Наушники — OLLO Audio OLLO R1

The R1 is a sealed circumaural headphone from OLLO Audio, a Slovenian company that builds its products around repairable, sustainable design. Where the open-back OLLO models are aimed at mixing, the R1 is intended for tracking - singers and players monitoring themselves while a microphone is live - as well as home recording, podcasting, streaming and casual listening. It is priced at EUR 399, or USD 384, and OLLO offers a 90-day trial period on units bought directly from the company.

Key specs that matter

The R1 uses a 50 mm neodymium dynamic transducer with a patented composite membrane made from PU and PET. Nominal impedance is about 32 ohm. OLLO gives a frequency range of 5 Hz to 22 kHz and a maximum level of 110 dB SPL at 1 kHz with a 0 dBu input, while total harmonic distortion stays below 0.12% and second-order harmonic distortion below 0.05% at 94 dB SPL. The headphone weighs 386 g without its cable. Passive isolation averages about -10 dBSPL(c) across the full band, which the maker equates to roughly halving the perceived ambient level.

Engineering and use context

OLLO tuned the R1 deliberately away from a flat studio curve, giving it a U-shaped response with lifted lows and highs so that performers stay motivated during takes. The sealed back is there for the microphone as much as for the listener - OLLO states that it cuts the headphone mix bleeding into a nearby mic by about half. The cups are turned from American walnut, and the pads, 60 mm inside and 100 mm outside, combine acoustic foam with an artificial leather cover. They are tilted, can rotate and can be swapped quickly. A stainless steel frame carries a self-adjusting silicone strap instead of a padded band. Every part can be exchanged with ordinary household tools, and the headphone carries a 5-year limited warranty.

Pairing

The detachable 2 m silicone cable splits into a Y and locks into each cup with a mini XLR plug. It terminates in a 3.5 mm jack with a screw-on 6.3 mm adapter, so the R1 connects directly to audio interfaces, mixing desks, headphone amplifiers and portable players. With its low impedance it runs from low-voltage outputs such as laptops and phones without a separate amplifier. Because the cable is not fixed, a damaged lead is replaced without opening the headphone.

Alternatives

The OLLO Audio X1 is the open-back model of the range, a handbuilt headphone with calibration intended for mixing rather than tracking.