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Drop + Grell OAE1 Headphones
$199
01 / 20
Drop + Grell OAE1 Headphones
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Product Description
The best open-back headphones strive to break free from the headbands and earcups that bind them. Engineering to emulate the natural listening experience—where sound reaches your ears through the open air, from a source right in front of you—our Axel Grell-designed OAE1 signature Headphones took a step closer to that freedom. Naturally, they sold out fast. Now they’re back in all-black version with the exact same acoustic design. Meet the Drop + grell OAE1: a groundbreaking pair of headphones with game-changing driver geometry and an ultra-expansive soundstage.
Customer Reviews
4.0
(15 reviews)
5star(5)
4star(7)
3star(1)
2star(2)
1star(0)
By Feature
Build Quality
4.5
(8)
Sound
4.1
(8)
Comfort
4.3
(8)
Music GenresPopular among reviewers
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keyboard_arrow_downShawn024
1
Mar 7, 2025
Activities:Casual Listening
Music Genres:Classical
checkVerified Buyer
If you love live music and a spacious, concert-like feel
Drop + Grell OAE1 Review: Great for Live Music, but Not Perfect
As someone who enjoys live concert recordings, I prefer the OAE1 over the HD 6XX. The soundstage feels wider and more immersive, making live performances feel more realistic. The bass is punchier than expected for an open-back, adding to the excitement, while the mids and highs remain natural and engaging.
However, build quality isn’t perfect—some paint chipping issues are noticeable. The clamping force is a bit strong at first, but it improves over time.
Recommends this product? Yes
YushinLee
15
Mar 5, 2025
Activities:Casual Listening, Critical Listening
Music Genres:Classical, Jazz, Pop, R&B
Still don’t get it
How come did this headset sounds awkward even after I changed the cable? It is very overrated and I can’t recommend it. 
Recommends this product? No
madamada
3
Keyboard Club Member
Feb 21, 2025
Nice headphone.
Nice headphone.
Recommends this product? Yes
Dekosser
4
Feb 14, 2025
Activities:Casual Listening
Music Genres:Electronic, Metal
Open back headphone
Review for points
Recommends this product? Yes
Sailinserge
153
Keyboard Club Member
Jan 20, 2025
Activities:Casual Listening, Gaming, Movies & TV
Music Genres:Hip-hop, Metal, Pop, R&B, Rock
Missed Oppurtunity
I really wanted to like these. The intriguing concept, Axel Grell, sleek design, it had it all. Ultimately though, I could not convince myself that what I was hearing was worth the price point of these, especially considering other headphones priced in the same range. Ended up returning these. Some might love these headphones and that’s great, the best part about sound products is how the perspective and preferences are different person to person, but for me this wasn’t it.
Recommends this product? No
Bjaardker
50
Jan 9, 2025
checkVerified Buyer
Underwhelming disappointment
I'm not going to go into a deep blow by blow review of these, just a few things I've found interesting as I've been listening.
The first thing that surprised me was how intimate the soundstage was on these. Given how much people were raving about the soundstage I was expecting a lot more air and space. But everything's very close, even things panned way off the the side feel only a foot or two away. This leads into the second surprise.
Sound separation is less than remarkable. It's not quite what I would call muddy or congested, but with everything being so intimate there's not a lot of space so they feel like they're on top of each other. That intimacy led to something I was perceiving originally as a veiled sound but with longer listens it wasn't a veil, just... tight and intimate.
Bass is remarkably good for an open back. Treble is good without being overly fatiguing.
Overall it's certainly unique in its presentation. But I can't help but feel underwhelmed. The competition is absolutely fierce at this price point, and while I can appreciate the uniqueness, I'm wishing I would have spent these dollars elsewhere.
One last thing, the clamp force on these is pretty harsh. I can't imagine what the previous version must have been like if it was even stronger.
Update: I listened for a good 3 hours to do a good "brain break-in", then I did an ABCD with my 6xx, Fostex Purple heart, and Monoprice m1060 and these. Overall these were the worst of the 4. They lack imaging, soundstage, and clarity. They have some bass, but if you want that, get yourself some Fostex or something like that, because at least there's clarity with the bass on those. I wanted so much more from them.
