[DROP]

Drop and Grell Audio are excited to announce the new OAE1 as a followup to the OAE1 Signature launched earlier this year.

The Signature model was an introductory, collectors version of the OAE1, limited to 1000 units. We are now ready to release the standard OAE1 to a broader audience—with a few small but important changes.

Cosmetically, the standard OAE1 model features a more subdued black finish and large Left and Right indicators inside the earcups to help with orientation and placement. Functionally, the clamping force of the headband has been reduced for a slightly more relaxed fit and a single sided 6.3 mm TRS cable with an indicator stripe to help reduce cable insertion errors will be included as well.

OAE1’s most important feature, however—the sound—will be staying the same. Tuning of the OAE1 is identical to the original OAE1 Signature model.

Join the preorder by clicking the link:
https://drop.com/buy/drop-grell-oae1-headphones

 

[Syan25]

Look forward to seeing reviews.

 

[Scarz]

Super excited that I will be able to grab one!

 

[tjkohli]

I was about to buy this because I really love the visual design of this headphone, but I was strongly advised by a couple of close friends not to touch it with a 5-foot pole lol, due to the wonky tuning

 

[MDKrinkles]

I’ve heard these have real weird tuning but also at that price the curiosity is killing me.

 

[Rob80b]

For those expecting the classic headphone experience, the tuning, therefor of two speakers playing directly into your ears, this Grell may indeed sound wonky. Personally over the last few month the OAE1 have become my number one, but I've only been in this hobby 50 odd years, also they may be too cheap for some
... as I explained elsewhere.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/drop-grell-oae1.967413/

...... getting back on topic, what I really like about the OAE1 is that each time I put them on I get the sensation of stepping into my very own theatre, can't seem to get enough of it.
Psycho-acoustically the sub-bass is what I somewhat experience at a live event, sort of all encompassing, the most enduring feature IMHO is that unlike most headphones the audio overall is away from the ears, at arms length, and while with some recordings it can appear to be distant and laid back it has a the unique ability to startle when called upon.
This recording is a good example of what I'm referring to.
https://tidal.com/browse/album/88065207?u

But it's funny, I believe Axel mentioned at the beginning that once one becomes accustomed to the OAE1's sound presentation other phones will sound distinctly off, and for me with my preferences that has definitely been the case.
Aside from my HD800S and current Stax, on the mid-tier the Beyerdynamic Amiron Home, Senn HD660S2 and the Neumann NDH30 that I had all lost their appeal.
Now, there are no real pyrotechnics, searing highs or hard hitting bass or a liquid midrange or precise imaging but there's something about this Grell that I find overall quite honest and endearing with all types of music.

 

[Makiah S]

For those expecting the classic headphone experience, the tuning, therefor of two speakers playing directly into your ears, this Grell may indeed sound wonky. Personally over the last few month the OAE1 have become my number one, but I've only been in this hobby 50 odd years, also they may be too cheap for some
... as I explained elsewhere.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/drop-grell-oae1.967413/

I don't disagree with you! I'm a big K1K fan and my first time hearing these I was quite impressed, I had a chance to listen to these at last years CanJam Socal 2023 off our CFA-3 and I really enjoyed the detail and sound stage.

At this price point the tuning can easily be addressed with a little EQ as well, and to be totally honest I'll likely be running these off an iFi Audio GO Link. I had great success using the Parametric Function available in USB AudioPlayer Pro and I'm certainly happy I caught this release after missing the first run.

 

[Sonic Defender]

That is not necessarily true. Equalization cannot always mitigate issues with tuning, and will often introduce other unintended consequences. The idea that an eq can correct everything is certainly an oversimplification.

The many, many reports of the tuning being very odd from many corners of the audio world should not be ignored. Try for yourself of course.

 

[Makiah S]

That is not necessarily true. Equalization cannot always mitigate issues with tuning, and will often introduce other unintended consequences. The idea that an eq can correct everything is certainly an oversimplification.

The many, many reports of the tuning being very odd from many corners of the audio world should not be ignored. Try for yourself of course.

True, distortion profiles remain regardless of EQ and when used incorrectly EQ can even further exacerbate such issues! Most of the consequences, as I understand, are in time-domain. So a small loss of fine detail can be expected. An overall, I don't feel EQ is the correct answer for every system nor is it the solution to every problem.

In this case tho, I think it makes a worthwhile difference ^^

For me, a little reductive equalization applied correctly, helped reduce some of what I found to sound offensive when listening without an un-acceptable loss of detail. Seeing as this isn't the most resolving driver to begin (relative to things like HD600/650 or Auribus Acoustics Sierra/Everest)

That said,I do think EQ is a good fit for improving how the OAE1 sounds, assuming you like it's presentation, staging and bass response. But yea, I think listening and trying for one's self is always a good idea when possible. No amount of reading can substitute hearing things for yourself first hand

 

[Sonic Defender]

True, distortion profiles remain regardless of EQ and when used incorrectly EQ can even further exacerbate such issues! Most of the consequences, as I understand, are in time-domain. So a small loss of fine detail can be expected. An overall, I don't feel EQ is the correct answer for every system nor is it the solution to every problem.

In this case tho, I think it makes a worthwhile difference ^^

For me, a little reductive equalization applied correctly, helped reduce some of what I found to sound offensive when listening without an un-acceptable loss of detail. Seeing as this isn't the most resolving driver to begin (relative to things like HD600/650 or Auribus Acoustics Sierra/Everest)

That said,I do think EQ is a good fit for improving how the OAE1 sounds, assuming you like it's presentation, staging and bass response. But yea, I think listening and trying for one's self is always a good idea when possible. No amount of reading can substitute hearing things for yourself first hand

Absolutely. I should have clarified earlier really as I was quite sure that you weren't saying that equalization is always going to fully address an issue. I was a little less precise in my reply so sorry if I oversimplified what you were saying.

And absolutely, people should always form their own opinions with first hand experience. This headphone is one I would be absolutely sure of a good return policy before trying it.

 

[Rob80b]

Now $199!

 

[listenerwww]

This article mentions a possible tuning revision?

...the new Drop + Grell OAE1 circumaural open headphones with the revised “front oriented loudness diffuse field equalization” are now tuned to sound more like every other headphones - and Drop went as far as ordering updated measurement graphs made by Head-fi, which are distributed with the press announcement.

I cannot find these new measurements anywhere, but if Head-fi did new measurements for Drop I assume Jude has them? Are they available to share?

Or is this writer mistaken, and the tuning of the Drop x Grell OAE-1 is the same as the Signature edition?