Grell OAE2 Kopfhörer

Grell OAE2 Headphones – experience music as if you were listening with stereo speakers

Imagine for a moment sitting on a sofa in front of a good hi-fi system with two great speakers and enjoying the music. Listening with the grell OAE2 comes very, very close to this kind of listening experience.

The main difference: the grell OAE2 is a pair of headphones – but very special ones: it takes a completely different approach to all the headphones you know.

The front sound field modulation (FSFM) developed by grell, which uses a completely new driver positioning, provides an authentic and emotional listening experience that has never been seen before in headphones! We predict that the grell OAE2 will change the headphone market!

Since its foundation, grell has been researching new solutions for listening with headphones, including in collaboration with Leibniz University Hannover. The grell OAE2 is the product of a bold vision and decades of experience in the design and development of premium headphones. The OAE2 is not a headphone that you simply put on and evaluate – its sound attributes defy traditional headphone concepts and cannot be revealed by quick A/B comparisons, as has become common among hi-fi enthusiasts. You have to "approach" the grell OAE2 a little differently. In other words, give your own headphones a little break and listen to your favourite music with the OAE2 first.

Stay strong and resist the temptation to take out your own headphones and start the comparison machine mentioned above. It will take an evening or two to get used to the new listening experience. Once your ears have "acclimatised", it's time to take your own headphones out of the drawer and listen as you always have before. But beware, we would like to warn you at this point: it is not unlikely that the headphones that have served you well for years will disappear back into the drawer. In fact, we often find that headphone fans find listening with the bright OAE2 to be more "authentic". We are not surprised by this reaction, as the OAE2 was specifically designed to create this impression.

Grell's goal was to build headphones that bring the listener even closer to the music. That's why the OAE2 was designed to not use crossfeed, but rather to mimic the natural function of the ear. This means that it not only gives the impression of listening through speakers, but actually makes you feel like you're listening to an extremely high-quality pair of speakers. The term "stage" takes on a whole new meaning in the context of the OAE2, giving it an extra dimension! Grell achieves this through what is known as front sound field modulation (FSFM). Unlike conventional headphone designs, in which the individual physical characteristics of the ears play a decisive (and in the worst case even an inhibiting) role in the interaction with sound, the sound waves in the OAE2 hit the ear at an angle from the front and are thus always projected optimally – completely independently of the shape of the ears.

As a result, the resulting sound image – also thanks to the open design – is perceived as very natural and extremely airy. Thanks to its design innovations, the OAE2 also breaks with old conventions in the high-frequency range: the natural sound shaping by the ear cup is taken into account in such a way that the highs are always finely resolved and lively. The high frequencies are harmoniously woven into the overall linear frequency band spectrum, resulting in an extremely balanced and precise sound with clean mids and authentic, physically perceptible bass that is in no way inferior to the quality of good closed headphone designs.

The grell OAE2 also plays in the Champions League in terms of feel and wearing comfort: the robust, durable construction combines stainless steel mesh and coordinated materials. The ear pads and headband are made of breathable velour and a special memory foam. In combination with the long extension and low overall weight, a perfect fit is guaranteed for every head shape, ensuring fatigue-free listening – whether you want to enjoy several of your favourite records in a row, have lengthy mixing and mastering tasks ahead of you in the studio, or want to engage in an intense gaming session on your computer.

When it comes to service, grell leaves nothing to be desired: if you ever have an unexpected problem with your OAE2, it can be easily fixed thanks to its modular design. All components can be quickly replaced or repaired. Furthermore, grell, one of the few remaining German-owned headphone brands, stands for uncompromising sustainability – from its environmentally certified production facilities and plastic-free packaging to the durability of its materials.

Technical data for the Grell OAE1

• Open design without crossfeed
• Replaceable components
• Front Sound Field Modulation (FSFM)
• Frequency response: 12 - 34,000 Hz (-3 dB)
• Impedance: 38 ohms
• Sound pressure level: 100 dB at 1 kHz/1V
• Maximum input power: 500 mW
• Distortion factor: 0.05% at 1 kHz
• Weight: 378 g (without cable)