(Edited)
tal-t
16
Dec 31, 2024
checkVerified Buyer
Feel or hear? That is the question
Yes, I am a technology hoarder. If you are wondering who in their right mind is going to purchase both headphone versions, that would be me. I love the sound so much I purchased the black headset during Black Friday. I just don't want to hear sound, I want feel it as well. These headset are the best for the price. I have never worn a headset that cost more than $1000. Nor have I tried every headset. But I am glad to have acquired both sets. One for work and gaming. The other one for sound engineering and DAC play back. 
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
Dr.Montoronitoba
10
Dec 31, 2024
Detailed soundstage and laid-back sound, but sensitive to source material
I’ve had the Drop + Grell OAE1 for almost three weeks (full disclosure: Drop sent me a review pair gratis), and I've been struggling with this review. While build quality, comfort, and general sound were relatively straightforward, my biggest issue was that I couldn’t find a specific genre these were best suited for; ultimately, I realized that they can sound great with any genre, as long as the source material is good. But, more on that later, as I’ll start with the easy stuff.
Unboxing:
Unboxing the Drop + Grell OAE1: box sleeve is on the upper left, instruction/information booklet on the upper right, headphones inside the box, cable in the middle. First impressions were that the box was basic, but functional: a matte sleeve providing a close-up view of the headphones on the front and technical details on the back, wrapped around a raw cardboard carton. An instruction booklet is the first thing you see inside the carton, and under that are the headphones, nestled in a formed plastic tray that also contains the cable. That's it. The ear cups are swivelled to lay flat, and—aside from the silver rings around the ear cups—there's not really much to look at. However, this lack of complexity and flashiness belies just how much attention to detail went into these headphones. Fit and Finish:
Close-up of the headphones on a holder with the ear cups rotated so the backs are visible. Perforations are visible on the back and sides of the ear cups; the silver inner mesh and Grell logo are visible through the perforations. First and foremost, these are truly open headphones. The back and sides of the ear cups are perforated metal, and through the backs you can see the fine silver mesh of the inner ear cup, with the Grell logo subtly displayed right in the center. The drivers are visible just at the front edge of the headphones, while a black plastic tab shields the headphone jacks and cables from view. There's nothing out of place inside (or outside) the headphones that would ruin the minimalist style; even the cable connecting the two ear cups is hidden. In fact, only the oddly tall covers for the cable jack seem out of place, although even here the detail is on-point as the cable is almost seamless once connected. The cable itself is soft and supple with no memory, and covered in a black fabric wrap. The connection to the headphones is single-sided, although it can be connected to either ear cup. The headphone side of the cable is non-locking with a subtle grey stripe at the end that disappears when it's properly inserted. The source end is terminated in a 3.5mm plug with a threaded 1/4" adapter installed from the factory—a nice touch over the basic friction-fit adapters. The rest of the build is equally solid. The yokes feel sturdy and rotate smoothly on a metal screw, with no flex at the ends. The adjustments (up/down angle, rotation, and height) are all smooth with no noise and minimal friction, and there's enough range of motion that everyone should get a decent fit. The headband itself is metal, so no fears of stretching it so far where it breaks. The ear pads and headband padding are also removable, although they require a fair bit of force to do so. However, it's not quite clear from the instructions how to remove the ear pads (other than just pulling), and when I did that the inside of the ear pads became unglued from the retaining ring. They're still attached, and it doesn't affect the function, but it's disappointing nonetheless. It’s also important to note that the ear pad mounting and shape (due to the driver location) is non-standard, so fitting third-party ear pads is a no-go unless you’re willing to get creative. That said, my biggest issue with the fit and finish is with the cable. In particular, the connection to the ear cups is finicky, and I found that having the plug a touch too far in or out caused one of the channels to cut out. If the cable got caught on anything while I moved around, or I pushed too hard trying to reconnect it, it would lose one channel or the other. The fabric cover on the cable also causes it to vibrate if it brushes against something, and this is audible at the ear cup. Neither of these are make-or-break factor, and perhaps the loose connection is just my pair, but the headphones could really benefit from a solid detent to hold the cable in place. My other (very, very minor) grievances are that the cable connection on the left earcup has a bit of excess glue visible where it enters the ear cup, and the silver trim rings stick out 1-2mm beyond the sides of the ear cups, causing a visible lip that can be easily felt when handling the headphones. These are minor concerns given the overall build, but noticeable on headphones at the price range. Comfort:
