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Grell

Grell OAE2

Name: Grell OAE2
Brand: Grell

Weird headphones are good.

MSRP

$599

Manufacturer's suggested retail price at launch. Check retailers for current availability.

Key specs

Acoustic Design

Open-back

Closed-back57%Open-back35%Semi-open8%

Open-back appears on 35% of the 65 studio & professional headphones we've cataloged (of 68).

Impedance

38 ΩBelow average

38 Ω

18 Ω120 Ω

below average for studio & professional headphones — based on 51 of 68 we've cataloged.

Frequency Response

12-34000 Hz

Connection Type

Most common

Wired-3.5mm91%Wired-6.35mm9%

Wired-3.5mm is the most common — on 91% of the 66 studio & professional headphones we've cataloged (of 68).

Sound

Acoustic Design: Open-back
Impedance: 38 Ω
Frequency Response: 12-34000 Hz
Driver Count: 1
Driver Size: 40 mm
Driver Type: Dynamic driver
Frequency Response High Hz: 34000 Hz
Frequency Response Low Hz: 12 Hz
Frequency Response Signature: Neutral
Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW

Connectivity

Connection Type: Wired-3.5mm, wired-6.35mm, wired-usb-c
Cable Type: 2.5mm TRRS to 4.4mm, 2.5mm TRRS to 3.5mm

Design

Weight: 378 g
Color Options: Black
Ear Pad Type: Velour
Detachable Cable: Yes
Foldable: No
Headband Type: Adjustable over-head

Build

Material Chassis Primary: Aluminum
Material Ear Cups: Velour

Identity

Model Number: OAE2

Microphone

Microphone: No

Release

Date: 2026-03-31
Msrp Usd: 599 USD
Year: 2026

SoundGuys review

Read the full review ›

SOUNDGUYS rating

6.6/ 10

Worth a look

Reviewed byChristian ThomasEditor-at-largeReviewed April 2026

Isolation2.0

Comfort & fit7.0

Connectivity7.5

Design9.0

Portability5.0

Features8.0

The verdict

Grell Audio delivered a fascinating set of headphones with more-aggressively angled drivers, meant to better replicate the experience of listening to loudspeakers in a treated room. Though the price is high, the OAE2 is a very interesting take on headphone design.

✓What we like

✓Radical design

✓Durability

✓Uncommon bass emphasis

✕What could be better

✕Mass

✕Long-term comfort

✕Availability

Read the full SoundGuys review →

Lab data

How we test ›

Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.

Compare with

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0 of 4 overlay slots used

Grell OAE2SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve

Measured frequency response (dB) against the SoundGuys house target — the dashed curve. The closer the measured line tracks the target, the more neutral the tuning; peaks ride above the target, dips fall below it.

Frequency response — measurement data

Grell OAE2: frequency response, as measured in the SoundGuys lab. Frequency in hertz.
Frequency (Hz)	Response (dB)
20	-1.1
25	0.4
32	1.5
40	2.0
50	2.1
63	0.9
80	1.1
100	0.6
125	-0.1
160	-0.7
200	-1.1
250	-1.3
315	-1.4
400	-1.5
500	-1.4
630	-0.9
800	-0.5
1000	0.0
1250	0.1
1600	1.5
2000	4.0
2500	6.7
3150	8.4
4000	8.3
5000	10.5
6300	5.8
8000	-4.3
10000	-5.5
12500	1.9
16000	0.2
20000	-8.5

Grell OAE2

Passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.

Passive isolation — measurement data

Grell OAE2: passive isolation, as measured in the SoundGuys lab. Frequency in hertz.
Frequency (Hz)	Attenuation (dB)
21	-0.8
26	-1.7
33	-0.1
41	-0.0
52	-0.2
65	0.1
82	-0.1
103	-0.1
130	-0.1
163	-0.1
205	-0.1
259	-0.1
325	0.2
410	0.0
516	0.2
613	0.3
772	0.7
972	1.3
1220	3.8
1540	7.3
1940	8.3
2440	13.7
3070	7.4
3870	6.7
4870	8.2
6130	12.1
7720	9.4
9720	4.0
12200	5.0
15400	6.2
19400	3.1