Review: Grain Audio OEHP.1 Solid Wood Over-Ear Headphones

by Brent Dirks

September 2, 2015

Company: Grain Audio
Product: Solid Wood Over-Ear Headphones (OEHP.1)
Price: $199
Compatibility: All iOS devies
Website: http://grainaudio.com
Date: Sept. 2, 2015

The Product

In an era of overpriced and flashy plastic headphones, Grain Audio is a true success story. The company got its start on Kickstarter back in 2013 with the simple idea to make absolute best sounding headphones and speakers.

The small company, based in Pennsylvania, believes the best way to do that is by using generous amounts of wood to provide an authentic and natural sound. I recently received Grain Audio’s OEHP.1 Solid Wood Over-Ear Headphones to try out, and have come away enormously impressed.

In the case of these headphones, beauty is definitely skin deep. The standout feature is the ear cups made with solid walnut that look spectacular with a hand-applied oil finish. Because of the wood grain, each pair of headphones will offer a one-of-a-kind look. Past the ear cups, the headphones are covered with an eye pleasing gray color scheme on the headband and ear cushions.

And the fit is almost as wonderful as the look. I’m basically a headphone designer’s worst nightmare. My shaved head is larger than normal, and I wear glasses and a baseball cap. I usually can’t wear any over-ear headphones for any significant length of time because they will become quite uncomfortable and start to hurt my head and ears. But that wasn’t the case here.

The headband is adjustable, padded, and very comfortable.

The headband is flexible, adjustable, and features a great amount of extra padding. And the ear cushions also feel soft and wonderful. I was able to listen to music or watch TV shows on my iPhone or 12-inch MacBook for hours at a time without any discomfort. And it helps that the set weighs in at just a half a pound.

And while the look and fit are great, it doesn’t really mean much if your music doesn’t sound awesome as well. But I’m happy to report that the OEHP.1 also delivers in that department.

I’ve used them extensively while listening to both Apple Music and Spotify. I listened to an eclectic mix of music – everything from Leon Bridges’ spectacular “Coming Home” album to AC/DC tracks – and the instruments and vocals were clear, crisp, and natural. That surprisingly even includes heavy bass tracks.

Grain Audio includes a carrying case to help protect the ear cups.

While I generally enjoyed the headphones, I did find one small downside. Frequent travelers do note that these headphones are fairly bulky. They also aren’t collapsible to help save some room in your bag. Grain Audio does include a carrying bag, though, which is basically a must-have to help protect the wooden ear cups from scratches or other hazards.

But overall, the headphones are superb. If you’re looking for beautiful over-ear headphones that stand out from the pack and deliver rich and pleasing sound, the OEHP.1 truly delivers and is worth the $199 price tag.

What’s Hot

The headphones are absolutely beautiful and feature handcrafted ear cups made from walnut.
The ear cups and headband are extremely comfortable and won’t bother you even after long music sessions.
A pleasant, natural sound with no over emphasis on bass.
You can take and place calls thanks to the in-line microphone.
The in-line remote is actually easy to use.