The Drop + Grell OAE1 was kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t receive monetary or any other kind of compensation and I don’t use affiliate links. The price of the Grell OAE1 is $299 and is exclusively available from Drop. You take advantage of the pre-order discount and get them for $249.
Grell Audio
Axel Grell is the legendary audio engineer who is behind the design of some of the most prestigious headphones on the planet, the Sennheiser HD600, HD650 and HD800. After so many years with Sennheiser, Mr. Grell decided that it was time to start his own brand and thus the Grell Audio was born.
Grell Audio partnered with the community-driven Drop to handle promotion and sales networks. The first Grell Audio product was the Drop + Grell TWS/1, a wireless set of earphones that I had the privilege to write its world premiere review. Now Grell Audio is back with a full sized headphone, the Drop + Grell OAE1.
Drop + Grell OAE1
The Drop + Grell OAE1 is a full sized, open back headphone with a revolutionary driver geometry that promises to make them sound like speakers in front of the listeners head. The OAE1 positions the drivers further out and in front of the ears to create a soundfield that’s stunningly natural. It’s an innovative yet undeniably intuitive acoustic concept that Axel Grell first implemented in high-end Sennheiser headphones like the HD800 and now has tried to perfect it.
The two speaker membranes of the Grell OAE1 are positioned at an angle to the ear to project the sound waves as if they were coming from a source directly in front of the listener. The drivers are broadband transducers with bio-cellulose diaphragm.
The baffle also contributes to the unique listening experience that the OAE1 promises. The Grell OEA1 has an extremely large, curved and open baffle, which is complemented by an open ear cushion. This design allows the sound to spread naturally without being reflected by large closed areas. The high-precision stainless steel mesh guarantees high acoustic permeability and controlled bass reproduction. This prevents sound coloration and resonances.
Widening the soundstage even further, Axel Grell and his team developed ear-cups that are 90% open metal mesh and a woven stainless steel acoustic-damper mesh, both of which allow sound waves to pass through with minimal interference.
You can read the whole design concept of the Drop + Grell OAE1 and watch an interesting video by clicking here and here.
Drop + Grell OAE1 / Signature edition
The Drop + Grell OAE1 was first produced as the “Signature” model, a collectors version limited to 1000 pieces that sold out in a few weeks.
The price of the Signature model was $349 and featured silver painted ear-cups and hinges with Axel Grells signature engraved to them. The headphone was bundled with a high quality carrying case and two cables, one with a 3.5mm plug and another balanced with a 4.4mm plug.
Drop + Grell OAE1 / Standard edition
Grell Audio and Drop have now collaborated again to release the standard version of the OAE1 that has the exact same tuning with the Signature model but it is less expensive and features some non-sonic changes.
The most important one is that, after considering community feedback, clamping force has been reduced to 3N versus the 3.5N of the signature edition so it exercises less pressure on the head. Still the Grell OAE1 is clamping harder than most headphones on the market, however it is now much more comfortable to use.
Cosmetically, the standard OAE1 features a subdued black finish, Drop’s favorite color, and large L and R indicators inside the ear-cups to help with orientation and placement.
The standard Grell OAE1 is $50 less expensive but this price reduction comes with a penalty as you lose the practical carrying case and the balanced cable. These two accessories are useful and I would gladly pay the $50 extra in order to get them. It would be great if Drop offered two bundles and let the buyers choose.
Design and build quality
The OAE1 is well made using premium materials and has a plain and minimalist design that will appeal to many people. The ear-cups are essentially a huge metal mesh with woven stainless steel acoustic damper mesh. Except for the outer perimeter rings of the ear-cups that have retained their silver finish, everything else is painted black.
The ear-cups get attached to the headband with aluminum clamps. The headband, which has a rounded shape, is cushioned with memory foam and covered with PU leather. The center part of the headband features lower density foam to avoid creating a hotspot.
The velour ear pads are thick and stuffed with hard memory foam in order to keep the drivers at a certain distance from the listeners ears which is an important part of the tuning concept.
The headband adjustment mechanism feels smooth and is tight enough to keep its position. All parts of the headphone are user replaceable.
Wearing experience
The circular ear-pads are wide and deep enough to engulf the whole ear and let it breathe. The ear pads have a harder than average feeling that needs some time to get used to it. The ear-cups allow for 180⁰ swivel action for better placement.
The headband is comfortable enough and I could use the headphones for a couple of hours without the need to take a break.
The Drop + Grell OAE1 is a lightweight headphone that weighs 375g and now thanks to the reduced clamping force, it offers a comfortable wearing experience that doesn’t differ from most other headphones.
An important thing of note is that the headband adjusting mechanism doesn’t extend too long even in its maximum position so there is a chance that the headphone might not fit people with larger heads. Personally I get a marginally sufficient fit at the maximum setting. This issue was criticized by the community in the Signature model but the headband design has remained the same in the standard version.
The Cable system
The Grell OAE1 is wired to accept both dual and single entry cables as each ear-cup features a socket designed to accept a 2.5mm plug. An integrated overhead wire allows for the input signal to be shared between both drivers when using a single entry cable, which means you can connect a single-entry cable to either side. It is also possible to use dual or single entry balanced cables.
However, the input sockets have a prolonged reception plastic, tunnel-like strain relief that is there to protect the plug from accidental bending but it also limits its diameter so it will be very difficult to find aftermarket plugs that can fit inside.