Close-up of the headphones on a holder with the ear cups rotated so the insides are visible. A large 'L' and 'R' inside the ear cups denote the left and right side of the headphones, respectively. Angled drivers are visible inside the ear cups, and the ear pads are plush and covered with a velvet-like material. By weight, these are in the midrange for my headphones, and the ear pads are soft and supple enough to wear with glasses without excessive pressure. The velvety fabric on the ear pads helps with this and prevents any hotspots even when worn for a long time. The height adjustment is just based on friction (no detents at given intervals), so you've got infinite adjustment, but it's solid enough to stay in place even if you're not wearing the headphones. However, while the headband padding looks plush, there's actually relatively little of it due to the internal design, and the headband is thin enough that it could cause a pressure point on top of your head after a while. However, I also find these to be the least comfortable of all my headphones—at least my around-ear pairs—primarily due to the uncomfortably high clamping force. Further, the headband design means that the ear cups move closer together as they move down. At best, these are uncomfortable to wear if you're not actively listening to them; at worst, they were pressing against my jaw under my ears and causing a tingling sensation (likely a pinched nerve). That said, they're not bad once you get a good position on them, and I forget about the discomfort while I'm listening to them, but I'm always aware of wearing them. Sound:
View of pegboard holding several pairs of headphones. Drop + Grell OAE1 are in the center, with the ear cups rotated out. Clockwise from the top left, the other headphones are: Fostex RPKIT50; HiFiMan HE-400i (2016 release); Audio-Technica ATH-M40x; Moondrop Golden Ages IEMs (in box). For reference, I like an analytical/neutral-bright sound signature; in other words, a relatively flat/even bass and midrange, with a peak towards the high frequencies. As far as the "standard" headphone tuning curves go, I find diffuse field to be the closest to my preferences; my current headphone rotation currently consists of the HiFiMan HE-400i (2016 release), Beyerdynamic DT880 Edition (250 ohm), Fostex RPKIT50 (currently set up as the T50RP), Audio-Technica ATH-M40x, Moondrop SSR, and Moondrop Golden Ages. As the Drop + Grell OAE1 are also diffuse field tuned, I thought they'd fit in perfectly. As soon as I started actually playing music through these, two things became immediately clear. First, these definitely need some external amplification; despite having (what appears to be) reasonably high efficiency and low impedance, these were very quiet when attached directly to my FiiO X3 Mk.III. Switching to line out on my X3 and adding a FiiO A5 portable amplifier really gave these headphones room to breathe, and that's the combination (along with CD-quality FLAC files and a couple MP3s) I used for the remainder of the review. The second thing I noticed is that these are unlike any headphones I've listened to in recent memory. Rather than cueing up specific songs, I let my playlist dictate the terms, and first up to bat was Moby's Run On from the Play album. First impression was of sitting in a recording studio and watching Moby record the track. Each component occupied a separate space: the piano just right of center, vocals right in the middle, drum machine on the left, cymbals to the right. Moreover, this separation allowed me to pick up on a couple details I'd never heard before—a complexity in the drum track that comes in just after the second verse, or the cymbals being muted just after the second chorus. As corny as it sounds, I found myself with an odd sense of nostalgia and jamais vu ('never seen'); I felt like I was experiencing the song again for the first time. Next up was MMMBop by Hanson from Middle of Nowhere, and once again the separation is immediately evident: guitar just off to the left, drums on the right, vocals front and center. I can finally pick out one of the brothers singing in the background, just off to the right, towards the end of the first verse. However, this track also reveals that the Drop + Grell OAE1 are closer to Harman target tuning (more bass, less treble) than I like. The bassline comes on strong, almost to the point of being overpowering, and there's a lack of sparkle in the cymbals. Moreover, everything sounds just a touch too smooth; the voices come through, but—for lack of a better way to put it—they're missing a certain sweetness. I get the impression of listening to the band live, but it's still a performance. Next up was The Black Keys' Thickfreakness from