Research and technology
The acoustic concept of grell headphones
The outstanding acoustic concept sets completely new standards in the field of audiophile listening. It consists of three parts: Front-sided Sound Field Modulation, the damping concept, and the angled baffle.
1) Front-sided Sound Field Modulation (FSFM)
Unlike conventional headphones, the sound of grells OAE series is shaped by the individual anatomy of the ear. This is thanks to grells innovative Front-sided Sound Field Modulation (FSFM) technology. Developed by grell based on decades of experience, this technology makes the finest nuances in the mid and high frequencies audible in a natural and detailed way.
How it works
At a concert, in conversation, or at home with a stereo speaker system, we hear sound coming from the front. When sound comes from the side, we instinctively turn our head so that we can hear the sound coming from the front again. This corresponds to our hearing behavior and allows us to perceive sound accurately and without distortion.
In conventional headphones, the transducers are positioned so that the sound comes directly from the left and right. This creates a sound field next to the ear. The result: the sound reaches the ear distorted.
Front-sided Sound Field Modulation (FSFM) positions the transducers in the headphones at an angle in front of the ear. It projects the sound waves as if they were coming from a source in front of us.
Our ears are designed to process sound optimally from the front. When listening with Front-sided Sound Field Modulation (FSFM), the individual geometry of our ears is utilized to shape the frequency response arriving at the eardrum. This allows us to perceive sound as undistorted as possible.
2) The damping concept
During the development of the OAE2, the properties of a wide variety of acoustic materials were analyzed in detail. This resulted in a new damping concept that enables exceptional low-frequency bass reproduction. In addition to precise mechanics, grell headphones feature components made of high-quality
damping materials, plastics, zinc, and stainless steel. An acoustically transparent stainless steel mesh injection molded into a delicate but robust plastic dome. The special geometry of the baffle, in combination with the high-quality acoustic materials, is responsible for the outstanding openness of the OAE2. The design is patent pending.
Open stainless steel mesh for a natural, transparent sound
3) The baffle
The transducer and baffle form the technological heart of the OAE2.
Unlike conventional headphones, the OAE2 from grell is equipped with an angled transducer that sits at an angle to the baffle – the acoustic heart of the headphones. The dome of the 40 mm transducer is made of bio-cellulose. It enables a large radiating surface of the transducer combined with with high excursion. The result is an optimal balance between finely resolved highs and powerful bass.
The curved open area of the OAE2's baffle is twice as large as that of comparable headphones. This design allows the sound to spread naturally without being reflected by large, acoustically closed areas. Covered with a precision-manufactured stainless steel mesh made in Germany, the baffle defines the acoustic impedance. It creates a balance between low and high frequencies and controls bass reproduction. This prevents sound coloration and
uncontrolled resonances.
In close contact with science
Our research aims to provide listeners with the perfect sound experience.
Hearing is as individual as your fingerprint, and everyone perceives sound differently. That is why we investigate how sound is perceived and what factors influence this perception.
Our ears do not function like measurement microphones, and the frequency response function at the eardrum of each person is unique. This is due to the diffraction and reflection of sound by the body, the head, and especially the individual ear. The closer the sound source is to the eardrum, the less influence these natural diffractions and reflections have, and the more distorted is the perceived sound.
We are constantly working on better sound transducers and new acoustic concepts. This involves the use of new materials and manufacturing processes. For the grell acoustic concept, we have worked intensively on utilizing the natural geometry of the ear.
Together with the IKT at Leibniz University Hannover (Institute for Communication Technology), we are deepening our research into individual hearing in the Krispiphy project.