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Drop + Grell OAE1 Headphones

$299

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Drop + Grell OAE1 Headphones

Name: Drop + Grell OAE1 Headphones
Brand: Drop + Grell
SKU: drop-grell-oae1-headphones
Price: 299 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4 (1 reviews)

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Product Description

q&a8

Sort by: Newest

Dec 2, 2024

Drop putting this item on sale for "Black Friday" while preorders are delivering to customers really doesn't sit right with me. I think it is reasonable to believe that a ship date that close to a typical sale day would preclude that item from being involved in a sale. By doing this Drop is actively pushing customers away from preordering products which, funnily enough, is what the site was built around. I don't see a reason to ever get into a "drop" again when I know that I can see an immediate financial DISadvantage for doing so. I like the headphones. They are comfortable, though they should have more adjustability. I wear them extended as far as possible and I definitely do not have the largest skull out there. They sound good, but they are definitely an adjustment. I feel that if you switch between headphones regularly you are going to have much more issue with these than if you consistently wear one set. I don't know a way to describe how these present, but it is noticeably different. My AD70X Refine also presents a great sense of space, but sounds more detailed. The space that they present is different, again, in ways that I'm not fully capable of describing. The ATs are lighter with more adjustability and a dual entry cable. These are heavier, but still sit well on my head with comfortable pads and a lot of swivel adjustment on the earcups. I feel like there may be a bit more bass on these with the sound feeling more filled in than the space on the ATs. I'm not good at this so don't put too much stock in what I write about sound. Bottom line is that I would be fully pleased with my purchase if not for the Drop price shenanigans. I'm almost certainly never participating in a preorder again for this reason. I'm fully aware that prices fluctuate over time and I am used to tracking them in order to plan the optimal time to buy. I have not ever experienced a price drop for a preorder product that occurs with this timing relative to preorder ship dates until now. This is, quite frankly a deterrent for me to purchase here going forward.

zekken

141

Dec 2, 2024

HPJesterI feel you... I come from the OAE1 signature edition and the exact same thing happened. Drop has been VERY opaque on what the final OAE1 product would look like (and the price too). I preordered the OAE1 signature instead of waiting to the regular version because Drop was selling the OAE1 signature as a 399 USD product discounted to 350 USD. Now Drop sells the regular OAE1 as a 299 USD product discounted to 250 USD...and even worse 199 USD for Black Friday...

Trildar

Dec 2, 2024

HPJesterDrop does have a policy where you can get the price difference from a sale refunded if it's within 30 days of delivery. Though that does require you to know there is a drop in price in the first place.

peterlask

128

Nov 29, 2024

Dear friends hello, I had the pleasure of reviewing the Drop + Grell OAE1.

Here are some positive quotes from the review. "The OAE1 is constructed with high-quality materials and features a simple, minimalist aesthetic that is likely to attract a wide audience." "The mechanism for adjusting the headband operates smoothly and is sufficiently tight to maintain its setting. All components of the headphones are designed to be user-replaceable." "The Drop + Grell OAE1 is a lightweight headphone, weighing 375 grams. With a reduced clamping force versus to the signature edition, it delivers a comfortable fit comparable to that of most other headphones." "The Grell OAE1 delivers an astonishing level of bass that may be difficult to comprehend upon initial listening. It requires a brief period to acclimate and fully grasp the auditory experience. The sub-bass extension is remarkable for an open-back headphone, particularly one at such an affordable price point. It is challenging to identify another open headphone that can reproduce frequencies as low as 20Hz with such fidelity." "In terms of technical performance, the Grell OAE1 generally exceeds average standards. The bass is tight and well-controlled, free from noticeable echo or reverberation, while also being highly impactful and dynamic." "The Grell OAE1 excels in maintaining an impressive balance and presence in both the mid-range and treble, even with its pronounced low-end. The bass is well-defined, ensuring it does not overshadow or interfere with the mid-range, which is allowed to express itself with clarity and remarkable resolution for its category." "The treble is bright and lively, serving to balance the pronounced low-end and prevent an overly warm or dark sound profile. It possesses a brightness that is neither harsh nor piercing, and it resolves adequately for its category, though it may not be perceived as particularly spectacular or brilliant." " It delivers impressive spatiality with a pronounced central image that appears to emanate from a location outside the listener's head. While the Grell OAE1 may not provide extraordinary expansiveness, it offers a remarkably spacious and open sound within its confines, boasting class-leading depth layering and positioning, even when compared to significantly pricier headphones." "The newly released standard version has improved upon the comfort issues found in the Signature model and is offered at a more accessible price point. While the Drop + Grell OAE1 may not resonate with everyone, it is likely to cultivate a dedicated following among enthusiasts."

