DROP + GRELL OAE1

[zilax002]

Th OAE-1 are not your cold beer you grab out of the fridge and then chug-a-lug to quench thy first. lol
I'd set aside some time where one can sit undisturbed, put on some familiar or unfamiliar music and just listen. Stop thinking and analyzing about how that other set of phones compares.
Like Axel mentions

That's all well and good, but if you're implying anyone who doesn't like the headphone is "listening wrong" I think that's somewhat insulting.

There's frankly been a lot of that mood in this thread, though it's been stoked by the (real) concern that people haven't plugged the connectors in all the way.

I listened in a manner much like you described and the flaws in the tuning and timbre jumped out immediately. It's not something I had to scrutinize or discovered through comparing with other headphones.

That being said, I want to give them one more shot and play around with positioning a bit (though I already have).

But so far they just don't do it for me.

 

[Rob80b]

That's all well and good, but if you're implying anyone who doesn't like the headphone is "listening wrong" I think that's somewhat insulting.

Sorry not my intentions at all, there are a lot of phones out and we all have different preferences, listening habits, hearing, etc.

But so far they just don't do it for me.

Looks like you gave them your fair share.

 

[gxleetw]

Just some thoughts, but for those who do not warm up to the OAE-1 have you taken in any live recitals where one is required to be quiet and just listen for an hour or more?

I might be a minority in this forum- my music genre is mostly classical (all kinds) with little dabbing into jazz and pop. My live recital experiences are mostly classical. Being an amateur pianist, I pay extra attention to instrument timber, especially piano notes. To my ears, the sound signature of OAE-1 is simply off, particular true to piano notes, no matter how I tried to adjust its position on my head.

I'd set aside some time where one can sit undisturbed, put on some familiar or unfamiliar music and just listen. Stop thinking and analyzing about how that other set of phones compares.

Did that and really wanted to like it, but just can’t. To my ears its “voicing” is too off from neutral for the genre I care. This and the ergonomics, I had to sent it back but with no regret. Looking forward to the next version with more “normal” voicing, if it ever happens.

 

[JM Popaleetus]

Ultimately I think I’m going to return/resell these and wait for the OAE2s, or a revised OAE1 with replacement parts.

I can’t get them to be effortlessly comfortable with repeated use. The band is just a hair too small.

When I do get them placed right, they sound great. They sound really great! Putting the OAEs on a HD5/6 headband would be perfection.

Excited to see what @xlcans comes out with next. I can see “the next step” being my personal endgame.

 

[BizznessSox]

It's so unfortunate that many people had headband issues with this. I have a big head but seem to have my ears in just the right spot to have my ears centered at max extension. These headphones disappeared on my head and I realize I was lucky but these may be the most comfortable headphones I have ever used next to maybe the Bose QC 35(those don't excite me with audio prowess but are my fav travel companions).

I will say this, I love 80s pop music and these headphones make it 3D and the slightly darker tone shaves off the brightness in many of the recordings. The 80s have been an exquisite experience. @xlcans I have been on the fence with these but that is because I have the HD6XX, these feel like a grander version of those with less overall detail, but a package tuned to enjoy music. I have to say that these have grown on me and are the only ones I have reached for since I got them. Having the bass when needed but not overwhelm the rest of the profile makes these an enjoyable listen.

No one is listening to these wrong (unless you truly have them on wrong or not connected lol), if you do not like them, you do not like them and that is fine. I am now on the side that I will take what seems like a bit off the top end and some slightly less creamy mids for this grander presentation with bass ability over the HD6XX.

 

[Rob80b]

Being an amateur pianist, I pay extra attention to instrument timber, especially piano notes. To my years, the sound signature of OAE-1 is simply off, particular true to piano notes, no matter how I tried to adjust its position on my head.

Again different strokes for different folks as I really like what the OAE-1 does with piano recordings, we will leave it at that.

 

[ralphp@optonline]

was listening to the Dead tonight ad well, the 2000T-OAE1 does them justice!

FYI
Grateful Dead - 1969-05-31 MacArthur Court at University of Oregon, Eugene, OR

A new and upgraded of this classic Dead show is now making the rounds on all the Dead trader sites.

