Drop + Grell Signature Edition

[IAtaman]

Came to learn today that Axell Grell has been working on an over-ear headphone in collaboration with Drop for a while now. He describes the new headphones as "(...) drivers really in front of ears" among other things. Someone more dramatic would maybe describe these cans as the spiritual successor to 560S / 800S?

How the Drop + Grell headphones were conceived

At the time work began on the upcoming Drop + Grell headphones, Drop and Axel Grell were showing off their first collaboration – the wireless TWS1X – at the...

drop.com

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Interesting design.
Would love to hear that.

 

[Soria Moria]

Wow, talk about an angled driver!

 

[IAtaman]

Wow, talk about an angled driver!

There is a link to a video in which AG is talking to Jude of headfi about these headphones at the URL I shared. In that video AG says, and I paraphrase, that their focus was on making use of the pinna as much as possible to create a naturally tuned sound for each and every listener. I guess we will all hear how well that worked soon.

 

[Soria Moria]

There is a link to a video in which AG is talking to Jude of headfi about these headphones at the URL I shared. In that video AG says, and I paraphrase, that their focus was on making use of the pinna as much as possible to create a naturally tuned sound for each and every listener. I guess we will all hear how well that worked soon.

What do they mean. Like how a loudspeaker works?

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

What do they mean. Like how a loudspeaker works?

Yes kinda.
Watch the interview with Axel:

 

[Soria Moria]

More pictures (of an earlier prototype). Looks super lightweight.

 

[Veri]

Looks fairly interesting..

 

[Soria Moria]

products

Innovative headphones with exceptional sound quality and the experience of over 30 years.

www.grellaudio.com

 

[Soria Moria]

Frequency response:
16 - 31,000 Hz (-3 dB), 08 - 42,000 Hz (-10 dB)

Transducer principle:
dynamic

Ear coupling:
circumaural

Sound characteristic:
front oriented loudness diffuse field equalization

Adaption to the individual hearing curve:
soundfield - pinna interaction

Nominal impedance:
38 Ω

Sound pressure level:
106 dB at 1 kHz 1 VRMS

Maximum long-term input power according to IEC 60268-7:
500 mW

THD at 1 kHz 100 dB:
0.05 %

Weight without cable:
approx. 270 g

Headband clamping force:
3.5 N

Cable I:
double sided, silver claded: OFC cable, 1.8 m (6 ft)

Connectors headphone side:
2.5 mm TRRS plugs

Connector to a device:
3.5 mm (1/8“) stereo plug

Adapter:
1/8“ (3.5 mm) -> 1/4“ (6.3 mm) screw on

Cable II:
single sided, silver claded OFC cable, 1.8 m (6 ft)

Connector headphone side:
2.5 mm TRRS plug

Connector to a device:
4.4 mm balanced TRRRS stereo plug

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

I just wish they were available somewhere in the Europe (directly from Grell ?) not only through Drop.

 

[LearningToSmile]

I've been interested in those since the first pictures became available. Drop might not have the best reputation anymore, but Axell Grell's work is well known, and I'm very curious how pushing the angled driver concept to its logical conclusion will turn out in regards to soundstage. Mostly I'm happy they're still happening, Drop's sale to Corsair had me worried.
As I understand these should've been at CanJam SoCal this past weekend - curious if this was the case and if someone had a chance to listen to them.

As development progressed it was decided that rather than design a headphone which could lead to two models it was better to optimize the design for one to maximize its performance. This led to a complete redesign of the headphone—into what became the Drop + Grell Signature Edition. To celebrate Axel’s first full-sized headphone under his own brand we decided to make things a little more special by making this limited edition as a nod to the discerning tastes of the Audiophile community. How is the Signature Edition special? We’ll share more details in our upcoming Studio Stories.

I wonder if this means there's going to be a future non-Drop/non-"Signature" edition? And what changes it might bring.

 

[192kbps]

Suddenly thought of Sony MDR-F1.

 

[Human Bass]

0.05 thd for a dynamic is crazy. I'm skeptical

Frequency response:
16 - 31,000 Hz (-3 dB), 08 - 42,000 Hz (-10 dB)

Transducer principle:
dynamic

Ear coupling:
circumaural

Sound characteristic:
front oriented loudness diffuse field equalization

Adaption to the individual hearing curve:
soundfield - pinna interaction

Nominal impedance:
38 Ω

Sound pressure level:
106 dB at 1 kHz 1 VRMS

Maximum long-term input power according to IEC 60268-7:
500 mW

THD at 1 kHz 100 dB:
0.05 %

Weight without cable:
approx. 270 g

Headband clamping force:
3.5 N

Cable I:
double sided, silver claded: OFC cable, 1.8 m (6 ft)

Connectors headphone side:
2.5 mm TRRS plugs

Connector to a device:
3.5 mm (1/8“) stereo plug

Adapter:
1/8“ (3.5 mm) -> 1/4“ (6.3 mm) screw on

Cable II:
single sided, silver claded OFC cable, 1.8 m (6 ft)

Connector headphone side:
2.5 mm TRRS plug

Connector to a device:
4.4 mm balanced TRRRS stereo plug

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

0.05 thd for a dynamic is crazy. I'm skeptical

No it is not for 1kHz.

 

[ugur38]

0.05 thd for a dynamic is crazy. I'm skeptical

They used same misleading information as other manufacturers: they gave 1 kHz distortion number. Important part is what's their bass frequency distortions.

 

[Mauro]

Also beyerdynamic t1 and t5 have a similar position of the driver. The main advantage is a cohesive central imaging, not an out of the head experience as also Grell confirms in the video. That’s also my experience with the T5. sound was in my head but in a central position. Curious about the effect of the super open mesh on all sides of the earcup compared to a very open earcup Hifiman design but with a large planar driver.. curious also about low frequency extension..

 

[Soria Moria]

Do to how different the driver placement is on these does that mean they will work poorly with things such as Dolby Atmos? I might be misunderstanding Dolby Atmos here.

 

[Soria Moria]

 

[LearningToSmile]

Anyone at CanJam NYC? The final version is getting demo'd there. Apparently they tamed the treble and added more bass, which makes audiophiles complain, but makes me happy.
Preorder rumored by the end of the month. Hoping for some measurements before then.