Drop and Axel Grell Collaborate on Pure Audio Headphones

[VSG]

Drop, a leading community-driven e-commerce brand, and audio pioneer Axel Grell have achieved a new pinnacle in stereo imaging and audio engineering with the Drop + Grell OAE1 Signature Headphones. Leveraging Grell's three decades of audio engineering and product development experience designing some of the industry's most iconic headphones, the driver-forward, open-around-ear OAE1 headphones lean into the structure of the human ear to achieve a more natural and realistic sound field much closer to a speaker listening experience.

The most notable aspect of the Drop + Grell OAE1s is the radical and acute placement of the drivers in front of and away from the ears, enabling the sound field from the transducers to take advantage of the ears natural structure to direct sound into the ear canal. The open-around-ear design minimizes acoustic reflections and controlling sound pressure, with the culmination of both innovations resulting in improved stereo imaging, a natural sound field, and the uncovering of the deepest dimensions of any song. "Our ears are as individual as fingerprints, so when you put a driver right on top of the eardrum like most headphones do, it will sound good for some and bad for others," shares Grell. "By positioning the driver in front of the ear, we're bringing the natural geometry of the ear into the sound forming process, allowing the brain to equalize the sound. Combined with its open-around-ear design, these signature headphones create a rich and pure audio experience."



Drop + Grell OAE1 Specifications

• Frequency Response: 12-32,000 Hz (-3db) 6-44,000 Hz (-10db)
• Transducer principal: Dynamic
• Ear coupling: Circumaural
• Sound characteristic: Front oriented loudness diffuse field equalization
• Adaption to the individual hearing curve: Soundfield pinna interaction
• Nominal impedance: 38 ohms
• Sound pressure level at 1 kHz 1VRMS: 106 dB
• Maximum long term input power: 500 mW
• THD at 1 kHz 100dB: 0.05%
• Weight (without cable): 365 g

"To be able to bring Axel's audio vision to life at Drop with the OAE1 is incredibly gratifying," said Lukas Mondoux at Drop. "Other products touched by Axel's genius have been among the most popular and well-rated among audio aficionados and our Drop community for years, so we have no doubt this new level of natural, pure audio will delight audiophiles. "

The Drop + Grell OAE1 Signature Headphones are a limited-edition product with only 1,000 pieces available for pre-order at $349 (MSRP $399). For more information about the Drop + Grell OAE1 Signature Headphones, please visit: https://drop.com/buy/drop-grell-oae1-signature-headphones

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[Kohl Baas]

Is this good or just a gimmick?

 

[The Terrible Puddle]

Is this good or just a gimmick?

Probably gimmick. From what I read their last collab with Grell, TWS1X, wasn't very good.

An entirely new headphone model limited to 1000 pieces should ring alarm bells too.

 

[VSG]

Probably gimmick. From what I read their last collab with Grell, TWS1X, wasn't very good.

An entirely new headphone model limited to 1000 pieces should ring alarm bells too.

The first 1000 pre-orders cost $349, everything thereafter is at MSRP ($399).

 

[Veseleil]

Dynamic drivers with 38ohm, 365g, headband that reminds me of my HE400SE - doesn't sound interesting at all.

 

[kondamin]

Dynamic drivers with 38ohm, 365g, headband that reminds me of my HE400SE - doesn't sound interesting at all.

Doesn't have the frequency range though.

(to be honest I don't know how important the extreme ranges are)

 

[overclockedamd]

Meh other than they look pretty nice the specs for the price are not attractive.

I may pick a pair up just to add to my collection and for testing purposes.

 

[Space Lynx]

I have enough open and semi-open backs, I really want some nice closed ones.

My guess is the new Senn HD620S closed back at $349 will be pretty decent, but market is saturated, especially in this economy, so I expect them to be $199 on Black Friday, I will grab some then if they are. My goal is either really nice closed backs or ANC.

 

[Veseleil]

I have enough open and semi-open backs, I really want some nice closed ones.

My guess is the new Senn HD620S closed back at $349 will be pretty decent, but market is saturated, especially in this economy, so I expect them to be $199 on Black Friday, I will grab some then if they are. My goal is either really nice closed backs or ANC.

Those HD620S (seen couple of articles prior) will run circles around this for the same money.
"By positioning the driver in front of the ear, we're bringing the natural geometry of the ear into the sound forming process, allowing the brain to equalize the sound. Combined with its open-around-ear design, these signature headphones create a rich and pure audio experience." - what a load of BS.

 

[AcousticInductance]

Those HD620S (seen couple of articles prior) will run circles around this for the same money.
"By positioning the driver in front of the ear, we're bringing the natural geometry of the ear into the sound forming process, allowing the brain to equalize the sound. Combined with its open-around-ear design, these signature headphones create a rich and pure audio experience." - what a load of BS.

It is consensus in the headphone community that angling the transducer improves the soundstage/perception of space. The intuitive explanation is that sound waves arriving from a more frontal angle are perceived as more similar to the natural listening experience with loudspeakers. Why would you think angling the drivers further does not increase the benefit?

 

[Veseleil]

It is consensus in the headphone community that angling the transducer improves the soundstage/perception of space. The intuitive explanation is that sound waves arriving from a more frontal angle are perceived as more similar to the natural listening experience with loudspeakers. Why would you think angling the drivers further does not increase the benefit?

Oh well, someone made an account to post this. I'm flattered, really.
Angling the drivers should in theory make it sound much alike the equilateral triangle loudspeaker setup. If that's the main goal, good. But there's not a single mention of a word loudspeaker in the whole press release. So I must digress, and say that natural listening experience is a 360 degrees surround sound. Using your ears in the natural environment? Ever been out there, perhaps in the forest, when the wind starts to play with the trees? Spatial, 3d or w/e the tech used in any kind of headphones can't replace that experience. So the whole quoted paragraph (not yours) sound just like a good marketing, nothing else.

 

[AcousticInductance]

Oh well, someone made an account to post this. I'm flattered, really.
Angling the drivers should in theory make it sound much alike the equilateral triangle loudspeaker setup. If that's the main goal, good. But there's not a single mention of a word loudspeaker in the whole press release. So I must digress, and say that natural listening experience is a 360 degrees surround sound. Using your ears in the natural environment? Ever been out there, perhaps in the forest, when the wind starts to play with the trees? Spatial, 3d or w/e the tech used in any kind of headphones can't replace that experience. So the whole quoted paragraph (not yours) sound just like a good marketing, nothing else.

I completely agree with you: headphones or even loudspeakers will likely never be able to replicate the "natural" sensation of sound. Even very high-quality loudspeakers sound distinctly different from music that is played live.
However, there are still different levels of coming closer to the ideal. Using earbuds will place the sound entirely within your head, which is extremely unnatural. Some open headphones will make sounds appear from the left or right only. Improving that sensation to be a bit more natural and being able to discern the direction of some instruments is already a big step.