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Grell OAE2
Grell is preparing a broader international rollout of the OAE2, an open-back headphone developed by Axel Grell and positioned as a research-led alternative to more conventional audiophile designs. What makes the OAE2 interesting is that it does not present itself as just another open-back headphone chasing width, sparkle, or exaggerated spaciousness. Grell's concept is based on a front-oriented acoustic layout intended to interact more deliberately with the outer ear, preserving some of the localization cues we normally associate with loudspeaker listening rather than feeding sound straight into the ear canal in the usual headphone fashion. The company describes this approach through its Front-sided Sound Field Modulation system, positioning the OAE2 as a headphone meant to sound more externalized, more stable, and closer in perspective to nearfield monitors than to a typical 'in-head' presentation.
That concept is closely tied to Axel Grell's long-standing design philosophy. Grell's materials present the OAE2 as the beginning of a new product generation built around a smaller and more focused engineering effort, with an emphasis on acoustic research, longevity, and practical usability. The company also points to ongoing work around spatial hearing and headphone perception, suggesting that the OAE2 is not meant as an isolated experiment but as the foundation for a broader platform that may eventually extend into other listening applications.
From an engineering standpoint, the OAE2 uses a 40 mm dynamic transducer with a bio-cellulose membrane, a wide open-baffle structure, and a damping system that includes precision-manufactured stainless-steel mesh from Germany. Grell also emphasizes modular construction and long service life, stating that all parts are replaceable. That is paired with plastic-free packaging and a broader sustainability message that treats the headphone less as a short-cycle consumer product and more as something intended to be maintained over time.
The technical specification is equally explicit. Official figures list a frequency response of 12 Hz to 34 kHz at -3 dB and 6 Hz to 46 kHz at -10 dB, nominal impedance of 38 ohms, sensitivity of 100 dB at 1 kHz and 1 VRMS, total harmonic distortion of 0.05% at 1 kHz and 100 dB, and a weight of 378 g without cable. The package includes both a 1.8 m single-ended 3.5 mm cable and a 1.8 m balanced 4.4 mm cable, along with a screw-on 6.3 mm adapter and a carry case, which makes it clear that Grell expects the OAE2 to be used across a fairly wide range of desktop and home-audio systems.
In practical terms, the OAE2 looks like a product aimed at listeners who want something more speaker-like in presentation without resorting to DSP-based virtualization or overt spatial effects. Grell's language consistently points toward natural treble perception, controlled low-frequency behavior, coherent imaging, and a soundstage built on physical acoustic design rather than artificial enhancement. That alone should make the OAE2 one of the more unusual open-back launches in its price class, especially given Axel Grell's history and the company's attempt to turn headphone spatial perception into a core engineering problem rather than just a tuning choice.
Grell is a German headphone specialist founded around the engineering work of Axel Grell and a team with deep roots in the personal-audio industry. The company focuses on headphone development under its own brand as well as consulting work for other manufacturers, while also highlighting research collaboration with Leibniz University Hannover on how sound is perceived through headphones. First introduced in Germany, the model is now being made available more widely through Grell's own store and specialist retail partners, with current official pricing listed at $599 on the company's U.S. storefront and €499 on Grell's international site. The brand also identifies the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, China, and Dubai among its distributor markets, underscoring a clear push beyond its initial home-market launch. Info and photos by Grell.
