After working with Sennheiser for many years and creating some of the most iconic and beloved headphones in the audiophile community (including the 600 series), Axel Grell formed his own company and released their first headphone, the Grell OAE1, in 2024. While the Grell OAE1 was praised for its look and feel, the overall sound received mixed reviews. Two years later, Grell released an updated version of the headphone, the OAE2. I never got my hands on the OAE1 and likely won’t ever consider that it has been pulled from the Grell store and is no longer available from third parties. Thus, this review will be judging the OAE2 on its own terms. How will it fare in this increasingly competitive market?
What Comes in the Box?
- Grell OAE2 dynamic audiophile headphones
- Protective hard case
- Detachable 3.5mm cable with quarter-inch adapter
- Detachable 4.4mm balanced cable
The OAE2 is an accessory heavy headphone and it doesn’t need to be. The cables are a nice quality, and the carrying case is a nice touch for a headphone of this kind. It’s nice and compact and can easily fit in a backpack.
Technical Specifications
- Frequency Response: 12Hz – 34kHz (-3dB) / 6Hz – 46kHz (-10dB)
- Transducer Principle: Dynamic
- Ear Coupling: Circum-aural
- Sound Characteristics: Front-oriented loudness diffuse field equalization
- Adaption to Individual Hearing Curve: Sound Filed-Pinna Interaction
- Nominal Impedance: 38 ohms
- Sound Pressure Level: 100dB @ 1kHz, 1 VRMS
- Maximum Long-Term Input Power: 500mW (according to IEC 60268-7)
- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): 0.05% at 1kHz, 100dB
- Weight without cable: 378g
- Headband Clamping Force: 2.5N
Build, Design, and Comfort
The OAE2 has a near identical physical design to the AEO1. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it; this headphone looks great, reminiscent of the 600 series that Axel Grell previously designed. The minimalist design combined with its black and silver color scheme gives it a great sense of presence without being too flashy to take seriously. Very appealing to the eye without sacrificing practicality.
The build is equally as nice. The headphones feel sturdy and just nice to hold in your hands. It feels as though every detail of the headphone was handled with great consideration and care.
For comfort, I have more mixed feelings. The pads are nice and soft, and it’s easy for it to fit around the head with some adjustment, but something about the headband just feels heavy. The OAE2 is not an overtly heavy headphone either; at 378g, it is more in the middle in that department. However, wherever the headband is sitting on my head starts to feel sore after less than an hour of continued use leading me to adjusting it every thirty minutes or so. I don’t know why, perhaps because of the relatively thin size of the headband, but it was my experience. It wasn’t a dealbreaker for me, but it was definitely an annoyance.
Sound Review
The OAE2 goes for the most honest sound possible to the original recording and tries to avoid any coloring or biases in exchange for a studio reference sound. For some, that will be its biggest sel ling point, and for others, it will be its biggest turn-off.
Soundstage
The soundstage is definitely what the Grell OAE2 does best and what sets it apart from its competitors in this price bracket. The soundstage is just so wide, even by open-back headphone standards. This is largely in part due to the angled monitor set up in the interior of the headphone which can be seen below. This risky touch of innovation provides a unique listening experience unlike any other headphone. Some may dislike it, as many did in the headphone’s first iteration, but I actually quite enjoyed the broadness of the width and found that it helped me peer into details that often get lost in ordinary headphones. Whether that’s due to the changes made from this update or because of personal preference I don’t know as I never got my hands on the original.
While the OAE2 sounds very wide, it doesn’t sound big. That may sound like a contradiction, but it makes sense if you actually listen to it. While there is a sense of width to the sound, allowing for the full scope of the musical spectrum to be heard, the overall sound of the OAE2 is more laid back. It’s not in-your-face, it’s actually quite comforting. Again, that is either going to be a huge bonus for people or a big negative. Personally, it really depends on what mood I’m in and what music I want to listen to. If I’m listening to an ambient track while working on something and don’t want the music blaring in my ears, the OAE2 would be a great choice. If I’m listening to noise rock and want to feel my entire body vibrating, a different headphone would likely be a better choice.
Frequency Overview
Bass Frequencies
The OAE2 has a nice bass that packs a punch but isn’t overpowering the frequencies above it. While I didn’t feel a lot of rumble or force in the kick drums, the bass is pleasant and adds to the overall sound greatly. It’s definitely more bright than warm, but it’s still very neutral and honest to the original source that it is playing from.
Mid Frequencies
The width of the OAE2’s sound definitely works in its favor in the mid range. Generally, this frequency range can often be the most crowded as it both has the most instrumental elements and is usually where vocals sit. Ensuring that details are not lost is a hurdle that a lot of headphones are not able to clear, but the OAE2 does so with ease. I never felt as though I was missing anything even when throwing some of the busiest songs I know at it.
High Frequencies/Treble
The treble of the OAE2 is a definite selling point. The highest of highs still feel nice and don’t distort at all or sound grading on the ear. Again, the width of the soundstage works in the headphones favor as the detail of the highs do not interfere in the mids or bass. This is not to say that the OAE2 provides a particularly colored high, it’s just that it’s particularly good at presenting the highs in the way they were intended to be heard.
Comparison to Other Headphones
For its $500 price point, which is admittedly very competitive from companies like Hifiman, Meze, and Grell’s own headphones that he made over at Sennheiser, the OAE2 still holds its own. It offers a unique listening experience that is going to be hard to beat for those that are a fan of what it is going for. I’d say I prefer Grell’s work in terms of comfort with the HD 600 series, but sonically he may have outdone himself with this new headphone. Even when looking at more expensive headphones, the OAE2 offers unique qualities that sets it apart from the competition. It is simply hard to find a sound stage that compass with the OAE2 at any price point, and nearly as hard to find one that has a sound as honest as the OAE2.
Final Thoughts
The Grell OAE2 holds its own against a very competitive price point in a saturated market, offering a unique experience that is hard to find anywhere else. If you like a very wide soundstage that stays true to the original recording, the OAE2 just might be the headphone for you. I would also highly recommend it for music makers who enjoy mixing on headphones or who don’t want to spend the extra money on monitors as it offers a similarly open experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the OAE2 and commend Axel Grell and his collaborators for continuing to innovate in the audiophile world.
You can buy the Grell OAE2 at Audio 46.
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