DROP + GRELL OAE1

[feank]

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

NDH30 or OAE1?

 

[Evshrug]

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 think it’s important to consider the sample size and quantity of our large headed friends here.

No disrespect to them, but it’s the same rough handful repeatedly saying they want more extension. One said that the HD 600 series was one of the few that extended enough to fit them… that headband is one of the MOST extreme extendable headbands on the market. I can fit four fingers, basically an entire fist between the headband of the HD 650 and my head, and on adjustable hats (with the pins?) I have a larger than medium sized head. The Beyer DT 770 and 880 have been on the market for a long time, oft praised for their comfort (mostly due to pads), and they extend less than the OAE1.

You’re not alone in having a large hat/head size and still fitting the headphone.

Let’s round up to an easy 10 different people out of 1000 have found the headband too short for them, that’s still a 99% success rate. It would be great to fit everyone, big and small, but engineering is all trade-offs. The platform does look pretty modular though… maybe as more OAE1’s sell, it might be viable to accessorize?

 

[buidoimiennui]

There will be more headphones from grell. Let us surprise you!

it's amazing, we love music, love gear, are hungry for something unique and creative. A few dB more or less is no longer important! Welcome your new product!

 

[Somafunk]

I must have a pinhead as I barely have to extend the headband to get a good fit, I do look like my avatar with a shaved head though.

 

[buidoimiennui]

I think this product illustrates the problem that each person's ear structure is different, and they will lead to the brain receiving different signals! The peripheral auditory system is responsible for the physiological processes of hearing. These are processes that allow sound to be received and converted into electrical impulses that can be sent to the brain through the auditory nerves.

Peripheral hearing is the ear. The human ear is divided into three parts:

The outer ear, which channels sound energy. This is definitely different for everyone.

The middle ear, which converts sound energy into mechanical energy, transmits - and amplifies - to the inner ear. We are also different in this

The inner ear, performs the final conversion of mechanical energy into electrical impulses. We are relatively similar to this thing, because it is just a subtle structure. There are 3 components of hearing, we have 2 distinct things, so why not understand that the same sound, why each person receives the sound cannot be different? To put it more succinctly, when a headphone produces, it will produce good sound for the right person, for the wrong person it will produce bad sound. that is extremely normal. Headphones over 4000usd still have people criticizing them, that's normal! Furthermore we enjoy music, and explore devices. If you want a perfect headphone, make it yourself, only you know what your ears are like, and what you want. Again, make your own if the engineers don't satisfy you!

 

[FiGuY1017]

Will we see a summit level can? Not too "summit" though, make totl headphones cheap again .

Honestly you weren't far off with this one. I mean I have some expensive cans but still enjoy listening to these, they are special indeed

 

[Somafunk]

If you want a perfect headset, make it yourself, only you know what your ears are like, and what you want. Again, make your own if the engineers don't satisfy you!

EQ/PEQ/DSP

Do not be afraid

 

[jsabini1]

I think it’s important to consider the sample size and quantity of our large headed friends here.

No disrespect to them, but it’s the same rough handful repeatedly saying they want more extension. One said that the HD 600 series was one of the few that extended enough to fit them… that headband is one of the MOST extreme extendable headbands on the market. I can fit four fingers, basically an entire fist between the headband of the HD 650 and my head, and on adjustable hats (with the pins?) I have a larger than medium sized head. The Beyer DT 770 and 880 have been on the market for a long time, oft praised for their comfort (mostly due to pads), and they extend less than the OAE1.

You’re not alone in having a large hat/head size and still fitting the headphone.

Let’s round up to an easy 10 different people out of 1000 have found the headband too short for them, that’s still a 99% success rate. It would be great to fit everyone, big and small, but engineering is all trade-offs. The platform does look pretty modular though… maybe as more OAE1’s sell, it might be viable to accessorize?

It's also quite likely that not everyone who has fit/extension/ergonomic issues has spoken up here. I will add my 2 cents, which is that while they do fit me (barely), I have them at maximum extension. Also, I find the clamp force excessive, as others have mentioned.

These are both issues that are pet peeves of mine, and I feel like headphone makers should give more consideration to comfort and fit in general. Many manufacturers could do a better job with ergonomics. In spite of their headphones being large and heavy, ZMF does a pretty outstanding job with comfort and adjustability, so it is possible!

 

[Rob80b]

NDH30 or OAE1?

As primarily a speaker guy I have to admit after a week the OAE1 have spoiled me a bit so that I find it hard to switch over to more conventional phones. Although the Neumann drivers are offset they are still parallel to the ear and therefore firing directly into the ear which is something that has always put me off, I must confess, with the majority of headphones.
Now relatively speaking and from past experience it is still way too early IMHO to say the OAE1 is it, could take weeks or even months, but so far they appear to be quite promising.

 

[buidoimiennui]

As primarily a speaker guy I have to admit after a week the OAE1 have spoiled me a bit so that I find it hard to switch over to more conventional phones. Although the Neumann drivers are offset they are still parallel to the ear and therefore firing directly into the ear which is something that has always put me off, I must confess, with the majority of headphones.
Now relatively speaking and from past experience it is still way too early IMHO to say the OAE1 is it, could take weeks or even months, but so far they appear to be quite promising.