From the information file:

Recording info: Bear’s Ampex cassette (or possibly reel) SBD master > DAT (provided by Anon)
Transfer info: Tascam DA-302 > Sound Devices 722 (digital transfer)

Recorded by Augustus Owsley Stanley III (aka Bear)
2024 DAT transfer and mastering by Jim Blackwood
Speed/pitch adjusted by Jason Chastain
Minor repairs, track, FLAC, and pack by Steve Gravel

Originally aired on 91.3 FM KXCI Tucson on Dead Air, hosted by Jim Blackwood on May 26, 2024
https://spinitron.com/KXCI/pl/19022892/Dead-Air
Originally shared to www.shnflac.net 0n June 19, 2024

Hopefully you can find a clean copy. Sounds great on OAE1!

 

[ruinedx]

But I have concluded these are basically closed cans or semi open cans

I would love to see some pad options that were not as chunky and didn't get as hot. B&O's lambskin material feels amazing, that might work well with these on its face.

That's all well and good, but if you're implying anyone who doesn't like the headphone is "listening wrong" I think that's somewhat insulting.

There's frankly been a lot of that mood in this thread, though it's been stoked by the (real) concern that people haven't plugged the connectors in all the way.

I listened in a manner much like you described and the flaws in the tuning and timbre jumped out immediately. It's not something I had to scrutinize or discovered through comparing with other headphones.

That being said, I want to give them one more shot and play around with positioning a bit (though I already have).

But so far they just don't do it for me.

Not listening wrong, but perhaps missing the point.

It's not possible to both A) have a headphone that sounds like speakers, and also B) has a completely flat-sounding frequency response. You have to pick one or the other, because it just doesn't work psychoacoustically otherwise. So, if you want that flat-sound you can get it elsewhere with innumerable options, but you won't get the speaker-like sound of this headphone - which was its point of being created in the first place.

 

[Rob80b]

It's so unfortunate that many people had headband issues with this. I have a big head but seem to have my ears in just the right spot to have my ears centered at max extension

I've sort of made peace with them, they may be centred but the pads are slightly too small for my ears, so the bottom lobe is pinched, covered by the pad but not uncomfortably so, I can live with it.

 

[trilos1]

Yesterday I got my OAE-1, # 370/1,000

First impression:
It fits very well for me, it looks great, and the first sound-impression is a very positive one: Overall well-balanced, lots of great bass, very fine mids & high frequencies.

Now I let them play for some 20 hours to "settle down" a little, and then I will listen a "little deeper" into the soundstage and sound quality.

Until now I use a Audio Technica ATH-R70x, DENON AH-D7200 and FOCAL Elegia.
The amp is a McIntosh MHA-200 - this works very well together.
The CD/SACD-player is an older Esoteric X-05.

 

[Rob80b]

but you won't get the speaker-like sound of this headphone - which was its point of being created in the first place.

The more I listen the more I get this impression and I'm a speaker guy. lol

it just doesn't work psychoacoustically otherwise.

Yep...psycho-acoustics is complicated.
https://drop.com/buy/drop-grell-oae1-signature-headphones#overview
"Undoing the tradition of unnatural headphone driver positioning, the OAE1 signature puts its ultra-responsive biocellulose drivers in front of the ear and further away from it, angling each one back to send sound to the pinna much like a natural stereo source."

I'm not a sound engineer, although I have been working with sound for a long time, but the difference of opinions, not all though, if these are perceived as "speaker like" or not, could be just the result of the shape of individual outer ears, the Pinna.... but again all down to psycho-acoustics.

 

[Rob80b]

Quite enjoyed this album earlier in the day.
https://tidal.com/browse/album/1411816?u

 

[ralphp@optonline]

Replace your Apple dongle with a FiiO KA11, about the same size but way more powerful, only $30 too. With apple dongle on quieter recordings you might run into issues

Thank you for pointing me to this lovely little device. Mine arrived today and I've been testing it out with my iPhone and a few of my IEMs. really sounds nice.

I have been looking for an easy to carry music on the go solution for when the weather is too hot to use the over the ear Focal Bathys and the FiiO KA11 coupled with some nice IEMs seems to be the answer. As I stated in one of my earlier posts, the OAE1 really doesn't work for me as an on-the-go headphone since it is open back and provides zero noise cancelation.

 

[pr0l0w]

Not at all related to the HP, but i think an interview any sort of music enjoyer could be interessted in:

 

[Rob80b]

Again.. some after dinner music, a new discovery in modern composers, reminiscent of Ligeti’s string quartets, that sounds really good on the OAE-1
https://tidal.com/album/88065207?u


…and a bit of electronica that fairs as well.
https://tidal.com/album/125210968?u