DROP + GRELL OAE1

[fidgeraldo]

Although I've been in this hobby for decades it was only recently that I started to pay attention to where the sound interacts with the ear.

Here's an idea to change the sound, then.
In addition to standard changes with pads and various modifications to the headphones.
Maybe we should just have a fake ear that we can put on our ears.
An infinite number of variants follow.
Let's exchange our "ears" and experience the exact sound everyone hears.
I'll use a mold to make a silicone ear of my ear, and you do yours!
It sounds like I am joking, like I often do.
But this time, I am serious as freshly roasted onion on a George Foreman grill!

Cheers!

 

[Luckyleo]

Here's an idea to change the sound, then.
In addition to standard changes with pads and various modifications to the headphones.
Maybe we should just have a fake ear that we can put on our ears.
An infinite number of variants follow.
Let's exchange our "ears" and experience the exact sound everyone hears.
I'll use a mold to make a silicone ear of my ear, and you do yours!
It sounds like I am joking, like I often do.
But this time, I am serious as freshly roasted onion on a George Foreman grill!

Cheers!

Thanks for clarifying!!! LOL

 

[4udio7ool]

We could also start adding our own modifications for sound treatment.

 

[Trinkle]

I tried the 660S after a long time, I had been using the OAE -1 till now. Suddenly the sound seemed very wrong in terms of where it was coming from. So I believe Axel is in the right direction but at the same time when I tried the OAE-1 the sound did not impress me apart from the bass. It lacked the detail and smoothness of the HD 800S, so I think with the specific fixes done to the OAE-1 if the headphone is updated to take into account of its shortcoming, we will have a winner.

 

[C4p1t4150und]

I just bought a fiio k11 to go with it. Not sure if it is placebo, but it seems to sound better…like thicker.

 

[Jermo K]

Hi Jermo...Near the end Axel is again making reference to how the ear plays an important role in determining the frequency response but has there been any in depth study or observations on why folks with different ear shapes where the canal is located prefer one type of phone over an other.
Although I've been in this hobby for decades it was only recently that I started to pay attention to where the sound interacts with the ear.
As shown in the photos some listeners will have the sound waves enter the ear canal directly or as with mine the entry to the canal is basically off set and hidden and most likely attenuates most direct high frequency energy.




Mine

This may easily explain why I've been over the years a lot more tolerant of some phones that received unfavourable reviews by some due to an over abundance of upper frequencies, the Sennheiser HD700 and AKG K812 come to mind for example and are two headphones I really like.
Also may explain why the OAE1 work fine for me.

We could also start adding our own modifications for sound treatment.

Hi Rob, great question!
There's a lot of work going into individual differences for in-ears, partly because true wireless earphones have the majority market share, and because those products have a measurement microphone built in
While people may be aware that there is a resonance shift in the treble, which depends on ear canal length and insertion depth, the difference in volume has a major effect on the entire frequency response. Depending on your ear canal volume, the entire mids may shift by up to 5 dB. This is enough to completely change the perceived tuning of a product.
For over-ear headphones, I don't think we can look at it yet. The pinna interaction factor (0 for in-ears, maximum for loudspeakers, very high for HD 800 and other large diaphragm angled headphones) has no established standard for measurement yet, and it's necessary to be able to put a number (or multiple numbers) to it before doing a study which sound signatures may benefit different ear shapes. Because a certain frequency response may or may not work for a certain ear shape depending on how much the headphones interact with the ear.

Great idea with the acoustic treatment though, maybe we can build reverse headphones: instead of only ear interaction and no room reflections, you get room reflections but no ear interaction :^)

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Great idea with the acoustic treatment though, maybe we can build reverse headphones: instead of only ear interaction and no room reflections, you get room reflections but no ear interaction :^)

Ah yes, something like pud did here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/1ewaf5x/i_made_parabolic_headphones_with_reversefacing/

 

[fidgeraldo]

Hmm, it looks like it could be painful with headphone cups on, and looking pretty nasty, too!
There are different kinds of moldable materials. I sometimes use this one to fix flat earbuds and improve the seal.

This looks pretty interesting, I might order some.

Cheers!

 

[Rob80b]

Hi Rob, great question!
There's a lot of work going into individual differences for in-ears,............
While people may be aware that there is a resonance shift in the treble, which depends on ear canal length and insertion depth, the difference in volume has a major effect on the entire frequency response. Depending on your ear canal volume, the entire mids may shift by up to 5 dB. This is enough to completely change the perceived tuning of a product.

So true...here are some photos I used from my small Sennheiser Momentum IEM review.
One reviewers insertion.


Mine

For over-ear headphones, I don't think we can look at it yet. The pinna interaction factor (0 for in-ears, maximum for loudspeakers, very high for HD 800 and other large diaphragm angled headphones) has no established standard for measurement yet, and it's necessary to be able to put a number (or multiple numbers) to it before doing a study which sound signatures may benefit different ear shapes. Because a certain frequency response may or may not work for a certain ear shape depending on how much the headphones interact with the ear.

With the extreme offset drivers we'd assume the OAE1 would have a rather high "pinna interaction factor" (relative to other phones) and just not what your average headphone user is accustomed to, especially in-ear users.
And although in-ear solve any pinna interaction some of us sadly experience too much bone conduction, loved my IE800 years ago but because of practically unusable for me if I was out and about. crunch! crunch!

 

[Menkau-ra]

loved my IE800 years ago

Agreed It was the most comfortable IEM to me.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Does anyone know if this fits OAE1?
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0DR8SJJ5K...d=UQACF1NY8OHQ&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[Rob80b]

Does anyone know if this fits OAE1?
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0DR8SJJ5K...d=UQACF1NY8OHQ&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

2.5mm is the right size but that angled jack will not fit the the OAE1 socket.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DR8RX1VB?th=1

You will need a very slim barrelled 2.5 jack.
Like this Hart cable for example...
https://hartaudiocables.com/products/locking-2-5mm-cable-for-hd560s-more


Ideally Grell should offer a means of purchasing the one that was included with the Signature Edition...Axel??? Jermo???

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

2.5mm is the right size but that angled jack will not fit the the OAE1 socket.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DR8RX1VB?th=1

You will need a very slim barrelled 2.5 jack.
Like this Hart cable for example...
https://hartaudiocables.com/products/locking-2-5mm-cable-for-hd560s-more

But the angle is on the 4.4mm side.

edit. ok sorry now I see... 2.5mm/4.4mm is on the angle side the side that goes into the headphone is only 3.5mm Sorry for the confusion.

 

[fidgeraldo]

Like this Hart cable for example...

Well, there is a simple solution, your idea, but no one wants to sand a bit.

Cheers!

 

[Rob80b]

But the angle is on the 4.4mm side.

edit. ok sorry now I see... 2.5mm/4.4mm is on the angle side the side that goes into the headphone is only 3.5mm Sorry for the confusion.

The listing is initially rather confusing but looking closer it's terminated for 3.5 with and option of a 2.5 or 4.4 angled jack so you are correct it will not work regardless.


Here you go...
https://www.ebay.de/itm/183738586608
https://www.ebay.com/itm/183738586608

or.....
https://www.ebay.com/itm/326264630793

..and with 5 options.

Well, there is a simple solution, your idea, but no one wants to sand a bit.

Cheers!

Might need...