the album of the same name, and here it's clear that these headphones are particularly sensitive to source material. While the previous two tracks had a sense of space, this one is presented entirely within my head. The bassline at the start is driving, and the cymbals and snare drum are still present, but the tom drums are almost gone by comparison. Once the vocals come in, the headphones just can't keep up with the complexity, and the layers of sound start blending into each other. The sound is full-bodied, but without the separation there's little detail or clarity. Moving on to TLC's Unpretty from FanMail and the headphones start to show their strengths again. The separation—even if slight—allows everything to take its own place within the song. The drums are particularly full and inviting, and the vocals are clear on top of them. The guitar is present, although missing some of the string squeak I'm used to hearing. Curiously, this song seems much more mid-focused, as the bassline is very difficult to pick out compared to the first few tracks, although I was still enjoying it overall. In the interest of brevity (ha!), I won't go into detail for each track I listened to, as the details are largely the same: compared to my usual listening, these headphones are much more bass/mid-focused with reduced treble, although still relatively neutral. Drums and basslines were present and full, vocals were (typically) clear and distinct, and treble components were present without being piercing. However, where the Drop + Grell OAE1 really shine is in presentation and soundstage—vocals and instruments sound like distinct components rather than just layers. This is particularly evident in live recordings: Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out and Layla from Eric Clapton's Unplugged album; Sing Sing Sing from ¡Damas y Caballeros! by Los Straitjackets; Many a New Day from Oklahoma!. While this sense of space benefits larger ensembles—orchestral, big band, swing—it also lends a sense of intimacy to other tracks: Adele's Rolling in the Deep; Baby on Board from The Simpsons; Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 in G major. However, this works with just about any track that's recorded/mixed/mastered to take advantage of that space regardless of genre, particularly if the emphasis is on bass/mids (drums, vocals, guitar, piano): Blackstreet's No Diggity; Stevie Wonder's Superstition; Mr. Pinstripe Suit by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy; La Grange by ZZ Top; Alice Cooper's School's Out. Ultimately, this is what made this review so difficult, as the headphones didn’t excel at any one genre, but worked well with just about anything I threw at them—providing the tracks were recorded/mixed/mastered well. That said, the biggest weakness of the Drop + Grell OAE1's is that everything sounds a touch too smooth, although it's hard to tell whether this is due to the tuning or drivers. At best, some tracks are missing a certain sparkle or sweetness or emotion that I'm used to—Hanson's MMMBop; Florence and the Machine's Bird Song and Dog Days are Over; Pachelbel's Canon in D minor; Harry Chapin's Cat's in the Cradle. At worst, the headphones sound sluggish and can't cope with complex passages, regardless of genre: The Black Key's Thickfreakness; Atmosphere's Bird Sings Why the Caged I Know; Eki Attar and Aa-Shoo Dekei-oo by Huun-Huur-Tu; Joan Jett's Let's Do It. This is noticeable even if there’s good separation during the rest of the song (Los Straitjackets' Sing Sing Sing; Loch Lomond by The Real McKenzies). Final Thoughts:
Zoomed-out view of the same pegboard as above. Product page for the Drop + Grell OAE1 is visible on a computer screen in the upper left. OAE1 box is visible on the lower right of the image. FiiO X3 Mk.III digital audio player and A5 portable amplifier (used for this review) are visible on the lower middle. On the lower left is a Geonworks W1-AT in olive green with Drop MT3 Susuwatari keycaps and Drop Black Speech YC8 cable. So, all that said and done, can I recommend them? Honestly... it depends. If you like a somewhat laid-back, neutral-warm sound and great soundstage, then you may enjoy them. The fit and finish on my pair is relatively good (aside from the issues above, although I don't know if that's just my pair or not) and they sounded great with any genre of music I could throw at them—provided that the tracks were recorded/mixed/mastered to take advantage of the soundstage, and I used appropriate amplification. If you're looking for something more detailed and clinical and are eyeing the 'diffuse field tuning', then you may be disappointed. Personally, I think they'd be great for a casual listening session where you just want to throw on a record and relax, but they'll never be my go-to pair as I prefer a much more analytical sound. That said, they were highly enjoyable, and the sense of space gave me a new perspective even on well-known songs. If Grell ever produces a planar magnetic headphone with the soundstage of the OAE1 and the sonic characteristics of the HE-400i, then I’ll definitely be interested.
