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Headphones — Grell OAE2
Description, images, technical data and specifications
Grell OAE2
Image source — © Grell
The Grell OAE2 is an open around-ear design from Grell Audio, the company founded by Axel Grell after a long career developing high-end headphones at Sennheiser. It replaces the OAE1, made its North American debut at CanJam NYC in March 2026 and went on global sale on 31 March 2026 at USD 599, GBP 499 or EUR 499. Changes from the first model centre on a newly optimised dynamic driver and a housing revised for better airflow, while the weight rose by only 3 g.
Key specs that matter
Both cups use a 40 mm wideband dynamic transducer whose membrane is made of bio-cellulose, and Grell describes the driver as bio-mimetic in design. Frequency response is 12 Hz to 34,000 Hz within 3 dB and 6 Hz to 46,000 Hz within 10 dB. Nominal impedance is 38 ohm and sensitivity is 100 dB at 1 kHz for 1 V RMS. Total harmonic distortion is 0.05% at 1 kHz and 100 dB, and the maximum input power is 500 mW under IEC 60268-7. The headphone weighs 378 g without cable, and the headband clamping force is 2.5 N.
Engineering and use context
Grell calls its approach Front-sided Sound Field Modulation. The driver is mounted forward of the ear canal so that its output reaches the outer ear from the front, as sound from a pair of nearfield loudspeakers would, rather than being fired straight into the side of the head. Around it sits a large open baffle, and a damping system that uses precision stainless-steel mesh made in Germany controls the low-frequency behaviour of the open enclosure. The frame is mostly metal, the earpads and headband are covered in Alcantara, and the construction is fully modular, so every part including pads, headband and cable can be replaced. The detachable cable plugs into the headphone with a 2.5 mm jack, and the circumaural pads surround the ear rather than resting on it, leaving room in front of the ear for the angled driver to work as intended.
Pairing
Two 1.8 m silver-plated cables come in the box - one ending in a 3.5 mm plug with a screw-on 6.35 mm adapter, the other in a balanced 4.4 mm plug - along with a protective carry case. Being moderate in impedance and sensitive, the OAE2 can run from a phone dongle or portable player, and a desktop headphone amplifier with a 4.4 mm balanced output makes use of the second cable.
Alternatives
The Grell OAE1 is the earlier open around-ear headphone from the same designer, built on the same forward-mounted driver principle.
Key specs that matter
Both cups use a 40 mm wideband dynamic transducer whose membrane is made of bio-cellulose, and Grell describes the driver as bio-mimetic in design. Frequency response is 12 Hz to 34,000 Hz within 3 dB and 6 Hz to 46,000 Hz within 10 dB. Nominal impedance is 38 ohm and sensitivity is 100 dB at 1 kHz for 1 V RMS. Total harmonic distortion is 0.05% at 1 kHz and 100 dB, and the maximum input power is 500 mW under IEC 60268-7. The headphone weighs 378 g without cable, and the headband clamping force is 2.5 N.
Engineering and use context
Grell calls its approach Front-sided Sound Field Modulation. The driver is mounted forward of the ear canal so that its output reaches the outer ear from the front, as sound from a pair of nearfield loudspeakers would, rather than being fired straight into the side of the head. Around it sits a large open baffle, and a damping system that uses precision stainless-steel mesh made in Germany controls the low-frequency behaviour of the open enclosure. The frame is mostly metal, the earpads and headband are covered in Alcantara, and the construction is fully modular, so every part including pads, headband and cable can be replaced. The detachable cable plugs into the headphone with a 2.5 mm jack, and the circumaural pads surround the ear rather than resting on it, leaving room in front of the ear for the angled driver to work as intended.
Pairing
Two 1.8 m silver-plated cables come in the box - one ending in a 3.5 mm plug with a screw-on 6.35 mm adapter, the other in a balanced 4.4 mm plug - along with a protective carry case. Being moderate in impedance and sensitive, the OAE2 can run from a phone dongle or portable player, and a desktop headphone amplifier with a 4.4 mm balanced output makes use of the second cable.
Alternatives
The Grell OAE1 is the earlier open around-ear headphone from the same designer, built on the same forward-mounted driver principle.
Specifications
Model name
OAE2
Transducer principle
Dynamic or Isodynamic
Scheme
Open
Wearing style
Over-ear
Frequency response low +/- 10dB (Hz)
12
Frequency response high +/- 10dB (Hz)
34 000
Max. sound pressure level (dBSPL (1 kHz @ 5% THD))
100
Connection type
Wired
Connector (mm)
3.5mm, 4.4mm
Sensitivity (dBSPL (1 kHz/ 1 mW)))
N/A
Impedance (Ohm (1 kHz))
38
Playback time (hours)
N/A
Weight (g)
378
Official link