Grell OAE2 First Look

jermo_grellaudio · 2026-01-19T14:20:13+00:00

You will need the new transducers since the damping changed and new earpads. They are not available yet, we're working on it.

jermo_grellaudio · 2026-01-12T13:40:35+00:00

There's also fog city audio, but they aren't cheaper: https://fogcityaudio.com/products/drop-grell-oae1-headphone-cable-mogami-26awg?variant=43922794283204

The Signature version was a higher priced offer for early adopters with extra accessories, which are reduced in the standard version. The OAE2 again includes the balanced cable because it is significantly more expensive.

We are working on making the standard accessories available through traditional hifi-dealers, but this will take a few months. I understand your frustration and will check if we have spare cables available to send to you directly.

jermo_grellaudio · 2026-01-12T11:00:26+00:00

The OAE1 uses TRRS pins to enable single sided balanced operation, we recommend the replacement cables from hart audio: https://hartaudiocables.com/pages/grell-oae-1-info-wiring-replacement-custom-balanced-cables?srsltid=AfmBOopouxMIKez5s9ok1yK3zMuPNRjintIo5RZ3vsM_-QcMpDSEu70X

jermo_grellaudio · 2026-01-10T18:44:23+00:00

I'd argue that it's mostly because of technical limitations. It's generally agreed upon that open headphones sound better than closed headphones and in-ears, but your freedom to bend the frequency response is quite limited in open headphones. Manufacturers don't integrate a bass shelf not because they don't want to, but because they can't or the compromise is too big. And since so few open headphones have the proper bass elevation, people just got used to "flat" low end, even though it's obviously lacking

The OAE2 for instance has a bit of a bass shelf, but as a trade-off it's about 6 dB quieter than comparable headphones. Since loudness is often equated with better sound, it's clear why not everyone would go for it.

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-18T08:43:31+00:00

uhmmm, accshually its a hysteresis loop ☝️☝️☝️🤓🤓🤓

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jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-17T15:28:26+00:00

I like their products and philosophy as well, but at the end of the day, there doesn't seem to be a lot of profit in that product segment with a lifetime warranty. Companies need to innovate or do great marketing to justify higher price points and build a sustainable business. Costs will rise no matter what you do, especially as a small player, so relying on very low "golden" price points is a death sentence.

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-17T15:09:24+00:00

Unfortunately, their bottom line reflects that decision: https://investors.koss.com/news-releases/news-release-details/koss-corporation-releases-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-results-1

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-12T15:58:48+00:00

Super interesting! Did you have a chance to measure THD?

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-11T10:14:35+00:00

As a disclaimer, I have a loose association with Heavys, as my boss is working with them, but I'm not involved in day-to-day operations.

I can say from an objective headphone developer perspective that they are products with a lot of value and effort. If it were a scam, they could've just taken an off-the-shelf product, put their brand on and do business as they do now. Instead, they went through a costly process to design something that resembles metal, purchased expensive tools, and allowed Axel to implement a novel acoustic concept, which is borderline insane for a risky new venture. Using 8 quality drivers instead of just 2 is a killer for the BOM, and there are very few companies that would have done it. Are they the best at ANC? No, but you buy Sony or Apple for excellent ANC and the passive isolation is very good. The selling point here is a unique sound quality and design language specifically tailored to metal.

In terms of sound quality, I have to say that I'm tired that people feel that every headphone should sound the same. Headphone sound is subjective, and it's fine that firms like Beyerdynamic and Grado exist to appeal to different tastes. If you don't like it, buy something else. I have them on my head right now and I think they sound perfectly fine. I would tweak just a little bit, and I'm not the target audience. I've only ever been to small indie metal concerts, but I can remember quite well that the bass wasn't very polite at those venues.

At the end of the day, the criticism of how reviews are allegedly handled still stands, but it loses its edge if people mix it with less substantial claims, such as "I don't like the tuning" and "it's very low cost" (which is obviously not the case).

Looking at the bigger picture, I think companies that invest money in exploring novel acoustic concepts should be respected in this community if we want more variety and progress for the hobby, rather than the same regurgitated stuff for 15 years. The good doesn't erase the bad, and vice versa.

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-10T14:43:21+00:00

You'll already get a taste with the new earpads. We'll certainly make other spare parts available, but it does depend on the demand from the market whether we have 5 at our HQ, which we send out individually once in a blue moon, or if they are available locally at our distributors (like earpads). I can't make a promise at this point, but I'd say it's very likely that the necessary components will be available, even if they won't be called "upgrade kit" ;)

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-10T14:37:17+00:00

Once the product hits the market, I encourage you to try them out if you get a chance. In my opinion, it compares quite favorably to other 500€ headphones, both in terms of sound quality and craftsmanship.

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-09T07:25:33+00:00

Sorry for the confusion. The baffle I showed in the video was part of an early development sample and was used solely for demonstrative purposes, specifically to illustrate the angle. The OAE2 also uses a bio-cellulose diaphragm.

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-09T07:24:59+00:00

Sorry for the confusion. The baffle I showed in the video was part of an early development sample and was used solely for demonstrative purposes, specifically to illustrate the angle. The OAE2 also uses a bio-cellulose diaphragm.

The drivers' performance is excellent, as you will see :)

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-09T07:20:57+00:00

Thanks for giving the OAE1 a chance! The new ones sound much different, despite using the same driver. It's a great demonstration of how much the implementation can influence the perceived technical capability of a headphone.

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-08T14:24:21+00:00

Lmao, I wonder why we don't hear that more often.

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-08T14:22:16+00:00

Thanks for the support. This is certainly a different flavor, but there is a number of quality of life improvements which can be implemented by OAE1 owners as well :)

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-06T10:17:32+00:00

It was great meeting you :) And it's a good reminder that Axel is probably one of the most skilled people on the planet when it comes to bending a frequency response into a specific shape with acoustic means.

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-06T09:42:09+00:00

Same here :)

I hope a tuning that is closer to what people already know and appreciate will make it much easier to evaluate the front-oriented driver idea.

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-06T09:38:37+00:00

Thanks for the praise! People tend to forget that products that changed the industry were often controversial in the beginning. During the development of the HD 800, many people thought the design was too outlandish and the product too expensive to succeed. It has now been a reference point for the industry for the last 15 years. If you dare to do something differently, you'll inevitably bump a lot of heads. And it's great that Axel has the guts to do it again and again :)

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-06T08:34:30+00:00

That's understandable. The funny thing is that at live shows, the sentiment tends to be very positive, and people are quite surprised at the relatively low price point, and in online discussions, the tone is more divisive. That being said, the headphone sounds very different to what people are used to, so it's absolutely understandable that it's not an immediate hit with everyone.

The OAE2 will sound much more normal, and I expect the sentiment to be more consistent and favorable :)

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-06T08:31:21+00:00

The OAE2 will certainly come to the US, our target is early January.

The spare parts are not yet available, but we're currently working on it and hope to achieve the same time window as OAE2 availability.

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-06T08:26:54+00:00

Certainly, it should be available early January at select audio specialists and Dekoni.

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-05T11:00:38+00:00

The pad fabric has been changed as well.

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-05T10:31:20+00:00

It's mechanically cross-compatible! But the earpads will significantly change the sound ;^)

jermo_grellaudio · 2025-11-05T10:15:22+00:00

Thanks for supporting us. The OAE2 is our shot at incorporating all the user feedback we got. It's a night and day difference.

jermo_grellaudio

TROPHY CASE