The symmetric natura of the design hides the fact that inside the ear cups, the Drop + Grell OAE1s’ drivers are placed in front of and away from the ear, helping direct sound into the ear canal. Also because of the nature of the cooperation with the community-driven e-commerce organization, the Drop + Grell OAE1 Signature Headphones are a limited-edition product with only 1,000 pieces made.
Axel Grell has built his first loudspeakers at just 12 years old. He spent two decades working as the head Acoustic Engineer for Sennheiser, heading up the development of many highly-acclaimed headphones including the legendary HD580, HD600, HD650, HD800, and the famous HE-1. In 2021, he launched his own company, Grell Audio and launched the Grell TWS/1 wireless earbuds, in collaboration with STRAX, the Swedish lifestyle audio and brand licensing company.
According to Drop, Axel Grell has “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 open-ear OAE1 headphones attempt to achieve a more natural and realistic sound field.
The most notable aspect of the Drop + Grell OAE1s is the placement of the drivers, enabling the sound to be directed into the ear canal, while the open natura of the design minimizes acoustic reflections and controls sound pressure, resulting in improved stereo imaging.
“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.”
The dynamic drivers in the Drop + Grell OAE1 Signature Headphones are also specified for extended frequency response up to 12–32,000 Hz, with a nominal impedance of 38 ohms and able to achieve significant sound pressure levels when correctly driven. They are also extremely lightweight for its size, with only 365g.
“To be able to bring Axel’s audio vision to life at Drop with the OAE1 is incredibly gratifying,” says 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.”
Drop is now owned by CORSAIR, the developer and manufacturer of high-performance products for PCs, gamers, and content creators. In July 2023 CORSAIR acquired certain assets of Drop, enabling the organization to continuously broaden its product focus into new categories.
The Drop + Grell OAE1 Signature Headphones are available for pre-order at $349 (MSRP $399), with only 1,000 pieces available for now.
www.drop.com