Considering that the standard version of the Drop + Grell OAE1 includes only one single-ended cable, it is going to be tricky to find a balanced cable that fits the headphone socket because of this diameter limitation. This is why Drop and Grell Audio should consider selling the original balanced cable that was included in the bundle of the Signature model.
Accessories
The standard version does not include any accessories except for a single-entry cable with a 3.5mm plug and a 6.35mm screw-on adapter.
Power requirements
The headphone has a 38Ω nominal impedance with 106dB/Vrms of sensitivity so it is easy to drive and doesn’t need special amplification. I have mostly used the FiiO M23 and the iBasso DX180 DAPs with the balanced cable I had from the Signature version.
Listening impressions
The Grell OAE1 has so much bass that it is hard to believe it even after first listen. You will need a few moments to get over the surprise and adjust your brain to understand what is really happening. Sub-bass extension is pretty unbelievable for an open-back headphone, especially a so affordable one. Honestly I can barely think of another open headphone with such extended sub-bass that it practically reproduces 20Hz without attenuation. Axel Grell has managed a tuning that feels like having subwoofers at your head but at the same time it retains excellent clarity both at the mids and the treble.
The bass is emphasized and steers away from neutrality, something strange for the guy who has designed the HD800. Nevertheless the emphasis is not that exaggerated to lead into excessive bass-head levels and severely compromise tonal accuracy. It is true that the Grell OAE1 doesn’t have the most tonally correct low-end, the bass is exuberantly tuned to make it sound fun and exciting but it can also handle classical and acoustic music with some limitations and as long as you are willing to forgive its lack of neutrality and get used to its casual personality. Honestly speaking, it would not be my headphone of choice for listening to classical music but it sounds exceptionally enjoyable with almost everything else and especially modern electronic and trance music.
Technicalities are generally speaking above average, the bass is tight and controlled without audible echo or cup reverb while it is super impactful and dynamic. It has visceral, weighty textures and is also fast with good timing, as well as with satisfying definition and layering. Unfortunately it can’t keep up that well with complex and overcrowded bass-lines, it struggles to follow and starts to sound one-note, blurred and mildly bloated.
More listening impressions
The best part about the Drop + Grell OAE1 is that it retains excellent balance and presence both in the mids and the treble despite the emphasized low-end. The bass doesn’t mask or bleed into the mid-range, which is allowed freedom of speech and sounds articulated with very satisfying resolution and definition for the category. The tuning is quite balanced, tonal precision is good and the timbre is rather natural. The OAE1 is musical and engaging with plenty of harmonic variety, it can connect the listener with the music and effortlessly reproduce both voices and instruments.
The mid-range is the headphone’s strongest point and personally speaking I find it more appealing and balanced sounding than the legendary Sennheiser HD650, despite its upper mid-range prominence and forwardness. It seems that Axel Grell has accomplished a maturer and a little more sophisticated tuning that makes the OAE1 sound lifelike and closer to reality without causing listener fatigue.
The treble is vivid and sparkling to counterbalance the prominent low-end and avoid an overly warm and dark sound signature. It is luminous enough but not sharp or piercing and resolves well for the category but it doesn’t sound that spectacular and brilliant. The Grell OAE1 can also be a little unforgiving with poor quality recordings, especially if you use bright sources.
The major letdown when it comes to the treble is its slightly unnatural and artificial timbre that can sound a bit metallic at times. There is a certain amount of sterility and dryness that is also combined with the mildly suppressed overtones and relative lack of harmonic variety. However the audible effects can vary a lot and are music and recording dependent, as an example classical music will not sound that satisfying but electronic music listeners will barely notice anything annoying.
The good, the bad (but not ugly) soundstage
The soundstage is a mixed bag as it doesn’t make the OAE1 sound like speakers at the front of your head as advertised. It is not more expansive or holographic than most headphones and is definitely less wide and immersive than the Sennheiser HD800. However it achieves great spatiality with a strong center image that does feel like projected from a spot outside your head. The Drop + Grell OAE1 might not offer spectacular expansiveness but it sounds exceptionally spacious and open within its dimensions while it has class-leading depth layering and positioning even when compared with much more expensive headphones.
In the end
The Drop + Grell OAE1 is the scientific experiment of a legendary acoustic engineer that turned out to be a good headphone but not for everyone. It might not be suitable for austere critical listening and it falls short of its advertised speaker-like qualities but on the other hand it offers spatiality not achieved before and a bass emphasized but otherwise balanced tuning.
The bass is amazing for an open-back headphone and the tuning concept is youthful and fun, especially suitable for casual listening without compromising on sound quality. The new standard version has addressed the comfort issues of the Signature model and is much more affordable. The Drop+ Grell OAE1 might not appeal to everyone but I am sure that it is going to earn some die-hard fans.
Copyright – Petros Laskis 2024.
+ Bass emphasized but also balanced tuning
+ Exceptional sub-bass extension
+ Dynamic and impactful bass
+ Visceral and weighty textures
+ Super fan and exciting sound signature
+ Mid-range and treble presence
+ Good resolution and clarity
+ Exceptionally spatial soundstage with class-leading layering and imaging
+ Reduced clamping force versus the Signature model
+ Lightweight and comfortable
+ Well made and affordable
- Too much bass for critical listening
- Average bass technicalities in busy tracks
- Slightly artificial and dry treble
- Not speaker-like soundstage as advertised
- The soundstage is not more wide than the competition
- The cable sockets are too narrow limiting aftermarket options
- Does not include the carrying case and the balanced cable
- Might not fit people with larger heads
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