Unboxing the Drop + Grell OAE1: box sleeve is on the upper left, instruction/information booklet on the upper right, headphones inside the box, cable in the middle. First impressions were that the box was basic, but functional: a matte sleeve providing a close-up view of the headphones on the front and technical details on the back, wrapped around a raw cardboard carton. An instruction booklet is the first thing you see inside the carton, and under that are the headphones, nestled in a formed plastic tray that also contains the cable. That's it. The ear cups are swivelled to lay flat, and—aside from the silver rings around the ear cups—there's not really much to look at. However, this lack of complexity and flashiness belies just how much attention to detail went into these headphones. Fit and Finish:
Close-up of the headphones on a holder with the ear cups rotated so the backs are visible. Perforations are visible on the back and sides of the ear cups; the silver inner mesh and Grell logo are visible through the perforations. First and foremost, these are truly open headphones. The back and sides of the ear cups are perforated metal, and through the backs you can see the fine silver mesh of the inner ear cup, with the Grell logo subtly displayed right in the center. The drivers are visible just at the front edge of the headphones, while a black plastic tab shields the headphone jacks and cables from view. There's nothing out of place inside (or outside) the headphones that would ruin the minimalist style; even the cable connecting the two ear cups is hidden. In fact, only the oddly tall covers for the cable jack seem out of place, although even here the detail is on-point as the cable is almost seamless once connected. The cable itself is soft and supple with no memory, and covered in a black fabric wrap. The connection to the headphones is single-sided, although it can be connected to either ear cup. The headphone side of the cable is non-locking with a subtle grey stripe at the end that disappears when it's properly inserted. The source end is terminated in a 3.5mm plug with a threaded 1/4" adapter installed from the factory—a nice touch over the basic friction-fit adapters. The rest of the build is equally solid. The yokes feel sturdy and rotate smoothly on a metal screw, with no flex at the ends. The adjustments (up/down angle, rotation, and height) are all smooth with no noise and minimal friction, and there's enough range of motion that everyone should get a decent fit. The headband itself is metal, so no fears of stretching it so far where it breaks. The ear pads and headband padding are also removable, although they require a fair bit of force to do so. However, it's not quite clear from the instructions how to remove the ear pads (other than just pulling), and when I did that the inside of the ear pads became unglued from the retaining ring. They're still attached, and it doesn't affect the function, but it's disappointing nonetheless. It’s also important to note that the ear pad mounting and shape (due to the driver location) is non-standard, so fitting third-party ear pads is a no-go unless you’re willing to get creative. That said, my biggest issue with the fit and finish is with the cable. In particular, the connection to the ear cups is finicky, and I found that having the plug a touch too far in or out caused one of the channels to cut out. If the cable got caught on anything while I moved around, or I pushed too hard trying to reconnect it, it would lose one channel or the other. The fabric cover on the cable also causes it to vibrate if it brushes against something, and this is audible at the ear cup. Neither of these are make-or-break factor, and perhaps the loose connection is just my pair, but the headphones could really benefit from a solid detent to hold the cable in place. My other (very, very minor) grievances are that the cable connection on the left earcup has a bit of excess glue visible where it enters the ear cup, and the silver trim rings stick out 1-2mm beyond the sides of the ear cups, causing a visible lip that can be easily felt when handling the headphones. These are minor concerns given the overall build, but noticeable on headphones at the price range. Comfort:
