Grell OAE1 Review | 93 Data compared

The SuperBestAudioFriends review characterizes the Grell OAE1 as a polarizing "proof of concept" offering exceptional front-to-back soundstaging and deep, layered, speaker-like performance due to heavily angled drivers. While praised for an enveloping, fatigue-free experience with significant sub-bass, the headphone is criticized for high distortion, a veiled midrange due to upper-midrange suckout, and uncomfortable, tight clamping force, making it a risky purchase.

The Grell Audio OAE1 is an unconventional open-back headphone designed by Axel Grell that rejects traditional diffuse-field target curves in favor of a "Free Field" tuning, aiming to mimic the front-facing soundstage of high-end room speakers. Pros include an expansive, forward-projecting soundstage that offers precise instrument placement, an organic and clear midrange ideal for acoustic and live-in-studio recordings, and a deep, linear, speaker-like bass response. Additionally, its lightweight construction features a unique 30-degree angled driver placement that reduces ear fatigue, providing excellent value for listeners seeking an experimental, speaker-like audio profile. However, its unique design introduces several key cons, most notably a heavily recessed treble response that lacks air and sparkle, making it sound undetailed on music mastered for conventional headphones unless manual parametric EQ is applied. Physical comfort is highly compromised, earning only a 5/10 rating due to high clamping force, shallow adjustment range for larger heads, and hard earpad cushions. Furthermore, the extreme driver angling creates high placement sensitivity where minor physical shifts radically alter the frequency response, making the final sound highly dependent on the listener's specific...

The Drop + Grell OAE1 Signature headphones feature an unconventional open-back design by Axel Grell, aiming to emulate front-facing studio monitors with angled, off-center drivers. Proponents praise the unique soundstage, authoritative sub-bass extension, and robust industrial build quality. Conversely, the, notable cons include a polarizing, non-traditional frequency response with an upper-midrange suckout that produces a dark or muffled sound, alongside high clamping force and limited adjustment that can cause discomfort. Due to this unique, front-biased presentation, the headphones are considered a niche product requiring significant acclimation.

The Drop + Grell OAE1Go headphones, reviewed by "dw" on AudioReviews.org, deliver a unique sound profile with a heavily weighted-down bass, a prominent lower-midrange accent, and easy-going treble. The design, featuring highly angled drivers to emulate forward-facing room speakers, produces a thick, warm, and distant presentation, rather than an immediate one. Key advantages, or pros, include excellent bass extension and a powerful, visceral low-end that outperforms many competitors, including a more robust, less harsh presentation compared to the Sennheiser HD6XX. The angled drivers specifically contribute to a non-fatiguing, smooth, and easily listened-to treble. Conversely, the cons centered around a "boomy," "husky" lower-midrange that causes the sound to feel veiled and lacks the clarity and openness expected of a high-end, open-back headphone. The reviewer concluded that the heavy, thick tuning masks vocal and midrange details, often leaving the overall sound feeling too distant and less engaging.

The Drop + Grell OAE1 is a comfortable yet heavy open-back headphone with a warm, thick-textured sound, featuring excellent, deep bass impact without harshness. However, the soundstage is intimate, and the heavily veiled treble lacks resolution and crispness, resulting in poor balance and lacking detail. While the build is substantial, the reviewer notes a failure to match the performance of cheaper alternatives, ultimately advising against purchase.

Kyle's review on Den-Fi.com presents a highly critical evaluation of the Grell OAE-1 headphones, ultimately comparing their audio presentation to that of a gaming headset rather than a tool for critical listening. On the positive side, the reviewer respects the implementation of novel engineering ideas, specifically the highly unconventional, angled, and offset driver placement meant to target the outer ear and simulate front-facing monitor speakers or an orchestral venue. Additionally, Kyle highlights a dedicated physical LC notch filter circuit built right into the ear cups, designed specifically to minimize an aggressive 5kHz treble spike. However, the cons heavily outweigh the pros in this assessment, particularly regarding the headphone's tuning and messy frequency response. Kyle notes that the bass is massively over-elevated—measuring higher in the upper bass than almost any open-back headphone he has tested—resulting in a muddy, textured-deprived sound reminiscent of low-quality EDM venue speakers. This bloated low-end severely congests the midrange, making vocals sound overly thick and lower-register instruments sound out of tune. Furthermore, the reviewer experiences no perceived soundstage benefits from the angled drivers, leaving him with an...

The Drop X Grell OAE1 Signature Edition is an open-back headphone designed by former Sennheiser engineer Axel Grell, featuring biocellulose dynamic drivers positioned in front of the ear to create a unique "front-oriented diffuse field equalization". Priced at $299, it delivers a polarising, bass-heavy audio profile with a deep, dense sub-bass rumble that stands out for an open-back design. It features an aesthetically pleasing, minimalist Germanic design made from high-quality metal with velour earpads, and comes packaged with a non-microphonic, cloth-sheathed 2.5mm twist-to-lock to 3.5mm cable. However, the headphones suffer from several acoustic and ergonomic drawbacks. On the performance side, the OAE1 exhibits an over-handed upper-midrange suckout and an artificially metallic, low-resolution treble sheen. Structurally, despite design updates meant to fix previous versions, it still retains an uncomfortably high clamp force that puts strain on the temples, limiting long-term wearability for users sensitive to head pressure. Furthermore, the unboxing experience is sparse and lacks a carrying case or a 4.4mm balanced cable option.

The RTINGS review of the Drop + Grell OAE1Go highlights these open-back audiophile cans for their distinct, experimental engineering designed by Axel Grell, featuring solid, robust build quality. Their unique, intensely angled, off-axis drivers are designed to emulate the natural, front-facing soundstage of standard room speakers rather than typical "in-your-head" headphone audio. Conversely, the assessment outlines severe cons, noting they are uncomfortable due to a heavy, bulky design with high clamping force that causes physical fatigue. They offer terrible noise isolation and create high sound leakage, making them a poor choice for travel or public environments. RTINGS.

The Drop + Grell OAE1 headphones, reviewed by Headfonics, introduce an experimental, open-back design featuring extremely forward-angled drivers meant to replicate the soundstage of stereo speakers. Designed by Axel Grell, this unique approach deviates from standard diffuse-field tuning to create a distinct, speaker-like listening experience. YouTube· Pros include a remarkably deep and wide soundstage with immense macro staging capabilities. The OAE1 is lauded for its warm, smooth tonal balance and authoritative, physically present bass response. However, the unconventional tuning results in a polarizing sound signature, often perceived as lacking midrange clarity and sounding soft in the lower treble. Additionally, the unusual physical design may produce a challenging and finicky fit for many users.

The Headfonia review of the $199 USD DROP + Grell OAE1Go, designed by Axel Grell, finds it an interesting acoustic experiment with "built-like-a-tank" metal construction, a convenient dual-entry cable system, and impressive treble resolution. However, the open-back headphone falls short of delivering a natural listening experience, suffering from a highly colored sound signature, extreme "room-boom" bass masking, and an unnatural, uneven midrange. Major drawbacks highlighted include the experimental, offset driver design failing to achieve a speaker-like experience and producing an overall unnatural sound. Additionally, the OAE1 is criticized for uncomfortable, high clamping force for users with larger heads, leading to it being considered a, novelty rather than a recommended, balanced listening device.