0:30 45mm drivers.
In the description box they added a correction:
Correction: The audio driver is 40mm, not 45mm.
0:30 45mm drivers.
Correction: The audio driver is 40mm, not 45mm.
Driver gate!In the description box they added a correction:
The OAE-1 is a new kid on the block and I'm hoping it diverges from any of the per-mentioned candidates, otherwise what's the point IMHO and I'm thinking for many jumping on the bandwagon they're reasoning is somewhat the same.Other options I had been considering were: Sundara, HD600, HD660S2, and maybe a used pair of HD800Ss. Especially now that I work from home, I need something non-fatiguing to listen to anything and everything, not to mention gaming.
Those were on the short list mainly because everyone recommends them as the best open-back headphones. Knowing that the OAE1s come from that lineage is what draws me to trying them. I also find I tend to like things neutral-ish sounding, accurate, and often prefer a 2.1 setup that retains bass. That last point is why I'm excited to listen to the OAE1s.The OAE-1 is a new kid on the block and I'm hoping it diverges from any of the per-mentioned candidates, otherwise what's the point IMHO and I'm thinking for many jumping on the bandwagon they're reasoning is somewhat the same.
Also the HD600/660S2 are quite different from the HD800S...if just getting your feet wet with any of Axel's previous endeavours I'd start with any of the 600 series although the S2 was released after his departure from Sennheiser but still from the same mold.
Without breaking the bank there's the HD58X and HD6XX also available on Drop.
The OAE-1 may be just what you are looking for and we'll all find out soon enough.
Could mean a couple things. Could mean first batch is 1k, could mean “signature” is limited to 1k, etc.
A german magazine´s review (paywalled) https://www.heise.de/tests/Bass-und...ell-Audio-OAE1-im-Test-9711843.html?seite=all
Some takeaways (my interpretation and translation by Deepl):
Edit: BTW, the editorial team of the magazine is based in the same region as Sennheiser and Axel Grell, and they have sometimes worked together in the past (e.g. Mr. Grell was once invited as a guest for an MP3 listening comparison). This is probably the reason why this editorial team did this review relatively quickly.
- "clean, crisp bass", but 2dB too much for the reviewer´s taste.
- "by no means dull, but balanced in the treble range"
- "the room seems significantly larger than with other models in the 500-euro class."
- "you get an even finer-resolution stage with a Hifiman Arya, Sennheiser HD 800S or Fostex TH909."
- Not suitable for evaluating a mix (not neutral enough)
I am not an acoustic engineer, but I have my 2 cents, most other headphones probably have longer spectral decays compared to OAE-1 due to lingering resonances and specifically in the lower frequencies, and thus the lower frequencies probably mask the higher frequencies less in case of the OAE-1 when compared to other headphones, so may be for that reason a dip in the OAE -1 is not as detrimental as it may seem ? As I said not an acoustic engineer here .....I thought this was interesting. OAE1 graph compared to the Audeze MM-500 and LCD-5.
Maybe not such a strange frequency response after all!
I haven't had the pleasure of hearing either, and I belive they're somewhat divisive (with some finding them too dark), but they certainly have passionate fans
Graph credits:
https://listener.squig.link/?share=Audeze_MM_500
https://sai.squig.link/?share=LCD-5
I'm not sure if you will be able to compare it to other HD800s distortion graphs, definitely not in direct comparison.BTW does anyone know what was the volume level while plotting this graph , want to compare against the graph of HD 800S available at other places.
What stands out to me about the distortion graphs is how low distortion is when you're out of the bass and into the mids and beyond.I'm not sure if you will be able to compare it to other HD800s distortion graphs, definitely not in direct comparison.
I've not seen any distortion profile of HD800s made on BK5128, the ones I saw were made using GRASS rigs, so not really apples to apples comparison.
Having said that, I really don't see a problem with distortion on the OAE1. Seems to be well behaved even in the bass considering that it has bass boost. Not SOTA (not that is always has to be), but really nothing to worry about.