Aune S17 Professional EVO.
Let’s begin with some practicalities. Driving the Grell OAE1 isn’t significantly arduous, however I’d search for one thing stronger than a built-in headphone output of a laptop computer. The virtually 94dB/mW effectivity signifies that these headphones like energy, however 38 ohms isn’t an unique load, so absolutely anything will do.
Total Tonality
All in all, the Grell OAE1 has a U-shaped tuning, but it surely’s an odd one. The bass enhance goes effectively into low-mids and provides the listening expertise a speaker-like character as a result of it sort of mimics audio system once they have room-boom. The mids-proper is the one area I’d name impartial as a result of within the highs it once more turns into a curler coaster.
Bass
I do not forget that in the course of the preliminary testing part, there have been reviews from some private audio commerce exhibits that the DROP + Grell OAE1 lacks bass. It wasn’t actually a shock for me as a result of it’s not simple to get a linear bass response from an open-baffle 40mm dynamic driver. The principle downside is that the back-wave shortly cancels out the entrance, and there’s not a whole lot of materials to keep up any sort of stress close to the ear. It looks like Grell has taken the suggestions under consideration and added a wide-band bass enhance.
Now the bass is sort of boomy, however there’s actual influence and extension. It really works okay with electronica, the place there’s little real-world reference of what you’re listening to should sound like. The motive force doesn’t really feel like combating the bombastic low-end, which is good, however finally the tuning right here is kind of… distinctive.
The DROP + Grell OAE1 article continues on the second web page. Click on on the jumps under to go there.