Close-up of the headphones on a holder with the ear cups rotated so the insides are visible. A large 'L' and 'R' inside the ear cups denote the left and right side of the headphones, respectively. Angled drivers are visible inside the ear cups, and the ear pads are plush and covered with a velvet-like material. By weight, these are in the midrange for my headphones, and the ear pads are soft and supple enough to wear with glasses without excessive pressure. The velvety fabric on the ear pads helps with this and prevents any hotspots even when worn for a long time. The height adjustment is just based on friction (no detents at given intervals), so you've got infinite adjustment, but it's solid enough to stay in place even if you're not wearing the headphones. However, while the headband padding looks plush, there's actually relatively little of it due to the internal design, and the headband is thin enough that it could cause a pressure point on top of your head after a while. However, I also find these to be the least comfortable of all my headphones—at least my around-ear pairs—primarily due to the uncomfortably high clamping force. Further, the headband design means that the ear cups move closer together as they move down. At best, these are uncomfortable to wear if you're not actively listening to them; at worst, they were pressing against my jaw under my ears and causing a tingling sensation (likely a pinched nerve). That said, they're not bad once you get a good position on them, and I forget about the discomfort while I'm listening to them, but I'm always aware of wearing them. Sound:
View of pegboard holding several pairs of headphones. Drop + Grell OAE1 are in the center, with the ear cups rotated out. Clockwise from the top left, the other headphones are: Fostex RPKIT50; HiFiMan HE-400i (2016 release); Audio-Technica ATH-M40x; Moondrop Golden Ages IEMs (in box). For reference, I like an analytical/neutral-bright sound signature; in other words, a relatively flat/even bass and midrange, with a peak towards the high frequencies. As far as the "standard" headphone tuning curves go, I find diffuse field to be the closest to my preferences; my current headphone rotation currently consists of the HiFiMan HE-400i (2016 release), Beyerdynamic DT880 Edition (250 ohm), Fostex RPKIT50 (currently set up as the T50RP), Audio-Technica ATH-M40x, Moondrop SSR, and Moondrop Golden Ages. As the Drop + Grell OAE1 are also diffuse field tuned, I thought they'd fit in perfectly. As soon as I started actually playing music through these, two things became immediately clear. First, these definitely need some external amplification; despite having (what appears to be) reasonably high efficiency and low impedance, these were very quiet when attached directly to my FiiO X3 Mk.III. Switching to line out on my X3 and adding a FiiO A5 portable amplifier really gave these headphones room to breathe, and that's the combination (along with CD-quality FLAC files and a couple MP3s) I used for the remainder of the review. The second thing I noticed is that these are unlike any headphones I've listened to in recent memory. Rather than cueing up specific songs, I let my playlist dictate the terms, and first up to bat was Moby's Run On from the Play album. First impression was of sitting in a recording studio and watching Moby record the track. Each component occupied a separate space: the piano just right of center, vocals right in the middle, drum machine on the left, cymbals to the right. Moreover, this separation allowed me to pick up on a couple details I'd never heard before—a complexity in the drum track that comes in just after the second verse, or the cymbals being muted just after the second chorus. As corny as it sounds, I found myself with an odd sense of nostalgia and jamais vu ('never seen'); I felt like I was experiencing the song again for the first time. Next up was MMMBop by Hanson from Middle of Nowhere, and once again the separation is immediately evident: guitar just off to the left, drums on the right, vocals front and center. I can finally pick out one of the brothers singing in the background, just off to the right, towards the end of the first verse. However, this track also reveals that the Drop + Grell OAE1 are closer to Harman target tuning (more bass, less treble) than I like. The bassline comes on strong, almost to the point of being overpowering, and there's a lack of sparkle in the cymbals. Moreover, everything sounds just a touch too smooth; the voices come through, but—for lack of a better way to put it—they're missing a certain sweetness. I get the impression of listening to the band live, but it's still a performance. Next up was The Black Keys' Thickfreakness from the album of the same name, and here it's clear that these headphones are particularly sensitive to source material. While the previous two tracks had a sense of space, this one is presented entirely within my head. The bassline at the start is driving, and the cymbals and snare drum are still present, but the tom drums are almost gone by comparison. Once the vocals come in, the headphones just can't keep up with the