Everyone perceives sound differently. Your ear is not like a measuring microphone. Because of this, it's important to understand how sound is perceived and what factors influence that perception. In creating the OAE1 signature with Axel Grell, we studied how sound is perceived. This premise drove the unique geometry and driver placement for the OAE1 Signature headphones. Since our ears, with all their unique characteristics, act as a natural equalizer to all that we hear, it makes sense that headphones should do more to use the structure of the pinna to guide soundwaves into the ear canal.

To achieve this effect, the transducers are placed much further forward and angled back towards the ear. By positioning the transducer further out and away it enables the soundwaves to fully encompass the pinna (the external part of the ear), allowing for an increase in spectral information and a more natural sound field for the listener. By contrast, the majority of headphones on the market are much closer to the ear and positioned perpendicular to the opening of the canal which bypasses much of the pinna's structure (and therefore the natural sound-shaping function of the ear itself).Those that have been into headphones for a long time might remember a headphone designed by AKG called the K1000. This unique open baffle headphone used a similar principle where the transducers were suspended on adjustable hinges allowing the listener to adjust the angle of the driver to project sound in a more natural way. This made the headphone particularly great at creating a natural soundfield, since it accommodated the pinna. The downside to an open baffle design was diminished of low-end response due to the lack of seal around the ear. With the OAE1 signature we are able to have both a natural sound field and low-end bass response due to the acoustic baffle which allows low frequencies to be generated inside the ear cup.

Listening to Natural Sound Sources
When we are at a concert, when someone is talking to us, or when listening to music with loudspeakers in stereo-placement, it is only very rarely the case that sound is coming only from the far left or far right of us. Normally, the sound we listen to comes from the front!..If not, we turn our head in that direction.Listening with Typical Headphones
Most headphones have speakers positioned so that their membrane is perpendicular to an imaginary axis through both ears. This creates a sound field at each ear that corresponds to the sound field produced by a voice, instrument, or loudspeaker located directly on this axis on each respective side. The sound is coming from the far left or far right.Listening with Drop + Grell OAE1 Signature Headphones
The speakers of the Drop + Grell OAE1 are positioned so that their bio-cellulose diaphragm is at an angle to the ear, radiating sound waves like a sound source in front of the listener. This positioning also corresponds to the direction of sound incidence (first wavefront) of loudspeakers that are optimally positioned for stereo reproduction.

Stay tuned for further updates coming soon.