When using regular headphones, listen to t1 and t5 and you will see the difference. t1 and t5 are not completely skewed like oae1 but are much more skewed than normal types. I agree with you that this deviation will create a new trend. People who only care about a few dB will never understand and care about this aspect.

 

[zilax002]

Leiker535 over on ASR made an AutoEQ if anyone is interested in giving a shot. They also think it might not work with the OAE's design, but nonetheless something to try:

I'd certainly like to think EQ could improve this (and pretty much every ) headphone, but this profile is awful for me.

It makes the OAE1 shrill and compressed. I'm firmly in the camp that thinks the OAE1 is too warm (for my liking), but this profile has the opposite problem ... but worse.

 

[zilax002]

I’m still on the fence myself, although the resolve seems better on my 6XX, atleast the way these fit me, the mid range and top end only go down slightly in detail but the bass is so pleasant and makes the overall music more enjoyable. Idk, still love the 6XX, I do not agree on the $150 assessment on sound but if you could point me to a headphone in that price range that has the bass this clean, open back and still a well put together mid and high like this one. Thanks.

It's a little more expensive (though it's gone for as cheap as $400 recently), but the Focal Elex is what I'd point to.

The bass levels are lower than the OAE1, but the definition and texturing are significantly better.

 

[zilax002]

I got some more time with the OAE1 today, and while I think the headphone has notable flaws (notably, ergonomics both in terms of comfort/size accommodation and the ability to get the intended sound with the angled/upfront drivers), my feelings have improved.

I can't say, at this point, that the OAE1 sounds like I'm right there with the music (that is, that it transcends the medium of headphones). But it also doesn't sound quite like a traditional headphone.

That's strange, and it's not objectively a positive or negative. It depends on what you're looking for. I've always had more of a connection to the sound of headphones.

The greatest manifestation of the driver orientation of the OAE1's, to me, isn't a huge soundstage, but rather the simple (but strange) sensation that the music isn't coming from the headphones. I know I'm wearing headphones; I can feel them, and while comfort isn't a huge issue on my head, it's also not fantastic. But it doesn't sound like the music is coming from the headphones. It sounds like I'm hearing music played from an external source, and hearing it through the external grilles of the OAE1.

The technical capabilities are all average, in my estimation, which might be what ultimately makes the OAE1's unique qualities not quite worth the tradeoffs. Bass is elevated and present, but lacks definition. The timbre in the midrange can be problematic in some materials. The dips in and unevenness in the treble can have tangible and detrimental effects to the naturalness of sounds in those frequencies.

I'll have to gather my thoughts to say more, but for now I've heard enough. I may not be in love with it, but it's unique enough. And I'm too intrigued by the EQ/modding possibilities to return it. So I'm keeping it.

 

[pure5152]

The technical capabilities are all average, in my estimation, which might be what ultimately makes the OAE1's unique qualities not quite worth the tradeoffs. Bass is elevated and present, but lacks definition. The timbre in the midrange can be problematic in some materials. The dips in and unevenness in the treble can have tangible and detrimental effects to the naturalness of sounds in those frequencies.

Throwing my 2 cents:

From my experience the OAE1 are pretty low sensitivity and love being fed from gear with higher power output, and when driven by lower power amps it can make the bass sound weaker/looser, the midrange more hollow, and the treble harsher.

Looking at your source gear it could be the case that Atom Amp+ and the Little Dot MKII may not provide enough power to drive the OAE1 fully (1W and 100mW into 32 ohms respectively), and my impressions from the schiitr similarly match yours when I tried the OAE1 with schiit's lower powered amps into 32 ohms like the valhalla 2, mjolnir 3 single ended, vali 3 (all provide <=1W into 32 ohms). But when I tried it with amps with much higher power into 32 ohms like the lyr+ (6W into 32 ohms) or even the magni unity (2.5W into 32 ohms), the bass tightened and slammed harder, the midrange filled out, and the treble became more even and opened up-- or in other words, felt like it sounded "fully powered" vs the "under-powered" feeling I got with the lower powered schiit amps.

If you can, I highly recommend trying the OAE1 with an amp with higher output power into 32 ohms. The OAE1 with lower powered amps is by no means bad sounding, but more power really helps making the OAE1 sound more fuller, tighter, and natural sounding.

 

[Evshrug]

1W should be more than enough, but yes it definitely responds differently depending on the amp. My Mojo 2 makes the OAE1 sound more analytical, despite the elevated bass, but I like it better when adding the less-than-perfect-but-very-fun 1.5W Monoprice Liquid Spark. I want to hear it with Questyle amps or dongles, I predict the OAE1 would sound great on those too!

@pure5152 I had the same overall impressions with the Asgard 1 & 2 as you did with the 3rd, I guess it has its fans but the first time I heard it I thought something had gone wrong with the Schiit demo sample. Your Lyr+ impressions are intriguing though… that’s the hybrid that can enable or remove the Tube from the signal?