complexity, and the layers of sound start blending into each other. The sound is full-bodied, but without the separation there's little detail or clarity. Moving on to TLC's Unpretty from FanMail and the headphones start to show their strengths again. The separation—even if slight—allows everything to take its own place within the song. The drums are particularly full and inviting, and the vocals are clear on top of them. The guitar is present, although missing some of the string squeak I'm used to hearing. Curiously, this song seems much more mid-focused, as the bassline is very difficult to pick out compared to the first few tracks, although I was still enjoying it overall. In the interest of brevity (ha!), I won't go into detail for each track I listened to, as the details are largely the same: compared to my usual listening, these headphones are much more bass/mid-focused with reduced treble, although still relatively neutral. Drums and basslines were present and full, vocals were (typically) clear and distinct, and treble components were present without being piercing. However, where the Drop + Grell OAE1 really shine is in presentation and soundstage—vocals and instruments sound like distinct components rather than just layers. This is particularly evident in live recordings: Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out and Layla from Eric Clapton's Unplugged album; Sing Sing Sing from ¡Damas y Caballeros! by Los Straitjackets; Many a New Day from Oklahoma!. While this sense of space benefits larger ensembles—orchestral, big band, swing—it also lends a sense of intimacy to other tracks: Adele's Rolling in the Deep; Baby on Board from The Simpsons; Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 in G major. However, this works with just about any track that's recorded/mixed/mastered to take advantage of that space regardless of genre, particularly if the emphasis is on bass/mids (drums, vocals, guitar, piano): Blackstreet's No Diggity; Stevie Wonder's Superstition; Mr. Pinstripe Suit by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy; La Grange by ZZ Top; Alice Cooper's School's Out. Ultimately, this is what made this review so difficult, as the headphones didn’t excel at any one genre, but worked well with just about anything I threw at them—providing the tracks were recorded/mixed/mastered well. That said, the biggest weakness of the Drop + Grell OAE1's is that everything sounds a touch too smooth, although it's hard to tell whether this is due to the tuning or drivers. At best, some tracks are missing a certain sparkle or sweetness or emotion that I'm used to—Hanson's MMMBop; Florence and the Machine's Bird Song and Dog Days are Over; Pachelbel's Canon in D minor; Harry Chapin's Cat's in the Cradle. At worst, the headphones sound sluggish and can't cope with complex passages, regardless of genre: The Black Key's Thickfreakness; Atmosphere's Bird Sings Why the Caged I Know; Eki Attar and Aa-Shoo Dekei-oo by Huun-Huur-Tu; Joan Jett's Let's Do It. This is noticeable even if there’s good separation during the rest of the song (Los Straitjackets' Sing Sing Sing; Loch Lomond by The Real McKenzies). Final Thoughts:
Zoomed-out view of the same pegboard as above. Product page for the Drop + Grell OAE1 is visible on a computer screen in the upper left. OAE1 box is visible on the lower right of the image. FiiO X3 Mk.III digital audio player and A5 portable amplifier (used for this review) are visible on the lower middle. On the lower left is a Geonworks W1-AT in olive green with Drop MT3 Susuwatari keycaps and Drop Black Speech YC8 cable. So, all that said and done, can I recommend them? Honestly... it depends. If you like a somewhat laid-back, neutral-warm sound and great soundstage, then you may enjoy them. The fit and finish on my pair is relatively good (aside from the issues above, although I don't know if that's just my pair or not) and they sounded great with any genre of music I could throw at them—provided that the tracks were recorded/mixed/mastered to take advantage of the soundstage, and I used appropriate amplification. If you're looking for something more detailed and clinical and are eyeing the 'diffuse field tuning', then you may be disappointed. Personally, I think they'd be great for a casual listening session where you just want to throw on a record and relax, but they'll never be my go-to pair as I prefer a much more analytical sound. That said, they were highly enjoyable, and the sense of space gave me a new perspective even on well-known songs. If Grell ever produces a planar magnetic headphone with the soundstage of the OAE1 and the sonic characteristics of the HE-400i, then I’ll definitely be interested.