You can read the whole review in my website (https://ichos-reviews.com/drop-grell-oae1-review/) or at Headfi (https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/drop-grell-oae1-signature-headphones.27216/review/36331/) where you are welcomed to comment.

pure5152

106

Nov 30, 2024

peterlaskexcellent review! make sure to post in the reviews section for more visibility! (this is the discussions section)

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peterlask

128

Dec 1, 2024

pure5152Hello and thank you. Since this was sent to me for review, I can't post to the reviews section and I am waiting for a moderator to move it there.

Rob80b

Nov 26, 2024

Besides listening to music I've discovered my OAE1 are ideal for mixing when the final destination is for speaker listening, much better IMHO than the HD660S2 and Neumann NDH30 that I were using. So something to keep in mind.

Barondla

159

Nov 25, 2024

I enjoy the OAE1 signature model quite a bit. Wanted a different tuning than my Koss/MassDrop ESP 9** electrostatic. These fill the bill and are a nice change of pace. The sound is out in front of my face. Closest I've heard headphones approach speakers. Grell & Drop should be congratulated for advancing headphone science and at a reasonable price. Thanks, barondla

Yaderb11

237

Nov 20, 2024

So from the comments here of owners of the first run we can safely assume the tuning on these is atrocious?. Well you can always eq certain aspects but how is the comfort. They look good besides one cup running? a dummy plug. I would assume that's from them just using mirror mold. It seems these aren't very good from the discussion I read here. Boy do I miss the days off Massdrop and how they would innovate and bring interesting new takes to hobbies. My current daily driver are the Harmonicdyne Zeus elite and I own Dan clark aeon and the fairly decent Hifiman h5xx and jubilee. I love trying budget yet great sounding cans.

(Edited)

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Rob80b

Nov 20, 2024

Yaderb11Well not all find these atrocious, far from it, but best to leave the graphs and any preconceived notions of what one is expecting these to sound like at home. These are not your HD600 series successor but Axel's unique tuning which I've personally quite got accustomed to and it may take a bit for those weaned solely on traditional direct into the ear drivers. Doesn't mean that one will like them, sort of like going from loose fitting jeans to skinnies, they're not for everyone. So the tuning IMHO is not at all atrocious just a different approach to projecting sound with headphones, works for me but then I do wear skinny jeans. : )

T.Fernandez

853

Collabs

Nov 21, 2024

Yaderb11Regarding your comment on the earcup plugs, the OAE1 is designed to work with the cable plugged into either side of the headphone. The overhead cable allows the signal to be shared between ear cups.

ViXoZuDo

131

Nov 20, 2024

I would be exited about these, but after the TWS1X failure, I don't trust another Drop + Grell collab.

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pure5152

106

Nov 24, 2024

ViXoZuDoFWIW I believe the TWS1X was made when alex grell didn't own the Grell company brand (I think it was owned by some investors from china or something). Grell since bought back his own brand company and the OAE1 was produced under his complete control. I've had one of these from the signature run since July and have been wearing/using it daily since and have had no issues so far with wear or failure so far.

ScroogeMcDuck

267

Nov 13, 2024

Fiio FT1 for the win

dioporks

Nov 13, 2024

Only one cable? Is there any carrying case?

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pure5152

106

Nov 25, 2024

Would it be possible to get stock pads down the road as well? I really like the current tuning and am concerned aftermarket pads may alter the sound slightly