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
HubertTheMad
283
Keyboard Club Member
Jan 17, 2025
Dr.MontoronitobaI am groot. Err, I mean, Grell. Great write-up! The time and effort you put into it is very much appreciated
Koolkef
13
Dec 25, 2024
Activities:Critical Listening
Music Genres:Classical, Jazz
checkVerified Buyer
Best headphone for the price
I could not believe my ears when I played the hifi quality tracks on my DROP + GRELL OAE1 HEADPHONES using my DAP and also through my Chord Hugo TT2 and mScaler. The sound coming out was just captivating. I have headphones like the Empryean from Meze and Audeze but these are on par or even more enjoyable. I highly recommend a pair to enjoy your fav tunes with.
Recommends this product? Yes
randomlyerratic
13
Dec 22, 2024
Activities:Casual Listening, Critical Listening
Music Genres:Electronic, Hip-hop, Metal, Rock
checkVerified Buyer
I never rate 5stars
Ok, let's start out with disclaimers. I'm a fledgling audiophile. No. I am an audiophile, but what works for me might not work for others.
1. A) Build/comfort: ok, it is rare that I can fall asleep with cans on. They did not clamp too hard, I know they are there, but they weren't vise-like. I shift positions while sleeping. I started with my head cradled, the headphones weren't extremely difficult to position my head. Woke up on my back, the cord did not wrap around my neck as a makeshift noose. Big plus there. I did find that the way I have to position the headphones for the best sound for me, if I lay on my back, when I sit up they fall off. Sitting this isn't a problem, but since I fell asleep with them on 🤔
B)since I wore them overnight, I expected like sweat after an hour or two, not the case. They are a bit warm, but it is barely noticeable for me.
C)the stock pads are soft and I don't feel them against my skin like I do leather.
D)there appears to be a bit of clearance between the headphones/cups? And my ears. But my ears don't stick out too far.
E)I didn't notice that placement can be extremely tricky and the cans can sound like ass. Like music filtered through fat. Sorry, best way I can describe it.
F)the materials appear to be of solid construction. Like by far the most solid build i own. (I only have dt990, he4xx, and some BT sennheisers).
On to sound.
2. A)They sound amazing, and the lows i hear are better than the he4xx. Otherwise they are quite comparable. But that also depends largely one placement of the oea1 cans. Like I had to place the band at the way back of my skull for the best placement for my ears. Which, with the placement and clamp force, sit solidly if my head is perpendicular to the ground. Like I said parallel with the ground the fall right off.
B)since they are open back, I expected the leakage to be high. Which is possible. With the source maxed, and my xp-2pro maxed, my brother said he can hear the music from at least 5 feet away and have it be recognizable. Which, if you're at home or even in your own room, is not a problem. It might be in an office.
C.) The clarity on these are pretty damned good. I do have a bit of problem picking between bass guitar and bass drum on some music tracks. Whoops take that back(sorry listening to music as I write this). It might have to deal eith type of music, how it was mixed and mastered.
D.) The mids and highs aren't painfully "bright" nor "tinny". Of course I'm 45, so I could be losing my hearing from age and countless concerts sitting next to the speakers.
Summation, I am pleasantly surprised. New cans that don't cause me to sweat, or exhaustion? From wearing them for long durations. If I could, I would punk down for a second purchase to have a spare. So I could let a friend use and as an introductory to audiphiledom.
Sidenote:if I remember, I will update after listening to different music. I listened to my most listened to music genres, and then got stuck listening to Tool, for hours.
Recommends this product? Yes
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